Ratcheugh

Ratcheugh is located to the west of the village of Longhaughton in Northumberland. Ratcheugh Farm is about ½mile west of the village and Ratcheugh Crag is a further ¾mile south-west of the farm. Ratcheugh Observatory and cottage are located by the Crag. Ratcheugh Farm is listed under Longhaughton Township in Whellan's 1855 directory, and the farmer was Christopher Bolam at that time.^[1] The farm hosts four steeplechase meetings each year; was first used for horse racing in 1949 when the Percy, West Percy and Milvain hunts staged their meeting there.^[2] Back in 1949 the track was slightly different to how it is today, as it crossed south into land belonging to Lookout Farm.