National Gazetteer (1868) - Bedlington

"BEDLINGTON, (or Bedlingtonshire), a parish in the eastern division of Chester ward, formerly in the county palatine of Durham, but lying detached, and now, for all civil purposes, forming part of the county of Northumberland 5 miles to the S.E. of Morpeth, its post rind market town. It has two stations on the Blyth and Tyne railway. The parish is situated on the sea-coast, between the rivers Blyth and Wansbeck, and contains the townships of North Blyth, Chambois, Choppington, Netherton, and East and West Sleckburn. It had, till the reign of Henry VIII., its own courts and officers of justice, being a franchise of the Bishop of Durham, who holds the manor. Here are extensive coal mines, several quarries of excellent stone, from which grindstones and whetstones are made, and ironworks, among the oldest establishments of the kind in England; chain and nail making is carried on. The village, which consists of one wide street about a mile in length and very irregularly built, is situated on elevated land forming the bank of the river Blyth, and commands a fine view of the German Ocean. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Durham, of the value of £454, in the patronage of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to St. Cuthbert, is a atone building in the Gothic style of architecture. The Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians have chapels in the village. A mechanics' institution, with library and reading-room, has been established; and there are several large schools in the parish. Petty sessions are held on the first Friday in each month. The board of health also hold their meetings in the court-house, attached to which them is a lock-up. Bedlington is in the Morpeth County Court district.

"CAMBOIS, (or Chambois), a township in the parish of Bedlington, Chester ward, in the county of Northumberland, 7 miles to the E. of Morpeth. It is seated on the coast, at the mouth of the Wansbeck, and is joined to North Blyth.

"CHOPPINGTON, a township in the parish of Bedlington, in the county of Northumberland, 3 miles E. of Morpeth. It is situated on the river Wansbeck, which is here crossed by a bridge."

"EAST SLEEKBURN, (and West Sleekburn) townships in the parish of Bedlington, county Northumberland, 3 miles N.W. of Blyth. They are situated on the river Wansbeck, and were until recently included in the county of Durham.

"NETHERTON, a township in the parish of Bedlington, county Northumberland, 3 miles S.E. of Morpeth. Until recently it formed part of Durham. It is situated near the river Blyth. Many of the inhabitants are engaged in the collieries and stone quarries."

"NORTH BLYTH, a township in the parish of Bedlington, Chester ward, in the county of Northumberland, 8 miles to the S.E. of Morpeth. It is united with the township of Cambois, and is situated on the north bank of the river Blyth. The inhabitants are chiefly fishermen.