History of Warkworth, Northumberland

Warkworth village has one main street, with public houses, shops and tearooms along it, as well as private residences. In the nineteenth century the village held three fairs for livestock sale, in May, August and November. Races were held here in May each year, and there was a three-day feast in August. Population figures for the first half of the nineteenth century show a steady increase in numbers. In 1801, 614 persons are given as residing in Warkworth; by 1841 this had grown to 785 persons, and by 1851 the population stood at 834 persons. The village today is a popular place to visit, particularly in the summer months; its picturesque environment and colorful past making Warkworth a desirable destination on many a tourist's holiday route. 

Warkworth has a long and interesting history. The parish Church of St. Lawrence is Norman in origin and the best example of Norman architecture in Northumberland.  It's situated at one end of the village with its dominating spire of nearly 100 feet in height.. There has been a church on this site for around 1,200 years. The first record dates from 737AD when King Ceolwulph of Northumbria gave the church and village to the Abbot and monks of Lindisfarne.  Our own Ceolwulph Cottage was named in honour of King Ceolwulph.  The church was built as a place of worship and a place of refuge in dangerous times; the nave is thought to be the longest Norman nave in the county.  In the graveyard can be found the tomb of a 17th C Royal Huntsman.

The blackest day in the history of Warkworth Church occured on 13th July 1174, when the Earl of Fife, accompanied by King William the Lion of Scotland, put to death 300 Warkworth residents who had sought refuge in the church.

The old, now pedestrianised stone bridge over the River Coquet dates back to the 14th century and is one of the very few in the country to have been fortified with a tower, which is believed to have been used as a jail.

At the other end of the village, Warkworth Castle sits majestically atop a hill, visible for miles around. This castle is the ancient seat of the Percy family, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland and dates from the 12th century.  The first building is thought to have been a wooden construction, built by Henry, the son of King David I of Scotland, who owned the land at that time.  Henry had the title "Earl Henry of Northumberland" at a time when the North of England was part of Scotland.   It is remembered through Shakespeare's Henry IV and popularly believed to be where Hotspur set out from, to travel to Shrewsbury and his death. In 1158 Henry II gave the castle to Roger FitzRichard who most likely began to rebuild it with stone.  His son Robert continued to improve and add to the buildings.  King Edward I spent a night in the castle in 1292.  When the Anglo-Scottish wars began in 1296 the castle had to be manned by troops. Records show that in 1319 a garrison of twenty-four soldiers and staff held the castle. Half of the cost was paid by the King who later became owner of the castle.

Edward III granted Warkworth and its Castle to Henry de Percy II in 1332. The castle passed back and forth between the Percy family and the Royal family for centuries. The cost of maintaining the castle is enormous so the Duke of Northumberland passed it to the nation and it came into the custody of the Office of Works in 1922 who then later passed it to the English Heritage.   Today the castle is owned by English Heritage and is a popular venue for local events and outdoor theatre.

Warkworth Hermitage, on the river below the castle, is a chapel carved in stone and can only be reached by boat across the river. It commemorates the deaths of the brother and beloved lady of a knight named Sir Bertram, who is said to have created the chapel and remained there the rest of his life. This tale was immortalized by Bishop Thomas Percy in his ballad The Hermit of Warkworth, written in the eighteenth century and dedicated to Elizabeth, Countess and later First Duchess of Northumberland.   Click here for more history and interesting facts about The Hermitage.  Click here for English Heritage's website for opening times.

The Coquet river is well known to anglers, and there is a history of salmon fisheries here. There is a long-held tradition that the first salmon taken from the river each season is presented to the Duke of Northumberland.  Fishing permits to fish the River Coquet are available to purchase from the Village Store in Warkworth.