Longhoughton

{{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 = Longhoughton |coordinates = {{coord|55.433|-1.614|display=inline,title}} |population = 1,960 |population_ref=(2011 census)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126078&c=NE66+3AG&d=16&e=62&g=6452803&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1435600550492&enc=1|title=Parish population 2011|accessdate=29 June 2011}}</ref> |post_town = ALNWICK |postcode_area = NE |postcode_district = NE66 |region = North East England |shire_county = Northumberland |constituency_westminster= North Northumberland |os_grid_reference = NU244155 |static_image_name = The Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Longhoughton.jpg |static_image_caption = Longhoughton Church |static_image_alt = A pencil drawing of a church. From the left a square tower with battlements; a building with a peaked roof; and a smaller building also with a peaked roof. In the foreground a path between gravestones, and a person walking towards the church. |label_position= top }}

'''Longhoughton''' is a small rural village in Northumberland, England. It lies near the coast, about {{convert|4.5|mi}} northeast of Alnwick, in the similarly named parish of Longhoughton.

The village lies under the spectacular whinstone outcrop, Ratcheugh Crag, near which local point-to-point racing is often conducted.

The parish church does double duty since it is also the church of the nearby RAF Boulmer.

==History== The village has a turbulent history and was often sacked in mediaeval times. From the 12th century to recently, the village was noted for its water and corn mills.<ref>[http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Longhoughton.htm Northumberland.gov.uk]</ref>

There was local industry based on limestone, coal and lead although agriculture was always the main occupation.

On top of Ratcheugh Crag is the Robert Adam-designed Ratcheugh Observatory, built by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland.

== Governance == Longhoughton is in the parliamentary constituency of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The MP for this constituency is currently David Smith, the Labour candidate who was elected in 2024. An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches north along the coast and east to Powburn. The ward has a total population taken at the 2011 census of 4,424.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/longhoughton-e05008057#sthash.aNus9ULR.dpbs|title=Ward population 2011|accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref>

== Transport == Longhoughton once had a railway station on the main line of the North East Railway.

== Buildings == The parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul dates from the Saxon era, although it was rebuilt in 1080 and now the only remaining Saxon stonework is seen in parts of the chancel and tower arches. During the 1080 rebuilding, a {{convert|44|ft|adj=on}} tower was added. This was for purposes of military defence, rather than religious use, and was used as such until the 17th century. Parish records go back as far as 1646.

Smugglers used to use the church as a distribution centre in the 19th century. Nikolaus Pevsner mentioned the building favourably in his review of Northumbrian architecture.

A little over a mile to the north-west is Littlehoughton Hall, a house of 1686 with later additions, which incorporates the remains of a late medieval tower house.<ref>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-237033-littlehoughton-hall-longhoughton Littlehoughton Hall at British Listed Buildings Online]</ref>

==Freedom of the Parish== The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Parish of Longhoughton.

===Individuals=== * Eleanor Phillips: 3 November 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/freedom-award-given-to-longhoughton-woman-for-central-role-in-community-life-3785540 |title=Freedom award given to Longhoughton woman for central role in community life |last=Smith |first=Ian |date=28 July 2022 |website=The Northumberland Gazette |access-date=28 July 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/news/people/longhoughton-woman-receives-parishs-first-freedom-award-3904512 |title=Longhoughton woman receives parish's first freedom award |last=Smith |first=Ian |date=3 November 2022 |website=The Northumberland Gazette |access-date=8 November 2022 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Longhoughton}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090108122457/http://www.genuki.bpears.org.uk/NBL/LongHoughton/index.html GENUKI] (accessed: 26 November 2008) *[http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Longhoughton.htm Northumberland Communities] (accessed: 26 November 2008)

Category:Longhoughton Category:Villages in Northumberland Category:Civil parishes in Northumberland