Dr. Susanna Phillippo will be continuing her ‘Exploring Classical and Historical Northumbria’ trips this Sunday (17th April) with a visit to Warkworth Castle and Hermitage.
Details are as follows:
Depart c. 12.10, return c. 18.05
Cost: £7.80 for transport
A visit to the impressive medieval Percy fortress in the scenic town of Warkworth.
• Picturesque town dominated by showpiece medieval castle, home to a number of key players in English history, notably the Percy family (the original ‘kings in the north’).
• Wars of the Roses, the English Civil War and several wars with Scotland(!) feature among the many historical events in which the castle and town played a part.
• Castle features in Shakespeare’s *Henry IV* plays: the scenes which he set here make use of elements from classical writers Plutarch and Virgil — we shall hear about these on site, and visit the exact locations!
• Unique 13th-century hermitage elaborately carved out of the solid stone of the river bank.
As with previous trips, entrance to the castle is free by special arrangement with English Heritage. We travel by bus: the X18 from Haymarket bus station, outside Marks and Spencers.
Schedule:
Meet at Haymarket bus station (usually Stand Q), ideally by *12.05*.
Catch 518 bus at 12.13.
Arrive Warkworth (via part of the scenic Northumbria coastal route) 13.40
Best to bring sandwiches to eat on the bus: refreshments including hot drinks are available at the Castle but there’s no cafe as such.
The bus drops us close to the castle; we’ll have ample time to explore it, and hopefully the hermitage (to which visitors are ferried by English Heritage rowing boat!) before heading downhill into the village for a refreshment stop in one the village’s excellent cafés/pubs (one of the latter serves particularly good scones!).
We will aim for the 16.37 bus back from Warkworth, getting back to Haymarket at 18.06. Buses leave at 37 minutes past each hour, though, so you can catch an earlier or later bus back if you like.
Cost: An Arriva all-day ticket (£7.80) is the cheapest option. Entrance to the castle is free; otherwise, just bring money for refreshments.
If you would like further details, email Dr. Phillippo at susanna.phillippo@newcastle.ac.uk.