Photographs Of Newcastle: Cresswell Hall and Pele Tower

Cresswell Hall, built 1821-4, had become structurally unsound and was demolished in 1937. In Hall Woods, stand the grand Stable Block and arched stone Gallery which flanked the approach to the Hall (both Grade II Listed buildings). The former East Lodge and North Lodge of the estate remain and are private residences.

Description courtesy of Co-Curate.

21st April 2016

Cresswell Pele Tower.

Pele towers are fortified houses and were built as a defence against the Border Reivers (raiders and robbers from either side of the Scottish border). Cresswell Pele Tower was built by the Cresswell family in the 15th century. The basement would have been used for storage, a kitchen and domestic quarters were on the first floor and the upper floor (unheated) contained bedrooms.

Cresswell Hall Stable Block.

Stable Block of former Cresswell Hall, 1829 by John Shaw for Addison John Cresswell-Baker. Tooled and margined ashlar; slate roofs. Imposing ranges on 3 sides of a court closed to south by a wall with flat coping. North range 2 storeys, 7 bays, the central projecting under a clock tower: doorway with cornice on moulded corbels, modillion cornice at eaves level, 3-light mullioned window to 2nd floor. Moulded set-back clock stage with clock faces under garlands. Roman Doric bellcote with square piers distyle in antis on each side and low-pitched pyramidal roof with antefixae. Bays flanking tower have paired carriage entrances with stone lintels beneath moulded cornices; and corniced doorways between end bays. Window openings empty; all openings have chamfered surrounds. Eaves cornice with paired brackets. 4 corniced ridge stacks with conjoined shafts.

West range 5 bays with similar detail. Central bay set forward with large archway; imposts, moulded keystone, modillion cornice and parapet over. Roof hipped to left. At far left lower wall with segment-headed arch links with wall closing courtyard on south. East range 4 bays, irregular fenestration.

Interior: stone open-well stair in north range behind tower. Derelict and partly roofless at time of survey. Source: Historic England.