Maelmin Henge

At the very top of the Northumberland National Park just north of Yeavering Bell and around the corner from Ford and Etal, is a strange little wooden circle. Located in the village of Milfield this is the Maelmin Henge which is part of the Maelmin Heritage Trail.

A henge is an ancient monument which features a ring-shaped bank and ditch, with the ditch inside the bank and some are used for burials.

Now the henge you see here is actually a replica of the Milfield North Henge, one of eight henges that would have existed in the Till Valley and Milfield Plain around 2200 BC. The original henge stood a short distance away on the abandoned RAF base.

There is a standing stone and plaque commemorating the RAF base here too.

Excavation of the original henge found at least three burial pits in the central area. And here is the original processional route. Photo credit www.maelmin.org.uk.

Did you know that this Anglo-Saxon royal township site of Maelmin was the successor to the nearby Ad Gefrin.

There are plenty of information boards dotted around the area with a trail to a nearby dark age house.