Cartington is a village and civil parish

Civil parish

In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...

 in Northumberland

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. It is about 11 miles (17.7 km) south west of 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 about 2 miles (3 km) north west of Rothbury

Rothbury

Rothbury is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England. It is located on the River Coquet, northwest of Morpeth and north-northwest of Newcastle upon Tyne...

, and has a population of 97.

In 2010 the parish became involved in the hunt for Raoul Moat

2010 Northumbria Police manhunt

-Birtley shootings:Moat was released from Durham prison on 1 July, and allegedly arrived in the early hours of 3 July 2010 at a house in Birtley where Stobbart and her new partner – 29-year-old karate instructor, Chris Brown – were visiting. Brown had moved to the area from Windsor,...

, a 37 year old man from 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...

, who was believed to have shot three people, killing one. Police discovered a makeshift camp, including a duvet, tent and sleeping bag, in a secluded area of land at Wagtail Farm, in the south of the parish.

Landmarks

Cartington Castle

Cartington Castle

Cartington Castle is a ruinous, partly restored medieval English castle in the village of Cartington, north-west of Rothbury in the county of Northumberland, England looking down on the River Coquet. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.Its first recorded owner was...

 is a ruinous, partly restored medieval English castle. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument

Scheduled Ancient Monument

In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorized change. The various pieces of legislation used for legally protecting heritage assets from damage and destruction are grouped under the term...

 and a Grade I listed building. Its first recorded owner was Ralph Fitzmain who held it in 1154. In the late 14th century a pele tower

Peel tower

Peel towers are small fortified keeps or tower houses, built along the English and Scottish borders in the Scottish Marches and North of England, intended as watch towers where signal fires could be lit by the garrison to warn of approaching danger...

 was built. In November 1515 Margaret, Queen of Scots

Margaret Tudor

Margaret Tudor was the elder of the two surviving daughters of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, and the elder sister of Henry VIII. In 1503, she married James IV, King of Scots. James died in 1513, and their son became King James V. She married secondly Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of...

, with her baby daughter Margaret stayed here on her journey from Harbottle

Harbottle

 Harbottle is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England about south-east of the Scottish border, nestled among the Cheviot Hills and inside Northumberland National Park. The village is the site of Harbottle Castle built by order of Henry II...

 Castle. Nearly ten years later, Lord Dacre stationed his troops here on a march north to join the Earl of Surrey

Earl of Surrey

The Earl of Surrey is a title in the Peerage of England, and has been created five times. It was first created for William de Warenne, a close companion of William the Conqueror...

. The castle continued to be occupied until finally abandoned in the 1860s. In 1887 Lord Armstrong

William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong

William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong CB, FRS was an effective Tyneside industrialist who founded the Armstrong Whitworth manufacturing empire.-Early life:...

  partially restored the castle in order to prevent its complete disintegration.

In the south of the parish is Cragside

Cragside

Cragside is a country house in the civil parish of Cartington in Northumberland, England. It was the first house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric power...

, a country house maintained by the National Trust

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...

, that was the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electric

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...

power.