Radcliffe Tower

is the only surviving part of a manor house in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester (historically in Lancashire). It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Monument. James de Radcliffe, who was lord of the manor of Radcliffe, and consisted of a stone-built hall and one or two towers, probably built with ashlar blocks, rebuilt the house in 1403. De Radcliffe was given a royal licence to fortify the site, including adding crenulations and battlements. A Pele or Peel tower are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and the North of England, mainly between the mid-14th century and about 1600..

Arched Openings: The blocked up arches are post-medieval fireplaces that were converted into arched openings when the tower started to be used for agricultural purposes (from the late seventeenth century onwards).

After the Norman Conquest of England, Nicholas FitzGilbert de Tabois was given a confiscated Saxon manor and  land in the present day Radcliffe area. He took the name ‘de Radclyffe’  (which means of Radcliffe) and his descendants continued to live in the area for hundreds of years. They built a manorial house with a church alongside it on this naturally defendable site, which is protected on three sides by the River Irwell. The ‘red cliff’ on one side of the river gives Radcliffe its name.

The earliest record of a fortified Pele tower is from 1358. It is probably this ruined structure that remains today, but why was it built ? The 1300s was a time of on going war between England and Scotland. The Radcliffe family were participants, as Richard de Radcliffe fought with Edward I and his son Edward II in the Scottish Wars. In between, these battles were devastating raids by both sides.

Stairs. 

The stairs led directly into the connected timber framed hall

   

The manor house was demolished in the 19th century, leaving only the tower. The tower measures 10.5 yards (9.6 m) by 19 yards (17 m) and survives to about 20 feet (6.1 m) in height.[2] The remains are owned by Bury council. It was used as a pig sty before being restored.[Radcliffe Tower is about 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) south of Bury Castle, a late 15th-century moated manor house.