Ancestry themed tour of Northumberland, England

  Northumbrian landscape at Laing's Hill Farm

Information on Northumbria

Northumbria is a county in N.E England with a population is 319,000.

Details of tour 

This morning, we departed our lodgings in Haltwhistle at centre of Britain and embarked on a trip as follows:

  • First, a one hour drive north, traversing remote countryside, to Kirkharle, a small village which has become famous as the birthplace of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, a renowned British landscape gardener who was born in 1716. Brown was educated at a local school and then trained as a gardener on the Kirkharle estate until moving on at age 23 years ultimately to achieve celebrity status in his chosen profession.Kirkharle is now a visitor attraction with coffee shop and small craft and specialist shops. We also visited the local church, St Wilfrid's, where Brown was christened.
Haltwhistle, Northumberland Kirkharle Coffee Shop Kirkharle Courtyard Kirkharle landscape Kirkharle Church
  • Next, a 15 minute drive to nearby Elsdon, a pretty village featuring a historic church with ancient burial ground, well-preserved 14th century Pele Tower (type of castle) and foundations of an 11th century Motte and Bailey Castle.We had success in tracing Brown family burials and memorials within the church and associated graveyard. Local information was obtained at the local cafe after which we went to view, the relatively remote, Laings Hill Farm (home to a Brown family in the 19th century) and the Motte and Bailey.

Video clip of Elsdon Village, England


 

 

Elsdon Tower, a Pele Tower

 

 St Cuthbert's Church, Elsdon

 

Brown family memorial at Elsdon Church

 

Sarcophagus fitting at Elsdon

Inside St Cuthbert's Church, Elsdon

Laing's Hill Farm,

 

Cafe at Elsdon

The landscape through which we travelled was green and well populated with flocks of sheep and young lambs.

Next, we continued north to Edinburgh, Scotland, stopping at Jedburgh en-route to visit the ruined, but nevertheless impressive Jedburgh Abbey which dates from the 13th century.

Jedburgh Abbey, Scotland

Jedburgh Abbey, Scotland

Finally, we arrived at our Edinburgh lodgings at 6.30 pm  and thereafter went to dinner at a local hotel.

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