Kirkwhelpington is a village and civil parish in the English county of Northumberland about 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Hexham. It is on the River Wansbeck alongside the A696 trunk road between Otterburn and Ponteland.

Kirkwhelpington
Old courthouse at Kirkwhelpington
Kirkwhelpington is located in Northumberland
Kirkwhelpington
Kirkwhelpington
Location within Northumberland
Population460 (2011(including Bavington))[1]
OS grid referenceNY997844
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode districtNE19
Dialling code01830
PoliceNorthumbria
FireNorthumberland
AmbulanceNorth East
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Northumberland
55°09′18″N 2°00′18″W / 55.155°N 2.005°W / 55.155; -2.005

History

edit

Kirkwhelpington has medieval origins and is an abortive market town. The lord, Gilbert de Umfraville, obtained a market charter from King Henry III but lost its privileges on the grounds of non-usage. He had a bridge built over the Wansbeck to improve its communications.[2]


Economy

edit

There was a mine at Kirkwhelpington (Lead ore).[3]

Landmarks

edit

The Memorial Hall was built in 1924 as a memorial to the men of the village and district who gave their lives in the First World War. Money for this was raised locally with the Duke of Northumberland donating the land. The Post Office is now in the hall and the weekly activities include a Youth Club, Toddler Group, and a Bowls Club. The monthly meetings include the Parish Council, The Royal British Legion Women's Section, and an Art Club.[4]

The village school was built in 1858 and closed in 1972. Northumberland County Council Education Committee used the premises as a Girl Guide holiday centre.[4] This has now been converted to a private house.

The Methodist Church was built in 1870 and closed in 1995/96. It was bought by a villager and is now used for exhibitions of paintings and other art work.[4]

Sweethope Loughs are two freshwater lakes almost 1 mile (1.6 km) in length, 4 miles (6 km) west of Kirkwhelpington,[5] and a renowned fishing location stocked with large rainbow trout. Sweethope Lough boasts good access to those anglers with disabilities, and annually hosts The Viscount Devonport Sweethope Challenge for Disabled Anglers.[6]


Religious sites

edit

St Bartholomew, a thirteenth-century (or earlier) building, with its low, broad Perpendicular tower and long nave and chancel, was altered in the fifteenth century and then in 1896. Excavations have revealed that the building originally had aisles and transepts. There are two fourteenth-century bells, a seventeenth-century font (which rests on the reversed capital of a fourteenth or fifteenth-century pier) and a mahogany pulpit from 1797. The glass includes work by Heaton, Butler and Bayne (1909 and 1914).[7]

Exhibitions etc

edit

The Kirkwhelpington and District Show is held on the first Saturday in September every year. This is an exhibition of horticultural and craft work with home baking and children's exhibits. On one of the Sundays during July six or seven local gardens are open to the public in aid of charity.[4]


Notable people

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  2. ^ Fraser, Constance; Emsley, Kenneth (1989). Northumbria. Chichester, Sussex, England: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-85033-723-2.
  3. ^ "Durham Mining Museum". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kirkwhelpington village". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Bridges On The Wansbeck - SWEETHOPE LOUGHS". Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  6. ^ "Sweethope – The Ray Estate". Retrieved 21 April 2009.
  7. ^ a b c "A church near you". Retrieved 21 November 2008.
  8. ^ "Parsonstown | The genius of the Parsons family | Northumberland". parsonstown.info. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
edit