Attractions and Places To See around Bywell - Top 20

George Stephenson's birthplace is a simple stone worker's cottage on the north bank of the River Tyne in Wylam, built circa 1760 to house mining families, and where the future railway pioneer was born in 1781. A Grade II* listed building owned by the National Trust, it is now a historic house museum with original furnishings and displays about Stephenson's childhood and early locomotives, and is opened to visitors by costume guides who wish to experience the living conditions of a Georgian mining family.

Located close to Hadrian's Wall, the lovely village of Matfen is well worth spending some time in. This eighteenth-century planned estate village was originally established by the Blackett family. With a gently flowing stream, village green and attractive stone dwellings, Matfen is as unspoilt as it has ever been. Built some 200 years ago, the attractive, creeper-covered Black Bull Inn fronts the village green and has low beams and open fires.

The stone cross is a war memorial and an impressive monument in the form of a Celtic cross, erected in memory of local soldiers who died in the First (22) and Second World Wars (3). The 4.8-meter sandstone cross is richly decorated with symbolic patterns and inscriptions that convey deep respect and historical significance. It is a peaceful, reflective spot in the heart of the village, near Holy Trinity Church.

To understand why this rather modest-looking house remains an attractive destination for visitors to Wylam to this day, we must go back several centuries in history. To be precise, to June 9, 1781. On that day, a baby named George Stephenson was born here – of course, no one at the time could have imagined that this man would later become an engineer and a famous railway pioneer beyond the borders of the British Isles. A picture of his famous locomotive, the "Rocket," can be found at the following link on Wikipedia =>> https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stephenson#/media/Datei:Stephenson's_Rocket.jpg

good for a look around

The Hagg Bank Bridge, also known as the Points Bridge or Half-Moon Bridge, is a Grade II* listed pedestrian bridge spanning the River Tyne at Wylam. It was originally built in 1876 as a railway bridge for the Scotswood, Newburn & Wylam Railway. W.G. Laws's design incorporated a 73-metre single rib arch with no piers in the river, an innovation at the time and likely inspiration for later bridges such as the Tyne Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Following the closure of the railway line in 1968, the bridge was reopened in 1975 as a walkway and cycle path linking Wylam with the Tyne Riverside Country Park.

Hexham Abbey is one of England's oldest and most impressive churches. The abbey was originally founded in 674 AD by St. Wilfrid, using stones from nearby Roman ruins. The oldest part—the Saxon crypt—is still intact and represents a rare remnant of early Christian architecture. Inside, you'll find stained glass, the Roman tombstone of Flavinus, a 1st-century standard-bearer, an impressive Phelps organ from 1974, and a frith stool (Saxon bishop's chair). Admission to the abbey is free, with a small charge for the crypt.

Hexham Abbey is one of England's oldest and most impressive churches. The abbey was originally founded in 674 AD by St. Wilfrid, using stones from nearby Roman ruins. The oldest part—the Saxon crypt—is still intact and represents a rare remnant of early Christian architecture. Inside, you'll find stained glass, the Roman tombstone of Flavinus, a 1st-century standard-bearer, an impressive Phelps organ from 1974, and a frith stool (Saxon bishop's chair). Admission to the abbey is free, with a small charge for the crypt.