Bellingham has its roots in the 12th Century when St Cuthbert's Church was first consecrated.
Its heyday was in the 19th Century when it was a centre for iron. Hareshaw Linn was the site of two blast furnaces established in 1833 by Messrs Bigge and Partners. At the peak of its operation it also contained 70 coke ovens, 24 large roasting kilns for calcining the iron ore, a range of coal stores, a blacksmiths shop, wagon shed, stables and stores.The iron works were in continuous production until 1848.
Ten years later the plant was auctioned and many of the buildings demolished.The dam that you pass on the walk supplied water to power the Hareshaw iron works.
Nature recovers quickly - you would not believe that this wooded valley once raged with noise and smoke! Today Hareshaw Linn is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated for its rare ferns and lichen. Over 300 different types of mosses, liverworts and lichencan be found.
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Every effort is made to make sure that all the information is correct but we strongly recommend that you call Hareshaw Linn before you set off on your day out to confirm opening times and admission prices.
Please also note that the position on Google maps for Hareshaw Linn is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Hareshaw Linn to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.