Cockle Park Tower

Cockle Park Tower is a tower house dating to the early 16th century, with alterations in the 17th century and refenestration around 1790. It is constructed of squared stone with dressings, and has a stone flag roof. The building follows an L-plan, with a stair turret projecting from the north end of the east face, and a 17th-century stair projection in the centre of the west wall. The tower rises three storeys plus an attic; the north end, including the turret, features a chamfered plinth, a set-back first floor, a machicolated parapet on the north side, and corbelled-out circular bartizans at the northern angles.

The east elevation has three bays. The turret, set forward to the right, includes an eroded armorial panel depicting the Bertram quartering Ogle, and three worn carved emblems above a small window and chamfered loops. To the left of the turret, a section has a part-glazed door in the second bay and sash windows of 8, 12, or 24 panes, all within Gothick surrounds, featuring 4-centred arches and hoodmoulds. The north elevation has chamfered loops, and a gable containing a partly-blocked 2-light window behind the parapet. The south elevation has a French window and 24-pane sashes, all in Gothick surrounds within the jambs of blocked 17th-century windows, with a coped gable displaying a blocked 2-light mullioned window to the attic.

The west elevation also displays three bays. The central projection contains a boarded door and two 2-light mullioned windows above, the lower of which is blocked. To the left of the projection, an external stair leads to an inserted boarded door, which breaks across the first floor. The right-hand section of the wall was rebuilt in 1828, replacing a solar oriel, and now features a 12-pane sash alongside an old moulded overmantel that has been re-set above. To the right of the projection are blocked 3-light mullion-and-transom windows with hoodmoulds.

Internally, the tower was divided into two dwellings by an 18th-century brick partition wall, and the southern two bays have been completely remodelled. The north end retains barrel vaults to the ground floor and mural chambers, a stone newel stair serving the ground and first floors, ground and first floor fireplaces, and a well-preserved second-floor garderobe. The southern rooms display 18th-century doors, panelled shutters, and fireplaces. The attic floor has been removed. The roof contains five 17th-century collared principal-rafter trusses.

The tower is believed to have been built around 1520 for Sir William, 4th Lord Ogle, and subsequently passed to the Bothal Estates, whose later owners became Dukes of Portland. In the 19th century, it served as the centre of the Duke’s experimental farm. It was undergoing restoration at the time of resurvey.