Bothal
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
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...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated between Morpeth
Morpeth, Northumberland
Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population...
and Ashington
Ashington
Ashington is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England with a population of around 27,000 people; it was once a centre of the coal mining industry. The town is located some north of Newcastle upon Tyne off the A189. The south of the town is bordered by the River Wansbeck...
. There is a castle
Bothal Castle
Bothal Castle stands by the River Wansbeck in the village of Bothal, between Morpeth and Ashington in Northumberland, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.It is possibly the site of a Norman castle....
, a church, a vicarage opposite the church gates, some stepping stones over the River Wansbeck
River Wansbeck
The River Wansbeck runs through the county of Northumberland, England. It rises above Sweethope Lough on the edge of Forelaws Forest in the area known locally as The Wanneys ; runs through the town of Ashington before discharging into the North Sea at Sandy Bay near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.The River...
, 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.
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.
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.
External links
- GENUKI (Accessed: 15 November, 2008)