Akeld : In The 20th Century
The outward form of the village altered relatively little in the 20th century, but this masks changes in the local economy and population every bit as profound as any of those in the preceding centuries. Its development can be traced in the photographs and maps reproduced in this study.
Picture : Modern Akeld
The momentous events of the first half of the 20th century, which drew men away from the Glendale estates to fight in two world wars, many never to return, also left their mark on the physical fabric of the locality.
Milfield airfield, four miles to the north of Akeld, was established as an RAF base to intercept Luftwaffe bombers attacking from Norway, and later became one of the main centres for training aircrew in the air to ground attack methods vital for the control of the Normandy beach-heads and the following 'push' through Europe. The airfield was manned by pilots of many nationalities, and the tombstones of airmen killed in action (and during training) can still be seen in Kirknewton churchyard, many of the stones being decorated with the crest of the particular squadron or wing to which the deceased belonged. At Akeld itself a D-shaped pillbox was constructed opposite the cottages, but fortunately never had to be used for its intended purpose.
Picture : Pillbox At Akeld
Throughout the century the number of people employed in agriculture continued to decline as a result of mechanisation and the decline in farming incomes. The size of the individual farm tenancies correspondingly increased leading to the many farm complexes becoming redundant, including Akeld itself. Consequently agriculture no longer employs the bulk of the village's population. Moreover domestic service, which also provided substantial employment on the estates of north Northumberland at the beginning of the 20th century, had ceased to be a significant factor by the second half of the century.
The second half of the 20th century has also seen rural services and facilities come under increasing threat. The closure of the railway line through Glendale was an early example of this, the passenger trains being withdrawn in September 1930 with the freight and parcels services following in 1965. These processes have in turn led to a reduction in the size of the village population and profound changes in its demographic profile. The village is predominantly inhabited by commuters and retired people. There are few children in Glendale today.
However it would be wrong to paint an wholly negative picture. Living standards have immeasurably increased in Glendale in common with the rest of British society whilst the social and economic opportunities available today are far greater than those facing the inhabitants of Akeld at the beginning of the 20th century.
New economic opportunities and livelihoods have also emerged during this period, generated by society's increased leisure time and the growth in tourism. The Northumberland National Park was established in 1956 to conserve and enhance the breathtaking natural and historic environment of upland Northumberland including the Cheviots and to promote public understanding and enjoyment of that landscape. This represents an explicit acknowledgement of the immense attraction that such wild spaces have in the modern world and has helped to ensure that this invaluable resource will be maintained for future generations to enjoy.
It has also led to the creation of a powerful body, in the shape of the National Park Authority, which aims to foster the social and economic well being of local communities within its boundaries (cf. Frodsham 2004, 144-5).
The recent conversion of the farm buildings at Akeld into a restaurant is one imaginative effort to take advantage of these opportunities, and provides some grounds for optimism that communities such as Akeld will meet the challenges facing them in the 21st century.
