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Belford Parish, 1855
Extract from: History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland...Whellan, William, & Co, 1855.
BELFORD PARISH.
BELFORD is a parish chiefly in the northern division or Bambrough Ward, and partly in Islandshire, an insulated portion of the county formerly belonging to the county of Durham. It is bounded on the north by Islandshire, on the west by the parish of Chatton, on the south by Bambrough parish, and on the east by the German Ocean. It extends four miles and a half from east to west, and about three miles from north to south, and comprises the market town of Belford, and the townships of Detchant, Easington, Easington Grange, Elwick, Middleton, and Ross. The area of the parish is 11 ,604 acres, and its population in 1801, was 1,324; in 1811, 1,473; in 1821, 1,783; in 1831, 2,030; in 1841, 1,789; and in 1851, 1,857 souls. Like the adjoining parishes, Bedford abounds in coal, lime-stone, and building-stone, the soil is also very fertile
BELFORD is a township and market-town, in the parish of the same name, containing 2,698 acres, the property of the Rev. John Dixon Clark, J.P, of Belford Hall, and its rateable value is £3,772 17s. 6d. The number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 902 ; in 1811, 931 ; in 1821, 1,208; in 1831, 1,354; in 1841, 1,157; and in 1851, 1,226 souls The manor of Belford was formerly possessed by the Huntercombe family, one of whom, Walter de Huntercombe, having served under King Edward I., in his Welch wars, received from that monarch a grant of free warren in Belford and other places in the county. This Walter de Huntercombe was summoned to the parliaments held from the sixth of Edward I. to the fourth of Edward II. He died in the sixth year of the reign of Edward II., leaving his possessions to his wife, Alice. The manor was afterwards transferred to the Meinell family, from whom it passed to the Hepburns, coming subsequently into the possession of John Forster, Esq. of Bambrough Castle. Abraham Dixon, Esq., one of its late owners, obtained the privilege of holding a market and fairs at Belford, and his son raised the place from the position of a small village to that of a neat and well built town.
THE TOWN of Belford is pleasantly situated on an eminence, in a picturesque and romantic part of the county, two miles from the sea, and forty-nine miles north of Newcastle. Since the construction of the railway from Newcastle to Berwick, the business of this town has considerably declined. Belford contains an hotel and five or six inns, where travellers will meet with comfortable accommodation. A lamb fair is held here annually, on the 2nd of July, and a ewe fair takes place on the 25th of September. Petty sessions are held on every alternate Wednesday, at the Board Room, West-street, the presiding magistrates are the Rev. J.D. Clarke, M.A.; Rev. L. S Orde, M.A.; W. Darnell and P.J. Selby, Esq. of Twizell House. The County Court is held at the Blue Bell Hotel once every two months, James Losh, Esq., judge.
THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is a plain substantial edifice, situated at the north side of the town, and capable of accommodating about six hundred persons. The living, a perpetual curacy in the archdeaconry of Lindisfarne and deanery of Bambrough, returned at £94., gross income, £147., is in the patronage of the Rev. J. D. Clarke, M.A., of Bedford Hall, and incumbency of the Rev. G. Walker, M.A. THE UNITED PRESBITERTAN CHURCH was erected in 1777. It is a commodious building, and possesses sittings for four hundred persons, Rev. John Hunter, minister. THE SCOTCH CHURCH, situated in West-street, is a plain building, and it will accommodate five hundred hearers. Rev. M. Wallace, minister. Gas works were established here in 1845, by a joint stock company, composed principally of the inhabitants of Belford.
THL BELFORD POOR LAW UNION comprehends thirty-six parishes and townships, embracing an area of 41,753 statute acres, and a population in 1851, of 6,871 souls. The parishes and townships are Adderstone, Bambrough, Bambrough Castle, Beadnell, Belford, Bradford, Budle, Burton, Chathill, Detchant, Easington, Easington Grange, Elford, Ellingham, Elwick, Farn Islands, Fleetham, Glororum, Hoppen, Lucker, Middleton, Monk's House, Mousen, Newham, Newstead, Outchester, Preston, Ratchwood, Ross, Shorstone, Spindlestone, Sunderland (North), Swinhoe, Tuggall, Warrenford, and Warrenton. THE UNION WORKHOUSE, situated in West-street, is a small building. The number of inmates at present (1854) is 17.
POST OFFICE, BELFORD, William Septimus Hindmarsh, postmaster. The mails arrive from the South, at 9-10 a.m. and 9-10 p.m.; and are despatched to the South at 3-22 p.m. and at 8-42 p.m.; and to the North at 8-50 a.m. and 3-22 p.m.
DIRECTORY
Miscellany Bennett T. cabinet maker Berwick Mr. William Bird William, veterinary surgeon BRITISH PROTECTOR MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY, D. R. Walker, agent Clark Rev. John Dixon, M.A. & J.P. Beford Hall EXCISE OFFICE, Blue Bell Hotel Gibson & Co. brewers Gillum Miss Elizabeth Himsworth John, Esq. Middleton Hall Hunter Rev. John, (United Presbyterian) Hutchinson Mrs. Mary, Belford-villa Johnstone Waiter, hairdresser |
Landreth, James, cooper Newbiggin James, County Court bailiff Pratt Miss Margaret Scott John, commission agent Scott G. registrar of births, etc. Shields Harriet W. bonnet maker Stewart William, millwright Terras Rev. David (English Presbyterian) Walker Rev. George, M.A. incumbent Wallace Rev. William, (Scotch Presbyterian) Young George, linen and woollen draper Young George, professor of music and parish clerk Young William, tinsmith and plumber, etc. |
Academies and Schools Davison George Coulter (day) Smith William Walker David K. (boarding and day)
Bakers Johnson John Richardson James Scott Andrew
Backsmiths Lisle Aaron Rogers Thomas Whittle George
Boot and Shoemakers Dixon John Samuel Gibson James Gibson Thomas Groves C. (dealer) Johnson Thomas Kennedy Adam Ternant James
Butchers Reavely Joseph Wightman James Wightman Richard
Cattle Salesmen Wightman James Wightman Richard Wightman Thomas, Belford Moor
Corn Miller Embleton Robert, Easington Grange Mill
Dressmakers Groves Catherine Hope Sarah Moffat Ann Ryan Mary |
Farmers Bell Jno. Easington Demesne Bolton William, Sionside Bolton William, Whinney Hill Davison Robert, Kettleburn Forster John, Smayfield Hall James, Detchant Hall Jane, Middleton Nesbit R. P. Elwick Robertson James, Easington Rogers Thomas Wake Philip Wightman James, and cattle salesman Wightman Thomas, Belford Moor Wood William, Craggy Hall Wright George
Gardeners Ferguson John Young Matthew
Grocers & dealers in Sundries Adamson Mitchell Bromfield James Burns Thomas Davison Ellen Dunn G. Gibson David Gibson James Gibson Robert Guthrie Thomas, & merchant tailor Johnson James Mather Susan Macdonald George & druggist Mills John Moffat Virtue Patrick Benjamin Paxton Robert Rodgers William Shields Andrew Stamford Thomas Weir Jane |
Hotels Inns and Taverns Blue Bell Hotel, and posting house, W. A. Custance, Market-place Black Swan Inn, & posting house, John Sinton Market-place Black Bull, Robert Briggs Free-masons' Arms, S. Dryden Nag's Head, James Young Odd Fellows' Arms, T. Moffat Salmon, W. Innes
Beer Houses Dixon George Dunn Aaron
Joiners Burn Thomas Gibson Robert Johnson Thomas, Middleton Logan Charles Richardson Robert Thompson John
Slaters Falla Matthew Falla Selby
Stonemasons Ferguson John Mabon John
Surgeons Davidson Thomas Hunt Henry Young William
Tailors Guthrie Thomas, & draper Henderson William Innes William Mabon David Patrick Robert
Watch and Clock Makers Robson Matthew Thompson Christopher |
CONVEYANCES from the Railway Station, about a. mile from Belford.- William Pawson station master.
CARRIERS. - To Alnwick, Thomas Moffat.- To Berwick, George Purvis, both on Saturdays.
DETCHANT is a township containing with the township of Midd1eton 3,094 acres. The annual value of Detchant is about £1,200, and its population in 1801, was 110; in 1811, 109; in 1821, 128; in 1831, 180; in 1841, 178; and in 1851, 150 souls. Stephen F . Gillum, Esq. is the proprietor of the whole township, which is two and a quarter miles N.N.W. of Belford, with which place its directory is given.
EASINGTON township is the property o£ the Rev. J. D. Clark M.A. of Belford Hall, and James Grieve, Esq. of Orde. It is situated one mile north-east of Belford, and contains 848 acres, of which the annual value is £1,000. The number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 151; in 1811, 195; in 1821, 186; in 1831, 203; in 1841, 180; and in 1851, 174 souls. Easington Demesne is the property of James Grieve, Esq., of Orde, above-mentioned. Here is an assemblage of cottages inhabited by trades people and agricultural labourers.
DIRECTORY. John Clarke, shoemaker; James Robertson, farmer; David Hope; John Robinson, blacksmith; James Cuthbertson, joiner; and Charles Clapperton, shopkeeper.
EASINGTON GRANGE is a township, situated one mile and a half N.N.E. of Belford. It contains 547 acres, and its population- in 1801, was 57; in 1811, 57; in 1821, 54; in 1831, 62; in 1841, 64; and in 1851, 78 souls. It is the property of Edward Tyzack, who occupies the whole township. There is a corn mill here worked by Mr. Robert Embleton.
ELWICK township is the property of the Earl of Tankerville. It contains 819 acres, and its rateable value is £850. Its population in 1801, was 54; in 1811, 78; in 1821, 73; in 1831, 79; in 1841, 84; and in 1851, 69 souls. Part of this township formed a portion of the county of Durham, until October, 1844, when it became for all purposes part of Northumberland. It is distant two miles north-east from Belford, and is entirely occupied by Mr. Ralph Nesbit.
MIDDLETON is a township situated one mile N.N.W. of Belford, and contains with Detchant 3,094 acres, the property of Stephen F. Gillum, Esq. Its rateable value is about £1,200, and the number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 50; in 1811, 57·; in 1821, 79; in 1831, 87; in 1841, 70; and in 1851, 111 souls. Its directory is given with that of Belford.
ROSS township, like that of Elwick, is situated in Islandshire, and was formerly a portion of the county of Durham. It is three miles north-east of Belford, and contains 3,598 acres, the rateable value of which is £900. This township is the property of the Earl of Tankerville. Its population in 1801, was - in 1811, 46; in 1821, 55; in 1831, 65; in 1841, 56; and in 1851, 49 souls. Ross and Elwick townships occupy a projecting tongue of land on the north side of Budle Bay, and consist of two large farms, with extensive rabbit warren. Large quantities of cockles are found upon the sands in the neighbourhood. Mr. Hardy is the present occupier of Ross township.