Kielder, Northumberland
Encyclopedia
Kielder Village is a small settlement in North Tynedale, Northumberland
, England
. Located at the head of Kielder Water
and in the north west of Kielder Forest
, the village is 3 miles (5 km) from the Scottish
border.
who constructed housing to accommodate the workers employed in the planting of Kielder Forest
. Most of this housing has now been sold back to the private sector.
is in the parliamentary constituency of Hexham
. Until 1 April 2009 it was within Tynedale
local government district, but following local government restructing in Northumberland the county is now covered by a unitary authority, Northumberland County Council
.
, Kielder experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. There is a Met Office weather station at Kielder Castle. Since 1960, reported temperatures have ranged from -21.7 C in January 1982, up to 30 °C (86 °F) during August 2003.
concerned with the smuggling of whisky from Scotland to England. The Forestry Act 1919 established the Forestry Commission with a purpose of forming a strategic reserve of timber for the country. The first plantings at Kielder were in 1926 when 800 hectares (3 sq mi) of coniferous trees were planted. A further 19000 hectares (73.4 sq mi) were purchased in 1932 and today 62000 hectares (239 sq mi) of forest are under Forestry Commission control.
Although timber production remains an integral part of the forestry operation, it also has the aims of encouraing the public to use the forest as an educational resource and to sustain and enhance wildlife conservation. Over 50% of the red squirrel
population of England is now found in the forest.
With the creation of Kielder Water in 1982 great steps have been taken to develop the area at a tourist destination with the establishment of facilities such as Leaplish Waterside Park by Northumbrian Water which offers both accommodation and recreational facilities.
on the Border Counties Railway
which linked the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
, near Hexham
, with the Border Union Railway
at Riccarton Junction
. The first section of the route was opened between Hexham
and Chollerford
in 1858, the remainder opening in 1862. The line was closed to passengers by British Railways in 1956.
The station building, now a private house, still stands here by the 'Station Garage'. The station was renamed Kielder Forest in 1948. The Kielder Reservoir now floods much of the route eastwards to Falstone, but a very fine castellated viaduct near Kielder Castle still stands. About half a mile east from here the line is obliterated as its route is now reservoir and some scouring and embankment removal has removed the traces of its course. Slightly further east its course would be below today’s water level.
parish of Falstone with Graystead & Thorneyburn.
youth hostel.
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Located at the head of Kielder Water
Kielder Water
Kielder Water is a large artificial reservoir in Northumberland in North East England. It is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, the largest human-made woodland in Europe. It was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy an expected rise...
and in the north west of Kielder Forest
Kielder Forest
Kielder Forest is a large forestry plantation in Northumberland, England, surrounding the reservoir Kielder Water. It is the largest man-made woodland in Europe...
, the village is 3 miles (5 km) from the Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
border.
History
Early settlement around Kielder Castle, a hunting lodge built by the Duke of Northumberland in 1775. Previous settlements were expanded in the 1950s by the Forestry CommissionForestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
who constructed housing to accommodate the workers employed in the planting of Kielder Forest
Kielder Forest
Kielder Forest is a large forestry plantation in Northumberland, England, surrounding the reservoir Kielder Water. It is the largest man-made woodland in Europe...
. Most of this housing has now been sold back to the private sector.
Governance
KielderKielder
Kielder can refer to a number of locations in Northumberland, England:* Kielder, Northumberland a village* Kielder Water a reservoir* Kielder Forest...
is in the parliamentary constituency of Hexham
Hexham (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :- Elections in the 1970s :-Notes and references:...
. Until 1 April 2009 it was within Tynedale
Tynedale
Tynedale was a local government district in south-west Northumberland, England. It had a resident population of 58,808 according to the 2001 Census, and was named after the River Tyne . Its main towns were Hexham, Haltwhistle and Prudhoe...
local government district, but following local government restructing in Northumberland the county is now covered by a unitary authority, Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council
Northumberland County Council is a unitary authority in North East England. It was originally formed in 1889 as the council for the administrative county of Northumberland and reformed in 1974 to cover a the newly formed non-metropolitan county of Northumberland...
.
Climate
As with the rest of the British IslesBritish Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, Kielder experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. There is a Met Office weather station at Kielder Castle. Since 1960, reported temperatures have ranged from -21.7 C in January 1982, up to 30 °C (86 °F) during August 2003.
Economy
The economy of Kielder was based on forestry and is now also based on tourism. Prior to the 20th century the economy of Kielder was based on sheep farming. The use of the area as a hunting ground by the Dukes of Northumberland added an extra element to the area. Due to its location close to the border with Scotland, there was a black economyUnderground economy
A black market or underground economy is a market in goods or services which operates outside the formal one supported by established state power. Typically the totality of such activity is referred to with the definite article as a complement to the official economies, by market for such goods and...
concerned with the smuggling of whisky from Scotland to England. The Forestry Act 1919 established the Forestry Commission with a purpose of forming a strategic reserve of timber for the country. The first plantings at Kielder were in 1926 when 800 hectares (3 sq mi) of coniferous trees were planted. A further 19000 hectares (73.4 sq mi) were purchased in 1932 and today 62000 hectares (239 sq mi) of forest are under Forestry Commission control.
Although timber production remains an integral part of the forestry operation, it also has the aims of encouraing the public to use the forest as an educational resource and to sustain and enhance wildlife conservation. Over 50% of the red squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
population of England is now found in the forest.
With the creation of Kielder Water in 1982 great steps have been taken to develop the area at a tourist destination with the establishment of facilities such as Leaplish Waterside Park by Northumbrian Water which offers both accommodation and recreational facilities.
Transport
Kielder was served by Kielder railway stationKielder railway station
Kielder Railway Station is a closed railway station that served the village hamlet of Kielder-History:Kielder railway station was on the Border Counties Railway which linked the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, near Hexham, with the Border Union Railway at Riccarton Junction...
on the Border Counties Railway
Border Counties Railway
The Border Counties Railway was a railway line in Northumberland, England, with a small section in Roxburghshire, in the Borders region of Scotland. The railway was incorporated in 1854; and was absorbed by the North British Railway on 13 August 1860...
which linked the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
Newcastle and Carlisle Railway
The Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, occasionally referred to as the Tyne Valley Line, is a railway line in northern England. The line was built in the 1830s, and links the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear with in Cumbria. Formal opening took place on 18 June 1838.The line follows the...
, near Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
, with the Border Union Railway
Border Union Railway
The Border Union Railway was a railway line in south of Scotland. It was authorised on 21 July 1859 and advertised as the Waverley Route by the promoters - the North British Railway...
at Riccarton Junction
Riccarton Junction railway station
Riccarton Junction, in the county of Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders, was a railway village and station. In its heyday it had 118 residents and its own school, post office and grocery store...
. The first section of the route was opened between Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
and Chollerford
Chollerford
Chollerford is a village in Northumberland, England. It is situated approximately four miles to the north of Hexham on the B6318 road, not far from Hadrian's Wall. There is a roundabout in the village where the B6318 and B6320 roads meet, and the traffic light-controlled Chollerford Bridge...
in 1858, the remainder opening in 1862. The line was closed to passengers by British Railways in 1956.
The station building, now a private house, still stands here by the 'Station Garage'. The station was renamed Kielder Forest in 1948. The Kielder Reservoir now floods much of the route eastwards to Falstone, but a very fine castellated viaduct near Kielder Castle still stands. About half a mile east from here the line is obliterated as its route is now reservoir and some scouring and embankment removal has removed the traces of its course. Slightly further east its course would be below today’s water level.
Education
The village is served by Kielder Community First School. In the academic year 2009–10 this has a roll of nine pupils aged 4 to 9. Children aged 9 to 13 attend Bellingham Middle School and from 13 to 18, Haydon Bridge High School. As the high school is a considerable distance away the option to board at the school exists.Religious sites
Kielder lies within the AnglicanChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
parish of Falstone with Graystead & Thorneyburn.
Public services
Within the village there are a pub, a shop and sub post office and a YHAYouth Hostels Association (England & Wales)
The Youth Hostels Association is a charitable organisation, registered with the Charity Commission, providing youth hostel accommodation in England and Wales...
youth hostel.
External links
- Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 11 March 2009)