Whittingham Tower And Attached Cottage

Whittingham Tower is a tower house that became ruinous and was later converted into almshouses. It dates from the late 13th century or early 14th century and was remodeled in 1845 by Countess Ravensworth. The attached cottage is from the 18th century or early 19th century.

The tower features squared medieval masonry that appears to be from two different periods, with more robust earlier work in the lower courses and possibly 16th-century masonry above. The 19th-century sections are made of ashlar. On the south, west, and north sides, the medieval masonry extends to the second-floor sill level, while on the east side, it reaches only to the first-floor window.

The tower is three storeys high and square in shape. The ground floor doorway on the south side has medieval jambs and a 17th-century round-headed top with a continuous chamfer. On the east side, there are four steps with iron railings leading up to a Tudor-headed door from 1845, which has an inscription above it. This inscription reads: "By the munificence of Piety of LADY RAVENSWORTH This ancient Tower which was formerly Used by the village as a place of refuge In time of rapine and insecurity Was repaired and otherwise embellished For the use and benefit of the deserving Poor. AD 1845."

The windows, all from 1845, are 1- and 2-light diamond-paned casements set in chamfered surrounds. The tower has a 19th-century battlemented parapet that projects on closely set rounded corbels, and there is a higher turret in the north-east corner. The interior features walls that are 8.5 feet thick and a tunnel-vaulted ground floor.

The attached cottage, which has been altered, has a stone-slate roof and is noted as the birthplace of Henry Ogle in 1745, who invented the threshing machine.