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Northumberland Towns & Parishes

Nearby places

BOLAM

The location of the Parish of Bolam (shown in green).
[View a zoomable and navigable Map of the Area provided by Multimap.]

"BOLAM parish comprises the townships of Trewick, in the western division of Castle Ward; the townships of Bolam, Bolam Vicarage, and Gallow Hill, in the western division of Morpeth Ward; and the townships of Belsay, Bradford, Harnham, and Shortflatt, in the north-eastern division of Tindale Ward. It is bounded on the north by Hartburn, on the west by Kirkwhelpington, on the south by Stamfordham, and on the east by Meldon and Whalton parishes. The area of this parish is 7,336 acres, and the number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 434; in 1811, 632; in 1821, 651; in 1831, 608; in 1841, 603; and in 1851, 634 souls. It is very fertile, and contains both coal and limestone." [From History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, Whellan, 1855].

Census

• The 1851 Census Index (microfiche CN14) published by the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society may be of value to researchers interested in this parish.
  
  

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Church Records

Church of England Records.

• Bolam, St Andrew: Records of baptisms 1662-1957, marriages 1662-1991 and burials 1662-1898 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. Bishops' Transcripts for the period 1759-1760, 1769-1835 are deposited at Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, Palace Green, Durham City. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes baptisms 1661-1812 and marriages 1661-1812 for this parish, and Boyd's Marriage Index includes marriages 1662-1812 and banns 1786-1812. Transcripts of baptisms, burials and marriages 1661-1812 are available at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Dept. A transcript of monumental inscriptions at Bolam (microfiche TN76) is published by Northumberland and Durham Family History Society and these records are also available in book form at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Department.
  
  
  • A photograph of Bolam, St Andrew taken by Thomas William Pears in 1984.
    
    

Adjacent Parishes.

• The following parishes are adjacent to Bolam:- Hartburn, Kirkheaton, Kirkwhelpington, Meldon, Stamfordham, Whalton.
  
  

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Civil Registration

• This area is now within Northumberland Central Registration District. Certificates of birth, death and marriage can be obtained from: Superintendent Registrar, Register Office, 94 Newgate Street, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 1BU. If ordering certificates from a District Office, please note the following:
  
  
  1. The cost of a certificate is currently (from 1st April 2003) £ 7.00 - send a Sterling cheque payable to the Superintendent Registrar plus return postage or two International Reply Coupons;
  2. The G.R.O. (St Catherine's) Index references are of no value;
  3. For marriage certificates, the precise place of marriage must be given;
  4. Civil Registration in England and Wales began on July 1st 1837.
     
     

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Description and Travel

• Photographs of Belsay Gardens and Bolam Lake from Les Bell's Northumberland Cam website.
  
  
• Photographs of Bolam from the FreeFoto.com website.
  
  
• Photographs of Belsay from the FreeFoto.com website.
  
  
• Photographs of Bolam Lake from the FreeFoto.com website.
  
  
• Northumberland County Council's Visitors' Guide to Castle Morpeth Borough.
  
  

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Gazetteers

• The section of The National Gazetteer (1868) relating to this parish - transcribed by Colin Hinson.
  
  

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History

• The history of Bolam Parish is included in:- Hodgson, J., History of Northumberland, Part 2, Volume 1. Newcastle, 1827. (Available on fiche from Ancestral Indexes).
  
  

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Maps

• Bolam - Maps - links and information.
  
  

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

• Bolam Parish was part of Castle Ward Poor Law Union. The Union Workhouse was located near the village of Ponteland. Some records are held at Northumberland Collections Service, but these are of limited genealogical value.
  
  
• Peter Higginbotham has provided details, a map and photographs of Castle Ward Workhouse.
  
  

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