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Pele Towers

In the fourteenth century the nobles of the north east were making good money out of the war between England and Scotland. They put this money into impressive castles such as Bolton or Raby. Meanwhile the unglamorous reality of war was the business of utilitarian pele towers, with walls seven to ten feet thick, built in areas close to the border with Scotland.

Pele towers can be seen at:

Ponteland

There is a ruined pele tower in the village of Ponteland, on the A696, about eight miles north west of Newcastle.

Preston Tower

The Preston Tower was built by Robert Harbottle. Two turrets are missing, but most of the main structure remains intact. The rooms of the tower contain displays illustrating the history of the building.

Contact:

phone: 01665 589227

Corbridge Pele Tower

This tower was built around 1300 in the village of Corbridge, using stone taken from a nearby Roman fort. Corbridge is on the A 69 east of Newcastle.

Dilston Tower

Dilston Tower is a restored tower house and chapel. There is a display on the earl of Derwentwater who once owned the tower.

Dilston Tower is off the B6307 south of Corbridge, eighteen miles west of Newcastle.