Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Northumberland

geography Maturity 11-13 politics Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: politics. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Northumberland is a ceremonial county located in North East England.

Northumberland UK locator map 2010
Northumberland UK locator map 2010

It serves as the northernmost county in England. The county sits directly on the border with Scotland. To the east, it is bounded by the North Sea. To the south, it borders Tyne and Wear and County Durham. To the west, it lies near Cumbria.

Northumberland - British Isles
Northumberland - British Isles

It is the least-densely populated county in England. Much of the region remains rural and open. The largest settlement is the town of Blyth. Morpeth serves as the administrative centre for the county.

The physical landscape of Northumberland is quite diverse.

ShepherdPhysical1926Northumberland
ShepherdPhysical1926Northumberland

Near the North Sea coast, the land is low and flat. Moving toward the northwest, the terrain becomes more mountainous. The Cheviot Hills are located in this northwestern area. The Cheviot is the highest point in the entire county. This mountain range is made of resistant Devonian granite and andesite lava. The land becomes flatter as it reaches the eastern coast. The county also contains the Northumberland National Park. This park covers about one quarter of the total area.

Long Crag summit
Long Crag summit

Water plays a major role in the geography of the region. Several significant rivers flow through the county. The North Tyne and South Tyne rivers meet near Hexham. At this point, they combine to form the River Tyne. Other major rivers include the Blyth, Coquet, Aln, and Wansbeck. The River Tweed flows through the area as well. The Tweed actually forms part of the border with Scotland. The geology of the area is also varied. The Whin Sill is an intrusion of Carboniferous dolerite. This rock formation supports the path of Hadrian's Wall.

Northumberland Hadrian's Wall Aerial 2
Northumberland Hadrian's Wall Aerial 2

The history of Northumberland is defined by its position as a frontier.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - nord hymbra land
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - nord hymbra land

The name comes from the Old English term for land north of the Humber. In the Roman era, most of the county sat north of Hadrian's Wall. This made the region a contested zone between England and Scotland. Because of this, the county has more castles than any other English county. Notable examples include Alnwick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, and Warkworth. Many people also built peel towers and bastle houses for protection. These structures helped defend the area during the medieval period.

Northumberland was also a vital centre for early religion.

The Cricket Pavilion, Bamburgh, Northumberland - geograph.org.uk - 1945900
The Cricket Pavilion, Bamburgh, Northumberland - geograph.org.uk - 1945900

It is often called the "cradle of Christianity" in England. This is because Christianity flourished on the tidal island of Lindisfarne. King Oswald of Northumbria invited monks to this area to convert the English. The monastery at Lindisfarne produced the famous Lindisfarne Gospels around the year 700. St Cuthbert was an important abbot associated with this site. The region also saw significant changes during the Viking invasions. The kingdom of Northumbria eventually fragmented into different successor states.

The Industrial Revolution brought massive changes to the local economy.

GeorgeStephenson
GeorgeStephenson

Many coal mines operated throughout the southeast corner of the county. These collieries were located at places like Ashington and Blyth. The coalfields were so important they helped fuel industrial expansion across Britain. This need to move coal actually led to the development of the first railways. Shipbuilding and armaments manufacturing were also major industries. However, these industries faced a period of deindustrialisation in the 1980s. Many of the large coal mines closed during the 1970s and 1980s.

Today, Northumberland is a major destination for tourism.

2012-07-03 Bloody Crane's-bill, Hauxley, Northumberland 4
2012-07-03 Bloody Crane's-bill, Hauxley, Northumberland 4

Visitors come to see the scenic coastline and historical sites. The Northumberland Coast is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Nature lovers often visit the Farne Islands to see bird life. The Kielder Water and Forest Park is another important natural area. Interestingly, 50% of England's red squirrel population lives in Kielder. The county remains a place where natural beauty and deep history meet.

611 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (21)
File:Northumberland UK locator map 2010.svg
Northumberland UK locator map 2010.svg
File:Northumberland - British Isles.svg
Northumberland - British Isles.svg
File:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - nord hymbra land.jpg
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - nord hymbra land.jpg
File:Long Crag summit.jpg
Long Crag summit.jpg
File:ShepherdPhysical1926Northumberland.png
ShepherdPhysical1926Northumberland.png
File:N NE England SRTM.png
N NE England SRTM.png
File:Rothbury, Northumberland.jpg
Rothbury, Northumberland.jpg
File:Northumberland Hadrian's Wall Aerial 2.jpg
Northumberland Hadrian's Wall Aerial 2.jpg
File:Flying the flag for Northumberland, Hexham - geograph.org.uk - 6420559.jpg
Flying the flag for Northumberland,...
File:County Hall, Morpeth (geograph 4464710).jpg
County Hall, Morpeth (geograph 4464710).jpg
File:United Kingdom EU referendum 2016 area results (North East England).svg
United Kingdom EU referendum 2016 area...
File:Housedon hill.jpg
Housedon hill.jpg

+ 9 more

More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.