Ford, Northumberland

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 55.632
longitude= -2.080
official_name= Ford
population = ~400
shire_district= Alnwick
shire_county = Northumberland
region= North East England
constituency_westminster= Berwick-upon-Tweed
post_town= BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
postcode_district = TD15
postcode_area= TD
dial_code= 01890
os_grid_reference= NT945375

Ford is a small village in Northumberland, England, about 13 miles (21 km) from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Ford shares a parish with Etal.

History Pre-1513

Very little is known of the history of the area before the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, but Bronze Age rock carvings in the area suggest that there might have been some settlement at that time.

It is thought the shallow crossing of the River Till (a ford) which gave the village its name, was probably a crossing place for monks and nuns travelling between the monasteries at Iona and Lindisfarne during the Anglo-Saxon period.

Written records for Ford begin after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the introduction of the manorial system, when the manor of Ford was held by the Heron family. A substantial stone castle was built at Ford in 1287, in order to protect the Manor from the constant border warfare waged between the Scots and the English during the medieval period.

In 1513, James IV of Scotland made his base at Ford Castle, prior to the Battle of Flodden, the last major battle between the two nations. James was killed, along with 9,000 of his men.

History post-1513

After Flodden, peace came to the area and by the 19th century Ford was a thriving agricultural and forestry community. Ford Castle had been rebuilt in the 1760s and in 1859, Louisa, Marchioness of Beresford inherited Ford Estate on the death of her husband, the 3rd Marquess (who in turn, had inherited it from his mother, Susanna, Marchioness of Waterford). Lady Waterford, a gifted amateur watercolourist with an interest in the welfare of the tenants on the estate, rebuilt the village. A new school was built – today the Lady Waterford Hall, and is decorated with wall paintings by Lady Waterford, and opens daily at 10.30am. The 12th century church of St Michael's was restored.

The estate was bought by the Joicey family in 1907 and it remains in their ownership today. The castle was used as a convalescent hospital by the Red Cross during the Second World War and is now leased by the Northumberland County Council who use it as an educational camp. The castle is not open to the public except on open days.

Today

Much of the employment in Ford is connected in one way or another with the Ford and Etal Estate. In Ford itself, there is St Michael's Church of England First School and a village shop, which doubles as a Post Office. There are also a number of businesses connected with tourism, such as Ford Nurseries, a second-hand book dealer and The Estate House, the local bed and breakfast, and also Hay Farm House Bed and Breakfast.

External links

* [http://www.fordcastle.org.uk Ford Castle]
* [http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/vg/ford_and_etal.html Northumberland Towns and Villages]
* [http://www.discovertheborders.co.uk/places/59.html Lady Waterford Hall]
* [http://www.alnwick.gov.uk/an/webconnect.exe/AO2/View/?Doc=5595&Site=801 Heatherslaw Light Railway]
* [http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Ford.htm Northumberland Communities]
* [http://www.northcountryroads.com/Ford- Photos]