Northumberland (pop. 320,567) is the most northerly unitary authority (local government area) of England. The authority’s northwestern border forms most of the boundary between England and Scotland. The authority has many historical associations, especially with Roman times.
Northumberland is mainly agricultural. At one time, the authority’s main economic importance was in the industrial area of Tyneside. But, in 1974, this part of Northumberland was taken into a new county, Tyne and Wear. The change reduced Northumberland’s population by half. Northumberland is one of the largest English authorities in area, but it is more sparsely populated than any other authority in England. It covers 1,936 square miles (5,013 square kilometers).
People and government
Many Northumbrians (inhabitants of Northumberland) work in farming. Some in the southeastern parts of the authority work in the declining coal-mining industry.
Local customs.
Northumberland has many old legends and customs. An example is tar burning on New Year’s Eve at Allendale. This custom probably dates from pre-Christian times, when people worshipped fire. Led by a band, masked men march through the town carrying barrels of blazing tar. The barrels are thrown on a bonfire in the market square.
Recreation.
The River Tweed is a famous salmon-fishing river. All the authority’s rivers, and the long coast, give good facilities for anglers. Northumberland National Park covers over 400 square miles (1,040 square kilometers). Its moors and hills attract many walkers and pony trekkers, or people who ride ponies for sport. Next to the national park is the Border Forest Park. The authority’s plentiful wildlife is an added attraction.
Most national sports are popular in Northumberland. Many people play rugby football. Association soccer is popular throughout the authority. The mining towns are famous for their colliery brass bands.
Economy
Agriculture and fishing.
Most of the authority’s arable land is in the central plain and coastal areas. Barley is the main crop, but farmers also grow oats, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, and various crops for animal food. The Morpeth and Ponteland areas have market gardening. Farmers in the lowlands keep beef and dairy cattle. In the uplands, sheep farming is the main activity. Berwick-upon-Tweed is a center for North Sea fishing. Craster is famous for kippers. The lower reaches of the River Tweed have a salmon-fishing industry.
Manufacturing.
Most of the authority’s manufacturing is in its southeastern corner. Cramlington is a developing industrial town with products that include cigarette lighters and powered tools. Blyth has a trading estate, and produces clothing, components for electronics goods, and textiles for bedding and upholstery. Ashington has a brickworks. The town also has the headquarters of an aluminium smelting factory, located at nearby Lynemouth. Other local industries produce clothing and engineering goods. Marine and general engineering are important at Amble. Haltwhistle has a paint factory, and Otterburn produces blankets, rugs, and tweeds. Prudhoe has a large works making tissue paper. Bedlington has a factory manufacturing electronic components. Other industrial plants situated on the Rivers Tyne and Blyth manufacture products ranging from heavy electrical machinery to pottery and soap.
Mining.
The authority’s coalfield is part of the extensive Northumberland and Durham coalfield, the second largest in England. The main mining area is near Ashington and Bedlington. The Northumbrian mines have been affected by a general decline in British coal mining.
Tourism
is a growing industry. Increasing numbers of visitors are attracted by the authority’s beauty, especially in the Northumberland National Park and the county’s small seaside resorts.
Transportation and communication.
A main railroad line from London to Edinburgh passes through Morpeth, Alnmouth, and Berwick-upon-Tweed. A branch line, running from Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, serves Prudhoe, Hexham, and Haltwhistle. The Great North Road, the A1, runs along the east coast. The main port is Blyth. Woolsington airport, near Ponteland, handles passenger and freight flights to other parts of Britain.
A British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) local radio station at Newcastle upon Tyne serves as a local station for Northumberland. Several towns in Northumberland publish their own weekly newspapers.
Land and climate
Location and size.
Northumberland is in northeastern England. It is bounded by the Borders Region of Scotland to the north, the North Sea to the east, the unitary authority of County Durham and the Tyne and Wear Metropolitan County to the south, and the county of Cumbria to the west. Northumberland extends about 68 miles (110 kilometers) from north to south and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from east to west.
Land features.
The authority has three main natural regions: the coastlands, the western uplands, and part of the northern Pennines. The coastland area consists of low-lying land less than about 295 feet (90 meters) above sea level. It extends from Blyth in the south to about 3 miles (5 kilometers) beyond Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north. This coastal strip is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) wide. Many islands lie off the shore of Northumberland, including the Farne Islands and Holy Island.
The western uplands rise from the coastlands to the western borders of Northumberland. They form the approach to the Cheviot Hills, which lie along the border of England and Scotland.
The area of the northern Pennines lies in southwest Northumberland. The Tyne Gap, the valley of the South Tyne River, separates this region from the western uplands. The Pennines are a series of uplands, more than 2,000 feet (600 meters) high in parts. They extend from Northumberland southward to Derbyshire and Staffordshire.
Rivers.
The most important river, the Tyne, begins where the North and South Tyne rivers meet. In the North Tyne valley, the vast Kielder Water reservoir became operational in the early 1980’s. It is Europe’s biggest reservoir. The River Tweed forms part of the boundary between England and Scotland.
Climate.
The coast and the Tyne Valley are the driest and warmest areas, because they are low lying and sheltered by the uplands. Average winter temperatures along the coast are about 37 °F (3 °C). Summer temperatures average 59 °F (15 °C). Annual rainfall is between 25 and 30 inches (63.5 and 76 centimeters). On the higher ground in the west, temperatures are lower than in the east.
History
Historians and archaeologists believe that prehistoric people lived in the area of Northumberland. The Romans invaded Northumberland between A.D. 70 and 80. They built many fortifications, including Hadrian’s Wall, against the raids of the Picts and Scots from Scotland.
The early Anglo-Saxon invasions occurred in the 400’s. By the middle of the 500’s, the kingdom of Bernicia, ruled by Ida, the chieftain of the Beornish tribe, was established in Northumberland. At the end of the 500’s, Bernicia united with the kingdom of Deira to form the kingdom of Northumbria, which extended from the River Humber to the Forth.
The Danes invaded Northumbria at the end of the 700’s. But they did not cross the Tyne into the area of Northumberland until after the middle of the 800’s. They ravaged the region from the Tyne to the Tweed, burning every church and monastery. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, the Scots frequently invaded the area.
Several famous people lived in Northumberland. George Stephenson, who developed the steam locomotive, was born at Wylam, near Hexham. Grace Darling, the lifeboat heroine, was born at Bamburgh. Algernon Swinburne, the poet, came from an old Northumbrian family.
