The May Excursion to Northumberland and Durham

The May Excursion to Northumberland and Durham The rich heritage of England's northern borderlands was the focus of the long Spring KAS excursion. Hadrian's Wall, brought very much to life by the excellent museum at the fortress of Vindolanda, vividly expressed for us the furthest frontier of the Roman Empire. Remarkable evidence of the early Christian church was to be seen at Jarrow and Monkwearmouth, at Lindisfarne and Hexham, and in the Treasury at Durham. Between the Tyne and Wear we could all wonder at the achievements of the local boy, later to be known throughout Europe as the Venerable Bede, who, in H.A.L.

Fisher's words, began the first great contribution of the British people to the advancement of civilization and through four centuries held pre-eminence in the literature of Europe.

Among castles, Lutyen's Lindisfarne and Hotspur's Warkworth in turn enraptured and enthralled, while Durham Cathedral and Castle together exemplified the spiritual and temporal powers of the Prince Bishops of the medieval frontier.

The North of England Open Air Museum brought us back -almost - to our own times. It is clearly immensely popular and deserving of its European Museum of the Year award.

Throughout we were struck by the beauty of so much of the coast and countryside. Grey and chilly weather were offset by the warm welcome we, as mere southerners, found wherever we stopped or stayed. Our thanks go especially to Joy Saynor, who led the excursion with a light hand and erudite head, and to Don Coast who so thoroughly prepared the way.

*A History of Europe. Chapter XIII The Frankish Empire by H.A.L. Fisher.

Arthur Collins