Glanton combines architectural history with views across the Vale of Whittingham. The annual Glanton Show is another regular event, held in August. These local features offer different points of focus when planning a stay: historic buildings, countryside and an event that can be planned for at a specific time of year.
Landscape and Historic Setting
Glanton lies on a south-facing spur of Glanton Hill and offers views across the Vale of Whittingham. The Cheviots frame the valley to the north, Simonside to the south and the Otterburn Moors to the west. These compass directions help pinpoint Glanton’s landscape setting. If you prioritise the landscape when choosing a destination, the named hills and moorlands provide specific reference points here.
The village’s history also offers a sense of its location: the Roman road Devil’s Causeway ran towards Glanton; its junction with the village road from the A697 is about 70 metres east of The Juries. The earliest recorded mention of Glanton appears in the Assize Rolls, covering the period from 1198 to 1272. Together, these details offer two different historical reference points: a documented road route and an early written mention.
Buildings from Different Periods
Branton and Glanton United Reformed Church was built in 1783 and is described as a simple rectangular preaching room. A porch and stair extension, designed by George Reavell of Alnwick, were added in 1912. This makes it possible to distinguish the building’s original construction from its later additions.
Town Farmhouse is a Grade II listed house dating from the mid-18th century, altered in the early 19th century. Glanton House is described as a house dating from the mid-18th century and as a new building of 1763/64. South of Glanton House, the garden walls are dated to 1740 by the lintel over the west door. These details reflect different ways of dating a building: a construction period, a later alteration, a description as a new building and a date on a door lintel.
The World Bird Research Station building was constructed in 1796 for Richard Hatkin and has an older rear wing dating from the early 18th century. Much of Glanton is also designated as a Conservation Area. This designation applies to a larger part of the village, broadening the focus from individual historic buildings to the village as a whole.
An August Event and Other Local Features
The Glanton Show is held annually and organised by the local community; it usually takes place on the second Saturday in August. If the event is a deciding factor in your trip, check the date for the year you plan to travel. This allows you to take its seasonal timing into account early in your planning.
A Jubilee Pole stands on Glanton Hill. A brass plaque commemorates Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897; other plaques refer to the Silver and Diamond Jubilees of Queen Elizabeth. Together with the views across the Vale of Whittingham, this offers a different focus from the village’s dated buildings: a landscape setting complemented by commemorative plaques.
Geology is another feature of the area. The long-disused quarry on the south side of Glanton Pyke shows features of Cementstone. Plant fossils known as Calamites have been found there. This adds a geological and deep-time dimension to the landscape.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
When choosing a destination for a stay in Glanton, you can start by considering what matters most: the Show offers a seasonal focus, the buildings tell the story of different periods of construction and alteration, and the views set the village in its surrounding landscape. If the event will determine your travel dates, check the date for the relevant year.
Discover more destinations: Lowick, Blyth, Greenhaugh, Cresswell, Lesbury, Wall, Ilderton, Allendale Town.
For the wider travel overview: Northumberland.
