- This article is about the place in Northumberland, England. For other places with the same name see Belford
Coordinates: 55°35′53″N 1°49′41″W / 55.598°N 1.828°W
| Belford | |
May2003).jpg) Belford, 2003 (photo by Ann Hodgson) |
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.png)  Belford
Belford shown within Northumberland |
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| Population | 1,055 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Northumberland |
| Ceremonial county | Northumberland |
| Region | North East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BELFORD |
| Postcode district | NE70 |
| Dialling code | 01668 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Northumberland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | Berwick-upon-Tweed |
| List of places: UK • England • Northumberland | |
Belford is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England about halfway between Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed, a few miles inland from the east coast and just off the Great North Road, the A1. It has a population of 1,055.[1]
The village has a church with a Norman chancel, and the Blue Bell Hotel. The 18th century Belford Hall, now residential flats, has Grade I listed building status. It achieved some momentary fame in April 2000 when protests about the closure of its bank was picked up and used by the mainstream media to illustrate stories of rural decline brought about by bank branch closures.
Belford is surrounded by rich pastoral farmland, and to the west of the village is found one of the better rock climbing locations in the county, Bowden Doors.
In 2008, Belford Junior Football Club was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.[2]
Contents |
Governance
Belford is in the parliamentary constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Landmarks
Belford Hall is a Grade I listed building, an 18th century mansion house.
The Manor of Belford was acquired by the Dixon family in 1726 and in 1752 Abraham Dixon built a mansion house in a Palladian style to a design by architect James Paine. In 1770 heiress Margaret Dixon married William Brown. Their daughter later married Newcastle upon Tyne merchant, Lt. Col. William Clark, Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Northumberland who, in 1818, remodelled the house and added two new wings, with the assistance of architect John Dobson.
An extensive park, created in the mid 18th century, retains several original features and has been designated a conservation area. An 18th century folly in the park is a Grade II listed building. During World War II the Hall was requisitioned by the Army and thereafter became neglected and dilapidated. In the 1980s it was acquired by the Northern Heritage Trust, renovated and restored and converted to residential flats.
See also
References
- ^ Census 2001
- ^ "2008 Winners, North East". The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The Cabinet Office. http://www.queensawardvoluntary.gov.uk/winners/northeast08.html. Retrieved 2008-06-08.
External links
- Images of Belford Castle site with history notes
- Village 'devastated' at losing bank - news from the BBC in April 2000
- Bowden Doors described, at UKClimbing.com
- GENUKI (Accessed: 1 November 2008)
- Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 1 November 2008)
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