History in Structure

Brizlee Tower

A Grade I Listed Building in Denwick, Northumberland

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Coordinates

Latitude: 55.4264 / 55°25'34"N

Longitude: -1.7519 / 1°45'6"W

OS Eastings: 415802

OS Northings: 614747

OS Grid: NU158147

Mapcode National: GBR J56P.JM

Mapcode Global: WHC1C.2V1Y

Plus Code: 9C7WC6GX+H7

Entry Name: Brizlee Tower

Listing Date: 31 December 1969

Grade: I

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1076985

English Heritage Legacy ID: 236396

Also known as: Brislee Tower

ID on this website: 101076985

Location: Northumberland, NE66

County: Northumberland

Civil Parish: Denwick

Traditional County: Northumberland

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Northumberland

Church of England Parish: Alnwick

Church of England Diocese: Newcastle

Tagged with: Folly tower Gothic Revival

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Description


DENWICK HULNE PARK
NU 11 SE NU 158148
10/60 Brizlee Tower
31.12.69
I
Ornamental tower, dated 1781 below upper balcony. Possibly by John Adam, for
the first Duke of Northumberland, although the design is also ascribed to the
Duke himself. Ashlar, with cast-iron fire basket. In plan a circle with four
rectangular projections; 6 stages, the lower with encircling verandah and the
topmost with projecting balcony. Elaborate Gothick style.

Verandah has 4 tripartite entrances, with cusped and crocketed arches, between
projections with similarly-arched niches flanked by fluted columns; inscribed
frieze below openwork balcony balustrade with geometric and traceried patterns.
Beneath verandah are niches and panelled door to foot of stair, copied in
stone on other faces. Upper stages divided by fluted and quatrefoil friezes,
with 1- and 2-light windows, and niches in projections, some with sills on fan
corbels. Coade stone medallions of Duke and Duchess above 3rd-stage niches.
Upper balcony, on fan corbels, has pierced quatrefoil balustrade. Top stage
has panelled door under cusped arch, and crenellated parapet with large
octagonal cup-shaped fire basket.

Interior: stone newel stair, lit by windows with coved internal splays,
stairhead ceiling with radial raised bands.

Important landscape feature; its function as a viewing platform for the Duke's
park is summed up by an inscribed tablet at lower balcony level:

Circumspice!
Ego omnia ista sum dimensus;
Mei sunt ordines,
Mea descriptio
Multae Etiam istarum arborum
Mea manu sunt satae

(Look around! I have measured out all these things; they are my orders, it is
my planting; many of these trees have even been planted by my hand).


Listing NGR: NU1580214747

External Links

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