Prudhoe Pele

Has been described as a Questionable Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NamePrudhoe Pele
Alternative Names
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishPrudhoe

In 1326 Roger Manuyt, the keeper of Prudhoe Castel, was ordered to construct a pele outside the gates of Prudhoe Castle. It was built between the two moats on the west side of the barbican where a chapel stood called "Our Lady of the Pele-yard". Stockdale in 1596 says the pele yard was entered from the barbican by a large "Gate Rowme". (Graham 1976)

In 20 Ed. II., Roger de Mauduit, constable of Prudhoe, was ordered to construct a certain pele without the gates of that castle, at the expense of twenty marks. (Abb. Rot. Orig. i., p. 299.) This appears to relate to the fortification of the area between the outer and the inner moats, in which stood the 'elder chapell' of 'Our Lady at the foot of the mount' (Wallis) and the 'lodgeings there scituate without the castle.' This pele was entered by_ 'a large gate-toure'_ to the west of the barbican (Stockdale).

Gatehouse Comments

Why this 'pele' (peli) should be built just outside a castle is unclear. Other authorities include this work with Prudhoe Castle. It is said that 'pele' in its original sense meant a wooden pallisade so this was probably just an extension to the castles barbican. However, pele did quite early develop a meaning as a separate building so it is possible that it may also have been a tower for the chaplain of the chapel.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ091634
Latitude54.964729309082
Longitude-1.85820996761322
Eastings409160
Northings563410
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Graham, Frank, 1976, The Castles of Northumberland (Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Frank Graham) p. 304
  • Dodds, Madeleine Hope (ed), 1926, Northumberland County History (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Vol. 12 p.
  • Bates, C.J., 1891, Border Holds of Northumberland (London and Newcastle: Andrew Reid) p. 57, 202 (Also published as the whole of volume 14 (series 2) of Archaeologia Aeliana view online)
  • Wallis, J., 1769, The Natural History and Antiquities of Northumberland Vol. 2

Antiquarian

  • Stockdale, 1586, Survey of the Barony of Prudhoe Alnwick Mss. A. ii, 8

Primary Sources

  • Playford, H. and Caley, J. (eds), 1805, Rotulorum Originalium in Curia Scaccarii Abbreviatio (London: Record Commission) Vol. 1 p. 299b online copy