Bewcastle Museum

About the museum

Bewcastle Museum is a small community exhibition that opened in February 2014 in the churchyard of St Cuthbert’s Church. Display panels and images follow the history of the village and the surrounding area over many centuries, from the Romans to the present day.

The museum stands on a site with a long past. The church, farm and ruined castle lie on the remains of an unusual hexagonal Roman fort that guarded the Maiden Way, the road running north from Hadrian’s Wall. Stone from the fort was later reused for a Norman castle and probably for the church, which was rebuilt in 1792. The fort, church and castle are part of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.

The churchyard also holds the Bewcastle Cross, an Anglo-Saxon monument carved with figures and runic inscriptions that is generally dated to the late seventh or early eighth century. The museum also touches on the Border Reivers, the raiding families of the Debatable Lands, and on the military test site at Spadeadam, which lies close to the village.

Highlights

• Display panels on local history from Roman times to today
• Bewcastle Cross in the churchyard next to the museum
• Setting on the site of a hexagonal Roman fort
• Stories of the Border Reivers and the Debatable Lands
• Free entry

Permanent exhibition

• Bewcastle Museum display – Display panels and images on the history of Bewcastle and the surrounding area over several hundred years.

Founded

2014

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Bewcastle is about nine miles north of Brampton and the A69, and about 15 miles east of Longtown. Use postcode CA6 6PS.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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