|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haltwhistle
The Centre of Britain The longest North
- South median is from the North of the Orkney Islands to Portland Bill
in Dorset and the mid point is Haltwhistle. Haltwhistle is also
equidistant to all main main compass points, as well as to the centres
of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland and to the extremities
of the British Isles, Jersey , Scilly Isles, Fastnet, Bantry Bay, Shetland. |
 |
Haltwhistle is a small town in west Northumberl 16 miles west of Hexham on the A69 main Newcastle to Carlisle road. The area surrounding Haltwhistle has been populated since Roman times and the town is mentioned in the Domesday Book. One of the original spellings of the town's name Haut Whysile which means high boundary.
The parish church is Holy Cross and is believed to date from the 9th century. Its earliest mention appears to be in a grant of 1178 by William the Lion of Scotland to the Abbey of Arbroath. The church also has a 7th century water stoup believed to have been used by St Paulinus.
In 1306 Edward I granted a charter to the town after his stay there on his way to fight the Scots. A market is still held on a Thursday.
During the medieval period Haltwhistle was subject to much feuding and raiding. A castle was constructed and several houses were fortified against these border raids. The former has long since disappeared and of the latter, Haltwhistle Bastle, now demolished was situated at the bottom of Castle Hill and there are remains of a pele tower in the Centre of Britain Hotel in the market place.
In the 1830s the railway came to Haltwhistle with the building of the Newcastle to Carlisle railway which replaced a scheme to build a canal between the two towns.
In 1801 the population was 453 and by 1851 this had risen to 1420. This dramatic increase in population was due to the railway and the industry that sprang up. From the 18th-early 20th centuries Haltwhistle's industries included mining, farming, woolen mills, breweries, brickworks and limekilns. Today Haltwhistle is a popular tourist destination which markets itself on being the 'Centre of Britain' and is also a main stopping point for visitors to Hadrian's Wall.
Cawfields settlement is two miles from Haltwhistle and is the access point to one of the highest and most rugged sections of the Wall. If you’ve ever wished to escape the humdrum of life this is surely the place to go as the scenery and the solitude are breath taking. To the east, the remains of a milecastle site on Whin Sill Crag Vindolanda. This site is generally open 8.30am until sunset but this can change depending on the weather.
Vindolanda is the site of
several forts. The first timber fort dated from AD 90 and the stone fort was
not built until the second century. Vindolanda boasts an impressive museum which
contains many artifacts such as armour and writing tablets which provide details
of what it was like to live here during this age.