Local History Videos

Bamburgh, Northumberland: History in Old Images

by

Debbie Death
in
Old photo of Bamburgh, Northumberland, England, in 1959

Enjoy a glimpse of history through old images of Bamburgh in Northumberland, England, UK.

Bamburgh Northumberland

Bamburgh may only be a small village in Northumberland and home to barely 400 people, but it has a proud and significant past. Between the beach and the village rises an impressive castle, which quickly caught the eyes of filmmakers.

While it has more recently hosted film crews for Macbeth, Transformers and Indiana Jones movies, a century ago the cameras wanted to capture the beauty of the castle for its own sake.

Bamburgh, Northumberland, in June 1973
Bamburgh, Northumberland, in June 1973. Image: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums/Flikr

Bamburgh Castle in 1928

Three carriages and one locomotive worked the four mile stretch of the North Sunderland railway. The railway stations included Seahouses, Bamburgh and North Sunderland.

48 seconds in we see a nice view of the castle from the village, where just two cars can be seen.

The Four Mile Railway (1928): British Pathé on YouTube

Grace Darling Centenary (1938)

1838: The SS Forfarshire foundered on the rocks near Longstone Islands on the Farne Islands. Despite the terrible sea conditions, young Grace Darling accompanied her father on a rescue mission, saving 13 men. Grace died 4 years later.

In 1938 the local village turned out to mark the centenary of Grace Darling’s famous rescue. 

The camera slowly records the faces of many participants and spectators, with a few buildings in the background.

Grace Darling Boat Lner (1938): British Pathé on YouTube

And then there are more scenes of the day’s events in a second film.

Centenary of Grace Darling’s rescue of shipwreck survivors in 1838 (1938): British Pathé on YouTube

Wish You Were Here? (1983)

There’s only a brief stop at Bamburgh Castle on an overcast day in 1983, but this trip around Northumberland was introduced with some really cringe worthy lines. “For years the canny Geodies have been keeping it quiet” is hot on the heels of references to coal mining and pit ponies. 

1980s Newcastle | Northumberland | Bamburgh Castle | Wish you were here? | 1983: ThamesTv on YouTube

The Post Office Directory of Durham and Northumberland

by Kelly and Company

Published in 1879

The extract shown below from an old book published in 1879 tells us about some of the people, places and history connected with the following settlements and areas of this part of Northumberland:

  • Fowbrey/Fowberry
  • Adderstone
  • Bamburgh Castle
  • Bradford, Northumberland
  • Budle
  • Burton
  • Glororum
  • Hoppen/Hopton
  • Mousen/Mowson
  • Newham, Northumberland
  • Newstead
  • Outchester
  • Ratchwood
  • Shoreston/Shoston
  • Spindlestone
  • Waren Mills
  • Warenford
  • Warenton

More Pictures of Old Bamburgh

Old Bamburgh in Northumberland, England, enjoyed through historic photos, vintage pictures & archive film. Browse history in these fascinating old images of a bygone era.

More about Northumberland

If you’ve enjoyed this page about Bamburgh’s history, you may be interested in some of these related topics and places:

Local History Resources for Northumberland
Old Images of Northumberland
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