Edlingham, Northumberland

Edlingham, Northumberland

A small hamlet six miles or so southwest of Alnwick. Edlingham is set in a lovely valley. There is not much of Edlingham itself, but there is plenty of historical interest. The medieval church of St John the Baptist is well worth a visit.

Beside the church is the striking ruin of 13th-century Edlingham Castle. The castle is properly a fortified manor. Much of it is in ruin, but the striking solar tower still rises to a considerable height.

Just behind the castle runs an imposing Victorian-era viaduct, which seems to dominate the green valley. The village was originally 'Eadwulfingham', or Eadwulf's place. It was one of four royal villages given to St Cuthbert in AD 737 by King Coelwulf.

The church was built around 831, and the castle begun around 1230, and rebuilt in the following century and again in the Elizabethan period.

In the meantime, the current church was built. It is primarily 11th and 12th century, with very interesting Norman architectural detail. The massive tower and narrow, slit windows show that the church, too, was built with defence very much in mind!