George Stephenson's Birthplace, his cottage, can be found on the north bank of the Tyne 1 mile (1.6 km) east of the village.

He later went on to design and manufacture Puffing Billy in 1813, two years before George Stephenson produced his first locomotive Blücher.

Christopher Blackett as lord of the manor in the first 30 years of the 19th century provided the entrepreneurial drive that encouraged these engineers.

In 1659 Christopher Blackett acquired the Lordship of the Manor of Wylam on the death of his wife's father, Thomas Fenwick.

Following Christopher's death, his second son, John Blackett, took over the estate and purchased additional land in the area, including two farms at Wylam bought in 1685.

These farms formed a modest estate and residence for the Blackett family until the third quarter of the 20th century.

Timothy Hackworth's father was foreman blacksmith at the colliery and his son was born in the village in December 1786.

Hackworth together with William Hedley and Jonathan Forster were involved in the development of the locomotive engine at the colliery.

It features a week of varied events including music, storytelling, film, crafts and history at venues throughout the village.

To the east of Wylam railway station is the mouth of the small brook known as Stanley Burn, which originates in the southern Prudhoe area and also forms the regional border between Northumberland to the west and the borough of Gateshead (Tyne and Wear).

This was rejected by the local coal companies who feared that the construction of the piers on the river bed would disturb the shallow mine workings below, which already suffered from flooding.

All the old lead-based paint was removed, requiring the bridge to be wrapped in plastic to prevent polluting the river.

The war memorial, which is a cross about 8 metres (26 ft) in height, stands by the roadside just to the north of Wylam Bridge.

The line has now closed and the tracks removed, with the North Wylam railway station area now being used as a car park.

That cyclepath forms part of National Cycle Network Route 72 and starts at Tyne Riverside Country Park at Low Prudhoe.

Pre-1886 the villagers of Wylam had to walk to nearby Ovingham to attend church, George and William Hedley, sons of Frances and William, the railway engineer, contributed most of the money needed to build the church so the Anglicans of Wylam could have their own place of worship.