Belsay

{{Short description|Village in Northumberland, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use British English|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox UK place |country = England |official_name = Belsay |coordinates = {{coord|55.101|-1.841|display=inline,title}} |population = 436 |population_ref= (2001)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=4&containerAreaId=790479 |title=Office for National Statistics: Neighbourhood Statistics |access-date=25 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022055928/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=4&containerAreaId=790479 |archive-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |civil_parish = Belsay |unitary_england= Northumberland |lieutenancy_england= Northumberland |region = North East England |constituency_westminster = Hexham |post_town = NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |postcode_district = NE20 |postcode_area = NE |dial_code = 01661 |os_grid_reference = NZ101786 |static_image_name = Belsay Castle.jpg |static_image_alt = A large stone built ruined building. The nearer part is two stories with square windows; behind is a tall square keep with turrets and battlements. In the foreground is grass with a low stone wall; in the background a blue sky with a few white clouds. |static_image_caption = Belsay Castle }}

'''Belsay''' is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England. The village is about {{convert|5|mi|round=5}} from Ponteland on the A696, which links the village with Newcastle upon Tyne and Jedburgh. The population of the civil parish was 436 at the 2001 census, increasing to 518 at the 2011 Census.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11120581&c=belsay&d=16&e=62&g=6453231&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1453978729442&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|accessdate=28 January 2016|archive-date=11 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311102553/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11120581&c=belsay&d=16&e=62&g=6453231&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1453978729442&enc=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Scottish nobleman and doctor, John de Strivelyn, was granted the manor around 1340 by Edward III. On his death, the estate passed to his daughter Christiana, who was married to Sir John Middleton, and it has remained with the Middleton family ever since.

Belsay was formerly a township in the parish of Bolam,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/8725|title=History of Belsay, in Castle Morpeth and Northumberland|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=21 November 2023}}</ref> in 1866 Belsay became a civil parish. Belsay parish includes the former parishes of Bitchfield, Black Heddon, Bolam, Bolam Vicarage, Bradford, Gallowhill, Harnham, Newham, Shortflatt, Trewick, and Wallridge<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/sheet/os_maps_revised_1944/Northumberland_1931_1944| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200710153853/https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/sheet/os_maps_revised_1944/Northumberland_1931_1944| archive-date = 2020-07-10| title = Ordnance Survey Maps of England and Wales - Revised, Northumberland}} </ref> which were merged with Belsay on 1 April 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10300617|title=Relationships and changes Belsay CP/Tn through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=21 November 2023}}</ref>

Belsay is home to Belsay Castle, a fine medieval castle, and to Belsay Hall.

== Landmarks == '''Belsay Castle''' is a 14th-century medieval castle situated at Belsay. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.<ref name=images>{{NHLE |num=1042837 |desc=Belsay Castle |accessdate=2007-12-21 }}</ref>

The main structure, a three-storey rectangular pele tower with rounded turrets and battlements, was constructed about 1370, and was the home of the Middleton family. In 1614, Thomas Middleton built a new manor house attached to the tower.<ref name=images/> A west wing was added in 1711 but was largely demolished in 1872 by Sir Arthur Middleton when the remainder of the house was considerably altered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=25 |title=Belsay Castle |accessdate=2007-12-21 |publisher=SINE Project, University of Newcastle upon Tyne |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102093814/http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=25 |archivedate=2005-11-02 }}</ref>

The castle was abandoned as a residence by the family in the early 19th century when Sir Charles Monck built Belsay Hall close by.<ref name=images2>{{NHLE |num=1304489 |desc= Belsay Hall |accessdate=2007-12-21 }}</ref>

left|240px|thumb|Belsay Hall

'''Belsay Hall''' is a 19th-century country mansion and a Grade I listed building.<ref name=images2/> The house was built between 1810 and 1817 for Sir Charles Monck (then of Belsay Castle close by). Sir Charles himself was the designer of the building. It is a notable early classical building. The house measures {{convert|100|ft|m|0}} square with a lower kitchen wing attached to the north side. It is in two storeys.<ref name=images2/> The hall was the residence of the Middleton family until 1962.{{citation needed|date=December 2007}}

Belsay Castle and Belsay Hall are administered by English Heritage and are open the public.<ref>{{cite web |title=Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens |url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/ |publisher=English Heritage |access-date=2023-08-23}}</ref>

15th-century Bitchfield Tower and Shortflatt Tower are in the parish.

Aruna Ratanagiri, a Buddhist monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition, lies on a hilltop {{convert|3|mi}} to the north-west of Belsay, in the hamlet of Harnham.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Belsay}} * [http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info/jpclient.exe?de=Belsay+shops&SubmitQuery Find public transport to Belsay Hall] - buses stop at Belsay Shops a short walk from the Hall

Category:Belsay Category:Villages in Northumberland Category:Civil parishes in Northumberland