Three Waters Walk
The THREE WATERS WALK (1½ hours) is ideal for families and includes the Hareshaw Burn, St. Cuthbert’s Well & the shady banks of the River North Tyne.
You can stop at any point on the walk and return to the Heritage Centre and Tea on the Train. Or you can walk along the River North Tyne for as far as you want.
Your Walk begins at the HERITAGE CENTRE. Glance back at the old Station House and Tea on the Train. The station entrance was in Redesmouth Road. The station regularly won the “Best Kept Station” award in the North Tyne area. Walk across what was the goods yard and turn left down the hill towards the village.
Cross over the Redesmouth Road and glance left. The hilly mound in the field of Desmesne Farm is the site of BELLINGHAM CASTLE. It was the earth and timber home of the de Bellingham family, who were foresters to the Kings of Scotland. The Farm has been traced back as far as the 1600s but some of the buildings may have been built much earlier.
Turn left between the Garage and the Vets. The building on the right was once the COURTHOUSE. Turn right round the back on to the footbridge. The picture below shows the damage done to Bridge End Cottage by the HARESHAW BURN during the Great Flood on Sunday 14th May 1911.
Cross the bridge over the Hareshaw Burn and turn left along Burnside. The OLD MANSE is on the right. It was converted into cottages in 1883 after being a Presbyterian Church for 80 years. On your left was the site of the Bethel chapel which replaced a bottle factory. The 1911 Flood took out the end of the chapel.
Continue past the large wooden shed. The large house on the opposite bank was built for the manager of the GASWORKS which were built in 1864 but struggled to compete with electricity from the 1920s and were eventually forced to close.
Follow the road along the Burn and bear right. The bungalow called The Forge on the left stands on the site of the old BLACKSMITH’S SHOP. This was regularly used until about 50 years ago.
Cross over the road to the two modern bungalows which were built to replace an L-shaped row of old houses. In behind these were the first flush toilets in Bellingham!
Turn right opposite the Riverside Garage to pass below the old churchyard where there is ST. CUTHBERT’S WELL, known locally as CUDDY’S WELL. The water from the well is said to have miraculous healing powers. A young girl was caught sewing on the Sabbath and her hand was paralysed. Water from the well was used to bathe her hand, prayers were said and she was cured. Water from the well is now used to baptise babies at St. Cuthbert’s Church.
Retrace your steps, bear right along the path past the seat and up on to the flood bank. Walk down the steps with care and follow the path to the JUBILEE FIELD (ideal for a picnic) and the NORTH TYNE BRIDGE.
The bridge was designed by Newcastle architect, John Green. A bill was presented before Parliament in 1824 authorising the building of it. It was built in 1834 from public subscription. At the bridge, you have three choices:
EITHER: You can pass under the bridge and follow the footpath for as far as you like. The building on the right is Riverdale Hotel, once the country residence of Sir James Dees, a wealthy industrialist.
OR: you can bear right along the path for the children’s playground and then turn right along the road to Bellingham
OR: you can retrace your steps to St. Cuthbert’s Well.
Go up the steps and turn to the left for ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH. It has a rare barrel-vaulted stone roof. You will pass the grave of the victim of the legend of the Long Pack, killed in a bungled burglary at Lee Hall many years ago. Look out for the long gravestone to the left the church door. During restoration in 1861, three cannon balls were found lodged in the church roof. One legend has it that, when the army of Oliver Cromwell could not ford the river because it was in spate, they fired the cannon balls in frustration from the south side, some of which got into the church roof.
THE TOWN HALL was built for £600 in 1862 with money raised by shares and fund-raising events held by local people. The wooden clock tower was a gift from the four graynes or main families of the district. The oak coat of arms over the main entrance was carved by a retired craft teacher and presented to the Town Hall by the Silver Jubilee Committee in 1977.
Walk through Manchester Square past the Boer War memorial and the Rose & Crown Inn and along the narrow KEEP CLEAR lane. Walk past the shops of Parkside and turn right at the Newsagents on the corner. Cross the bridge over the Hareshaw Burn and walk past the Vets and Garage. Now back to the Heritage Centre and Tea on the Train!