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Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is a mile from the A1, which bypasses it. It is the administrative centre both of Castle Morpeth borough and, since 1981, of the County of Northumberland. Morpeth grew up at an important crossing point of the River Wansbeck. Following the Norman Conquest the town came into the possession of the de Merlay family, and a motte and bailey castle had been constructed by 1095.Newminster Abbey was founded by Ranulf de Merlay, lord of Morpeth as one the first daughter houses of Fountains in 1138.The town became a borough by prescription. King John granted a market charter for the town to Roger de Merlay in 1199. Until the nineteenth century Morpeth had one of the main markets in northern England for live cattle. Source : www.wikipedia.org.uk

Local Attractions :
Cragside : http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-cragsidehousegardenandestate
Wallington : http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-wallington
Pirate Island : http://www.codonas.com/Pirate_Island_Adventure_Golf.html
Warkworth Castle  : http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100100101300500400r
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens : http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.13023