Wraysholme Tower

A 15th Century fortified medieval solar tower. In the 15th Century it became fashionable for medieval gentry of the Knight class to build fortified towers on their halls to express their military and Noble status. Wraysholme was home by a younger branch of the Harrington family who possibly built it in the early 1400's. It was lost when the Harrington's supported Richard III at the battle of Bosworth in 1485 and then supported the Yorkist cause of the Earl of Lincoln at East Stoke in 1487, Lambert Simnels army landed from Ireland nearby and no doubt recruited the Harringtons when landing. The tower then passes to the Stanley family and was held by George Le Strange. The tower is associated with the legend of the Last Wolf in England which was supposedly slain by John De Lisle at nearby Humphrey Head. Wraysholme in the story was held by John De Lisle's uncle Sir Edgar Harrington who issued a challenge for young knights to slay the beast which was terrorising his manor. The tower currently is privately owned by a farming family so if you want to visit, do ask permission. Otherwise the tower can be photographed from Wraysholme Lane.