Kirkwhelpington
| Kirkwhelpington | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Old courthouse at Kirkwhelpington | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY997844 |
| Location: | 55°9’18"N, 2°0’18"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 460 (2011) |
| Post town: | Newcastle Upon Tyne |
| Postcode: | NE19 |
| Dialling code: | 01830 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Northumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hexham |
Kirkwhelpington is a village in Northumberland about 13 miles northeast of Hexham. It is on the River Wansbeck alongside the A696 trunk road between Otterburn and Ponteland.
History
Kirkwhelpington has mediæval origins and is an abortive market town. The lord, Gilbert de Umfraville, obtained a market charter from King Henry III but lost its privileges on the grounds of non-usage. He had a bridge built over the Wansbeck to improve its communications.[1]
Economy
There was a mine at Kirkwhelpington (Lead ore).[2]
Landmarks
The Memorial Hall was built in 1924 as a memorial to the men of the village and district who gave their lives in the First World War. Money for this was raised locally and the Duke of Northumberland donated the land. The Post Office is now in the hall and the weekly activities include a Youth Club, Toddler Group, and a Bowls Club. The monthly meetings include the Parish Council, The Royal British Legion Women's Section, and an Art Club.[3]
The village school was built in 1858 and closed in 1972. The council used the premises as a Girl Guide holiday centre.[3] This has now been converted to a private house.
The Methodist Church was built in 1870 and closed in 1995/96. It was bought by a villager and is now used for exhibitions of paintings and other art work.[3]
Sweethope Loughs are two freshwater lakes almost a mile in length, four miles west of Kirkwhelpington,[4] and a renowned fishing location stocked with large rainbow trout. Sweethope Lough boasts good access to those anglers with disabilities, and annually hosts The Viscount Devonport Sweethope Challenge for Disabled Anglers.[5]
Parish church
St Bartholomew, a thirteenth-century (or earlier) building, with its low, broad Perpendicular tower and long nave and chancel, was altered in the fifteenth century and then in 1896. Excavations have revealed that the building originally had aisles and transepts. There are two fourteenth-century bells, a seventeenth-century font (which rests on the reversed capital of a fourteenth or fifteenth-century pier) and a mahogany pulpit from 1797. The glass includes work by Heaton, Butler and Bayne (1909 and 1914).[6]
Events
The Kirkwhelpington and District Show is held on the first Saturday in September every year. This is an exhibition of horticultural and craft work with home baking and children's exhibits.
On one of the Sunday's during July six or seven local gardens are open to the public in aid of charity.[3]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Kirkwhelpington) |
References
- ↑ Fraser, Constance; Emsley, Kenneth (1989). Northumbria. Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-85033-723-2.
- ↑ "Durham Mining Museum". http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/k913.htm. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Kirkwhelpington village". http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/kwvill/. Retrieved 21 November 2008.
- ↑ "Bridges On The Wansbeck - Sweethope Loughs". http://www.bridgesonthetyne.co.uk/sweethpe.html. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ↑ "Sweethope – The Ray Estate". http://www.sweethope.co.uk/. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
- ↑ "A church near you". http://www.achurchnearyou.com/kirkwhelpington-st-bartholomew/. Retrieved 21 November 2008.