Thorngrafton

1584-1630
Aug 18 (no regnal year given)  Presentment: Edward Blackburne alias Eddy of Righead, Co. Cumberland, yeoman; broke into and burgled the dwelling of Nicholas Malleburne at Thornegrafton and stole from him 40 oxen of v.c. worth 40s. each, three cows of v.c. worth 40s. each and two heifers worth 30s. each.. [NRO QSI/1, f11r (68)]

1601
Dec 1  Indictment: Christopher Armstrong of Howse Steades, yeoman. Anthony Armstrong of Thornegrafton, yeoman; Edward Armstrong of Overhall, yeoman; Christopher Armstrong of Howse Steades, yeoman; Rinian Armstrong, alias Andrew's Rynian, alias John Armstrong of Howse Steads, Co. Cumberland, yeoman. Clement Heddrington of Plencrosset, Co. Cumberland, yeoman; at Thornegrafton broke into and burgled the dwelling of Anne Tayler, spinster, and stole from her 12 ewes worth 5s. each and eight hogs worth 3s. each, the property of Edward Foster. [NRO QSI/1, f13v (81)]

1606
Presentment: George Forster and James Forster f. of Drynnell dykes, yeomen; Quintin Sowerby of Slerbecke, Co. Cumberland; at Cockton, stole three "black and brockt" bullocks worth 20s., each from Bartram Barrowe of Thornegrafton, yeoman.. [NRO QSI/1, f71v (378)]

1806
April 08   Will of Nicholas Crawhall of Thorngrafton in the parish of Haltwhistle, Northumberland [TNA IR 26/325 available online]

1910

Thorngrafton is a township forming part of the ecclesiastical parish of Beltingham-with-Henshaw, on the north bank of the river Tyne, 1 mile north from Bardon Mill station on the Newcastle and Carlisle section of the North Eastern railway and 5 miles east from Haltwhistle. In this township is a colliery and sand and ironstone quarries. In the neighbourhood are the remains of several Roman stations, including, Housesteads, in this parish, the well-known station Borcovicus, regarded as the most perfect on the wall; it is situated on a basaltic precipice facing the north, and on the southern slope may be traced, both above and below the surface; the massive remains of a large Romano-British town, which grew up under the protection of the fortress: a quarter of a mile south, but within the limits of the town, is a conical hill, or knoll, known as " Chapel hill," on the crest of which are traces of a building, perhaps a temple; on the west side there runs a clear stream, and by its side, in 1821, was discovered a cave containing altars to Mithras, the Persian sun-god, and other emblems of that worship: on the site, in Nov. 1883, were found two altars to Mars Thincsus, and the two Alaesiaeae, Beda and Fiminilena, and to the divinity of the Augusi, dedicated by German and Frisian mercenaries : there was also met with a semicircular carved stone, with figures of Mars attended by Victuries bearing palms and wreaths. A bronze purse was found here containing sixty coins of Hadrian (A.D. 117-138), and many other Roman remains have been discovered.

The Duke of Northumberland K.G. P.C. and Sir Hugh D. Blackett Bart. Are lords of the manor? The principal landowners are Sir Hugh D. Blackett Bart. the Hon. Francis Bowes- Lyon and Mrs. Clayton, of The Chesters, Hexham. The soil chiefly is sand and lime. The area is 4,346 acres of land and 176 of water; rateable value, £3,928; the population in 1901 was 296.

Cook William, Birkshaw
Robson Mrs. Herbley strand
'Rowell Mrs. West End town
Sharpley Edward Burgess

Commercial
Brown Philip, farmer
Clark Elizabeth (Mrs.), farmer
Dodds Luke, miller (water), Crow Hall mill
Harding Geo. farmer, West End town
Harding Jn.William.farmer, Chesterholm
Herdman Henry, farmer, West Beggar bog
Muirdaw Robert, farmer, Morwood
Nicholson Dickinson, farmer, Birkshaw
Oliver Jas. Dunn, farmer, Birkshaw
Pattinson Joseph, farmer, Hotbank
Pearson Mary (Miss), shopkeeper
Sharpe James William, colliery owner, Barcombes
Tweddle Thomas. farmer, Crindledykes
Usher John & George, farmers, High meadow
Usher Jane (Mrs.) farmer, Whitshield
Veitch Robert, farmer, East Hotbank
Waters Thomas, farmer,West Hotbank
Woodman Ralph, farmer, Crow hall
Teats William, farmer, Bradley

Letters through Carlisle via Bardon Mill, the nearest money order & telegraph office, arrive at 8.30 a.m.

1914 Kelly's Directory of Northumberland

"Thorngrafton is a township forming part of the ecclesiastical parish of Beltingham-with-Henshaw, on the north bank of the river Tyne, 1 mile north from Bardon Mill station on the Newcastle and Carlisle section of the North Eastern railway and 5 1/2 miles east from Haltwhistle.  In this township is a colliery, and in the neighborhood are the remains of several Roman stations, including at Housesteads, in this parish, the well-known station Borcovicus, regarded as the most perfect on the wall; is is situated on a basaltic precipice facing the north, and on the southern slope may be traced, both above and below the surface, the massive remains of a large Romano-British town, which grew up under the protection of the fortress: a quarter of a mile south, but within the limits of the town, is a conical hill, or knoll, known as "Chapel Hill," on the crest of which are traces of a building, probably a temple; on the west side there runs a clear stream, and by its side, in 1821, was discovered a cave containing altars to Mithras, the Persian sun-god, and other emblems of that worship; on the site, in Nov. 1883, were found two altars to Mars Thincsus, and the two Alaesiagae, Beda and Fiminilena, and to the divinity of the Augusti, dedicated by German and Frisian mercenaries: there was also met with a semicircular carved stone, with wreaths.  A bronze purse was found here containing sixty coins of Hadrian (A.D. 117-138), and many other Roman remains have been discovered.  The Duke of Northumberland K.G., P.C. and Sir Hugh D. Blackett bart. are lords of the manor.  The principal landowners are Sir Hugh D. Blackett bart, the Hon. Francis Bowes-Lyon and Mrs. Clayton, of The Chesters, Hexham.  The soil chiefly is sand and lime.  The area is 4,346 acres of land and 176 of water; rateable value, £4,323; the population in 1911 was 271."

Commercial
Brown Philip, farmer
Clark Elizabeth (Mrs.), farmer
Gall William, farmer
Harding Geo. farmer, West End town
Herdman Brothers, farmers, West Beggar bog
Johnson Joseph, farmer, Herbley strand
Keen Robert, farmer, Bradley
Muirdew Robert, farmer, Morwood
Nicholson Dickinson, farmer, Birkshaw
Oliver Jas. Dunn, farmer, Birkshaw
Pattinson Joseph (exors. of), farmers, Hotbank.
Pearson Mary (Miss), shopkeeper
Sharpe James William, colliery owner, Barcombes
Towns Henry Herbert, cattle salesman, Croydon cottage
Tweddle Thos. farmer, Crindlesykes
Usher John & George, farmers, High meadow
Usher Jane (Mrs.), farmer, Whitshield
Woodman John, famer, Crow hall