Population 495 (2001 census) Unitary authority Local time Wednesday 4:33 AM | OS grid reference NZ029719 Sovereign state United Kingdom Dialling code 01661 | |
Weather 4°C, Wind W at 6 km/h, 84% Humidity | ||
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 19th-century planned estate village. It was the birthplace of a Premier of British Columbia, William Smithe.
Contents
Map of Matfen, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
History
Matfen is just a few miles north of Hadrian's Wall, and about half way between the two there is a prehistoric standing stone called Stob Stone, adjacent to Standing Stone Farmhouse. The stone is about seven feet high and decorated with cup marks.
The place-name 'Matfen' is first attested in the Pipe Rolls for 1159, where it appears as Matefen. The name means 'Matta's fen'.
Landmarks
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.