St Cuthbert's Church, Elsdon

St Cuthbert's Church is a stone building in Elsdon village with transepts and a bell turret marking its roofline. The structure combines Norman-era portions with later medieval additions, showing how it grew over centuries.

The building took its main form in the 14th century, with earlier Norman foundations from around 1100. Major reconstruction followed the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, reshaping the church we see today.

The church shows cut marks on its arcade pillars where medieval soldiers sharpened their weapons. These marks tell of how military life and religious spaces intersected in this place.

The church is open daily for visitors to explore its architecture and interior details. Its central location in the village makes it easy to find and visit.

During the 1877 restoration, workers found nearly 1000 complete skulls beneath the floor and three horse skulls arranged in a geometric pattern in the bell turret. These unexpected discoveries continue to puzzle researchers about what happened at this place.

Location: Elsdon

Inception: 14 century

GPS coordinates: 55.23372,-2.10143

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:03