Cherryburn, close to the South Bank of the River Tyne, was the birthplace of Thomas Bewick (1753–1826), the renowned wood-engraver and naturalist, best known for his illustrations in 'A General History of Quadrupeds' (1790) and 'A History of British Birds' (1797).
It is now a museum dedicated to his life and work, given to the National Trust by the Thomas Bewick Birthplace Trust in 1991, with a contribution from Tyneside District Council.