Allendale Town

Allendale is an attractive Northumberland village nestling in the East Allen Valley, in the shadow of the hills and moors of the North Pennines. In former years it was at the centre of a thriving lead-mining industry, and was known as Allendale Town, befitting its role as the centre of a thriving and prosperous area. Today a smaller population leads a mainly rural life, though reminders of its industrial past can still be seen in the surrounding countryside. Allendale is very popular with walkers wanting to take advantage of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on its doorstep, and seeking friendly pubs, interesting shops and tearooms. The village is at its busiest on New Year’s Eve, when the famous ‘Tar Barls’ ceremony takes place. A procession of local men, called ‘Guysers’, parade in fancy dress with barrels of flaming tar around the village at midnight, before throwing them onto a bonfire to welcome in the New Year with a spectacular ceremony. In 1842 it was recorded that Allendale was the centre of Great Britain. The latitude and longitude readings on the sundial on the church tower are said to substantiate this claim.