Paull Holme Tower

Paull Holme Tower stands beside the Humber estuary in the East Riding of Yorkshire. It is a late-medieval fortified tower built at the start of the 15th century. The tower sits inside a rectangular moat near the village of Paull. Each of its three floors contains a single chamber, and a portcullis guards the entrance. The building is unlike any other of its time in the region. A coat of arms is fixed to the outer wall. The tower’s purpose has been debated. Some features resemble pele towers further north, while others suggest it was designed for comfortable living with views over the estuary. In 1871 the tower was restored, giving it new windows, doorways and plasterwork. Since the early 20th century the roof has been missing and the structure has fallen into ruin. English Heritage classifies it as being in very poor condition. Visitors find a roofless ruin surrounded by a moat. The tower’s three storeys remain clearly defined. The portcullis entrance still marks the way inside. The coat of arms on the wall is still visible. The estuary nearby provides a quiet setting for the historic remains.