Cowton Castle

Cowton Castle is a historic building that has been converted into a farmhouse. It dates from the late 15th century and features some 19th-century alterations. The parapet of the south-west tower was rebuilt in 1980. Originally constructed for Sir Richard Conyers, the castle is made of rubblestone with ashlar dressings and has a concrete tile roof. The structure is rectangular and includes south-west and north-east towers, along with a rebuilt outshut on the west side. It stands three storeys high, while the towers rise to four storeys.

On the north-east elevation, there are four bays. The ground floor features a four-centred-arched door with a two-light plate traceried overlight and a hoodmould. The windows are set in chamfered-quoined surrounds, with a three-light plate-traceried window and a two-shouldered-arch-light window on either side of the door. The first floor has a three-light window with a relieving arch to the left, a central two-light window with a relieving arch, and a two-shouldered-arch-light window to the right, which has single-light windows above and below. The stair tower on the right has one-light pointed-arch windows with flat hoodmoulds, and there is a carved stone panel between the first and second-floor windows. The building is topped with embattled parapets. The south-west elevation features a two-light window and a three-light window, both with chamfered surrounds, cusped-pointed arches, and flat hoodmoulds.

Inside, the north-east tower contains a spiral stone staircase. Sir Richard Conyers was granted an annuity by Richard III for his services during the War of the Roses. The Bowes family resided at the castle until 1605, with Sir George Bowes, who was Provost Marshall to Queen Elizabeth I, playing a role in suppressing the Rising of the North in 1569.