Trifter

The Border History Museum at Hexham in Northumberland celebrates the story of the Anglo-Scottish Border, its people and their way of life, laws and their wars.

This region saw more or less continuous warfare between the two countries for three centuries.  The local raiders, who called themselves reivers or the Riding Families, raided the neighbouring valleys and dales as well as riding into the opposing country.

Life during this turbulent time was hard dangerous and often short.  Robbery, violence and treachery were endemic.  Law and order had broken down and might was right.

A common English phrase had its origins on this wild frontier.  The borderers referred to rent as mail and paid their white or legal mail to their landlords.  Local desperadoes would run a protection racket, promising smallholders and crofters that they would not raid their houses, herds or flocks in return for an illegal rent or blackmail.

The museum is housed in the Old Hexham Goal which was built in 1330 and housed many of the border raiders of both nationalities.

It contains a display of weapons, armour, equipment and other artefacts from the Middle Ages.  There is an audio-visual system telling the tale of the borders or marches.

There is an oubliette or underground dungeon which is offering its hospitality to a captured reiver.

A turret room on the spiral staircase tells the story of a prohibited and sad love affair.  The Border Laws or Leges Marchiarum prohibited a person in one country from marrying a person from over the border without the written consent of both Wardens.

A local girl who fell in love with a Scottish rider married him with this permission.  Both youngsters were executed in Hexham Market Place.

The Upper Room of the Goal relates the tale of one border raid.  One border family, or grayne as they were known, raided the domains of another family to steal their sheep.

Unbeknown to them the flock was inflected with sheep scab which quickly spread among the raiders’ flocks.  They returned to seize the second family’s tower and hang all the menfolk.

All the sounds of a typical border raid, the hoof beats, battle cries, screams, clash of weapons and the crackling of fire are relayed over an audio system.

The Old Pretender, James Charles Stuart, had many supporters, including his two Radcliffe cousins in Northumberland.  A number of these rose in his support.  Some were executed, including James Radcliffe, Earl of Derwentwater who lived at the neighbouring Dilston Castle.  They story of the glorious but unsuccessful 1715 Jacobite Rebellion is told in the museum.

Parking, which is charged is close by the museum which has a gift shop and an education pack is available.  There are picnic sites and guided tours can be arranged.  Guide dogs are admitted and the museum has wheelchair ramps.

The Border History Museum is open from 10:00 to 16:00 daily from Easter until the end of October and 10:00 to 16:30 on Saturdays to Tuesdays between November to Easter.  It can be contacted on 01434 652349