Discover Blyth: Circular Walk and Building History

Visitors who choose Blyth as a destination can get to know the town through different themes: the Priories and the Snowdrops circular walk, the history of the Priory Church and Blyth New Bridge. There are also traces of the town’s school history, as well as the location of the Blyth Conservation Area on the River Ryton. These highlights appeal to different interests. You can focus on outdoor activity or explore the history of the buildings and their uses in more depth. When looking for a hotel in Blyth, this distinction is a useful starting point: consider whether you would prefer to discover the town by following a path or exploring its historic buildings.

On foot and by the River Ryton

The Priories and the Snowdrops circular walk crosses a footbridge over the River Ryton. This crossing is a tangible part of the route and provides a clear starting point for a stay that includes a walk. The Blyth Conservation Area is situated on a hill beside the River Ryton. This brings two different geographical features into focus: the circular walk crosses the river, while the conservation area is set on higher ground beside it. The conservation area includes the former chapel of St John’s Hospital, a Grade II listed building. The river crossing therefore marks the route, while the hill describes the conservation area’s location.

Bridge, church and school history

Blyth New Bridge was built around 1770, probably to a design by John Carr of York for William Mellish of Blyth Hall. It has three rusticated ashlar arches. Rustication refers to a deliberately textured stone surface; ashlar is dressed stone. These terms draw attention to two different aspects of the structure: the appearance of the stone surfaces and the material itself. Together with the three arches, they make the bridge’s design clear. For anyone interested in architectural history, it offers both a distinctive form and a specific type of stonework. Those wishing to understand such architectural forms can look at the bridge’s arch shapes and surface treatment.

Only the western half of the Priory Church remains; it is used as the parish church of St Mary and St Martin. Its former role as a priory church and its current use as a parish church give the building two different points of historical reference. The town’s school history also leads to a religious building: Blyth’s parish school was originally the chapel of St John the Evangelist Hospital. St John’s School in Blyth has a doorway dating from the late 12th or early 13th century. The former chapel use is the focus when it comes to the parish school; for St John’s School, it is the dating of a doorway. This doorway dates back several centuries earlier than the bridge, built around 1770. The comparison links a single architectural feature with a later bridge structure.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Torworth, Upper Broughton, Sibthorpe, Huthwaite, Ordsall, Dunham, Edwalton, Whatton

For the overview of the wider region: Nottinghamshire.