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Medium sized cache placed not far from Path. pretty much the start of a nice walk from Attlee Park through to "the steppy stones" A path we used to regularly visit as children, as also at the steppy stones is a park. Harder caches have also been placed near the steppy stones by fellow cachers should you want more challenges!
Bedlington Country Park covers approximately 57 hectares of woodland and grassland on the north banks of River Blyth. The Country Park can be reached by bus, which stops at Hartford Hall, Bedlington Front Street and beside the Bank Top Public House (Bedlington Station).
There are three car parks within the site, at Furnace Bridge, at the bottom of Bedlington Bank, Attlee Park and at Humford Mill. Pedestrian access is also available from Spring Park Road, Church Lane (leads to Humford Mill) and Hartford Hall.The park is a steep sloping, natural wooded valley which runs from the old Bedlington Iron Works site at Furnace Bridge in the east, through Attlee Park at the bottom of Bedlington Bank, beside Bedlington Bridge and the A193 road, west towards Humford Mill and Hartford Hall to the west.
The area has long been a popular area for informal recreation over many decades until 1984 when the Country Park was created to protect the unique nature of the area. In 2006 Local Nature Reserve status was gained.
History
The earliest industrial use of the valley was the quarrying of sandstone which took place in several places along the valley side. These quarries are now filled and are hidden and overgrown with mature trees.
The largest and most important industrial site was the Bedlington Iron and Engine Works (1736-1867). The Works were situated at the east end of the park, on both sides of the river at Furnace Bridge. Weirs were built across the river so waterpower could be used within the works. In the early 19th Century, the first mass produced "malleable" iron rails were made here. Locomotives were also manufactured at the Works and the first passenger train to leave Kings Cross was hauled by a Bedlington loco, as were the first trains in Holland and Italy.
The Works closed down in 1867, unable to complete with developing iron towns such as Middlesbrough. In 1959 the derelict buildings were cleared and the area was named Dene Park.
The area to the west of the site is known as Free Wood as you did not have to pay to walk through the wood unlike the south side of the river which was and is still known today as Ha'penny Wood, where you would have to pay a half penny (lest than today's 1p) to walk through the woods.
Furnace Bridge was the main highway north and south between Bedlington and Blyth. Furnace Bridge was built about the mid to late 18th Century.
Further upstream at the bottom of Bedlington Bank is Bedlington Bridge. The large grass area beside the bridge is known as Attlee Park and was named after Clement Richard Attlee, Labour Party Leader from 1935 to 1955 and Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. For many years the Northumberland Miners Picnic was held here.
Further upstream again is Humford Mill. As part of the name suggests this was a fording point to cross the river and you can still cross today by using the stepping stones (if the river level is low). A water pumping station used to be located at Humford to pump water up to a reservoir at the top end of Bedlington. After the pumping station went out of use, the site was used as an open air swimming pool. Today the area has a children's play and picnic area.
At the west end of the Country Park stands Hartford Hall. The Hall was first built in 1807 and later rebuilt into a Victorian mansion in 1870's. In the 1944 the Hall was converted into a Miners Rehabilitation Centre. In recent years the Hall and its grounds have been redeveloped and new housing built.
Wildlife
Although there is no guarantee that you will see any of these wild (and rather shy!) animals, if you are lucky your visit to the park may include a slighting of the following mammals: Red Squirrel, Rabbit, Bank Vole, Fox, and Roe deer. On a summer evening Pipistrelle and Daubenton's bats can be seen along the river.
On the river you can expect to see Mallard, Moorhen, Heron or the bright blue flash of the Kingfisher. In the rest of the park you may see or hear Blue Tit, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Robin.
Plant lovers may find Red Campion, Cowslip, Primrose, Bird's-foot-trefoil, Forget-me-not, Buttercup, Foxglove, Lesser Celandine, Common Spotted Orchid, Northern March Orchid, Meadow Crane's-bill and Yarrow. Most of the woodland within the western half of the site is listed as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland and is of significant regional and national importance supporting a wealth of birds, mammals and insects. There are many species of insect to be seen, the Common Hawker Dragonfly, 7-spot Ladybirds, Wall Brown & Meadow Brown butterflies.
kind permission given by Northumberland County Council to place this cache
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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