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Duddo

Duddo Tower

Last Updated:

22 Apr 2025

Duddo

This is a

Pele Tower

55.676806, -2.100111

Founded in 

13th centuryy

Current status is

Ruined

Designer (if known):

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Scheduled Ancient Monument

My photographs are a bit naff as I was eating a sandwich while taking them, but here's Duddo Tower - the dominating feature perched upon a blunt hill.

Upon the hill we find the crumbs of a late 16th century tower house - otherwise known as a pele in these parts. As we discussed with Ancroft last week, these defensive towers are eeeeverywhere in these parts due to marauding Scots who crossed the border into Northumberland on regular occasions. In fact, there was one here previous in the 1410s, but was destroyed in a raid by James IV in 1496. The same run also saw the ruin of towers at Branxton, Tillmouth, Twizell and Heaton near Cornhill. It was part of an ancient manor some 650 acres owned by the Stryvelling family - Stryvelling meaning Stirling, which is where their origins are found.

The ruins we see today came about from the repairs in the mid to late 16th century by the Clavering's. The surname is well known across Northumberland but another brand held land at Axwell Park and Chopwell. The part of the family who lived here were fairly junior, but resided here until the 17th century. Thereafter it was sold to Sir Francis Blake, a significant landowner (also claiming Twizell and Seghill) and High Sheriff of Northumberland in the 1780s. By this time though it was certainly ruinous and very certainly not lived in.

All we see today is the south west corner of the tower around 9 metres high, alongside traces of a window and part of a parapet. Luckily there are illustrations as seen below which give us a greater understanding of the structure before it reached this ruinous extent.

Listing Description (if available)

The monument includes the ruins of a medieval tower house, which is Listed Grade II, situated in a commanding position on top of crags immediately south of Duddo village. The south west corner and part of the south wall of the tower survive to a height of about 9m and are built of coursed, roughly squared stone. At first floor level is a square window with a chamfered surround and the remains of a second floor window above. At the south west angle a few stones remain of a projecting course that seems to have formed the base of a parapet. Around the base of the standing remains is 19th century masonry, built to prevent its collapse. Large pieces of fallen masonry lie to the south east of the tower and are the remnants of a projecting turret. The outlines of the remaining sides of the tower are difficult to see but measure approximately 12m by 10m. Evidence for the former appearance of the tower has come from late 19th century photographs and a published description by Bates. These describe a tower block with a projecting wing on the south front which contained the entrance and a stair. A barn-like building is also described as having stood near the tower and was removed in about 1850. To the south east of the tower, earthwork remains of building foundations can be seen which are interpreted as remains of the buildings described by Bates. The first known documentary reference to a tower at Duddo was when it was destroyed by James IV of Scotland in 1496. A part of this tower remained standing in 1541 and was described with a barmkin around it in 1561. The present remains are believed to be those of a late 16th century tower.

Both these Ordnance Surveys illustrate Duddo through the mid to late 19th century. This village hasn't changed at all, except the closure of the Swan Inn - a two storey house licensed for the sale of spirits as per the Northumberland Name Books. The dominating feature of Duddo is its farmstead where a tile works also featured. This was also owned by Thomas Friar as was much of the village in the mid 19th century. Duddo Tower remains the towering feature of the settlement.

The Ordnance Survey of 1924 again shows little change. A Post Office was opened nearby the old Swan Inn and opposite the village smithy, while a single property was constructed next to the old turnpike booth. In later decades, this would come to be the site of council housing - an example of the common occurrence of state funded housing in rural areas. The church remained a school at this time.

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Though not very tall, Duddo Tower is strategically positioned to ensure anyone within a mile of so is in view of it. This is very clear when coming from the south. Taken in March 2025.

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Duddo Tower from the bottom of the hill in March 2025.

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Duddo Tower in all its finery in the 1950s. Source: © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection EAW046429 flown 25 August 1952

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