Historic Whittingham Tower turned into a cannabis farm

Oct 27 2009 by Garry Willey, The Journal

WHEN developer Stephen Armstrong bought the crumbling Whittingham Tower in Northumberland neighbours thought their historic landmark was to be restored to its former glory.

Yet his renovation plans for the 14th Century pele tower, near Alnwick, involved setting up a cannabis farm within its walls.

And only a New Year’s Day blaze sent plans to grow his own pain-killing drug supply up in smoke.

Firefighters were called when a caravan next to the three-storey stone tower caught fire following a suspected electrical fault.

They saw a cable running in to the tower and forced their way inside, Newcastle Crown Court heard, and there they found 75 cannabis plants thriving with the help of grow bags, watering boxes and a by-passed power supply.

“The plants were discovered in the basement,” said barrister Emma Atkinson.

“Also in an upstairs room accessed by ladder were drying-out boxes with cannabis inside.” Armstrong was living in Cambois, Northumberland, while the renovation was being carried out at the tower, the centrepiece of Whittingham village.