Summer Walk No5, Glebe, Grotto & Church Visit - Tuesday 12th July 2022.
The tiny village of Hartburn was the latest venue on the summer walks programme that gives members
of Morpeth Camera Club the opportunity to meet up and take some photographs. On Tuesday 12th July
the group met in the church car park and walked north west through the picturesque village to Hartburn
Glebe, a wooded area now managed by the Woodland Trust.
This mixed woodland sits on the banks of the Hart Burn, and was originally landscaped in the 18th century
by Dr John Sharp, an eccentric local vicar. He created the ornamented grounds that included footpaths, a
small stone bridge with a lancet arch and a very unusual Grotto. Cut into the sandstone cliff in 1760, this
two room, stone built chamber is said to have been constructed as a changing area for bathers, with a
short tunnel leading down to the river. Members stepped inside this Grade II listed folly to photograph the
arched doorway and large fireplace that loom out of the darkness.
Moving on, we followed the footpath on the south side of the Hart Burn, through an area of woodland
that is currently being harvested and operational work is in progress to reduce conifer dominated areas
and remove all invasive rhododendron. This will open up the woodland canopy to allow the regeneration
of the broadleaf plants and trees, and promote the natural regeneration of native flora. Climbing a steep
bank, we left the glebe and returned to the road and headed back through the village. Passing the large
crenelated Tower House that was once a school and the war memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens,
we arrived at the beautiful parish church of St Andrew.
This grade I listed church was established before the Norman conquest of 1066, it was largely rebuilt in
the 13th century and it stands in a prominent position above the Hartburn valley, at the east end of the
village. Evening access had been arranged for members to see the many interior features which included
flags from the Napoleonic war that hang in the chancel, marble tomb inlays, rare masons marks and the
unusual Florentine lamps. Colourful stained glass, the 13th century circular font, the carved reredos and
a huge strongbox, said to have been used by Cromwell to store the wages of his soldiers during the Civil
War, gave an eclectic mix of subjects to photograph.
The churchyard and church exterior were also worthy of exploration with an amazing number of upright
headstones. Several of these grave markers were carved on both sides and adorned with symbols of
sculls, crossbones, and hour glasses, that represented mortality, death and time. Winged cherubs, doves
and angel emblems represented the belief that the soul would rise and live in heaven. With graves dating
back to 1693, reading the inscriptions and messages gave a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Davy.
of Morpeth Camera Club the opportunity to meet up and take some photographs. On Tuesday 12th July
the group met in the church car park and walked north west through the picturesque village to Hartburn
Glebe, a wooded area now managed by the Woodland Trust.
This mixed woodland sits on the banks of the Hart Burn, and was originally landscaped in the 18th century
by Dr John Sharp, an eccentric local vicar. He created the ornamented grounds that included footpaths, a
small stone bridge with a lancet arch and a very unusual Grotto. Cut into the sandstone cliff in 1760, this
two room, stone built chamber is said to have been constructed as a changing area for bathers, with a
short tunnel leading down to the river. Members stepped inside this Grade II listed folly to photograph the
arched doorway and large fireplace that loom out of the darkness.
Moving on, we followed the footpath on the south side of the Hart Burn, through an area of woodland
that is currently being harvested and operational work is in progress to reduce conifer dominated areas
and remove all invasive rhododendron. This will open up the woodland canopy to allow the regeneration
of the broadleaf plants and trees, and promote the natural regeneration of native flora. Climbing a steep
bank, we left the glebe and returned to the road and headed back through the village. Passing the large
crenelated Tower House that was once a school and the war memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens,
we arrived at the beautiful parish church of St Andrew.
This grade I listed church was established before the Norman conquest of 1066, it was largely rebuilt in
the 13th century and it stands in a prominent position above the Hartburn valley, at the east end of the
village. Evening access had been arranged for members to see the many interior features which included
flags from the Napoleonic war that hang in the chancel, marble tomb inlays, rare masons marks and the
unusual Florentine lamps. Colourful stained glass, the 13th century circular font, the carved reredos and
a huge strongbox, said to have been used by Cromwell to store the wages of his soldiers during the Civil
War, gave an eclectic mix of subjects to photograph.
The churchyard and church exterior were also worthy of exploration with an amazing number of upright
headstones. Several of these grave markers were carved on both sides and adorned with symbols of
sculls, crossbones, and hour glasses, that represented mortality, death and time. Winged cherubs, doves
and angel emblems represented the belief that the soul would rise and live in heaven. With graves dating
back to 1693, reading the inscriptions and messages gave a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Davy.