Warkworth, Northumberland

Warkworth
Warkworth village and church, viewed from the northeast
Warkworth  Warkworth shown within Northumberland
Population	1,493
OS grid reference	NU246057
Unitary authority	Northumberland
Ceremonial county	Northumberland
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MORPETH
Postcode district	NE65
Dialling code	01665
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Northumberland
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	[Berwick upon Tweed]
List of places: UK • England • Northumberland

River Coquet Settlements
Alwinton Harbottle Sharperton Holystone Hepple Caistron Flotterton Warton Thropton Rothbury Cragside Pauperhaugh Weldon Felton Guyzance Warkworth Amble

Warkworth is a village in Northumberland, England. It is probably best known for its well-preserved medieval castle, church and hermitage. At the time of the 2001 census, the population of Warkworth was 1,493.

Geography

Warkworth is situated in a loop of the River Coquet, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Northumberland coast and lies on the main A1068 road. It is 30 miles (48 km) north of Newcastle, and about 40 miles (64 km) south of the Scottish border. An ancient bridge of two arches crosses the river at Warkworth, with a fortified gateway on the road mounting to the castle.

Features

Tourist attractions in Warkworth include the castle, church, hermitage, river walks, and the nearby Northumberland Coast, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

St. Lawrence church, situated near the river, is unique in Northumberland in being a large and almost completely Norman building. There has been a church on this site for around 1,200 years. The first record dates from 737AD when King Ceolwulf of Northumbria gave the church and village to the Abbot and monks of Lindisfarne. The church was the scene of a terrible massacre in 1174, when some 300 of the townsfolk, seeking refuge there from Scottish raiders, were brutally put to the sword and butchered by Duncan, Earl of Fife.

Warkworth Castle is situated at the west end of the main street, at the top of the hill. Nikolaus Pevsner said of the imposing castle that the military engineer happened also to be a great architect. He went on: "Warkworth must be approached from the north. With its bridge, its bridge-tower, then Bridge Street at an angle, joining the main street up a hill to the towering, sharply cut block of the keep, it is one of the most exciting sequences of views one can have in England."

Facilities in Warkworth include three pubs, two hotels, a number of cafés, restaurants and tearooms, a chocolate shop and patisserie, a general store, and several galleries / boutiques.

Warkworth is also famous for its Castle; over 1000 people visit Warkworth every day, mainly to see the castle and the river.

Sport

Cricket

The village is host to Warkworth Cricket Club, formed in 1874. The first XI team plays in the Northumberland Cricket League and has reached the last 16 of the National Village Cricket Cup on several occasions in the past 20 years, and is a regular contender for the Northumberland League title, winning three years running in 2001-03. The second XI which plays in the Alnwick and District Cricket League.

The junior section has over 60 members participating in under 9 year old competitions and under 11, 13 and 15 leagues.

Notable people

• John Law, Vicar of Warkworth in the 1770s

Twinning

Warkworth is twinned with Warkworth, New Zealand

External links

• Drama Group website
• Parish website
• Images of Warkworth
• GENUKI (Accessed: 10 November, 2008)
• Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 10 November, 2008)
• information website
• St.Lawrence Church Parish Website

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  Warkworth viewed from the castle

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  St Lawrence's Church

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  Inside the church

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  Ancient tomb inside the church

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  Leaded windows

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  Leaded windows

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  Leaded windows

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  Warkworth Castle