Woodhorn

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Woodhorn is a village in Northumberland, England. It used to be its own civil parish but is now part of the parish of Newbiggin by the Sea, about 2 miles east of Ashington. In 1931 the parish had 219 residents. The place has ancient links, possibly connected to the old name Wucestre and to St Cuthbert.

A very old medieval bell inscribed Ave Maria is said to be among the oldest. In 1935 the parish was merged with nearby parishes of Newbiggin by the Sea and Ashington.

Coal mining was the main industry. When the mine closed, the site was turned into Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, with a lake. Some old mine buildings are kept as a visitor centre. Woodhorn Colliery Museum is in the park and shows life in a coal-mining community with sounds, models and machines around the lake.

The old mine site now houses the Northumberland Record Office in a new building.

Woodhorn Church, the Church of St Mary the Virgin, is the oldest building in Wansbeck, with parts from the 11th century, but it has not been used as a church since 1973. It has at times housed a museum and artists’ studios. Newbiggin Town Council is looking at what to do with the empty church. Woodhorn Church used to be the mother church of the parish of Woodhorn with Newbiggin.