Community

The Sele

A historic public park of open greenery and lime trees beside the Abbey Grounds, with a children's play area and skate park.

About The Sele

The Sele is Hexham's historic public park, a broad expanse of open greenery overlooked by Hexham Abbey in the centre of the town. It was first opened to the public in 1753, when Sir Walter Blackett, owner of the Hexham estate, gave townspeople access to the ground, and it passed into public ownership in 1908. The Sele adjoins the Abbey Grounds, laid out as a public park in the early twentieth century, and together they form a much-loved open space framed by mature lime trees that colour the town through the seasons.

Beyond its grassy expanse the wider parkland combines formal gardens with a traditional bandstand, woodland walks and recreational facilities. Visitors will find a children's play area, a skate park and public toilets, with the neighbouring Hexham House bowling green nearby. It remains a popular spot for a picnic, a gentle stroll or seasonal events, and its central setting makes it an everyday green retreat for residents and visitors alike.

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