Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is 1.25 miles (2 km) from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 13,833. Nearby villages include Mitford and Pegswood.
Morpeth grew up at an important crossing point of the River Wansbeck. Follow...
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Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is 1.25 miles (2 km) from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 13,833. Nearby villages include Mitford and Pegswood.
Morpeth grew up at an important crossing point of the River Wansbeck. Following the Norman Conquest the town came into the possession of the de Merlay family, and a motte and bailey castle had been constructed by 1095. Newminster Abbey was founded by Ranulf de Merlay, lord of Morpeth as one of the first daughter houses of Fountains in 1138. The town became a borough by prescription. King John granted a market charter for the town to Roger de Merlay in 1199. The market is still held on Wednesdays. The town was badly damaged by fire in 1215 during the First Barons' War. In the thirteenth century a stone bridge was built...
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