Tales from Northumberland

Episode 4 (1x4)

Data de estreia: Nov 18, 2013

Northumberland is known as The Border County and in this fourth instalment, Robson learns how the famous border with Scotland has shaped British history. He discovers how the bloody battles between the English and the Scots turned this region into a war zone in the Middle Ages. Plus, Robson heads to the most northern part of Northumberland to look into the unique identity of the people who live close to the border of England and Scotland, dropping in on a training session with Berwick Rangers, the only English football team to play in the Scottish league. Robson journeys to Berwick-upon-Tweed, an architectural gem that’s home to 250 listed buildings within its Elizabethan walls. The battles between the English and the Scots in the middle ages meant that Berwick changed allegiance thirteen times. Even today, many locals will say that Berwick is more Scottish than English. Robson next visits an area of Northumberland where a battle took place that changed the course of British history – Flodden field. Scotland, under the rule of James IV, made its biggest ever invasion of England in 1513. Over the course of two and a half hours, almost 14,000 men lost their lives, including James IV – the last British monarch to die in battle. Whilst historically significant, Flodden is known as the forgotten battle. As its 500th anniversary approaches, Robson meets some of the people trying to keep its memory alive. Every year, on the anniversary of the battle, hundreds of residents ride across the border on horseback. Robson meets Grant Campbell, the young man who this year has been given the honour of being principal rider and leading the 26 mile journey across the border from Scotland to England, charging to the top of the hill on Flodden field. Robson joins the thousands who’ve turned out to witness the biggest ride out ever seen, saying: “Of all the sights I’ve seen on this Northumberland journey, that is up there with t