Kirkwhelpington, Parish, 1848

WHELPINGTON, KIRK (St. Bartholomew), a parish, in the union of Bellingham, N.E. division of Tindale ward, S. division of Northumberland; containing, with the townships of Great Bavington, Capheaton, Catcherside, Coldwell, Crogdean, Fawns, Little and West Harle, and West Whelpington, 705 inhabitants, of whom 241 are in Kirk-Whelpington township, 21 miles (N.W.) from Newcastle. In the reign of King John, we find Richard de Umfraville making " his whole court at Whelpington" witness to a grant to the monks of Kelso; and the place for some time subsequently continued in this family, of whom Gilbert, in 1267, obtained from Henry III. liberty to hold a weekly market and annual fair here, which privileges, however, remained in force only for a very short period. The family of Whelpington also had possessions here, one of whom, Robert, was representative of Newcastle in parliament in 1412, 1422, and 1423, and mayor of that town in 1435 and 1438. The parish, exclusively of Capheaton, which is insulated, measures 5 miles from east to west, and 6 from north to south; it is a hilly district, for the most part composed of sheep and dairy farms, and on the west and north sides lies a broad belt of high and heathy moor. The soil is very various, in some places a rich black loam; limestone and sandstone are abundant, and the moors afford an almost inexhaustible supply of peat for fuel. The township consisted wholly of common until 1717, when the lands, comprising 1,900 acres, were inclosed: the village is on the north side of the river Wansbeck, which has its source in the parish, and is crossed here by a stone bridge built in 1819. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £7. 3. 4., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, with a net income of £288; the glebe contains 210 acres. The church, which is ancient, with a low tower, has undergone many repairs, and constitutes the remains of a much larger edifice. There is a place of worship for Presbyterians in connexion with the Church of Scotland; and a national school is supported. A spring here, the water of which is impregnated with sulphur, has been found efficacious in chronic disorders. In various parts of the parish are traces of circular and rectilinear earthworks, probably thrown up in the border wars, for the protection of cattle from the moss-troopers. Whelpington Tower, now the vicarage-house, was anciently fortified.