Witton Shields Tower

Witton Shields Tower is a strong house built in 1608, featuring the initials N.T. (Nigel Thornton) above the door. The building has rear outshuts added in 1680 and was reduced in height by one storey around 1914. Constructed from rubble with large irregular quoins and dressings, it has a slate roof. The rectangular structure includes a central square stair turret and a continuous rear outshut, standing two storeys high with three bays.

The stair turret rises above the eaves and has a re-set armorial panel with a chamfered surround in the gable. The left side has a door with a flattened triangular head in a square frame, along with a date panel above it and a small chamfered window above that. The right side features a similar window above a small four-pane casement. The ground floor left has renewed paired 12-pane sash windows in an early 18th-century opening with a keyed lintel, while other renewed sashes with glazing bars are found in old chamfered surrounds, including one blocked chamfered window. The stone end stacks have been renewed. The left side also has a blocked doorway with a chamfered surround and a small two-light mullioned window to the left. A stone stack is supported on four corbels at the current attic level, with a small chamfered window on the right.

Inside, there is a stone newel stair in the turret, doorways with flattened triangular heads and the initials N.T. on the ground and first floors, and chamfered beams. The first-floor fireplace has a chamfered surround with a cut-back keystone. The old roof timbers were re-set around 1914 and include four principal-rafter trusses with collars and two levels of purlins.