Townships of Alnwick Parish, 1855

ALNWICK SOUTH SIDE is a township including the hamlets of Cauledge Park, Greensfield, Grumwells Park, Hobberlaw, Rugley, Shieldykes, and Snipe House. It comprises an area of 4,760 acres, the property of the Duke of Northumberland, who is also lord of the manor, and the number of its inhabitants in 1841, was 297; and in 1851, 278 souls. The various townships in Alnwick parish were included in one return, previous to the year 1841.

DIRECTORY. William R. Byram, farmer, West Cauledge Park ; Thomas Chrisp, Rugley ; Robert Henderson, farmer, Stoney Hills ; Henry Marsh, East Cauledge Park ; James Haggup, Shieldykes ; Thomas Laidler, St. Margaret's ; Thomas McLein, Snipe House ; Thomas Richardson, Cauledge Park; and Gilbert Turnbull, Freemen's Hill, farmers.

ABBEY LANDS is a township in this parish, the property of the Duke of Northumberland, and Mrs. Anne Hewitson, of Heckley House. Its area., inclusive of Canongate, is 3,536 acres, and its population in 1841, was 295; in 1851, 345 souls. This township comprises the hamlets of Broomhouse, Heckley, Heckley Farm, Heckley Grange, and Whitehouse. ALNWICK HIGH HOUSE is finely situated on a hill about a mile north of Alnwick, and commands beautiful views of the castle, the town, and the sea. ABBEY COTTAGE, the residence of Francis Holland, Esq., is delightfully situated on the north bank of the Aln. HECKLEY HOUSE occupies a fine situation two miles north of Alnwick.

DIRECTORY. Mrs. A. Fenwick, Heckley House; Mrs. Anne Hewitson, land proprietor, Heckley House ; Francis Holland, agent, Abbey Cottage; William Skelly, keeper of Alnwick Abbey ; W. G. Wilkinson, miller, Abbey Mills ; William Williams, gunner, Abbey Lodge ; and the farmers are Robert Clark, Broom House; and James Scott, High House.

CANONGATE is an adjoining township to Alnwick, of which town it forms a part. Its area is included with that of Abbey Lands township. Population in 1841, 572; and in 1851, 614 souls. For Directory see Alnwick.

DENWICK is a township and village in the above parish, but locally situated in the southern division of Bambrough Ward. It contains 1,550 acres, the property of the Duke of Northumberland, and its population in 1841, was 210; and in 1851, 181 souls. THE VILLAGE of Denwick is situated one mile east of Alnwick. It is a neat little place, the cottages being similar in construction, and ornamented in the front with palisades.

HULNE PARK is a township in this parish, extending from the north side of the town of Alnwick. Its area is returned with that of Abbey Lands and Canongate townships, and the number of its inhabitants in 1841, was 106; and in 1851, ll6 souls. This township includes the hamlets of Hulne Abbey, Friar's Buildings, and Park Farm, and is the property of the Duke of Northumberland. HULNE ABBEY, whose picturesque ruins are situated about three miles from Alnwick, was the parent house of the Carmelite Order in England. It was founded in 1240, by William de Vesci, Lord of Alnwick, and Richard Gray, who having returned from the Crusade, brought with them some members of the community of Mount Carmel, in Syria, and settled them in this place. William de Vesci granted to the monks twelve or thirteen acres of land, upon a portion of which the church and convent were erected. The community afterwards received many grants of property, with various privileges from the Percy family, and the convent continued to be one of the most famous till the period of the Dissolution; at which time its annual value, according to Fuller, was £194. 7s. The convent and adjoining grounds were granted to Sir Robert Ellerker, Knight, but we find them afterwards the property of the Earl of Northumberland, upon whose defection they were given to Sir John Forster, but subsequently became again the property of the family of the present proprietor, the Duke of Northumberland. Some portions of the building are now fitted up and inhabited by persons in the employment of his grace ; the other portions are planted with trees, which add much to the beauty of the locality.