Northumberland Towns and Villages Gazetteer

A lovely seaside village at the mouth of the Aln river, Alnmouth was once a busy port until a 19th century storm changed the course of the river. There may have been a settlement here as early as the 7th century, and Alnmouth has been suggested as the site of a synod in 684 to decide on a bishop for the diocese of Hexham. The Normans built a new town here, and a church dedicated to St. Waleric was erected on Church Hill.
Alnmouth, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid NU 2543 1185
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Alnwick is a very pretty town, with plenty of historic interest packed into a small space. The most obvious destination for visitors is Alnwick Castle, ancestral home of the powerful Percy clan. The castle is of Norman origin, but was restored in the Victorian period. Two town gates survive, a 15th century gate surmounted with the lion symbol of the Percy's, and the gatehouse of the old medieval abbey. Two 17th century bridges still bring traffic into Alnwick. Three miles away is 13th century Hulne Priory.
Alnwick, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Town
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OS Grid NU 1909 1182
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A small town at the mouth of the River Coquet, Amble grew up in the Victorian period as a transport centre for the coal mining industry. Now it is an active fishing port, and a popular centre for visitors to Northumberland's coast. Just a mile inland from Amble is Warkworth, with its impressive medieval castle. A walk along the Coquet River leads from Amble to Warkworth. Just offshore is Coquet Island, an RSPB reserve, where St Cuthbert once lived. Regular boat trips leave Amble to view Coquet Island. Nearby are two further nature reserves, at Hauxley and Druridge Bay.
Amble, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Town
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OS Grid NU 2653 0444
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A very popular seaside village, Bamburgh is dominated by the imposing bulk of Bamburgh Castle, a medieval castle much remodeled during the 17th and 19th centuries. The castle looks out over a broad, sandy beach, which sweeps around the coast to the dramatic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Near Bamburgh Castle is the historic church of St Aidan, a 13th century building on the site of a 7th century church built by St Aidan himself. In the churchyard is the ornate memorial of Grace Darling, daughter of the lighthouse keeper at Farne. In 1838 Darling helped rescue the crew of the SS Forfarshire, which ran aground in a fierce storm.
Bamburgh, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid NU173348
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A small village in central Northumberland, Belsay is home to two historic attractions. The older is Belsay Castle, a 14th century fortified manor with a tall pele tower. It was constructed about 1370 and was home to the powerful Middleton family. Nearby is the fascinating shell of Belsay Hall, an ornate Victorian mansion built for Sir Charles Monck in about 1810.
Belsay, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid NZ102785
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Without doubt one of the most historic towns in England, Berwick stands at the mouth of the River Tweed, at the border with Scotland. Indeed, over the course of its long and sometimes bloody history, Berwick has been claimed by both Scotland and England. The ruins of a medieval castle still stand in the town, and the old town walls constructed by Elizabeth I of England remain, remarkably intact.
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Town
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OS Grid NU00815560
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A small village on the border of Northumberland and County Durham, Blanchland has a long and fascinating history. The name 'Blanchland' means 'white land', which refers to the white robes worn by monks of the Premonstratensian order, who established a monastery here in 1165. The abbey was disbanded by Henry VIII, and the abbot's house became the inn now known as the Lord Crewe Arms. The abbey church survived with some alterations as the current parish church.
Blanchland, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid NY965505
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A busy port town on the Northumberland coast, some 13 miles north of Newcastle, Blyth has a history dating back to the 13th century, but it was really the development of coal mining in the Victorian period that put Blyth on the map. The modern sculpture 'Spirit of the Staithes', is a 50 foot high tower built on the Quayside to commemorate the role of Blyth in the distribution of coal around Europe. A much older building is 'High Light' lighthouse, begun in 1788.
Blyth, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Town
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OS Grid NZ 3143 8152
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Bywell is a small village situated on the north bank of the Tyne between Hexham and Newcastle. There are two historic buildings of note in this attractive village. The first is Bywell Castle, built by Ralph Mortimer in about 1430. All that remains of the castle is an impressive fortified gatehouse. The other building is the 18th century manor of Bywell Hall, built around 1760 by William Fenwick, son of the High Sheriff of Northumberland. The Hall is in private hands and is not generally open to the public. A medieval market cross stands in the square.
Bywell, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid NZ045614
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A small village in northern Northumberland best known as the location for Chillingham Castle, home of the Tankerville family. Chillingham Castle is reputedly the most haunted castle in England. Chillingham is home to a unique herd of wild white cattle, which has lived here for at least 700 years. The parish church of St Peter dates to at least the Norman period. Within the church is a marvelous ornate 15th century tomb to Sir Ralph Grey and his wife.
Chillingham, Northumberland, England

Attraction Type: Village
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OS Grid NU061257
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