Mesolithic history in Northumberland

This story board from Maelmin talks about the mesolithic era. From 10,000 BC , when the ice sheets retreated, through to approximately 4,000 BC, when farming began to be established.This was the time of the hunter gatherers who wandered across the country side.

As the ice melted the sea levels rose and Britain became separated from Europe. Around 6500 BC the temperatures were at their highest, up to 2 degrees centigrade higher

than the present day. Vast broad leaf forests would have covered the landscape and the area would have been rich in fauna and flora.

We have beautiful cottages to rent across the fertile Northumberland plains. The area is tranquil and unhurried. From Bamburgh and Seahouses on the Northumberland Coast across to the Cheviot Hills you are guaranteed a lovely vacation.

Maelmin and thirlings

This story board from Maelmin talks about how the settlement was created back in approx. 650 AD. As you look out over the airfield you are told that the settlement lies below the surface, visible from aerial photographs.

You can see the timber fence, great hall and settlements. Very similar to what has been found at Ad Gefrin near to Yeavering.

Ancient woodlands in Northumberland

Around 8000 bc...some 2,000 years or so after the last of the ice had retreated, the woodland cover had established it across the North Northumberland plain. There were dense broadleave forests of oak, birch and pine. The rivers ran through marshy wetlands of willow and alder.

Higher up on the hills birch trees were more common.

Throughout the area there is a sense of history and despite some of the more modern developments this has never really been lost.

What is a Henge?

We see henges referred to time and time again up here in Northumberland...but what exactly is a henge?

Well this story board from Maelmin helps to answer the question.

Its a circular open air temple. It has an outer earth mound, an inner ditch and uprights of wood or stone.

So the next time you are reading about the ancient history this is what a henge was!

Early Neolithic in Northumberland

The early Neolithic from about 3000 to 4000 bc was the time when hunting gave way to farming in Northumberland. The vast forests of oak,elm, birch and pine were felled to make way for crops and grazing animals. Pottery was fired in kilns and the cup and ring motifs which are still visible as rock art were carved.

Flodden, 9th September 1513.

We had previously written a small blog about the Battle of Flodden on 9th Sep 1513, just to the north of Wooler and a short way off the Coldstream road.


Here is the link to Wikimapia

and here is representation of the battle...click on the image to see it full size

The Battle of Otterburn, 19th August 1388

Carrying on with David Clark's excellent book on touring northern battlefields
( Battlefield walks, pub.Grange books) it's the turn of Otterburn.

We pass through the village when taking the northern route from Cumbria over to north Northumberland, so it's familiar to us...but as a battlefield?

Anyway...the history first.

Two key points

1.In Scotland there were the Douglas's and south of the border the Percy's.

2.There was pressure from the Scottish crown to continue the border wars....and not surprisingly the offer was gratefully accepted and the raiding continued.

The Douglas's had been as far south as Durham, tried to capture Newcastle on their way back and were by all accounts more than ready to tackle the Percy's when they caught up with the Scottish raiders.

The battle itself has several interesting notes.

When the English attacked they found the camp full of non combatants. These they set about killing and the main Scoys army gained valuable time to regroup.Interestingly it has been suggested that Douglas left his non combatants in that place to serve such a purpose.

The main fighting was by moonlight which hindered the arrival of the Umfraville party which had been sent out to outflank the Scots.

Anyway....Douglas was killed, Percy captured and the Scots won the day.
It wouln't be until Homildon Hill in 1402 that the Percy's had their revenge.

This is the wikimapia view of the battleground


Here is Percy's cross , the memorial






And here is the map




See also our blog on the Battle of Hexham.

Pre history in Northumberland

Up here in the Cheviots and across the National Park it is sometimes possible to imagine yourself back in simpler more primitive times. But when you start to read about history in the Borders there is a tendency to start with the Romans. Almost as if those who came before do not matter.

However two discoveries have opened up this time....well in a small way...for us.

First off we have been looking at the prehistoric rock art of Northumberland and nobody photographs than Rockartwolf.

The second surprise was reading Alastair Moffat's book on Border history and what he calls the wildwood time. Sure the story of the ancient hunter gatherers is fiction, but this is fiction which was probably true. Just no one ever recorded it.

So although most of our visitors think of Romans and Border Reivers there is in fact much more history up here in Northumberland.

Trafalgar wood

Here are a couple of pictures for something that is often missed. As you come into the College Valley, just before you drop down towards towards Hethpool the view is fantastic.Everyone looks ahead and up the valley but just on your right hand side is this small wood planted in 2005. Its called Trafalgar wood in memory of Lord Collingwood. Nearby you have Hethpool Mill and just before you come into the Valley there is Akeld Hill View.

Battle of Flodden Field or Branxton ridge

North West of Wooler on the Coldstream road look out for a left turn for Branxton. This is where the battle took place , 9th September 1513.

As you approach Branxton from the south the road takes a sharp left and then a right before you see the village on the opposite hillside.This is where the Scottish army were prepared to fight the English.

Looking across the fields towards the dip between the two armies it is difficult to believe that there must have been well over 30,000 soldiers here that September day and that over 14,000 would die before the day was out.

There is a battlefield trail leading around the area and this culminates with the memorial.

At intervals you will see the storyboards which tell more about what happened

The official website seems to be Flodden.Net 

Ill Week, Reivers and Northumberland history

When Queen Elizabeth 1st died on 24th March 1603 the growing lawlessness in the Borders came to a dramatic conclusion. Believing that the rule of law was effectively suspended the Border Reivers mounted a huge raid into Engalnd. Over 4,000 cattle and 5,000 sheep and goats were stolen during what became known as ILL week.

However as soon as James VI of Scotland became James 1st of England the need for a frontier was done away with. He abolished the "marches", abolished the post of warden of the Borders and change the name of the area to "The Middle Shires".
He then went about pacifying the area.

History of Northumberland - Ponteland Pele Tower

Ponteland is built around an ancient crossing point of the river Pont. In 1244 it was here that a peace treaty between England and Scotland was negotiated. The village is on a well trampled path between Newcastle and Scotland. The danger of raiders meant that a Pele tower, attached to the vicarage was essential to help safeguard the inhabitants.

A Pele tower was usually of simple construction, walls over 10 feet thick and a huge reinforced door.

History of Northumberland and Berwick-upon-Tweed

Looking back across the centuries, talking about the reivers and the hostility between England and Scotland one usually ends up discussing Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Back in the 13th century Berwick was probably one of the wealthiest cities in Scotland. In 1291 Edward the 1st presided over a great meeting to determine the King of Scotland. His choice was John Baliol, who in turn swore an oath of allegiance to the English crown.
However in 1296, a disaffected John Baliol rebelled and invaded Northumberland. Edward 1st rode northwards and his 1st target was Berwick. A combined land/sea attack overwhelmed the defences and the rich and wealthy town was put to the sword.
It is claimed that over 17,000 towns folk perished.

Over the years Berwick has seen many important historical figures. For instance

1. Edward II fled to Berwick after his humiliating loss at Bannockburn.
2. Twenty years later the longbowmen of Edward III inflicted equally awful punishment on the Scots at Halidon Hill.
3. James VI of Scotland, on his way to London to be crowned James I of England became terrified when crossing the river over the old wooden bridge at Berwick. The new stone bridge was called the King James Bridge ever since.

Ancient Northumberland Roads

From medieval times through to the creation of the turnpikes there were a number of different types of road traversing Northumberland.

The most important ancient roads were the Highways. These were usable at the drier times of the year and these roads would follow the harder ground and lighter soils , often leading to inexplicable twists and turns.

After the Highways came the paved roads. These were either old Roman roads or were "made up" with stone. The paved roads were also known as streets.

After the paved roads came the Salt roads and then the Drove roads.

Further down the list in order of importance we get Lanes and finally tracks or paths.

Drove roads in Northumberland

Drift or Drove roads across Northumberland were the ancient paths taken by cattle, geese and sheep across the countryside between Scotland and London. The drove roads tended to avoid the main highways and towns.

Some experts have estimated the number of cattle being driven down from Scotland to London as high as 30,000 per year. The majority of these would have gone through Northumberland. The drive from Scotland to London would have typically taken eight weeks.

However these drove roads have not left a lasting legacy on place names within Northumberland.

Salt roads in Northumberland

Back in the middle ages each "town" tried to be self supporting. However Salt was one commodity which usually had to be imported. This in turn made it an attractive source of tax revenue. The roads which were used to help transport Salt became known as Salt roads. One of these followed an even older track from the Tyne through Alnmouth into Scotland.

The Salt trade has left its mark amongst place names in Northumberland, examples being

1. Saltwick
2. Salters' Bridge
3. Salters' road

The Salt roads generally ranked quite low on accessability although it is believed that some were paved.