Marmion Tower

Marmion Tower stands in the quiet village of West Tanfield in North Yorkshire. Built in the early 15th century as the entrance to a fortified manor, it is now a lone survivor of what once stood nearby. The gatehouse was added later by Sir William FitzHugh, probably in the 14th century. Over the years it passed through many families, from the Parrs to the Cecils and the Elgins, before being sold in the 19th century. By 1786 only the gatehouse remained, the rest of the manor having been dismantled for other buildings. Since 1976 it has been in state care and is now managed by English Heritage. The tower is three storeys high and built from magnesian limestone. A wide vaulted passageway runs through its centre, once protected by double doors. Inside, the ground floor held a porter’s lodge with a fireplace, latrine and a small opening to watch the passageway. A spiral staircase in the corner leads to the upper floors, where fireplaces, latrines and stone seats sit beneath large windows. An ornate oriel window on the first floor, added later, looks toward the east. The roof has gone but the battlements and stair turret remain. Visitors find a solid stone gatehouse standing beside the River Ure. The vaulted passageway still carries the marks of its original purpose. Upstairs, the fireplaces and windows show how the rooms were used long ago. The oriel window offers a view across the countryside. The tower’s quiet setting and surviving details give a clear picture of its past life. It remains a protected monument, cared for by English Heritage.