What To See When Visiting Hexham
Hexham is located in Northumberland and is one of the three most important towns in Tynedale. It is a market town just south of the Tyne River. The first records of Hexham are from the Abbey that originated in 674. The original crypt is still surviving and was built using stone from Hadrian’s Wall and other Roman ruins. The current abbey was rebuilt in the 1800s.
Hexham is very close to the Scottish border and figured prominently in the border wars. The town was actually burnt to the ground by William Wallace. The Duke of Somerset was famously executed in the marketplace and there was a Battle of Hexham in 1464. The Queen’s Cave is outside of Hexham and there is a legend around this cave as supposedly Queen Margaret of Anjou was robbed when taking refuge here.
One of the many historical buildings in town is Moot Hall, an old gatehouse. This building houses the council office sand the Museums department. The only space open to the public is the art gallery found on the first floor. Right behind Moot Hall is the Old Gaol which is a museum and listed as a monument. The museum tells of the gaol’s history and of notable residents.
The Old Bridge was built to allow river crossing though there was two ferries that crossed the river. This old bridge is about a mile away from the newer automobile bridge. The old bridge took several attempts to build as it was washed away by a flood in 1771. Today the old bridge is actually the fourth bridge built in this spot.
A tributary of the Tyne River is the devil’s Water. This water was important in the Battle of Hexham. This water is formed by several streams and bynes and is a lovely spot to visit.
Two main industries that developed side by side are the leather and tinning industries. Throughout time Hexham has been home to several master hatters and two woolen manufacturers.
Downstream of the bridge can be found some corn water mills and there is still a windmill in operation. The markets are still going strong and cattle and farm animals are sold in one section of the market.
Find your next Hexham hotel here.
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