In the early medieval period, the principal location in Northumberland was the coastal town of Bamburgh. In fact, from the time of the Celtic Britons this region was home to some form of early fortification. The current incarnation of Bamburgh Castle is built on a northeast facing outcrop of the Great whin Sill, an intrusion of volcanic rock covering around
A little seaside town located on the North Sea coast about 15 miles northeast of Newcastle, Newbiggin was once a busy shipping port, then a popular holiday destination, but now its prosperity relies mostly on fishing, pleasure boating and attracting tourists. An old oral tradition suggests that the village known apparently as South Wallerick was attacked by a band of
The town of Harwich in Essex takes its name from the Old English words here + wic meaning ‘Army-dwelling’ after a Danish army reportedly camped on the site sometime in the 9th century. However, the Domesday Book makes no mention of the town which means that if there was anyone residing in the area shortly after the Norman invasion in
Sunderland Harbour (Credit J. Thomas: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en) Built up around both banks of the River Wear and with an extensive North Sea coastline we find the port city of Sunderland. The modern city is in fact the merging of three separate Anglo-Saxon era settlements: Monkwearmouth, on the northern bank of the river, and Bishopwearmouth and Sunderland to the south. In this
Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a stunning tidal island situated just off the northeast coast of England and is a place of fascinating history. For the early medieval kingdom of Northumbria, Lindisfarne was the beating heart of the Anglo-Saxon Christian faith. What is more, the cult of St. Cuthbert drew pilgrims to the island and with-it wealth and
(A Map of the Kingdom of Northumbria circa 700 AD – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_the_Kingdom_of_Northumbria_around_700_AD.svg) Northumbria was one of the most significant Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to the north of the Humber to ever exist. At its peak the Kingdom of Northumbria stretched from the Irish Sea to the North Sea with a northern border on the Firth of Forth and its southern border at
The coastal towns and villages of Cumbria, famed for their beauty, have long grasped the attention of historians and archaeologists for a different reason. Throughout the Early Middle Ages both Anglo-Saxons and Vikings would call Cumbria home. The archaeology of their settlements, culture and interaction provides us as historians with a treasure trove of information with which to try and
“Another Place” is an extraordinary artwork by Sir Antony Gormley that features 100 cast iron figures spread out along three kilometers of the foreshore, stretching almost one kilometer out to sea. This intriguing installation on Crosby Beach, Sefton, is both a contemplative art piece and a striking visual experience. The Installation Each figure in “Another Place” weighs 650 kilograms and
The Wirral is a fascinating place which boasts stunning coastal views and is home to many quaint and beautiful village towns, but most importantly for this discussion the Wirral is teeming with evidence of its storied medieval past. In the early Middle Ages, the Wirral coastline was sought after, not for its beauty, but for its strategic importance. The Wirral
The Anglo-Saxons and Cumbria: The Invasion of 945 AD The territory of Cumbria was, in the Viking era (c.800-1100), part of the Brittonic kingdom of Strathclyde. Strathclyde stretched from the basin of the River Clyde down to what is now north-western England and the Cumbrian coast which met both the Solway Firth and the Irish Sea. This exquisite 160km stretch
Today Bridlington is a popular tourist town during the Summer months jam-packed with history. But the area has been settled for over 1000 years, and there’s something for everyone here. It doesn’t matter if you like nature or history, you can find both in this beautiful coastal Yorkshire town. It’s a busy place, with plenty of activities and events on
The name Holmpton derives from Homletone, a name that comes from a combination of Old Norse and Old English. Holmpton is a small hamlet with a population of 228, and it lies on the East Yorkshire coast, not far from Hull. Like the rest of the coastal towns and villages in this area, Holmpton suffers from drastic coastal erosion. The
The coastline of the United Kingdom is one of the country’s most prominent features, having contributed greatly to British heritage …
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Protecting Our Oceans is a campaign and mission statement by the National Trust which supports the designation, and effective management, …
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The National Trust is a charity that owns and maintains large areas of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the …
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Top coastal museums and galleries Historic Dockyard Chatham Chatham - Kent - England Based in the charming ex-military town of …
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