Fowberry Tower

NU 02 NW CHATTON FOWBERRY

4/21 Fowberry Tower 21/9/51

11*

Country house. Originally built as tower-house in C15, remodeled in 1666 but now almost all of after 176 and around 1800 (datestone 1809). 1776 work built perhaps by Nisbit of Kelso for Mr. Blake. Later work for Matthew Culley. Ashlar with Welsh slate roof. Oblong, double pile. Gothick style. 2 storeys and basement on north side, 3 storeys and basement on enrance front. One-storey, one-bay wings. C20 kitchen extension to left. North front: 3 bays. steeply-pointed triple windows with intersecting glazing bars. Basement windows are tripartite and segment-headed under shallow segmental arches. Above basement curved corbels support a broad band like a parapet with inset quatrefoils bneath ground floor windows. Similar corbels and quatrefoils to top parapet and above one-storey wings. Later entrance front: 7 bays, 1-2-1-2-1, slightly projecting centre and end bays. Ground floor windows Tudor-arched with intersection glazing bars. Plain 12-pane sashes above. In centre 5 bays on ground and 1st floors, windows and door are recessed with double hollow-chamfered surrounds. Central pediment with datestone 1809. Bands between each floor. Interior: Gothick decoration, especially in the dining room which has a screen of two crocketed ogee arches on slim quatrefoil shafts, crocketed ogee heads to doors and Gothick fireplace. Similar decoration to drawing room. Simple C19 staircase but with fan-vaulted ceiling. Complex vaulting in basement; C18 vaults supporting new north front, groin vaults behind - some in stone, some brick. Also some older tunnel vaulting.

Early C19 wrought iron area railings to entrance. Matthew Culley was the 1st secretary to the Board of Agriculature.

Northumberland County History Vol. X1V Archeologia Aelian 4th Series XXX.

Listing NGR: NU0393929340