Lilburn is now a scattering of small hamlets dominated by the privately owned
John Dobson-designed Lilburn Tower. Going back into the mists of time, however, and the
Lilburn family occupied a position of some importance - in 1245 Robert of Lilburn was one of the twenty-four knights commissioned to carry out a survey of the Border territory.

After the death of John Lilburn in 1506 the Lilburn lands passed to his daughters Isabel and Elizabeth. In 1529 the East portion was sold to the Reverend Ogle of Eglingham but was rejoined with the West portion when both were bought by John Clennell in 1692 and 1702. John Clennell's son then bequeathed West Lilburn to his brother for life and thereafter to his nephew
Henry Collingwood.

Within a year of succeeding to the Estate Henry's son decided to demolish the existing house to build what is now Lilburn Tower, commissioning John Dobson of Newcastle to design it.

Two glass vessels, one containing a set of George IV coins, the other a scroll recording the names of the principal builders (Robert Hall, stonemason, Tomas Wallace, carpenter, Ralph Dodds, plasterer, Robert Wallace, clerk of works) are buried under the foundation stone, which was laid on 3rd January 1829.

Lilburn Tower is not a town or village, it is purely the name of the large estate. The entire of the surrounding land is private property belonging to the estate and the family continued to own the property until recently.