Belford, Northumberland
Encyclopedia
Belford is a village and civil parish in Northumberland
, England about halfway between Alnwick
and Berwick-upon-Tweed
, a few miles inland from the east coast and just off the Great North Road, the A1. It has a population of 1,055.
Belford is surrounded by rich pastoral farmland, and to the west of the village is found one of the better rock climbing
locations in the county, Bowden Doors.
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
and is currently served by Alan Beith
(Liberal Democrat
). Belford is serviced by Northumberland County Council
.
Belford Hall
is a Grade I listed building, an 18th century mansion house.
The Manor of Belford was acquired by the Dixon family in 1726 and in 1752 Abraham Dixon built a mansion house in a Palladian style to a design by architect James Paine. In 1770 heiress Margaret Dixon married William Brown. Their daughter later married Newcastle upon Tyne
merchant, Lt. Col. William Clark, Deputy Lieutenant
and High Sheriff of Northumberland
who, in 1818, remodelled the house and added two new wings, with the assistance of architect John Dobson
.
An extensive park, created in the mid 18th century, retains several original features and has been designated a conservation area
. An 18th century folly in the park is a Grade II listed building. During World War II
the Hall was requisitioned by the Army
and thereafter became neglected and dilapidated. In the 1980s it was acquired by the Northern Heritage Trust, renovated and restored and converted to residential flats.
and sometimes as a dovecote
.
is a privately owned Victorian house built in the style of the castellated fortified house that it replaced on the same site. The moat that surrounded the original building can still clearly be seen. It is now in use as a farmhouse.
to Edinburgh
, which passed through the village. However, in 1983 a bypass was opened, and, freed from the constant traffic and pollution, the village could hold events on the High Street and in the Market Place once again.
Belford railway station opened on 29 March 1847. Freight services ceased on 7 June 1965 and the station finally closed for passenger services on 20 January 1968. However, on 8 February 2010 Northumberland County Council agreed plans to resume passenger services by constructing a new platform, access and car parking.
The church stands on a hill overlooking the village. It was originally built in about 1200, then rebuilt in 1615. Renovation was carried out in 1700 and 1828.
There is also a United Reformed Church
in Belford.
.
Residents:
Deaths:
Belford again achieved momentary fame in April 2000 when protests about the closure of Barclays Bank in the village was picked up and used by the mainstream media to illustrate stories of rural decline brought about by bank branch closures. Until the 1980s there was a branch of Lloyds Bank, with limited opening hours towards the end.
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England about halfway between Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
and Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
, a few miles inland from the east coast and just off the Great North Road, the A1. It has a population of 1,055.
Belford is surrounded by rich pastoral farmland, and to the west of the village is found one of the better rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
locations in the county, Bowden Doors.
Governance
Belford is in the parliamentary constituencyUnited Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
and is currently served by Alan Beith
Alan Beith
Sir Alan James Beith is a British Liberal Democrat politician and Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed.-Early life:Alan Beith was born in 1943 in Poynton, in Cheshire...
(Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
). Belford is serviced by Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council is a unitary authority in North East England. It was originally formed in 1889 as the council for the administrative county of Northumberland and reformed in 1974 to cover a the newly formed non-metropolitan county of Northumberland...
.
Belford Hall
Belford Hall
Belford Hall is a Grade I listed building, an 18th century mansion house situated at Belford, Northumberland.The Manor of Belford was acquired by the Dixon family in 1726 and in 1752 Abraham Dixon built a mansion house in a Palladian style to a design by architect James Paine.In 1770 heiress...
is a Grade I listed building, an 18th century mansion house.
The Manor of Belford was acquired by the Dixon family in 1726 and in 1752 Abraham Dixon built a mansion house in a Palladian style to a design by architect James Paine. In 1770 heiress Margaret Dixon married William Brown. Their daughter later married Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
merchant, Lt. Col. William Clark, Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
and High Sheriff of Northumberland
High Sheriff of Northumberland
This is a list of the High Sheriffs of the English county of Northumberland.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post...
who, in 1818, remodelled the house and added two new wings, with the assistance of architect John Dobson
John Dobson (architect)
John Dobson was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn,...
.
An extensive park, created in the mid 18th century, retains several original features and has been designated a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
. An 18th century folly in the park is a Grade II listed building. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Hall was requisitioned by the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and thereafter became neglected and dilapidated. In the 1980s it was acquired by the Northern Heritage Trust, renovated and restored and converted to residential flats.
Spindlestone Ducket Mill
This is located about 3 km east of Belford, and is an 18th century tapering cylindrical stone tower with a conical roof of Welsh slate. Its usage is uncertain, being sometimes classified as a windmillWindmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
and sometimes as a dovecote
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
.
Westhall
WesthallWesthall, Northumberland
Westhall is a privately owned castellated house at Belford in Northumberland, England now in use as a farm.-History:Westhall Farm, a little to the north-west of the town and approached by a lane from the Wooler road, is the site of a fortified house that was surrounded by a moat, mentioned in a...
is a privately owned Victorian house built in the style of the castellated fortified house that it replaced on the same site. The moat that surrounded the original building can still clearly be seen. It is now in use as a farmhouse.
Transport
Belford was for many years a coaching stop on the main A1 road from LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, which passed through the village. However, in 1983 a bypass was opened, and, freed from the constant traffic and pollution, the village could hold events on the High Street and in the Market Place once again.
Belford railway station opened on 29 March 1847. Freight services ceased on 7 June 1965 and the station finally closed for passenger services on 20 January 1968. However, on 8 February 2010 Northumberland County Council agreed plans to resume passenger services by constructing a new platform, access and car parking.
Education
St Mary’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Middle School in Williams Way, Belford provides mainstream education for just under 100 boys and girls aged from nine to thirteen.Religious sites
The Anglican church of St Mary in Belford is a stone building in the Early English style. The tower contains two bells.The church stands on a hill overlooking the village. It was originally built in about 1200, then rebuilt in 1615. Renovation was carried out in 1700 and 1828.
There is also a United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
in Belford.
Sports
In 2008, Belford Junior Football Club was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary ServiceQueen's Award for Voluntary Service
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, also known as the The Queen's Golden Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service by Groups in the Community is an annual award given to groups in the voluntary sector of the United Kingdom. Winning groups are announced in the London Gazette on 2 June each year, the...
.
Public services
Belford has an active local history society which has published a series of books in recent years, the latest being 'Bygone Belford' (2010). In 1995 the society carried out A Survey of Belford. A booklet was published and the text of the survey is available online (see external links). A similar survey had been conducted quarter of a century earlier, in 1970.Notable people
Births:- Marcus Dods, Scottish divine and biblical scholar, was born in Belford in 1834
- Robert Mason (Liberal politician)Robert Mason (Liberal politician)Robert Mason was a British Liberal Party politician.-Family:Mason was born at Belford in Northumberland. In 1884, he married Rosa Elizabeth Thompson and they had two sons and three daughters. Their home was Marden House in Whitley Bay.-Career:Mason was a shipping agent and shipowner by profession...
was born in Belford in 1857 and was a member of parliament from 1918 to 1922 - Michael Clark (Canadian politician)Michael Clark (Canadian politician)Michael Clark was a Canadian physician and politician from Alberta, Canada.-Early life:...
was born in Belford in 1861 and moved to Canada in 1902 - Sir William ColdstreamWilliam ColdstreamSir William Menzies Coldstream was a British realist painter and a long standing art teacher.-Biography:...
, artist, was born in Belford, 28th Feb. 1908
Residents:
- William Wilson AllenWilliam Wilson AllenWilliam Wilson Allen, VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:He was about 35...
, VC (Rorke's Drift) lived at Belford Moor, (now Belford Mains) as a child. - Lucy BronzeLucy BronzeLucia Roberta "Lucy" Tough Bronze is an English female footballer who plays for Everton Ladies and previously represented North Carolina Tar Heels at college level. She has also represented England at youth level.-Club career:...
, an English female footballer who plays for Everton Ladies, lived for a time in Belford
Deaths:
- Geoffrey Hornblower CockGeoffrey Hornblower CockCaptain Geoffrey Hornblower Cock was a World War I flying ace credited with thirteen aerial victories. He was the highest scoring ace to fly the Sopwith 1½ Strutter....
, World War I flying ace died in Belford in 1980
Belford in the media
Belford was featured on the TV programme Countryfile on 10 April 1994, following a telephone call to the BBC by a resident. At the time, like other villages in the area, Belford was suffering from an increasing number of power cuts. Inspired by the programme a group was formed and, after much campaigning and lobbying, the electricity supply was improved beyond all recognition.Belford again achieved momentary fame in April 2000 when protests about the closure of Barclays Bank in the village was picked up and used by the mainstream media to illustrate stories of rural decline brought about by bank branch closures. Until the 1980s there was a branch of Lloyds Bank, with limited opening hours towards the end.
External links
- Images of Belford Castle site with history notes
- Village 'devastated' at losing bank - news from the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in April 2000 - Bowden Doors described, at UKClimbing.com
- GENUKI (Accessed: 1 November 2008)
- Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 1 November 2008)
- North Northumberland Online - a page about Belford and the online version of A Survey of Belford 1995
- Berwick Advertiser - an article about 'Bygone Belford' - a book by Belford's local history society