Berwick

HISTORY

Meagre beginnings

The ancient town of Berwick, lies at the mouth of the River Tweed in the top right hand corner of England. Like many other of the coastal settlements in Northumberland, its strategic position on the rugged, North East Coast has given it an interesting eventful history.
Meaning `Corn’ or ‘Bee’ Farm Berwick began as a small agricultural village settlement in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria.There then followed a long history surrounding a struggle for ownership between England and Scotland, for one of the most fought over towns in either country. 

Tug of the Ownership War begins…
Taken by the Scots at the Battle of Carham 1018 this was seen as the first seizing of ownership of the village.

Early in the 12thC, during the reign of King David of Scotland the town became a Royal Scottish Burgh.

It was retaken by England in 1174. After a failed raid into Northumberland by a Scottish army.

Only to be sold back to Scotland shortly afterwards by Richard I (1189-1199), to raise money for the Crusades.

At the beginning of the 13^thc (1216) Berwick returned once more to England, when King John sacked the town. 

Prosperity.

During the 13thc the historic tug of - ownership - war settled and prosperity developed.
The Merchant Town Berwick became one of the most prosperous in Britain. With an annual ‘customs’ value of over £2000. This was equal to a quarter of all customs money taken for the whole of of England..

The town was described as;

” So populous and of such commercial importance that it might rightly be called another Alexandria, whose riches were the sea and the water its walls".

A treaty.

In 1502 a treaty signed by Henry VII of England and James IV of Scotland acknowledged Berwick as being;

In 1588 the town walls ordered by Edward I to protect town and castle from Scottish attack were completed. These defences stretching over 1 ½ miles still stand virtually intact, making them the finest surviving 16th Century artillery fortifications in Europe.

The Union of The Crowns 400

On 24th March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I died and the Crown of England passed to her nearest relative, King James VI of Scotland. At last bringing an end to centuries of between the two countries.

Military Base

Until 17thC, the town was Garrisoned by English or Scottish soldiers. After that date the English still used it as a useful military base. Such a defensive position lead to the building in 1721 of the first purpose built barracks in England.

A County

In 1836 the town was made a county in itself. In 1842 as one of the most fought over towns in England and having changed hands between England and Scotland 13 times in finally became part of England.

Free Burgh

Until The Reform Act of 1885 Berwick had the independent status of being a 'Free Burgh' meaning in any act of parliament Berwick had to included and mentioned separately.

'Small Town still at war!'

Berwick's status was such that even after the Crimean War 1854-1856 ended peace had to be declared in the name of Great Britain, Ireland and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The peace treaty was signed but no-one signed on behalf of Berwick. For many years Berwick technically remained at war with Russia!!

Peace

Not until over 100 years later in 1974 was it officially amalgamated into the county of Northumberland

Thank you

NW.


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