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Photo: Mick Garratt, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
a National Hunt (jumps) course with races March-Dec.
Hexham Racecourse is a National Hunt racecourse located in Hexham, Northumberland. It is a left-handed course and 1m4f in circumference, set at a natural amphitheatre which has hosted racing for around 200 years. Racing began at Tyne Green in the early 18th century, but moved to the current site of Yarridge Heights in the early 19th century. A ten-year hiatus began in 1880 but CWC Henderson helped revive the sport in Hexham, and it has continued ever since, only interrupted by World War II.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
a performance venue and art gallery. It's an Italianate building completed in 1866, which has variously been the town hall, ballroom and bingo hall.
This was founded in 674 AD and the original Saxon crypt and cathedra (bishop's seat) survive, but most was destroyed by the Vikings. It was rebuilt in Early English style from 1170 and again in the late 19th century, when the long-lost nave was re-created to the earlier style. The Abbey escaped wrecking at the Dissolution by becoming the Anglican parish church, and remains so. A Roman inscription in the crypt has had the name of Emperor Geta (189-211) erased - he was murdered by his brother, who sought to obliterate his legacy.
Probably England's first purpose-built prison, this was built in 1333 using stone from the Roman fort at Corbridge. It's now a museum of Borders history, with a lift to all floors and dogs are welcome.