Burradon Tower

Burradon Tower is a ruined tower house in the village of Burradon, North Tyneside, in north-east England. It is both a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade II listed building, a surviving trace of the troubled Anglo-Scottish borderlands.

What is Burradon Tower?

A tower house is a small fortified residence of the kind landowning families built across the border counties from the late Middle Ages. It offered shelter for people and livestock during raids and served as an everyday home. Burradon Tower is one such building near present-day Newcastle upon Tyne. Only ruins remain, but the sturdy stone character of the structure can still be made out.

What is the history of the tower?

John Orde acquired the manor of Burradon in 1441. At that time the land was worth only about 20 shillings a year, because the area suffered from Scottish raids and had poor soil. The tower was probably built around 1553 by Bertram Anderson, Orde's nephew, although a fifteenth-century date has also been suggested. Historic England notes that there is no secure evidence for when it was built.

In 1569 the estate passed to the Ogle family, who extended and improved the building. A fireplace dated 1633 and carrying the initials LO is linked to Lancelot Ogle. Later, after Jane Ogle married her cousin James Ogle of Causey Park House, the tower was abandoned, and by 1769 it was recorded as derelict.

What happened to it in the 19th and 20th centuries?

In the 19th century the tower formed part of an adjoining farm. Its lower rooms were made habitable and given a tiled roof. By the early 20th century it had fallen into neglect and ruin. Conservation work took place in 1977, securing what survives.

What should you know before visiting?

• Burradon Tower stands in North Tyneside next to the former Burradon Farm and is a ruin, not a museum.
• Scheduled Ancient Monument status means legal protection: do not damage the walls or remove any part of the structure.
• It suits anyone interested in border history, castles and defensive towers of northern England.

Frequently asked questions

Is Burradon Tower a protected monument? Yes. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade II listed building.

When was the tower built? Most often around 1553 by Bertram Anderson is given, but there is no secure evidence, and a fifteenth-century date has also been proposed.

Who owned the tower? First the Orde family, then from 1569 the Ogle family. Later it became part of a farm.

Can you go inside? It is a ruin, so check current access before visiting and view it with respect for its protected status.