J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

There are three sketches on this page, all made with the book turned to the left. At the bottom is a sketch of a ruinous interior, which probably shows the interior of Bowes Castle, perhaps looking towards the arched windows in the east side. The other two sketches have not been identified. They seem to show a square tower with a single surviving gable at one end. The top sketch provides a distant view with hills beyond, and the larger sketch beneath with hills beyond at the top of the page, and closer-to in the middle sketch beneath. The design is typical of the many peel towers to be found along the Scottish Border, such as Johnny Armstrong’s Tower (folio 43; D25607), Smailholm Tower, and Newark Castle. The inscription, which Finberg has read as ‘Gaston’ does not match any buildings of the type within the vicinity of Bowes.