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get
away
Feeling the need for a change of scenery and pace,
Lucy
Griffiths
headstothevillageofCorbridge,Northumberland,
in the United Kingdom to soak up the beauty and history
of this area.
Roman Time Capsule
C
orbridge
was once
a garrison town for
Roman soldiers and
a safe crossing place
over the river Tyne.
The houses in this
village are built with
stone hewn from the Roman town of
Corstopitum, which was the template
for the Corbridge of today. The Roman
settlement of Corstopitum, which dates
from 79 AD, was located half a mile west
It began with a visit by King John who,
in 1201, granted a charter allowing a
weekly market, which complemented
the annual Stagshaw Fair where, twice
a year, over 100,000 cattle, sheep and
horses from all over Britain changed
hands. Trade brought wealth and a new
bridge over the river Tyne was built, the
St Andrew’s church was extended on
five occasions and three sister churches
were built. By 1295, Corbridge was the
second largest and wealthiest settlement
in Northumberland.
The village has, of course, changed
with the times and has modernised. Yet
there are still pockets of history which
makes it a very original and surprising
place. The oldest handwritten documents
in Britain and rare Roman armour, the
Corbridge Hoard, are housed in the old
Roman part of the village, where you can
explore a time-capsule of Roman life.
One is spoilt for choice for places
to stay, from high quality hotels to self
catering cottages and apartments. The
of the present settlement of Corbridge.
This site was chosen due to the fact that
the north-south Dere Street crossed the
river Tyne before meeting the east-west
Stanegate that linked military forts along
Hadrian’s Wall. The mainly civilian
settlement lasted until the Romans left
Britain around 400 AD.
Golden age
By the beginning of the 13th century,
Corbridge had entered its `Golden Age’.
Bridge over the river Tyne leading into Corbridge village