Haltwhistle
|
HALTWHISTLE 3708 5643. Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 468). |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
Samantha Letters, Online Gazetteer of Markets and Fairs in England Wales to 1516 (http://www.history.ac.uk/cmh/gaz/ gazweb2.html): [Northumberland] (Centre for Metropolitan History, Institute of Historical Research). |
One of the original spellings of the town's name, Haut Whysile, means high boundary.
1178
The church was restored in 1870. The east window has three 13th century lancets.
1306
Edward I granted a charter to the town after his stay there on his way to fight the Scots.
1328
Petitioners: Abbot of Arbroath
Addressees: King and council
Places mentioned: Aberbrothoc (Arbroath), [Angus, Scotland]; Haltwhistle, [Northumberland]; Durham, [County Durham]; [Scotland]
Other people mentioned: The abbot of Arbroath, predecessor of the current abbot; [Edward II], King of England, father of the present king.
Nature of request: The abbot of Arbroath states that his church holds and has always held the church of Haltwhistle in the diocese of Durham, for their own use, and that when the war arose between the two countries, the then abbot went to Durham, and there spent the esplees of the church of Haltwhistle until he died, in the faith of the king of England. After his death, malicious persons told the father of the present king that he could present to that church; so he did, and his presentee still holds it. The abbot of Arbroath requests that the church be restored to his abbey, according to the form of the peace treaty between the two kings, and as his predecessor died in the king's faith, and no Scotsman afterwards had anything in that church that he could forfeit.
Endorsement: Certain people are to be appointed to inquire, in the presence of the current parson of the church, to be summoned to attend if he wishes, if the abbot or his predecessors held the said church before the war for their own use as is claimed etc., and from what time etc., and if the king presented to this church because of the war or for some other reason, and if for some other reason then for what reason etc.; and when the inquisition has been returned, justice is to be done.
[TNA SC 8/16/757]
1335
1353
Feb 22 John son of William de Hautwysill to William de Swynburn knight a certain annual rent of 6 marks of (?) silver paid from all his lands and tenements in Hautwysill, Heneshaulgh and Aldenyard within le Huntland of Tyndale, To hold to William and his heirs forever half at the feast of Pentecost and half at St. Martin in the winter. (Distraint clause.) Dated at----(stained and illegible) on Friday before the feast of ----(stained and illegible) Cathedra (?St. Peter in Antiocha in Cathedra) 1353. [NRO ZSW/1/67]
1373
Jan 20 Thomas de Musgrave, knight, to Thomas de Musgrave son of junior Thomas de Musgrave, knight, and Mary his wife daughter of Adam de Strothre, two parts of the manor of Hautwysell and Tollam wode within the liberty of Tyndale, together with the reversion of a third part of the manor which John de Whitfeld and Elizabeth his wife hold and with two sheilings and a moiety of one sheiling called Sundayburn and Rampeschaw and (...Lampard...) in dower of the said Elizabeth and passing to Thomas de Musgrave junior and his heirs male on her death, remainder to the heirs of Thomas de Musgrave senior. Witnesses: John de Screvelin, Adomar de Attwel, knights, John de Veteri Ponte, Hugh de Rodley, John de Thirlewall, Alan de Ballingham at Hautwaysell, Wednesday next after the feast of St. Hillary 1372. [NRO ZSW/2/36]
1598
1603
1607
1615
Presentment: John Noble f. of Fetherstone rawe, yeoman; Rynion Armstronge, alias Sowters Rynion of le eshes, yeoman; William Wilkeson of Morkley, yeoman; in 1e stacksteedes, Hatwizell pa., broke into a close of Thomas Bell of 1e parke and stole from him one "blacke stott" worth 40s. [NRO QSI/1, f154v (712)]
Presentment: Thomas Lee of Hollerhirst, yeoman; at Metcalfesfeild, Hatwizell pa., broke into a close of John Wannles of Allnwick and stole from him one black cow worth 40s., and one brown ox worth 40s. [NRO QSI/1, f160v (744)]
1658
1660
1735
Jan 22 Removal Order - Mary the widow of Richard Bell, and her four children Mary 10, John, Richard, and James all under 7, from "Farlaham" [Farlam] to Haltwhistle in Northumberland. Armorial seals Gilpin, Hutchinson; damaged. Dated 22 Jan. 1734[/5]. Confirmed. [CRO Carlisle Q/11/1/176/7 nbsp;[n.d.]]
1772
Midsummer
Abraham Yarnshaw of Haltwhistle, Joiner for Unlawfully recieving Mary Pringle into his cottage. [NRO QSI/343]
1773
Easter
Margaret Bucannan of Haltwhistle, Spinster for Larceny: 1 bedgown 1 apron, 1 handkerchief, (committed to house of correction for 1 month hard labour and to be privately whipped.) [NRO QSI/346]
Midsummer
Edward Snowdon of Haltwhistle, Yeoman for Assault upon Ann, Wife of Nicholas Stobbs.
Edward Snowdon of Haltwhistle, Yeoman for Assault upon Nicholas Stobbs.
Andrew Young of Haltwhistle, Yeoman for Assault upon Nicholas Stobbs.
Andrew Young of Haltwhistle, Yeoman for Aassault upon Anne wife of Nicholas Stobbs. [NRO QSI/347]
1787-1817
1788
Michaelmas
Joseph Saint of Haltwhistle, Dyer for Riot and assault at Haltwhistle upon William Brown
James Hardie of Mitford Mills, Husbandman for Riot and assault at Haltwhistle upon William Brown
Joseph Hardie of Haltwhistle, Husbandman for Riot and assault at Haltwhistle upon William Brown [NRO QSI/408]
1793-1819
1795
1795-1817
1798
Michaelmas
William Saint of Haltwhistle, Dyer for Assault upon William Carr.
Margery Saint of Haltwhistle, Dyer's wife for Assault upon William Carr.
Sarah Craig of Haltwhistle, Singlewoman for Assault upon William Carr. [NRO QSI/448]
1798-1819
1799
William Hankin
Born Halswistle, Northumberland
Served in 56th Foot Regiment
Discharged aged 31 after 5 years of service
[TNA WO 121/38/283 ]
1801-1814
1803-1819
1804-1827
1805-1823
1806-1816
1827 White's History, Directory & Gazetteer of Durham & Northumberland
|
Haltwhistle is a small market town, pleasantly situated on an eminence, on the north side of the South Tyne, in the extensive parish to which it gives name, in the est division of Tindale Ward, and in the Deanery of Corbridge; 15 miles W. of Hexham, 11 miles N. of Alston, and 315 NNW. of London. The parish is divided into thirteen townships, of which the following forms the enumeration, with the returns of the number of inhabitants and houses in 1801, 1811, and 1821, and the annual value of the lands and buildings in each township in 1809, as estimated by the commissioners for levying a rate for building the county courts and gaol at Newcastle: |
|
Haltwhistle (Parish.) |
Population | Annual | ||||
|
1801 Persons |
1811 Persons |
Houses |
1821 Families |
Persons |
Value. £ |
|
|
Bellester.................. |
88 191 239 |
90 205 238 |
23 45 51 |
24 46 52 |
118 231 247 |
812 1796 1946 |
| Total | 2930 | 3355 | 649 | 720 | 3583 | 19018* |
| * The total annual rent of the parish was estimated, in 1815, for the property tax at £23,709; the poor rates, in 1821, was amounted to £1595; and the yearly value of Haltwhistle township, in 1826, was £1760. |
|
This parish is about 12 miles in extent from east to west, and as much from north to south. It is bounded on the west by Cumberland, on the north by the wastes of North Tindale, on the east by the parishes of Wark, Simonburn, Warden, and Whitfield, and on the south by those of Kirkhaugh and Lamesley. It is intersected from Featherstone Castle to the mouth of the river Allen by the South Tyne, whose winding vale, for ten miles in extent, presents some of the most rich, beautiful and picturesque scenery in the north of England. The vale of the Tippal, extending from Glenwhelt to the Tyne, also affords several pleasing views, and the scenes on the Allen, though contracted, are peculiarly romantic, displaying many beautiful curvatures, formed by the winding stream, and bounded by rocks and hanging woods. Extensive moors constitute a great portion of this parish, and form a striking contrast with its rich haughs, and cultivated lands, the moors being uncommonly cold, naked, and cheerless. Haltwhistle was plundered by the Scotch outlaws in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, for which they received severe correction from the Lord Warden of the Middle Marches. There are here two turretted buildings; and at the east end of the town is an eminence, called Castle Banks, it is of an oval figure, with a fine spring in the centre. At the east and west ends four distinct terraces are raised one above another: the crown of the hill is defended by a breastwork of earth towards the town; and on the the south by an inaccessible prcipice, which rises abruptly from the river, and forms a sort of amphitheatre. Near to the river, and defended on three sides by steep rugged glens, is a place called Whitchester, where the Romans had a military post. Miss Elizabeth Cuthbertson, of Haltwhistle, is the Lady of the Manor. The town is but indifferently built; and the weekly market held in it, on Thursdays, has declined to a very low ebb; it has however two annual fairs, on the 14th of May and 22d of November, both of which are numerously attended and well supplied; the former with cattle, (chiefly cows), and the latter with fat cows and lean cattle for wintering. Hirings for Servants are held here twice a year, on the 12th of May, and 11th of November. The Parish Church is dedicated to the Holy Cross, and is delightfully situated on the south side of the town, where the churchyard forms a fine terrace, and commands a beautiful and varied prospect of the adjacent country. It is a very ancient structure, consisting of a nave, side aisles, and a chancel, neatly fitted up with oaken pews. Several of the Blenkinsops are interred here, and over one of their tombs the family arms, a large and well executed flowered crozier, a broken hilted sword, and a staff and scrip are sculptured in stone, indicating that the person over whose remains these decorations are placed, had honourably passed from a military to a religious life, and that he had made a pilgrimage. Here is also an altar-tomb, dated 1562, and commemorative of John Ridley, whose brother suffered martyrdom when Bishop of London. The possessions of the church were granted by royal charter, in 1383, top the priory of Tynemouth, and are at present are possessed by a number of laymen. The living is a vicarage, in the gift of the Bishop of Durham, and in the incumbency of the Rev. Nathaniel John Hollingsworth, A.M. The Rev. James Fox, A.B. is the curate. There are two Chapels of Ease in the parish, one of which is situated at Beltingham, in the township of Ridley, abnd the other at Greenhead, in Blenkinsop township. The Presbyterians have a chapel in Haltwhistle, where they appear to have had a congregation as early as 1745; their present meeting house was built in 1752, was enlarged in 1760, when the minister's house was built and a garden annexed. In 1799, the interest of £40 was bequeathed by William Appleby, for the augmentation of the salary of the minister, which office is at present filled by the Rev. James Stephenson. The Charity School, at Haltwhistle, was endowed in 1719, by the Right Honourable Dorothy Capell, Baroness Dowager of Tewksbury, &c., at the request of one of her domestics, named Featherstonehaugh, with the yearly sum of £35, payable out of the lands at Faversham, in Kent. About 80 years ago, the sum of £200 was raised by subscription for the better support of this school, but it has been lost owing to its being placed in insecure hands. Mr. Robert Skelton, the present master, receives £30 per annum, and a small quarterage from some of the scholars, of whom he has generally about 80 in the school. The Vicar of Haltwhistle allows £10 per annum to a schoolmater at Greenhead, who teaches the labourers' children at the rate of 3s. per quarter; and there are also in the town and parish several Sunday Schools, which afford instruction in the rudiments of learning to nearly 200 poor children. Nicholas Ridley, Esq. by his will, dated December 7th, 1710, gave 40s. a year to the poor of this parish, to be paid out of the little farm and tenement called Wagtail Hall: and in 1790, Mr. John Robson bequeathed £3 per annum for the same charitable purpose. The latter legacy is now secured upon the vicarial tithes. There is a good bridge of wood over the South Tyne at Haltwhistle, where it was erected in 1826, at the cost of £700; and a stone bridge crosses the river at Featherstone, about three miles above the town. The Castles of Bellester, Blenkinsop, and Willimoteswick, together with Wall-Town, (through which passed the great Roman wall,) will all be described, with the rest of this interesting parish, in the second volume, together with the celebrated Spa of Gilsland, which is pleasantly situated on the confines of Cumberland, and on the west bank of the river Irthing, about six miles WNW. of Haltwhistle |
| DIRECTORY. |
| POST-OFFICE, Market-Place; Miss Elizabeth Cicely Lamb, Postmistress. |
|
Letters from Hexham, arr. 10 min. bf. 12 at noon; and are despatched at 10 morning. Letters from Brampton, arr. at 10 mng.; and are despatched at 10 min. bf 12 noon. |
| Miscellany--Consisting of the Name of the Inhabitants not arranged in the List of Professions and Trades, with the Names of the Gentry and Clergy. |
|
Armstrong James, yeoman Bell Thos. & Co. flannel, &c. manufacturers Benson Rev. Francis, A.M. curate of Haltwhistle Carr John, yeoman Coulson John Blenkinsopp. Esq., Lieut.-Colonel of the Northumberland militia, and Deputy-lieutenant of the county, Blenkinsopp Hall Crew William, butcher Cuthbertson Miss Elizabeth |
Dawson Mrs. Barbara Fox Rev. James, A.B. curate of Haltwhistle French John & Co. brewers and maltsters Hollingsworth Rev. Nathanial John, A.M. Vicar of Haltwhistle, Vicarage house Jackson Mrs. Margaret Lowes John, Esq., Alland's green Lowes John, saddler Maughan Mrs. Elizabeth |
Nanney Lewis, gentleman Ritson Joseph, parish clerk Saint Wm. dyer & bleacher Scaife William, gentleman Scott Henry, wine & spirit merchant Snaith Christoher, gent. Stephenson Rev. Jas. Presbyterian minister Walton John, sen. hay-rake maker Walton John, jun. hay-rake maker Wood Thos. wheelwright |
| LIST OF INHABITANTS--Arranged according to their Professions and Trades. |
|
ACADEMIES. Lee John Scott WIlliam Skelton Robert, (free school) BLACKSMITHS. Jackson Francis |
Jackson Henry Thirlwell John BOOT & SHOEMKRS. Brown John Carr George Hunter Robert Musgrave Simon |
CLOGGERS. Dobinson Robert Robson Edward Scott Thomas Whitfield Joseph COOPERS. Pearson George |
Walker Michael CORN MILLERS. Snowdon Thomas, Manor mill Wilkinson John, Wall mill |
|
FARMERS. Armstrong James, East Calf fields Armstrong Geo. Fell end Bell Isabella, Harding hill Heslop Thomas, High Cross bank Kettlewell John, Ditchfield gate Makepeace John, Lees hall Pattison John, Spittle Pratt, Wm. Comb hill Robson Matt. Oakey know Robson, West Calf fields Robson Wm. Comb hill |
Telford Thomas, Fell house Thirlwell Joseph, Comb hill Wallace Matthew, Comb hill GROCERS & DRAPERS Marked * are Grocers only; and thus + Linen & Woolen Drapers. Bell Robert, (&druggist and tallow chandler) *Birkett John *Blenkinsop Eleanor Brown John Liddle Ann +Magden Willaim Patterson Jas. (& gardener) |
Patterson Ann Ritson Joseph *Robinson Elizabeth +Smith John, (and ironmonger) Storey Edward Tweddell Edward Walker Michael HOTELS & PUBLIC HOUSES. Board, Ann Armstrong Board, William Cowne Griffin, Ann Bell Red Lion Inn, (posting-house & excise-office) Jas. Smith Sun Inn, (& posting-house) Robert Bousfield |
|
JOINERS & CABINET MAKERS. Glenwright John Liddle George Snowdon Thomas Winter John MILLINERS, &c. Ainsley Ann |
Bell Elizabeth Brown Jane & Margt French Ann Saint Mary STONE MASONS. Brown Joseph Graham John Saint John |
SURGEONS. Ellio Robert Smith William TAILORS. Birkett Joseph Birkett Miles Ridley Edward Ridley John |
Storey Edward Tallentire George Welton Mark WEAVERS & LINEN MANUFACTURERS Ritson John Ritson Joseph Storey William |
1839 "The Penny Cyclopedia" by The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.
Haltwhistle, is in the west division of Tindale ward 285 miles from London. The parish contains 52,930 acres, and is divided into thirteen townships. The population of the whole parish, in 1831, was 4,119 ; that of Haltwhistle township, 1,018. The town is on an eminence on the northern bank of the South Tyne, and consists of one principal street, running east and west along the road from Newcastle by Hexham to Carlisle, and of some smaller streets ; the streets are neither paved nor lighted. The Haltwhistle Burn, a small stream from the north, passes the east end of the town in its course to the Tyne. The houses are poor and irregularly built. At the east end of the town is an eminence, called the Castle Banks, on which are some rude fortifications of earth of unascertained origin.
The only manufacture carried on is that of baize. There are a small market on Thursday, and two yearly fairs, chiefly for cattle. There are many coal-pits in the parish, in which 100 men are employed, besides boys. The living is a vicarage, of the clear yearly value of £593, with a glebe-house. There were in Haltwhistle township, in 1833, one endowed and three other day-schools, with 183 children, and one Sunday-school, with 143 children. In the rest of the parish there were eight day-schools, with 215 children, and three Sunday-schools, with 164 children.Sketch map and papers relating to Regina v James Sharp, labourer of Wetheral re: rape of Mary Ann Brown, wife of Thomas Brown, blacksmith of Haltwhistle [CRO Carlisle DHOD/13/172]
1913 "Northumberland Yesterday and To-day" by Jean F. Terry, L.L.A. (St. Andrews)
Haltwhistle is a little straggling town lying on both sides of the main road above the South Tyne, where it is joined by the Haltwhistle Burn. By going up the valley of this pretty little stream we shall arrive near the Roman station of AEsica, on the Wall. The town of Haltwhistle is peaceful enough now, but it had a stirring existence in the days when Ridleys, Armstrongs, and Charltons, to say nothing of the men of Liddesdale and Teviotdale, had so strong a partiality for a neighbour's live-stock and so ready a hand with arrow and spear. In the old ballad of "The Fray of Hautwessel," we are told that
"The limmer thieves o' Liddesdale Wadna leave a kye in the haill countrie, But an3 we gi'e them the cauld steel, Our gear they'll reive it a' awaye, Sae pert they stealis, I you saye. O' late they came to Hautwessel, And thowt they there wad drive a fray. But Alec Ridley shot too well." [Footnote 3: But an = unless.]
The most notable feature of present-day Haltwhistle is the finely placed parish church, of which the chancel is the oldest part, having been built in the twelfth century, so that it was already an old church when Edward I. rested here for a night in 1306, on his way to Scotland for the last time. When William the Lion of Scotland returned from his captivity, after being taken prisoner at Alnwick in 1174, he founded the monastery of Arbroath in thanksgiving for his freedom, and bestowed on the monks the church of Haltwhistle.
All that remains of the old Castle, or "Haut-wysill Tower," is the building standing near the Castle Hill, which latter has been fortified by earthworks. The Red Lion Hotel is a modernised pele-tower. The general aspect of the place is singularly bare and bleak; but from several points in the town, notably from the churchyard terrace, fine views of the river valley may be obtained.
Here is a link to the Parish Registers (under construction).
Church in Haltwhistle ©