Explore The Roman Forts Surrounding Coanwood

The beautiful county of Northumberland is renowned for its untamed countryside as well as having a great industrial heritage

. It is also a county that has seen it playing a part in the history of the country as a whole from very ancient times.

Coanwood is a village to be found in the parish of Haltwhistle and the parliamentary constituency of Hexham. Its name is derived from its ancient form, Collingwood. This meant hazel trees or wood. This gives an idea of the pretty nature of the area. The village can be found in records going back to the 16th century and it is possible to track the village from its humble beginnings of 14 tenements and common pasture land. It saw some quite turbulent times with disputes running back and forth over ownership and boundaries.

The village, like many in the area, had a large population of miners living in it. They worked at the Dykes colliery. When this closed in the late 1800s some moved away. The village farm, Yont the Cleugh, was taken over and converted to a thriving caravan park in 1970 and is still busy. Coanwood was a well-known Quaker meeting place from 1657 to 1909.

Thanks to its historical past, the countryside around Coanwood is quite literally littered with sites of importance that are fascinating to visit. Its Roman sites are particularly noteworthy and are well known worldwide. Within 10 miles of the village there are the remains of many roman forts and camps. Great Chester or Aesica, Cawfields, Chapelburn, Chesterholm or Vindolanda are all of interest. The National Trust offer a superb site incorporating Housteads Forts and a section of Hadrian's famous wall only a few miles away.

The area also saw a great deal of action during the reformation and several priories saw the wrath of Henry VIII upon them. Wetherell Priory is a testament to that and can be found in the surrounding area.

For sports fans, Hexham Racecourse offers a great day out and is only 15 miles away. Those who enjoy golf will find a superbly situated golf course at nearby Haltwhistle to entertain them. Those who enjoy walking and hiking are thoroughly spoiled in this area with a wealth of commons, fells, moors and forests close by.

Although the village's railway station was closed in the 1970s, the village still has stations close by with Haltwhistle, Kirkhaugh and Alston to choose from. There have been great improvements to the road network in the region and the A1 is a vital artery linking North and South. Newcastle airport offers internal and international flights on a daily basis.

The village is the home of the Trees Can't Dance Company that grows chillies in the wilds of Northumberland and holds the title of the most Northerly chilli farm. Although the village itself does not have a pub, there are plenty in Haltwhistle to choose from, just a mile or two away.

The village has a Church of England primary school set amongst trees and countryside.

by: Matt Fay

POST COMMENT

Varieties Of Mens Wetsuits Steps To Choose Best Selling Stocks Fixed Deposit Schemes Can Prove Beneficial To Many Individuals Tips On Growing Organically Know The Benefits Of Lap Not Willing To Leave Just But : Why Not Retire At Fifty Five 10 Reasons To Get An Accountant A Dream Holiday At Verona Nissan Navara Interior & Exterior How To Become An Accountant Pricing Part Of Gold Coast Airport Car Rental Drain Cleaning Alameda: Let Professionals Handle It Gold Coast Car Hire: Ultimate For Providing Tremendous Mobility