Summer Walk 5, Cresswell Pele Tower & Walled Garden - Tuesday 4th July 2023.
Morpeth Camera Club run a programme of informal walks and visits to places of local interest where those that wish
to can practice their photography, exchange tips and ideas and keep in contact over the summer months. On Tuesday
4th July, eighteen members met at Cresswell for an evening visit to the 14th Century Pele Tower.
Pele Towers were fortified houses that were built as a defence against the Border Reivers, and when the camera club
visited in 2016 it was classed as an outstanding example, although it was little more than a ruin. At that time we were
made aware of plans to restore this historic listed building and seven years later, the aim of the evening was to view
and photograph the now completely restored and refurbished local landmark.
The group were met by Mr Barry Mead, a local historian and archaeologist who has been the driving force behind this
unique project. To start the tour he led us into a triangular walled garden adjacent to the Pele Tower. Protected from
the cold wind blowing in off the North Sea by 15-feet high walls on its three sides, it once provided the fruit, veg and
cut flowers for Cresswell Hall, the stately home once lived in by the Cresswell family. When the hall was demolished
in the 1930s, the garden was abandoned and had remained that way until local volunteers embarked on a long and
arduous task of restoration to return the area for use as a community space, food producing patch and orchard.
First floor 16th Aug 2016 and Same View 4th July 2023.
Leaving the walled garden we entered the Pele Tower and it's transformation is remarkable. The badly vandalised and
roofless ruin has been converted into a beautiful historic building for current and future generations to visit and enjoy.
Club members photographed all parts of the tower, the once dank and dark ground floor room is now unrecognisable,
with its restored stone floor and curved ‘barrel-vaulted’ sandstone ceiling. A narrow, defensive, winding staircase with
'stumble steps' leads to the first floor. Once open to the elements this has become the main exhibit room with glazing
added to the windows, walls repointed, heating and lighting installed and a stone floor relaid. The roof has been added
and this structure has to be seen with huge wooden beams and elevated walkway. Another flight of steps led us out
onto the east side of the roof, giving panoramic views of Cresswell and Druridge Bay, from the rebuilt ramparts.
The Pele Tower has now been removed from Historic England’s buildings 'At Risk' register and is now a national heritage
attraction. Big 'thank you' to Barry Mead for sharing his time, enthusiasm and humour, as together with his encyclopedic
knowledge he made this an enjoyable and interesting evening.
Davy.
to can practice their photography, exchange tips and ideas and keep in contact over the summer months. On Tuesday
4th July, eighteen members met at Cresswell for an evening visit to the 14th Century Pele Tower.
Pele Towers were fortified houses that were built as a defence against the Border Reivers, and when the camera club
visited in 2016 it was classed as an outstanding example, although it was little more than a ruin. At that time we were
made aware of plans to restore this historic listed building and seven years later, the aim of the evening was to view
and photograph the now completely restored and refurbished local landmark.
The group were met by Mr Barry Mead, a local historian and archaeologist who has been the driving force behind this
unique project. To start the tour he led us into a triangular walled garden adjacent to the Pele Tower. Protected from
the cold wind blowing in off the North Sea by 15-feet high walls on its three sides, it once provided the fruit, veg and
cut flowers for Cresswell Hall, the stately home once lived in by the Cresswell family. When the hall was demolished
in the 1930s, the garden was abandoned and had remained that way until local volunteers embarked on a long and
arduous task of restoration to return the area for use as a community space, food producing patch and orchard.
First floor 16th Aug 2016 and Same View 4th July 2023.
Leaving the walled garden we entered the Pele Tower and it's transformation is remarkable. The badly vandalised and
roofless ruin has been converted into a beautiful historic building for current and future generations to visit and enjoy.
Club members photographed all parts of the tower, the once dank and dark ground floor room is now unrecognisable,
with its restored stone floor and curved ‘barrel-vaulted’ sandstone ceiling. A narrow, defensive, winding staircase with
'stumble steps' leads to the first floor. Once open to the elements this has become the main exhibit room with glazing
added to the windows, walls repointed, heating and lighting installed and a stone floor relaid. The roof has been added
and this structure has to be seen with huge wooden beams and elevated walkway. Another flight of steps led us out
onto the east side of the roof, giving panoramic views of Cresswell and Druridge Bay, from the rebuilt ramparts.
The Pele Tower has now been removed from Historic England’s buildings 'At Risk' register and is now a national heritage
attraction. Big 'thank you' to Barry Mead for sharing his time, enthusiasm and humour, as together with his encyclopedic
knowledge he made this an enjoyable and interesting evening.
Davy.