Wark

Frontier Town
Wark (pronunciation rhymes with "ark") is a reasonably-sized village in west Northumberland 12 miles north west of Hexham and 5 ¼ mile south east of Bellingham. It lies on the west bank of the River North Tyne slightly off the official Reivers cycle route.

A frontier town during the Norman ages, there is little remaining of this period save for the steep bank of its former castle.

In the Middle Ages Wark was the head of the Lordship of Tynedale and in the 13th century Scottish Kings held court in Wark as it was part of Scotland.

The River North Tyne between Wark and Chollerton was originally crossed by a wooden bridge supported on eight stone pillars. In the 1870s the wood was removed and replaced by an all iron structure. In April 2003 Wark was given another claim to fame when it was announced that it was to be one of the first villages in the North East to be have solar powered street lights.

With lots of accommodation on offer and reasonable facilities, Wark is a common stop-over point for Reivers cyclists particularly those doing it in three or four days.

Places of interest

The Church of St Michael
Built in the Gothic style, it includes an embattled tower in the west end. It was erected between 1814 and 1818 by the Governors of Greenwich Hospital and together with the Rectory cost over £7,000 to construct.

Serviced Accommodation

Battlesteads Hotel
Wark, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 3LS
Tel: 01434 230 209
Website: www.battlesteads-hotel.co.uk

The Black Bull Hotel
Main Street, Wark, Hexham NE48 3LG
Tel: 01434 230 239

The Hemmel
Hetherington Farm, Wark, Hexham NE48 3DR
Tel: 01434 230 260

Roses Bower Lodge & Farm
Roses Bower Farm, Wark, Hexham NE48 3DX
Tel: 01434 230779 or 07714 853 532

Riverside Cottage
Wark, Hexham, Northumberland
Tel: 0191 487 6531