The picturesque and historic town of Hexham is situated within a few
miles of Hadrian's Wall and though there was probably no Roman
settlement here, only three miles away was a large Roman supply base at
Corbridge called Corstopitum. Visitors to Hexham today will discover
many notable buildings as well as the impressive abbey, including an
eighteenth-century covered market, a historic jail (now a museum), a
moothall and a fifteenth-century gatehouse. Corbridge began as an
outpost on the Roman push north where a succession of forts were built
from about AD85 to guard one of the main routes across the River Tyne.
Later, when Hadrian's Wall was built, it became one of only two
substantial towns in the area and remained a vibrant urban community
until the last days of Roman Britain. The fort and original town are now
under the care of English Heritage. In this book, author Andrew Graham
Stables seeks out the lesser-known and hidden heritage of Hexham and
Corbridge. He explores the sites of the early history of the towns and
how being situated on the Anglo-Scottish border both increased
prosperity and led to a severe downturn in fortunes across the centuries
due to successive conflicts and raids. 'Secret Hexham and Corbridge'
reveals how history manifests in the urban landscape and some of the
important characters from the turbulent past who contribute to the story
of these two communities. Illustrated throughout, the book will be of
immense interest to residents and visitors in this area.