The importance of the attractive town of Hexham began when St Wifrid
built his great monastery there in the 7th Century, of which only the
unique crypt remains beneath the Priory church. It was bounded by a wall
that separated it from the Market Place and the civil administration,
which includes the Moothall and Old Gaol. These areas still form the
nucleus of the town, which lay in the turbulent Border country between
England and Scotland. The vital industry of tanning and glove-making has
now gone, but there are smaller industries in its place. The town is a
focus of music, the arts and sport. The Queen's Hall houses library,
cafe, galleries and theatre. It is linked by roads and by the early
Carlisle-Newcastle railway which bring in tourists and local people for
many activities such as the Hexham Gathering and the Abbey Arts
Festival. Much has changed, but the historic centre remains intact. The
author has lived here for over 30 years and is an Honorary Steward and
Bailiff of the town.