Haltwhistle

Contents

National Gazetteer (1868) - Haltwhistle

"HALTWHISTLE, a parish and market town in the W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 16 miles W. of Hexham, and 331½ N.N.W. of London by rail, or 284 by road. It has a station on the Newcastle and Carlisle railway. It is situated on the N. side of the South Tyne river, and comprises the townships of Bellister, Blenkinsopp, Elvanwood, Featherstone, Haltwhistle (market town), Hartley Burn, Henshaw, Melkridge, Plainmeller, Ridley, Thirlwall, Thorngrafton, and Wall Town. The parish abounds with minerals, and the South Tyne Colliery Company have extensive works. In the town, which has recently much increased, are several mills for the manufacture of woollens and baize, and large brick and drain-pipe works. There is a mechanics' institute. It is a polling place for the S. division of the county. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Durham, value £593, in the patronage of the bishop. The church of the Holy Cross is an ancient stone building. It contains tombs of the Blenkinsops of Bellister Castle, which stands opposite the town, and of John, brother of Bishop Ridley. The parochial charities produce about £5 per annum. The Presbyterians, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel. Lady Capel's school has an endowment of £38 per annum. Haltwistle is the head of a Poor-law-Union of five parishes, and of a superintendent registry. The New County Court meets once a month for the recovery of small debts. There is an artificial mound at Castle Banks, and a small Roman camp at Winchester. Robert Bower, Esq., and Miss Heron are lords of the manor. Thursday is market day. Fairs are held on 14th May, 17th September, and 22nd November, for the sale of horses, cattle, and woollen goods."

"BELLISTER, (or Bellester), a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, Tindale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 1 mile from Haltwhistle. It is situated on the banks of the South Tyne. The Newcastle and Carlisle railway passes near it. On a lofty mound are the ruins of Bellister Castle, surrounded by a moat, and formerly the seat of the Blenkinsops. The country around is pleasant and wooded. At the small village of Park, which is situated within this township, there is a Wesleyan Methodist chapel, built in 1830.

"BELTINGHAM, a small village in the parish of Haltwhistle, Tindale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 42 miles to the E. of Haltwhistle, on the Newcastle and Carlisle railway, which has a station at the neighbouring village of Greenhead. It is seated on the south bank of the Tyne, not far from Ridley Hall, and was formerly a market town. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Durham, value £76, in the patronage of the Vicar of Halt-whistle. The churchyard contains a yew-tree of venerable age. The church is a neat, unpretending building. There is a National school belonging to this township."

"BLENKINSOP, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, Tynedale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 2 miles to the W. of Haltwhistle. The Newcastle and Carlisle railway runs through it. The inhabitants are principally employed in the extensive coal works of the district. The chief residence is Blenkinsop Hall, near which are the remains of an old castle situated on a bill, and once the seat of the Blenkinsop family, whose name it bore. Roman remains, consisting of an altar and a stone with an inscription, have been found at this place."

"COANWOOD, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, in the western division of the ward of Tynedale, in the county of Northumberland, 3 miles S. of Haltwhistle, its post town. It is situated near the Haltwhistle branch of the Newcastle and Carlisle line. The Society of Friends have a place of worship."

"FEATHERSTONE, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of the ward of Tynedale, county Northumberland, 3 miles S.W. of Haltwhistle, and 10 N. of Alston. It is situated E. of the South Tyne, and is a station on the railway connecting the above towns. Featherstone Castle was built by the Featherstonehaughs, a family resident here from time immemorial. It is now the property of the Wallace family, having been confiscated by the Parliamentarians, who sold it to the earls of Carlisle. The mansion has recently been repaired and enlarged. Divine service is performed in the castle chapel, which, on Sundays, is open to those living in the vicinity. The Earl of Carlisle is lord of the manor."

"GREENHEAD, a village in the parish of Haltwhistle, ward of Tynedale, county Northumberland, 3 miles N.W. of Haltwhistle, its post town. The Newcastle and Carlisle railway has a station here. There is a district church, the living of which is a perpetual curacy in the diocese' of Durham, value £24, in the gift of the vicar of the parish."

"HARTLEYBURN, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 2 miles from Haltwhistle, and 16 W. of Hexham. It is situated on the Hartleyburn rivulet, which joins the river Tyne."

"HENSHAW, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale Ward, county Northumberland, 4 miles E. of Haltwhistle, and three quarters of a mile from the Bardon Mill station on the Newcastle and Carlisle railway. It is situated near the South Tyne river. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have places of worship. Sir Edward Blackett is lord of the manor."

"MELKRIDGE, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 2 miles E. of Haltwhistle railway station on the Newcastle and Carlisle line. Whitchester Roman camp is in this township. Sir Edward Blackett, Bart., is lord of the manor."

"PLAINMELLOR, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 2 miles S.E. of Haltwhistle. The township is large, containing the hamlet of Ramshaw. The village is situated under Plainmellor Fell, at the bridge over the river South Tyne, which bounds the township on the N. It is wholly agricultural. Unthank Hall is the principal residence. D. Dixon, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner."

"RIDLEY, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 5 miles S.E. of Haltwhistle, and 3 W. of Hayden Bridge. It is situated near the Newcastle and Carlisle railway, at the confluence of the river Allen with the South Tyne. Ridley Hall, which is still the principal residence, was formerly the seat of the Ridley and Lowes families. In the vicinity are the ruins of Bebingham chapel. Sir E. Blackett, Bart., is lord of the manor."

"THIRLWALL, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 3½ miles N.W. of Haltwhistle. It is situated on the Tippal Burn, near Gilsland Spa, and under the Great Roman Wall. On the W. side of the stream stands the ruined castle of Thirlwall, formerly the property of the Swinburnes and Howards. The ruins occupy the summit of a rock precipice, and consist of walls 9 feet thick, vaulted within, and defended by an outer wall of great strength."

"THORNGRAFTON, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 1 mile S. of Bardon-Mill railway station, and 5½ miles N.E. of Haltwistle. The village is situated at the confluence of the rivers Allen and Tyne, and near the line of the Newcastle and Carlisle railway. The township includes House Steads, the site of a Roman station, still marked by the foundations of houses, streets, baths, &c.; and on Chapel Hill, a little to the S., are the remains of a Doric temple, with altars, inscriptions, and carved figures in relief. The soil chiefly consists of sand and lime, and there are sand and ironstone quarries, also three collieries. The Duke of Northumberland and Sir Edward Blackett are lords of the manor."

"WALL-TOWN, a township in the parish of Haltwhistle, W. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 2½ miles N.W. of Haltwhistle, its post town, and the same distance N. of the Greenhead station on the Newcastle and Carlisle railway. It is situated on the line of the Roman wall, and includes the stations AEsica, or "Great Chesters," and Vindolana, now termed "Little Chesters," where remains of baths, altars, inscriptions, and other relics have been found. At a farm in the vicinity is part of an old castle of the Ridleys, and on a hill near Four Law barrows, are three stones termed the "Mare and Foals.""