Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse
Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse, Tower Farmhouse, Tower Road
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1160886
- Date first listed:
- 05-Feb-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse
- Statutory Address:
- Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse, Tower Farmhouse, Tower Road
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1160886
- Date first listed:
- 05-Feb-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse
- Statutory Address 1:
- Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse, Tower Farmhouse, Tower Road
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse, Tower Farmhouse, Tower Road
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Cambridgeshire
- District:
- East Cambridgeshire (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Downham
- National Grid Reference:
- TL5194684205
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 28/08/2019
TL 58 SW
4/22
DOWNHAM
TOWER ROAD (north side)
Outbuilding to east of Tower Farmhouse
(formerly listed as Outbuilding to west of Tower Farmhouse)
5.2.52
GV
II*
Outbuilding formerly the gatehouse to the Bishop of Ely's Palace. Built for Bishop Alcock (1486-1500). Red brick with deeper red brick diaper patterning; plinth coursed in English bond with chamfered limestone band, limestone dressings to quoins and openings. Reroofed with corrugated iron. Possibly of several original storeys, height reduced to two storeys with walls and door jambs in rear elevation of rear wing demolished.
South elevation: pedestrian entrance to left of centre through moulded four-centred arch with panelled overmantel and superimposed crocketed ogee arch enclosing a cock, the rebus of Bishop Alcock. Windows with round-headed-lights, drip moulds and chamfered mullions, two single-light ground floor windows and one three-light window to right hand of entrance; one large five-light window reduced in height at first floor and two single-light windows to right hand.
Interior: the original plan was of an entrance hall with guardroom and doorway to staircase from the cross passage with an inner room to the right hand. The end room was possibly tunnel vaulted and the hall has springings for two bays of fan vaulting. The room divisions are repeated at first floor. The Lease of 1746 'with covenant to repair tower said to have been gatehouse... into a good farmhouse'.
R.C.H.M. (notes and measured drawings) 1977
Listing NGR: TL5194684205
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 49475
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Bishopric of Ely Lease Book, (1746), 318-321
Salzman, L F, The Victoria History of the County of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, (1982), 92
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Cambridgeshire, (1954), 330
Patterson, W, The Village and Church, (1974)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 29-Jun-2026 at 13:43:07.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.