Beauchamp Tower

The Beauchamp Tower (Plates 143, 149), also called the Cobham Tower, is of three storeys; the walls are of rag-stone rubble, with vertical bands of ashlar on the exterior, but the internal walls contain much brickwork; the plan is semi-circular with square flanking turrets, rising above the roof on the N. and S. It was built probably c. 1300. It has been much restored, externally, in recent times and the parapets are mostly modern. The room in the ground-storey has a semi-octagonal termination towards the W., each face had an embrasure with a segmental-pointed head and an arrow-loop; the loops on the N., N.W., W. and S. remain, the S.W. embrasure has been utilised for a modern fireplace. In the N. wall is a doorway with a two-centred head opening into a short corridor, with a garderobe at the N. end and in the W. wall an embrasure with a loop; in the E. wall are two loops, both modern externally; the corridor has a barrel-vault of brick. In the S. wall of the main room is a partly restored doorway with a two-centred head, communicating by a short corridor with the turret-staircase. The room in the second storey is similar on plan to the room below; each embrasure has a cruciform loop except the S.W., which has a fireplace with a plain lintel. In the E. wall is an embrasure with a modern two-light window; the arrangement of the N. turret is generally similar to that in the floor below. The main room has old ceiling-beams and plain stone corbels. The room in the third storey is of similar form to the room below, but retains no ancient features; opening out of it is a small chamber in the N. turret.

The Beauchamp Tower contains the following incised inscriptions, etc. (Plates 29–34)—In the ground-storey, (1) device with the words "Extremae Cristus"; (2) Walter Paslew, 1570; (3) Walter Paslew, 1569; (4) Robart Dudley (1553–4); (5) inscription with the name Johan Decker; (6) cross on a calvary; (7) device; (8) Latin inscription with name C. Bailly (Ridolfi conspiracy 1571); (9) "1584 wfc"; (10) monogram and date 1571; (11) as (6). In staircase, (12) Robart Ti … ir and IHC; (13) Latin inscription with name Thomas Jenkins, 1672. In corridor leading to room in second storey, (14) various initials—IA, HB, RC, WS, RE, HB 1601, IG, AD, RF, IR 1661, PHR, IR, PR 1691, name Wyllyam and the outline of a church-tower. In room in second storey, (15) Marmaduke Nevile, 1569; (16) collection of devices with shield-of-arms of T. Peverel (Plate 34); (17) monogram IC; (18) William Beveridg, 1562; (19) Italian inscription "Dis poi che vole la fortuna che la mea speransa va al vento pianger ho volio el tempo perdudo e semper stel me tristo e discontento Willim Tyrrel 1541" (Plate 34); (20) Latin inscription with names I. Petri … and Jhon Ba … and date 14 Sept.; (21) "Quanto plus afflictionis pro Christo in hoc saeculo tanto plus gloriae cum Christo in futuro Arundell, June 22, 1587" (Philip Howard, 1st Earl of Arundel); (22) "Gloria et honore eum coronasti domine in memoria aeterna erit justus"; (23) the name Bagot; (24) illegible inscription or name; (25) carved panel with the Dudley badge and border with roses, honeysuckle, acorns and gilly-flowers, the name John Dudle (Earl of Warwick, 1553) and the inscription "Yow that these beasts do wel behold and se, may deme wthe ease wherfore here made they be, withe borders eke wherin a[re to be found], 4 brothers names who list to serche the ground" (Plate 33); (26) rough drawing of a man kneeling at an altar with defaced inscription; (27) "Vincet qui patitur Ro. Baynbridge"; (28) "Dolor patientia vincitur G. Gyfford August 8 1586"; (29) inscription "Wise men ought [circums]pectly to se wh[at they] do, to examine [before th]ey speake, to pro[ve before] they take in hand [to be]ware whose compa[ny the]y use and above al [things to] whom they [truste]," with name Charles Bailly and date 10 April 1571; (30) inscription "Typping stand and bere thy cross, for thow art catholyke, but no worce and for that cause this 3 yeer space thow hast conteanewed in great disgrac yet what happ will hitt I cannot tel but be death or be wel content swet Good"; (31) John Store, Doctor, 1570; (32) Charles Bailly, 1571; (33) "O Lord whic art of Heavn King grawnt gras and lyfe everlastig to Miagh thy servant in prison alon with spedy inlargdment henc to be, Thomas Miagh"; (34) head with initials A.F., G.C.; (35) Laurens Mylford, 1559; (36) William Rame, 1559; (37) Henry, 1574, Henrye (Co)ckyn, 157—(agent of the Bishop of Ross); (38) Edward Smalley; (39) Wyllyam Pollard, 1558; (40) shield-of-arms, a trefoil between three molets; (41) "Better it is to be in the howse of mornying then in the howse of banketing. The harte of the wyse is in the morning howse. It is better to have some chastening then to have over moche liberte. There is a tyme for all things, a tyme to be borne and a tyme to dye ande the daye of deathe is better then the daye of berthe. There is an ende of all things ande the ende of a thinge is beter then the begenyng. Be wyse and pacyente in troble for wysedome defendith as well as mony. Use well the tyme of prosperite ande remember the time of mysfortewn, xxii die Aprilis Ano. 1559, William Rame" (Plate 33); (42) "1578. Hit is the poynt of a wyse man to try, and then truste, for hapy is he whome fyndeth one that is just. T.C." (probably Thomas Clarke); (43) device of an oak-sprig with motto and inscription "I gave credit to mi frinde in time did stande me moste in hande so woulde I never do againe excepte I hade him suer in bande and to al men wishe I so unles ye sussteine the leke lose as I do. Unhappie is that mane whose actes doth procuer the miseri of this hous in prison to induer. 1576. Thomas Clarke"; (44) "Thomas Miagh whiche lieth hire alon, that fayne wold from hens be gon. By tortyre straynge mi troyth was tryed, yet of my libertie denied. 1581. Thomas Myagh" (Plate 32); (45) various devices with initials GG, GIF, FR (Plate 32); (46) shield of the arms of Gifford, Latin inscription and name G. Gyfford, 1586 (Plate 32); (47) Latin prayer and name Thomas Peverel, 1571 (Plate 32); (48) Robert Maleri, 1558; (49) shield-of-arms, three roses bendwise a chief indented; (50) initials BPA and WW; (51) worn Latin inscription with name E. Poole, 1561 or 62; (52) "Close prisoner here 8 monethes, 32 wekes, 224 dayes, 5376 houres" (Plate 32); (53) Thomas Clarke; (54) panel with shield-of-arms, devices and name T. Salmon, 1622 (Plate 32); (55) 1576 Thomas Foull; (56) Richard … ood, 1581; (57) fragmentary English inscriptions; (58) device with skeleton, etc., initials TW and DA and inscription "Thomas Willyngar, goldsmythe. My hart is yours tel dethe"; (59) James Gilmor; (60) Edward Smalley; (61) panel with English inscription and date 1568; (62) Thomas Rooper, 1570; (63) "Per passage penible passons a port plaisant"; (64) G. Poole; (65) Edward Cuffyn, 1562, NC, WB; (66) W. Beverig, 1562; (67) Geffrye Poole, 1562; (68) ditto; (69) William Belmalar; (70) Edmonde Poole; (71) incomplete inscription with the name Jane (Plate 30); (72) H. Lasels; (73) Antony Tuchiner; (74) various scratchings, including two shields, initials IC, etc.; (75) ornamental panel with inscription "Anno D. 1571, 10 Sept. The most unhapy man in the world is he that is not pacient in adversities, for men are not killed with the adversities they have but with ye impacience which they suffer." "Tout vient a poient quy peult attendre." "Gli sospirine son testimoni veri dell angoscia mia. Aeq. 29. Charles Bailly" (Plate 31); (76) "I.H.S. A passage perillus makethe a port pleasant Ao. 1568 Arthur Poole, Ao. Sue 37." and monogram; (77) "I hope in the end to deserve that I wold have. Men. Novem. A. 1573. Hugh Longiworthe" (warder?); (78) Johni Reile, 1562; (79) Hugh Longworthe, 1573; (80) Lawrens Myle; (81) unfinished ornamental panel with shield-of-arms and date 1573 (Plate 29); (82) Edmound Poole, 1568; (83) "Deo servire, penitentiam inire fato obedire regnare est. A. Poole, 1564, I.H.S." (Plate 31); (84) panel with scales, etc. Thomas Bawdewin Juli 1586 and inscription "As vertue maketh life, so sin cawseth death" (Plate 31); (85) "Waldram" initials HR and a partly defaced name; (86) Thomas Fitzger[ald] (Earl of Kildare, 1535–7; (87) "Adam Sedbar, Abbas Jorevall, 1537" (Plate 29); (88) two shields-of-arms and the initials WH and MH; (89) device with man praying, shield-of-arms of Peverel and part of name (Plate 29); (90) W. Wodhus; (91) "Spiritus certo loquitur nam in hoc laboramus et probris afficimur quod spem fixam habeamus in Deo vivente qui est salvator omnium maxime fidelium. I. Timoy, 1581"; (92) English text, initials IC and date 1558 (or 38); (93) Thomas Abel (rebus) (1532–4); (94) Doctor Cook 1540 (priest); (95) panel with name Thomas Cobham, 1555, and an added name above, Yaxlee (agent of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1562); (96) Italian inscription; (97) shield-of-arms; (98) "Lancaster Herald" and two names with crosses, Francis and Evea; (99) Jhon Seymor, GG, HO, WI, 1553; (100) French inscription with initials IC, 1538; (101) acornspray with initials RD; (102) Thomas Steven, James Rogers; (103) "Saro fideli Inggram Percy, 1537"; (104) Latin text and name John Prine, 1568; (105) crosses with name John Waw(?); (106) motto, acorns, monogram and date 1587; (107) shield-of-arms and name Francis Owdal, 1541; (108) French motto and name R. Page, name and initials C. How and A.T., scratched over; (109) Raulef Bulmar, 1537; (110) George Ardern, 1538; (111) John Colleton, prist, 1581 (or 7), July 22; (112) "Jane"; (113) inscription with name Richard Blount, 9 Julii 1553; (114) Eagremond Radclyffe, 1576, "pour parvenir"; on walls of N. passage—(115) Daniel; (116) James Gilmor, 1569; (117) small crucifix; (118) Thomas Talbot, dated 1462 but apparently 16th-century; (119) Essex; (120) W.D.; (121) partly illegible; on splays of loops to staircase, etc.; (122) RW, C. Poole; (123) "Haricro … IC"; (124) "Sicut peccati causa vinc … opprobrium itaque contra pro Cristo custodiae vincula sustinere, maxima gloria est. Ambro Arundell, 26 of May 1587"; (125) panel with initials, etc. PIW-MP, 1686; (126) "Thomas Rose, within this tower strong, kept close by those to whome hee did noe wrong. May 8th 1666."

The Curtain Wall (Plates 143, 144) between the Beauchamp and the Bell Towers is of c. 1300 and of rag-stone rubble and retains eleven embrasures with segmental-pointed arches and loops; six of these open into Nos. 4 and 5, The Parade, four into the "Cowshed" and one into the King's House. The raking plinth, on the external face, stands on three square offsets, below the ground level, and indicating that the adjoining moat was already filled in when the curtain was built. This plinth is built against the earlier plinth of the Bell Tower.