Longhoughton, Northumberland
| Longhoughton | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Longhoughton Church | |
| 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. It sits near the coast, about four and a half miles northeast of Alnwick.
The village stands 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
History
The village has a turbulent history and was often sacked in the Middle Ages. From the 12th century until recently, the village was noted for its water mills.[1]
There was local industry based on limestone, coal and lead; although agriculture was always the main occupation.
On top of Ratcheugh Crag stands a Robert Adam-designed observatory, built by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland.
Longhoughton once had a railway station on the main line of the North Eastern Railway. Longhoughton goods yard still exists and is used for storage of rolling stock by the Aln Valley Railway and Northumbria Rail Ltd.[2]
Buildings
The parish church of St Peter and St Paul dates from the Anglo-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 tower of 44 feet was added, which served the purpose of military defence, rather than simply religious use, and it was used as such even during the Civil War of 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.
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.[3]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Longhoughton, Northumberland) |
References
- ↑ Northumberland Communities: Longhoughton
- ↑ ]http://www.northumbria-rail.co.uk/nr/stoklist.php Nothumbria Rail, stock list]
- ↑ Littlehoughton Hall - British Listed Buildings