The surviving south wall and two southern corner turrets are among the remains of Preston Tower (old). These specific architectural features offer travellers interested in historic architecture a way to explore Chathill’s history. They are joined by the long history of St Maurice Ellingham and the architecture of Chathill railway station. The places and buildings offer different points of interest: surviving parts of a tower house, the development of a church site and architectural evidence of the railway.
Preston Tower: Tower House and Surviving Parts
Preston Tower (old) is part of a 14th-century tower house that was restored in 1864. The surviving parts are the south wall and two southern corner turrets of a larger, hall-like tower house. This means that the focus is not only on its age and restoration, but also on the floor plan suggested by the features described: the surviving turrets are at the southern corners, and the south wall forms part of a larger structure. Anyone interested in historic architecture can piece these individual features together in their mind to form a picture of a tower house, without mistaking the existing remains for a fully preserved building.
Preston Tower is open to visitors and is also used for private events. When planning your trip, you can therefore distinguish between a visit and the subject of events. If you are planning a specific visit, check the visiting arrangements in advance. No opening hours or booking details are implied here.
St Maurice Ellingham: Site History and Construction Date
A church has stood on the site of St Maurice Ellingham since at least 1150; its history may go back even further. The present church building, however, was constructed in 1862 in the Early English style. These details refer to different periods: the long history relates to the church site, while 1862 is the date of the present building. This distinction is useful when putting the information into context, since the age of a church site and the construction date of the building that stands there today are not the same.
The churchyard also preserves a distinctive architectural detail: it contains three sandstone pinnacles from the church tower dating to 1805. Their number, material and origin make them a specific point of interest for anyone who wants to look beyond the church building itself during a visit. Together with the date of the present building, 1862, they offer a nuanced picture of different dates and architectural features. The pinnacles, the tower and the present church building remain distinct points of reference.
Chathill Railway Station and Signal Box
Chathill railway station was built around 1847 by Benjamin Green for the Newcastle and Berwick Railway. The station’s signal box is a two-storey building from the late 19th century. Its upper floor has continuous glazing with small-paned fixed windows. The station and signal box thus offer two different ways to look at railway architecture: for the station, the focus is on its approximate date of construction, architect and client; for the signal box, it is on the building’s form and the striking design of its upper floor.
The dates can also be considered separately: the station was built around 1847, while the signal box dates from the late 19th century. This is a useful distinction when looking at the site, as the dates do not refer to one and the same structure. Visitors who enjoy exploring architectural history through details can pay particular attention to the signal box’s even glazing and small fixed windows.
Similar Names, Different Construction Dates
You should also distinguish between the names Preston Tower (old) and Preston Tower (New). Preston Tower (old) is part of a 14th-century tower house and was restored in 1864. Preston Tower (New), by contrast, refers to a house built around 1805 for Edmund Craster. East Lodge and the gate to Preston Tower date from 1866. These dates refer to different buildings or building works: the construction of the house, the restoration of the older tower house, and the creation of the lodge and gate.
For a culturally focused stay, these places offer several specific questions to guide your visit: Which parts of a larger tower house have survived? How do the history of a church site and the date of the present building differ? And what features can be used to describe the architecture of a railway station and its signal box? This keeps your exploration of Chathill grounded in clear architectural and historical details, rather than conflating different dates or similar names as referring to a single building.
Discover more destinations: Berwick-Upon-Tweed, West Woodburn, Corbridge, Longframlington, Ellington, Lesbury, Brampton, Powburn
For the wider travel overview: Northumberland.
