| Location | Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Bury Council |
Radcliffe Tower is the only surviving part of a manor house in Radcliffe, a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester (historically in Lancashire), England. It is a scheduled monument[1][2] and a Grade I listed building.[3] The house was rebuilt in 1403 by James de Radcliffe, lord of the manor of Radcliffe, and comprised a stone-built hall and one or two towers, probably constructed with ashlar blocks.[3][1] De Radcliffe was granted a royal licence to fortify the site, including the addition of crenellations and battlements.[4]
The manor house was demolished in the 19th century, leaving only the tower,[1] which measures 31.5 feet (9.6 m) by 57 feet (17 m) and survives to a height of about 20 ft (6.1 m).[3] The remains are owned by Bury Council.[5] It was used as a pigsty before being restored.[1] Radcliffe Tower is about 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) south of Bury Castle, a late 15th-century moated manor house.
In 2009 plans to restore the shell of the tower as part of a wider restoration project covering Radcliffe E'es, Close Park, and the parish church of St Mary were launched with the support of Bury Council.[6]
Since 2012, archaeological excavations funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund have uncovered medieval glazed floor tiles, roof tiles, and pottery from the 15th century.[7]
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Greater Manchester
- List of castles in Greater Manchester
- Listed buildings in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester
- Scheduled monuments in Greater Manchester
References
- ^
- ^
- ^
- ^ The parish of Radcliffe, A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 56–67. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53000 Archived 24 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 25 October 2008
- ^ Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (19 February 2004). "Bury's historic built environment" (DOC). Bury.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 27 May 2008.
- ^ "Ancient tower is to be saved". Manchester Evening News. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ Brandwood, Neil (22 June 2024). "Radcliffe Tower is a 'hidden gem' with fascinating history". Bury Times. Retrieved 9 January 2026.