Harbottle is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England about 10 miles (16 km) south-east of the Scottish border, in the southeastern part of the Cheviot Hills and inside Northumberland National Park.[2][3] The village is the site of Harbottle Castle built by order of Henry II. Now in ruins, the castle was constructed by the Umfraville family to protect against invaders from Scotland.

Harbottle
View of the village from Harbottle Castle
Harbottle is located in Northumberland
Harbottle
Harbottle
Location within Northumberland
Population256 (2011 census)[1]
OS grid referenceNT934046
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMORPETH
Postcode districtNE65
Dialling code01669
PoliceNorthumbria
FireNorthumberland
AmbulanceNorth East
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Northumberland
55°20′10″N 2°06′22″W / 55.336°N 2.106°W / 55.336; -2.106

Landmarks

edit
 
The Drake Stone near Harbottle

Harbottle Castle is a ruinous medieval castle dated to the 12th century, situated at the west end of the village overlooking the River Coquet.[3] It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building. It is open to the public without charge.[4]

The Drake Stone stands prominently on the hills surrounding Harbottle. The massive sandstone boulder, believed in times past to be endowed with supernatural powers,[3] is a detached sandstone block of Fell Sandstone, which has moved very little from the Fell Sandstone outcrop within which it lies. It has been compared to the Bowder Stone in Borrowdale, Cumbria, which has also not been moved far.[5] Harbottle Lake is situated just behind the Drake Stone.[6]

Harbottle has a single small public house, The Star Inn, which incorporates a village shop and pizzeria.[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  2. ^ Coulson, Charles (2004). Castles in Medieval Society: Fortresses in England, France, and Ireland in the Central Middle Ages. Oxford University Press. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-19-927363-8.
  3. ^ a b c "Harbottle". Northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Harbottle Castle (1041281)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. ^ The Local Historian's Table Book: Of Remarkable Occurrences, Historical Facts, Traditions, Legendary and Descriptive Ballads, &c., &c., Connected with the Counties of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham. M. A. Richardson. 1846. p. 141.
  6. ^ Lewis, Samuel (1833). A Topographical Dictionary of England: With Historical and Statistical Descriptions. Lewis. p. 342.
  7. ^ Hall, Gemma (17 April 2012). Slow Northumberland and Durham: Including Newcastle, Hadrian's Wall and the Coast. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-84162-433-4.
edit