Welcome
Pele towers were built between 1350 and 1600 and were basically miniature castles built as a defensible retreat against attacks from the Border Reivers, raiders and robbers from either side of the Scottish border. Cresswell Pele Tower is a well preserved example and, thanks to recent excavations and an extensive renovation, the building is now open to the public on selected days and can be hired as a venue or filming location.
Opening times can be found by clicking any of the links on this page or simply by clicking here.
Cresswell Pele Tower is a Registered Charity No: 1176137
The Walled Garden
In July 2022 the National Lottery Heritage fund awarded £230,000 towards the restoration of
the last remnant of what was once a huge 6 acre kitchen garden that for two centuries
provided fruit and vegetables for the Baker-Cresswell family and their estate workers.
Love Northumberland Award
Cresswell Pele Tower is proud to have been selected as the winner of Best Coast and Countryside Project in the 2022 Love Northumberland awards’
A certificate was presented by Her Grace the Duchess of Northumberland at a ceremony at the Alnwic Garden on the 29th of June, 2022.
Cresswell Village’s tribute to the Queen
The coastal village of Cresswell paid its own special tribute to Her Majesty the Queen during the celebrations to mark her 70 years as Monarch.
For what is believed to be the first time in over 500 years, a beacon was lit on the roof of the newly-restored landmark which has stood guard over the village since the 14th Century.
The beacon at the Pele Tower, built as a defence for local landowners and villagers against raids by the notorious gangs of Border Reivers, was one of thousands being lit across the UK and Commonwealth as part of the official weekend celebrations of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee that began on Thursday June 2nd.
Find out more by clicking on the button below or click here.
Pele Tower Pages
Investigations
From the high-tech world of geophysical survey to the low-tech world of feildwalking we left no stone unturned.
Excavations
A skilled band of professional archaeologists and some dedicated volunteers discover Cresswell's heritage.
Restoration
And finally, the wonderful old building is returned to it's former glory - with a few very modern twists.
Videos
An introduction to the tower plus look at the first phase of the archaeological work at Cresswell.
3D Burial Cist
A computer generated interactive model of the Cresswell burial cist, uncovered in 2017.
Northern Saints
We now feature on the Northern Saints website. Find out more on the link below.
