A very warm welcome to Hexham from the Mayor, Councillor James B Jonas

Our town is a historic place, so why not arrive by the historic road to Hexham, leaving the A69 at the Brocksbushes A68 roundabout to drive through pretty Corbridge, or from the west past our beautiful cemetery. Or perhaps you will come by train, alighting at one of the oldest railway stations in the world, welcoming visitors like you since 1835. The beauty of the station with its hanging flower baskets is but one of the many floral displays which will show you why Hexham won ‘Britain in Bloom’ in 2006. Follow the well signposted Hall Orchard Road to the town centre.

The Tourist Information Office is just below you on your right if you wish to pick up one or two of the Hexham walks leaflets to guide you on your visit. Pass on and up Hall Orchard Road to the town centre, dominated by the dramatic setting of the 13th Century Abbey, built on the site of St Wilfrid’s earlier church of 674AD, whose fascinating crypt still remains for you to explore, beneath the grandeur of its successor.

Your approach will take you past the Old Goal, oldest in the country. Pause there, (you will be released after your visit), to find out about Hexham’s past – dominated by the Border Reivers of the Middle Ages. They were independent tough and warlike; Northumbrians are still tough and independent, but very friendly people, you will get a real welcome here – we are proud of our town and want to share it with you. Leaving the Old Goal under the Moot Hall arch you will pass into the Market Place bustling with stalls on Tuesdays and Saturdays and beyond looms the Abbey.

The town centre is to your left with a variety of excellent shops, numerous cafes and restaurants, many nestling in medieval streets, intriguing to explore. To the left of the Abbey stretches the imposing Beaumont Street, dominated by the Queens Hall Library Theatre and Arts Centre. Drop in and see what’s on today. Opposite are the beautiful Abbey Grounds. Take a stroll through them and turning right at the Bandstand, carry on to Cowgarth and into the grounds of Hexham House with its bowling green and magnificent flower displays.

Emerging on to Market Street and Gilesgate 200 years ago you would have gained a very different impression from the elegant buildings of today, for downhill to your left was the old tanning and glove making centre of Hexham.

Famous for its gloves (the ‘Hexham Tans) still recalled in the name of the restaurant in St Marys Chare (also called locally ‘Back Street’), it was an unhealthy sweat shop ghetto in its heyday; but don’t let that put you off for a quick visit to look at, for example, Holy Island House (the oldest dwelling in town) or visit the Skinners Arms, then back uphill to the Market Place and perhaps a well deserved meal.

After that how about a refreshing walk along the river on Tyne Green or perhaps you haven’t finished your tour of the Abbey or a browse in the shops.

There is much to do and see in Hexham and of course we are the gateway to our wonderful Northumberland with its castles, walks, lakes and beaches, Hadrian’s Wall and Holy Island – and much more. So pause a little while longer – and come again. We hope you have seen why!

May 2008