Cresswell Castle, Northumberland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cresswell Castle |
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| Creswell, Northumberland, England | |
Cresswell Castle
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 Cresswell Castle
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| Coordinates | 55°13′59″N 1°32′27″W / 55.2330°N 1.5408°W |
| Type | Tower house |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Cresswell Pele Tower is a historic building in the village of Cresswell, in Northumberland, England. It is about 4 miles north of Ashington. This tower was built a long time ago, in the 15th century.
It was made to protect people from groups called the Border Reivers. These were families who raided across the border between England and Scotland. Cresswell Tower is special because it is still in good condition, unlike many other similar towers in Northumberland.
What is a Pele Tower?
A Pele Tower is a small, strong tower house. People built them in the border areas of England and Scotland. They were used as safe places during attacks. Families could live in them and hide their valuable things. These towers were often three or four stories high. They had thick stone walls to keep out enemies.
Inside the Tower
Cresswell Pele Tower has three floors. The main entrance is on the ground floor. This level was mostly used for storing food and supplies. To get to the living areas, you had to climb a very narrow, winding stone staircase. This staircase was designed to be easy to defend. It would have been hard for attackers to get up.
On the first floor, there was a kitchen and a living space. There was also a special toilet called a garderobe. The very top floor was probably used for sleeping. It would have been quite cold and damp up there. This is because there were no fireplaces on that level. From the top floor, stairs lead up to the roof. A low wall called a parapet runs around the top of the tower. From here, people could look out and defend the tower.
A Look Back in Time
The tower has been around for a long time. In the past, it was connected to a much bigger house called Cresswell Hall. This hall was taken down around 1845. Today, the only part of the hall you can still see is its old front doorway. It was saved and built into a nearby field wall.
Cresswell Pele Tower is a very important historical site. It is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it is a building of special interest. It is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This protects it from being changed or damaged.
The White Lady Legend
There is a sad local story about Cresswell Tower. It tells of a beautiful young woman from the Cresswell family. She fell in love with a prince from Denmark. They planned for him to sail to England and take her back to his home country. They wanted to get married there.
One day, the prince arrived on the shore. The young woman was very excited to meet him. But then, something terrible happened. She watched in horror as her own brothers attacked the prince and killed him. The girl was heartbroken. She was so sad that she lost the will to live. She died soon after from a broken heart.
People say that her ghost can still be seen sometimes. She appears as a "white lady" gazing out to sea from the tower roof.
