Bamburgh Heritage Trail

We have created a self-guided trail around the village of Bamburgh, allowing both residents and visitors to learn about the history of the village and the surrounding area.  Story boards are located around the village and a leaflet has been produced about the facts, Fables and Folklore surrounding Bamburgh.  A Children's clue trail has also been produce and the answers are listed opposite.

The project focuses on three main areas: The history of Bamburgh and its castle; other features of historical interest in the village; The Farne Islands and the "Stag" rocks.

Residents got together to share their memories about the village in days gone by including the local names of the rock pools such as Egg pool, and Ald Lad's pool. 

Bamburgh Environs Archaeological Investigation


The Bamburgh Environs Archaeology Survey was set up by the Bamburgh Research Projects as a community based survey project conducted in conjunction with the LHI. The project, also supported by Northumberland County Council, has allowed members of the village community and the Bamburgh area to get involved in researching their past.

The project comprises a number of areas of investigation including:

 

Answers to the Bamburgh Clue Trail Leaflet

1                    Bamburgh (This is the present day spelling)

(In the past this village has been called Din Guaydri (Celtic where Din = fortress), Din Guaroy, Bebbanburgh and Bamborough)  

2                    The ‘Bamburgh Beast’

3                    Gold (This artefact was found by archaeologists when digging in the castle grounds, it is thought to be a cloak pin or brooch)

4                    9 Front Street

5                    The origin of the angel symbol is unknown but it is thought that this

symbol gave protection to the Christian family living here (The angel was carved in this stone in 1692)

6                    Approximately 280 (The answer depends upon the length of your stride, therefore children would take more steps than adults)

7                    The wall was built in 1693 (The bricks being brought as ballast in Flemish ships)

8                    A museum (The Grace Darling Museum)

9                    A coble was an open boat powered by oars (The Grace Darling Coble was large for a rowing boat)

10                November 24^th 1815

11                Your drawing should be in the shape of a sand-timer (There is no written document describing the meaning of these symbols although they seem similar to those found on the Masonic insignia)

12                Angel, skull, crossbones and chains (The exact reason for the symbols is unrecorded but it is thought they represent an angel

helping the human soul to break free from earthly constraints to ascend to heaven. Some say it is a pirate’s grave)

13                “Here lies the body of Daniel Alder”

14                No (Grace Darling is buried in the Darling family burial plot to the left of the memorial)

15                Grace Darling is holding an oar

16                Yes (The memorial was erected in this special position so that it was visible to ships passing

through the Farne Islands)

17                11 birds (Did you count the hens?)

18                Stag Rock

19                ‘Quies Aidani’ translated from the Latin means ‘the rest of Aidan’(Not far from this spot, worn out by his labours, St. Aidan, first Bishop of Lindisfarne, fell asleep in Christ on 31 August 631 a.d

20                Leprosy is an infectious disease and people using the church were afraid of

coming into contact with lepers and catching the infection (This is locally called the Leper’s Window where the administration of the Holy Sacraments took place. Some say it was a Lychnoscope through which the penitents might observe the altar and services)

21                You could find a leaf during the warm months, but as this is a deciduous

tree it would have no leaves in winter

22                Mountain Ash and Rowan (It was believed that the Rowan tree had magical powers and therefore the wicked

stepmother would not be able to sink Childe Wynde’s ship because the mast was made

from a Rowan tree)

23                The village pump was the village well where all the villagers collected their water for drinking, washing and cleaning

24                This was a library known as St. Cuthbert’s Book Club (Before this it was the local dispensary where patients could collect their medicines)

25                Rose Cottage is one of the oldest houses in Bamburgh (In the past this building had also been a shop)

26                Cricket and football are the team games marked out on the field, but many

other games are also played here

27                The time marked will be the time you see on the Castle clock

28                When using the twelve hour clock, a.m. (ante meridian) is the time before

noon and p.m. is the time after noon

29                14

30                The Pavilion steps are edged with white paint so that people with limited

vision are able to see the edge of the steps

31                The Great Whin Sill is made from hard rock (This rock is called Basalt)

32                There are two names which would give a correct answer, Alfred P Brewis

or David P Rogerson

33                35 Bamburgh men died in the wars

34                Grace Darling was 26 years old when she died

35                She was young (People did not live as long then as they do today, nevertheless she was still young)

The solution to the anagram is ‘Laidley Worm’