Warkworth, Northumberland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

River Coquet Settlements
Alwinton Harbottle Sharperton Holystone Hepple Caistron Flotterton Warton Thropton Rothbury Cragside Pauperhaugh Weldon Felton Guyzance Warkworth Amble

Warkworth is a village in the county of Northumberland. It is probably best known for its well-preserved medieval castle, church and hermitage. At the time of the 2001 census, the population of Warkworth was 1,600.

[edit] Geography

Warkworth village and church, viewed from the northeast

Warkworth is situated in a loop of the River Coquet, about 1 mile from the Northumberland coast and lies on the main A1068 road. It is 30 miles north of Newcastle, and about 40 miles south of the Scottish border. An ancient bridge of two arches crosses the river at Warkworth, with a fortified gateway on the road mounting to the castle

[edit] Features

Tourist attractions in Warkworth include the castle, church, hermitage, river walks, and the nearby Northumberland Coast, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

St. Lawrence church is unique in Northumberland in being a large and almost completely Norman building. Of the imposing castle, Nikolaus Pevsner says that the military engineer happened also to be a great architect. He goes on: "Warkworth must be approached from the north. With its bridge, its bridge-tower, then Bridge Street at an angle, joining the main street up a hill to the towering, sharply cut block of the keep, it is one of the most exciting sequences of views one can have in England."

Facilities in Warkworth include three pubs, two hotels, a number of cafés, restaurants and tearooms, a general store, and several galleries / boutiques.

The village is host to Warkworth Cricket Club, a fairly successful cricket team, that has reached the last 16 of the National Village Cricket Cup on several occasions in the past 20 years, and is a regular contender for the Northumberland League title, winning three years running in 2001 - 03. The team plays home matches in a spectacular setting in front of the castle.

There is also a 9-hole golf course (5986 yd; Par 70), set in the dunes between the coast and the village.