National Gazetteer (1868) - Ford

"FORD, a parish in the W. division of the ward of Glendale, county Northumberland, 3 miles from Pallinsburn, and 12 from Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is situated on the river Tilt which is crossed by a stone bridge of three arches a little below the village. The Kelso branch of the North-Eastern railway has a station at Cornhill, about 7 miles distant. The village itself has a cheerful and neat appearance, with pretty gardens and cottage allotments. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the collieries, the property of the Marquis of Waterford, who, with the Earl of Glasgow and Watson Askew, Esq., is chief proprietor of the soil. Petty sessions are held every alternate month. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Durham, value £1,380. The church, dedicated to ft. Michael, is a fine old structure built about the middle of the 13th century, and enlarged and beautified in 1852. It has a massive bell turret, and contains several handsome painted windows. The E. window of the chancel consists of three lights, the centre compartment representing the Crucifixion; on the right is St. John, and on the left the Virgin Mary. The floor of the chancel is paved with encaustic tiles, and the church contains many ancient mural monuments and tablets. The register dates from 1614. There is besides a district church at the village of Etall in this parish. It is situated in the grounds of the manor-house of Etall, the property of the Earl of Glasgow, and was erected by Lady Augusta Fitzclarence in 1856, as a monument in memory of her husband, the late Lord F. Fitzclarence, and their only child. On the S. side is a mortuary chapel 30 feet long by 12 broad, the vault occupying half the space of this chapel. In the village of Ford is a National school for boys and girls, also a lending library. A little to the W. is the old baronial hall erected by Sir William Heron in the 13th century, and restored by the last Lord Delaval. It is now the property of the Marquis of Waterford, who occasionally resides here. Still further to the W. are the ruins of the old manor-house of Etall, formerly the seat of the Manners family, ancestors of the dukes of Rutland, which became subsequently the residence of the Deputy Warden of the Marches. It was taken by James IV. of Scotland in 1513, previous to the battle of Flodden Field, which is situated within this parish. Opposite to the gateway of the old castle, which is still standing, is the new manor-house of Etall, the residence of Lady Augusta Fitzclarence, approached by a fine avenue, and surrounded by grounds laid out in the Italian style. In the vicinity are the remains of British camps and barrows, some of which on being opened were found to contain urns."

"BROOMRIDGE, a hamlet in the parish of Ford, ward of Glendale, in the county of Northumberland, 6 miles to the N. of Wooler. Opinions are divided between the claims of this place and Brinkburn, to be the ancient Saxon Brunanburgh, the scene of Athelstan's great victory over the Scots and Danes in 938. In the neighbourhood is Haltwell Sweire, where, in 1558, the Scots, under the Earl of Bothwell, engaged a party of English, under Sir Henry Percy."

"CROOKHAM, a township in the parish of Ford, in the county of Northumberland, 7 miles N.W. of Wooler. It is situated on the river Till, and contains the hamlets of Marden and Pillinsburn."

"ETAL, (or Hothal), a township in the parish of Ford, county Northumberland, 8 miles N.W. of Wooler. It is situated on the river Till, and was formerly a possession of the Manners. A castle once stood here, but was laid in ruins by the Scotch previous to the battle of Flodden Field. Etal Hall is the seat of the Earl of Glasgow. Here is a meet for Lord Elcho's hounds.