LIDAR (DSM, 1m) copyright Environment Agency (2022) - enhanced for archaeology.
Contour models from lidar
Shown below are contours created in QGIS at 1m interval from the dtm lidar, overlaid on the multi-hillshaded dsm lidar.
Below that are two profiles created by the profile tool in QGIS.
The first, in the direction NW-SE, shows the deep ditch dug across the ridge cutting off the site of the castle from the ridge to the west. It seems to suggest that material from the ditch was used to increase the height of the castle mound.
The second profile from NE-SW across the castle mound shows the ditch with outer rampart on the N side of the castle and the steep slope to the S into the flat haugh-land above the Chirdon Burn..
Shown below are contours created in QGIS at 1m interval from the dtm lidar, overlaid on the multi-hillshaded dsm lidar.
Below that are two profiles created by the profile tool in QGIS.
The first, in the direction NW-SE, shows the deep ditch dug across the ridge cutting off the site of the castle from the ridge to the west. It seems to suggest that material from the ditch was used to increase the height of the castle mound.
The second profile from NE-SW across the castle mound shows the ditch with outer rampart on the N side of the castle and the steep slope to the S into the flat haugh-land above the Chirdon Burn..
The remains of a fortified house, later remodelled as a tower house, of medieval date, situated on the summit of a ridge within a meander of the Chirdon Burn. The upstanding remains are Listed Grade I. The site of the fortified house has been isolated by the digging of a substantial ditch, 25m wide and a maximum of 4.5m deep, across the north western part of the ridge, and by a less substantial ditch
across the south eastern side. Natural protection is afforded on the north east and south western sides by steep slopes. The fortified house, which is situated between the two ditches, is visible as a rectangular structure measuring 20.9m north west to south east by 11.8m north east to south west, with walls of regular sandstone blocks 1.8m thick. This building is thought to be early 13th century in date and its basic plan is an upper floor hall house above a columned basement.
Each of the long side walls had three regularly spaced arrow loops, or narrow windows, and each of the end walls had one loop placed centrally. All of the windows were blocked soon after building and in the south west corner of the
house two of the windows have been obscured by an internal cupboard and a fireplace. The most westerly window in the south wall was subsequently replaced by a larger window, still clearly visible.
In the later 13th and 14th century the house was remodelled into a tower house and a number of features were added; these include a square tower at the north west corner, a tower at the north east corner, a pair of butresses on the north wall and a small tower at the south west corner. It is also thought that an entire storey was added.
A pair of buttresses added to the south wall of the house are thought to be an even later addition. The original entrance to the house is thought to have lain in the eastern end of the south wall, although there i s now only a gap in the masonry.
The foundations of a rectangular building, orientated east to west and measuring 9m by 6.4m, are located 10m east of the house. The building is thought to be the remains of an associated chapel. Further to the east of the house, on the eastern side of the smaller ditch, there are further slight foundations of a small building 3m square.
Dally Castle is believed to be the building erected by David Linsey in his manor of Chirdon, referred to in a document of 1237 as the `house with remarkably thick walls in the form of a tower'. The manor was confiscated on two occasions in 1289 and 1296. On the second occasion it was granted to John de Swinburne, reverting to the Crown on his death in 1326 when it was described as ‘the site of a manor burnt by the Scots'.
The fortified house is not mentioned in the 1415 or the 1541 lists of Border strongholds but it is known that by 1604 it was held of the Crown and occupied by the Dodds family. The condition of the house deteriorated; by the 18th century it was roofless and in the early 19th century little stonework was visible.
The building underwent limited excavation in 1888 when a series of columns forming part of the basement were removed. The work also uncovered a helmet and part of a sword. After substantial consolidation in the late 20th century, the walls are visible standing to a maximum height of 1.8m. Further columns and other architectural fragments were also uncovered and remain at the site. [NHLE].
across the south eastern side. Natural protection is afforded on the north east and south western sides by steep slopes. The fortified house, which is situated between the two ditches, is visible as a rectangular structure measuring 20.9m north west to south east by 11.8m north east to south west, with walls of regular sandstone blocks 1.8m thick. This building is thought to be early 13th century in date and its basic plan is an upper floor hall house above a columned basement.
Each of the long side walls had three regularly spaced arrow loops, or narrow windows, and each of the end walls had one loop placed centrally. All of the windows were blocked soon after building and in the south west corner of the
house two of the windows have been obscured by an internal cupboard and a fireplace. The most westerly window in the south wall was subsequently replaced by a larger window, still clearly visible.
In the later 13th and 14th century the house was remodelled into a tower house and a number of features were added; these include a square tower at the north west corner, a tower at the north east corner, a pair of butresses on the north wall and a small tower at the south west corner. It is also thought that an entire storey was added.
A pair of buttresses added to the south wall of the house are thought to be an even later addition. The original entrance to the house is thought to have lain in the eastern end of the south wall, although there i s now only a gap in the masonry.
The foundations of a rectangular building, orientated east to west and measuring 9m by 6.4m, are located 10m east of the house. The building is thought to be the remains of an associated chapel. Further to the east of the house, on the eastern side of the smaller ditch, there are further slight foundations of a small building 3m square.
Dally Castle is believed to be the building erected by David Linsey in his manor of Chirdon, referred to in a document of 1237 as the `house with remarkably thick walls in the form of a tower'. The manor was confiscated on two occasions in 1289 and 1296. On the second occasion it was granted to John de Swinburne, reverting to the Crown on his death in 1326 when it was described as ‘the site of a manor burnt by the Scots'.
The fortified house is not mentioned in the 1415 or the 1541 lists of Border strongholds but it is known that by 1604 it was held of the Crown and occupied by the Dodds family. The condition of the house deteriorated; by the 18th century it was roofless and in the early 19th century little stonework was visible.
The building underwent limited excavation in 1888 when a series of columns forming part of the basement were removed. The work also uncovered a helmet and part of a sword. After substantial consolidation in the late 20th century, the walls are visible standing to a maximum height of 1.8m. Further columns and other architectural fragments were also uncovered and remain at the site. [NHLE].
Scheduled Monument List Entry Number: 1018537
Listed Building (Grade I): 1044856
Keys to the Past: N7045
Tarset Archive Group: Dally Castle A0284
Gatehouse - Dally Castle
Wikipedia - Dally Castle
Listed Building (Grade I): 1044856
Keys to the Past: N7045
Tarset Archive Group: Dally Castle A0284
Gatehouse - Dally Castle
Wikipedia - Dally Castle
History of Northumberland, Volume 14, p.274. Published 1940.
Dally Castle notice-board. Historic England.
RSS Feed
