Morpeth is the county town (capital of county or county seat) of Northumberland, England. It is the town where all the administrative and judicial functions are located. The city is situated on the River Wansbeck, which the town was once a major crossing point. A stone bridge was built over the river early in the 13th century; the bridge has been partially demolished but the remains are still present. In the 14th century Morpeth Castle was built; however, only parts of the castle walls and gatehouse remain. Morpeth was once home to one of the main live cattle markets in northern England; the opening of the railways in the nineteenth century brought about a rapid decline and eventually it was shut down.
There are a few interesting historical landmarks in the town you may want to look at. A large five-story clock tower stands in the middle of the town and is possibly the most well-known landmark. The clock tower was built sometime in the late 1600s, and was once used as a lock up for the town. There is the town hall which was originally built by a famous architect, Sir John Vanburgh. Though most of the town hall has been updated, the basic architecture and design remain the same to this day. There are old buildings throughout the town, which can be fun just to look at. If you would like more tourist information, the tourist centre is located in what was once a 13th century chapel. If you're interested in the history of Morpeth and learning more about the culture, the annual Northumbrian Gathering is held in the spring. The Gathering is rich with culture, history, sounds, and sights of days gone by full of re-enactments, children's pageants, and street performers. If none of that is of any interest to you, there is always the Bagpipe museum, the one and only of its kind in England.
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