Longhoughton
| Longhoughton | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 St Peter and St Paul, Longhoughton | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NU244155 |
| Location: | 55°25’59"N, 1°36’50"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,960 (2011) |
| Post town: | Alnwick |
| Postcode: | NE66 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Northumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Berwick-upon-Tweed |
Longhoughton is a small, rural village in Northumberland, found near the coast, about four and a half miles north-east 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.
The parish church does double duty since it is also the church of the nearby RAF Boulmer.
Longhoughton once had a railway station on the main line of the North East Railway.
History
The village has a turbulent history and was often sacked in the Middle Ages. From the 12th century to recently, the village was noted for its water and corn mills.[1]
There was local industry based on limestone, coal and lead although agriculture was always the main occupation.
On top of Ratcheugh Crag is the Robert Adam-designed Ratcheugh Observatory, built by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
Church
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-foot 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 mentioned the building favourably in his review of Northumbrian architecture.
About the village
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 mediæval tower house.[2]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Longhoughton) |