National Gazetteer (1868) - Rothbury

"ROTHBURY, a parish and post town in the W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 12 miles S.W. of Alnwick, and 15 N. W. of Morpeth. It is situated in the sequestered vale of the Coquet, which is here crossed by a stone bridge of four arches, and comprises Cartington, Hepple, Thropton, Tosson, Warton, and 19 other townships Rothbury was formerly a Roman station, and was anciently written Robire, Rathbury, and Routhbyrig. It-was given to the Percys in 1330. The magistrates meet at the Black Bull Inn monthly, and the county court is held at the same inn. Malting and brewing are carried on in the neighbourhood. The town, which is wide and airy, consists of three streets, irregularly built, diverging from the market place. There are a mechanics' institute, the union workhouse, and a market cross. A great portion of the land is of a moory nature, and was formerly forest. The subsoil abounds in coal, limestone, ironstone, and lead ore, which are supposed to have been worked by the Romans. In the western part of the parish is a valley encircled with hills, celebrated for goats' milk, which is in much request by valetudinarians, who resort hither during the summer months. On the brow of a hill, on the S. side of the river Coquet, is Whitton Tower, formerly the seat of the Umfravilles, whose arms decorate the western front, now used as the parsonage-house. Rothbury Poor-law Union comprises 25 parishes or places. It is also the seat of new County Court and superintendent registry districts. It gives name to a deanery in the archdeaconry of Lindisfarne, and diocese of Durham. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Durham, value £1,106, in the patronage of the Bishop of Carlisle. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient cruciform structure with a square tower containing a peal of bells and a clock. It was restored in 1850 at an outlay of £3,000. It contains some monuments and an antique font, on which is rudely sculptured a representation of the Redeemer sitting in judgment. The parochial charities produce about 5264 per annum. There is a free grammar school with an endowment of £100, and Thomlinson's girls' free school founded in 1719. The Independents have a place of worship, to which a school is attached. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor. Market day is on Friday, but has fallen into disuse. Fairs are held on the Friday in Easter week, on Whit-Monday, 2nd October, and 1st November."

"BANKHEAD, a township in the parish of Rothbury, western division of the ward of Coquetdale, in the county of Northumberland, 2 miles from Rothbury."

"BICKERTON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, ward of Coquetdale, in the county of Northumberland, 4 miles to the W. of Rothbury. It has an endowed school."

"CAISTRON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, ward of Coquetdale, in the county of Northumberland, 4 miles to the W. of Rothbury. It is in a moorland district on the river Coquet."

"CARTINGTON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, ward of Coquetdale, in the county of Northumberland. 2 miles to the N.W. of Rothbury. It is situated near a branch of the river Alne, and is the site of an ancient castle, once the seat of the Ratcliffes, and subsequently of the Widdringtons."

"DEBDON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of the ward of Coquetdale, in the county of Northumberland, 2½ miles N. of Rothbury, its post town. There is a chalybeate spring. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor. Ochre is obtained in considerable quantities. DE-BEAUVOIR-TOWN. See Beauvoir Town, Middlesex."

"FALLOWLEES, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 5 miles S.W. of Rothbury. The river Pont passes through the township"

"FLOTTERTON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of the ward of Coquetdale, county Northumberland, 4 miles W. of Rothbury. The river Coquet flows in the vicinity. At Plainfield, in this township, Lord Derwent water and others first raised the standard of the Pretender in England."

"GREAT and LITTLE TOSSON, townships in the parish of Rothbury, county Northumberland, 2 miles S.W. of Rothbury. The village is situated on the river Coquet. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of cloth, and others in the lime quarries. The soil consists of loam and clay, with a subsoil of gravel. In the vicinity are remains of an old tower and a camp of Roman origin.

"HEALEY MOUNT, a township in the parish of Rothbury, county Northumberland, 2 miles S.E. of Rothbury. It is situated on the river Coquet."

"HELLINGHILL, (or Hollinghill), a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 4 miles S.E. of Rothbury. The land is partly moor. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor.

"HENCOATS, a ward in the parish of Hexham, county Northumberland, 2 miles from Hexham."

"HEPPLE and HEPPLE DEMESNE, townships in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of the ward of Coquetdale, county Northumberland, 52 1 miles W. of Rothbury. They are situated on the river Coquet, and have part of the ruins of an ancient castle formerly belonging to the Bardolfs, Talboys, and Ogles. The village of Old Hepple was destroyed during the border wars. The chapel has gone to decay, and the ruins were removed in 1760. At Helchester, near the Roman way, is a British camp. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor."

"HESLEY-HURST, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 3½ miles S.E. of Rothbury. Coal and ironstone are found here. The land is chiefly pasture, and the soil clayey."

"HIGH AND LOW TREWHITT, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 4 miles N.W. of Rothbury, and 14 S.W. of Alnwick. The village is situated on a branch of the river Coquet. The soil consists of clay and light loam, with a subsoil of clay. The principal residence is Trewhitt House.

"LEE-WARD, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of the ward of Coquetdale, county Northumberland, 3 miles S.E. of Rothbury. The soil is sandy, upon a subsoil of gravel. A large portion of the township is unenclosed moorland. The village consists of a few farmhouses. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor. There is a school with an annuity of £5."

"MOUNT-HEALY, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 2½ miles S.E. of Rothbury. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor and sole landowner."

"NEWTOWN, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 1 mile S.W. of Rothbury. The soil is a light loam, with a rocky subsoil. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor and sole landowner."

"PAPERHAUGH, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 2 miles S.E. of Rothbury. It is situated on the river Coquet, and on the new road from Rothbury to Weldon and Morpeth. The soil consists of a light loam upon a subsoil of gravel. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor and sole landowner."

"RAW, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 3 miles S.E. of Rothbury, its post town. The township, which is of small extent, is situated on the S. side of the river Coquet, and at a short distance from the Rothbury road to Morpeth. There is no village, only a few scattered houses. In the vicinity is a small colliery. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor and owner of all the soil."

"RYE HILL, a hamlet in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 2½ miles S.W. of Rothbury. It is joined with the hamlet of Great Tosson to form a township"

"SANDYLANDS, a hamlet in the township of Cartington, parish of Rothbury, county Northumberland, 2 miles N.W. of Rothbury."

"SNITTER, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 3 miles N.W. of Rothbury. It is a small village, situated on the river Coquet. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The soil consists of clay and loam, with a subsoil of clay. There is a school, with a small endowment. The Duke of- Northumberland is lord of the manor."

"THROPTON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 2½ miles W. of Rothbury, and 18 N.W. of Morpeth. The village is situated at the confluence of the rivers Coquet and Snitterburn, over the latter of which is a bridge, rebuilt in 1810. The soil consists of a light loam, with a subsoil of gravel. The Roman Catholics and Presbyterians have chapels. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor."

"WARTON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 3 miles N.W. of Rothbury. The soil is loamy, with a subsoil of limestone."

"WHITTON, a township in the parish of Rothbury, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, half a mile S. of Rothbury. It is situated on the river Coquet, and has Whitton Tower, formerly a strong border fortress, but now occupied as the rectory, and near it is a circular observatory built by the later. Sharp."

"WREIGHILL, a township in the parish of Rothbury, county Northumberland, 5 miles W. of Rothbury. It is bounded on the S. by the river Coquet, and was anciently called Wreck Hill. It was ravaged by the plague in 1665, and has never recovered its population."