Longhoughton, Northumberland
Encyclopedia
Longhoughton is a small rural village in Northumberland
, England. It lies near the coast, about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast of Alnwick
, in the similarly named parish of Longhoughton.
The village lies under the spectacular whinstone
outcrop, Ratcheugh Crag, near which local point-to-point racing is often conducted.
Longhoughton church does double-duty as the church of the nearby RAF Boulmer
times. From the 12th century until recently, the village was noted for its water and corn mills.
There was local industry based on limestone, coal and lead; although agriculture was always the main occupation.
On top of Ratcheugh Crag is a Robert Adam
-designed observatory, built by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland
.
constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed
.
. Longhoughton goods yard still exists and is used for storage of rolling stock by the Aln Valley Railway and Northumbria Rail Ltd.
Smugglers used to use the church as a distribution centre in the 19th century. Nikolaus Pevsner
mentioned the building favourably in his review of Northumbrian architecture.
A little over a mile to the north-west is Littlehoughton Hall, a house of 1686 with later additions, which incorporates the remains of a late medieval tower house.
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 lies near the coast, about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northeast 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....
, in the similarly named parish of Longhoughton.
The village lies under the spectacular whinstone
Whinstone
Whinstone is a term used in the quarrying industry to describe any hard dark-coloured rock. Examples include the igneous rocks basalt and dolerite as well as the sedimentary rock chert....
outcrop, Ratcheugh Crag, near which local point-to-point racing is often conducted.
Longhoughton church does double-duty as the church of the nearby RAF Boulmer
RAF Boulmer
RAF Boulmer is a Royal Air Force station near Alnwick in Northumberland and is currently home to Aerospace Surveillance and Control System Force Command, Control and Reporting Centre Boulmer, the School of Aerospace Battle Management, No...
History
The village has a turbulent history and was often sacked in MedievalMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
times. From the 12th century until recently, the village was noted for its water and corn mills.
There was local industry based on limestone, coal and lead; although agriculture was always the main occupation.
On top of Ratcheugh Crag is a Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
-designed observatory, built by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG, PC was an Engish peer, landowner and art patron.He was born Hugh Smithson, the son of Langdale Smithson and grandson of Sir Hugh Smithson, 3rd Baronet from whom he inherited the baronetcy in 1733...
.
Governance
Longhoughton is in the parliamentaryBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
constituency 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:...
.
Transport
Longhoughton once had a railway station on the main line of the North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
. Longhoughton goods yard still exists and is used for storage of rolling stock by the Aln Valley Railway and Northumbria Rail Ltd.
Buildings
The parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul dates from the Saxon era, although it was rebuilt in 1080 and now the only remaining Saxon stonework is seen in parts of the chancel and tower arches. During the 1080 rebuilding, a 44 feet (13.4 m) tower was added. This was for purposes of military defence, rather than religious use, and was used as such until the 17th century. Parish records go back as far as 1646.Smugglers used to use the church as a distribution centre in the 19th century. Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
mentioned the building favourably in his review of Northumbrian architecture.
A little over a mile to the north-west is Littlehoughton Hall, a house of 1686 with later additions, which incorporates the remains of a late medieval tower house.
External links
- GENUKI (accessed: 26 November 2008)
- Northumberland Communities (accessed: 26 November 2008)