Brampton: History, Churches and Landscape

Brampton combines historic buildings with traces of different eras and trails through the surrounding landscape. In the town itself, you can explore churches, a medieval castle site and evidence of the town’s history. The surrounding area also offers natural spaces and other historic sites to visit.

Brampton’s History and Buildings

The original settlement of Brampton is believed to have been an Anglian settlement dating from the 7th century. In 1252, King Henry III granted the newly founded town a market charter. Its history also includes frequent raids by the Border Reivers, raiders from both sides of the Anglo-Scottish border.

The Mote, a medieval motte-and-bailey castle dating from the 12th or 13th century, stands on Castle Hill. The site was later used as the location of a signal beacon in the 15th century. Brampton Moot Hall offers another glimpse into the town’s history: this Grade II* listed building was built for the Earl of Carlisle in 1817.

Capon Tree Road also bears traces of the past. It was once the main road to Carlisle via Low Gelt Bridge. At its end, a monument commemorates six of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobites, who were hanged on 21 October 1746. These landmarks represent different chapters of history; together, they offer ways to get to know Brampton on a walking tour.

Churches and a Walk Around Town

St Martin’s Church is a historic Pre-Raphaelite church designed by Philip Webb. Among its notable features are the famous stained-glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones. Visitors can explore the church Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 6 pm; it is also open for private prayer. Check the opening hours again before you travel.

At Brampton Old Church, a free, self-guided tour leads around the churchyard. The free guide includes a map and explanations of 15 numbered stops around the churchyard and church. The key to access the church is available from the neighbouring Old Church Farm; arrange access before you travel. The church stands on the site of a Roman fort dating from the late 1st or early 2nd century AD, on the Stanegate.

Brampton’s main attractions are close together and easy to reach, making them suitable for a walking tour. You can combine visits to the buildings with walks between the different stops, without needing to plan a longer route.

Lanercost Priory and Roman Traces

At Lanercost Priory, surviving features and their later use tell the story of the site’s long history. At the east end of the church, the 13th-century building still stands at its full height. The cloisters include a vaulted 13th-century undercroft that once served as the refectory. It contains replicas of Roman altars and gravestones found in the area around Lanercost.

The Priory Church of St Mary Magdalene is located in the original nave of the Augustinian monastery founded in 1169. It is open to visitors daily from 9 am to 7 pm; if dusk falls earlier, visiting hours end then. Check the hours before your trip. The Roman replicas in the undercroft and the church in the former nave show the site’s different connections to the past.

Trails and Nature in the Surrounding Area

The area around Brampton includes woodland, fields and moorland, crossed by numerous footpaths, bridleways and quiet roads. Gelt Woods, an RSPB nature reserve, is home to numerous bird species and red squirrels. Visitor trails run along the River Gelt. The woods are also home to a Roman quarry: its stone was used to build and repair parts of Hadrian’s Wall.

Talkin Tarn is a kettle lake formed by glaciers 18,000 years ago. Together with the surrounding woods and trails, it offers another point of interest in the landscape. Hadrian’s Wall forts, milecastles, towers and signal stations are also within reach of Brampton. Which places you include depends on whether you want to focus your stay on architectural history, the landscape or both.

Getting There and Practical Planning

Brampton is accessible by bus, with services from Carlisle. Brampton railway station is on the Newcastle–Carlisle line, also known as the Tyne Valley Line. For trips to other sites, bus route HW1 stops at Lanercost Priory and Birdoswald Roman Fort. Bus services may change, so check current connections before travelling.

Brampton holds a farmers’ market every month. As dates may change, check the current schedule if you plan to visit the market. You can then fit the market, attractions and trails in the surrounding area around the time you have available.

Discover more destinations: Chollerford, Berwick Hill, Felton, Amble, Belford, Stocksfield, Edlingham, Lowick.

Go to the main travel overview: Northumberland.