Radcliffe Tower

Map showing the location of Radcliffe Tower within Greater Manchester.
The tower in the early nineteenth century with the manor house on the right prior to its demolition.
The standing remains of Radcliffe Tower

Radcliffe Tower is the only surviving part of a manor house in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester (grid reference SD79580751). It is a Grade I listed building[1] and a Scheduled Monument.[2] The house was rebuilt in 1403 by James de Radcliffe, who was lord of the manor of Radcliffe, and consisted of a stone-built hall and one or two towers, probably built with ashlar blocks.[1][2] De Radcliffe was given a royal licence to fortify the site including adding crenellations and battlements.[3]

The manor house was demolished in the 19th century leaving only the tower.[2] The tower measures 10.5 yards (9.6 m) by 19 yards (17 m) and survives to about 20 feet (6.1 m) in height.[1] The remains are owned by Bury council.[4] It was used as a pig sty before being restored.[2] Radcliffe Tower is about 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) south of Bury Castle, a late 15th-century moated manor house.

In 2009, plans to restore the shell of the tower as part of a wider restoration project covering Radcliffe E'es, Close Park and the parish church were launched with the support of Bury Council.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Radcliffe Tower". Images of England. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Radcliffe Tower". Pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  3. The parish of Radcliffe, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 5667. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53000. Retrieved on 25 October 2008
  4. Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (2004-02-19). "Bury's historic built environment" (DOC). Bury.gov.uk. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  5. Welsh, Pamala (1 April 2010). "Ancient tower is to be saved". Prestwich Advertiser. Retrieved 2012-02-20.

External links

Media related to Radcliffe Tower at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 53°33′49″N 2°18′30″W / 53.56361°N 2.308259°W