National Gazetteer (1868) - Belford

"BELFORD, a parish and market town in the northern division of Bamburgh ward, in the county of Northumberland, 60 miles to the N. of Newcastle, and 322 miles from London by the Great Northern and North-Eastern railways, being a station on the York, Newcastle, and Berwick line. It is situated in a pleasant hilly country on the sea-coast, and contains, besides the town of Belford, the townships of Detchant, Easington, Easington Grange, Elwick, Middleton, and Ross. The town, though situated in a valley, stands on rising ground commanding a good sea view, with Bamburgh Castle in the foreground. There are two principal streets, crossed by several smaller ones, the houses being generally neat, though irregularly built. A neat cross adorns the market place, where some business is still transacted, although the market is now almost obsolete. The town is lighted with gas, and well supplied with water. There are collieries, and quarries of limestone and freestone. There is much agreeable scenery in the neighbourhood. Belford is the seat of a Poor-law Union and a County Court district. Petty sessions are held by the county magistrates every alternate Wednesday, and county courts once a month. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Durham, value £147, in the patronage of the Rev. J. D. Clark. The church, erected in 1700, is dedicated to St. Mary. There is one chapel be-longing to the United Presbyterians, and one to the Scotch Church. There are National and Sunday schools. The principal mansion is Belford Hall, the seat of the Rev. J. D. Clark, to whom the manor belongs. On one of the hills in the vicinity are some ruins of an ancient chapel. There is an ancient encampment about a mile from the town, of a square form, with a ditch and double rampart. The parish has several mineral springs, and extends into the hundred of Islandshire, until recently considered a detached part of the county palatine of Durham, but now united to Northumberland. The Duke of Montrose takes from this place the title of Earl Graham of Belford. The market, chiefly for corn, is held on Wednesday. Fairs are held on the Tuesday before Whit-Sunday, the 2nd July, the 23rd August, and the 25th September, for sheep and cattle. Annual races take place in September."

"DETCHANT, a township in the parish of Belford, N. division of the ward of Bamburgh, in the county of Northumberland, 2½ miles N.W. of Belford."

"EASINGTON, (and Easington Grange) townships in the parish of Belford, N. division of Bamburgh ward, county Northumberland, 1 mile N.E. of Belford. James Grieve, Esq., is lord of the manor.

"ELWICK, a township in the parish of Belford, N. division of Bamburgh ward, county Northumberland, 2 miles N.E. of Belford. It is situated on the coast. Small shellfish are abundant here."

"MIDDLETON, a township in the parish of Belford, N. division of Bamburgh ward, county Northumberland, 1 mile N.W. of Belford. Middleton Hall is the principal residence."

"ROSS, a township in the parish of Belford, hundred of Islandshire, county Northumberland, formerly in Durham, 3 miles N.E. of Belford. It is situated near the coast, on which great quantities of cockles are found."