Bitchfield Tower

Bitchfield Tower is a three-story stone building with battlements and thick defensive walls in Belsay. The structure shows typical features of border fortifications that were built to protect against attacks.

The Middleton family built this tower in the 15th century in the border region. A century later, the building passed to the Harbottle family, who used it strategically.

The tower shows how people on the English-Scottish border built structures to protect themselves from raids and conflict. It reflects the way residents of this region designed their homes to defend against danger.

You can find the tower in the Northumberland countryside and view it from the outside. The best time to visit is during good weather, as the area can be quite open and windy.

In 1622, Robert Fenwick added a manor house next to the tower, marking its shift from a military fortress to a residence. This addition shows how the purpose of these border structures changed over time.

Location: Belsay

GPS coordinates: 55.08790,-1.85932

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:20