National Gazetteer (1868) - Bolam

"BOLAM, a parish in the wards of Castle, Morpeth, and Tynedale, in the county of Northumberland, 8 miles to the W. of Morpeth. Newcastle is its post town. It is situated on the river Blythe, not far from its source, and contains the townships of Bolam, Bolam Vicarage, Belsay, Bradford, Gallow-hill, Harnham, Shortflatt, and Trewick. Coal and limestone are found in the parish. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Durham, of the value of £238, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew. It is a very ancient building, and contains monuments of the Bolams and the Middletons. The barony was held by the Bolams in the reign of King John. Bolam Moor is crossed by a branch of Watling Street, called the Devil's Causeway, near which is a tumulus where a stone coffin was found. Not far from the same spot are remains of an old camp of an oval form. Belsay Castle, the ancient residence of the Middletons, is a fine specimen of the old Border fortress. The principal residences are Belsay House, the seat of Sir C. M. L. Monck, Bart.; and Bolam House, formerly the seat of the Horsleys, and now belonging to Lord Decies."

"BELSAY, a township in the parish of Bolam, Tindale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 92 miles to the S.W. of Morpeth, and 13 N.W. from Newcastle. It is situated on the turnpike road leading from Newcastle to Jedburgh, near a small river, a branch of the Blyth. The village consists of one handsome terrace of stone houses, with piazza in front, called the Arcade. It has a school, with master's residence, built at the charge of Sir C. M. Monck, Bart., and wherein Divine service is performed by the vicar of the parish on Sunday afternoons. Belsay hall is a modern mansion, in the Grecian style of architecture, the seat of Sir C. Monck, Bart., who is lord of the manor. It stands in a pleasant situation, near the remains of an old castle which was the seat of the Middleton family from a remote period. Sir C. Monck, the present representative of that family, is descended by the mother's side from the grand-daughter of William I. The village is a meet for the Tindale hounds."

"BRADFORD, a township in the parish of Bolam, Tynedale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 10 miles to the W. of Morpeth."

"GALLOW HILL, a township in the parish of Bolam, W. division of Morpeth ward, county Northumberland, 7 miles S.W. of Morpeth. This is said to be the spot where the barons of Bolam erected a gallows. Lord Decies is sole proprietor, and Bolam House and Gallow Hill House are seats belonging to him."

"HARNHAM, a township in the parish of Bolam, N.E. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 1½ miles S.W. of Bolam. There is an old tower, the seat of the Babingtons, situated on a precipice."

"SHORTFLATT, a township in the parish of Bolam, N.E. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 13 miles N.E. of Hexham, 10 W. of Morpeth, and la mile S. of Bolam."

"TREWICK, a township in the parish of Bolam, W. division of Castle ward, county Northumberland, 6½ miles S.W. of Morpeth, on the river Blythe."