Castle Keep In The Grounds Of Newton Park

The Castle Keep in the grounds of Newton Park is a large, fortified tower that was originally part of a fortified manor house. It dates from the 14th century and has been altered and remodeled in the 16th and late 17th centuries, with restoration in the 19th century and a porch added in the 18th century. The building is constructed of rubble with freestone dressings and features a hipped slate roof that is set back and concealed behind a tall, embattled ashlar parapet. This parapet is decorated with shields of arms, a moulded string, and gargoyles.

The structure has an irregular L-plan, with a 16th-century extension to the north and an 18th-century projecting porch. It consists of three storeys and a vaulted basement. On the south elevation, there are three 4-light cross windows with hollow chamfered surrounds, segmental heads, and dripmoulds. The west elevation features a part square and part circular stair tower at the center, topped with a quatrefoil parapet and two 2-light windows with cusped heads. There are also blocked windows at the south end and a single-storey, 18th-century projecting entrance at the northwest, which has two large 4-centred arches, one of which is blocked, and an embattled parapet. An inverted V-mark indicates the location of a former wing.

To the north, there is a lower two-storey wing that has two 2-light casement windows with hollow surrounds and segmental heads, also under dripmoulds. Inside, a chamfered and 4-centre headed doorway leads to a vaulted chamber at the south end, which adjoins another chamber with a garderobe. There is a stone newel stair, and the room on the third floor features a 17th-century freestone fireplace with a moulded surround and a 4-centred head, along with a moulded overmantel. The building is scheduled as an Ancient Monument.