A rich railway heritage
Go full steam ahead and visit the pretty village of Wylam with its fine railway heritage and links to several famous engineers. As the birthplace of the ‘Father of the Railway’, George Stephenson, Wylam is the best place to see engineering history unfold.
Take a walk or cycle along the Wylam Waggonway which runs past the pretty white miners cottage where Stephenson was born. The waggonway which was originally built to transport coal from Wylam to Lemington follows the course of the River Tyne and is a haven for wildlife.
The very first British railway tickets were used on the Wylam line, linking the city of Newcastle to Carlisle; with this and its wealth of railway heritage, it seems fitting to arrive in Wylam by train. Constructed in 1835, the Stationmaster's House is a Grade II Listed Building, whilst the footbridge and signal box are both Grade II Listed. The station is one of the earliest still in use in the world. Nowadays Wylam is an unmanned station but you can buy your tickets via a machine at the station.
The railway pedigree of this village doesn’t just stop at George Stephenson, as locomotive engineer Timothy Hackworth was also born here. Visit Wylam Railway Museum and learn more about the big history of this small but important place.
If you’d also like to enjoy a scenic walk around the historic village and surrounding countryside, ensure you see the Hagg Bank Bridge. Originally built to carry a railway track, this bridge was the first of its kind, and dates back to 1876. It is the perfect place to see whilst out walking or cycling in Northumberland. The bridge has also starred in popular television series Vera, providing the perfect dramatic backdrop for the North East based television drama.