The Vicar’s Pele stands to the south east of St Andrew’s Church. It was constructed as a fortified residence for the vicar with stones taken from Corstopitum.
A plaque reads: ‘This Pele tower, the finest of its kind, was built around 1300 for a Vicar of Corbridge and was lived in until the early 17th century.’
It then fell into disrepair before being restored in 1910 by the seventh Duke of Northumberland.
The three storey tower is 30 feet high (almost 10 metres) with walls made from Roman-worked stones (sandstone) from Corstopitum which are over four feet thick.
The upper storey was mainly for defence. It has loops (arrow slits) on three sides, probably for firing missiles.
The middle floor was the living area with a fireplace, chimney breast, two trefoil-headed windows with seats at their sides, a sink and access to a latrine.
The lower floor was a vaulted basement where cattle were likely to have been kept at times of unrest. Its loops were probably to let in light and air.
By 2017 the building had been carefully refurbished with original features maintained and was then available for hire for a time as a wedding and events venue.
‘The Pele’ later opened on a daily basis as a bespoke pub / bar and continues (2023) to attract visitors from far and wide with the slogan: ‘Unique. Historic. Intimate.’
Historic Corbridge 