River Glen

The area around the Glen is rich in historical and archaeological interest. Iron Age hillforts on peaks to the south of the River overlook the Anglo-Saxon settlement and palace site at Yeavering, where St. Paulinus baptised new converts and, according to St. Bede, "washed them with the water of absolution in the river Glen, which is close by" (Tomlinson, 1888, p. 504). The vicinity of the Glen was the setting for some of the bloodiest border warfare between Scotland and England. The Battle of Humbleton Hill was fought near the River in 1402, and so was the Battle of Geteryne (Yeavering) in 1415.