The early history of the Pele is shrouded in mystery and very little is known about it prior to the early 1800`s.  In the 2nd edition of Pevsner`s The Buildings of England - Northumberland, published in 1992, it is described as "……the ruins of a TOWER HOUSE, originally no doubt a 'vicar`s pele'.  Said to be 14th century, but the existing remains are all 16th century..."  Its construction is in general rough coursed and squared stone, patched with brickwork and there is evidence that it had three storeys.  There are numerous blocked doors and window openings to all elevations and the sloping rooflines of old attached buildings, now demolished, are clearly evident on the more complex north and west faces.  At the base of the blocked first floor doorway on the north elevation part of a medieval grave cover, incised with a Celtic cross, has been used as a jamb stone.