National Gazetteer (1868) - Kirkwhelpington

"KIRKWHELPINGTON, a parish in the N.E. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 21 miles N.W. of Newcastle, 15 W. of Morpeth, and 8 S.E. of Elsdon. It is situated on the river Wansbeck, and contains the townships of Great Bavington, Capheaton, Catcherside, Coldwell, Crogdean, Fawns, and West Whelpington. Near the vicarage is Whelpington Tower. The soil is loamy, and the land chiefly in pasture. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Durham, value £330, in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is an ancient stone edifice with a square tower containing two bells. There is a National school. Petty sessions are held on the last Monday in each month. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor and principal landowner."

"CAPHEATON, a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, Tynedale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 12 miles to the W. of Morpeth. Capheaton Castle, originally founded in the 13th century, has been for many generations the seat of the Swinburne family. The present mansion was built about 1670, and was afterwards enlarged. The grounds, which are extensive and wooded, contain a lake covering about 80 acres. About 1750 some Roman coins and silver vessels were dug up in the neighbourhood."

"CATCHERSIDE, a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, Tynedale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 8 miles to the E. of Bellingham."

"COLD WELL, a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, in the county of Northumberland, 9 miles S.W. of Rothbury, and 1½ N.E. of Kirkwhelpington. The Duke of Northumberland is the owner of the soil."

"CROGDEAN, (or Crookdean), a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, N.E. division of Tynedale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 8½ miles E. of Bellingham, and 15 from Morpeth, its post town. It contains only two houses.

"FAWNS, a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, N.E. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 1 mile N.E. of the village, and 9 miles E. of Bellingham."

"GREAT BAVINGTON, a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, Tindale ward, in the county of Northumberland, 3½ miles to the S.W. of the village of Kirkwhelpington, and 17 N.W. from Newcastle, its post town. There is an English Presbyterian chapel and schools. The land is generally pasture. Bavington Hall is the chief residence; it has recently undergone considerable restorations, and is surrounded by fine plantations.

"LITTLE and WEST HARLE, townships in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, N.E. division of Tynedale ward, county Northumberland, 2 miles S. of Kirkwhelpington, and 10 E. of Bellingham. The hamlet is very small. The ancient border fortress called Little Harle Tower now forms part of the seat of Thomas Anderson, Esq., the proprietor of the two townships.

"WEST WHELPINGTON, a township in the parish of Kirkwhelpington, county Northumberland, 8 miles E. of Bellingham, and 15 W. of Morpeth. It is situated in the vale of the Wanbeck, and contains Horn's Castle, known as Whelpington Tower, now converted into a farmhouse.