a municipal and parliamentary borough and market-town of England, county of Northumberland, on the north side of the River Wansbeck, 15 miles N. by W. of Newcastle. It is irregularly but not ill built, and is nearly surrounded by the river, which here is crossed by a handsome stone bridge of three arches, and also by a suspension-bridge. The two principal streets meet in the marketplace, in the centre of the town, where there is a square tower with a clock and a chime of bells. The parish church, which stands on the side of the Wansbeck, half a mile out of the town, is a fine old building of the fourteenth century. There are also churches belonging to Presbyterians, Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, and Roman Catholics. Morpeth has a free grammar school, founded by Edward VI. in 1552, which had 80 pupils in 1853; besides national and infant schools; and two others which are supported by subscription. There is a town-hall, erected in 1714 by the Earl of Carlisle, after designs by Sir John Vanbrugh; and the county jail, a large and handsome building on the south of the river, was built in 1829, at the cost of L70,000. Near the latter building the gateway and a few other remains of the old castle of Morpeth are still to be seen. The town has a public library, a mechanics' institution, a dispensary, and a union poor-house. Tanning, iron-founding, brewing, and the manufacture of woollen stuffs are carried on here; and five annual fairs are held. Morpeth was burned by its inhabitants in 1215, in order to harass King John in his operations against the insurgent barons; and it was again injured by fire in 1689. It is remarkable as the birthplace of Turner the botanist, and of Morrison the Chinese missionary. The borough is governed by a mayor, 3 aldermen, and 12 councillors; and formerly returned 2 members to Parliament; but by the Reform Act the number has been reduced to one. Pop. (1851) of the parliamentary borough, 10,012; of the municipal, 4096.