Alnham

Trip No.12  Entry No.1  Date Added: 7th Mar 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 5th Mar 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Alnham, Northumberland. Ancient cross bases: From the A697, we turned left through the pretty little village of Whittingham. The road to the west of the village runs by the meandering course of the (at this point small) River Aln. Just past the village, we turned right onto the minor road leading through Eslington Park and Unthank, the road meandering through minor, muddy single track lanes to Alnham village. Taking the right hand fork (signposted as a dead end road, which it is – eventually), we drove up to the pretty little church.


This is a very remote spot indeed. Opposite the church, you can see the lumps and bumps of the deserted medieval village and the hump of what used to be Alnham Castle. Next to the church is a pele house/tower house, which is lived in. To the far side (from the church) is a footpath which runs up the side of the tower house; this is unusual in that the footpath runs through a small ford.


We had missed the monthly service, which had taken place that morning, but there were signs that other cars had parked on the grass verge outside the church. The lych gate leans into the tall trees either side of it, and the church has a long-deserted air, although candles were still burning on the window ledges inside.


Walking round the churchyard (with its electrified fence to keep any sheep from rubbing against the stone walls) we searched for the cross bases, but found none until we turned to go out of the church, and there they were – one on either side of the lych gate, with a third to the west by the wall.


This church is Grade 1 listed. There were many leaflets about the local countryside and walks, but no church guide. The British Listed Buildings and Wikipedia mention that the church was built on the site of a Roman fortlet, and originally dates from 1135, although because of the ancient cross bases, they think an earlier church existed on this site. Within the porch there is a carved fragment of a rectangular cross shaft, but the carving looks modern.


From the church, we headed further up the hillside to Castlehill Fort and Settlement.

Castle Hill (Northumberland)

Trip No.12  Entry No.2  Date Added: 7th Mar 2017
Site Type: Hillfort Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 5th Mar 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Castle Hill Fort & Settlement, near Alnham, Northumberland: From St Michael & All Saints (Alnham) and its location next to the trickling River Aln, we headed further up the winding (almost harepin at a couple of points) narrow, single track road climbing up the hill to Castle Hill Fort and Settlement. At the top of the hill, there is a cottage located just below the lea of the hill. Just past this is a cattle grid and a footpath sign leading to the west and the fort. There is room for one car to park just before the cattle grid, where the ground is relatively firm.


Nothing can be seen of the fort at this point, but going through the gate and climbing up the gentle hill, following the line of what seems to be an old stone wall, the low lines of grass covered banks (the boundary lines of old enclosures?) comes into view. The ground then climbs a little more steeply, as you walk onto the first outer bank. Then the outlines of banks and ditches comes into view, together with the ghost of a round house immediately in front of you. There’s nobody here, not even sheep.


The early spring sun was low in the sky, making the contrast between the height of the outer defensive bank with its protruding line of stones, looking steeply down to the north west and Spartley Burn, its waters sparkling in the sunlight. To the east is Hazeltonrig Burn.


We walked all round the outer bank. Two banks and ditches to the north and east, becoming three to the west. Well worth a visit. I just wish I’d brought the notes with me to help interpret what I was seeing.


From Castle Hill, we set off towards Biddlestone, making our way back into Alnham, driving back down through Scrainwood, through Biddlestone Town Foot to Biddlestone. This road is gated, and very muddy. The road twists and turns, and a couple of times we almost went off down farm tracks rather than the road. Very remote. Very lovely.

Biddlestone

Trip No.12  Entry No.3  Date Added: 7th Mar 2017
Site Type: Ancient Cross Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 5th Mar 2017. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Biddle Stones, Northumberland: From Castle Hill, Alnham, we returned to Alnham Village and took the minor road towards Biddlestone. Also a cycle route, the road was gated and very muddy. Being twisty and with numerous side roads joining, it was sometimes a little difficult to keep to the main road!. Nevertheless, we ended up at the entrance to Biddlestone Chapel, where the gate up the track was shut. We parked by the entrance and walked up the hill. The chapel was closed, but a list of keyholders is given on the noticeboard at the entrance to the track.


Having no real clue as to where the Biddle Stones were, we came upon them half way up the track to the chapel on the left hand side of the track. One is definitely a socket for a cross; the other has been paired with it.


We walked up to the chapel. The chapel is strange, being in a defensive position, with a ravine to its north, with a drop of some 60 to 70 feet down to the stream below. To the south looks like a building platform of some kind The numerous mole hills had brought up lots of small pieces of brick, so something had been demolished.


There was a lovely view over to the Netherton Burn valley below, with a farmer and his three dogs herding a flock of beautifully cream, fat sheep. No sign of the stone circle by the burn from here.