Exploring Hadrian’s Way
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Across the Battlefield
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A69
Based upon the 2000 Ordnance Survey map
with permission of the Controller of H.M.S.O
Crown Copyright Reserved LA 076244
B6528
HEDDON-ON
THE-WALL
TE
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Throckley
W
ES
Walbottle
Up to 4 miles / 6km
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Ryton
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Newburn
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The route can be joined at any
point and can be followed in
either direction. While the
section along Hadrian’s Way
is suitable for wheelchairs and
cycles, other parts of the route
have steep slopes and steps
and are not accessible for
wheeled transport.
Frequent bus services run to
Newburn and Throckley, and
ample parking can be found at
Tyne Riverside Country Park.
When The River Ran Red
Dawn, 28th August, 1640.
An army of 20,000 Scots has
gathered on the slopes above
Newburn Ford. On the other
side of the river, fewer than
5,000 English cavalry and foot
soldiers face them.
The aim of the Scots – to cross
the river at its lowest fordable
point, and to attack Newcastle
from the less well defended
south. The aim of the English –
to stop them at all costs.
Having the advantage of the
high ground, the Scots pound
the English positions with
cannon and musket fire.
A cannon mounted on the tower
of Newburn Church causes
havoc in the English lines.
At low tide the Scottish cavalry
advance across the river. At first
they are beaten back by the
English cavalry’s bloody
counter-attack.
Further bombardment from the
Scottish artillery demoralises
the English troops and they
retreat in disarray.
10,000 Scottish foot soldiers
cross the river behind their
cavalry and the battle is all but
over. In a last ditch stand, the
English forces regroup on the
hills above Stella and Ryton.
It is a hopeless effort and they
are finally overwhelmed
by the Scots who sweep on to
occupy Newcastle.
The Battle of
Newburn Ford,1640
Newburn
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Key to❚ map
Newburn
Ford
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Scottish lines
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English lines
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Ryton
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Walk route
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Front cover: Newburn and the Tyne Valley – Newcastle City Council
Tyn
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The Battle of Newburn Ford was
certainly not the bloodiest to be
fought on English soil, but
nevertheless several hundred
men were killed on both sides.
Most of the casualties fell during
the assault on the ford and in
the fight which ensued on the
south side of the river.
The landscape around Newburn
has changed dramatically in the
intervening 350 years, and little
evidence remains of this
significant battle. The defensive
earthworks thrown up by the
English can still be traced on
the south side of the river, and
musket balls have occasionally
been found.
About a hundred years ago a
mass grave was unearthed
close to Newburn which
contained the bones of both
humans and horses, along with
iron musket and cannon balls
and stone projectiles. The exact
location of this burial is not
known, but there is a strong
possibility that it contained
some of the casualties of the
Battle of Newburn Ford.
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METRO
CENTRE
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In August 1640 an army of
Scots faced a much weaker
English force across the river
at Newburn. This 4 miles / 6 km
walk explores part of the
battleground, and uncovers
much of Newburn’s more
recent past.
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Blaydon
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Location of walk
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A69
TYNE
RIVERSIDE
COUNTRY
PARK
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Contact details:
Traveline
Tel: 0870 608 2608
www.traveline.org.uk
Hadrian's Wall Information Line
Tel: 01434 322002
www.hadrians-wall.org
Newcastle Tourist
Information Centre
Tel: 0191 2778000
To give feedback on these &
other strategic routes in and
around Newcastle,
please contact:
John Robertson,
Newcastle City Council
Planning & Transportation
Tel: 0191 232 8520
Walbottle Brickworks
The basic materials needed
for brick-making are good
quality fireclay, for the bricks
themselves, and fuel to fire
the kilns.
It is not surprising, therefore,
that Walbottle Brickworks was
established next to Union Drift,
a mine which produced both
fireclay and coal.
At its peak, the works employed
40 people and produced
over 20,000 bricks a day.
The brickworks finally closed
in 1965, but its famous 150 ft
(50 metre) chimney survived
for several years before being
demolished in 1979.
The brickworks and
surrounding area is now a
nature reserve. This covers 30
acres and includes Kirton’s
Quarry and the Walbottle
Community Orchard at the
northern end.
The remains of others may
still lie undisturbed beneath
our feet.
Designed by Ad Infinitum, Rothbury. Published by Newcastle City Council © 2002
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During the battle of
Newburn, a cannon
was mounted by the
Scots on the tower of
Newburn Church which
caused havoc in the
English lines.
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Lemington
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Walbottle
Kirton’s
Brickworks
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Walbottle
Community
Orchard
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Walbottle
Brickworks
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NEWBURN
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Newburn
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Newburn
Bridge
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Tyne
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early
waggonway bridge
can be seen alongside
the later railway bridge.
It was part of the old
Wylam Waggonway
and was probably
built in the mid-1700’s.
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Newburn
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Throckley
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Across the Battlefield 4 miles / 6km Suggested starting point: Tyne Riverside Country Park
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HALLO
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NEWBURN
LEISURE
CENTRE
Tyne Riverside
Country Park
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Lemington
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Scale of map
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Blucher
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Kilometres
Miles
BIG LAMP
BREWERY &
KEELMANS PUB
Walbottle
Community
Orchard
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Picture: Ad Infinitum
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The site of
Newburn
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Ford,
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army crossed
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the River Tyne.
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Throckley
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Picture: Newcastle City Council
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S
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This leaflet can be used in
conjunction with Ordnance
Survey Explorer Map 316
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Based upon the 2000 Ordnance Survey map
with permission of the Controller of H.M.S.O
Crown Copyright Reserved LA 076244
Newburn from Kirton’s Quarry
2
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Main route
Alternative route
Hadrian’s Way
Keelman’s Way
Slope
Steps
Parking
Viewpoint
Refreshments/Pub
Key to map
2 The North Walbottle Waggonway
carried coal from pits at Blucher and North
Walbottle down to the staithes at Lemington.
This lower section operated as a self-acting,
rope-worked incline, where the descending
full tubs pulled up the lighter empty ones.
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Newburn Grange
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Gradients
Tyne
Riverside
Country
Park
Kilometres
Miles
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1 Part of a complex
waggonway network
ran through Newburn
Grange, connecting
mines in Throckley to
the Wylam waggonway
along the riverside.
Picture: Newcastle City Council
Picture: Newcastle CIty Council
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