town, Castle Morpeth borough, administrative and historic county of Northumberland, England, on the River Wansbeck. The town grew up around Morpeth Castle, a Norman fortress guarding the river crossing on the main east-coast route to Scotland in the north. Only the castle's 14th-century gatehouse remains. Morpeth has a number of small industries, but the town primarily functions as a service centre for the surrounding rural area and industrial towns. It is also the administrative centre of Northumberland. Close by are the ruins of Newminster Abbey, a Cistercian foundation of the 12th century. Pop. (2001) 13,833.