Elsdon Tower

📍 Northumberland, England

3.6 ★★★½ 110 reviews

About

Elsdon Tower is a Grade I listed medieval tower house converted for use as a Rectory situated at Elsdon, Northumberland. Originally part of the estate of Elsdon Castle, it later become a rectory and is now a private residence. The original construction dates from the 15th century and has been modified several times.

Built in the 14th century as a fortified vicarage—one of the few surviving clerical pele towers in England. The rector of Elsdon needed protection from Scottish border raids just as much as any lord. The tower was in use as a vicarage until the 19th century. In 1877, over 100 skulls were discovered in the tower, believed to be from the Battle of Otterburn (1388). Grade I listed.