HISTORY

Berwick has changed hands between England and Scotland more than 13 times.

1018 Battle of Carham, Malcolm of Scotland claimed Tweed as Scottish River and the town as being in Scotland.

1150 Berwick Castle Built.

1217 1st December. Alexander's sentence of excommunication was cancelled by the Pope and the King received absolution in the Castle at Berwick.

In 1305 the left arm of William Wallace was ordered to be suspended in the town after he had been quartered.

1312 Bruce attempted to claim the town. The barking of a dog made known his arrival and saved Berwick as a cackling of geese saved Rome.

1314 Edward II fled to Berwick after his defeat at Bannockburn.

1318 Robert Bruce mastered Berwick on 28th March. Here he dated many of his charters and assembled many of his Parliaments.

1320 Edwardian Walls built during reign of Edward II.

1333 Battle of Halidon Hill. Edward III hanged the sons of Sir Alexander Seton, Govenor of Berwick in sight of the garrison.

1513 the Battle of Flodden took place at which James IV of Scotland was slain and his body was brought to Berwick.

1548 John Knox appeared inBerwick as a Preacher and stayed for 2 years, in 1551 he left for Newcastle.

Can walk around totally in tact Elizabethan walls built in 1558 in anticipation of a French Invasion, the best preserved in Europe.

1603 James VI Scotland arrived on 7 April on his way to London in preparation of his Coronation as James I England, after death of Queen Elizabeth I.

1611 Old bridge started. It took 24 years to complete replacing wooden bridge.

1648 Berwick Parish Church built, one of the only 2 Churches to be built in England during the period of the Commonwealth at the order of Cromwell it was to be flat roofed and no adornments.

1650 Oliver Cromwell visited Berwick.

1717 The first purpose built Barracks in the whole of Britain, using stone from Berwick Castle.

1750 Town Hall built with a spire of 150ft.

1823 death sentence last carried out in Berwick when Grace Griffin was hanged at Gallows Hill.

1847 Royal Border Railway Bridge was built using stone from Berwick Castle, opened by Queen Victoria 1850.

1857 stocks last used in Berwick.

1881-1963 the Barracks were the depot of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, whose regimental museum is housed in O Block.

THINGS TO DO

Walk the Elizabethan Walls, riverside, pier and beaches, all with spectacular views.

Ideal base to visit Lindisfarne, Bamburgh, Paxton House, Kelso, Maderston House (Edwardian Country House filmed here), Mellerstain, The Hirsel (Coldstream), Alnwick, the Jim Clark room (Duns) and Chillingham Castle (appeared in Celebrity Most Haunted).

Explore the Barracks Museum Complex, to get a powerful insight into the way life was in centuries gone by.

2 local golf courses at Berwick and Goswick.

Charter market on Wednesday and Saturday. Farmer market on the last Sunday of each month.

Berwick High Street has just been redeveloped to be come much more pedestrian friendly.

Berwick is 45 minutes by train to Edinburgh or Newcastle. There is also a bus linking all the Border area and North Northumberland.

KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Liz Thompson

Elizabethian walls and ramparts are a great walk for kids and pets.

Pot adoodle do at Scremerston a few miles outside Berwick is great for activities.

The light train at Etal and Havershaw is good value to see the beautiful countryside and the swan pool for leisure is good value to.

There are many places of interest in and around berwick with loads of shops for young and old.

KINDLY CONTRIBUTED BY: Sandra

Upload YOUR OWN INFO Here!