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St John Lee Parish, 1855


Extract from: History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland...Whellan, William, & Co, 1855.

ST. JOHN LEE PARISH

 

ST. JOHN LEE is a parish, comprising the townships of Acomb (west), Anick, Anick Grange, Bingfield, Cocklaw, Fallowfield, Hallington, Portgate, Sandhoe, and Wall. It is bounded by the parishes of Thockrington, Chollerton, Simonburn, Warden, Hexham, Stamfordham, and Corbridge, and forms part of the liberty of Hexhamshire. It is about seven miles in length, by four in breadth, and comprises an area of 15,090 acres. Population in 1801, 1,802; in 1811, 1,910; in 1821, 1,952; in 1831, 1,962; in 1841, 1,947; and in 1851, 2,073 souls. The soil of this parish is very rich, and the surface both varied and beautiful. Coal and lead are found in large quantities, and the district is well watered by the Northern branch of the Tyne, and intersected by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.

 

ACOMB (WEST) is a township and large straggling village, the property of Thomas Butler, Esq., of Brunton, Simon Mewburn, Esq., of Aeomb, Rowland Errington, Esq., of Sandhoe, and Thomas Dodd, Esq., of Riding. The township contains 2,745 acres of land, and its rateable value is £3,618. The number of inhabitants in 1801 was 532; in 1811, 529; in 1821, 533; in 1831, 523; in 1841, 571; and in 1851, 635 souls. This manor was formerly the property of the priors of Hexham, and a favourite retreat of St. John of Beverley. On the dissolution of the priory it became Crown property, and we find it, in 1724, possessed by the Coatsworth family, from whom it passed in 1754, to James Jurin, Esq., who died in 1762. It was for many years the seat and property of John Hunter, but is now possessed by the gentlemen above- mentioned. ST. JOHN LEE CHURCH is situated on a bold and woody headland, on the north side of the Tyne, in this township, one mile north of Hexham, It is a small but ancient structure, dedicated to St. John, of Beverley, and though it has been many times repaired, still it has no pretensions to architectural elegance. The living, a perpetual curacy, with the curacies of St. Mary's and St. Oswald's, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland and deanery of Hexham, is valued in the Liber Regis at £6 13s. 4d.; gross income £301. Patron, T. W. Beaumont, Esq. ; incumbent, the Rev. Charles tee, M.A. The parish register commences in 1664. THE VILLAGE of West Acomb is situated on the southern declivity of an eminence one mile and three quarters north of Hexham. Here is a school, which is supported by subscriptions, aided by a grant from the Committee of Council on Education. Mr. William Green, teacher. In the neighbourhood of the village is a good cornmill, worked by Mr. Lewis Hetherington.

CHARITIES. Ursula Mountney, in 1680, left a rent charge of £2 10s. per annum, to the poor of this parish; and Robert Andrews in 1764, bequeathed a rent charge of £1 10s. yearly, to the poor not receiving relief, or such as should be in sickness in particular parts of the parish. M Vernol, in 1771, left a rent charge amounting to £10 per annum, for St. John Lee Parish School.

DIRECTORY

POST OFFICE, ACOMB, Robert Robson, postmaster. Letters are received here and despatched to Hexham, at 5 p.m.

ACOMB COLLIERY, Smith, Stobart, ans Co.,owners

Allsopp Edward, beerhouse

Dodd Thomas, Esq., Riding

Errirtgton George, blacksmith

Finlay Robert, vict. Royal Arms Inn

Henderson George, agent

Kilvington Wm. police constable

Hemsley William, registrar of births and deaths, and relieving officer for Chollerton district

Leonard William, Cartwright

Mewburn Simon, Esq.

Ridley Mr. Richard

Stobart Smith, coalowner

Temperley Elizabeth, beerhouse

 

Academies and Schools

Dale Mary

Green Wm. Acomb School

Rewcastle Elizabeth

 

Boot and Shoetnakers

Dunn James

Rutherford John

Smith Edward

 

Com Miller

Hetherington Lewis, Acomb Mill

 

Farmers

Bell Robert, New Rifft

Bulman Jacob, West Oak Wood

Carr Thomas

Chatt Joseph, Salmon's Well

Cook Wm. and auctioneer, Old Bridge End

Green Richard, East Oak Wood

Heslop Charles, Garden House

Hutchinson Joseph, Acomb High Barns

Jewett Head

Ridley Richard

Todd William, Riding

Watson Jane, Broom Park

Weddle John, Halfway House

 

Joiners

Hedley John

Robson Robert, and cabinet maker

 

Shopkeepers

Armstrong Dorothy

Little John

Hemsley Jane

Hutchinson William

Rutherford Thomas

Stokue Carrick

 

Taylors

Fergusson Matthew

Hutchinson John

Carrier - John Little; to Neweastle on Saturdays, and Hexham on Tuesdays.

 

 

ANICK is a township and village, comprising 451 acres, the property of several owners, and its rateable value is £1,045. The population in 1801, was 161; in 1811, 169; in 1821, 166; in 1831, 163; in 1841, 146; and in 1851, 148 souls, At Hexham Bridge End, a hamlet in this township, there is an extensive brewery, for which Mr. Thomas Loraine is agent. THE VILLAGE of Anick is pleasantly situated one mile and a half E.N.E. of Hexham.

Ainsley John, gamekeeper

Bain Rev. J. F, curate

Bell Wilson, blacksmith, Hexham Bridge End

Dolman Mr. William

Elstob, Donldn, & Co., brewers, Hexham

Bridge End

Forster John, shoemaker

Forster Thomas, stonemason

Wilson Matthew, beerhouse keeper

Loraine Thomas, agent, Hexham Bridge End Brewery

 

Farmers

Armstrong John, Hexham Bridge End

Crawford John and Thomas

Forster Joseph

Green Richard

Pringle William

Robson John

 

ANICK GRANGE township is situated one mile and a half east by north of Hexham, and its area, including that of Fallowfield, and Hallington townships, amounts to 2,220 acres. The number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 30; in 1811, 35; in 1821, 43; in 1831, 26; in 1841, 40; and in 1851, 40 souls. The rateable value is £700. It is the property of W.B. Beaumont, Esq., and is occupied by Mr. William Brown.

 

BINGFIELD is a chapelry, township, and hamlet, the property of William H. Clarke, Esq., and others. The township comprises an area of 2,047 acres, and its rateable value is £1,814. Population in 1801, 91; in 1811, 109; in 1821, 111; in 1831, 98; in 1841, 111; and in 1851, 125 souls. There is a mineral spring in this township, in which it is said neither fish nor worms can exist. At Erring Bridge, in this township, there is a day school with an endowment of £10 per annum, for which ten poor children are instructed without payment. Thomas Stokoe, teacher. THE HAMLET or Bingfield is situated on an eminence six and a half miles N.N.E. of Hexham. Here is a Chapel of Ease under the parish church of St. John Lee, with which the living is united. It is dedicated to St. Mary. DIRECTORY. Thomas Carr, shopkeeper; Thomas Hall, tile layer; Thomas Stokoe, schoolmaster, Erring Bridge End; and the farmers are William Coulson, Grindstone Law  William Potts, Robert Robson, John Hobson, Toddridge; Thomas Scott, and George Stevenson.

 

COCKLAW is a township and village in this parish, the property of Rowland Errington, Esq., of Sandhoe. The township contains 3,666 acres, and its rateable value is £3,246. The number of inhabitants in 1801, was 183; in 1811, 197; in 1821, 199; in 1831, 188; in 1841, 172; and in 1851, 183 souls. THE VILLAGE of Cocklaw is five and a half miles north of Hex-ham, and contains considerable remains of Cocklaw Tower, the principal seat of the Erringtons, from 1372 to 1567. ERRINGTON is a hamlet in this township, five miles north by east of Hexham.

Marshall William, innkeeper, and agricultural implement maker, Three Horse Shoes Inn, Erriqgton

Saint John and Joseph Pearson, dyers, etc. Cocklaw Factory

 

Farmers

Armstrong Alexander, Errington  

Bates George, Groatington

Charlton John, St. Oswald's Hill Head

Ord Thomas, Bew Clay

Ridley l\latthew, Keepwick

Rowell J.

Wilkinson Ellen, Errington Hill Head

Wilkinson Joseph, sen., East Cocklaw

Wilkinson Joseph, jun., West Cocklaw

 

FALLOWFIELD is a township and hamlet, consisting of one farm, in the occupation of Robert and Mark Benson, and the property of Sir Edward Blackett, Bart., of Matfen. The rateable Yalue is £820, and the population in 1801, was 94; in 1811, -; in 1821, 93; in 1831, 70; in 1841, 74; and in 1851, 50 souls. At a short distance south of the Roman Wall, in this township, is a long range of rocks, one of which, called Written Cragg, has inscribed upon it in deep and legible characters, " PETRA. FLAVI CARANTINI" the Crag of Flavius Carantinus. This inscription was first noticed in the Archaeologia Eliana, but no historical inference can be drawn from it. THE HAMLET of Fallowfield, situated three and a half miles north by west of Hexham, consists of a small cluster of cottages inhabited by the workpeople employed in the coal and lead mines in this township. The principal inhabitants are Robert and Mark Benson, farmers.

 

HALLINGTON is a township and hamlet, the property of Rowland Errington, Esq., of Sandhoe, and J. Atkinson, Esq., of Newbiggin. The area of the township is returned with that of Anick Grange, and its rateable value is £1,208. Population in 1801, 128; in 1811, 144; in 1821, 129; in 1831, 120; in 1841, 105; and in 1851, 106. This was formerly a manor belonging to the priors of Hexham. Here is an eminence, called the Mote Law, having a square entrenchment upon it, where fires were kindled to alarm the country, in time of war or invasion.

Davison Ralph, butcher

Dobson Edward, schoolmaster

Hall Alexander, shopkeeper

Leadhitter Tbomas, shoemaker 

Marshall Bennett, boot and shoemaker, and shopkeeper

MarshallHenry, beerbouse and shopkeeper 

Marshall John P. corn miller and farmer 

Robson William, tailor

Stappard Christopher, shopkeeper

 

Farmers

Baty Mary, Hallington North Farm

Dobson Joseph, Hallington South Farm

Dobson Thomas, Hallington New Houses

Lamb John, Cheviot

Ward Tom, Hallington High Farm

CARRIER.-George Hardwick, to Newcastle, on Saturdays

 

PORTGATE township is situated three and a half miles north by west of Corbridge, and contains 690 acres of land, the rateable value of which is £585. The number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 29; in 1811, 29; in 1821, 33; in 1831, 29: in 1841, 18; and in 1851, 32 souls. Rowland Errington, Esq. is lord of the manor and owner of the soil. This township is said to derive its name from affording a passage through the great Roman Wall, near to where the Devil's Causeway branches from the Watling-street. The site of the wall and fosse has, at this place, been levelled and cultivated. Here is a coal mine, the shaft of which was sunk in 1849. It is worked by Mr. Thomas Hall, who is now (1854), sinking another shaft in this township. This mine produces coals of excellent quality. The principal resident is Charlton Todd, farmer, Portgate House.

 

SANDHOE is a township and pleasant village, the property of Rowland Errington, Esq., William Cuthbert, Esq., Mrs. Crawhall, and others. The township contains 1,648 acres, and its rateable value is £1,922. The population in 1801, was 198; in 1811, 199; in 1821, 180 ; in 1831, 240; in 1841, 273; and in 1851, 280s souls. THE VILLAGE of Sandhoe is two miles north-west of Corbridge. BEAUFRONT, a little to the south-west of the village, is the seat of William Cuthbert, Esq., J.P. It is a magnificent mansion, and when viewed either from Hexham or Corbridge, has a noble appearance, having long and elegant fronts surmounted by figures representing the various heathen deities. The lawn, plantations, and gardens are very extensive, ancl are said to have cost, in improvements alone, upwards of £20,000. This estate was anciently possessed by the Carnabies, from whom it passed to the Erringtons, coming ultimately to the present proprietor. SANDHOE HOUSE, the seat of Rowland Errington, Esq., J.P., and STAGSHAWE HOUSE, the residence of Mrs. Mary Crawhall, are also very elegant structures. STAGSHAWE BANK is partly in this township, and partly in that of Corbridge. On this extensive common fairs are held twice a year, the first for the sale of horses, horned cattle, etc., takes place on the Saturday preceding Whitsunday. The second, which is a pleasure fair, takes place on the 3rd and 4th of July. There are also two "Wiste" fairs held on the 5th of August and the 24th of October,- the first for the sale of lambs, and the last for the sale of ewes. At one extremity of Stagshawe Bank, at a place called the Fences, near Halton Castle, are the kennels of the Tindale Hounds, the property of the leading sporting gentlemen of the county. Major Bell is master, and William Nevard huntsman. WOODHEAD is a hamlet on the Beaufront estate, two miles north-east by east of Hexham.

Crawhall Mrs. Mary, Stagshawe House

Cuthbert Wm. Esq., J.P., Beaufront House

Errington Rowland, Esq. J.P., Sandhoe House

Donkin Miss Mary

Forster John, shoemaker

Forster John P. shopkeeper

Goodrick William, land agent

Hindmarsh Robert, gardener

Snowball John, builder

Wilson Robert, shoemaker

 

Farmers

Herdman Elizabeth, Stagshawe Bank

Leadbitter William

Rowell Robert, Black Hill

Stepbenson John, Beaufront Red House

Tweddle Elijah, Hollin Hall

 

WALL ls a township and pleasant village, the property of Thomas Butler, Esq., and the Messrs. Clayton of Chesters Hall. The township comprises an area of 1,623 acres, and its rateable value is £2,161. The population in 1801; was 356; in 1811 -; in 1821, 465; in 1831, 495; in 1841, 437, and in 1851, 474 souls. W.B. Beaumont, Esq., is lord of the manor. Here is an excellent freestone quarry, the products of which are in great request for building and other purposes. It is worked by Mr. Thomas Hall. THE VILLAGE of Wall is situated on the Alnwick-road, about four miles north by west of Hexham. In its vicinity stands a Chapel of Ease, dedicated to St. Oswald, who, when about to attack the Britons; under their perfidious kingt Ceadwalla, ordered a cross of wood to be formed, and fixed on the site now occupied by the sacred edifice, when, turning to his army, he exclaimed, "Soldiers, let us bend our knees, and beg of the true and living God to pro-tect us from the insolence and ferocity of our enemies, for he knows that out cause is just, and that we fight for the salvation of our country." At his command they knelt down to pray, from prayer they rose to battle, and victory was the reward of their piety and valour. Ceadwalla was slain, and his invincible army was annihilated. In memory of this event the monks of Hexham raised a chapel upon the spot which the cross had occupied. Many relics of ahtiquity have been found, at different periods, in this neighbourhood.

POST OFFICE, WALL.-Thomas Scott, postmaster. Letters arrive from Gunnerton, at 8-30 a.m., and from Hexham at 3-30 p.m.; they are despatched to Hexham at 9-30 a.m., and to Gunnerton at 3-30 p.m.

Charlton Robert, nursery and seedsman

Elliot M. tailor and draper

Elliot Robert, schoolmaster

Fisher John, agent

Fisher Robert, land steward

Hall Thomas, coal owner & farmer, Wall Fell, or Castle House

Herdman Cuthbert, cartwright

Herdrnan Catharine, schoolmistress

Hill Edward, btltcher

Hill John, coal owner

Kell Edward1 Esq., Codlaw Hill

Laing Edward, tailor

Lee Rev. Charles, M.A. vicar, Brunton House

Proudlock John, joiner & cabinet tbaker

Robson Thomas, jobber

Rowell Thomas, corn miller

Rutherford John, joiner and ca.rtwrigbt

Rutherford J oseph, stoneqnarry manager

Stobbart Thomas, tailor

Urwin Richard, blacksmith

Wilkinson Edward, blacksmith



Boot and Shoemakers

Heslop George

Sewell William

Wilson Thomas

 

Farmers

Armstrong James, Codlaw Hill

Burn Joseph, Green Field

Davison John, Codlaw Dean

Johnson Anthony &William, Plane Trees

Jameson Robert, Wall FeU

Johnson John, Wall Fell

Johnson John, Wall West Farm

Shankfl Ralph, and corn miller, Low Brunton

Walker Williatn, West Dunkirk

Wilson Henry, Dunkirk

Woodman John, Wall Town Farm

 

Shopkeepers

Ayson Mary

Errington Robert

Herdman James

Hill Isabella

Scott Mitichael

Tailford John

 

Taverns

Bay Horse, John Wilkinson

Smiths' Arms, John Rowel!

St John Lee Anick Acomb Tindale Ward, 1855 Anick Grange Northumberland Parishes and Townships - 1855

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