Hexham is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Northumberland. It lies south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale area from 1974 to 2009. Smaller towns and villages around Hexham feature Corbridge, Riding Mill, Stocksfield and Wylam towards the east, Acomb and Bellingham to the north, Allendale to the south and Haydon Bridge, Bardon Mill and Haltwhistle to the west. Newcastle upon Tyne is roughly 25 miles (40 kilometres) towards the east. With mention to the 2011 Census, the town has a permanent population of approximately 11829. Hexham's architectural landscape is led by Hexham Abbey. The existing church predominantly dates from around 1170, built in the Early English Gothic design of architecture. The choir, north and south transepts and the cloisters, where canons studied and meditated, date from this period. The east end was renovated in 1860. The abbey stands at the west side of the market place, which is home to the Shambles, a Grade II covered market built in 1766 by Sir Walter Blackett. At the east end of the market place is the Moot Hall, a 15th-century gatehouse that belonged to the town's defences. The Moot Hall is a Grade I listed building, and was employed as a court house before 1838. The Moot Hall now houses the Council offices of the Museums Department and the ground floor is an art gallery open to hire. Hexham won the Town award in the 2005 Britain in Bloom awards. In the same year Hexham was also named 'England's Favourite Market Town' by the publication 'Country Life'. For all of your home upgrades, make certain to find trustworthy professionals in Hexham to make certain of quality.