A good weather Sunday had us eager to get out of our town and explore. As we were still a little wary of going very far, we chose Mitford as our destination. A place so near yet we forget that some of our local villages can hold treasures that we still have to discover.

We took an indirect route to the village of Mitford, near Morpeth, Northumberland walking through the sun filtered woods and along the river, stopping at a few accessible places to throw smooth pebbles in to the water, trying to get them to ‘skip’ but failing as the dog wanted to splash about chasing after them. This is a great walk for dogs with lots for them to sniff at and explore.

The route eventually took us under a low bridge beneath the A1 and then it was a short climb up some wooden steps to reach the fields on the other side. The well worn path was easy to find, once more, leading us over a couple stiles and a small foot bridge. Finally we arrived at the rugged farmland area surrounding the Grade 1 listed historic monument. Mitford Castle is currently on the English heritage ‘At Risk’ Register’. Some works towards repairs and restoration have already been done. Its remains stand open to the elements, watching majestically over Mitford village. 

The first impression we got of the existing ruins of the stone castle was that it must at one time have been a large and imposing building. Today it was standing there slowly crumbling away on a rocky ridge. The first thing that our dog (now back on the lead) noticed was ‘there are some lovely sheep smells here for me!’ This is a great site for nature and wildlife. Bees, insects and butterflies were in abundance. We found a safe place to sit amongst the decaying structure to have our little picnic. Sitting and reflecting in the tranquil atmosphere, taking our place in its layers of history. 

Between walking around, exploring and taking photographs we tried to visualise where the doors, windows, towers etc. might have been. What went on here? Who were the important players in the unsettled years of Mitford Castle?

The Castle is said to date as far back as before 1072 when it would have only have been an earthwork fortress. Held by the De Mitford family, it was passed on through marriage into the ancient Bertram family. Earliest records of 1138 state that it was William Bertram’s ‘oppidum’.  By 1215, the residing Bertrams strengthened it and it became a finished stone castle only to be seized by Scottish troops. Through time this castle experienced some desolate times as it became the target of continual Scottish raids and invasions. During the rebellion in Northumberland in the 1310s, poor Mitford Castle witnessed more unrest.  In 1316 it was even used for kidnappings and as a prisoner hold.

After roaming around the grounds we then crossed the field at the base of the castle, keeping a watchful eye on where we put our feet so as not to step on nettles or wild flowers. But more importantly we tried not to disturb the local herd of sheep which acted indifferently to us anyway.  We then made our way out of the castle grounds to check out the picturesque Saint Mary Magdalene Church. What turbulent scenes this parish church must have experienced over time being situated opposite to Mitford Castle!

In 1934, Bedlington Urban District Council began to lay out a site for a new council housing estate at area known as Millfeld to the south of the town, on land above Attlee Country Park.

During the start of the works council workers were levelling a ridge and revealed five sunken cist burials. The cists were constructed with sandstone side slabs and cover stones. One contained the remains of a female burial and an earthenware pot. The skeleton was complete and its position indicated that it had been buried in a crouching position. It was also in a good state of preservation. Another was a burial with a ‘beaker’. There was what was described as a large chamber with a side opening, containing only a few human bone fragments and a flint knife. Next to this chamber was a small cist which contained the remains of a cremation and an earthenware pot later described as a ‘vase’. The final cist contained a burial only.

There was no controlled excavation done at that time and the cists and contents were apparently damaged by on lookers.  

The bones were taken away for forensic examination by the South Northumberland Coroner and then given to the vicar, Reverend J. B. Purvis to be buried in the grounds of Saint Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Bedlington.

The beaker was once housed at the Museum of Antiquities which was an archaeological museum at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne; its collections were merged into the Hancock Museum which is now what is known as, The Great North Museum.

 A photograph in the Newcastle City Library Local Studies Collection shows one of the burials in situ, while another in the collection shows an enclosure with a round barrow found near the Millfield area, Bedlington and dated 1920.