NorthumbriaIH Newcastle

Northumbria is England’s border county with Scotland, with beautiful natural scenery and an ancient history that is represented by Hadrian’s Wall and more castles than any other English county. There are long sandy beaches with little fishing villages and ancient monuments and is often described as the best kept secret in England with a reputation for being extremely friendly to visitors.
Northumbria is one of the most popular areas for film makers and some recent films which have been made in the area include – Harry Potter, Braveheart, Elizabeth and Robin Hood, and many more have used places such as Hadrian’s Wall and Bamburgh Castle to beautify their scenes.
Hadrian’s Wall
This is the longest monument in Europe stretching from the east to the west coast of England. Often thought of as a defensive wall – in fact it was more like a customs point where travellers had to pay the Roman authorities to pass through to Scotland or England. World Heritage Sites (WHS) are places of outstanding universal importance to humankind, both cultural and natural. Some sites have attributes which are both cultural and natural. Hadrian’s Wall was inscribed in 1987, meeting three of the UNESCO criteria as: Bearing an outstanding testimony to a past civilisation; Being an outstanding example of a building and technology which illustrates a significant stage in human history; and Being an outstanding example of landuse which is representative of a culture.

Holy Island – The home of English

Locally the island is rarely referred to by its Anglo-Saxon name of ‘Lindisfarne’. Following on from the murderous and bloodthirsty attack on the monastery by the Vikings in 793AD, it obtained its local name from the observations made by the Durham monks: ‘Lindisfarne – baptised in the blood of so many good men – truly a ‘Holy Island’. Its more appropriate title is ‘The Holy Island of Lindisfarne’.
Many are also attracted by the peace and tranquility which pervades the Island and the remote Northern conservation area, with quiet beaches and unique natural history.It is here that English was first written and where christianity was first established in England.

Holy Island with International House Newcastle

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England and has been the home of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle. Alnwick Castle and its surrounding parkland offer a beautiful and unspoilt setting for filmmakers. Most famously in recent years, the Castle has featured as ‘Hogwarts’ in the first 2 Harry Potter films.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Perched high on a cliff, Dunstanburgh Castle rated at one time among the largest and grandest castles in the north of England. Dating from the 14th century, the castle was protected on two sides by the sheer cliff face and the sea. The first building works at Dunstanburgh Castle took place under Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and the remains of the early 14th century gatehouse can be seen in the form of two D-shaped towers either side of an arched entrance. It is now owned by the National Trust and in the care of English Heritage. Turner painted Dunstanburgh many times, usually rising at dawn to do so.

Warkworth Castle

Occupying a position close to the River Coquet in Northumberland, Warkworth Castle originated as a mid 12th century motte castle. However, in the 13th century a new castle was begun with the construction of a gatehouse. Located at the centre of the south curtain wall, the gatehouse has survived with an archway and semi-octagonal projections on either side. It was built by Henry the son of King David I of Scotland who owned the land at that time. Henry had the title “Earl Henry of Northumberland” at a time when the North of England was part of Scotland.

Durham Castle and Cathedral

Durham Cathedral is one of the greatest Norman buildings in Europe, cherished not only for its architecture but also for its incomparable setting. For this reason it was inscribed together with the Castle as one of Britain’s first World Heritage Sites. It was begun in 1093 and largely completed within 40 years. It is the only cathedral in England to retain almost all of its Norman craftsmanship, and one of few to preserve the unity and integrity of its original design. The Cathedral also served a political and military function by reinforcing the authority of the prince-bishops over England’s northern border.

Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is one of the finest castles in England, perched on a basalt outcrop on the very edge of the North Sea at Bamburgh in Northumberland. It commands stunning views of the Farne Islands, Holy Island and the Cheviot hills. The first written reference to it is in 547 as the seat of an Anglo-Saxon ruler called Ida. Prior to this it was known to the native Britons as Din Guardi and had been the capital of the British Kingdom of Bryneich from the realm’s foundation in c.420 until the citadel was captured by Ida of Bernicia in 547. It became the property of the reigning monarch and an important English outpost—and the target of occasional raids from Scotland. In 1464 during the Wars of the Roses, it became the first castle in England to be defeated by artillery, at the end of a nine-month long siege by Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick.

The Angel of the North
The 208-tonne “Angel” basically takes the form of a human figure based on artist Antony Gormley’s own body. At 20 metres high, the Angel is higher than a five-storey building. Its wings are 54 metres wide – almost the same as a jumbo jet.Overlooking the A1 at Gateshead, at least 90,000 motorists a day will pass by the sculpture. Rail passengers travelling on the East Coast mainline from London to Edinburgh will also see the angel as they approach Newcastle.
Cragside
Cragside, creation of Victorian inventor and landscape genius Lord Armstrong, is a garden of breathtaking drama whatever the season. Surrounding the house is one of the largest rock gardens in Europe. Beyond is a vast woodland garden where rhododendrons and azaleas reach full bloom during late May and June. Soaring high above are the magnificent spires of Armstrong’s transatlantic conifer collection, which provide shelter to the estate’s red squirrel population. Across the valley in the terraced garden, the Orchard House still produces fresh fruit of all varieties. Summer features splendid carpet bedding, and autumn, the colourful dahlia walk.

Northumbria

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