Hexham, Public Institutions, 1855

CHURCHES, CHAPELS, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, &c.

ST. MARY's (CATHOLIC) CHURCH is pleasantly situated at the top of Battle Hill, and was erected in 1830, at a cost of £2,500, principally defrayed by subscriptions, collected by the unwearied exertions of the Rev. Michael Single- ton, the present priest, who was also the architect of the edifice. It is a beautiful structure, in the style of architecture which prevailed during the fourteenth century. The window over the altar is filled with stained glass, and elegant tracery. For many years previous to the erection of this church, there were two Catholic places of worship in Hexham, one in Cockshaw, and the other in Hencotes. Recurring to a period antecedent to the building of the two older Catholic chapels, we find that, in more intolerant times, the people met for worship in a house, the second from the foot of the Holy Island, and at a still remoter era, they worshipped in a little thatched cottage, near the Ladle-well, in Cockshaw loaning, belonging to a branch of the Leadbitter family.

THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, at the head of Broadgates, was erected in 1790, at a cost of upwards of £500. Rev. John Ward, minister. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Hencotes, was built in 1825, at a cost of £1,309, and is a commodious stone edifice, possessing about 500 sittings. Rev. Joseph Gordon, minister. THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is a neat stone building situate in Gilligate. Rev. Alexander Henderson, minister. THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL, a good stone building, situated in Gilligate, was erected in 1789, and has since undergone several alterations and improvements. THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS have also a small place of worship at Bull Bank.

HEXHAM FREE GRAMMAR SHOOL, situated in Hall-garth, was founded by letters patent of Queen Elizabeth, in 1599, and regulated by a decree of the High Court of Chancery, in 1827. By the deed of foundation the master is required " to be well skilled in the Greek and Latin tongues, and a professor of true religion." 'Ihe school is considered to be open to all boys born in the parish, for instruction in Latin, writing, accounts, and mathematics, at the limited payment of 7s. 6d. a quarter. The school is endowed with the interest of £370, and £2 19s. 2d. rent, the total income being £22 per annum, besides a house and garden for the teacher, the Rev. James Urwin.

ST. MARY's (CATHOLIC) SCHOOL, is situated at Battle Hill, and is a neat stone building, erected by subscription, in 1832, at a cost of £400. Hugh Callan, and Mary Smith, teachers.

THE SUBSCRIPTION SCHOOL (BOYS), Skinnerisburn, was erected in 1813, at an expense of £350, half of which sum was contributed by the lord and lady of the manor, and the residue by the inhabitants. It is supported, as its name implies, by subscriptions. Robert Dickinson, teacher.

THE SUBSCRIPTION SOHOOL (GIRLS), is held in the room beneath the Wesleyan Chapel, in Gilligate, Jane Cox, teacher. There is also a school attached to the Presbyterian Chapel, at Hencotes.

THE DISPENSARY, which affords medical and surgical aid to the poor of the town and neighbourhood, is situated in Back-street, and ranks as the most beneficial charity in Hexham. It was established in 1816, under the patronage of T. R. Beaumont, Esq., and about 250 persons are admitted to its benefits every year. James Kirsopp, Esq., is treasurer and secretary; Robert Stokoe, Thomas Jefferson, and Nicholas Maughan, surgeons, and William Pruddah, dispensing chemist.

THE GASWORKS are situated in Gilligate, and were established by a joint· stock company, in 1835, at a cost of £2,700. The number of shareholders in 278, at £10 per share.

TRADE, &c. It was some time ago observed that "if this town enjoyed the benefits of inland navigation, it would, in many respects, be a favourite seat for trade, and indeed it has long been famous for its manufactories of leather, particularly gloves, of which about 24,000 dozens of pairs are made and exported annually, giving employment to about 1,000 women and girls and 120 men and boys. Not less than 80,000 raw skins are used here yearly, besides about 18,000 skins of dressed leather imported from various places. There are four tanneries in the town1 in which upwards of 20,000 calf and, sheep skins and hides, are dressed every year. The making of stuff hats is another considerable branch of trade, and here are two worsted manufactories, and a variety of trades." It is to be hoped that the introduction of a mode of conveyance so vastly superior to inland navigation, as railway transport has now proved to be, has fully realized this pleasant anticipation. Immense quantities of vegetables are sent from Hexham to the Newcastle markets, and about 4,000 quarters of wheat, 1,000 quarters of barley, 2,000 quarters of oats, and 1,500 quarters of rye, have been annually sold at Hexham. A n1arket is held here every Tuesday, when the town is plentifully supplied with corn, provisions, &c., and from the end of February to Midsummer, and from October to Christmas, an extensive cattle-market is held on alternate Tuesdays. Two annual fairs are held on the Tyne-green, near the town, on the 6th August, for cattle, lambs, &c., and on the 9th November, for horses, cattle, and swine. A tryst fair was also established, in 1824, to be held annually on the 25th March, in the Market-place, for the sale of stock. There is also a wool fair on the 2nd July. Hirings take place on the first Tuesday in March, the 12th May, and 11th November.

GOVERNMENT, &c. Hexham is not a, corporate town, though four incorporate companies, or trades, have exercised the right of monopoly in it as strictly as has been customary in towns governed by bodies corporate. These trades are weavers, tanners and shoemakers, skinners and glovers, and hatters. The civil government of the town was formerly vested in the archbishop's seneschal, but afterwards in the bailiff, who is still appointed by the lord of the P1Rnor, whose representative he is in the court over which he presides. When the regality of Hexhamshire was united to Northumberland, in the reign of Elizabeth, the powers of its bailiff became very limited. A court-leet, and view of frank-pledge, a court-baron, and two courts for the recovery of debts, continued to be held periodically within the regality the court of record for the recovery of debts to any amount, twice a year, within a month after Easter and Michaelmas, for the trial of causes, and for other purposes ; and the side-court, for the recovery of small debts four times a year, or oftener, as occasion required, before the bailiff as steward, with a jurisdiction over all Hexhamshire, and power to levy executions upon goods, and to sell them for the payment of debts and costs. At the court-baron debts under forty shillings are recoverable. The quarter sessions for Northumberland are held here annually, on the Thursday after the 24th June, in their course with Alnwick, Morpeth, and Newcastle. Petty sessions, for Tindale Ward, are held at the Justice Room, on the first Tuesday in every month.

THE COUNTY COURT, for the recovery of debts under £50, is held here about the middle of each month, James Losh, Esq., judge, Henry Ingledew, clerk, John Stokoe assistant clerk, Robert Prybus, high bailiff, Thomas Baty, assistant bailiff.

THE HOUSE OF CORRECTION for Hexham and Tindale Ward is situated in Gilligate; it was repaired and a new wing added some years since. Hexham is a polling place for the Southern Division of the county of Northumberland.

THE HEXHAM POOR LAW UNION comprehends seventy-five parishes and townships, embracing an area of 198,586 statute acres, and a population in 1851, of 30,436 souls. The parishes and townships are Acomb (East), Acomb (West), Allendale, Anick, Anick Grange, Apperley, Ayden, Ayden Castle, Barrasford, Bearl, Bingfield, Black Carts and Rye Hill, Blanchland, Broomhaugh, Broomley, Bywell St. Andrew, Bywell St. Peter, Chollerton, Clarewood, Cocklaw, Colwell and Swinburn, Corbridge, Dilston, Duker's Hagg, Eltringham, Espershields, Fallowfield, Fotherley High, Gunnerton and Chipchase, Hallington, Halton, Halton Shields, Haughton, Haydon, Healey, Hedley-on-the-Hill, Hedley Woodside, Hexham, High Quarter, Horsley, Humshaugh, Low Quarter, Master's Close, Mickley, Middle Quarter, Nafferton, Newbiggin, Newbrough, Newlands, Newton, Newton Hall, Ovingham, Ovington, Portgate, Prudhoe, Prudhoe Castle, Riding, Sandhoe, Shotley Low Quarter, Simonburn, Slaley, Spittle, Stelling, Stocksfield Hall, Styford, Thornbrough, Wall, Warden, elton, West Quarter, Whittonstall, Whittle, Whittington Great, Whittington Little, and Wylam.

THE HEXHAM UNION WORKHOUSE is situated at the Peth Head. It is a substantial stone building, erected in 1839, and possesses sufficient accommodation for 264 persons. The number of inmates at present (1854) is 173. William England, master; Mary England, matron; Thomas Stainthorpe, surgeon; John Stokoe, clerk; Joseph Coates and Mary Ann Seymour, teachers.

WORTHIES. Amongst the many eminent men whose names are connected with this ancient town, we find the following distinguished individuals :-

JOHN OF HEXHAM, who was a native of this place where he became a monk, and in the course of time rose to the rank of prior. He was celebrated for his learning and eloquence, taught divinity and philosophy, wrote a continuation of the history of Simeon of Durham, and also a " History of the Scotch Wars."

PRIOR RICHARD, so often quoted in connexion with the church and monastery of Hexham, the author of "De Statu et Episcopis Hagulstadensis Ecclesire," &c., was the pupil and successor of John. He died in 1192, and was buried in his own monastery.

THE REV. GEORGE RITSCHELL, though a Bohemian by birth, was curate and first lecturer of Hexham church. Having left his native country, and studied at the most celebrated Dutch and German universities, he came to Oxford in 1644, where by his various works he raised himself very much in the opinion of his contemporaries. He died in 1683. JOHN TWEDDELL, M.A. was born at Threapwood, near Hexham. At nine years of age he entered the school of the Rev. Matthew Raine, at Hartford, near Richmond, afterwards was a short time with Dr. Parr, and then of Trinity College, Cambridge, where, in 1788, he gained all the three medals of Sir William Brown, and in the next year two of them. In 1790, he obtained the Chancellor's medal; in 1791 and 1792, the member's prize for senior bachelors ; and, in the latter year, entered the Middle Temple. In 1793, his "Prolusiones Juveniles" were published; and in 1795, he went to Hamburgh, and thence to Berlin and Vienna. He travelled through the whole of Switzerland, and even proceeded to Moscow, where he was introduced to Stanislaus, the last king of Poland. From St. Petersburgh he went into Sweden, and thence through Russia and the Crimea to Constantinople, and after long and exhausting travels in Greece, died at Athens, in 1799. His letters breathe forth the very spirit of the poetical temperament keen quick perception, and lively imagination.

CHARITIES. The bequests to the poor of this parish are numerous; the following table gives the date of nearly each benefaction, the name of the donor, the appropriation and annual value as abstracted from the Reports of the Commissioners for inquiring respecting Charities, printed by order of the House of Commons.