Border Bastles, Reiving and Thieving
Station Yard, Woodburn Road, Bellingham, Northumberland, NE48 2DG
Tynedale and Redesdale were notorious for reiving activities, between the late 1200s and the early 1600s. Families such as the Armstrongs, Elliots, Grahams and Forsters formed tight-knit clans or “graynes”, relying on mutual protection and often raiding neighbouring families. The term “blackmail” originates from their practice of extracting payments for protection and “bereaved” from the practice of setting fire to the property of neighbours as a hint that they should move on.
At the Heritage Centre - visitors of all ages can find out about the Reivers’ fortified buildings: bastles and pele towers. Discover stories and legends about the Reivers’ lawless activities, and whether your surname is one of the Reiver graynes. Lots of fun activities for children: build a bastle, play Tudor board games.
Beyond the Heritage Centre - follow the Heritage Centre’s walking trail to St Cuthbert’s Church, Bellingham with its rare stone-vaulted roof, built to withstand Reivers’ attacks. Follow our driving trail to some of the bastles and pele towers nearby.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- 1000-1600
- Sunday 14 September:
- 1000-1600
- Monday 15 September:
- 1000-1600
- Tuesday 16 September:
- 1000-1600
- Wednesday 17 September:
- 1000-1600
- Thursday 18 September:
- 1000-1600
- Friday 19 September:
- 1000-1600
- Saturday 20 September:
- 1000-1600
- Sunday 21 September:
- 1000-1600
Location & directions
Station Yard, Woodburn Road, Bellingham, Northumberland, NE48 2DG
- Directions:
- The bus from Hexham stops outside the Heritage Centre in Station Yard. There are bike racks and a bike repair station in Station Yard. There is plenty of free parking in Station Yard.
- Contact on day:
- Duty Manager
- Telephone number:
- +441434220050
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Additional information
Refreshments available at Tea on the Train, the First Class railway carriage next to the Heritage Centre. Open 1000-1600 every day. Access to the carriage is via a ramp and a step and the carriage aisle is narrow, so it is not accessible for wheelchairs, rollators and pushchairs. However, there are tables (under canopies) on the platform, which are accessible.
