Hexham is a market town and civil parish in the English county of Northumberland. It is located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. Smaller towns and villages neighboring Hexham include 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 towards the west. Newcastle upon Tyne is approximately 25 miles (40 km) towards the east. With mention to the 2011 Census, the town has a permanent population of approximately 11829. Hexham's architectural landscape is controlled by Hexham Abbey. The present church largely dates from approximately 1170, constructed 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 time frame. The east end was renovated in 1860. The abbey stands at the west end 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 was part of the town's defences. The Moot Hall is a Grade I listed structure, and was put to use as a court house till 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 additionally named 'England's Favourite Market Town' by the publication 'Country Life'. For all your house upgrades, be sure to identify reliable contractors in Hexham to make certain of quality.