Northumberland Yesterday and To-dayTerry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
History
Northumberland Yesterday and To-day
Terry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
Northumberland (England) -- Guidebooks; Northumberland (England) -- History
Northumberland is fortunate in the number of rivers which, owing to
the position of the Cheviot Hills, flow right across the county
from west to east. These Northumbrian streams have a distinct
character of their own, and are of a different breed from those of
the southern; counties. They are neither mountain torrents nor
placid leisurely rivers, such as are met elsewhere in Britain, but
busy, bright, joyous, and sparkling, never sluggish, never silent,
even when deep and full, as is the Tyne in its lower reaches. With
the Tyne and its tributary streams we have already travelled; but
there are others yet awaiting us, claiming our attention sometimes
for the romantic scenery through which they run their bright
course, sometimes for the historic sites they pass on their way,
sometimes for both reasons. Wansbeck, Coquet, Aln, or Till—each has
its own interest, as has also the Tweed in that score or so of
miles along which it can he spoken of in connection with
Northumberland.
The source of the Wansbeck, the only “beck” the county possesses,
is amongst the “Wild Hills o’ Wannys” (Wanny’s beck) a group of
picturesque sandstone crags which surround Sweethope Lough, a sheet
of water which covers 180 acres. The scenery of this upper course
of the Wansbeck is very striking, from the Lough to
Kirkwhelpington, flowing between bleak moorland and rich pasture,
and on to Littleharle Tower, which stands secluded in deep woods.
Another mansion near at hand, and most picturesquely situated, is
Wallington Hall, lying a short distance away on the north bank of
the Wansbeck. It is one of the most notable country houses in
Northumberland, and especially so on account of its unique
picture-gallery, roofed with dull glass, and containing several
series of pictures connected with Northumbrian history. One of
these is a series of frescoes by William Bell Scott, whose name was
for so many years associated with all that was best in art in
Newcastle, and whose picture of the “Building of the Castle” may be
seen at the head of the staircase in the Lit. and Phil. building.
His pictures at Wallington are:—1. The Building of the Roman Wall.
2. The visit of King Egfrid and Bishop Trumwine to St. Cuthbert on
Fame. 3. A Descent of the Danes. 4. Death of the Venerable Bede. 5.
The Charlton Spur. 6. Bernard Gilpin taking down a challenge glove
in Rothbury Church. 7. Grace Darling and her father on the way to
the wreck. 8. The Nineteenth Century—showing the High Level Bridge,
the Quayside, an Armstrong gun, etc., etc. Another series consists
of medallions and portraits of famous men connected with
Northumbrian events, from Hadrian and Severus down to George
Stephenson and others of modern times; while yet another depicts
all the incidents of “Chevy Chase.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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