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Simonburn

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"SIMONBURN parish comprises the chapelry of Humshaugh, and the townships of Haughton and Simonburn. It was formerly remarkable as being the largest parish in the diocese of Durham, extending from the Roman Wall to Liddesdale, in Scotland, a distance of thirty-three miles, and embracing the present parishes of Simonburn, Bellingham, Falstone, Greystead, Thorneyburn, and Wark, which, in conformity with an act of parliament, passed in 1811, were erected into distinct rectories, in 1814, upon the death of Dr. Scott, the last incumbent of the ancient parish. Several parts of this extensive district have been drained, enclosed, and brought under cultivation, yet, the greater portion is still used as sheep-walks, &c. The country here presents a very varied aspect, and some parts are highly beautiful and romantic. It abounds in coal and ironstone, and iron appears to have been extensively wrought here in ancient times. The present parish contains 13,372 acres; the number of its inhabitants in 1801, was 900; in 1811, 956; in 1821, 1,030; in 1831, 1,135; in 1841, 1,029; and in 1851, 1,080 souls. The manorial rights are vested in the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital, who are also the patrons of the different livings which have been formed out of the old parish. None but navy chaplains of ten years' service are eligible as rectors of the new parishes, and they are not allowed to hold any other preferment, though they are authorised to receive half pay, and the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital are empowered to redeem the land-tax chargeable on the rectories." [From History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, Whellan, 1855].

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Census

  • Northumberland County Record Office holds copies of Census Returns 1841 - 1891 and provides a useful User Guide
  • The 1851 Census Index (microfiche CN18)Chollerton, Simonburn, Warden and Newbrough (PRO piece HO107/2415 folios 321-502) (Type A) (Book)
  • The 1891 Census Northumberland Chollerton (West Acomb, Wall, Fallowfield, Cocklaw, Bingfield, Hallington, Chollerton, Barrasford, Chipchase, Great Swinburn, Colwell, Gunnerton, Simonburn, Hall Barnes, Humshaugh, Haughton, Black Carts and Rye Hill, Warden, Fourstones, Walwick, Newbrough and Warmley) (PRO piece RG12/4249) (Type B) (Book) (Volume 59) Both published by the https://www.ndfhs.org.uk/ may be of value to researchers interested in this parish.
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Church History

  • The Ancestral Indexes website provides information about Humshaugh, St Peter and Simonburn, St Mungo.
  • St Mungo's church Simonburn dates from the Thirteenth Century the Lychgate was built by the tenants to the memory of John Hunter Allgood in 1885. The Rectory was built in 1666 with a three-storey front added in 1725 (The Rectory is now a private residence).
  • "Until the early Nineteenth century St Mungos was one of the largest parishes in England covering about 260 square miles of the North Tyne Valley." extract from Churches of Newcastle and Northumberland by Geoffrey Purves  The church has saxon origins although little remains of the original saxon church, the present one dating from the 13C. It has been rebuilt and restored several times the first in 1763 by Robert and William Newton, in 1863-4 by Anthony salvin and in 1875-77 by R J Johnson. There is a piscena, and a priests door dating from 13C an effigy of a former vicar Cuthbert Ridley c.1620 and the organ was aquired from York Minster in 1901.
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Church Records

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Civil Registration

  • This area is within Northumberland West Registration District.
  • Certificates of birth, death and marriage can be ordered from Northumberland County Council.
     
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Description & Travel

  • Photographs of Chollerford from Les Bell's Northumberland Cam website.
  • The Northumberland Communities website includes pages relating to Humshaugh. They provide "a range of learning resource material that reflects Northumberland's heritage, providing a base for studying the County's history. The website provides a starting point for understanding the development of communities in Northumberland. It also seeks to illustrate the range of sources for family and local history research that are available via Northumberland Archives Service."
You can see pictures of Simonburn which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

  • The history of Humshaugh Parish is included in:- Northumberland County History Committee, History of Northumberland, Volume 15. Newcastle, A. Reid, 1940. (Available on fiche from Ancestral Indexes).
  • The history of Simonburn Parish is included in Northumberland County History Committee, History of Northumberland, Volume 15. Newcastle, A. Reid, 1940. (Available on fiche from Ancestral Indexes).
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Land & Property

The original village was sited at Nunwick. this was demolished in the Eighteenth Century. and re-sited to its present location see: The Northumberland Village Book produced by the Northumberland Federation of Women's Institutes. 1994 (Countryside Books ISBN 1 85306 302 9)

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Maps

  • Simonburn - Maps - links and information.

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference NY844730 (Lat/Lon: 55.05147, -2.245029), Simonburn which are provided by:

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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Simonburn Parish was part of Hexham Poor Law Union. The Union Workhouse was located at Peth Head, Hexham. Some useful records are held at Northumberland Record Office