Warkworth, Northumberland

Warkworth is a village in Northumberland, England. It is probably best known for its well-preserved medieval castle, church and hermitage. At the time of the 2001 census, the population of Warkworth was 1,600.

Geography

Warkworth is situated in a loop of the River Coquet, about 1 mile from the Northumberland coast and lies on the main A1068 road. It is 30 miles north of Newcastle, and about 40 miles south of the Scottish border. An ancient bridge of two arches crosses the river at Warkworth, with a fortified gateway on the road mounting to the castle

Features

Tourist attractions in Warkworth include the castle, church, hermitage, river walks, and the nearby Northumberland Coast, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

St. Lawrence church is unique in Northumberland in being a large and almost completely Norman building. Of the imposing castle, Nikolaus Pevsner says that the military engineer happened also to be a great architect. He goes on: "Warkworth must be approached from the north. With its bridge, its bridge-tower, then Bridge Street at an angle, joining the main street up a hill to the towering, sharply cut block of the keep, it is one of the most exciting sequences of views one can have in England."

Facilities in Warkworth include three pubs, two hotels, a number of cafés, restaurants and tearooms, a general store, and several galleries / boutiques.

The village is host to Warkworth Cricket Club, a fairly successful cricket team, that has reached the last 16 of the National Village Cricket Cup on several occasions in the past 20 years, and is a regular contender for the Northumberland League title, winning three years running in 2001 - 03. The team plays home matches in a spectacular setting in front of the castle.

There is also a 9-hole golf course (5986 yd; Par 70), set in the dunes between the coast and the village.

Warkworth Castle

The magnificent cross-shaped keep of Warkworth, crowning a hilltop rising steeply above the River Coquet, dominates one of the largest, strongest and most impressive fortresses in northern England. The castle's most famous owners were the Percy family, whose lion badge can be seen carved on many parts of their stronghold. Wielding almost kingly power in the north, their influence reached its apogee under the first Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry 'Harry Hotspur' Percy, hero of many Border ballads as the bane of Scots raiders and a dominant character in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part I. Having helped to depose Richard II, these turbulent 'kingmakers' both fell victim to Henry IV: the next three Percy Earls likewise died violent deaths.

Still roofed and almost complete, the uniquely-planned keep dates mainly from the end of the 14th century. It presides over the extensive remains of a great hall, chapel, fine gatehouse and a virtually intact circuit of towered walls.

Half a mile from the castle, tucked away by the Coquet, stands a much more peaceful building: the late medieval cave Hermitage and chapel of a solitary holy man. (Source: [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100100101300500400r] )

Warkworth Cricket Club

Formed in 1874, members have been playing the game in front of the magnificant Warkworth Castle for over 125 years. The Club has a first XI team, playing in the Northumberland Cricket League, and a second XI which plays in the Alnwick and District Cricket League.

The cricket club also has a junior section with over 60 members participating in under 9 year old competitions and under 11, 13 and 15 leagues, with a number of other clubs.

External links

* [http://www.warkworthdrama.org.uk Drama Group website]
* [http://www.warkworth.co.uk Parish website]
*oscoor gbx|NU247060
* [http://www.dillydilly.net/warkworth/ Images of Warkworth]
* [http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=55.346986~-1.610613&style=a&lvl=16&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000 Aerial Photograph of Warkworth]