Believed to have been constructed in the latter half of the 16th Century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1 and the time of the Spanish Armada, Bastle House is a Grade II Listed Building. Ownership of the local lands at this time was fragmented among a number of families, including the Ridleys and the Thirlwalls. The constant cross-border conflict shaped landholding in the area, leading to the construction of fortified homes, which are now generically referred to as Bastles, to protect against raids by Border Reivers.
Bastle House was constructed as a stronghouse, and it formed one of a group of three significant buildings in the hamlet of Towhouse, all three are now Listed as being of National importance. The hamlet itself would have been fortified against the Rievers and the three structures, with their thick walls and limited openings, used as points of safety and refuge for people, animals, and belongings.
Over time, the property has been changed and used as a workshop and latterly adapted for residential use. The renovation has made use of the available space and wherever possible to make use of sustainable materials to retrofit. An air-source heat pump was installed to provide underfloor heating and hot water, with new insulation materials including sheep wool fleece, wood-fibre panels and a specialist lime mortar/cork mixture for the interior walls which have been finished in an eco-friendly breathable paint. The external walls had all cement pointing removed, and replaced with traditional lime mortar. Where possible, removed materials were repaired and recycled including all internal doors, the backboards in the kitchen area, and the oak bench in the rear entrance hall. Where new wooden elements were required for the staircase and the mezzanine balustrade, these were specified in oak made and installed by local craft specialists.
