Have Fun Exploring North Northumberland's Heritage

This weekend (9-11 September) is Heritage Open Days in England. There are a number of events taking place in Berwick and North Northumberland which may be of interest. This includes the Ravensdowne and Greenses Walks.  The following is a selective list:

Friday 9 September

Berwick
Georgian Berwick – a walk down Ravensdowne led by Linda Bankier.
Find out about the people who lived there in the past and how the street developed. Starts 2.30 pm at the Parade Car Park.
Booking via Berwick Tourist Information (01670) 622155 or email Berwick.tic@activenorthumberland.gov.uk

Saturday 10 September

 Berwick
The Greenses -  walk around the Greenses area of Berwick.
Come and find out about the people who lived there and the nature of the community. Starts 10.30am at the corner of Bell Tower Place and the High Greens.
Booking via Berwick Tourist Information (01670) 622155 or email Berwick.tic@activenorthumberland.gov.uk

A Hint of History at Spittal Point - an historical walk around Spittal.
Starts 1pm at Carr Rock.

Berwick Castle Tour  - find out about the history of Berwick Castle.
Starts 9.30am and 1.30pm. Meet at Railway Street.

From Ditch to Bastion – Find out about Berwick’s medieval defences.
Starts 11.30am and 3.30pm at entrance to Berwick Holiday Camp.

Masonic Hall – find out about the history of the building, situated in the Parade and erected in 1872.
Open 10am-4pm.
 
The Trewe Description of Her Majesties Towne of Barwick – a walk led by Catherine Kent around Elizabethan Berwick finding out about the town’s 16th century buildings and inhabitants. Starts 2.30pm at The Louvre, Bankhill.

Georgian Berwick  - a walk down Ravensdowne led by Linda Bankier.
Find out about the people who lived there in the past and how the street developed. Starts 2.30pm at the Parade Car Park.
Booking via Berwick Tourist Information (01670) 622155 or email Berwick.tic@activenorthumberland.gov.uk

Belford
Belford Hidden History Museum Open Day – come and visit the museum and find out about the area in 1916; Middleton Hall and the suicide at the Blue Bell.
Open 10am-4pm.

Sunday 11 September

 Belford
Belford Hidden History Museum Open Day – come and visit the museum and find out about the area in 1916; Middleton Hall and the suicide at the Blue Bell.
Open 10am-4pm.

Berwick
Archaeology and Artichokes – Discover some of Berwick’s history at the Lion’s Allotments. Starts 12.30pm and 4pm at the Allotments on the Walls.

 The Tower Tour – Find out about 500 years of Berwick’s history in 500 yards.
Starts 10am and 11.30am at Ness Gate.

 The Trewe Description of Her Majesties Towne of Barwick – a walk led by Catherine Kent around Elizabethan Berwick finding out about the town’s 16th century buildings and inhabitants.
Starts 2.30pm at The Louvre, Bankhill.

Branxton
Flodden Battlefield Walk – guided walk over the battlefield at Flodden.
Starts 2pm at the car park opposite Branxton Church

 The Battle of Flodden – come and find out about the documentary evidence which exists about the Battle of Flodden; the work of Tillvas, enjoy some children’s activities or try your hand at reading old handwriting.
From 11am to 3.30pm in Branxton Village Hall.

Full list of Heritage Open Days events in Northumberland and the rest of England

Explore Your History at Bygone Borderlands, Berwick-upon-Tweed, This Weekend

It's almost here, the event that we've all been waiting for.

Following on the heels of a very successful Berwick and World War I event is Bygone Borderlands at Berwick Guildhall from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, 2 May and Sunday, 3 May.

Pose your family history question to Borders Family History Society or Northumberland and Durham Family History Society.

Discuss those local history puzzles with Ayton Local History Society, Belford Museum Group, Border Archaeological Society, Borders Family History Society, Bowsden History Group, Chirnside History Group, Coldstream History Society, Eyemouth Museum, Flodden 1513, Friends of Berwick & District Museum and Archives, Glendale Local History Society, Lowick Heritage Group. Northumberland and Durham Family History Society, Old Parish of Bamburgh Group; Till Valley Archaeological Society (Tillvas).

There's a downloadable programme of talks - 4 each day, starting at noon:

Saturday, 2 May

Sunday, 3 May


Download the Berwick 900 Festival's full programme of events. 

Heritage Open Days Weekend, 12 to 14 September

The annual Open Doors weekend takes place in Berwick from 12 to 14 September. Full list of buildings open and events taking place in Northumberland

Some of the following may interest you :

Bamburgh
Saturday 13th September : St Oswald’s Way - Enjoy a guided short walk led by Michael Mountney around the Bamburgh area and back via a circular route including part of St Oswald's Way. Going is easy. Distance approximately 5 miles. 10.-00 to 13.00. Meet at the Car Park below Bamburgh Castle.

Belford
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th September : Belford Hall – enjoy a tour of this listed Georgian building. 11.00 to 16.00 each day.
Sunday 14th September : Belford Hidden History Museum Open Day – Find out fascinating stories about the village’s history. This year there is a special focus on World War I. Open 10am to 4pm.

Berwick
Friday 12th September : Magistrates Court in Church Street, Berwick. You can see around the Court, talk to some of the present JP’s, see a re-enactment of a recent case (11am and 2 pm.) and hear a talk on 19th century crime in Berwick at 3pm. The court is open from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 3.45pm.

Friday 12th September : Portraits of Northumberland at Wallace Green Car Park. Come and visit the converted horse wagon and help Julia Barton and Carl von Weiler collect memories of streets, shops and houses in Berwick. Open 10am to 4pm.

Saturday 13th September : Baptist Church in Golden Square. Formerly the Grammar School. Hosting an exhibition on the schools and churches of Golden Square and the Royal Tweed Bridge (the "New Bridge") of 1928, the building of which destroyed the square. Interesting features remain including the Grammar School plaque, the School House plaque, scrolled kneelers on gables and the grooved window sills. Open 10am to 4pm.

Saturday 13th September : Berwick Drill Hall in Ravensdowne. See around the Drill Hall and find out about Berwick in 1914. Open 10am to 1pm.

Saturday 13th September :  Tour of the Council Offices (Old Goal) in Wallace Green. Find out about the history of the building and inspect the cells ! For those not wanting to go on the tour, there will be a small local history exhibition in the foyer of the Council Office building. First tour at 10.30am and then every half hour with last one at 1.30pm.

Saturday 13th September : Ditch to Bastion and Castle Tour  - guided walks led by Jim Herbert. Castle Tour at 09.30 and 13.30, Ditch to Bastion, 11.30 and 15.30. See website for more details.

Saturday 13th September : Portraits of Northumberland at Wallace Green Car Park. See entry for Friday. Open 10.00 – 16.00.

Sunday 14th September : Story of Spittal Guided Walk.  Come and enjoy a guided walk around Spittal and find out more about its history. They start at 11.30 am and 2pm. Meet at the Lifeboat Station at Carr Rock.

Sunday 14th September : Archaeology and Artichokes and Tower Tour – guided walks led by Jim Herbert. Tower Tours at 10.00 and 11.30. Archaeology and Artichokes 13.00;14.30 and 16.00. 

Lowick Sunday 14th September : Lowick Pilgrim Trail. - This walk is organised by Lowick Heritage Group and explores the medieval pilgrim route from Lowick towards Holy Island. It  will follow the pilgrim way from the centre of the village to Hunting Hall. Refreshments  available at Hunting Hall. Starts at Bastle Corner at 2pm. All welcome.

Wooler
Sunday 14th September : Guided Walk over site of Battle of Homildon Hill. Visitors will be able to take part in a guided walk over the site of the Battle on the date of its 612th anniversary. The walk will last approximately 90 to 120 minutes. Meet at Humbleton at 2pm but check website for details.