Structure Name: Brizlee Tower

Description:
 

Elaborate ornamental tower in the Gothick style built as a viewing platform for the 1st Duke of Northumberland to observe Alnwick Castle Park. The tower has six stages, the lowest of which has a verandah and the highest a balcony, above which the whole is capped by a cast iron fire basket. The tower bears the inscription: "Circumspice! Ego omnia ista sum dimensus; Mei sunt ordines, Mea descriptio Multae Etiam istarum arborum Mea manu sunt satae", which translates as: "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". This has led to speculation that the Duke himself designed the tower.
 

Extant: Yes

Legal Status: Listed Building Grade I

Location: Brizlee Hill, NORTHUMBERLAND

Eastings: 415801m (view map)

Northings: 614747m (view map)

Position Accuracy: 5m

Positional Confidence: Absolute Certainty

Structure Types Identified: TOWER

Chronology:

• 1777 - 1783   Construction of tower.
      Entities Involved:
            Smithson Percy, Hugh: Commissioned works.
            Adam, John: Architect.

References:

• Images of England
• 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.139

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.

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