The most northernly town in England is the historic town of
Berwick upon Tweed which is just 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border, something that's quite noticeable because you can ask for a fish supper and people know what you
mean, and with out question you can purchase a can of Irn Bru to have with your
supper and believe it or not you can get a copy of The National as well!
During
years of border wars between the two countries Berwick changed hands 13 times from
1296. Eventually from 1482 it stayed in English hands, maybe the town and its
residents will defect when Scotland finally gets its long sort after
independence?
An interesting city with lots of history.... |
.... and a very small coffee shop! |
Although the town has been fortified since Tudor times, to
cope with the 16th century advances in gunpowder artillery the Italian designed
ramparts, we still see today, were commissioned. These walls took 12 years to build and
cost £40 million in today’s money. The single biggest expenditure of Elizabeth
1st reign – yea ancient Trident maybe?
These ramparts are a great tourist attraction and form a wonderful
way to walk around the city and take-in its many historical attractions.
During the nineteenth century Berwick-upon-Tweed became an
important trading town and it grew in size considerably with the addition of its
new harbours and quays. The town's main breakwater was extended between 1810
and 1811 to protect the harbours and the mouth of the River Tweed and so
required a lighthouse. John Rennie finally built the one you see today in 1826.
The tower is 13 metres high and is built almost completely out of locally
sourced stone - it was repainted in 2011 the first time in sixteen years.
The Breakwater. |
Rennie's Lighthouse. |
No comments:
Post a Comment