High in the windswept hills of County Durham, at the heart of the North Pennines National Landscape, is Groverake Mine — a relic from the north of England’s industrial past that once bustled with life and enterprise for almost two centuries. This area was at the centre of Britain’s fluorspar excavation industry, extracting the mineral ...

Perched high and proud on a section of the Great Whin Sill, rising from the North Sea, is Lindisfarne Castle. A battle-worn survivor from ancient times, and the ever stoical guardian of the world-famous Holy Island.

Crowning the 295-million-year-old volcanic hilltop known as Beblowe Craig, the castle is one of the best known ...

Let’s go back to ancient Mesopotamia (c.2350 - 2150 BCE), where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers laid the groundwork for early civilisation. This land, known as Sumer, is where some of humanity’s first great stories began. The  Sumerians had their own religion and widely regarded their deities as responsible for all matters pertaining ...

Early in the year I had an opportunity to explore the historic St.Andrew's Church and The Hopper Mausoleum, located on Greymare Hill in Shotley, very close to where I live, but have never visited until now.

Two striking examples of architecture stand as witnesses to the rich, and sometimes turbulent history of the locale. ...

In 1072, William the Conqueror initiated the construction of the Castle following the Norman Conquest of England, which had occurred six years earlier when the Normans arrived in the North. To start, the Earl of Northumberland, Waltheof, oversaw the construction.

However, in 1076, Waltheof rebelled against William and was ...

Tucked away in the heart of England’s green and fertile north east is the medieval village of Blanchland (Land of the White Monks), a tiny village that combines the rugged history of the area with a unique and picturesque charm.

Blanchland is a firm favourite with my family and friends, as any one (or more) of our number will ...

A Fortress for the Ages: Discovering the Rich History and Majestic Beauty of Bamburgh Castle

Towering over the rugged Northumberland coastline, Bamburgh Castle has stood as a sentinel for more than a millennium, bearing witness to countless battles, sieges, and invasions. As one of the most imposing and well-preserved castles ...