Woodhorn

{{Short description| A village in Northumberland, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place

|official_name= Woodhorn

|country = England

|region = North East England

|civil_parish=Newbiggin by the Sea

|unitary_england= Northumberland

|lieutenancy_england= Northumberland

|constituency_westminster= Wansbeck

|population =

|post_town = ASHINGTON

|postcode_area = NE

|postcode_district = NE63

|dial_code = 01670

|os_grid_reference = NZ2958

|coordinates = {{coord|55.189|-1.538|display=inline,title}}

|static_image= Woodhorn Village - geograph.org.uk - 3228666.jpg

|static_image_caption=

}}

Woodhorn is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Newbiggin by the Sea, in Northumberland, England, about {{convert|2|mi|0}} east of Ashington. In 1931 the parish had a population of 219.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10330580/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Woodhorn AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 January 2022}} The village is sometimes identified with Wucestre, given to St Cuthbert by King Ceolwulf when he gave up his throne in 737 to become a monk at Lindisfarne. A medieval bell at Woodhorn, inscribed "Ave Maria", is said to be one of the oldest in existence.{{cite web

| title = Linden Hall

| url = http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/lindenHall/outings/townsandvillages.htm

| accessdate = 2008-12-11}}

Governance

On 1 April 1935 the parish was abolished and merged with Newbiggin by the Sea and Ashington parishes.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10330580|title=Relationships and changes Woodhorn AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=29 January 2022}}

Economy

The main employment was at the coal mine. The mine has since closed and the site has been landscaped incorporating a lake and known as Queen Elizabeth II Country Park. Some of the mine buildings have been retained and are used as a visitor centre.

Landmarks

Woodhorn Colliery Museum is situated in a country park with a {{convert|40|acre|adj=on}} lake. With sound effects, models, paintings, working machinery etc., the museum gives an insight into life in a local coal-mining community.

The site of the old pit is now the location for Northumberland Record Office, a purpose-built building having been constructed to replace the two previous buildings at Morpeth and Gosforth.

Religious sites

File:StMarytheVirginWoodhorn.jpgThe Church of St Mary the Virgin, Woodhorn (commonly known as 'Woodhorn Church') is dedicated to St Mary{{cite book

| last = Purves

| first = Geoffrey

| authorlink = Geoffrey Purves

| title = Churches of Newcastle and Northumberland

| publisher = Tempus Publishing Limited

| year = 2006

| location = Stroud, Gloucestershire, England

| pages = 178

| url = http://www.tempus-publishing.com

| isbn = 0-7524-4071-3 }} and is the oldest building in Wansbeck, with parts dating back to the 11th century, but has not functioned as a church since 1973. In recent decades, the building has housed at various times a museum and artists' studios. Newbiggin Town Council has set up the Woodhorn Church Working Group to discuss the future use of the now vacant building.{{Cite web |url=http://www.newbiggintowncouncil.gov.uk/events/woodhornchurch.html?style= |title=Woodhorn Church Working Group – Newbiggin by the Sea Town Council |access-date=26 December 2012 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306193145/http://www.newbiggintowncouncil.gov.uk/events/woodhornchurch.html?style= |url-status=dead }}

Woodhorn Church was once the mother church in the Parish of Woodhorn with Newbiggin. When she was declared redundant in 1973, that role passed to St Bartholomew's.{{Cite web |url=http://stbartholomewsnewbiggin.co.uk/history.html |title=St Barholomews Church, Newbiggin by the Sea |date=11 August 2013 |access-date=7 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811031305/http://stbartholomewsnewbiggin.co.uk/history.html |archive-date=11 August 2013 |url-status=dead}}

References

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