Bothal

Bothal
Bothal village
Bothal  Bothal shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference	NZ240866
Unitary authority	Northumberland
Ceremonial county	Northumberland
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Postcode district	NE61
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Northumberland
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Wansbeck
List of places: UK • England • Northumberland

Bothal is a village in Northumberland, in England. It is situated between Morpeth and Ashington. There is a castle, a church, a vicarage opposite the church gates, some stepping stones over the River Wansbeck, a few houses and that's about it really. A nice quiet place.

Bothal was the headquarters of the extensive Welbeck Estates in Northumberland. Half a mile upstream of the castle are the remains of a watermill that still had a working waterwheel up to about the First World War. It had a turbine for electricity production for the mill house from 1947 to 1980.

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  Image of Bothal Village

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  Bothal village

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  Into Bothal woods

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  Bothal village

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  The River Wansbeck viewed from the stepping stones at Bothal.

Bothal was also a drift mine ('Bothal Barns Drift') though this is something of a misnomer. Bothal Drift was merely another entrance to the Ashington colliery. Now, Bothal Barns Drift is the site of a private house with the old entrance to the drift mine being long disused. The Bothal Drift is situated on the top of the bank on the Ashington side.

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  It used to be the entrance to the 'drift'mine

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  Now long disused.

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  Nearby farmhouse 'Bothal Barns'

Further west ( a few hundred yards) from the church and castle, it is possible to walk along the river Wansbeck for some 30-45 minutes west towards Morpeth. The name Morpeth apparently means 'murder path' and was once the main thoroughfare along the river. Further along the footpath is the remains of an old chapel. Just a few rocks on the footpath that could be easily overlooked. There is the name 'Catherine' carved into one of the foundation stones .. . though perhaps somebody will correct this, as I'm not too sure now..

The footpath starts near the site of the old mill. You can park your car near the gate (at the bridge) and then walk westwards past the weir. The Bothal Valley is actually quite pleasant and steeped in history, not that you will notice the history on the walk of course.

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  Bothal church in the summer

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  Bothal church

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  The old weir, just past the outbuilding/ old watermill. Looking west

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  The footpath leading west along the river Wansbeck

External links

• GENUKI (Accessed: 15 November, 2008)