Beltingham
Saint Cuthbert's: Built in the late 15th century, extended in the 17th century and restored in 1884. In 1835, two Roman altars were found supporting the churchyard cross, both are now in the Society of Antiquaries Museum, Newcastle.
1910
Beltingham, Willimoteswyke and Ridley is an ecclesiastical parish, formed in May, 1890, out of the parish of Haltwhistle, and comprises the townships of Ridley, Thorngrafton and part of Henshaw,in the Hexham division of the county, west division of Tindale ward, Haltwhistle union, Petty sessional division and county court district, Rural deanery of Hexham, archdeaconry of Northumberland and diocese of Newcastle.
The church of St. Cuthbert is an ancient edifice of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, north vestry and a western turret containing one bell the stained east window was erected in 1891 as a memorial to Nicholas Lowes, of Allen's Green, d. April 17, 1880: in the church are marble tablets to the Rev. Francis Benson, first incumbent of Beltingham and Greenhead chapels, d. 21 April, 1845, and to the Rev. Anthony Hedley M.A. d. 17 Jan. 1835, and there are memorial. to members of the Davidson and Lowes families, the wife of the Rev. William Ives, d. 1840, and to George Ridley, d. 1828: Mrs. Tarleton, presented a new oak lectern in 1896, in memory of her father, The Rev. George Cruddas, vicar of Warden and rural dean of Hexham, d. Feb. 12,1895 the church was thoroughly restored and reseated in oak and additions made to the churchyard, at a cost of £1,400: an organ was presented in 1904 by the Dowager Countess of Crawford: there are 120 sittings: at the east end of the church is the shaft of an ancient cross, and in the churchyard are three yew trees of great age and in a good state of preservation & The Hon. F. Bowes Lyon, of Ridley Hall, erected Lichgate in 1904. The register dates from the year 1881.
The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £240, with Residence, in the gift of the vicar of Haltwhistle, and held since 1901 by the Rev. Henry Christian Newbery M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge.
The population of the ecclesiastical Parish in 1901 was 1,022.
Wall Letter Box, Beltingham, cleared at 2 p.m. weekdays only
Bowden Thos. Geo. Beltingham house
Newbery Rev. Henry Christian M.A. Vicarage
Wallace Edward, joiner
Wallace Thomas, wheelwright
RIDLEY is a township, which embraces the small hamlets of Allens Green, Beltingham, Willimoteswyke and a number of scattered farms, near the south bank of the Tyne, here crossed by a stone bridge of two arches, erected in 1792. It is 1 mile south-east from Bardon Mill station on the Newcastle and Carlisle section of the North Eastern railway and 6 east from Haltwhistle, and for ecclesiastical purposes it forms a part of the parish of Beltingham with Henshaw. Ridley Hall, originally built about the year 1743, on the site of a much older house, came at a later date into the possession of John Davidson esq. and after his death was for many years the residence of his widow, Mrs. Davidson, granddaughter of John, 9th earl of Strathmore, who left it to John Bowes esq. of Streatlam Castle, Darlington, for his life, with reversion to the Bowes-Lyon family, and since 1887 it has been the property and residence of the Hon. Francis Bowes Lyon D.L., J.P. who has rebuilt the greater portion with local stone in the Jacobean style: the mansion, approached by a winding drive, is beautifully situated on the South side of the valley of the river Tyne, and the Allen a feeder of the Tyne, runs through the park of the ancient structure portion of the west end, used as offices, kitchens and stables, is all that now remains: the principal entrance is surmounted by the arms of the Bowes-Lyon family, and over the doorway of a large octagonal tower on the south-west, are carved initials and the date 1891, when the house was rebuilt: another carved shield bears the arms of Lyon quartering those of Lindsay: the principal staircase is of carved oak on the ground floor are reception, drawing, dining and billiard rooms, the two latter being paneled with oak in the Jacobean style, and in the billiard room is a fine carved mantelpiece of the 17th century, brought from Mottisfont Abbey, Hampshire, by the present owner; the house and stables are supplied with electric light: the ornamental grounds and the park extend over 300 acres. The principal landowners are Sir Hugh D. Blackett bart. of Matfen Hall, Newcastle, who is lord of the manor, the& Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon and John Burkill Lowes esq. of Allen's Green. The area is 3,720 acres of land and 53 of water; rateable value, £3,101 the population in 1901 was 205.
Bowes-Lyon Bon. Francis D.L., J.P Ridley hall
Lowes John Burkill J.P. Allen's Green
Armstrong William & George, Highcrook & Burnhouse
Black David, gardener to the Hon Francis Bowes-Lyon
Bushby Thomas, farmer, The Steels ,
Davison Thomas. & Son, farmers, Wool house
Dodd Edward, hind to John B. Lowes esq. Allan's Green
Furlong Frederick, farm bailiff to the Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon
Maughan John, farmer, Midgewham
Nicholson Richard, gamekeeper to the Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon
Ritson James, farmer, Kingswood
Ritson Thomas, farmer, Partridge nest
Spraggo Benjamin farmer. Willimoteswyke
Usher George, farmer, Brierwood
Usher Matthew, farmer, Shaws
ALLEN'S GREEN hamlet and estate belongs to J. B. Lowes esq. J.P.
WILLIMOTESWYKE is a hamlet, owned by Sir Hugh D. Blackett Bart. Here are extensive remains of the ancient castle, formerly the seat of the Ridley family, part of which is at present occupied as farm building~. Nicholas Ridley D.D. master of Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1550, and successively Bishop of Rochester (1547-50) and London (1550-3), is said to have been born here or at Unthank, about 1500; he was martyred at Oxford, with Cranmer and Latimer, 16th October, 1555.
On the same side of the Tyne is Beltingham Church, with some wonderful old trees in the churchyard, and Ridley Hall, which takes its name from that family, although not now occupied by them. Here the Allen flows into the South Tyne, and nowhere in the whole of the county is there a more beautiful and romantic scene. By the side of the stream the Ridley woods stretch for a mile or two, and the delightful mingling of graceful ferns, overhanging trees, tall, rugged cliffs, flowering plants, and sparkling waters forms a succession of lovely scenes throughout their length, which, with the play of lights and shadows on the dimpled surface of the stream, and frequent glimpses of grassy glades and cool green alleys, make a walk through these enchanting woods an unforgettable delight.
Entrance to Saint Cuthbert's ©
Memorial to Joseph Dickinson, son of William Dickinson and Jane Lowes ©
