Trifter

Bellingham is the ancient capital of North Tynedale in Northumberland. The Bellingham Heritage Centre in Station Yard at Woodland Road tells the story of the valley in four different and exciting displays.

This area formed the badlands of the Anglo/Scottish Border during the Middle Ages.  There was raiding north into Scotland, east and west into the neighbouring valleys and south into the more fertile plains of Hexhamshire and Durham.  North Tynedale was raided in return and St Cuthbert’s Parish Church in Bellingham is built entirely of stone, including the roof to prevent it from being burnt down like earlier churches.

The Border Raiding or Riding Families as they termed themselves were known as reivers or moss troopers.  Their story is told in the Border reivers Display, which provides a fascinating insight into the violence, bravery, theft and treachery that was endemic to this territory from the 14th Century to the beginning of the 16th century.

Mining has long played a major part in the economy of the dale.  There has been iron mines and works along the river and its tributaries since Roman times.  Coal mines were first sunk during the Middle Ages, followed by quarries to produce the stone needed for buildings, road making and ballast of the railway tracks.  Most of these have been absorbed back into a rural landscaped, but their story is told in the Mining Heritage Display.

The Border Counties railway must have been one of the most picturesque routes in England.  It ran from Hexham on the River Tyne through Bellingham, Keilder and Newcastleton to Riccarton over the Scottish Border.  The line operated from 1862 to 1958 and had a marked effect on what had been an isolated area.  The railway display also reveals how the land slowly charged from grazing land into the largest man made forest in England.

W P Collier was a Bellingham photographer, who travelled throughout the area taking shots of local sights, scenes and curios to produce picture postcards which he sold in his shop between the two world wars.  The Photographs of W P Colliery show a definitive picture of a way of life that has disappeared.

Many events and demonstrations from cheese making to fly tying. Including re-enactments of the notorious border reiver raids are held at the centre during the year.  Occasional recitals by exponents of the local musical instrument, the Northumbrian Small Pipes also take place.

The Centre is open between 10:30 and 16:30 on Thursdays to Mondays from Easter to mid October and it can be contacted on 01434 220050.  It has a website on