Structure Name: Bondgate Tower

Description:
 

Also known as the Hotspur Gate, the Bondgate Tower is the sole survivor of Alnwick's once impressive town walls. On its eastern face the tower takes the form of two polygonal towers on either side of an arched thoroughfare, while the western face of the tower has a straight front. The tower is constructed of rough ashlar.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade I, Scheduled Ancient Monument

Location: Alnwick, NORTHUMBERLAND

Eastings: 418860m (view map)

Northings: 613220m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 10m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Structure Types Identified: GAOL, TOWN GATE

Historical Background
 

Bondgate Tower was the east gate in Alnwick's medieval town walls. During the post medieval period the gate was used as the town's gaol.

The Bondgate Tower is also known as The Hotspur Gate.
 

Chronology:

• 1434 - 1484   Approximate period for the construction of Alnwick's town walls.
      Entities Involved:
            Earl of Northumberland: Commissioned the building of the town's defences.
• 1450   Lion above archway carved. Presumably the gate was also built around this time.
      Entities Involved:
            ?, Matthew: Carved the Percy Lion.

References:

• Images of England
• Keys To The Past
• Keys To The Past
• Northumberland SMR
• Pevsner, N., Richmond, I., Grundy, J., McCombie, G., Ryder, P. and Welfare, H. (2001) The Buildings of England: Northumberland. London, Penguin Books, p.141

The information displayed in this page has been derived from authoritative sources, including any referenced above. Although substantial efforts were made to verify this information, the SINE project cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness.

view images of this structure
view location on a map

suggestions / comments welcome
  go to the top