Welcome

Welcome to the Cresswell Pele Tower Project website.

Cresswell Pele Tower was built by the Cresswell family in the 15th century and is one of about 175 Pele towers in Northumberland. The Cresswell Pele Tower Project has been supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to set up a community and education focused project to investigate the Pele Tower and its environs and then conserve the tower as a resource for future generations.

Funding Update March 2018

The Second Round (Delivery Phase) HLF funding application to restore Cresswell Pele Tower was submitted on 4th March 2018. It will now be assessed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and a decision made in mid-June. The application is for £677,600 and includes all of the repairs to the tower, including a new roof, to make the building weatherproof and suitable for holding events & exhibitions. A Victorian gardener’s bothy near the tower will be rebuilt to provide welfare facilities for volunteers. The boundary walls around the site will be repaired and there will be an environmental scheme to improve the biodiversity. Last but by no means least there will be another community archaeology project.

If that isn’t enough Cresswell Village Hall Association has been successful with a funding application to LEADER to upgrade the Village Hall which will allow it to serve as a heritage an education centre to support of the pele tower project and showcase some of the area’s other amazing heritage. So we’re on a bit of a roll at the moment!

We are also currently setting up a Charitable Trust to take the project forward.

Our October 2017 Archaeology Update is now available with exciting news about developments within the tower.