How Hill Tower And Outbuildings, Also Called The Chapel Of Saint Michael De Monte

SE 26 NE MARKINGTON WITH HOW HILL ROAD WALLERTHWAITE (west side)

5/66 How Hill Tower and outbuildings, also called the Chapel of Saint Michael de Monte

• II*

Former chapel, now outbuilding, with attached outbuildings, all disused. 1718 incorporating medieval and early C16 remains, outbuildings of later C18. Tower for John Aislabie of Studley Royal. Coursed squared gritstone and limestone, Westmorland slate roof; outbuildings of coursed rubble with gritstone quoins, surviving roofs on north side of stone slates. Square 2- storey tower with projecting stair bay on west side, with extensive remains of outbuildings against the north and east (downhill) sides. The ruined group is composed of a substantial 3-storey block with lean to additions (east) and a 2-storey and single-storey block which may have served as a stable (north). Tower: south face - round-arched doorway with imposts and keystone, now blocked in lower half, under stone plaque with 4 quatrefoils containing shields in relief. First-floor band, returned, with relief carving: 'SOL DEO HONOR MH ET GLORIA'. Hollow-chamfered, round-arched window above, tracery missing. Projecting modillioned eaves band. Stone pyramidal roof clad in slates and surmounted by a 3-dimensional cross. Rear (north side): round-arched window in stone architrave to ground-floor, round-arched window with 2 pointed light to first floor. Left return: attached bay containing stone staircase has rectangular window on west side, kneelers with gable coping and arched bell-cote-like finial. Right return: ground floor obscured by remain of C18 buildings. First floor has blocked round-arched window with 2 pointed lights. Interior: flooring has collapsed but fireplaces survive in the tower to ground-floor east side, and in the north-east corner on the first floor, with cast-iron basket grate in situ. The projecting bay contains a substantial stone staircase built against the south, west and north walls, and giving access to the upper floor of the tower. The site is a scheduled ancient monument. The hill with the village of Erlesholt (now deserted) was given by Robert de Sartis to Fountains Abbey and the chapel was erected c1200. It was repaired or rebuilt between 1494 and 1526 by Abbot Marmaduke Huby who built the tower at Fountains. After the Dissolution it was neglected until John Aislabie rebuilt the tower. The building may have been used as a folly or gaming house, as repairs were done to windows and furniture including gaming tables in 1737-38. The outbuildings are thought to have been added in the later C18 but when complete they must have given the appearance of a nave attached to the tower. Their siting on the downhill side of the tower rather than more conveniently on the flat hill top suggests that they may be part of John Aislabie's scheme and only later used as farm outbuildings. M Sykes, The Chapel of Saint Michael de Monte, c1984, single sheet.

Listing NGR: SE2760067052