Summer Walk No2, Edlingham Church & Castle - Tuesday 21st June 2022.

     

The second walk on the Morpeth Camera Club Summer Programme took place on Tuesday 21st June as members met
in the small hamlet of Edlingham. The aim of the evening was to explore the small 11th Century Norman Church and
the ruined grade 1 listed Castle that stand in the Edlingham valley. After the recent sunny weather, a dull and cloudy
evening was a little disappointing, but the fifteen in attendance were undeterred and were soon spread out across this
quiet location as they looked for images.



There are actually three stone structures at this location, each built in different centuries, but all as important as each
other in relation to the local to the history of the area. We started at the 11th Century Norman church of St John the
Baptist. Built around 1050 the church has a fortified west tower with no windows, just slit openings. This indicated that
it was used as a place of defence and security, against raiders from across the border. Still a working parish church there
were numerous items of interest to photograph including the large stained glass east window, a very unusual octagonal
stone font, set on a circular plinth and dated 1701, as well as wooden pews, prayer cushions, different sized windows
and a 14th century grave cover incised with swords and shears.

     

Stepping out of the church, a grassy path led us the short distance down to Edlingham Castle. Originally a manor house,
it was strengthened in 1294 by William de Fenton who added a gatehouse, ramparts and fortified the main hall inside a
courtyard. In 1396 it was further enhanced with the large solar tower on the western side. It is believed that this part
of the castle was built over the moat and the reason why it is now leaning at an acute angle is through subsidence.
As we explored the ruin it was interesting to watch how different members of the club photographed the subject and
we should have some interesting results to share.



The third structure at this location was built much later in 1885, but was very important at the time as railways spread
across the country. The Edlingham Viaduct opened in 1887 as part of the North Eastern Railway Company's Alnwick to
Coldstream (Cornhill) Branch. The grade 2 listed viaduct spans the valley and the five arches carried the railway over
the Edlingham burn. Unfortunately the group had to view and photograph the viaduct from a distance as it is now in
private ownership with no public access.

      

Davy.