An introduction to Rochester

The biggest original parish in the district of Tynedale stretches from the Scottish border along Redesdale and extends over an area of 70 square miles. A large proportion of the parish is covered not only with the productive Redesdale Forest but also encompasses a large section of the Army’s Otterburn Tactical Weapons Training Area.

The parish’s sparse population is mainly centred around Rochester and Byrness. The area is rich in iron age and Roman history with many settlements, camps, roads and hill forts including Brigantium and Bremenium. Rochester probably derives from Old English ‘ruh+ceaster’ meaning “rough earthwork or fort”.

Byrness has a County first school, a youth hostel, a C of E church, a gift shop and hotel. The majority of Byrness is a 1960s purpose-built Forestry Commission village for workers in Kielder Forest area. Rochester village has a reconstructed Roman fort, a cafe, shop, post office and a Women's Institute.

Selected Links

• The Hexham Courant [http://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/]
• Northumberland County Council [http://www.northumberland.gov.uk]
• Northumberland Tourist Board [http://www.ntb.org.uk]

Local Information Categories for Rochester

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