High Forest and Low Forest (Allendale), 1848

FOREST, HIGH and LOW, two grieveships, in the parish of Allendale, union of Hexham, S. division of Tindale ward and of Northumberland; containing respectively 1,600 and 297 inhabitants.

Extract from: A Topographical Dictionary of England comprising the several counties, cities, boroughs, corporate and market towns, parishes, and townships..... 7th Edition, by Samuel Lewis, London, 1848.

These grieveships (subdivisions) of the ancient parish of Allendale had a higher population compared to today, related to the booming lead mining industry here at that time. There was a chapel here from at least 1701, replaced by the Church of St Peter in The Forest in Spaerylea in the mid-19th century. The name of the grieveship lives on today in the High Forest Community Centre, which serves the area from Sinderhope to Allenheads.

Allendale was originally divided into four grieveships, and the area where Allenheads now stands, lay within the East Allen grieveship. During the 15th and 16th centuries this area was divided, with Allenheads eventually being located in the area known as High Forest. However, there was no substantive settlement at Allenheads during the medieval period. In 1547, ‘Dirtpotsheele’ was recorded as a possession the Manor of Hexham (Dirt Pot lies about half mile north-west of Allenheads). Interestingly, the unlike townships elsewhere, these grieveships didn’t become civil parishes following the Poor Law Amendment Act 1866. At that time, Allendale Civil Parish was formed and included the whole of the ancient parish. However, the civil parish reduced in size when West Allen Civil Parish was created in 1897.