Etal Castle Gate Tower, South Curtain Wall And South West Tower

FORD ETAL NT 9239 16/82 Etal Castle: Gate-tower, south 21.9.51 curtain wall and south-west tower GV I

Gatehouse, curtain wall and angle tower. Licence to crenellate 1342 for the Manners family. Squared stone.

Gatehouse in south-east corner of the castle. 2 storeys with 3-storey turrets flanking the entrance. Triple-chamfered arch flanked by projecting turrets. Portcullis groove. Above the arch a worn shield with coat of arms and a 2-light Decorated window. On left return a small lancet on ground floor and 2-light Decorated window above. On right return the turret flanking the arch has a garderobe chute. The inner face of the gatehouse has a double-chamfered arch with a large 4-light Decorated window above.

Interior: had a steeply-pitched tunnel vault with chamfered transverse ribs. The springing remains. Tunnel-vaulted guard rooms left and right also with chamfered ribs; that to left has a small fireplace with segmental lintel. They have pointed-arched doorways with continuous chamfers. A mural stair to 1st floor in north wall. Formerly a newel stair above. Windows have broad segmental rere arches with chamfered transverse ribs. On the first floor a large fireplace with segmental lintel, partly blocked.

South curtain wall, c.40 yards long. Stands mainly to the base of parapet level. Rounded corbels project on inner face to support platform.

South-west tower, ground floor only. Small and square. Pointed-arched doorway with continuous chamfer. Interior has plain pointed tunnel Vault.

Northumberland County History: Vol. XI. AM 70.

Listing NGR: NT9255139320