The Tower on the Moor

Heritage listing

Details The monument includes the known extent of the standing and buried remains of a medieval brick fortified tower known as Tower on the Moor. The tower is believed to have been built in the mid-15th century as a hunting lodge for Ralph Lord Cromwell, whose fortified house was located 6km to the south at Tattershall Castle. Documentary sources indicate that the tower was partly dismantled in the latter part of the 15th century when bricks from the Tower on the Moor were used for repairs at Tattershall Castle. The remains of the tower survive as a buried feature, although the projecting stair turret still stands and is Listed Grade II*. The octagonal stair turret originally projected from the north west corner of the tower. Standing four storeys high, it is built chiefly of red brick, thought to have been locally produced, laid in English bond. An arched doorway on each floor provided access between the stair turret and the tower. The stair turret is lit by three small brick arched windows and one small square window with stone dressings. Putlog holes in the turret brickwork indicate the position of former scaffolding dating from its construction. Sections of the tower walls project from the south eastern side of the stair turret. The visible remains of the tower walls measure up to 2m in length and stand up to three storeys high with bonding scars visible on the upper storeys of the turret wall. Archaeological excavation of part of the buried foundations has indicated that the tower measured approximately 9m square. It would have provided accommodation such as storage at the first storey and domestic and private accommodation on the upper storeys. A partly exposed section of brick wall suggests that a secondary brick structure was at some time built against the north

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.