Belling Pele, Kielder Water

Has been described as a Questionable Pele Tower, and also as a Questionable Bastle

There are no visible remains

NameBelling Pele, Kielder Water
Alternative NamesKielder Water
Historic CountryNorthumberland
Modern AuthorityNorthumberland
1974 AuthorityNorthumberland
Civil ParishFalstone

There was formerly a Pele at Belling (MacLauchlan 1867).

There appear to be no remains of this Pele. A probable site is Belling Crags (F2 ASP 02-AUG-56).

The Belling is a farmhouse with outbuildings of no great age, situated at the foot of precipitous crags, and above a S facing slope of pasture, overlooking the River North Tyne valley. No evidence of antiquity was found in or around the farmstead. No owner could be contacted.

Belling Crags rise to 674 feet above OD, and present an excellent postion for a defensive tower. There is good all round visibility, along the N Tyne valley to the E, S and W, and up the valley of the Belling burn to the N. The position overlooks a great stretch of moorland to the N and E. On all sides of the hill-top are precipitous crags or steep pasture slopes. There are no traces of antiquity to be seen (Clarke 1956). (PastScape)

The barn at Belling survived until 1980. It had walls five feet thick, but no other details are known. (Dodds 1999)

Gatehouse Comments

The records for this site are difficult to interpret. The map ref given is marked 'The Belling' on the 1894 OS map. It is unlikely there was pele tower on the Belling Crags, as hinted at Clarke. The list of 'Pele Towers' given by an old resident to MacLauchlan were probably all pele-houses (i.e. bastles - the term 'pele' causing some confusion).

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNY694881
Latitude55.1868209838867
Longitude-2.48123002052307
Eastings369460
Northings588185
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Dodds, John F., 1999, Bastions and Belligerents (Newcastle upon Tyne: Keepdate Publishing) p. 290
  • MacLauchlan, H., 1867, Notes not included in the memoirs already published on Roman roads in Northumberland: taken during a survey made by direction of the Duke of Northumberland (London) p. 73 online copy

Other

  • HF Clarke 5-7-56 Essex Arch Soc (Author of "The Tower and Fortified Houses of Northum" 1905-56 Private work unpublished)