Ask anyone what they know about Bamburgh and chances are they'll point you towards the magnificent castle or the stunning beach, which has been named among the best in Europe.
However, there's something else in Bamburgh that doesn't get nearly as much attention, though it's arguably as fascinating - and it's just been commended with a national award. Back in 1999, archaeologists began to uncover an Anglo-Saxon cemetery with 120 skeletons from the Bowl Hole burial ground in sand dunes close to Bamburgh Castle.
The village was significant during Anglo Saxon Britain, and capital of the most powerful British Kingdom, Northumbria, with people travelling from as far afield as Northern Africa and Scandinavia to visit, live and work. King Oswald called St. Aidan to Bamburgh in the 7th century and he founded his first church here, without which there would be no St Cuthbert or the Lindisfarne Gospels.
Read more: Bamburgh Bones project casts a light on village's rich history
Fast forward to 2016 and St. Aidan's Parochial Church Council and the Bamburgh Heritage Trust reopened the crypt of the village church, whose story also dates from the seventh century. And now the project named Accessing Aidan (though you may know it as the Bamburgh Bones) has taken the prestigious Bowland Award at the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty conference, which the Northumberland Coast AONB is part of.
Originally led by Jessica Turner and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund with support from Northumberland County Council, the crypt and church have received mostly positive reviews on TripAdvisor since it opened. There is also a digital ossuary which tells the stories of the 120 skeletons from the Bowl Hole cemetery.
Philip Hygate, Chair of the National Association for AONB said: " Many congratulations to the Accessing Aidan team on their Bowland Award win. The project is an exemplar of community engagement, with local people coming together to shape and deliver the project.
"What is most impressive is the legacy of the initial work. The ossuary in the crypt of St Aidan’s Church will enable many people to engage with the incredible history of the local area and the people who came from far and wide to build the community we see represented.
"The use of technology to bring the project to life and enable people from across the world to learn about this hidden, but significant history, is an important aspect too. It is wonderful to see both the commitment of the team, but also the ongoing pride from local community volunteers in sharing the unique history of this special place."
Patrick Norris, Chairman of the Northumberland Coast AONB, said: " It is wonderful to see the achievements of this fantastic project at a national level. There is such a depth of work and a range of high-quality projects being carried out by small teams in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty across the country, yet still, Accessing Aidan shone out as an exemplar project.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jessica Turner in particular, and the rest of the project team, for delivering such a remarkable project in a short period of time. Jessica has left the AONB staff team but her legacy will live on in Bamburgh and with this project."
The project win coincides with the upcoming opening of Ad Gefrin, a museum in Wooler which aims to tell the story of the Anglo Saxon Golden Age of the Kings and Queens of Northumbria. The immersive visitor experience and whisky distillery opens in Spring 2023, and a visit to that combined with the Bamburgh Bones is likely to be high on the list of any history buff travelling to the region.
For those who want to visit the Bamburgh Bones, the crypt is open daily and can be accessed at the Bamburgh Bones website.
Have you visited the Bamburgh Bones? Let us know what you thought in the comments!
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