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Matfen

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Matfen
Matfen
Population495 (2001 census)[1]
OS grid referenceNZ029719
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townNEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode districtNE20
Dialling code01661
PoliceNorthumbria
FireNorthumberland
AmbulanceNorth East
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Northumberland

Matfen is a village and a civil parish in Northumberland, England, near the towns of Hexham and Newcastle upon Tyne. It is an example of a nineteenth-century planned estate village. It was the birthplace of the nineteenth-century Premier of British Columbia, William Smithe.


Landmarks

Matfen Hall

Matfen Hall is operated as a hotel and country club. The Grade II* listed building was built c.1828 by Sir Edward Blackett to replace an earlier 17th Century house.

The Devil's Causeway passes the village less than 2 miles (3 km) to the west. The causeway is a Roman road which starts at Port Gate on Hadrian's Wall, north of Corbridge, and extends 55 miles (89 km) northwards across Northumberland to the mouth of the River Tweed at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Notable people

  • Thomas Bates (1775–1849), stockbreeder born in Matfen.
  • William Smithe (1842–1887), 7th premier of British Columbia.
  • Lorna Hill (1902–1991), prolific writer for children, wife of the rector of Matfen.

See also

References