Kirkhaugh Parish, 1855

KIRKHAUGH PARISH

This parish occupies the south-western extremity of the county, and is bounded on the north and west by Knaresdale, on the south by the parish of Alston, in the adjoining county of Cumberland, and on the east by Whitfield. It comprises an area of 6,665 acres, the property of various owners, and its rateable value is £1,355 5s. The population in 1801, was 275 ; in 1811, 339; in 1821, 286; in 1831, 309; in 1841, 221; and in 1851, 285 souls. The manorial rights are vested in the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital. This is a mountainous district, and is intersected by the South Tyne, which rises near Alston, in Cumberland. About half a mile south-west of the parish church, on the farm called Castle Nook, is the site of a Roman station, supposed by some antiquarians to be the Alione of the Notitia, but subsequent inquiries have shown this supposition to be groundless. It occupies an irregular descent, inclining to the east, and its walls enclose an area of nearly nine acres. It is overlooked by hills on the west, where it is defended by ten breastworks and trenches, which have also flanked the north-west and south- west sides, two of them extending around the whole area of the station. Several "Roman Remains" have been found here. The MAIDEN WAY passes near the eastern wall of the station, which is now covered with irregular heaps of ruins.

THE PARISH CHURCH is a small unpretending edifice, situated on the east side of the South Tyne, two and a half miles north by west of Alston, and nine and a half miles south by west of Haltwhistle. The living is a discharged rectory in the arch deaconry of Northumberland and deanery of Hexham, valued in the Liber Regis at £4 7s. 8halfd. returned at £55, gross income, £70. It is in the patronage of Sanders, Esq., and incumbency of the Rev. Octavius James, M.A. The parish register commences in 1686. In connexion with the church is a day school, which was established in 1854.

CHARITIES. This parish possesses two charities, one amounting to £2 10s. per annum, left by some person unknown, for education; the other, amounting to £2 a year, by John Stephenson, in 1759, to be distributed annually amongst eight poor widows of the parish.

ALE is a hamlet in this township, situated one mile and a half east by south of Kirkhaugh Church. LIKTLEY is also a hamlet in this township, one mile east by south of the same place. WHITLOW is another hamlet two miles south-west of the parish church.