Rochester Township

ROCHESTER-WARD, a township, in the parish of Elsdon, union of Bellingham, S. division of Coquetdale ward, N. division of Northumberland, 12 miles (N.) from Bellingham; containing 437 inhabitants. This district is eleven miles in length, and about three in average breadth, and comprises by admeasurement 22,068 acres, of which about 213 are arable, 138 woodland, and the remainder pasture, whereon large flocks of excellent Cheviot sheep are kept. At Horsley, a mile to the east of Rochester, a chapel of ease has been erected, which will accommodate 182 persons; and at Byrness, in the township, near the extremity of the parish, is a small chapel with a separate endowment. There is a place of worship for Presbyterians. A village called High Rochester, situated on the brow of a rugged eminence, occupies the site of Bremenium, the strongest of the Roman stations in the north, and previously the chief fortification of the Ottadini. Portions of the walls on the west and south-west sides still remain; they were seven feet in thickness, chequered with ashlar-work, and defended by triple ramparts of earth. The hypocaust was in the north-eastern part of the walls, and the conduits leading to it were, a few years since, in a tolerably perfect state. Numerous altars, urns, and other relics, have been found; and in the neighbourhood are several rude sepulchral monuments of the ancient Britons, which prove that it must have been the scene of many sanguinary conflicts between the Ottadini and the Romans, before the conquest of the former.

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.

The 1860 Northumberland Farms Index (Northumberland archives), lists the following under the township of Rochester Ward: Back Of The Dour, Bagraw, Bellshield Burnfoot, High Bellshield, Low Bellshield, Bennetsfield, Birdhopecrag Hall, Birkhill, Bush, Byrness, Low Byrness, Catcleugh, Catcleugh Lodge, Cottonshope, Cottonshope Head, Cottonshopeburnfoot, Dudlees, Dykehead, Elishaw, Featherwood, Hillock, Hopesley House, Horsley, Horsley Cottage, Lumsdon, Mooredge House, Mount Hilly, Petty Knowes, Pity Me, Redesdale Cottage, Rochester, High Rochester, Silloans, Sills, Spithope Haugh, Spithope Head, Stewart Shield, Stobbs, Storage, Toft House, and Yatesfield,