Redesdale
Redesdale is a long, rich valley in the midst of Northumberland. The dale is carved through the Cheviot Hills by the River Rede, a tributary of the North Tyne River, rising in the high Cheviots at the very northern bounds of the county, by Carter Bar, and running south-south-east, creating a broad, fertile dale down to the North Tyne at Redesmouth, near Bellingham.
The A68 road follows the Rede valley on its way north, entering Roxburghshire at Carter Bar.
The northern part of Redesdale is narrow amongst the fells, with the Redesdale Forest spreading broadly across the fellsides in the north of the county. Below the forest the land gradually softens beyond Otterburn to become a farming landscape. Within Redesdale are such villages and hamlets as Elsdon, Otterburn, Rochester and Byrness. Carter Bar stands at the very head of the dale and the source of its river.
A portion of Redesdale to the west and north of Otterburn now forms part of Northumberland National Park, which part includes the Redesdale Forest, the northernmost part of Kielder Forest.
History
This valley has served as an important route north through the Cheviots. The area has seen conflict since the time of the Roman Empire up to the Union of the Crowns.
After the Norman Conquest of 1066, the Norman noble family Umfraville gained lands in the area and were the first Lords of Redesdale.
In 1388, Otterburn was the site of a historic battle (Battle of Otterburn) between armies from the kingdoms of England and Scotland, largely fought by moonlight. During the Middle Ages, Elsdon was the economic centre of the area: it served as the market town and as the gathering place for the local graynes (extended Border families). In modern times, the village of Otterburn now holds that distinction.
King George III granted the title Baron Redesdale to Sir John Freeman-Mitford in 1802, and King Edward VII revived it from extinction for Algernon Freeman-Mitford (grandfather of the Mitford Sisters) a hundred years later.
Location
- Map: NY882927
- Location map: 55°13’44"N, 2°11’10"W
