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History 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


^: 


I 


HISTORY 


OF 


NORTHUMBERLAND 


ISSUED    UNDER    THE    DIRECTION    OF 


THE    NORTHUMBERLAND    COUNTY    HLSTORV 


COMMITTEE 


NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE 
PRINTED    AND    PUBLISHED    BY    ANDREW    REID    &    COMPANY,    LIMITED 

LONDON 
SIMPKIN,    MARSHALL,    ILX.MILTON,    KENT    &    COMPANY,    LIMITED 

1907 


H 

o 

h 
O 


History  of  Northumberland 


VOLUME     VIII 


The    Parish    of    Tynemouth 


By    H.    H.    E.    CRASTER,    M.A., 

FELLOW    OF    ALL    SOULS    COLLEGE,    OXFORD 


NEWCASTLEUPOXTYNE 
PRINTED    AND    PUBLISHED    BY    ANDREW    REID    &    COMPANY,    LIMITED 

LONDON 

SIMPKIN,    MARSHALL,    HAMILTON,    KENT,    &    COMPANY,    LIMITED 

1907 


NEWCASTLE-Ul-ON-TYNE 
ANDREW   REID   &   COMPANY,   LIMITED,    PRINTING   COURT    BUILDINGS 


PREFACE. 

The  importance  of  the  locality  included  in  the  present  volume  of  the 
new  History  of  Northumberland  has  demanded  prolonged  investigations 
on  the  part  of  the  Committee  and  editor ;  hence  the  length  of  time 
occupied  in  its  production  will  be  found  to  be  more  than  compensated 
by  the  value  of  the  results  achieved.  Since  the  publication  of  the  former 
volume,  the  Committee  have  lost  one  of  their  most  valued  members  by 
the  death  of  Mr.  C.  B.  P.  Bosanquet,  who  was  one  of  the  founders  and 
an  original  member  of  the  Committee,  and  a  regular  and  useful  attendant 
at  their  meetings. 

As  originally  planned  the  present  volume  was  to  comprise  the 
history  of  the  mother  parish  of  Tynemouth,  and  that  of  the  ancient 
parochial  chapelry  of  Earsdon.  Requirements  of  space  have  obliged  the 
Committee  to  keep  back  the  latter  section  ;  but  it  is  alreadv  written  and 
largely  in  print,  and  will  form  a  portion  of  Volume  IX.  of  the  series. 

The  history  of  the  Benedictine  priory  of  Tynemouth,  forming  as  it 
did  the  central  point  of  interest  in  the  district,  was  dealt  with,  many  years 
ago,  by  the  late  Mr.  Sidney  Gibson,  in  a  work  in  which  thoroughness 
and  partiality  vie  with  each  other.  But  Mr.  Gibson  had  not  direct  access 
to  the  unpublished  Tynemouth  Cliartular\\  a  document  chiefly  valuable 
as  a  custumal,  of  which  the  Duke  of  Northumberland  has  permitted  the 
editor  to  make  the  fullest  use.  The  real  Chartulary  of  the  convent,  a 
large  folio  manuscript,  known  as  the  Great  Book  of  Tynemouth,  is  lost 
and  cannot  be  traced  later  than  the  seventeenth  century,  when  it  was  in 
the  possession  of  Sir  Orlando  Bridgeman,  whose  descendant  and  repre- 
sentative,  the    Earl    of   Bradford,    at    the    Committee's    request,   caused    an 

unsuccessful  search  to  be  made  for  it  among  his  muniments. 

h 

773573 


VI  PREFACE. 


The  editor  has  made  very  full  use  of  the  SL  Alhaii's  Register 
(Cott.  MS.  Tib.  E.  vi.),  a  manuscript  commonly  reputed  to  have  been 
destroyed  by  fire  ;  of  a  collection  of  letters,  written  by  monks,  temp. 
Henry  III.,  relating  to  the  priory  (Digby  MSS.  20)  ;  and  of  a  most 
interesting  description  of  Tynemouth,  written  circa  1 200,  preserved  in  the 
Cambridge  University  Library.  This  document  has  been  carefully  revised 
and  annotated  by  Mr.  Francis  Jenkinson,  University  Librarian. 

In  order  to  provide  a  plan  of  the  conventual  buildings  worthy  of  the 
architectural  and  historical  description  of  the  priory,  permission  to  excavate 
was  sought  at  the  War  Office  ;  it  was  granted  by  the  Council  for  Defence 
and  sanctioned  by  H.M.  Board  of  Works.  The  excavations,  made  in  the 
winter  of  1904-1905,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Knowles, 
F.S.A.,  with  labour  freely  supplied  by  the  Corporation  of  Tynemouth, 
revealed  a  plan,  almost  unique,  of  the  Norman  conventual  church.  It  has 
been  described,  with  the  architectural  features  of  the  monastic  buildings, 
by  Mr.  Knowles.  In  this  connection  the  Committee  have  pleasure  in 
acknowledging  the  courtesy  of  Major  Bryant,  R.A.,  officer  commanding 
the  troops  at  Tynemouth  castle.  The  plans,  photographs,  and  drawings  of 
the  priory  and  castle  were  made,  and  are  reproduced,  with  the  permission 
of  the  officer  commanding  the  northern  district. 

The  position  and  history  of  the  priory  have  tended  to  throw  into 
obscurity  the  story  of  the  growth  of  the  important  town  of  North  Shields, 
and  to  distract  attention  from  the  character  of  the  customary  and  copyhold 
tenures  of  Tynemouthshire.  From  the  rich  store  of  documents  belonging 
to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland,  of  which  the  editor  has  been  allowed  to 
make  a  thorough  examination,  this  deficiency  has  been  supplemented,  and  the 
nature  of  customary  holdings  in  the  county  has  been  dealt  with  generally. 
His  Grace  being  the  only  great  landowner  in  the  district,  it  has  not  been 
found    necessary  to    apply  to    the    other    proprietors    for  an    inspection   of 


PREFACE.  VU 

muniments.  The  steward  of  the  manor  of  Tyneniouth,  Mr.  W.  H.  Ryott, 
has  not  only  given  full  access  to  the  court  rolls  in  his  custody,  but  has 
spent  much  labour  in  tracing  the  descent  of  various  copyhold  estates  within 
the  manor. 

The  Committee  are  again  indebted  to  Professor  Garwood  for  an 
account  of  the  geology  of  the  district.  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster  has  written  the 
article  upon  the  coal  trade,  and  Professor  A.  Meek  of  Armstrong  College, 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  that  on  the  sea  fisheries  of  Northumberland. 

The  pre-Conquest  stones  at  Tynemouth  have  been  described  by  the 
Rev.  William  Greenwell,  and  the  elaborately  ornamented  shield  found  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Tyne,  by  Mr.  F.  J.  Haverfield  ;  the  latter  has 
also  revised  the  other  references  to  Roman  antiquities  found  in  the 
district.  Mr.  J.  C.  Hodgson,  F.S.A.,  has  prepared  the  pedigrees,  and  Mr. 
Maberly  Phillips,  F.S.A.,  has  written  the  account  of  the  non-established 
churches. 

By  the  death  of  Mr.  Charles  James  Spence  the  Committee  have  lost 
an  active  and  sympathetic  friend  to  their  undertaking.  In  the  planning 
out  of  the  present  volume  he  not  only  gave  wise  counsel  to  the  editor, 
but  placed  his  drawings,  manuscripts,  and  rare  printed  books  at  his  service. 
Some  of  his  own  beautiful  drawings  and  etchings  have  been  reproduced, 
and  his  family,  in  accordance  with  what  they  thought  would  have  been 
his  wish,  have  given  a  handsome  contribution  towards  the  cost  of  illus- 
trating the  volume. 

To  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson  the  editor  is  under  deep  obligation  for  the 
generous  way  in  which  he  has  placed  at  his  disposal  his  wide  and  e.xtensive 
knowledge  of  the  local  antiquities  of  Tynemouth  and  North  Shields,  and 
for  the  ample  use  allowed  to  be  made  of  his  legal  and  historical  col- 
lections. The  Committee  have  also  to  thank  him,  as  well  as  Mr.  W.  S. 
Daglish  and  Mr.  Wilfred  Hall,  for  donations  for  e.xtra  illustrations. 


viii  PREFACE. 

Thanks  are  also  due  to  Mr.  S.  S.  Carr,  Mr.  W.  W.  Tomlinson,  and 
others,  for  help  willingly  given,  and  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Charlton  and  Mr.  Henry 
Clarke  for  the  loan  of  drawings.  The  index  has  been  mainly  compiled 
by  Miss  B.  M.  Craster. 

The  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Durham  have  permitted  the  unrestricted 
use  of  charters  in  the  Treasury.  The  Rev.  T.  E.  Crawhall,  vicar  of 
Tynemouth,  Mr.  Stephen  Sanderson,  Clerk  of  the  Peace  for  Northumber- 
land, Mr.  J.  B.  Lazenby,  Registrar  of  the  Consistory  Court  at  Durham, 
and  the  Master  and  Brethren  of  the  Trinity  House  of  Newcastle,  have 
given  free  access  to  documents  in  their  custody. 

Information  regarding  historical  papers  in  their  libraries  has  been 
given  by  Mr.  L.  Sackville  -  West,  Mr.  R.  T.  Gunton,  librarian  to  the 
Marquis  of  Salisbury,  and  Mr.  H.  A.  Wilson,  librarian  of  Magdalen 
College,  Oxford.  Amongst  others  who  have  helped  by  advice  or  have  re- 
vised the  proofs  of  certain  portions  of  the  work  are  Professor  C.  M.  Firth, 
Regius  Professor  of  Modern  History,  Oxford  ;  Professor  VinogradofF, 
Corpus  Professor  of  Jurisprudence,  Oxford  ;  Dr.  James,  Principal  of 
King's  College,  Cambridge  ;  Professor  Wright,  Professor  of  Comparative 
Philology,  Oxford  ;  Professor  Lebour,  Professor  of  Geology,  Armstrong 
College,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne;  Mr.  H.  C.  Davis  of  Balliol  College, 
Oxford  ;  Mr.  Horace  Round  ;  the  Rev.  Canon  Savage,  vicar  of  Halifax  ; 
and  Mr.  W.  H.  Stevenson  of  St.  John's  College,  Oxford. 


CONTENTS. 


Preface    ... 

List  of  Illustrations 

List  of  Committee 

Addenda  et  Corrigenda 

Introduction- 
Description  OF  the  District 
Geology 
Collieries  and  the  Coal  Trade 


page 

V 
X 

xi 
xii 


•7 


TYNEMOUTH     PARISH. 

Tynemouth  Priory     ... 

The  Parish  Church 
Description  of  Tynemouth  Priory  and  Castle 
Tynemouth  Castle 

The  Lighthouse 
Tynemouthshire 
Tynemouth  Borough 

Tynemouth  Township 

Clifford's  Fort  and  the  Lighthouses 

Cullercoats  Township 

North  Shields  Township 

Chirton  Township    ... 

Preston  Township 

Municipal  History  of  the  Borough 

Christ  Church  ... 

The  Non-Established  Churches 

The  Sea  Fisheries 
Whitley  Township 
Monkseaton  Township 
Murton  Township 

Shire  Moor 


34 
124 

•3' 
"54 
205 
207 
247 
247 
274 
2  So 
2S4 
315 
342 
350 
357 
371 
378 
3S9 
402 
409 
412 


APPENDICES. 


Appendix  I. 
Appendix  II. 
Index 


417 
421 
426 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1) 


The  Moulh  of  the  Tyne 

Map     ... 

Plate  I.     Fig.   I — The  Ninety-fathom  Dyke  at  Cullercoats 

„  Fig.  2 — Table  Rocks,  Whitley 

Plate  II. — View  of  Boulder-clay 

Plate  III.— Map  to  illustrate  the   History  of  Coal  Mining  in  Tyncniouthshire 
Roman  Stones  from  Tynemouth 

Plate  IV. — Charter  of  Edgar,  son  of  Gospatric  {Diir.  Trcas.  3''"  2'''"  -Spec.  No, 
Tynemouth  Priory,  Effigy  in  the  Choir 

„  „  Choir  of  the  Priory  Church 

.Seal  and  Counterseal  of  .Simon,  Abbot  of  St.  .-Mban's  {Diii:  Tnns.  2''"  2''"''  Spec 

No.  4)         

Plate  V. — Tynemouth  Priory  Church,  Presbytery 

Tynemouth  Priory,  Effigy  in  the  Nave 

Plate  VI. — Brass  of  Thomas  de  la  Mare,  Abbot  of  St.  Alban's 

Tynemouth  Priory,  Spandril 

„  „         Newel  Stair  in  Gate-house 

„  „         Bosses  over  the  Doorway  of  the  Percy  Chapel 

„  ,,         Doorways  in  the  (kite-house    ... 

Plate  VII.— Tynemouth  Priory  Seals 
Tynemouth  Priory,  the  Church  from  the  South-west 
The  Monk's  Stone,  near  Tynemouth 
Pre-Conciuest  Crosses  from  Tynemouth     ... 

Tynemouth  Priory,  Conjectural  Plan  of  the  Norman  Church     ... 
Plate  VIII.— Tynemouth  Priory,  Ground  Plan  of  Church   ... 
Plate  IX. —  „  „        the  Choir  (from  a  painting   in   the   possession   of 

Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson) 
Plate  X. —  „  „         Ceiling  of  the  Percy  Chapel    ... 

Plate  XL—  „  „         i'lan  of  Site 

Plate  XII.—  „  „        Elizabethan  Plan  (Colt.  MSS.  Aug.  I.  ii.  6) 

Plate  XIII.—        „  „         Plan  of  Gate-house  

Plate  XIV. —         „  „         in  the   Eighteenth   Century   (from   a   painting   in 

the  possession  of  Mr.  Robert  Spence) 
Plate  XV.— Chart  of  the  Tyne,  temp.  Henry  VIII.  {Cott.  MSS.  Aug.  I.  ii.  5) 
Tynemouth  Castle,  the  Spanish  Battery   ... 

11  „         Fireplace  in  the  Gate-house 

North  Shields,  Clifford's  Fort,  circa  1680  {King's  Library,  xx.\iii.  23,  g.) 

I)  Corner  Turret  in  Clifford's  Fort 

n  the  Old  Low  Light 


PAGE 
frontispiece 
I 


16 
20 

36,  37 
48 

51 
56 

■  64,  65 
68 

75 
92 

95 

99 

103 

1 10 

122 

128 

'32.  133 

'34,  135 

136 


140 

144 
146 
148 
150 

152 
160 
1S4 
189 
201 
276 
277 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


XI 


Plate  XVI. — Boss  of  Roman  Shield  found  in  the  Tyne 
CuUercoats,  Sparrow  Hall 

„  Harbour 

North  Shields,  Old  Quays 

„  Wooden  Dolly  Quay 

„  River  Side  near  the  Low  Lights 

,,  Low  and   High   Lights 

Billy  Mill,  near  Chirton 
Coble  Dene 
North  Shields  Harbour 

„  Wellesley  Training  Ship 

„  Fish  Quay 

Fireplace  in  the  Ship  Inn,  Monkseaton 
Plate  XVII.— Map  of  Shire  Moor 


PAGE 

280 
282 

283 

304 

305 
309 
313 
329 

340 

353 
357 
384 
405 

417 


HISTORY    OF    NORTHUMBERLAND. 

Issued  under  the  Direction  ok  the  Northumberland  Countv  History  Committee. 


COMMITTEE. 


The  Duke  of  Northumberland,  K.G. 

The  Earl  of  Tankerville. 

Lord  Armstrong. 

Sir  John  Evans,  K.C.B.,  F.S.A. 

Edward  15.\teson,  Esq.,  B.A. 

Robert  Blair,  Esq.,  F.S.A. 

William  Brown,  Esq.,  F.S.A. 

F.  W.  Dendv,  Esq. 

The  Rev.  William  Greenwell,  D.C.L.,  F.R.S.,  F.S.A. 

Richard  Oliver  Heslop,  Esq.,  M.A.,  F.S.A. 

Thomas  Hodgkin,  Esq.,  D.C.L.,  F.S.A. 

John  Crawford  Hodgson,  Esq.,  M.A.,  F.S.A. 

John  George  Hodgson,  Esq. 

W.  H.  Knowles,  Esq.,  F.S.A. 

Richard  Welford,  Esq.,  M.A. 

E.  G.  Whf.i.er,  Esq. 

Humphrey  John  Willyams,  Esq. 


ADDENDA    ET    CORRIGENDA. 

Page  35,  line  l6.  Benebalcrag.  This  identification  is  probably  based  on  Bede's  description  of  the 
northern  wall  :  Incipit  autem  duorum  ferme  milium  spatio  a  monasterio  Aebbercurnig  ad 
occidentem  in  loco,  qui  sermone  Pictorum  Pcau/nhfl,  lingua  autem  Anglorum  Penneltun 
appellatur  ;  ct  tendens  contra  occidentem  terminatur  juxta  urbem  Alcluith.  Historiii 
Ecchsiastica,  ed.  Plummer,  vol.  i.  p.  26.  A  similar  attempt  to  suit  Bede's  description  to  the 
southern  wall  led  Higden  to  place  Alcluith  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Carlisle.  Polychronkon, 
Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  66. 

Page  49.  The  donors  of  Wolsington  were  William  dc  Merlay  and  Rohays  his  wife.  Liber  dc 
Benefadoribus,  p.  445. 

Page  86,  line  4.  Prior  Tewing  was  assisted  in  his  task  of  defending  Tynemouth  castle  by  Aymar  de 
Valence,  warden  of  the  Marches,  and  by  Richard  de  Kellaw,  bishop  of  Durham.  Both  the 
bishop  and  the  warden  received  from  Edward  II.  letters  of  thanks  for  what  they  had  done  for 
the  prior,  to  whom  they  were  requested  to  continue  their  aid  in  matters  touching  the  northern 
parts.  The  letter  to  Valence  is  dated  September  ist,  1315  {Ancient  Correspondence,  P.R.O. 
vol.  49,  No.  31) ;  that  to  Kellaw  is  couched  in  very  similar  terms  and  is  probably  of  the  same 
date  [Reg.  Pal.  Dun.  Rolls  Series,  vol.  iv.  pp.  50S-509). 

Page  87,  line  13.  It  is  uncertain  how  long  John  de  Haustede  continued  in  charge  of  Tynemouth;  but 
the  castle  appears  to  have  been  still  under  the  control  of  a  royal  officer  on  August  6th,  1323. 
See  Palgrave,  Parliamentary  Writs,  vol.  ii.  div.  ii.  appendix,  p.  233. 

Page  99,  line  S.  An  independent  account  of  the  Scottish  invasion  in  1389  is  given  by  John  Malverne, 
who  states  that  the  Scots,  thirty  thousand  strong,  crossed  the  Tweed  on  June  2gth,  and  sent  a 
message  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  bidding  him  ransom  the  monastic  cells  and  property  of  his 
house.  The  money  apparently  was  not  forthcoming.  The  earl  of  Nottingham,  warden  of  the 
Marches,  was  absent  on  a  foray  in  Scotland,  and,  upon  hearing  of  the  Scottish  inroad,  took  up  a 
safe  position  at  Berwick.  The  earl  of  Northumberland  prudently  sought  the  king,  who  made 
him  president  of  the  Council.  Only  Sir  Matthew  Redman  and  Sir  Thomas  Ogle  had  courage 
to  follow  up  the  Scots,  of  whom  they  killed  or  captured  two  hundred  in  the  course  of  retreat. 
Polychronicon  Radulphi  Higden,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ix.  p.  213.  Malverne  also  records  an  invasion 
in  the  previous  year,  two  months  before  Otterburn,  wherein  the  enemy  laid  waste  Northumber- 
land as  far  as  Tynemouth,  and  did  greater  havoc  than  had  been  experienced  for  a  century. 
Ibid.  p.  184. 

Page  102,  line  24.  Bourne,  probably  with  greater  accuracy,  describes  this  stone  as  a  round  with  the 
inscription  :  orate  pro  anim.\  KOiiERTl  Rhodes  ;  History  of  NcK'castle,  p.  89.  Similar 
bosses  are  to  be  seen  in  the  groining  of  St.  John's  church,  Newcastle,  and  in  the  church  of 
Corbridge,  the  latter  having  been  removed  from  the  vaulted  stage  of  the  belfry  of  old  All  Saints' 
church,  Newcastle.  For  an  accout  of  Robert  Rhodes  see  Longstafte  in  Life  0/  Ambrose  Barnes, 
Surt.  Soc.  No.  50,  pp.  94-97.  In  his  WTit  of  diem  claiisit  extremum,  he  is  styled  Robert  Rhodes 
of  Benwell  (35//;  Deputy  Keeper's  Report,  p.  125),  and  he  may  be  safely  assumed  to  have 
bestowed  that  manor  upon  Tynemouth  priory  ;  but  his  relation  to  the  religious  house  was  that 
of  benefactor  only,  and  his  name  should  therefore  be  deleted  from  the  list  of  priors  on  page  123. 

Page  106,  line  31, /o)'  '  Prior  Stonywell'  read  '  Prior  Bensted.' 


ADDENDA    ET    CORRIGENDA.  Xlll 

Paye  iiS,  line  30.  For  a  description  of  'King  Oswin's  psalter'  see  the  35</i  Deputy  Keeper's  Report, 
pp.  164-165,  and  National  Manuscripts  of  Ireland  (text),  p.  39.  Two  pages  are  reproduced 
in  coloured  facsimile  in  Facsimiles  of  National  MSS.  Ireland,  pt.  ii.  plate  48.  Another  volume 
probably  emanating  from  Tynemouth  but  unnoticed  in  the  text  is  in  the  Bodleian  Library 
{Gough  Liturgies,  No.  18).  This  is  a  small  psalter,  with  delicate  illuminations  in  red,  blue  and 
gold,  a  few  large  capitals,  and  grotesque  animals  at  the  foot  of  some  of  the  pages.  Prefixed  to 
it  are  illuminated  pages  representing  Christ  and  the  Holy  Lamb,  the  Crucifixion,  the  Divine 
Person  seated  between  the  four  evangelists  represented  as  four  beasts,  and  a  Benedictine  monk 
adoring  the  Mother  and  Child. 

Page  119,  line  iS.  This  is  probably  the  copy  of  the  Historia  Ecclesiastica  mentioned  by  John  Boston  of 
Bury  as  being  in  the  Tynemouth  conventual  library.  It  is  significant  that  Boston  only 
mentions  one  other  volume  in  the  library,  namely,  the  Historia  Aurea  of  John  of  Tynemouth, 
a  fact  which  removes  the  doubt  expressed  on  page  126  as  to  John  of  Tynemouth's  identity. 
This  copy  of  the  Historia  Aurea  is  not  now  known  to  exist. 

Page  120,  last  paragraph  and  note  3.  Glover  and  Camden  derive  their  authority  from  Leland,  who 
gives  extracts  from  three  unidentified  chronicles  which  he  found  in  the  conventual  librarj'  at 
Tynemouth.  Collectanea,  ed.  1772,  vol.  i.  pp.  324-327.  Another  important  chronicle  from 
the  same  source  is  cited  by  Leland  on  several  occasions  in  his  Commentarii  de  Scriptoribus 
under  the  title  of  A  nnales  Tinenses.  None  of  these  chronicles  appear  to  have  had  any  specially 
local  character.     For  'Walterus'  in  line  i  read  '  Walcherus.' 

Page  123,  line  \o,for  '  Burton'  read  '  Bolton.' 

Page  124,  line  14, /y  'Prior  Dunham'  read  'Prior  de  Parco.' 

Page  143,  line  30,  omit  'the  cathedrals  of  Canterbury  and  Lincoln,  the  chapel  of  King's  College, 
Oxford.' 

Page  171,  Delaval  pedigree,  line  i,  for  'she  remarried,  secondly,  George  Cramlington  of  Cramlington, 
and,  thirdly,'  read  'widow  of  George  Cramlington  of  Newsham  ;  she  remarried.' 

Page  202,  Villiers  pedigree, /or  'William  Chaffinch'  read  'William  Chifiinch.' 

Page  215,  note  2.  .Another  list  of  the  jurors  of  Tynemouth  liberty  occurs  in  a  fragmentary  subsidy-roll 
of  about  the  year  1294  (No.  240/295),  and  is  as  follows  : 

Summa  bonorum  Roberti  de  Prudhow 
„  Johannis  de  Wytel    ... 

„  Willelmi  Russel        

„  Nicholai  de  Anebell 

„  Willelmi  Stiward 

„  Roberti  de  Chirton   ... 

„  Nicholai  Faukes       

„  Nicholai  de  Morton 

„  Rogeri  de  Morton     ... 

„  Hugonis  de  Bacwrth 

Radulphus  serviens  et  Rogerus  Gray  sunt  de  duodena,  et  non  debent  hie  taxari  quare  alibi  in 
Seton  monachorum  et  in  Est  Chirton. 

Summa  totalis  duodene  sine  hiis  duobus,  ^23  12s.  2d.  ;  unde  regi,  £2  7s.  2jd. 
Page  215,  note  3.     Add  to  the  list  of  seneschals  of  Tynemouth  liberty,  Thomas  de  Belsay,  1316. 
Page  216,  note  i.     The  office  of  constable  of  Tynemouth  castle  had  been  previously  held  by  John  de 
Haustede,  131S  (see  page  87);  Henry  Lancastre,  1445  (see  page  425);  and  by  John  Mitford, 
circa  1510  {Early  Chancery  Proceedings,  case  12S,  No.  43). 


f 

s. 

d. 

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d. 

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8 

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4 

15 

0 

9 

6 

3 

14 

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-> 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

■9 

8 

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17 

10 

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9i 

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9 

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05 

xiv  ADDENDA    ET    CORRIGENDA. 

Page  233,  line  49.     A  record  of  this  suit  is  to  be  found  in  Exchtqucr  Procealiitf^s,  bundle  145,  No.  238. 

Page  260,  line  24.  About  the  year  1490  the  prioress  and  convent  of  St.  Bartholomew  addressed  a  petition 
to  the  chancellor,  praying  that  a  writ  of  sub-pena  might  be  addressed  to  Nicholas,  prior  of 
Tynemouth,  he  having  refused  to  continue  the  annuity  of  eight  quarters  of  wheat,  whereby  the 
prioress  and  nuns  had  been  brought  to  great  poverty,  and  their  house  had  been  so  decayed  that 
they  could  not  sustain  the  charges  of  their  house  and  divine  service  as  they  had  done  heretofore 
and  as  they  were  bound  to  do  by  their  religion.  They  stated  that  they  were  too  poor  in  lands 
and  goods  to  bring  a  suit  at  common  law,  and  that  a  process  for  distraint,  obtained  upon  a  writ 
of  annuity,  would  not  be  e.\ecuted  by  reason  of  the  great  power  of  the  prior,  Northumberland 
being  'far  from  the  cours  and  good  ordre  of  the  lawe.'  Early  Chancery  Proceedings,  case  103, 
No.  24. 

Page  270.  Dockwray  pedigree.  Thomas  Dockwray  (1690- 1760)  was  nominated  perpetual  curate  of 
Wallsend  in  1718. 

Page  273.  Clark  pedigree.  The  following  are  the  dates  of  birth  of  the  daughters  of  William  Clark  of 
Tynemouth:  Anne  Elizabeth,  4th  June,  1796;  Mary  Elizabeth,  loth  March,  1799;  Elizabeth 
Sarah,  30th  August,  1801  ;  Jane  Margaret,  22nd  November,  1806.     i\'iillseitd  Registers. 

Page  298,  line  6,  for  '  Ramsay '  read  '  Ramsey.' 

Page  323.  Cardonnel-Lawson  pedigree.  Ann,  daughter  of  Mansfeldt  Cardonnel,  died  at  Cramlington, 
unmarried,  in  April,  1822.  James  Hilton  de  Cardonnel-Lawson  was  son  of  Adam  Mansfeldt  de 
Cardonnel-Lawson,  by  his  second  wife,  Miss  Vihart,  and  had  an  only  daughter  and  heiress, 
Ada  de  Cardonnel-Lawson,  living  at  Rome,  unmarried,  1906. 

Page  339,  note  3.  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  one  authoritative  definition  of  'fine  of  court' 
ascribes  to  that  payment  some  of  the  characteristics  peculiar  to  head-pennies.  In  1278,  a  case 
between  John  de  Hertweyton  and  Robert  de  Insula  was  heard  in  the  king's  court,  and,  in  the 
course  of  the  proceedings,  fine  of  court  was  defined  by  the  jurors  as  a  payment  made  for  exemp- 
tion from  attendance  at  the  sheriff's  town:  'Finis  curie  est  talis  quod  ballivi  doniini  regis  venire 
solebant  ad  curiam  baronum,  et  ibidem  sedere  et  audire  placita ;  et  quam  cito  ballivi  istius  curie 
aliquid  fecerint  contra  legem  et  consuetudinem  regni,  statim  ballivi  domini  regis  solebant 
amerciare  sectatores ;  propter  quod  omnes  sectatores  comitatus  et  curie  baronis  adierunt  curiam 
domini  regis  et  finem  fecerunt  cum  domino  rege  L  libris  pro  cornagio  reddendo  ei  quolibet 
anno,  et  pro  fine  curie  pro  L  libris  reddendo  domino  regi  bis  in  septem  annis.'  Placitorum 
Abbreviatio,  Record  Com.  p.  194.  According  to  the  custumal  of  West  Chirton,  however,  fine  of 
court  was  payable  twice  a  year;  and  the  payment  made  twice  every  seven  years,  which  is 
described  as  'head-pennies'  in  the  Survey  of  1377,  is  distinguished  from  fine  of  court,  with 
which  it  may  yet  have  been  closely  connected. 

Page  347.  Spearman  pedigree.  Eleanor,  first  wife  of  George  Spearman  of  Preston  and  Eachwick,  was 
buried  at  St.  Nicholas',  Newcastle,  nth  March,  1745/6.  Her  children  were  (i)  Edward, 
baptised  at  St.  Nicholas',  3rd  February,  1735/6,  died  February,  1762;  (2)  John,  baptised  at 
St.  Nicholas',  4th  April,  1737,  died  1774  ;  (3)  Matthew,  baptised  29th  April,  1739,  buried  at  St. 
John's,  Newcastle,  14th  January,  1761  ;  (4)  George,  baptised  20th  April,  1738,  died  1768. 
Sir  Cuthbert  Sharpe's  interleaved  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  i.  pt.  ii.  p.  94. 

Page  391,  line  12,  for  'Adam  de  Tewing'  read  '  Adam  de  Maperteshall.' 

Page  408,  note  2,  omit  '  Mary,  the  wife  of ...  .  Ward.' 


NORTHUyBCRLAND   COUNTY    HISTORY    VOL  VMI 


MAP    TO    ACCOMPANY   VOL  VIM. 

OF    A 

mSTOKTorSOi 

SHOWONl.  BOnM),VRIES  UK  TdWNSHIFS 
Srale    1     lOi.GOO 

-  1  * 

Ancient  Parish  of  Tynemouth   I I 

Chapelry  of  Earadon  L_J 

Boundary  of  Shire  Moor  —    r 


NOB         T       M 


A 

History  of  Northumberland. 


TYNEMOUTH     PARISH. 


INTRODUCTION. 

TN  this  volume  is  given  the  history  of  the  ancient  parish  of  Tynemouth, 
exclusive  of  the  chapelry  of  Earsdon  which  was  formerly  dependent 
upon  it.  The  parish  is  composed  of  eight  townships,  five  of  which  are 
included  in  the  modern  borough  of  Tvnemouth.  All  the  townships  in  the 
parish,  and  Earsdon  and  Backworth  in  Earsdon  chapelrv,  fall  within  a 
single  manor,  and  constitute  a  district  to  which  the  name  of  Tynemouth- 
shire,  as  used  in  a  restricted  sense,  is  applied  ;  but  formerly  this  district 
was  termed  the  I'li-s/iirc,  and,  in  conjunction  with  other  outlving  town- 
ships grouped  together  as  the  out-shire^  formed  a  franchise  or  liberty  held 
by  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  for  the  time  being. 

Sir  Walter  Scott's  description  of  Durham — '  half  church  of  God,  half 
fortress  'gainst  the  Scots' — is  even  more  applicable  to  Tvnemouth  ;  for 
the  lord  of  the  libertv  of  Tynemouthshire  was  not  onlv  prior  of  the 
premier  cell  of  St.  Albans  monastery,  but  held  and  guarded  one  of 
the  strongest  castles  in  the  county,  a  castle  which  came  into  the  hands 
of  the  crown  in  1538  and  continues  to  be  the  main  defence  of  the  Tyne. 
In  Tynemouthshire  the  coal  trade  found  its  earliest  development.  The 
growth  of  municipal  life  within  its  limits,  although  of  recent  origin,  is  the 
natural  outcome  of  a  quarrel  over  river  rights,  carried  on  through  many- 
centuries,  between  Tynemouth  and  Newcastle. 

Tynemouth  parish  forms  the  south-eastern  corner  of  the  county,  and 
covers  an  area  of  eleven  and  a  half  square  miles,  extending  three  miles 
northwards  along  the  coast  to  the  Brierdean  burn,  and  three  miles  up  the 
Tyne  to  Howdon.  Its  population  is  chiefly  distributed  among  the  growing 
towns  of  North  Shields,  Tynemouth,  and  Whitley,  and  totals  over  si.xty 
thousand  inhabitants. 

Vol.  VI 1 1.  I 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


GEOLOGY. 


The  parish  of  Tynemouth  and  chapelry  of  Earsdon  include  some  of 
the  most  interesting  geological  features  to  be  found  in  the  whole  of 
Northumberland.  In  the  first  place,  the  district  contains  the  only  outcrops 
of  Permian  strata  north  of  the  Tvne,  while  the  Coal-measures  include  most 
of  the  important  seams  worked  in  the  county.  In  some  cases,  the  shales 
associated  with  these  beds  enclose  magnificent  specimens  of  fish  and  reptiles, 
a  splendid  suit  of  which,  obtained  by  local  collectors,  is  exhibited  in  the 
Hancock  Museum  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  ;  while  the  sandstones  show 
features  of  some  interest.  The  glacial  deposits  again  are  finely  exposed  in 
a  continuous  section  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Tyne,  and  afford  information 
of  importance  concerning  the  origin  of  these  deposits  in   Northumberland. 

Permian. — These  rocks  occur  in  the  form  of  outliers  from  the  main 
mass  of  the  Permian  beds  which  bulk  so  large  along  the  coastline  south 
of  the  Tyne.  They  crop  out  at  Tynemouth,  Whitley  and  Cullercoats,  and 
also  at  Hartley,  where,  however,  only  the  lowest  beds  are  seen  capping 
the  cliff  near  the  old  lime-kiln.  They  occur  again  at  Clousden  Hill,  near 
Killingworth,  outside  this  parish.  They  include  representatives  of  the 
lower  yellow  sands,  marl-slate  and  lower  'compact'  and  middle  'cellular' 
limestones  of  Sedgwick  and  Howse.  The  most  southerly  of  these  outliers, 
namely,  that  under  Tynemouth  castle,  forms  the  northern  limit  of  the  main 
mass  of  the  Permian  in  Durham.  The  block  of  the  same  strata  at  Whitley, 
Cullercoats  and  Hartley  represents  a  further  extension  of  these  beds  to  the 
north,  let  down  and  preserved  by  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke.  How  much 
farther  north  in  Northumberland  the  Permian  beds  were  originally  deposited 
it  is  now  impossible  to  say,  but  the  presence  of  the  Middle  Limestone  at 
Whitley  shows  that  the  whole  series  must  have  once  extended  much 
farther  north,  since  that  bed  was  by  no  means  a  shore  deposit.  In  this 
connection,  it  is  interesting  to  note  the  occurrence  of  a  large  boulder  of 
fossiliferous  Magnesian  Limestone,  recorded  by  Kirkby  in  1865,  which  was 
washed  out  of  the  till  at  the  south  end  of  Whitley  sands,  about  a  mile  north 
of  the  present  outcrop  of  these  beds.  The  Lower  and  Middle  Limestones 
were  formerly  well  exposed  at  Whitley  quarries,  where  the  lower  bed  was 
noted  for  its  fossils,  for  Kirkby,  writing  of  these  beds  in  1865,  specially 
alludes  to  this  locality  as  the   '  ultima  Thule  '  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone 


GEOI.OGV.  3 

and  its  fossils.     Tlie  quarry  was  afterwards  drowned  out  by  water,  and  the 
fossiliferous  bed,   which  lay  towards  the  bottom,  rendered  inaccessible. 

In  the  clifl'  at  Tyncmouth  the  lower  bed  was  broken  up  and  formed 
into  a  conglomerate,  previous  to  the  deposition  of  the  upper  'concre- 
tionary '  ('  cellular  ')  bed  upon  it.  From  this  bed  Kirkby  quotes  as  many 
as  twenty  species  on  the  authority  of  Professor  King.  In  Northumber- 
land, as  in  manv  places  in  Durham  and  (iermanv,  the  Lower  Limestone 
rests  on  and  passes  into  a  shaly  marl-slate,  which  thins  out  and  disappears 
in  the  south  of  Durham.  It  seldom  reaches  a  yard  in  thickness  and  its 
chief  fossil  contents  are  hshes,  reptiles  and  plant  remains.  This  bed  was 
formerly  exposed  between  tide-marks  on  the  south  side  of  Cullercoats  bay, 
where  it  occurred  as  a  sandy  bituminous  shale.  It  has  here  yielded  many 
fine  specimens  of  ganoid  fishes,  I'hifxsounis  s/r/ii//is,  /-'vgoptenis  iiiaii- 
dibuhUiis  and  Acciifrophonis  i^/ii/)/iv/i/s,  together  with  several  species  of 
I*(i/(ic(jiiisciis,  of  which  /-".  Fiicslchciii  (Blainv)  is  bv  far  the  commonest. 
From  Cullercoats  also  have  been  recorded  specimens  of  the  shark, 
Woodtiika  striatuld  (Minister),  and  the  ray,  jfanassa  hitiDitinosa  (Schloth). 
At  the  present  day  (1905)  the  bed  is  practically  worked  out,  though  the 
writer  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  specimen  of  Palacoiiiscus  at  low  spring 
tide  in  the  summer  of  1904.  Plant  remains  are  verv  poorly  preserved  in 
this  exposure,  but  specimens  of  ("Unituiiiiit  sc/niiiiKjit/cs  occur  in  the  slate 
under  Tynemouth  castle. 

The  yellow  sands  below  form  an  incoherent  unfossiliferous  deposit. 
Local  in  character  and  of  variable  thickness,  they  are  often  false-bedded 
and  the  grains  of  quartz  are  frequently  much  rounded.  These  characters 
point  to  deposition  under  shallow  water  or  even  shore  conditions,  and  they 
may  possibly  represent  an  ieolian  deposit  of  the  nature  of  sand  dunes. 
The  sands  rest  unconformably  upon  the  denuded  surface  of  the  Coal- 
measures,  which  under  Tynemouth  castle  consist  of  red  sandstones  and 
shales,  apparently  representing  beds  a  little  above  the   '  Yard '  seam. 

These  red  beds  were  originallv  referred  bv  Sir  K.  I.  Murchison  and 
the  early  Northumbrian  geologists  to  the  Permian.  Thus  Howse  in  1848 
writes:  'They  are  the  "lower-new-red-sandstones''  of  English  geology,  and 
from  their  relative  position  are  considered  equivalent  to  the  "  Rothe-todte- 
liegende  "  of  Germany.'  In  this  statement  he  is  only  following  Professor 
Sedgwick's  classification  of  1826.     In   1857,  however,  he  remarks: 


4  TVNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

At  Cullerconts  and  Tynemouth  the  Red  Sandstone  is  so  evidently  conformable,  and  passes  so 
gradually  into  the  shales  and  sandstones  of  the  true  Coal-measures,  that  it  is  impossible  to  separate 
them,  or  point  out  a  line  of  separation, 

and  lie  sfoes  on  to  state  that  the  Red  Sandstone  contains  at  Tvnemouth 
genuine  Coal-measure  fossils.  In  1863,  in  his  joint  work  with  Kirkbv,  he 
allows  the  latter  to  sum  up  the  question  thus  ; 

Wc  include  the  Lower  Red  Sandstone  as  Permian  with  some  hesitation,  for  it  will  be  seen  that 
all  fossils  are  Coal-measure  species.  This  fact  would  certainly  have  induced  us  to  place  it  in 
the  Carboniferous  system,  rather  than  with  the  Permian  strata,  had  we  not  been  aware  that  several 
other  Carboniferous  species  extended  up  into  the  Magnesian  Limestone.  We  therefore  with  some 
reluctance  ignore  for  the  present  the  pahuontological  evidence,  and  classify  this  deposit  as  we  do, 
on  the  grounds  of  its  apparent  conformability  with  the  Magnesian  Limestone. 

In  1889,  in  his  guide  to  the  local  fossils,  Howse  entirely  abandons 
this  view  and,  in  speaking  of  these  two  deposits,  remarks  : 

It  (the  yellow  sandj  may  be  the  English  ei|ui\alent  of  the  (German  Wchdicgcndi^  which  is 
also  an  anomalous  deposit,  and,  if  so,  must  be  admitted  to  be  Permian,  as  the  W'cisiViegcndc^  in  some 
parts  of  Germany,  contains  characteristic  and  well-known  Magnesian  Limestone  or  Permian  species. 
There  is  no  Kothliegende  in  these  counties,  tlie  beds  so  classified  are  merely  the  disturbed  denuded 
edges  of  the  true  Coal-measures. 

In  the  last  edition  of  his  Outlines,  Professor  Lebour,  referring  to  these 
beds,  writes  : 

Messrs.  Daglish,  Forster,  .Xtkinson  and  others  have  always  stated  their  conviction  that  they  were 
merely  the  ordinary  Coal-measure  rocks  stained  red  at  and  near  their  line  of  contact  with  the  overlying 
Permian.     This  conviction  increased  experience  and  observation  cause  me  now  to  share  completely. 

The  '  smuggler's '  cave  in  Cullercoats  bav  has  been  e.xcavated  out  of 
these  beds  where  they  are  let  down  against  the  north  side  of  the  Ninetv- 
fathom  dyke,  and  here,  as  pointed  out  by  Professor  Lebour,  the  rock  is 
calcareous  in  spots,  giving  rise  to  a  curious  knobby  appearance  on  the 
weathered  surfaces,  due  to  segregation  of  calcareous  cementing  matter 
round  certain  points. 

The  unconformitv  of  these  yellow  sands  upon  the  Coal-measures,  now 
generally  accepted,  is  well  illustrated  by  the  fact  that  at  Tynemouth  the 
Permian  strata  rest  on  the  Red  Sandstone  not  far  above  the  '  Metal '  or 
'Grey'  seam,  while  at  Killingworth,  onlv  si.\  miles  away,  a  coal-seam 
known  as  the  '  Clousden  Hill'  seam  is  found,  1,000  feet  higher  in  the 
formation,  showing  the  denudation  of  a  great  thickness  of  Carboniferous 
rocks  before  the  deposition  of  the  Permian  beds. 


GEOLOGY.  5 

Historical.  —  The  first  published  account  of  the  Permian  rocks  in 
Northumberland  is  apparently  that  by  Winch  in  1.S14,  in  which  he  maps 
the  beds  as  a  continuous  outcrop  as  far  as  Whitley,  though  he  alludes  to 
the  Ninety-fathom  dyke  at  Cullercoats  as  dislocating  the  Coal-measures 
and  passing  into  the  sea,  and  remarks,  'here  is  the  northern  extremity  of 
the  west  boundary  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone,'  but  he  does  not  seem  to 
have  realised  that  the  preservation  of  this  patch  of  Permian  was  due  to  the 
downthrow  on  the  north  side  of  the  fault,  for,  in  describing  the  quarrv  at 
Whitley,  he  evidently  considers  the  fault  to  be  of  pre-Permian  age.  Thus 
he  says  : 

A  hollow  space,  formed  like  a  basin  or  trouyh,  is  filled  u  iih  llie  limestone.  The  Icnylh  of  this  from 
east  to  west  is  about  a  mile,  the  breadth  from  north  to  south  400  yards,  the  depth  seventv  feet.  The 
beds  pan  over  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke,  which  has  occasioned  in  them  no  confusion  or  dislocation  ;  so 
that  there  can  be  little  hazard  in  stating  that  the  beds  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone  belong  to  a  more 
recent  formation  than  those  of  the  coal-field. 

He  gives  a  detailed  description  of  these  beds,  and  also  records  the 
presence  of  strings  of  galena  and  of  fossils.  He  also  states  that  the  stone 
is  obtained  for  lime  by  lighting  fires  against  the  rock,  thus  causing  it  to 
split  off.  In  the  same  year  Dr.  Thomson,  in  the  Annals  ijf  P/ii/osop/ix, 
traces  the  boundary  between  the  Coal-measures  and  the  Permian  deposits. 
He  alludes  to  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke  as  the  'Great'  dvke,  stating  that 
it  enters  the  sea  a  little  south  of  Hartley.  Incidentally  also  he  first 
mentions  the  occurrence  of  '  fle.Kible '  limestone  in  the  Magnesian  rocks  : 
his  e.xamples,  however,  are  taken  from  Marsden. 

In  1S26  Professor  Adam  Sedgwick  published  his  classical  paper  on 
the  Magnesian  Limestone.  In  this  work  he  alludes  to  the  Permian  rocks 
of  Northumberland,  and  criticises  Winch's  statement  that  the  Ninety-fathom 
dyke  passes  through  the  Whitley  quarries  as  irreconcilable  with  his  own 
observations  regarding  the  dyke.  He  records  the  occurrence  of  nodules 
of  galena  and  blende,  and  considers  that  the  mode  of  occurrence  of  the 
former  indicates  a  contemporaneous  origin.  The  ne.xt  allusion  to  these 
beds  is  that  in  1831  by  Nicholas  Wood,  who  however  merely  briefly 
describes  them.  Up  to  this  time  and  until  some  years  later  no  allusion 
appears  to  have  been  made  to  the  beautifully  preserved  fish  remains  in  the 
marl-slate  of  Cullercoats  bay.  The  first  printed  notice  occurs  in  Howse' 
Cat<jlogitc  of  I\'i niian   Fossi/s,  published  in    1848,  where  he  remarks  : 


6  TVNEMOrTH    PARISH. 

This  bed  is  exceedingly  inleresling  on  actouni  of  the  nmneious  remains  of  fishes  which  are 
preserved  in  it.  They  are  found  pressed  quite  flat  between  the  lamina-  of  which  this  bed  is  composed,  in 
the  following  localities,  Whitley  quarries  and  Cullercoats  bay,  etc.  Last  summer,  while  working  some 
marl-slate  in  Cullercoats  bay,  to  which  our  attention  was  directed  by  Mr.  A.  Hancock,  we  obtained 
two  specimens  of  a  Paltuoiiisais, 

SO  that  the  discovery  of  this  ricii  locality  must  evidently  have  been  made 
by  Albany  Hancock  about  1847,  but  an  account  of  it  was  only  published  by 
him  in  the  A'ofiiral  History  y'raiisdcfioiis  for  1849.  In  his  Moiioiirdpli  of 
Pcrniiaii  Fossils,  published  in  1850,  William  King  figures  several  species  of 
invertebrata  from  the  Whitley  quarries,  as  for  instance  :  S\nocladia  vir- 
gulaccn,  Cvnt/iocriiiiis  iitinosiis,  Spiiifcr  d/attis,  Spirifcriiia  cristiitd, 
CiimaropJwrid  glohii/iiid,  etc.  He  also  figures  species  of  fish  which 
occur  in  the  marl-slate  of  Cullercoats.  In  1857  Howse  published  the 
supplement  to  his  former  catalogue,  and  in  1863  appeared  the  Synopsis 
of  tJic  Geology  of  Diirhdin  din/  I'dit  of  Xort/iiiiiihcr/iUKf,  bv  Howse 
and  Kirkby,  a  pamphlet  published  especially  in  connection  with  the  visit 
of  the  British  Association  to  Newcastle.  In  this  he  records  most  of  the 
important  points  in  connection  with  the  Permian  rocks  in  Northumberland. 
In  the  same  year  appeared  Binnev  and  Kirkby's  translation  of  (ieinitz' 
work.  The  J)xds,  as  far  as  it  referred  to  the  British  Permian  beds.  Since 
this  time  but  little  has  been  published  which  is  new  on  these  beds  in 
Northumberland.  .V  fine  collection  of  fish  from  the  marl-slate  at  Culler- 
coats, collected  by  the  late  Mr.  Dinning,  has  however  been  presented  to 
the  Hancock  Museum. 

In  1878  Professor  Lebour  published  his  Outlines  of  the  Geology  of 
Xoithuinlierhuul  which  again  summarises  our  knowledge  of  the  Permian 
deposits  of  Northumberland,  while  a  second  edition  of  this  work  was  issued 
in  1886.  Lastly,  in  1889,  Mr.  Howse  completed  his  guide  to  the  local 
fossils  in  the  Hancock  Museum,  in  which  will  be  found  the  latest  list  of 
Northumberland  fossils  from  the  marl-slate  and  Magnesian  Limestone  of 
Cullercoats  and  Whitlev. 

The  Codl-inedsiires. — The  beds  of  this  formation  constitute  the  whole 
of  the  solid  geology  of  the  district,  with  the  exception  of  the  small  out- 
liers of  Permian  rocks  mentioned  above,  and  must  represent  an  aggregate 
thickness  of  some  1,200  to  1,400  feet.  They  consist  of  sandstones,  fire- 
stones  and  shales,  with  occasional  coal-seams  and  clay-ironstones.  The 
latter  are  often  rich  in  lamellibranch  remains  {Aiithiaeosid,    Carboiiieoln), 


GEOLOGY. 


when  they  constitute  the  well  known  Mussel  Bands  of  the  miner,  and 
frequently  contain  over  i8  per  cent,  of  iron  protoxide.  At  least  three  of 
these  mussel  bands  occur  in  this  portion  of  the  coal-field  at  definite  horizons; 
one  a  few  feet  above  the  Low  Main  seam,  another  close  above  the  High 
Main,  while  a  third  is  recorded  from  the  Seaton  Delaval  colliery  from 
above  the  'Yard'  coal.  The  first  of  these  is  well  seen  in  the  Whitley 
cliffs,  in  connection  with  the  conglomerate  mentioned  below,  while  another 
band  is  visible  along  the  coast  near  Hartlev. 

The  coals  in  the  district  include  most  of  the  important  seams  worked 
in  Northumberland  down  to  the  Low  Main  seam.  The  highest  coal  re- 
corded is  the  so-called  '  Clousden  Hill'  seam,  described  by  Mr.  Hutton 
on  the  authority  of  the  late  Mr.  N.  Wood  as  occurring  in  a  quarrv  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke,  just  on  the  western  limit  of 
this  district,  800  yards  south  of  Killingworth  House  and  450  feet  above 
the  Monkton  seam.  The  chief  seams  below  this,  ;in  descending  order, 
are  the  Five-quarter  seam  and  the  Three-quarter  or  Seventy-fathom  coal, 
both  of  the  Cowpen  district,  near  Blyth  ;  the  High  Main,  the  Grey  and 
Blake  seams  of  Seghill  and  Cramlington,  the  Yard  Coal,  the  Bensham 
seam  and  the  Low  Main  or  Hutton  seam.  At  the  present  day  the  most 
important  seam  worked  is  the  Low  Main,  which  occurs  at  a  wonderfully 
uniform  depth  ;  thus  at  Bebside  colliery  it  lies  at  93  fathoms  from  the 
surface,  at  Low  Newsham  colliery  at  104  fathoms,  at  Cramlington  colliery 
at  72  fathoms,  and  at  Seaton  Delaval  at  102  fathoms.  The  High  Main, 
once  the  most  notable  seam,  is  now  practically  worked  out  or  abandoned  ; 
it  formerly  supplied  the  famous  '  Wallsend '  coal  of  the  south  of  the 
district. 

The  general  dip  of  the  beds,  as  seen  on  the  coast  between  Seaton 
Sluice  and  Cullercoats,  is  uniformly  to  the  south-west.  North  of  Seaton, 
however,  and  inland,  the  beds  are  much  disturbed  by  faults.  South  of 
the  Ninety-fathom  dyke,  the  beds,  where  exposed  on  the  coast,  dip  due 
south  as  far  as  the  fault  occupied  by  the  Tynemouth  dyke.  South  of  this 
again,  near  the  Black  Middens,  the  dip  changes  to  east. 

The  chief  faults  traversing  this  coal-field,  though  irregular,  run  roughly 
east  and  west  in  the  general  direction  of  the  dip  of  the  beds.  Their  chief 
effect  is  therefore  a  lateral  shifting  of  the  outcrep,  but  nevertheless  the 
dip  of  the  beds  is  never  great,  being  usually  between  two  and  ten  degrees. 


8  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  Ninety-fathom  dyke  is  however  an  exception  to  this  rule,  since  the 
beds  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cullercoats  are  dipping  south,  while  the 
fault  is  a  'strike'  fault  running  due  west  from  the  coast.  As  a  result 
we  <^et  all  the  seams  from  the  Low  Main  to  the  High  Main  repeated  at 
the  surface  on  the  south  side  of  the  fault.  The  Low  Main  thus  crops  out 
on  the  coast  just  south  of  Cullercoats  bay,  the  Bensham  seam  runs  into  the 
sea  in  the  middle  of  the  Long  Sands,  while  the  '  Yard  '  coal  is  seen  in  the 
cliff  midway  between  Sharpness  Point  and  Tynemouth  castle,  and  a  small 
seam  which  is  frequently  exposed  after  storms  beneath  the  Boulder-clay, 
west  of  the  Black  Middens,  is  probably  the  'Grey'  or  'Blake'  seam.  The 
High  Main  is  not  seen  on  the  coast  but  crops  out  inland  from  Chirton 
Hill  by  the  south  of  Murton  to  Backworth  station,  west  of  which  it  dis- 
appears against  the  fault. 

Another  important  fault  is  the  Brierdean  dyke,  which  has  a  downthrow 
of  eightv  feet  to  the  north  and  shifts  the  outcrop  of  the  High  Main  coal 
from  Earsdon  to  a  position  midwav  between  Hartley  and  Brierdean  farms. 
At  Crag  Point,  again,  farther  north,  we  find  a  pair  of  dislocations  which 
throw  the  strata  down  eighty-five  degrees  to  the  north,  and  turn  the  dip 
on  the  north  side  round  to  the  north-west.  At  Seaton  Sluice,  on  the 
other  hand,  a  fault  lets  down  the  beds  seventy-eight  feet  on  the  south,  so 
that  these  two  faults  practically  neutralize  one  another.  A  peculiar  group 
of  faults,  radiating  like  a  '  starred '  pane  of  glass,  occur  round  Cowpen 
colliery,  all  of  which  have  a  downthrow  on  their  southern  side.  Lastly,  in 
the  extreme  south  of  Tynemouth  parish,  a  fault  occurs  with  a  downthrow 
of  1 80  feet  to  the  south,  which  runs  from  the  Narrows  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Tyne  westward  to   Millbank. 

The  sandstones  vary  considerably  in  colour  and  texture,  but  form  a 
valuable  building  stone  in  the  district  ;  they  are  frequently  false-bedded 
and  show  shallow  water  characteristics.  In  1852  Dr.  Sorby  attempted  to 
work  out  the  direction  from  which  the  currents  had  flowed  during  the 
depositions  of  these  sandstones  between  the  Tyne  and  Seaton  Sluice. 
From  careful  obseryation  he  deduced  that  the  drift  ripples  in  the  Red 
Sandstone  under  Tynemouth  castle  show  a  mean  direction  from  north 
nine  degrees  .east,  while  the  beds  at  Cullercoats  show  a  direction  north 
twenty  degrees  east.  The  sandstones  between  Hartley  and  Seaton  Sluice, 
which  he  considers  to  be  the  same  beds,  showed  a  drift  from  north  seven- 


PLATE    I. 


Fig.   1.— The   Ninety-fathom    Dyke  at  Cullercoats 

(SHOWING  THE  COAL-MEASURES   ON   THE   LEFT    BROUGHT  AGAINGST   THE   PERMIAN   ON   THE   RIGHT.  SEE   P.  8). 


Fig.   2 -Table   Rocks.   Whitley 

(SHOWING    MARINE   PENUDATION    ALONG    A   JOINT,   SEE    P.    l6). 


GEOLOGY.  9 

teen  degrees  east.  He  thought  the  current  must  have  been  a  very  uniform 
one  and  indicated  a  considerable  velocity.  He  noted  great  variety  in 
individual  beds  of  the  true  Coal-measures  on  this  coast  and  sums  up  his 
results  as  follows  : 

We  have  in  the  coal  strata  of  the  coast  section,  between  Tynemouth  and  Seaton  Sluice,  beds  drifted 
from  very  various  quarters,  but  yet  they  may  all  be  divided  into  two  leading  groups,  namely,  those 
which  have  come  from  some  point  between  north-east,  passing  through  north  and  west  to  south-west ; 
and  those  from  between  south  and  east,  there  being  none  from  any  point  between  south  and  south-east, 
or  east  and  north-east. 

Among  Other  important  sandstones  which  crop  out  in  this  district, 
special  mention  may  be  made  of  the  well-known  Burradon  firestone  between 
Killingworth  and  Seghill.  Many  of  these  sandstones  show  concentric  fer- 
ruginous staining,  and  sometimes  this  is  concentrated  into  concretionary 
nodules.  A  good  example  occurs  in  the  cliff  immediatelv  under  North- 
umberland Terrace. 

With  regard  to  the  shales,  manv  of  these  yield  plant  remains,  which 
have  been  especially  collected  from  the  beds  associated  with  the  High 
Main,  Bensham,  and  Low  Main  seams.  Specimens  of  these  are  displayed 
in  the  collection  at  Barras  Bridge.  They  have  been  procured  from  the 
Low  Main  at  Newsham,  Killingworth  and  Cramlington,  and  from  the  Iron- 
stone shale  at  Whitley,  and  no  doubt  occur  in  connection  with  other  seams. 

Of  still  greater  interest  are  the  unique  collections  of  fish  and  amphibians 
which  have  been  obtained  in  such  quantities  and  in  such  a  fine  state  of 
preservation  from  the  shale  associated  with  the  Low  Main  seam  at  Newsham 
colliery.  Over  thirty  papers  have  been  written  by  Owen,  Agassiz,  Albany 
Hancock,  Atthey,  Barkas  and  Embleton  on  the  remains  discovered  in 
this  bed,  a  summary  of  which,  by  Mr.  Howse,  will  be  found  in  The 
Industrial  Resources  of  the  Tyjie,  and  also  in  the  Guide  to  the  Local 
Fossils,  published  by  the  same  author  in  1889.  The  unique  collection 
made  by  the  late  Mr.  Atthey  is  exhibited  in  the  Newcastle  museum.  This 
collection  includes  thirty  species  of  fish  and  six  species  of  amphibians,  four 
of  them  being  originallv  described  from  this  locality,  while  of  the  fish 
the  interesting  species  of  the  rays,  J-anassa  lingnaeforinis,  together  with 
six  species  of  the  dipnoid  Ctenodus,  were  first  discovered  by  Atthey  in 
this  shale.  Indeed,  so  rich  was  this  shale  in  fish  remains  that  at  one  time 
Mr.  T.  P.  Barkas,  who  was  the  recipient  of  many  of  the  fossils  discovered 
in   the  pit,   was  reduced  to   advertising  gifts  of  typical  specimens  to  any 

Vol.  VIII.  3 


lO  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

readers  of  the  Geological  Magazine  who  would  relieve  him  of  his  over- 
whelming store.  Much  interest  was  excited  at  one  time  by  the  alleged 
discovery  by  the  same  gentleman  of  mammalian  remains  from  this  bed. 
Subsequent  investigation,  however,  failed  to  confirm  this  identification. 
Quite  recently  (1904)  an  interesting  discovery  has  been  made  by  Professor 
Lebour  and  Dr.  Smythe  in  connection  with  the  order  of  succession  of  the 
Coal-measures  in  this  district,  and  the  writer  is  indebted  to  these  gentlemen 
for  very  kindly  furnishing  him  with  the  following  notes,  in  anticipation  of 
a  fuller  description  elsewhere.  The  discovery  was  made  in  connection 
with  a  series  of  shales  and  their  beds  of  sandstone  underlying  the  Table 
Rock  sandstone  in  Whitley  bay.  These  beds  are  only  exposed  at  low  tide, 
and  the  shore  is  inaccessible  at  other  times,  a  fact  which  may  account  for 
this  interesting  section  having  escaped  the  attention  of  previous  observers. 

The  junction  between  this  series  and  the  cliff-making  sandstone  above  it  is  marked  by  a  number 
of  stratigraphical  irregularities.  These  irregularities  are  rendered  specially  noticeable  by  carefully 
mapping  the  outcrop  of  a  band  of  clay-ironstone  crowded  with  Carhonkola  {Anlhnuosia),  which  forms 
part  of  the  lower  set  of  deposits  referred  to.  It  is  then  clear  that  whilst  the  overlying  sandstone  is 
continuous  and  practically  unbroken  from  its  emergence  above  sea-level  nearly  as  far  as  the  Brier 
Dene,  with  a  small  dip  inland  which  makes  its  strike  coincide  with  the  coastline,  it  is  far  otherwise 
with  the  mussel-band  and  its  associated  strata.  These,  though  often  for  several  yards  running  in 
apparent  concordance  of  strike  with  the  cliff-sandstone,  over  and  over  again  become  bent  into  folds — 
some  gentle  and  others  of  violent  pitch — most  of  which  have  their  axes  at  right  angles,  or  nearly  so, 
to  the  strike  of  the  sandstone.  Moreover,  these  folds  in  numerous  cases  have  given  rise  to  small 
reversed  faults  of  high  {i.e.,  flat)  hade.  Besides  these  disturbances,  all  in  the  same  direction,  the 
lower  series  is  broken  up  by  a  few  ordinary  faults.  Now  these  folds,  reversed  faults  and  nearly  all 
the  normal  fau'ts,  affect  the  lower  beds  only,  including  the  guiding  mussel-band,  and  leave  the  sand- 
stone above  undisturbed.  Here,  therefore,  are  all  the  characters  of  an  unconformity  accompanied  with 
occasionally  great  discordance  of  dip  ;  and  some  of  the  characters  of  the  floor  of  a  thrust. 

Examining  now  the  cliff  sandstone  equally  minutely,  it  is  found  that  what  change  can  be  observed 
in  it  is  chiefly  this  :  in  proceeding  northwards  the  formation  becomes  less  and  less  massive  until  near 
the  northern  end  of  the  cliff-section,  where  a  marked  interlacing  of  shale  and  sandstone  takes  place, 
some  of  the  wedging  out  and  in  of  the  constituent  beds  in  one  or  two  places  showing  by  internal 
faulting  that  some  differential  movement  undoubtedly  took  place,  but  only,  be  it  noted,  where  the 
rock  ceases  to  be  essentially  one  massive  deposit.  Thus  the  sandstone,  as  well  as  the  beds 
beneath,  bears  witness  to  something  of  the  nature  of  thrusting,  and  the  evidence  from  both  points  to 
the  movement  having  been  from  south  to  north.  But  there  might  be  thrusting  without  unconformity. 
The  evidence  of  the  denudation  of  the  lower  before  the  deposition  of  the  higher  beds  is  completed 
by  the  fact  that  fragments  of  the  former  are  found  in  many  places  in  the  bottom  position  of  the  latter, 
and  that  these  fragments  include  rolled  and  waterworn  pebbles  of  the  inussel-band  already  mentioned. 

It  is  thus  concluded  (and  many  minor  details  uphold  the  conclusion)  that  the  Table  Rock  sandstone 
was  not  deposited  until  the  shales  and  other  beds  beneath  it,  including  the  mussel-band,  had  been 
denuded,  and  that  after  such  deposition  had  taken  place,  the  upper  sandstone  (and  probably  all  above 
it)  was  moved  a  certain  distance,  chiefly  to  the  north  over  the  edges  of  lower  beds. 

The  mussel-band  is  supposed  to  be  the  shelly  layer  a  few  fathoms  above  the  Low  Main  coal, 
but  this  is  by  no  means  certain.  What  the  e.>cact  horizon  of  the  Table  Rock  sandstone  may  be,  except 
that  it  must  be  high  up  in  the  Coal-measures,  is  by  no  means  certain  either. 


GEOLOGY.  I  I 

It  is  clear  that  though  the  unconformity  and  accompanying  thrust  may  not  be,  either  of  them, 
large  in  amount,  yet  in  the  absence  of  evidence  on  this  point,  their  occurrence  is  well  worth  notice, 
since,  should  the  lapse  of  time  represented  by  the  one  and  the  shift  due  to  the  other  be  greater  than 
is  supposed,  they  may  lead  to  an  explanation  of  the  difficulty  which  has  frequently  been  felt  in 
attempting  to  correlate  some  of  the  coal-seams  in  the  south-east  corner  of  Northumberland,  and 
especially  in  that  portion  of  the  Durham  Coal-measures  which  in  the  north-east  of  that  county  are 
concealed  by  the  overlying  Permian  bed. 

Dykes. — Five  important  Whin  dykes  reach  the  coast  between  the  Tyne 
and  Blyth.  They  are  exactly  parallel  to  one  another,  and  belong  to 
Professor  Lebour's  east  and  west  series  ;  the  most  southernly  reaches  the 
coast  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tyne,  while  the  most  northernly  appears  in  the 
river  Blyth,  just  beyond  the  parish  boundary. 

Of  the  three  intermediate  dykes,  the  two  most  southernly  run  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  apart  and  reach  the  coast  a  little  south  of  Seaton  Sluice 
and  at  Crag  Point  respectively,  while  the  one  still  farther  to  the  north 
appears  to  run  out  to  sea  under  the  Blyth  links,  due  east  of  Barras  farm. 
The  three  southernly  intrusions  are  connected  with  a  set  of  east  and  west 
faults,  but  they  do  not,  as  a  rule,  seem  to  be  affected  by  any  of  the  cross 
faults  associated  with  them,  and  would  therefore  appear  to  be  younger  than 
those  dislocations  ;  in  fact,  on  account  of  their  parallelism  with  similar  dykes 
north  of  the  Scottish  border,  they  are  usually  regarded  as  of  Tertiary  age. 

They  are,  however,  far  from  continuous,  and  have  a  habit  of  dying 
out  and  overlapping  along  parallel  fissures,  especially  in  their  westerly 
continuation  beyond  the  boundary  of  the  district.  This  feature  is  well 
seen,  however,  on  the  coast  in  the  case  of  the  Seaton  dyke. 

Winch  evidently  regarded  the  Seaton  and  Hartley  dykes  as  one  and 
the  same,  for  he  remarks,  'Another  (dyke),  about  three  yards  wide,  appears 
in  the  cliffs  over  Seaton  Sluice  :  its  direction  is  W.N.W.,  and  it  may 
again  be  seen  in  Hartlev  burn.'  Wood  also  mentions  the  Hartlev  dyke, 
and  alludes  to  its  connection  with  a  fault,  and  also  describes  the  manner 
in  which  the  coal  in  contact  with  it  is  charred  where  it  is  seen  in  the  cliff. 

This  intrusion  also  shows,  incidentally,  a  good  example  of  the  vertical 
dying-out  of  a  dyke,  as  pointed  out  by  Professor  Lebour,  for,  near  the 
spring  on  the  beach,  it  is  at  least  twelve  feet  wide  at  the  foot  of  the  cliff, 
where  it  is  seen  dying  away  upwards  after  dividing  into  two  tongues,  the 
longer  of  which  thins  out  beneath  a  bed  of  sandstone  about  eleven  feet 
below  the  surface,  though  the  fault,  along  which  it  was  intruded,  is  still 
seen  continuing  upwards. 


12  TYNEMOUTH    PARISM. 

The  same  feature  is  reported  by  Dr.  Teall  from  another  section  inland 
where  the  dyke  was  exposed  in  a  small  quarry  on  the  east  side  of  the  dene. 
Here  the  dyke  was  seen  to  diminish  five  feet  in  width  in  a  height  of  about 
twenty  feet,  being  about  ten  feet  wide  at  the  bottom  and  five  feet  at  the 
top  of  the  quarry,  where  it  terminates  abruptly  upwards,  arching  up  the 
shales  above  it.  The  Hartley  dyke  has  been  met  with  in  the  Shankhouse 
pit  to  the  west  where  it  was  seen  to  be  seven  or  eight  feet  wide  and 
contained  a  fault  breccia  in  the  centre.  The  northern  exposure  in  this 
colliery  showed  an  example  of  the  duplicating  and  overlapping  mentioned 
above,  one  intrusion  measuring  several  feet  and  the  other  only  eleven  inches 
in  thickness.  As  usual  the  coal  here  was  charred  and  altered  into  'white 
whin.'  The  rock  is  very  uniform  in  different  exposures  and  resembles  very 
closely  the  Tynemouth  and  Brunton  dykes. 

The  Tynemouth  dyke  shows  features  of  particular  interest.  It  was 
first  briefly  described  by  Winch  in  1814,  in  his  paper  read  before  the 
Geological  Society,  as  follows  : 

A  basaltic  dyke  six  feet  wide  may  be  seen  among  the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation  at  the  south- 
eastern comer  of  the  promontory  on  which  Tynemouth  castle  stands. 

This  is  his  description  on  page  24  of  the  above  work  ;  he  does  not,  how- 
ever, seem  to  have  visited  it  himself,  for  before  concluding  his  paper  he 
appears  to  have  forgotten  this  description  and  he  proceeds  to  redescribe 
it  as  follows : 

The  next  basaltic  dyke  worthy  of  notice  is  one  which,  passing  from  west  to  east  under  Tynemouth 
priory,  may  be  seen  to  divide  the  strata  at  the  south-east  point  of  Prior's  Haven,  where  it  forms  a  wall 
twelve  feet  broad  in  the  cliff,  and  in  the  rocks  below  a  vein  or  fissure  twelve  inches  in  breadth  and 
filled  with  tufaceous  matter  intersects  the  dyke  from  top  to  bottom  near  its  centre,  and  the  basalt 
strongly  resembles  the  Coley-hill  stone. 

In  1826  Professor  Sedgwick,  in  discussing  the  date  of  intrusion  of  the 
north  of  England  basaltic  dykes,  remarks  : 

The  Trap  dyke  at  the  south-west  end  of  Tynemouth  castle  cliff  is  unfortunately  of  no  assistance  to 
this  enquiry,  because  the  capping  of  yellow  limestone  does  not  extend  to  that  extremity  of  the  cliflf  where 
the  dyke  is  present.  Such  is  the  imperfect  evidence,  or  rather  such  is  the  absence  of  all  direct  evidence, 
in  favour  of  the  conclusion,  that  the  Trap  dykes  in  our  northern  coal-fields  belong  to  an  age  which  is 
anterior  to  the  deposition  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone. 

The  next  mention  we  find  of  this  dyke  is  by  Nicholas  Wood  in  1831. 
In  describing  the  beds  at  Tynemouth  he  remarks,  '  a  whin  dyke,  shown  in 
section,  from  twelve  to  fourteen  feet  in  width,  and  difl'ering  in  no  respect 


GEOLOGY.  13 

from  those  generally  found  in  this  district,  here  intersects  the  Yellow  Sand- 
stone and  Red  Sandstone,  at  right  angles  to  the  stratification  of  the  beds  ; 
but  it  cannot,  from  the  incumbent  alluvial  matter,  be  ascertained  if  it  also 
pierces  the  Magnesian  Limestone.' 

At  the  present  day  this  dyke  is  still  exposed  in  the  south-west  corner 
of  Prior's  Haven,  just  at  the  angle  where  the  flight  of  steps  descends  from 
the  north  pier  to  the  shore.  The  exposure  shows  a  width  of  about  ten  feet 
and  contains  a  brecciated  quartz  vein,  six  inches  wide,  near  the  middle. 
This  is  no  doubt  the  vein,  'twelve  inches  wide,  filled  with  tufaceous  matter,' 
described  by  Winch.  This  central  vein  is  very  characteristic  of  many  whin 
dykes  ;  it  is  noticeably  present  in  the  inland  exposures  of  the  Hartley 
dyke,  and  is  no  doubt  a  feature  resulting  from  the  lateral  cooling  and 
shrinkage  of  the  basalt,  leaving  a  plane  of  weakness  in  the  centre,  along 
which  movement  or  infiltration  has  taken  place,  as  suggested  by  Dr.  Teall. 

The  dyke  was  also  exposed  in  1882  in  the  excavations  for  the  new 
railway  station.     Dr.  Teall,  who  examined  this  exposure,  writes  : 

The  most  interesting  feature  connected  with  this  exposure  was  the  evidence  of  a  breach  in  the 
continuity  of  the  dyke,  accompanied  by  a  lateral  shift  in  the  outcrop,  amounting  to  seventeen  yards. 
The  width  of  the  dyke  was  about  eleven  or  twelve  feet,  and  it  possessed  a  hade  to  the  north.  Farther 
west  the  same  dyke  has  been  met  with  near  Billy  Mill  by  Mr.  Flavell,  during  the  construction  of  works 
by  the  North  Shields  Water  Company.  Still  farther  to  the  west,  near  Newcastle,  occurs  the  well-known 
Coley-hill  dyke,  which  was  formerly  worked  on  a  very  extensive  scale  for  road-metal,  and  the  course 
of  which  is  now  indicated  by  a  deep  trench. 

This  dyke  agrees  in  general  direction  with  the  Tynemouth  dyke  ; 
Winch  appears  to  have  regarded  the  two  as  connected,  and  Dr.  Teall 
comes  to  the  same  conclusion  from  a  microscopic  examination  of  the  two 
rocks.  In  appearance  the  Tynemouth  dyke  is  a  dark  compact  rock, 
containing  crystalline  aggregates  of  anorthite  felspar  embedded  in  a  dark, 
finely  crystalline  ground- mass  composed  of  augite,  lath-shaped  felspars  and 
interstitial  matter.  Olivine  is  occasionally  present,  forming  a  rock  to 
which  Rosenbusch  has  given  the  name  of  trolleite.  The  rock  often  exhibits 
small  white  spots  scattered  irregularly  through  it.  These  are  due  partly 
to  the  presence  of  amygdules  and  partly  to  the  porphyritic  crystals  of 
anorthite  felspar.  Dr.  Teall,  who  has  described  the  rock  in  detail,  points 
out  the  interest  of  these  spots.  The  porphyritic  felspars  are  crystalline 
aggregates  in  which  the  outer  zone  of  felspar  substance  possesses  optical 
properties  diff'erent  from  the  central  portion.  The  spherical  amygdaloids 
vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  mustard  seed  to  that  of  a  peppercorn,  and  as  a 


14  Tynemouth  parish. 

general  rule  vary  in  quantity  inversely  with  the  anorthite  aggregates.  They 
consist  of  calcite  and  frequently  contain  a  chalcedony  border.  One  point 
of  interest  is  the  manner  in  which,  during  the  formation  of  the  bubble,  the 
lath-shaped  felspars  have  been  pushed  aside  and  arranged  tangentially  to 
the  vesicles,  while  the  interstitial  matter  is  in  no  wise  affected,  being  of 
later  consolidation.  These  vesicles  have  been  compared  by  Dr.  Teall  to 
the  bubbles  which  rise  in  the  contents  of  a  soda  water  bottle  as  the  cork  is 
partially  removed.  In  some  cases  the  vesicles  are  filled  partly  or  entirely 
with  interstitial  matter,  which  evidently  entered  on  the  escape  or  conden- 
sation of  the  gas.  On  the  whole,  the  rock  agrees  microscopically  as  well 
as  macroscopically  with  the  Coley-hill  dyke. 

The  dyke  is  intruded  in  the  Coal-measures.  The  Permian  strata  are 
not  seen  in  contact  with  it  at  the  present  day.  Nicholas  Wood's  statement 
that  in  1831  it  could  be  seen  intersecting  the  yellow  sand  is  therefore 
of  interest,  but  if  the  absence  of  the  Permian  beds  above  the  dyke  at  the 
present  day  is  due  to  subsequent  denudations,  it  is  curious  that  Sedgwick, 
writing  in  1826,  five  years  before  Wood,  should  expressly  regret  that  the 
dyke  could  not  be  seen  in  contact  with  the  Permian  strata.  It  is  true  that 
Sedgwick  uses  the  expression  'yellow  limestone,'  but  he  specially  insists  on 
the  inclusion  of  the  lower  sands  in  the  Permian  formation,  and  also  states 
that  the  same  sandstone  is  twenty-five  feet  thick  under  Tynemouth  priory. 
It  is  obvious  then  that  no  such  penetration  of  the  yellow  sands  by  the 
dyke  was  visible  in  1826.  The  above  statement  by  Winch,  in  18 14,  that 
the  dyke  penetrated  the  coal  formation,  without  any  allusion  to  the  Permian 
strata,  is  also  against  Wood's  statement.  An  examination  therefore  of 
such  records  as  we  possess  leaves  the  date  of  intrusion  of  the  dykes,  as 
testified  by  this  critical  example,  still  an  open  question.  There  is,  however, 
evidence  of  a  different  character  which  seems  to  bear  on  this  question. 
The  east  and  west  faults  traversing  the  rocks  in  this  neighbourhood  appear 
to  affect  the  Permian  rocks  as  well  as  the  Coal-measures,  though  this  is 
by  no  means  universally  the  case  in  Durham.  This  is  notably  seen  in  the 
case  of  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke  and  also  several  minor  faults  which  are 
visible  in  the  Tynemouth  castle  cliff ;  one  of  these  is  even  figured  by 
Sedgwick.  The  Tynemouth  dyke  occurs  along  one  of  these  faults,  which 
has  a  downthrow  of  fourteen  feet  to  the  north.  It  is  obvious  that  the 
presence  of  this   fault  has   directly  influenced   the   intrusion   of  the   basalt 


GEOLOGY.  15 

along  this  line,  and  that  the  dyke  is  posterior  to  the  formation  of  the  fault. 
There  is  therefore  strong  indirect  evidence  that  the  date  of  intrusion  of 
the  Tynemouth  dyke  is  post-Permian. 

Glacial  Deposits. — The  deposits  of  this  age  are,  on  the  whole,  similar 
to  those  described  in  previous  volumes  of  this  history.  The  section,  how- 
ever, exposed  between  the  Lifeboat  station  and  the  Low  Lights,  exhibits 
some  points  of  special  interest.  The  Boulder-clay  here  occupies  the  whole 
of  the  cliff,  constantly  giving  rise  to  landslips.  The  clay  is  mostly  unstrati- 
fied  and  full  of  boulders  of  local  rocks,  together  with  Cheviot  andesites 
and  Scottish  granites.  No  undoubted  examples  of  Norwegian  rocks  have 
been  found,  but,  at  the  top  of  the  cliff,  fragments  of  sharp  flint  and  rounded 
pebbles  of  clear  quartz  occur  in  considerable  abundance.  Writing  of 
this  deposit,  Mr.  Howse  remarks :  '  It  is  at  present  uncertain  whether  this 
bed  is  a  reconstruction  of  the  Boulder-clay  or  a  prolongation  on  to  this 
coast  of  the  Scandinavian  drift.  The  flints  seem  to  bear  a  very  striking 
resemblance  to  some  collected  in  the  latter  formation  near  Hamburg.' 
Though  this  was  written  in  1863,  no  definite  solution  of  the  problem  has 
yet  been  arrived  at.  It  is  difficult  to  see  how  any  '  reconstruction  '  of  the 
Boulder-clay  could  produce  true  flints.  We  know  of  no  Upper  Cretaceous 
rocks  cropping  out  in  Northumberland  from  which  they  could  have  been 
derived,  and  they  do  not  occur  in  the  Boulder-clay  farther  north.  Some 
of  the  layers  near  the  upper  part  of  this  deposit  also  contain  lenticular 
patches  of  sand  which  have  very  much  the  appearance  of  frozen  fragments 
of  the  sea-bottom  brought  up  to  their  present  position  by  the  shearing 
action  of  ice.  This  suggestion  seems  to  be  confirmed  by  the  presence  of 
marine  shells,  found  in  the  sands  by  Mr.  Howse. 

An  elevated  beach,  composed  of  fragments  of  Magnesian  Limestone  chiefly,  with  remains  of  flints 
and  also  pebbles  from  the  Boulder-clay  interstratified  with  beds  of  sand  and  grit  and  a  very  fine  glacial 
silt,  occurs  in  a  section  lately  made  in  the  castle-yard  at  Tynemouth.  It  contains  also  the  remains  of  a 
marine  shell,  Cyprina  Islaiidicii,  some  fragments  of  which  have  been  also  detected  in  the  Boulder-clay. 
This  beach  deposit  rests  on  a  thin  bed  of  clay  with  pebbles,  which  appears  to  be  a  reconstruction  of  the 
Boulder-clay,  under  which  is  the  proper  rock  surface.  It  reposes  on  a  slope  to  the  west,  and  contains 
material  derived  from  some  Magnesian  Limestone  cliff— from  a  cliff",  in  fact,  which  must  have  been 
situated  considerably  east  of  the  present  line  of  coast.  The  invasion  of  the  sea  from  the  west  is  only 
what  we  might  expect  when  we  remember  the  presence  of  undoubted  Scandinavian  erratics  along  our 
east  coast,  from  the  orthite-bearing  'Savil'  boulder  of  Sanda  Island  to  the  blocks  of 'rhombic'  porphyry 
on  the  Cromer  coast. 

Another  very  interesting  feature  was  exposed  at  the  base  of  this 
section  a  few  years  ago,  but  is  no  longer  visible  in  1904.  It  occurred 
a  little  beyond  the  last  outcrop  of  sandstone  of  the  Black  Middens,  which 


1 6  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

disappears  under  the  beach,  going  westwards.  Here  the  lower  part  of  the 
Boulder-clav  was  seen  to  enclose  layers  of  the  sandstone  broken  up  and 
folded  into  arches  and  troughs,  and  dragged  out  over  the  lowest  layers 
of  the  Boulder -clay  to  the  west,  showing  that  the  surface  of  the  sand- 
stone had  been  torn  off  by  some  solid  object,  travelling  from  east  to  west, 
and  dragged  over  a  bed  of  Boulder-clay  previously  deposited.  The 
fragments,  though  disconnected,  nevertheless  still  maintained  their  relative 
positions.'  This  fact,  taken  together  with  the  manner  in  which  it  was 
folded,  showed  plainlv  that  it  must  have  been  the  work  of  ice.  This  proof 
of  motion  from  east  to  west  appears  to  afford  additional  evidence  that  the 
Northumberland  ice  was  not  free  to  move  eastward,  but  was  blocked  and 
directed  westward  by  some  obstruction  in  the  North  Sea  ;  it  is  difficult  to 
see  what  other  obstruction  this  could  be  but  foreign  ice  from  the  north-east. 
It  is  impossible  to  conclude  this  brief  notice  of  the  geology  of  a  very 
interesting  district  without  a  word  regarding  the  present  disintegration  of 
the  coast  line.  This  is  naturally  taking  place  most  rapidly  along  the 
portion  of  the  coast  formed  of  Boulder-clay.  Thus  a  massive  stone  wall, 
built  by  the  then  duke  of  Northumberland  in  1811,  supported  the  banks 
below  Percy  Square.  The  lime  resisted  disintegration  longer  than  the 
stone,  and  stood  out  in  sharp  ridges.  After  the  destruction  of  this  wall  and 
its  outlying  timber  grovne,  the  cliff  became  undermined  and  landslips  began 
to  take  place  in  the  Boulder-clay.  The  front  row  of  cottages  in  Percy 
Square  disappeared,  and  up  to  1892  about  a  hundred  feet  of  frontage  west 
of  the  front  cottages  had  disappeared,  while  in  1827  the  cliff  is  stated  to 
have  extended  eighty  feet  farther  seaward.  Again,  between  Percy  Square 
and  the  Howling,  four  acres  have  disappeared.  Mr.  Robert  Tate  estimated 
that  556,600  tons  had  fallen  into  the  Tyne  estuary  in  si.xty-five  years. 
The  coast  line  is  therefore  here  wasting  at  the  rate  of  8,560  tons  a  year.  In 
other  portions  of  the  coast  the  sandstones  and  shales  are  being  denuded 
at  a  considerable  rate.  One  of  the  best  examples  of  the  method  by  which 
the  sea  obtains  access  into  the  heart  of  the  sandstone  is  seen  at  the  Table 
Rocks.  Here  a  joint  running  nearly  parallel  to  the  coast-line  has  been 
enlarged  by  the  seas  coming  from  the  north-east,  a  long  water-worn  tunnel 
penetrates  the  rock,  and  large  rounded  blocks  can  be  seen  at  low  tide 
lying  in  the  trench,  while  farther  inland  the  joint  can  be  traced  along  which 
the  destruction  is   taking  place. 

'  See  Plate  II. 


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COLLIERIES    AND    THE    COAL    TRADE. 


COLLIERIES    AND    THE    COAL    TRADE. 

The  Tynemouthshire  district  has  many  natural  advantages  for  coal 
mining,  both  underground  and  on  the  surface.  The  seams  comprise  the 
whole  of  the  series  met  with  in  the  North  of  England  coal-field,  lying  at 
comparatively  shallow  depths  with  moderate  rates  of  inclination,  and 
presenting  no  serious  mining  difficulties.  The  surface  is  level  and  well 
suited  for  the  making  of  railways  giving  access  to  the  rivers  and  sea, 
and  so  affording  a  cheap  mode  of  carriage  for  the  produce  of  the  mines. 
Owing  to  a  fold  or  syncline  in  the  measures,  the  axis  of  which  runs  in 
a  northerly  direction  across  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Northumberland 
coal-field,  the  beds  in  the  Tynemouth  district  have,  generally  speaking, 
an  easterly  rise,  so  that  the  upper  seams  of  coal  outcrop  in  lines  more  or 
less  parallel  to  the  sea  coast,  the  lines  of  outcrop  passing,  however,  under 
the  sea  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  ground  as  the  coast  line  trends  to 
the  north-west.  The  southern  portion  of  the  ground  is  intersected  by  the 
fault  known  as  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke,  which  throws  up  the  beds  to  the 
south  and  results  in  a  repetition  of  the  outcrops  of  the  upper  seams. 

Considering  these  natural  facilities,  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  that  coal 
mining  dates  back  to  very  early  times,  and  that  the  industry  has  for 
centuries  played  an  important  part  in  the  history  of  the  district.  Early 
records  show  that  coal  was  worked  in  Tynemouth  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  thirteenth  century,  and  that  the  monks  were  then  already  deriving 
an  income  from  collieries  there.'  Mention  is  also  made  of  coal  mines 
belonging  to  the  priory  at  Merden,  or  Marden,  in  131 6,-  at  Earsdon  in 
1376,^  and  at  the  time  of  the  dissolution  a  mine  of  coal  in  Tynemouth  was 
in  the  prior's  own  possession.*  The  priors  appear  to  have  either  worked 
the  coal  themselves,  or  let  it  to  others  to  win,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Tynemouth,  Preston,  Chirton,  Monkseaton  and  Earsdon.'' 

Their  operations  were  no  doubt  confined  to  the  eastern  portion  of 
this  area,  where  the  seams  crop  out  to  the  day,  allowing  coal  to  be  got 
at  shallow  depths.     There  is  a  reference^  which  points  to  the  shipment  of 

'  Brand,  History  of  Nnccastk,  vol.  ii.  p.  591.      ■  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  168. 

"  Ibid.  fols.  53  b  and  32.  '  Gibson,  Monastery  of  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  216. 

^  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  "  Northumbrian  Assize  Rolls,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  SS,  p.  163. 

Vol.  VIII,  3 


I  8  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

coal  by  the  monks  at  Shields  as  early  as  1269,  but  the  trade  was  probably 
chiefly  a  '  landsale '  one  for  the  use  of  the  prior  and  convent  and  their 
tenants,  and  for  salt  making,  several  salt  pans  being  held  by  them.' 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  monastery  in  1539,  although  there  arc 
manv  records  of  grants  and  leases  of  lands  and  coal  mines  formerly 
belonging  to  the  convent,  there  are  but  few  details  which  indicate  the 
situation  of  the  various  workings.  It  is,  however,  possible  to  trace  the 
position  occupied  by  some  of  the  mines  towards  the  close  of  the  century. 
In  1584  a  pit  was  working  at  Preston,  while  the  Monkseaton  pits,  which 
appear  to  have  been  worked  at  a  former  date,  were  drowned  out  and 
East  Chirton  was  unopened."  In  1590  the  Preston  pits  were  being  worked 
bv  Peter  Delaval,  a  merchant  of  London,  who  was  then  the  farmer  of 
the  queen's  mines  in  Preston,^  and  in  the  same  year  the  ninth  earl  of 
Northumberland  was  raising  coal  in  Tynemouth  under  a  right  acquired 
by  his  father  in  1569,'  although  the  mines  appear  to  have  been  worked 
by  him  for  some  years  prior  to  this  date. 

The  Tynemouth  and  Preston  pits  were  apparently  worked  with  vigour 
for  some  vears,  the  former  partly  by  the  earl  of  Northumberland  and 
partly  by  his  lessees,  the  latter  by  the  successors  of  Peter  Delaval,  who 
had  failed  about  the  year  1602.''  The  Tynemouth  mines  were  at  that  time 
situated  in  the  town  fields  to  the  north  of  the  village,  near  the  outcrop 
of  a  seam  (probably  the  Bensham  seam)  which  is  described  as  being  'a 
vard  and  three  fingers  thick,'  tiie  pits  being  about  five  fathoms  in  depth 
and,  as  was  usual  at  this  period,  placed  close  together.  It  is  recorded 
that  pits  of  this  description  could  be  sunk  in  twelve  days  at  a  cost  of 
about  £2  each,  and  were  capable  of  producing  about  twenty  score  of  six- 
peck  tubs  or  corves  a  day,  equal  to  about  thirty-eight  tons."  In  1614  the 
'  compasse  '  of  the  earl's  mines  in  the  town  fields  and  demesnes  was  three 
miles,  and  the  farthest  was  distant  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  river, 
where  a  staith  had  been  erected  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  sea.' 
It  is  not  quite  clear  where  the  Preston  workings  were  situated,  but  probably 
they  were  on  the  east  side  of  the  township.  The  coals  produced  by  these 
collieries  appear  to  have  been  chiefly  'pan   coals'  for  salt   making,  which 

'  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  216.  ■  Exchequer  Special  Commission,  26  Eliz.  No.  1743. 

"  Exchequer  Bills  and  Answers,  32  Eliz.  No.  54.  '  Ihid.  33  Eliz.  No.  57. 

>  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  ^  Ihid.  'Ibid. 


COLLIERIES   AND   THE    COAL    TRADE.  1 9 

were  sold  on  the  river  in  competition  with  Newcastle  coals  and  were  also 
sent  coastwise  to  be  used  in  the  alum  industry,  which  by  this  tiine  had 
been  established  in  Cleveland. 

In  1624  a  grant  was  made  by  the  Crown  of  the  coal  in  Murton  and 
Billy  Moor  to  Henrv,  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland,'  by  whom  this  coal, 
together  with  the  Tynemouth  pits,  was  leased  to  Ralph  Keed,  with  right 
of  access  to  the  river  for  shipment."  The  subsequent  grants  of  Flatworth 
to  William  Collins  and  Edward  Fenn  (assigned  bv  them  to  the  earl  of 
Northumberland  in  1637),"  and  of  pits  in  Preston  and  East  and  Middle 
Chirton  in  1633  to  William  Scriven  and  William  Eden*  (by  whom  East 
and  Middle  Chirton  and  Monkseaton  coal  mines  were  conveyed  to  Ralph 
Reed  and  George  Milbourne),'  seem  to  show  that  the  trade  of  the  district 
was  extending  and  the  number  of  collieries  increasing. 

With  the  extension  of  workings  into  Chirton,  Billy  Moor  and  Flat- 
worth,  the  district  occupied  by  the  High  Main  seam  had  been  entered 
upon  and  a  better  and  more  cheaply  won  class  of  coal  rewarded  the 
efforts  of  the  adventurers.  Tynemouth  continued  as  a  '  pan  coal  '  colliery, 
but  Preston,  probably  owing  to  the  poor  qualitv  of  its  produce,  seems  to 
have  been  closed  after  the  opening  of  the  High  Main  pits.  It  was 
reopened  again  in  1684,''  but  onlv  for  a  short  time,  the  coal  being  suited 
only  for  salt   and   lime   making. 

In  1645  Reed  was  succeeded  in  the  occupation  of  Flatworth  by  Ralph 
Gardner  of  Chirton,  author  of  Eiiii/aiufs  Grievance  discovered  in  Relation 
to  the  Coal  Trade.  Gardner  was  unfortunate  in  his  tenancy.  The  pro- 
hibition of  the  Newcastle  coal  trade  at  the  time  of  the  civil  wars,  and 
the  occupation  of  his  premises  bv  the  king's  and  the  parliamentary  forces, 
with  the  attendant  '  plundering  and  heavy  quartering  by  them  and  the 
insatiable  Scots,'  involved  him  in  heavy  losses,'  though  it  is  not  clear 
whether  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  colliery  in  consequence. 

The  mines  along  the  outcrop  of  the  High  Main  on  Shire  Moor 
continued  to  be  worked  during  the  remainder  of  the  seventeenth  and 
commencement  of  the  eighteenth  centuries.  During  this  period  the  lessees 
were  extending  their  operations  to  the  dip,  and  with  the  limited  appliances 

'  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  242.  ■  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Gibson,  vol.  i.  pp.  243-246.  '  Ibid.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

°  Tomlinson,  Historical  Soks  on  CidUnoats,  Whitky  ami  Monkseaton,  p.  40. 

•  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


20  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

then  in  use  for  freeing  the  mines  from  water  (the  pumps,  as  well  as  the 
'gins'  for  raising  the  coal,  being  then  generally  worked  by  horses)  were 
beginning  to  find  it  difficult  to  go  farther.  In  working  the  shallow  mines 
in  this  district,  support  for  the  surface  was  generally  left  in  accordance 
with  the  leases.  The  restrictions  contained  in  these  did  not,  however, 
prevent  damage  being  done,  of  so  severe  a  nature  that,  in  the  words  of 
one  agent,  the  land  would  '  neither  bear  meadow  nor  corn  while  the  world 
endures.'' 

In  1717  the  lease  of  Billv  Moor  ran  out,  and  the  lessees  failed  to 
come  to  terms  for  renewal,  their  intention  at  that  time  being  to  work  the 
coal  through  Whitley  and  ship  it  at  Cullercoats.  Subsequent  advances 
on  the  part  of  the  lessors  failed  to  effect  a  letting,  and  the  ground 
remained  untouched  until  1755,  when  a  lease  was  granted  to  Matthew 
Bell  and  partners." 

In  the  latter  portion  of  the  seventeenth  century  collieries  were 
opened  out  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Whitley  and  Monkseaton  to  the 
north  of  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke.  In  1676'  a  lease  of  the  coal  in 
Whitley,  which  appears  to  have  been  previously  held  from  1673^  t»y 
John  Dove,  was  granted  by  the  trustees  of  Lady  Elizabeth  Percy  to  John 
Rogers,  one  of  the  conditions  being  that  half  the  cost  of  building  a  pier 
and  quay  at  Cullercoats  should  be  allowed  out  of  the  rents.  Rogers 
appears  to  have  been  a  man  of  energy  ;  he  carried  out  the  construction 
of  the  little  harbour  at  Cullercoats  in  conjunction  with  his  partners,  John 
Carr  and  Henry  Hudson,  and  together  they  worked  the  collieries  in 
Whitley  and  Monkseaton  for  a  considerable  number  of  years.  The 
Monkseaton  pits  were  probably  on  the  outcrop  of  the  High  Main  seam, 
while  those  at  Whitley  worked  the  Low  Main  at  a  shallow  depth  near 
the  sea.  Both  were  connected  by  means  of  wagonways  with  the  harbour 
at  Cullercoats,  where  there  had  also  been  established  a  large  number  of 
salt  pans,  the  produce  of  which  was  exported  from  the  harbour. 

The  use  of  wooden  railways  or  'Newcastle  roads,'  as  they  were  else- 
where called,  had  commenced  earlier  in  the  century,  but  had  not  become 
general  until  about  1670.^  The  wagons  were  drawn  by  horses  and 
carried  42  hundredweights  or  more,  instead  of  17^  hundredweights,  which 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  -  Ibiii.  '■'  Ibid.  '  Tomlinson,  Hid.  Notes,  \i.  39. 

■"  Pnc.  Archaological  Institute,  1852,  vol.  i.  p.  180. 


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COLLIERIES    AND   THE    COAL    TRADE.  21 

had  been  the  load  of  the  old  horse  wains  they  superseded.  To  keep  the 
top  level  on  a  falling  gradient  they  had  wheels  of  unequal  size,  made  at 
first  of  wood  and  afterwards  of  iron,  though  for  many  years  one  pair  of 
wooden  wheels  was  retained  on  each  wagon  so  that  the  brake,  or  '  convoy,' 
might  be  applied  to  them.  The  wagonways  at  Whitley  in  1704  had  oak 
rails  and  sleepers  on  the  main  line,  while  the  rails  on  the  branches  to 
the  various  pits  were  made  of  ash  or  birch,  the  rubbish  from  the  salt  pans 
being  used,  as  it  was  then  described,  '  for  the  ballast  of  the  wagonway.'  ' 

After  the  year  1710'^  the  prosperitv  of  the  Whitley  collieries  and 
salt  works  began  to  wane.  The  pits  had  exhausted  the  rise  coal  available 
to  them  and  new  winnings  were  required  farther  to  the  dip.  The  pier 
was  very  subject  to  damage  by  storms,  and  the  repairs  to  it  were  a  heavv 
charge  upon  the  undertaking.  The  lessees  attempted  a  fresh  winning  at 
Whitlev,  but  the  unusuallv  heavv  feeders  met  with  caused  the  abandonment 
of  the  enterprise,  with  the  result  that  they  had  to  fall  back  upon  Monk- 
seaton  for  their  output. 

Between  1716  and  1726  the  salt  trade  declined  greatly,  and  in  the 
latter  year  the  export  was  closed  and  six  of  the  pans  transferred  to  Blvth. 
In  1722'  the  partners  were  prepared  to  make  a  further  attempt  to  win 
the  dip  coal  and  proposed  to  risk  additional  capital  in  the  erection  of  a 
'fire  engine,'  as  the  pumping  engines  of  the  Newcomen  type,  then 
recently  introduced,  were  stvled.  Thev  failed,  however,  to  arrange  terms 
with  the  lessor,  and  the  once  prosperous  concern  shortly  afterwards  came 
to  an  end,  the  coal-field  attached  to  it  remaining  derelict  for  manv  vears. 

Newcomen's  invention  of  the  atmospheric  engine  and  its  application  to 
pumping  purposes  brought  about  a  marked  change  in  the  condition  of  the 
industry.  These  appliances  had  come  into  general  use  in  the  Newcastle 
district  by  1721,^  and  in  the  latter  half  of  the  century  improvements  in 
the  production  of  iron  led  to  that  material  being  more  generally  utilized 
in  collieries.  Cast  iron  was  used  instead  of  brass  for  the  cylinders,  so 
that  larger  and  more  powerful  pumping  engines  could  be  built,  and  this, 
together  with  the  substitution  of  iron  for  the  old  wooden  pumps,  resulted 
in  a  large  increase  in  the  number  of  these  machines  and  the  extension  of 
mining  operations  to  greater  depths.^ 

'  Papers  in  the  possession  of  .Mr.  \V.  H.  Ryott.  "  Toinlinson,  Hist.  Notes,  p.  43  et  Sti/. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  .MSS.  '  Deane,  The  Coal  Traiie,  p.  22. 

'  Galloway,  Annah  of  Coal  Mining,  p.  260. 


22  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

During  this  period  the  High  .Main  scam  was  being  developed  farther 
to  the  dip  bv  the  Fhitworth,  Murton  and  Shire  Moor  collieries,  over  the 
ground  extending  from  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke  to  the  Chirton  fault.  In 
1767  this  seam  had  been  won  at  Shire  Moor  to  a  depth  of  sixty  fathoms 
and  a  large  pumping  engine  erected,  in  addition  to  two  smaller  ones 
which  were  then  draining  the  rise  coal.'  To  the  south  of  the  Chirton  dyke, 
the  Chirton  colliery  was  working  the  High  Main  towards  Percy  Main  to  a 
depth  of  about  sixty  fathoms."  By  the  close  of  the  century  these  mines 
were  beginning  to  decay ;  Murton  had  finished  its  High  Main  and  afterwards 
tried  the  Yard  and  Bensham  seams,  finding  them  a  poor  substitute  ;  while 
Flatworth,  Shire  Moor  and  Chirton  were  fast  coming  to  an  end  which  was 
hastened  by  the  competition  of  the  deeper  collieries  of  the  Tyne  basin, 
then  recently  opened  out  along  the  river  side,  and  producing  High  Main 
coal  which  commanded  the  readiest  sale  in  the  London  market. 

The  last  of  these  to  be  sunk,  Percy  Main,  lay  in  Tynemouthshire,  and 
the  winning  was  commenced  in  1799,^  the  partners  being  Joseph  Lamb, 
George  Waldie,  John  Walker  and  Jacob  Maude,  who  were  already  asso- 
ciated in  the  working  of  collieries  on  Shire  Moor,  their  viewer  being  Mr. 
John  Buddie. 

At  this  point  attention  mav  be  directed  to  the  northern  portion  of 
the  district,  in  which  there  are  records  of  coal  mines  about  Hartley  so 
far  back  as  1291.'  These  were  doubtless  small  outcrop  pits  worked  for 
local  supply,  one  being  held  by  the  prior  and  convent  of  Brinkburn  at  the 
time  of  the  dissolution,  and  afterwards  leased  by  the  Crown  to  Sir  Ralph 
Delaval  in  1596.'  Before  this  time  salt  pans  had  been  established  at 
Hartley  and  their  produce  shipped  at  Blyth,  the  coal  trade  continuing  to 
be  a  purely  local  one.  Sir  Ralph  leased  his  mines  in  161 1  to  Sir  William 
Slingsby,  and  in  16 19  to  his  own  sons,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1628  they  do  not  seem  to  have  been  of  much  account  and  are  described 
as  yielding  no  benefit  to  the  owner." 

Apparently  there  was  little  change  until  the  latter  half  of  the  century, 
when    Sir    Ralph   Uelaval,   the   first    baronet    and   grandson   of  the    above- 

'  Newcastle  Coiiraiit,  January  2ncl,  1768. 

■  North  of  England  Institute  of  Mining  and  Mecliaiiital  Eni^ineers,  Borings  and  Sinkings,  No.  452. 

'  Diary  of  John  Uuddlc.  '  Iiuj.  p.m.  19  }idw.  I.  No.  5. 

^  Marquis  of  Watcrford's  M.SS.  °  Jbid. 


COLLIERIES    AND    THE    COAI,    TRADE.  23 

mentioned  Sir  Ralph  Delaval,  took  in  hand  the  development  of  his  pro- 
perty. He  built  a  pier  at  Hartley  Pans,  or  Seaton  Sluice,  as  it  was 
afterwards  called  from  his  having  scoured  the  harbour  by  a  device  con- 
trolled by  a  sluice,  and  through  the  improvement  of  the  harbour  secured 
a  coasting  trade  for  the  produce  of  his  collieries  and  salt  pans.  Under 
his  guidance  and  as  the  result  of  his  energy  the  trade  expanded,  in  spite  of 
the  fact  that  the  Hartley  coal  was  not  so  well  suited  for  the  needs  of  the 
coasting  trade  as  that  of  the  Tyne  district.  Its  uses  at  that  time  may  be 
best  described  in  Sir  Ralph's  own  words :  '  the  smallest  will  serve  for  lime 
burning  and  the  rounder  will  please  the  cook  because  they  make  a  quick 
fire  and  a  constant  heat.'' 

The  pits  at  this  period  were  situated  near  the  coast,  to  the  south  of 
Seaton  Sluice,  where  the  High  Main,  Yard,  and  Low  Main  seams  lie  at 
shallow  depths  as  they  rise  towards  the  sea,  and  their  development  was 
attended  with  some  difficulty,  owing  to  the  heavy  feeders  of  water  which 
occasionally  overcame  the  rag  and  chain  pumps  then  in  use. 

Sir  Ralph  Delaval  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Sir  John  Delaval,  and 
the  mines  were  leased  by  him  to  John  Rogers,  one  of  the  lessees  of 
Whitley  colliery,  who  with  his  son  worked  them  up  to  1725,  when  they 
were  taken  over  and  carried  on  by  Sir  John  until  his  death  in  1729.* 
His  successors  continued  to  work  them  without  any  change  of  moment 
until  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  Sir  John  Hussev 
Delaval  (afterwards  Lord  Delaval)  became  the  owner  of  the  estate  and 
embarked  on  a  career  of  enterprise  of  which  his  younger  brother,  Thomas 
Delaval,  was   subsequentlv  the  guiding  spirit. 

Glass  and  copperas  works  were  established  in  order  to  utilize  the 
small  coal  and  'brasses,'  or  iron  pyrites,  from  the  pits,  and  in  1758  a  fresh 
winning  to  the  dip  was  commenced.  This  was  followed  in  1764  by  the 
opening  of  the  new  entrance  to  the  harbour  of  Seaton  Sluice,'  cut  through 
the  solid  rock  to  the  east  of  the  old  approach,  and  looked  upon  as  one 
of  the  greatest  engineering  feats  of  the  day.  The  harbour  improvements 
brought  more  trade  for  the  pits,  which  in  1770'  employed  300  hands,  and 
si.x  years  later  sent  nearly  48,000  tons  of  coal  away  coastwise,  principallv 
to  the  London  market,  where,  we  are  told,  the  Hartley  coal  was  much 
esteemed  by  bakers. 

'  Brit.  Mus.  Additional  MSS.  21,948,  fol.  64.        -'  Exchequer  Depositions,  Hilary,  5  Geo.  II.  No.  i;. 
''  Marquis  of  Waterford's  MSS.  '  IbiJ. 


24  TYNEMOriH    PARISH. 

Thomas  Delaval,  who  was  humorously  described  by  a  friend  as  being 
'  busy  as  a  bee  flying  from  flower  to  flower,  extracting  coals  from  the 
bowels  of  the  earth,  and  bottles  out  of  damnation  fiery  furnaces,'  was 
equally  energetic  in  his  direction  of  the  collieries.  A  new  '  tire  engine,' 
designed  bv  William  Brown,  at  that  time  the  great  authority  on  pumping 
engines  in  the  district,  was  set  to  work  in  1760,  and  in  1763'  a  steam 
winding  engine,  the  invention  of  Joseph  O.xley  of  Ford,  was  erected  and 
regarded  as  the  greatest  improvement  since  the  introduction  of  the  pump- 
ing engine.  At  this  time  the  problem  of  raising  coals  from  the  deeper 
seams,  by  some  quicker  and  more  economical  method  than  the  existing 
horse  gins,  was  attracting  attention,  and  Oxley  made  a  determined  attempt 
to  solve  it. 

A  second  engine,  put  down  at  Hartley  in  1765,^  appears  to  have 
attracted  a  great  deal  of  attention,  drawing  coals  '  by  fire '  at  the  rate 
of  a  corf  a  minute  for  some  years.  It  is  evident,  however,  that  it  had 
its  defects,  and  James  Watt,  who  visited  Hartley  about  1768,  described  the 
engine  as  going  sluggishly  and  irregularly,  having  no  flywheel.' 

Another  mechanical  curiosity  was  a  boiler  built  of  stone  and  used  in 
connection  with  both  the  winding  and  pumping  engines.  It  is  represented* 
as  being  capable  of  effecting  a  saving  of  ^300  a  year,  but  most  probably 
it  did  not  stand  the  test  of  constant  use,  and,  like  Oxley's  winding  engine, 
was  superseded  by  appliances  of  a  less  '  advanced '  description.  The 
double  water  wheel,*  with  a  pumping  engine  for  the  circulation  of  the 
water,  came  rapidlv  into  favour  in  the  district  for  drawing  coal,  and  it 
was  not  until  the  end  of  the  century  that,  through  Watt's  improvements, 
a  reliable  steam  winding  machine  was  produced  and  drove  the  water  wheels 
into  oblivion. 

By  1780  the  workings  in  the  Yard  and  Low  Main  seams  had  advanced 
southwards  to  the  Brierdean  dyke,  and  as  far  to  the  dip  as  the  level  of 
the  Engine  pit.  In  this  year  the  coal  beyond  the  dyke  had  been  opened 
out,  and  the  wagonway,  which  can  still  be  traced  connecting  the  pits  with 
Seaton  Sluice,  was  extended  southwards  to  the  Brier  Dean.  After  this 
the  field  lying  to  the  west  of  the  burn  and  to  the  dip  of  the  old  pits  was 

'  Marquis  of  Waterfoid's   MSS.       '  1765,   20  Januarv.   Mary,  daughter  of  Mr.  John   AUou,  at   the 
New  Enguie,  near  Hartley,  baptised.'     Earsdon  Register.  ' 

■  Ibid.  "  Muirhead,  Life  of  Watt,  p.  274.  '  Marquis  of  Waterfords  MSS. 

'  Galloway,  Annals  of  Coal  Mining,  p.  297  et  sea. 


COLLIERIES    AND   THE    COAL    TRADE.  2$ 

entered  upon,  and  before  1799  the  Chatham  and  Nightingale  shafts  had 
been  sunk  and  connected  with  the  harbour  by  a  branch  line  crossing  the 
dean  on  a  wooden  viaduct.' 

The  days  of  the  direct  control  of  the  Delavals  were  now  nearly  at 
an  end.  Lord  Delaval  died  in  1808.  His  brother  and  successor,  Edward 
Hussey  Delaval,  continued  to  reside  in  London,  and  seems  to  have  let 
the  mines  before  he  died  in   18 14. 

/Although,  as  has  already  been  remarked,  the  Shire  Moor  mines  were 
in  a  state  of  decay  at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  the 
district  did  not  fail  to  participate  in  the  expanding  coal  trade  of  the 
Tyne.  The  new  winning  at  Percy  Main  reached  the  High  Main  at  a 
depth  of  eighty-nine  fathoms  in  the  Percy  pit,  followed  by  the  Howdon 
pit  in  1804  and  the  High  Flatworth  pit  in  181 7,  the  last  two  at  depths 
of  135  and  86  fathoms  respectively,  the  Howdon  pit  being  on  the  deepest 
part  of  the  Tyne  basin." 

Until  towards  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  system  of 
working  practised  consisted  in  the  removal  of  a  portion  of  the  coal  only, 
the  remainder  being  left  for  support.  The  shafts,  which  had  originally 
been  only  a  few  yards  apart,  were  gradually  extended  to  wider  distances 
and  worked  larger  areas  as  they  reached  greater  depths.  The  small  pillars 
left  were  then  subject  to  'creeps,'  caused  by  the  crushing  down  of  the 
overlying  strata,  more  especially  when,  as  time  went  on,  efforts  were  made 
to  minimize  the  loss  of  coal  by  working  out  portions  of  the  pillars,  a 
common  practice  before  the  system  of  leaving  larger  pillars  and  afterwards 
removing  them  entirely  had  been  introduced. 

Under  these  circumstances  and  through  the  presence  of  gas  and  the 
inadequacy  of  the  ventilating  arrangements  the  working  of  the  deep 
collieries  on  the  Tyne  was  attended  with  many  difficulties.  Explosions  or 
'blasts,'  as  they  were  called,  were  common,  and  the  workmen  had  fre- 
quently to  be  withdrawn  from  the  pits  owing  to  the  air  becoming  loaded 
with  gas  to  the  firing  point.  In  1807  the  coal  at  Percy  Main  took  fire, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  drown  a  portion  of  the  workings  in  order 
to  extinguish  it,  the  subsequent  withdrawal  of  the  water  being  attended 
by  severe  outbursts  of  gas.^ 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS.  -  Diary  of  John  Buddie. 

'  Dunn,  Mining  and  IVoyking  of  Coal  Mines,  p.  234. 

Vol.  VI 1 1.  4 


26  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Notwithstanding  this  and  several  minor  explosions,  the  colliery  was 
for  a  considerable  period  very  successful,  owing  to  the  excellence  of  the 
Hio^h  Main  seam  worked  bv  it.  Its  troubles  from  water  were  of  a  more 
serious  nature  and  came  at  a  later  date.  In  1819  the  water  in  the  old 
waste  of  Chirton  colliery  burst  into  the  Percy  pit,  but  was  successfully 
dammed  back  in  the  following  year.  In  1838  a  feeder  came  off  in  the 
Percy  pit  High  Main  workings  near  the  river  which  threatened  to  flood 
the  colliery.  Attempts  were  made  to  dam  the  water  back  at  great 
expense,  but  without  success,  the  dams  being  swept  away  with  the  loss  of 
three  lives.  The  flood  overpowered  the  pumping  engines  at  the  Howdon 
pit,  and  operations  were  then  carried  on  at  the  Percy  pit  in  the  High 
Main  and  Bensham  seams  (the  latter  having  been  won  in  1828)  until  May, 
1839,  by  which  time  the  Bensham  had  been  drowned  and  the  High  Main 
dip  workings  were  full  of  water. 

By  August  of  that  year  new  pumping  engines  had  been  erected  and 
the  workings  were  gradually  unwatered,  but  worse  disasters  were  to  follow. 
In  1 84 1  the  High  Main  workings  holed  into  Burdon  Main.  The  holing 
was  dammed  up,  but,  as  Burdon  Main  ceased  to  work  not  long  afterwards, 
its  dip  workings  became  drowned,  and  in  1846  the  water  from  them  burst 
into  Percy  Main,  overpowering  the  pumping  engines  and  doing  great 
damage.  The  colliery  was  again  unwatered,  but  the  heavy  cost  of 
pumping,  combined  with  the  exhaustion  of  the  High  Main,  rendered  it  so 
unprofitable  as  to  bring  it  to  an  end  in  the  year  1851.^ 

Chirton  colliery  was  reopened  in  the  year  181 1"  for  the  purpose  of 
reaching  portions  of  the  High  Main  which  had  previously  been  abandoned 
and  was  then  generally  known  as  Burdon  or  CoUingwood  Main.  The 
Bensham  and  Low  Main  seams  were  subsequently  sunk  to,  and  the  colliery 
was  kept  going  until  nearly  the  middle  of  the  century,  when  it  was  closed. 

About  1 8 10  Whitlev  colliery,  which  had  remained  unworked  for  nearly 
a  century,  was  reopened.'  A  fresh  winning  of  the  Low  Main  was  made 
by  the  lessees,  William  Clark  and  Thomas  Taylor,  to  the  dip  of  the  old 
workings  of  the  former  tenants,  and  the  colliery  was  carried  on  with  vigour 
for  a  considerable  period  both  in  Whitley  and  Monkseaton,  in  conjunction 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS. 

'  Transactions  of  the  North  of  England  Institute  of  Mining  and  Mechanical  Engineers,  vol.  xv.  p.  220. 

'  Tomlinson,  Hist.  Notes,  p.  47. 


COLLIERIES    AND   THE    COAL   TRADE.  27 

with  the  adjacent  limestone  quarries  in  the  Permian  limestone,  lying  against 
the  Ninety-fathom  dyke.  The  pit  and  the  limeworks  were  connected  by 
a  wagonway  leading  to  the  Low  Lights  at  Shields,  where  a  large  part  of 
the  produce  was  shipped.  In  1825  ironstone  from  the  Mussel-bed  above 
the  Low  Main  seam  was  being  worked  near  the  south  end  of  the  links 
and  sent  by  river  to  the  ironworks  at  Lemington.  The  colliery  was 
closed  in  1848,'  having  during  its  latter  years  been  a  losing  concern.  In 
1872^  the  high  prices  of  coal  led  to  a  further  winning  being  made  near 
Hill  Heads,  but  the  undertaking,  through  the  heavy  fall  in  prices,  sub- 
sequently became  involved  in  difficulties  and  operations  terminated  in  1880. 

The  coal  to  the  north  of  the  Ninety-fathom  dyke,  with  the  exception 
of  the  above-described  workings  in  the  vicinity  of  Whitley,  Monkseaton 
and  Hartley,  was  practically  undeveloped  at  the  commencement  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  The  first  move  in  this  direction  took  place  at  Back- 
worth,  a  lease  of  this  royalty  having  been  secured  from  the  duke  of 
Northumberland  in  1812  by  George  Waldie,  Humble  Lamb,  Jacob  Maude, 
John  Walker,  Edward  Hetherington,  Thomas  Taylor  and  John  Buddie,' 
most  of  whom  were  already  lessees  of  Percy  Main  and  of  a  portion  of 
the  adjacent  Shire  Moor  coal. 

The  enterprise  must  have  been  one  of  unusual  risk.  The  projected 
winning  was  of  a  considerable  depth  and  in  an  unknown  part  of  the  district, 
where  the  quality  of  the  High  Main  had  not  yet  been  tested.  In  addition 
to  this,  some  doubts  existed  as  to  the  rights  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland, 
as  owner  of  the  mineral,  to  occupy  the  surface  of  the  ancient  copyhold 
lands  of  Backworth,  then  owned  by  the  Grey  family.  The  winning  was 
commenced  in  18 14,  but  was  suspended  in  the  following  year  in  conse- 
quence of  an  action  which  was  brought  by  Mr.  Ralph  William  Grey 
against  the  duke.  The  case  was  tried  in  the  same  year  and  decided  in 
favour  of  Mr.  Grey,  with  whom  an  agreement  was  subsequently  made 
which  enabled  the  sinking  to  be  continued  in  January,  1817,  his  estate 
being  subsequently  purchased  by  the  duke  in   182 1.'' 

The  High  Main  was  reached  in  May,  18 18,  at  a  depth  of  eighty-seven 
fathoms,  and  a  wagonway  was  constructed  to  the  Tyne  at  Whitehill  Point, 
more  than  four  and  a  half  miles  in  length.  The  distance  from  the  river 
and  the   length   of  its  wagonway  must   have  placed  the  colliery  at  a  dis- 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  iMSS.         -  Tomlinson,  His/.  A'oto,  p.  50.         '  Diary  of  John  Buddie.         '  lOid. 


28  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

advantage  in  its  competition  with  the  riverside  pits.  At  the  end  of  the 
preceding  century,  however,  the  introduction  of  cast-iron  rails  for  wagon- 
ways  had,  to  a  hirge  extent,  cheapened  the  cost  of  leading.  Although 
some  of  them  continued  to  use  the  old  wooden  rails,  which  had  been 
in  vogue  since  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  many,  and,  no 
doubt,  amongst  them  the  newly  constructed  roads,  were  laid  with  the 
short  cast-iron  plates  set  on  stone  blocks,  afterwards  known  from  their 
shape  as  '  fish-bellied  '  rails.  The  Backworth  wagonway  was  started  as  a 
horse  road,  and,  according  to  Mr.  John  Buddie,  a  horse  drawing  two 
wagons,  each  containing  forty-four  hundredweights  of  coal,  could  make 
three  'gates'  or  journeys  a  day  upon  it.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before 
rope  haulage  was  substituted;  in  December,  1821,  the  first  section  to  the 
Allotment  was  converted  to  a  rope  road;  by  the  end  of  1823  the  section 
to  Percy  Main  had  been  altered,  and  the  last  link  to  Whitehill  Point 
was  completed  in  August,  1827.^  The  line  continued  to  be  worked  by 
ropes  until  1867,  when  locomotives  took  the  place  of  the  old  hauling 
engines. 

As  the  workings  extended  northwards,  the  High  Main  was  again  sunk 
to  in  1 82 1  at  the  B  pit,  and  early  in  1826  coal  drawing  was  confined 
entirely  to  that  shaft. 

About  the  same  date  as  the  commencement  of  the  colliery  at  Back- 
worth  the  opening  out  of  the  High  Main  at  Burradon  was  begun  by  the 
'  Grand  Allies.'  This  celebrated  and  powerful  copartnery,  consisting  of 
the  Kavensworth,  Strathmore  and  Wortley  families,  dated  back  as  far  as 
the  year  1726,  and  had,  some  years  before,  sunk  to  the  High  Main  at 
Killingworth.  They  had  connected  this  colliery  with  the  shipping  places 
on  the  Tyne  by  means  of  a  wagonway  which  had,  before  its  extension  to 
Burradon,  formed  the  scene  of  many  of  George  Stephenson's  experiments 
with  his  early  locomotives. 

In  1822  the  High  Main  in  Earsdon  had  been  won  by  '  outstroke  '  from 
Backworth,-  and  in  1823  the  Duke  pit  was  sunk  on  the  Earsdon  royalty 
near  the  Backworth  boundary  by  Messrs.  Hugh  Taylor  and  William  Clark. 
It  reached  the  seam  at  a  depth  of  seventy-three  fathoms  and  was  followed 
by  the  Duchess  pit  in   1826.^ 

'  Diary  of  John  Buddie.  •  Jliui.  '  Borings  and  Sinkings,  Nos.  742  and  744. 


COLLIERIES    AND   THE    COAL   TRADE.  29 

The  extension  of  the  collieries  northwards  still  continued,  and  in  1826' 
a  sinking  on  Sir  Francis  Blake's  estate  at  Seghill  was  made  by  Messrs. 
Carr  and  Company  to  the  Low  Main  seam  at  a  depth  of  seventy-eight 
fathoms.  Access  to  the  river  was  obtained  by  means  of  the  wagonway 
from  Cramlington  colliery,  until  the  Carrs  constructed  a  railway  of  their 
own  from  Seghill  to  Howdon,  which  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  Blvth 
and  Tyne  railway. 

With  the  exception  of  those  at  Hartley,  practically  all  the  collieries  in 
Tynemouthshire  had,  up  to  this  time,  been  working  the  High  Main  seam, 
a  coal  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  household  coal  trade  of  London  and  the 
southern  ports.  To  the  north  of  Backworth  this  seam,  however,  began  to 
deteriorate  as  a  household  coal,  and  the  Low  Main,  which  had  been  so 
extensively  worked  by  the  old  Hartley  pits,  began  to  take  its  place,  assuming 
the  position  of  the  principal  seam  of  that  part  of  the  district.  Its  produce 
was  unfitted  for  household  use  and,  until  the  opening  out  of  the  steam  coal 
trade,  its  market  was  restricted  to  special  uses. 

In  1828  West  Holywell  colliery  was  sunk  to  the  High  Main  at  a  depth 
of  fifty-six  fathoms,  a  short  distance  to  the  north  of  the  Earsdon  shafts, 
the  owners  being  Messrs.  Taylor,  Lamb,  Plummer  and  Clark,  who  sank 
a  second  shaft  to  the  same  seam  near  Seghill  in  i853.-  After  1830  a  great 
expansion  in  the  trade  took  place,  due  both  to  the  increased  consumption 
of  coal  for  steam  purposes  in  this  country  and  to  the  foreign  demand 
which  was  then  rapidly  springing  up.  In  1831  the  duty  on  best  coal 
exported  in  British  ships  was  reduced  from  5s.  gd.  to  3s.  4d.  a  ton,  and 
in  1834  an  ad  valorem  duty  of  one  half  per  cent,  was  substituted.'  The 
export  trade  of  Newcastle  rose  from  157,000  tons  in  1828  to  476,000  tons 
in  1837.* 

The  reduction  of  the  heavy  export  duties  threw  open  to  East  North- 
umberland a  market  of  the  greatest  possible  value,  without  which  the  larger 
portion  of  the  steam  coal  comprised  in  its  lower  seams  would  probably  have 
for  a  long  time  remained  undeveloped.  The  tax  on  coals  exported  in 
British  ships  was  repealed  in   1845,'*  followed  in  1850  by  that  on  shipments 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forsier's  MSS.  ■  Borings  and  Sinkings,  Nos.  iiSo  and  iiSi. 

"  Bunning,  Coal  Duties.     United  Coal  Trade  Papers. 

'  Hair,  Northumberland  and  Durham  Collieries,  p.  5. 

*  Exports  remained  untaxed  until  1901,  when  a  duty  of  one  shilling  a  ton  was  imposed  on  coal  sold 
above  six  shillings. 


3©  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

in  foreign  vessels,  and  the  trade  continued  to  expand  so  rapidly  that  the 
exports  from  Newcastle  had  during  the  years  1 854-1 859  risen  to  an  annual 
average  quantity  of  1,744,000  tons.' 

In  1838"  an  extensive  winning  was  commenced  at  the  south-west 
corner  of  the  Seaton  Delaval  estate,  which  had  become  the  property  of 
Sir  Jacob  Astley,  afterwards  Lord  Hastings.  Six  shafts  were  commenced 
at  the  same  time  by  the  partners  Messrs.  Lamb,  Burdon,  Barnes  and 
Straker,  and  a  connection  was  made  with  the  railway  of  the  neighbouring 
Cramlington  colliery,  by  means  of  which  the  coals  were  led  to  the  staiths 
erected  by  the  Seaton  Delaval  partners  at  Howdon  on  the  Tyne.  The 
Low  Main  was  reached,  after  many  difficulties,  in  1841,  and  the  lessees 
were  bitterly  disappointed  in  finding  it  of  so  thin  and  uncertain  a  nature 
and  so  much  disturbed  by  faults  and  dykes  that  its  working  was  attended 
by  heavy  losses  for  a  considerable  number  of  years,  until  a  fresh  winning, 
known  as  the  Forster  pit,  was  made  farther  north  in    i860. 

In  1839'  the  High  Main,  which  had  previously  been  won  from  Back- 
worth  colliery,  was  sunk  to  at  a  depth  of  forty-four  fathoms  and  opened 
out  at  East  Holywell  by  Messrs.  Clark,  Taylor  and  Lamb,  the  colliery 
being  connected  by  a  branch  to  the  Backworth  railway.  By  this  time 
Backworth  had  begun  to  turn  attention  to  the  lower  seams,  and  in  1836* 
the  B  pit  was  put  down  to  the  Low  Main  seam  at  a  depth  of  107  fathoms. 
It  reached  the  coal,  as  was  proved  later  on,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  curious 
trough  or  '  swelly '  which  runs  in  a  north-easterly  direction  through  Seaton 
Delaval  and  Newsham  to  the  coast  near  Blyth,  containing  coal  of 
unusual  thickness  bordered  by  an  area  of  abnormally  thin  section.*  The 
Low  Main,  in  consequence,  remained  untouched  at  Backworth  until  the 
C  pit  was  sunk  to  it  in   1857. 

Burradon  had  reached  the  Low  Main  seam  in  the  year  1848,  when 
it  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Carr  and  Company,"  the  owners  of  Seghill, 
who  worked  it  as  a  steam  coal  colliery. 

The  Church  pit  at  Earsdon  was  sunk  to  the  Bensham  seam  in  1838," 
and    farther    to    the    Low    Main    in    1840,    working    the    latter    extensively 

'  In  1904  the  exports  from  the  Tyne  and  from  Blyth  were  11,800,000  tons. 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS.  '  Borings  and  Sinkings,  No.  1182.  '  Diary  of  John  Uuddle. 

'  North  0/  England  Institute  Transactions,  vol.  viii.  p.  23.  '  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS. 

'  Borings  and  Sinkings,  No.  746. 


COLLIERIES  AND  THE  COAL  TRADE.  3 1 

towards  Monkseaton  until  the  undertaking  was  sold  to  the  Backworth 
Coal  Company  in  1844.  This  pit  remained  closed  for  many  years  until 
reopened  recently  to  work  the  Yard  seam.  The  Low  Main  was  also 
attacked  at  West  Holywell  in  1858,'  but  the  workings  were  closed  and 
the  colliery  abandoned  in  i860  on  account  of  its  unprofitable  nature.  In 
the  latter  year  the  same  seam  was  reached  at  East  Holywell,  where, 
however,  it  remained  untouched  until  the  High  Main  and  Yard  seams 
had  been  extensively  worked.  Mr.  Clark's  interest  in  the  colliery  was 
purchased  by  Messrs.  Taylor  and  Adamson  during  the  same  year.  The 
Bates  pit,  to  the  north  of  Holywell  village,  and  the  D  pit  were  afterwards 
sunk  to  the  High  Main  and  the  Low  Main,  the  latter  in    1872. 

The  Hartley  collieries,  which  had  been  leased  by  Messrs.  Jobling 
and  partners  early  in  the  century,  gradually  extended  northwards  as  the 
coal  in  the  vicinity  of  Hartley  was  exhausted.  The  Joblings  sunk  the 
Delaval  and  June  pits"  and  worked  the  Yard  and  Low  Main  seams  very 
extensively  in  the  western  portion  of  the  old  Hartley  field.  They  con- 
tinued to  ship  the  coal  at  Seaton  Sluice,  where  the  copperas  and  bottle 
works  remained  in  operation,  although  these  trades,  as  well  as  the  manu- 
facture of  salt,  had  begun  to  decline  by  the  year  1825.'  In  1830  a  move 
was  made  farther  north  and  the  Mill  pit  at  Seaton  Sluice  was  sunk  to 
the  Low  Main,  eighty-three  fathoms  in  depth.^  It  dealt  with  a  narrow 
strip  of  coal  lying  between  two  whin  dvkes  and  rising  somewhat  heavily 
seawards.  In  1845  the  pit  was  closed  and  its  workings  abandoned  on 
account  of  the  increase  in  the  heavy  feeders  of  salt  water  which  had 
always  troubled  the  colliery.  The  Delaval  pit  was  worked  out  in  1846, 
and  in  the  same  year  the  Low  Main  was  opened  out  at  the  ill-fated  Hester 
pit,  situated  to  the  west  of  Seaton  Delaval  hall.^  In  1847  the  Joblings 
were  bought  out  by  their  then  partners  the  Carrs,  who  about  that  date 
became  the  owners  of  Cowpen  and  Burradon  coUieries  in  addition  to 
Seghill. 

The  Hester  pit,  which  was  destined  to  have  so  calamitous  an  end, 
was  unfortunate  from  the  start.  The  Low  Main  to  the  north  proved 
unusually  thin    and   the   colliery  was  heavily   watered,  so  much   so  that  in 

'  Borings  ami  Sinkings,  No.  1 187.  '  -Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS. 

'  Mackenzie,  View  of  Northumberland,  vol.  ii.  p.  418.  '  Borings  and  Sinkings,  No.  1069. 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS. 


32  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

1852  the  workings  were  drowned  and  the  water  rose  in  the  shaft  to  a  depth 
of  seventy  fathoms.'  A  more  powerful  engine  was  erected  in  1854  and 
work  continued  until  January  i6th,  1862,  when  there  occurred  an  acci- 
dent probably  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  coal  mining.  The  beam  of 
the  pumping  engine  suddenly  broke  and  the  outer  half  plunged  down  the 
timbered  shaft  which  constituted  the  sole  outlet  to  the  colliery,  blocking 
it  above  the  Yard  seam  and  emtombing  204  men  and  boys.  The  shaft 
was  full  of  wreckage  but  the  dangerous  task  of  clearing  it  away  was 
pressed  on  with  extraordinary  energy  in  the  hope  of  reaching  the  men 
alive.  After  a  time,  however,  the  workers  were  affected  by  the  gas  from 
the  ventilating  furnace  as  it  began  to  leak  up  through  the  debris,  and 
it  was  feared  that  the  men  below  must  have  been  fatally  affected  by  it. 
This  fear  proved  to  be  only  too  well  founded.  The  ventilation  was 
restored  by  means  of  a  cloth  brattice,  and  when  at  last,  after  seven  days 
and  nights  of  incessant  labour,  the  explorers  reached  the  Yard  seam  it 
was  only  to  Hnd  that  their  comrades  had  gathered  there  and  waited  and 
died.^ 

Hartley  as  a  separate  concern  then  ceased  to  exist  and  the  royalty 
was  untenanted  for  some  years,  until  it  was  taken  by  the  Seaton  Delaval 
Companv,  who  commenced  the  winning  of  New  Hartley,  a  little  to  the 
north  of  the  old  Hester  pit,  in  1872.  The  working  of  the  Yard  seam  was 
commenced  in  1877,  and  in  1895  the  shafts  were  sunk  to  the  Low  Main. 
At  the  beginning  of  1900  a  communication  was  effected  with  the  old 
drowned  workings  of  the  Hester  pit,  the  water  was  drawn  off  them  and 
work  resumed  after  an  interval  of  nearly  forty  years.  In  1858  the  Carrs 
parted  with  their  collieries  at  Burradon,  Seghill  and  Cowpen.  Burradon 
became  the  property  of  Mr.  Joshua  Bower  of  Leeds  and  shortly  after- 
wards, in  i860,  was  the  scene  of  the  most  disastrous  explosion  which  has 
occurred  in  the  vicinity,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  seventy-two  lives.  In 
1 87 1  the  colliery  was  purchased  by  Messrs.  Lambert  and  Byas  and  remains 
in  the  possession  of  their  representatives,  forming  one  of  the  group  worked 
under  the  style  of  the  Burradon  and  Coxlodge  Coal  Company. 

vSeghill  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Joseph  Laycock  and  is  still 
worked  by  his  grandson,  while  Cowpen  was  taken  over  by  a  partnership 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Straker,    Henderson,    Coppin,   Cookson,   Liddell   and 

'  Mr.  T.  E.  Forster's  MSS.  "  Trans.  N.  E.  Inst.  vol.  xi.  p.  147  ;  Tlie  Eagle,  vol.  xxii.  p.  124. 


COLLIERIES    AND   THE    COAL    TRADE. 


33 


Forster,  subsequently  known  as  the  Cowpen  Coal  Company.  The  coal 
under  Nevvsham  had  been  let  to  their  predecessors  by  Sir  M.  W.  Ridley, 
bart.,  and  partly  worked  to  Cowpen  by  outstroke,  until  the  new  tenants, 
in  i860,  effected  a  winning  of  the  Low  Main  to  the  west  of  Blyth, 
known  as  the  Hannah  pit,  whence  that  seam  was  worked  until  1877  when 
it  was  laid  in. 

Cowpen  had  hitherto  used  the  port  of  Blyth  as  its  shipping  place, 
but  towards  the  middle  of  the  last  century  it  became  evident  that  this 
harbour,  as  well  as  that  of  Seaton  Sluice,  was  insufficient  for  the  growing 
necessities  of  the  trade,  and  that  the  collieries  shipping  at  these  ports  were 
placed  at  a  disadvantage  compared  with  those  having  access  to  the  Tyne. 
The  Seghill  and  Percy  Main  railway,  completed  by  the  Carrs  in  1840, 
w^as  subsequently  extended  to  the  Hester  pit  at  Hartley  (previously 
connected  with  the  old  wagonway  leading  from  the  Delaval  pit  to  Seaton 
Sluice),  and  in  1847  on  to  Blyth.  The  undertaking  was  afterwards  known 
as  the  Blyth  and  Tyne  railway,  being  incorporated  by  Act  of  Parliament 
in  1852,  and  finally  becoming  merged  in  the  North  Eastern  Railway  in 
1874.  By  the  opening  of  railway  communication  to  the  Tyne,  a  great 
portion  of  the  coal  from  Cowpen  and  the  collieries  farther  north  was 
diverted  from  Blyth  and  Seaton  Sluice,  and  found  its  wav  to  the  Tyne 
at  Hay  Hole,  where  the  Northumberland  dock  was  afterw^ards  constructed 
and  opened  in  1857.  Seaton  Sluice  then  declined  rapidly  and  afterwards 
ceased  to  exist  as  a  port,  while  Blyth  in  time  decayed  to  such  an  extent 
that,  in  1883,  its  shipments  did  not  reach  150,000  tons.  In  this  year  the 
harbour  was  vested  in  Commissioners  ;  it  has  since  been  developed  and 
become  a  shipping  place  for  the  collieries  of  the  Blyth  district.  The 
Newsham  Mill  pit  was  sunk  in  1886,  in  close  proximity  to  the  harbour, 
in  order  to  work  the  adjacent  undersea  coal  as  well  as  that  remaining  in 
Newsham. 

During  the  last  thirty  years  mining  operations  have  been  chiefly  con- 
fined to  the  collieries  Ivin?  to  the  north  of  the  Ninetv-fathom  dvke.  These 
have  been  engaged  in  producing  steam  coal,  principally  from  the  Yard  and 
Low  Main  seams,  for  the  export  market,  which  continues  to  be  the  main- 
stay of  the  district.  In  order  to  work  the  coal  to  the  south  of  the  dyke, 
the  Shiremoor  Coal  Company  was  formed  about  1874,  '^"'^  ^  winning 
effected  at  the  Blue    Bell    pit,   near  Backworth  station,  which  worked  the 

Vol.  VIII.  S 


34  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Bensham  seam  for  some  years,  leading  its  produce  by  the  Blyth  and  Tyne 
railway  to  the  Tyne  for  shipment.  The  Algernon  pit,  near  Prospect 
Hill,  was  also  sunk  to  the  High  Main  in  order  to  drain  off  the  water 
which  had  accumulated  in  the  old  workings,  and  was  afterwards  carried 
down  to  the  Bensham  seam.  The  enterprise  was  unfortunate,  and  in  the 
year  i8g6  the  colliery  was  absorbed  by  the  Backworth  owners,  who  com- 
menced to  raise  coal  at  the  Algernon  shaft  from  the  Bensham,  and 
connected  both   pits  with  their  own  railway. 

Preston  colliery,  near  Chirton,  which  for  some  years  was  carried  on 
by  Messrs.  Hutchinson  as  a  landsale,  secured  a  connection  with  the  North 
Eastern  Railway,  near  North  Shields,  about  the  year  1897  and  has  since 
undergone  considerable  development,  working  the  Yard  and  Bensham 
seams.  A  new  shaft  has  been  sunk  to  the  Low  Main  and  the  colliery  has 
recently  become  the  property  of  Messrs.  Utrick  Ritson  and  Sons. 

The  history  of  the  coal  trade  of  Tynemouthshire  during  later  years 
is  practically  that  of  East  Northumberland.  The  trade  has  ever  been 
peculiarly  subject  to  violent  fluctuations,  and  for  this  reason  it  is  perhaps 
remarkable  that  the  ownership  of  the  collieries  in  Tynemouthshire  has 
undergone,  with  trifling  exceptions,  so  few  changes  in  spite  of  long 
periods  of  depression.  The  trade  has,  however,  continued  to  expand 
with  that  of  the  county  and  the  yearly  output  of  the  Tynemouthshire 
collieries  has  now  reached  the,  by  no  means  inconsiderable,  figure  of 
2,200,000  tons. 

TYNEMOUTH     PRIORY. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tyne,  a  rock  of  Magnesian 
Limestone,  running  out  into  the  sea,  forms  the  south-eastern  extremity 
of  Northumberland.  Its  cliffs  break  away  precipitously  on  the  east  and 
north,  but  slope  down  more  gradually  towards  the  south  ;  upon  this  side 
a  small  haven  and  a  second  promontory,  smaller  and  lower  than  the  first, 
separate  the  rock  from  the  channel  of  the  river.  On  the  landward  side 
sand  and  soil  have  accumulated,  so  that  there  is  now  a  level  approach 
from  the  west  to  what  was,  perhaps,  once  a  partly  isolated  rock.  Upon 
this  point  stands  a  Government  fort,  including  within  its  works  the  remains 
of  a  medieval  castle,  the  site  of  a  monastery  and  considerable  remains  of 
a  church,  half  of  which  was  conventual  and  half  parochial. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  35 

The  priory,  the  castle,  and  the  parish  church  form  three  distinct 
elements  in  the  history  of  the  place,  and  deserve  separate  treatment  ;  but 
the  threads  of  their  history  intermingle.  The  castle  was  the  possession  of 
the  monks,  and  formed  the  outer  defence  of  their  monastery.  The  parish 
church  was  simply  the  nave  of  the  priory  church,  set  apart  for  parochial  uses. 
A  change  came  with  the  suppression  of  the  monastery  by  Henry  VIII. 
From  that  date  there  was  a  royal  castle  with  a  parish  church  within  it, 
till  the  latter  fell  into  ruins  during  the  civil  wars,  when  a  new  church 
Avas  built  a  mile  away.  Still  the  old  graveyard  remained  in  use,  and  spread 
itself  over  a  considerable  portion  of  the  monastic  area,  while  what  was 
once  a  chantry  chapel  in  the  conventual  portion  of  the  church  was 
surrendered  to  the  parish  in  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
services  are  now  occasionally  held  in  it. 

The  name  of  Tynemouth  ^  requires  no  explanation.  There  was,  how- 
ever, a  possibly  older  name  for  the  rock.  An  old  twelfth  century  chronicle 
relating  to  Tynemouth,  now  lost,   entitled  it  '  Benebalcrag."'' 

Upon  this  supposed  place-name,  Leland  based  his  conclusion  that 
Severus's  wall  ended  at  this  point,'  being  of  the  opinion  that  it  extended 
beyond  Wallsend  to  the  sea.  There  was  a  still  earlier  tradition  to  this 
effect,  for  in  a  twelfth  or  thirteenth  century  abstract  of  Nennius's  history, 
it  is  stated  that  Severus  built  a  wall  against  the  Picts  and  Scots  from 
Tynemouth  to  Bowness.^  But  it  is  impossible  to  find  warranty  for  these 
statements,  whether  they  are  taken  to  allude  to  the  stone  wall  or  to  the 
earthen  dyke.  A  recent  discovery  of  a  portion  of  the  former  at 
Wallsend,  running  south  from  the  camp  of  Segedununi  towards  the  river, 
leaves  no  doubt  that  it  terminated  at  this  point.  The  vallum  does  not 
appear  to  have  reached  so  far  down  the  Tyne.  There  was  no  necessity 
for  the  extension  of  the  lines  farther  eastwards,  for  the  river  itself  and  the 
camp  at  South  Shields  furnished  sufficient  protection  against  attack  from 
the  north.     The  fact  that  the  river,  before  it  was  deepened   by   the   Tyne 

'  The  usual  pronunciation  of  the  name  is  with  a  short  vowel  in  the  first  syllable,  Tinmouth  ;  and 
so  the  name  was  commonly  spelt  in  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries. 

■  Leland,  Collectanea,  ed.  Heame,  1774,  vol.  iv.  p.  43.     'Locus  ubi  nunc  coenobium  Tinemuthense 
est  antiquitus  a  Saxonibus  dicebatur  Benebalcrag.' 

'  Ibid.     '  Nam  circa  hunc  locum  finis  erat  valli  Severiani.' 

'  Monumenta  Historia  Britannica,  p.   50.     '  De  secundo  etiam  Severo  qui  solita  structura  murum 
alterum,  ad  arcendos  Pictos  et  Scottos,  a  Tinemuthe  usque  Boggenes  praecepit.' 


36 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Fig.  I. 


1 


Commissioners,  was  occasionally  fordable,  at  two  points  at  least,  below 
Wallsend  does  not  militate  against  this  view,  for  the  lower  reaches  of  the 
Tyne  niav  have  silted  up  since  the  days  of  the  Roman  occupation. 

Later    writers    upon    northern    antiquities    are    agreed    that    the    wall 
did    not    reach    to    the    mouth    of  the    river  ;    but   at   the   same    time    tliey 

have  urged  that  a  subsidiary  camp 
existed  at  Tynemouth,  external  to 
and  dependant  upon  the  main  line  of 
defence.  It  is  not  unnatural  to  sup- 
pose that,  while  the  military  station  at 
South  Shields  guarded  the  entrance 
to  the  Tyne  from  the  Durham  side,  a 
similar  fort  might  be  erected  on  the 
northern  shore.  The  view  is  sup- 
ported by  the  natural  strength  which  a 
fortress  at  Tynemouth  would  possess. 
Early  archaeologists  have  been  ready 
to  detect  Roman  remains  on  the  site 
of  the  priory,  and  Warburton,  writing 
about  1720,  alludes  to  'remains  of 
Roman  mortar  in  the  banks  adjoining,' 
but  no  great  reliance  can  be  placed 
on  this  or  similar  statements. 

In  the  year  1782,  while  military 
works  were  being  carried  out  at  the 
castle,  a  Roman  altar  was  discovered 
on  the  north  side  of  the  priory  church 
six  feet  below  the  surface.  It  ap- 
peared to  have  been  used  as  a 
foundation  stone  for  later  buildings, 
the  focus  having  been  cut  away  from 
the  top,  so  as  to  give  a  smooth  surface.  On  one  side  there  were  carved 
in  relief,  a  bullock's  head,  an  axe,  knife,  and  jug  {piuicfcricii/tiiii),  the 
common  symbols  of  sacrifice  ;  on  the  other  was  the  less  common  design 
of  a  patera  between  two  snakes.  The  back  of  the  altar  was  plain  ; 
the  front  bore  the  inscription  of  dedication  to  Jupiter  Optimus  Maximus, 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


37 


made  by  Aeliiis  Rufus,  prefect  of  the  fourth  cohort  of  Lingones.'  The 
dedication,  taken  in  conjunction  with  that  of  an  altar  found  at  Wallsend 
in  1892,  corrects  a  reading  in  the  Notitia  Dignitatiiin,  as  to  the  name  of 
the  auxiliary  regiment  which  garrisoned  Segedunum. 

On    June    12th,    in    1783,    a    second    inscribed    stone    was    discovered 
in  the  same  piece   of  ground.     This  was  a   slab   or  niural  tablet,  one  foot 
nine    inches    long    by   one    foot 
ten   inches    broad.       As    in    the 
case  of  the  altar,  the  top  surface 
had  been  pared  down,  and  about 
an  inch  in  breadth  had  been  cut 
away  from  the  right  side  of  the 
stone.       This   has    rendered    the 
first  line  illegible,  and  the  whole 
inscription   obscure.      The  most 
probable    reading,    and    that    fa- 
voured by  Mommsen,   is  as  fol- 
lows :  .  .  .   I    TYPVM  CVM    BAS[l]    | 
ET   TEMPLVM   |   FECIT.   C.   IV  .  .  .    | 
MAXIMINVS    ...       I      LEG.     VI     VI 

...    I    EX  voTO.-     It   has  been 
conjectured  that  the   Ma.ximinus 
who  built  the  temple  thus  com- 
memorated was  the  Thracian  soldier  who,  in  the  year  235,  became  emperor 
of  Rome  ;    the  possibility,  though  interesting,  is  remote. 

The  actual  discovery  of  Roman  stones  at  Tynemouth  would  strengthen 
the  case  for  a  Roman  occupation,  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  the  stones 
have  evidently  been  used  by  later  builders,  and  may  have  been  trans- 
ported by  them  from  Wallsend.  Medieval  church  builders  went  to 
considerable  distances  for  worked  stone,  as  is  seen  in  the  cases  of 
Hexham  and  Chollerton.      The  inscription  first  quoted  evidently  points  to 


Fig.  2. 


'  Corpus  Iiiscriptioiiuin  Latinarum,  vol.  vii.  No.  493.     See  Fig.  I. 

-  Ibid.  No.  494.  Professor  HUbner  has  suggested  the  reading  [lovi  sic.NVM  .\N.\g]  |  LVPVM, 
aiiaglypKiii  being  a  misspelling  of  uttaglyplium,  so  that,  in  his  view,  the  object  erected  would  be  not  a 
statue  but  a  bas-relief  Brand's  suggestion  o(  gyriim,  ciiiiibus,  i-l  Umpltim,  M-\d  his  identificition  of  this 
'circular  harbour'  with  the  Prior's  Haven,  is  devoid  alike  of  linguistic  and  of  topographical  justification. 
The  Rev.  John  Hodgson  proposed  to  read  cypiiin  (i.e.  cippumrin  the  second  line,  but  the  first  letter  is 
certainly  either  L  or  T.  This  stone  and  the  altar  are  now  in  the  rooms  of  the  Society  of  .\ntiquaries  at 
Burlington  House.     See  Fig.  2. 


38  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Segedunum  as  its  source.  Other  arguments  drawn  from  the  form  of 
the  name  of  Tynemouth,  which  has  been  detected  in  the  Roman  station 
of  Tunnocelhim  and  the  hermitage  of  Tunnacester  mentioned  by  Bede,' 
are  of  still  less  weight.  In  the  present  state  of  the  evidence  it 
may  be  said  that  no  case  has  yet  been  made  out  for  supposing  that  a 
Roman  camp  ever  existed  at  Tynemouth,  though  it  may  be  urged  that 
the  Romans  would  not  have  omitted  to  fortify  so  strong  a  position.  If 
further  discoveries  of  Roman  remains  were  made,  it  might  necessitate  a 
reconsideration  of  the  question,  and  a  fresh  examination  of  the  disposition 
of  Roman  defences  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  wall  would  then  be 
required.^ 

The  first  appearance  of  Tynemouth  in  history  is  in  the  early  days  of 
Christianity  in  the  north.  A  countryman,  who  saw  the  scene,  told  the 
story  to  a  monk  of  Jarrow,  who  in  turn  described  it  to  Bede.  It  occurred 
in  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century.  At  South  Shields  a  double  monas- 
tery was  being  built  by  St.  Hild.  A  party  of  monks  had  gone  up  the  Tyne 
to  bring  timber  from  the  woods  which  then  shaded  the  river  banks.  The 
rafts  with  their  cargo  were  brought  safely  back,  but  off  South  Shields  a 
wind  set  up  from  the  west.  A  landing  was  impossible.  With  wind  and 
tide  against  them,  the  monks  were  driven  out  to  sea.  Their  comrades  put 
out  in  boats  from  Shields,  but  the  weather  prevented  them  from  giving 
any  assistance.  They  gathered  on  the  Lawe  and  knelt  in  prayer.  But 
meanwhile  a  large  crowd  had  collected  on  the  northern  shore.  Their 
thoughts  were  not  prayerful,  for  they  jeered  at  the  five  rafts  which  now 
looked  no  larger  than  so  many  sea-gulls  riding  the  waves.  The  monks 
were  getting  their  deserts,  they  said,  for  trampling  upon  the  laws  of  nature, 
and  setting  up  new  and  unheard  of  standards  of  life.  St.  Cuthbert  was 
among  the  crowd.  He  was  only  a  lad,  but  he  tried  to  shame  them,  saying, 
'  Why  curse  those  who,   as  you   see,  are  being  drawn  to  their  death  ?     Is 

Camden,  Britannia,  1587,  p.  543.  'Hoc  Romanorum  saeculo  Tunnocellum  fuisse  fere  asseverabo 
.  .  .  Saxonica  heptarchica  Tunnacerten  vocabatur.'  Cp.  Bede,  Hist.  Eccl.  lib.  iv.  c.  22,  ed.  Plummer, 
vol.  i.  p.  250. 

■  The  two  inscribed  stones,  and  the  questions  to  which  their  discovery  gave  rise,  have  a  small 
literature  to  themselves.  See  Ijruce,  Lapiiiiirium  Scptcntriunale,  Nos.  I  and  2,  and  the  authorities  there 
quoted.  When  the  present  trench  in  front  of  the  castle  was  being  excavated  in  1856,  there  was  found 
(together  with  a  large  medieval  lock  and  a  quantity  of  broken  pottery)  a  Roman  tile,  inscribed  lf;g  vi  v, 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  .Stephens,  vicar  of  Horsley,  and  a  coin  of  Constantius  II. 
(337-3*^ ■)>  ""''-■  Latimer's  Local  Records,  p.  385.  A  coin  of  the  Emperor  Magnentius  (350-353)  is  also 
said  to  have  been  found  at  Tynemouth.     Arch.  Acl.  2nd  series,' vol.  x.  p.  308. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  39 

it  not  better  and  kinder  to  pray  to  the  Lord  for  their  safe  return  than  to 
be  glad  of  their  danger  ? '  But  they  turned  on  him  angrily  and  cried,  '  Let 
no  man  pray  for  them.  May  God  have  mercy  upon  never  a  one  of  them. 
They  have  taken  away  our  old  services,  and  no  one  knows  how  these  new 
forms  ought  to  be  kept.'  Then  Cuthbert  knelt  down  and  laid  his  face  to 
the  earth,  and,  as  he  prayed,  the  wind  shifted  and  brought  back  the  rafts 
to  land  ;  so  the  monks  reached  the  Durham  shore  unharmed.  The  crowd 
was  abashed.  They  admired  the  young  man  for  his  boldness,  and,  when 
he  came  to  be  famous,  the  story  of  this  deed  was  often  told  by  those  who 
then  had  stood  upon  the  Tynemouth  cliffs.' 

A  monastery  is  not  likely  to  have  existed  at  Tynemouth  at  the  period 
w^hen  this  event  occurred.  In  later  times  the  monks  asserted  that  Edwin 
had  built  a  wooden  chapel  there,  which  St.  Oswald  replaced  by  a  little 
monastery  of  stone  ; "  but  their  tradition  may  be  disregarded  in  view  of 
Bede's  express  statement  that  no  church  was  built  in  Northumbria  before 
Oswald  raised  the  cross  at  Heavenfield.^  Neither  can  one  accept  the 
identification  of  Tynemouth  with  the  monastery  of  Donemuth,  which  would 
lead  to  placing  the  foundation  in  the  reign  of  King  Egfrid.^  Donemuth 
can  only  be  Jarrow,  which  stands  at  the  mouth  of  the  little  river  Don. 
We  must  be  satisfied  with  knowing  that  before  the  eighth  century  com- 
menced an  abbey  had  been  built  upon  the  headland. 

This  was  probably  the  monastery  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tyne  of  which, 
when  Bede  was  writing  his  historv,  his  friend  Herebald  was  abbot.  Here- 
bald,  who  died  in  745,  had  been  a  disciple  of  St.  John  of  Beverley,  and 
Bede  has  told  a  story  of  how,  as  a  young  man,  he  was  thrown  from  his 
horse,  and  woke  from  a  long  unconsciousness  to  find  the  bishop,  his  master, 
watching  by  his  bedside. 


5 


'  Bede,  Vita  S.  Cuthba-li,  cap.  3,  ed.  Giles,  vol.  iv.  p.  214.  The  identification  of  the  monaster)-  here 
mentioned  with  St.  Hild's  first  religious  house,  described  in  Bede,  Hist.  Eccl.  lib.  iv.  c.  23,  is  made 
by  Canon  Savage  in  Arch.  Acl.  2nd  series,  vol.  xix.  pp.  47-75- 

■  Leland,  Chnviicon  iiucrti  auctovis,  above  cited.  '  Edwinus,  re.\  Northumbrorum,  sacellum  erexit 
Tinemutae  e.\  ligno,  in  quo  Rosella,  ejus  filia,  postea  velum  sacrum  accepit.  Sanctus  Oswaldus 
nionasteriolum  de  Tinemuthe  ex  ligneo  lapidcum  fecit.' 

"  Hist.  Eccl.  lib.  iii.  c.  2,  ed.  Plumnier,  vol.  i.  p.  130. 

'  Bishop  Stubbs  quotes  a  manuscript  of  Roger  of  Hoveden  (MS.  Reg.  13  A.  6),  in  which,  opposite 
to  an  entry  of  the  sack  of  '  monasterium  Doni  amnis '  in  794,  a  rubric  has  been  added  :  '  Dani  cum  eorum 
rege  devicti  sunt  apud  Tynemuth,'  and  is  prepared  to  accept  the  identification.  Roger  of  Hoveden,  Rolls 
Series,  vol.  i.  p.  xxxvii. 

'  Hist.  Eccl.  lib.  v.  c.  6,  ed.  Plummer,  vol.  i.  pp.  289-291.  Symeon  of  Durham,  Historia  Regum, 
Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  38. 


40  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Very  little  is  known  of  the  history  of  this  pre-Conquest  abbey. 
A  theory  has  been  put  forward '  that  the  Northumbrian  annals,  which 
form  the  earlier  portion  of  Symeon  of  Durham's  Histoiia  Rc^uiii,  may 
have  been  composed  here,  but  Lindisfarne  and  Hexham  both  have  prior 
claims. 

There  was  necessarily  a  cemetery  attached  to  the  abbey,  a  fact 
attested  by  the  sepulchral  remains  found  there  and  otherwise  known  to 
us  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  C/ironic/c.  In  792,  Osred,  son  of  Alcred,  a 
dispossessed  king  of  Northumbria,  returned  from  the  exile  to  which  he 
had  been  driven  two  years  earlier.  Deserted  by  his  followers,  he  was 
captured  and  put  to  death  by  his  successor,  Ethelred,  his  body  being 
buried  at  Tynemouth.^ 

The  following  year,  to  the  general  horror  of  the  Christian  world,  the 
monastery  of  Lindisfarne  was  sacked  by  the  Danes.  A  year  later  Jarrow 
shared  the  same  fate,  but  the  Danes  received  a  severe  check  in  a  naval 
battle  in  Jarrow  Slake,  and  Tynemouth  gained  a  short  respite.  It  was  not 
for  long,  for  in  800  the  invaders  came  again,  and  this  time  despoiled 
the  abbey  church  as  well  as  the  church  of  Hertness,  and  carried  off  their 
booty  with  them  over  sea.' 

The  piratical  inroads  of  the  Danes  gave  way  to  more  ambitious  projects 
of  invasion  and  settlement.  In  851  they  first  wintered  in  England.  They 
directed  their  attention  at  first  to  the  south  and  south-east,  but  in  867  they 
captured  York.  Northumbria  was  a  prey  to  disunion  and  the  weakness 
of  its  rulers.  In  875  half  of  the  heathen  host  sailed  into  the  Tyne,  com- 
pletely destroyed  Tynemouth  abbey,  and  murdered  the  nuns  of  St.  Hild's 
convent  who  are  said  to  have  established  themselves  there.  According  to 
another  account  the  Tynemouth  monks  sought  refuge  in  a  little  church  on 
their  domain  which  had  been  dedicated  by  St.  Cuthbert.  The  invaders 
set  fire  to  it,  and  the  monks  perished  in  the  flames.  Tynemouth  became 
a  Danish  stronghold.  The  army,  under  the  leadership  of  Halfdene,  reduced 
the   whole    of   Northumberland,   and    spread   war  into    Scotland.      All    the 

'  By  the  late  Mr.  C.  J.  Bates,  History  oj  Northumberland,  p.  73. 

•  Earle,  Two  of  the  Saxon  Chronicles  Parallel,  p.  55.  'Osred  the  was  Norlhanhyiiibra  Cining, 
aefter  wrscsithe  ham  cumenum,  gelreht,  wa:s  ofslagen ;  his  he  Hgth  £ct  Tinanmuthe.' 

'  Matthew  Paris,  Chronica  Majora,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  p.  367.  '  A.D.  DCCC.  Exercitus  paganorum 
nefandissimus  ecclesias  de  Hertenes  el  de  Tinemutha  crudelitcr  spoliavit,  et  cum  spoliis  ad  naves 
recurrit.' 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  4I 

monasteries  on  the  coast  of  Northumberland,  Durham  and  Yorkshire  were 
destroyed,  and  monasticism  ceased  to  exist  north  of  the  Tyne  for  a  couple 
of  centuries.' 

The  downfall  of  the  Anglian  abbey  marks  the  close  of  the  first  stage 
in  Tynemouth's  history.  From  that  time  till  the  eve  of  the  Norman 
Conquest  there  is  an  entire  absence  of  historical  tradition  connected  with 
the  place.  Two  things  only  appear  certain,  that  the  monastery  was  not 
rebuilt,  and  that  in  the  resettlement  of  the  country  at  the  close  of  the 
Danish  invasions,  Tynemouth,  like  other  lands  of  the  destroyed  monasteries, 
became  part  of  the  demesne  of  the  Northumbrian  earls.  There  Earl  Tostig 
used  to  come  on  his  journeys  from  one  village  of  his  demesne  to  another, 
bringing  with  him  a  host  of  followers,  for  whom  each  town  or  village  were 
bound  by  custom  to  find  lodging  and  provisions  for  one,  two,  or  three 
nights  in  the  year."  There  was  scant  accommodation  for  them  ;  the  chaplain 
and  his  wife  (for  the  tie  of  celibacy  was  then  little  regarded  among  the 
clergy)  found  a  lodging  on  at  least  one  occasion  in  the  tower  of  the  little 
parish  church  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary.' 

The  church  was  in  charge  of  a  single  custodian,  a  secular  priest  named 
Edmund.  One  night  in  1065,  according  to  the  Tynemouth  hagiographer, 
he  dreamed  a  dream.  There  appeared  to  him  a  man  of  angelic  mien  and 
addressed  him  by  name.  '  I  am  King  Oswin,'  he  said,  '  who  was  betrayed 
and  put  to  a  terrible  death  by  King  Oswy,  and  I  lie  in  this  church  unknown 
to  all.'  He  bade  him  rise  and  tell  Egelwin,  bishop  of  Durham,  to  make 
search  under  the  floor  of  the  church  and  to  give  his  body  a  more  fitting 
resting-place.  This  Oswin,  who  was  king  of  Deira,  had  suffered  loss  of 
kingdom  and  life  at  the  hands  of  Oswy,  ruler  of  Bernicia,  four  centuries 
before  the  time  of  this  vision.     Bede  wrote  in  his  history  of  Oswin's  saint- 

'  AnnaUs  Liitdisfanienscs  et  Diinilmaiscs,  Monumenta  Germanica,  vol.  xix.  p.  506.  '  875.  Halfdene, 
assumpta  parte  exeicitus,  intravit  Tinam,  totamque  Northumbrian!  cum  monasteriis  et  ecclesiis  est 
depopulatus.'  Chronica  Mcijora,  vol.  i.  p.  392.  '  De  multorum  desolatione  coenobiorum  '  (sub  anno  S70), 
and  p.  531.  Leland,  toe.  cit.,  quoting  Chronicon  incerti  auctoris,  '  Dani  Tinemuthe  utebantur  pro 
propugnaculo  atque  adeo  receptaculo,  cum  transfetarent  ex  Dania  et  Norwegia  in  Angli.am  ;'  and  vol.  iv. 
p.  1 14,  quoting  a  lost  manuscript  of  the  Vitti  Osu'iiii, '  Hynguar  et  Hubba  hoc  monasterium  destruxerunt. 
Monachi  metu  persecutionis  fugerunt  ad  quandam  ecclesiolam  in  fundo  suo  quam  Sanctus  Culhbertus 
dedicaverat.  Quo  comperto,  Dani  ipsam  ecclesiam,  et  omnes  qui  in  eo  erant,  igni  succenderunt,  et 
omne  loci  nobilis  aedificium  in  campi  planitiem  redegerunt.' 

-  Vita  Oswiiii,  cap.  vii.  Surt.  Soc.  No.  S.  {Miscclhiiiai  Biographica),  p.  20.  '  Cum  de  more  provinciae 
instructa  assent  convivia  apud  Tynemudham,  quia  villula  modica  erat,  et  ad  tot  hommum  genera,  quae 
comitem  comitabantur,  suscipienda  hospitio  minus  sufficiens.' 

'  This  'ecclesiola'  would  seem  to  have  been  on  a  more  modest  scale  than  the  'eximium  coenobium' 
of  the  eighth  century.  Of  its  position  it  can  only  be  said  that  it  stood  within  the  castle,  and  was  not 
upon  the  site  of  the  Norman  church  which  succeeded  it. 

Vol.  VI II.  ^ 


42  '  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

liness  and  humility,  but  neither  he  nor  any  earlier  writer  had  told  of  the 
place  where  the  murdered  king  lay  buried.'  Then  Edmund  awoke,  and 
early  in  the  morning  he  told  the  bishop,  who  was  strongly  drawn  to  believe 
his  tale.  With  many  others  Egelwin  came  to  Tynemouth.  Men  were 
set  to  dig  up  the  floor  of  the  little  church.  From  dawn  to  noon  they  dug 
and  found  nothing.  Edmund  was  stung  by  a  sense  of  the  saint's  unfair 
dealing  with  him.  At  last  he  seized  a  spade  himself  and  began  to  dig 
deeper  than  the  others  had  done.  A  sharp  ring  from  the  tool  showed 
that  he  had  struck  on  stone.  The  earth  was  quickly  cleared  away  ;  a  coffin 
was  disclosed  ;  the  lid  was  lifted,  and  immediately  a  wonderful  fragrance 
filled  the  building.  Bishop  Egelwin  lifted  the  body  out  of  the  coffin  ;  it 
was  washed,  wrapped  in  linen  cloths,  covered  with  rich  apparel,  and  placed 
in  a  tomb  in  a  raised  portion  of  the  church.  The  finding  of  the  body  of 
St.  Oswin  occurred  on  March   iith,   1065." 

The  monks  of  Durham  had  a  somewhat  diff"erent  tradition.  There  was 
a  monk  at  Durham  named  Elfred  Westou.  No  man  was  a  more  zealous 
guardian  of  the  relics  of  the  saints,  and  no  one  could  match  him  in  the 
recovery  and  collection  of  fresh  relics.  His  greatest  title  to  fame  is  the 
abstraction  from  Jarrow  of  the  bones  of  the  Venerable  Bede,  which  he 
deposited  in  the  church  of  Durham.  But  he  also  visited  the  sites  of  many 
of  the  ancient  monasteries  and  churches  in  Northumbria,  bringing  to  light 
the  bones  of  the  saints  who  had  been  there  buried,  and  placing  them  above 
ground,  where  they  could  be  the  object  of  popular  veneration.  The  saints 
whose  remains  he  had  the  merit  of  discovering  were  the  hermits  Balther 
and  Bilfred,  Acca  and  Alchmund,  bishops  of  Hexham,  the  abbesses  Ebba 
and  Ethelgitha,  and  King  Oswin. ^  The  story  illustrates  the  general  revival 
in  the  north  during  Edward  the  Confessor's  reign  of  the  cult  of  North- 
umbrian saints,  of  which  the  instance  of  St.  Oswin  was  no  isolated  example. 

The  question  naturally  arises  whether  Oswin  was  actually  buried  at 
Tynemouth,  and  whether  it  was  his  body  which  was  discovered.  Answer 
may  be   given   in   the  words  of  Oswin's  biographer.     '  As  for  others  than 

'  Bede,  in  his  account  of  King  Oswin  (Hist.  Eccl.  lib.  iii.  c.  14),  mentions  only  the  place  of  his  death, 
Ingetlinguin,  i.e.,  Gilling,  near  Richmond,  where  a  monastery  was  built  in  his  memory. 

-  Vita  Oswini,  c.  iv.  pp.  12-15. 

'  Symeon  of  Durham,  Hist.  Diinehn.  Eccl.  lib.  iii.  c.  7  ;  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  pp.  87-90.  If  a  choice 
has  to  be  made  between  Symeon's  statement  and  the  St.  Alban's  tradition  as  represented  by  the  Vita 
Oswini,  the  preference  must  be  given  to  the  former.  The  St.  Alban's  connection  with  Tynemouth  dates 
only  from  1085.  The  story  of  the  hair  of  St.  Cuthbert,  which  did  not  burn  but  glowed  like  asbestos 
in  the  fire,  reappears  in  a  different  form  in  the  Vita,  where  the  hair  is  said  to  be  St.  Oswin's. 


Tynemouth  priory,  43 

Bede  who  have  told  or  written  of  the  martyr,  we  allow  a  belief  in  their 
statements,  but  the  weight  of  their  authority  is  not  sufficient  to  compel 
our  belief.'  ^  And  the  question  whether  the  bones  were  those  of  the  Deiran 
king  is  one  of  small  moment.  They  are  lost  now.  The  historical  influence 
of  St.  Oswin  in  succeeding  centuries  was  great  ;  his  Invention,  whether 
true  or  false,  is  a  date  to  be  remembered  in  the  religious  historv  of  the 
North.  Strangers  had  heard  of  St.  Oswin,  when  the  name  of  St.  Aidan 
was  unknown  to  them.'  The  popularity  of  his  worship  is  attested  by  the 
number  of  miracles  performed  at  his  shrine,  and  continued  for  at  least  a 
century,  when  his  fame  began  to  be  eclipsed  by  that  of  Godric  of  Finchale.' 

In  the  October  following  the  discovery  of  St.  Oswin's  body,  North- 
umbria  rose  in  revolt  against  Earl  Tostig,  and  he  was  forced  to  go  into 
banishment.  He  went  to  the  court  of  Harold  Hardrada,  king  of  Norway, 
whom  he  persuaded  to  join  him  in  an  invasion  of  England.  They  united 
their  forces  in  the  river  Tyne  (September,  1066),  but  the  invasion  was 
brought  to  a  close  the  same  month  at  Stamfordbridge,  where  Tostig  and 
Hardrada  lost  their  lives.  Three  weeks  later  the  battle  of  Hastings  gave 
England  to  the  Normans. 

At  first  Northumberland  was  left  unvisited  by  the  Conqueror,  but  he 
came  with  his  army  in  1070,  wasting  the  land  as  far  as  the  Tweed.  Again, 
two  years  later,  he  marched  into  Scotland  to  force  submission  upon  the 
Scotch  king,  Malcolm.  Upon  one  of  these  two  occasions,  on  his  return 
march,  he  encamped  at  Monk-chester,  soon  to  be  known  as  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne.  He  found  the  river  unfordable,  neither  was  there  any  sign  of 
a  bridge.  During  his  enforced  halt  the  Normans  scoured  the  country  for 
food  and  fodder.  Word  being  brought  that  the  supplies  of  the  neighbour- 
hood had  been  hurriedly  collected  at  Tynemouth,  a  foraging  party  was 
despatched  to  seize  them.  They  came  in  sight  of  the  church  tower,  which 
stood  a  conspicuous  landmark  on  the  promontory.     Then  their  leader  gave 

'  Vita  Oswini,  p.  i. 

-  Ibid.  p.  46.     '  De  Sancto  Rege,'  inquit,  '  Oswino  nonnulla  dudum  audieram,  sed  Sancti  Aydani 
episcopi  antea  nee  nomen  ad  me  pervenerat.' 

'  Several  miracles  performed  on  natives  of  Tynemouth  are  recorded  in  the  Vittt  Godrici,  Surt.  Soc. 
No.  20. 

'  Qualre  cenz  ans  e  quinze  avoc 
Aveit  le  cors  ju  iloc, 
A  Tyneniue,  u  il  estait, 
E  uncore  est,  co  est  drait, 
E  Deus  i  fet  maintes  vertuz 
Pur  le  cors  scint,  co  est  seuz.' 
Gaimar,  L'Estone  dis  EiigUs,  ii.  5109-5114  ;   Rolls  Series,  vol  1.  p.  216. 


44  TYNEMOUTM    PARISH. 

orders  forbidding  a  further  advance,  for  he  had  heard  of  St.  Oswin's  fame. 
But  his  scouts  were  out  of  hand.  They  hurried  on  to  Tynemoutii,  and 
came  back  to  the  king's  camp  laden  with  suppHes.  They  appear  to  have 
set  fire  to  the  church,  which  remained  roofless  for  fifteen  years  to  come.' 

King  Wilham,  on  the  second  of  these  two  campaigns,  deposed  the 
existing  earl  of  Northumberland,  Gospatric,  and  appointed  Waltheof  to  be 
his  successor.  In  1074,  when  Waltheof  had  held  the  earldom  for  two 
years,  there  came  to  Monkchester  a  monk  of  Winchcombe  named  Alduin, 
with  two  companions  from  Evesham  monastery.  They  came  on  foot,  their 
books  and  vestments  carried  on  a  donkey.  From  this  humble  beginning 
sprang  the  revival  of  monasticism  in  the  north.  Walcher,  who  was  then 
bishop  of  Durham,  received  them  with  honour,  and  gave  them  the  old 
monastery  of  Jarrow  as  a  place  of  residence."  Their  number  was  increased 
by  new  recruits  from  the  south,  and  many  Northumbrians,  influenced  by 
their  example,  entered  the  monastic  profession.  Walcher  further  used 
his  influence  with  Earl  Waltheof  for  their  better  endowment.  In  the 
presence  of  the  bishop  and  of  the  whole  synod  of  the  bishopric,  Waltheof 
granted  to  Alduin,  and  to  the  monks  assembled  at  Jarrow,  the  church 
of  St.  Mary  at  Tynemouth,  with  the  body  of  St.  Oswin,  king  and  martyr, 
then  resting  in  the  said  church,  together  with  all  places  and  lands  and 
other  things  thereto  belonging,  to  hold  freely  for  ever.  By  the  same 
charter  he  off^ered  them  his  young  cousin  Morkar,  to  be  brought  up  under 
monastic  discipline.  Moreover,  because  Tynemouth  was  as  yet  too  wild 
and  desolate  a  place  for  monks  to  inhabit,  and  Waltheof  and  the  bishop  had 
determined  to  find  them  a  more  suitable  habitation  at  Durham,  he  granted 
to  St.  Cuthbert  the  church  of  St.  Mary  above  mentioned,  with  all  property 
bestowed  or  thereafter  to  be  bestowed  upon  the  same.^  Bishop  Walcher 
likewise  issued  a  charter  at  this  synod,  confirming  the  earl's  deed  of  gift. 

Symeon  of  Durham,  who  was  himself  a  monk  at  Jarrow  at  this  period, 
has  left  an  account  of  how  the  congregation  acquitted  themselves  of  their 
charge.      One    of  their    number,    named    Edmund,    served    the    church    at 

'  Vita  Oswini,  c.  viii.  p.  20.     Professor  Freeman  {Norman  Conquest,  vol.  iv.  p.  519)  assigns  the  episode 

to   1072,  which  agrees  best  with  the  hagiographer's  words,  'cum a  Scotia  reverteretur.'     But 

Symeon  of  Durham's  statement  that  in  1083  the  church  had  been  for  fifteen  years  without  a  roof 
implies  a  devastation  in  1070,  so  that  this  tale  of  a  Norman  foray  may  apply  to  the  earlier  campaign. 

-■  Symeon  of  Durham,  Hist.  Eccl.  Duiutm.  lib.  iii.  c.  21  ;   Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  pp.  109-112. 

'  Diir.  Treas.  1""  i""  Pont.  No.  5  (an  early  transcript),  and  Cart.  Prim.  fol.  83;  printed  in  Hist. 
Dundm.  Script.  Tres,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  9,  p.  xviii.  The  presence  of  Earl  Aldred  as  a  witness  throws  some 
doubt  upon  the  genuineness  of  the  charter,  but  there  is  no  reason  for  questioning  the  fact  of  Waltheof 's  gift. 


TYNEMOUTM    PRIORY.  45 

Tynemouth,  and,  after  him,  Eadred.  They  also  appointed  a  priest,  Elwald. 
He  was  one  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Cuthbert  at  Durham,  and  used  to 
go  over  to  Durham  from  Tynemouth  whenever  his  week  came  round  for 
celebrating  mass.  Others  of  the  brethren  were  sent  in  turn  to  St.  Mary's 
to  hold  divine  service.  But  there  was  no  settlement  at  Tynemouth,  and 
the  church  continued  in  a  dismantled  state.  The  Jarrow  monks  at  times 
brought  over  the  bones  of  St.  Oswin  to  their  monastery,  keeping  them 
with  them  so  long  as  they  pleased,  and  then  returning  them  to  their 
original  resting  place. ^ 

Bishop  Walcher  did  not  live  to  carry  out  his  scheme  of  establishing 
the  Jarrow  monks  at  Durham,  being  murdered  in  1080.  During  the  last 
five  years  of  his  life  he  had  been  earl  of  Northumberland  as  well  as 
bishop  of  Durham.  Now  the  two  oi^ices  were  separated.  William  de  St. 
Carileph  was  appointed  to  the  episcopal  see,  and  a  Norman  noble,  Alberic, 
was  made  earl.  In  the  course  of  his  brief  tenure  of  that  office  (1080-1082), 
Alberic   confirmed   Waltheof's  charter  of  donation.^ 

The  new  bishop  was  stronglv  influenced  by  the  ecclesiastical  reforms 
of  Pope  Gregory  VII.  He  obtained  papal  and  royal  sanction  for  expelling 
the  congregation  of  St.  Cuthbert  from  the  church  which  they  had  hitherto 
served,  and  replacing  them  by  the  combined  monastic  congregations  of 
Jarrow  and  Wearmouth.  In  this  way  Durham  priory  was  founded.  Monks 
of  the  Benedictine  Order  were  established  at  Durham  on  May  26th, 
1083.  The  bishop  had  made  preparations  for  the  new  body  by  endowing 
it  with  extensive  property  in  Durham  and  Northumberland,  and  he  also 
confirmed  the  monks  in  their  possession  of  the  church  of  Tynemouth. 
Robert  de  Mowbray,  the  new  earl  of  Northumberland,  joined  with  others 
in   sanctioning  this  arrangement.^ 

The  removal  of  the  monks  from  Jarrow  to  Durham  necessitated  a 
change  with  regard  to  Tynemouth.  It  was  no  longer  possible  to  send 
monks    across   the    Tyne    as    in    the    days    when    only  the    river   separated 

'  Symeon  of  Durham,  Hist.  Rcgum,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  261. 

■' .Alberic's  charter  is  described  by  Bishop  William  as  granted  'eisdem  monachis,  domini  Papae 
auctoritate  in  Dunelnium  translatis.'  'Translatis'  refers  to  the  time  of  Bishop  William's  charter  and  not 
to  that  of  Alberic.  .Alberic  had  probably  ceased  to  be  earl  before  the  monks  were  transferred  to  Durham, 
though  Symeon  of  Durham  asserts  the  contrary.     Hist.  Regum,  loc.  cit. 

'  Diir.  Ti-eas.  1"'°  i'""  Pont.  No.  2,  printed  in  Hist.  Dunclin.  Script.  Trcs,  pp.  i-v.  The  charter  is  a 
forgery  (see  the  Rev.  William  Greenwell's  introduction  to  the  Fcodariiim  Pnoratus  Duiielmcnsis,  Surt. 
Soc.  No.  58),  but  must  be  accepted  as  embodying  an  early  tradition,  to  be  followed  for  want  of  a  better 
authority. 


46  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Jarrow  from  its  dependent  ;  a  more  permanent  settlement  at  Tynemouth 
was  required.  By  a  resolution  of  the  whole  chapter,  the  monk  Turchil 
was  sent  to  Tynemouth,  possibly  with  one  or  more  companions.  He  put 
a  new  roof  upon  the  dismantled  church,  and  continued  to  reside  there  for 
the  next  three  years.' 

A  quarrel  shortly  broke  out  between  William  de  St.  Carileph  and 
Robert  de  Mowbray.  The  earl  sent  two  of  his  officers,  Gumer  and 
Robert  Taca,  and  expelled  the  monk  Turchil  from  St.  Mary's  church. 
The  bishop  replied  by  issuing  a  charter,  in  which  he  recited  Waltheof's 
deed  of  <nft  and  its  various  confirmations,  and  threatened  with  the  usual 
anathemas  whoever  should  dare  to  rob  the  monks  of  their  possession  (May 
27th,  108 s).'  The  feud  became  serious,  and  called  for  the  interposition  of 
the  king,  who  restored  peace,  though  without  obliging  Mowbray  to  give 
back  the  church  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Durham.^ 

Robert  de  Mowbray  was  not  disposed  or  was  not  allowed  to  keep  the 
church  in  his  own  hands.  Acting,  it  is  said,  with  the  goodwill  of  the  king 
and  of  Archbishop  Lanfranc,  he  entered  into  negotiations  with  Lanfranc's 
nephew,  Paul,  the  Norman  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  to  ascertain  whether  he 
was  willine  to  send  monks  from  St.  Alban's  to  settle  in  the  vacant  church. 
Paul  accepted  the  proposals  upon  the  condition  that  a  suitable  endowment 
was  found  for  them.  Mowbray  assented  ;  the  monks  were  sent  and  installed 
under  the  protection  of  the  civil  power,  and  in  this  way  Tynemouth  became 
a  cell  of  St.  Alban's,  and,  except  for  brief  assertions  of  independence,  re- 
mained subject  to  that  monastery  for  the  remainder  of  its  existence.^ 

'  Symeon,  Hist.  Reguiii,  loc.  cit.  and  Hist.  Dunelni.  Eccl.  lib.  iv.  cap.  4  ;  Rolls  -Series,  vol.  i.  p.  124. 
'  Quae  (ecclesia),  cum  jam  per  quindecim  annos  velut  deserta  sine  tecto  durasset,  eani  monachi,  culmine 
imposito,  renovarunt.' 

■  Dur.  Tn-as.  i"'«  i"'°  Pont.  No.  5,  and  Cart.  Prim.  fol.  S3  b,  printed  in  Hist.  Dunclm.  Script.  Trcs, 
p.  xix.  This  charter  is  to  be  taken  with  the  same  reservation  as  that  of  Waltheof.  It  is  dated  'v  kal. 
Mail,  feria  secunda,'  but  the  27th  in  this  year  was  a  Sunday. 

'  Hist.  Duiitlm.  Script.  Trcs,  p.  ccccxxv,  quoting  an  abstract  of  the  Liber  Ruber,  a  lost  manuscript 
which  gave  a  history  of  the  privileges  conferred  upon  the  see  of  Durham  down  to  1088,  '  Willielmus 
Conquestor  concordiam  fecit  inter  Willielmum  primum  episcopum  Dunelm.,  et  Robertum  comitem 
Northunibriae.'  A  deed  in  Dur.  Treas.  (1'"°  i'"""  Reg.  No.  17)  gives  the  terms  of  a  concord  made  by 
William  Rufus  between  St.  Carileph  and  Mowbray  ;  printed  in  the  Feodanuin,  ed.  Greenwell,  p.  Ixxxii. 
The  list  of  witnesses  w-ould  date  it,  if  genuine,  in  1091  or  1092.  In  this  it  conflicts  with  the  statement 
in  the  Liber  Ruber. 

'  An  obscurity  hangs  over  the  acquisition  of  Tynemouth  by  St.  Alban's,  due  to  the  fact  that  the  date 
must  be  a  matter  for  conjecture.  Matthew  Paris  is  the  only  writer  who  assigns  a  year  to  the  event,  and 
he  does  not  claim  it  to  be  more  than  approximate.  (Chronica  Mtijoni,  vol.  ii.  p.  31.)  His  date,  1090,  conflicts 
with  the  statement  in  the  Gcsta  Abliatuni  Mvnastcrti  S.  Albani  (Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  p.  56)  that  the  trans- 
ference was  carried  out  'regis  et  archiepiscopi  Lanfranci  benevolentia,'  for  Lanfranc  died  May  24th, 
1089.  The  event  must  have  been  prior  to  that  date,  and  is  admitted  to  be  subsequent  to  the  foundation 
of  Durham  priory  (May  26th,  1083).     If  one  is  to  keep  as  near  as  may  be  to  the  chronology  of  Matthew 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  47 

Mowbray's  charters  are  not  extant,  so  that  there  are  no  means  of 
ascertaining  how  extensive  his  gifts  were,  but  they  were,  without  doubt, 
lavish.  He  endowed  the  new  cell  with  manors,  churches,  rents,  and 
fisheries,  together  with  mills  and  the  usual  appurtenances  of  a  Norman 
manor,  to  be  held  freely,  and  quit  of  all  secular  service.  He  granted  the 
church  of  Tynemouth,  so  endowed,  to  Abbot  Paul  and  his  successors, 
and  to  the  church  of  St.  Alban's  for  his  own  health  and  that  of  all  his 
predecessors  and  successors  to  hold  for  ever,  upon  the  condition  that  the 
abbot  of  St.  Alban's  for  the  time  being,  with  the  conventual  chapter, 
should  have  the  free  disposal  of  the  priors  and  monks  of  Tynemouth, 
alike  in  appointing  and  in  removing  them,  as  they  should  see  fit.' 

Paris,  the  winter  of  10S8-10S9  may  be  fixed  upon,  and  the  spohation  of  Durham  may  under  those 
circumstances  be  considered  to  form  part  of  the  consequences  of  WilMam  de  St.  Carileph's  participation 
in  Odo  of  Bayeux's  rising  of  1088.  Robert  de  Mowbray  also  joined  in  the  rising,  but  appears  on  this 
occasion  to  have  escaped  punishment.  He  may  have  made  his  submission  and  ratified  it  by  joining 
with  the  royal  party  against  the  bishop,  his  former  ally. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Durham  Red  Book  gives  proof  of  a  quarrel  between  Mowbray  and  Bishop 
William,  which  was  made  up  while  William  the  Conqueror  was  still  alive,  i.e.,  before  September,  1087. 
The  words  of  Symeon  of  Durham  (Hist.  Rcgum,  loc.  cit.),  '  postea  per  tres  annos  possederunt,'  show  that 
the  monks  of  St.  Cuthbert  did  not  hold  the  church  of  Tynemouth  for  more  than  three  years  after  they 
were  transferred  to  Durham.  This  gives  1085-1086  as  the  required  date,  which  is  corroborated  by  the 
fact  that  the  story  of  Mowbray's  seizure  finds  a  place  in  Symeon's  narrative  before  the  entry  of  the  death 
of  William  the  Conqueror.  It  is  therefore  probable  that  Bishop  William's  charter  of  May  28th,  1085,  if 
genuine,  was  not  unconnected  with  Mowbray's  attack  on  the  rights  of  his  church.  Tynemouth  had  been 
already  confirmed  to  the  priory  along  with  other  possessions  in  1082.  .\  special  confirmation  at  a 
subsequent  date  must  have  been  called  forth  by  special  circumstances.  These  considerations  point  to 
10S5  as  the  most  probable  date,  though  the  chronology  is  undoubtedly  difficult. 

'  Matthew  Paris,  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  ii.  p.  31.  De  monachis  apud  Tynemutham  prime  introductis. 
'  Consilio  amicorum  suorum  (Robertus  de  Molbraio)  Paulum,  ecclesiae  Sancti  .-Mbani  abbatem,  convenit. 
....  Cujus  petitioni  abbas  praedictus  adquiescens,  quosdam  illuc  de  SanctoAlbano  monachis  destinavit ; 
quibus  comes  praefatus  cum  in  maneriis,  ecclesiis,  redditibus  et  piscariis,  cum  molendinis  et  rebus 
omnibus  sufficienter  providisset  et  cartis  suis  praedicta  oinnia  ab  omni  seculari  servitio  soluta  et  penitus 
libera  confirmasset,  dedit  praedicto  abbati  Paulo,  ejusque  successoribus  et  ecclesiae  beati  Albani 
Anglorum  prothomartyris,  ecclesiam  de  Tinemutha.  cum  omnibus  pertinentiis  suis,  pro  salute  propria  et 
omnium  antecessorum  suorum  sive  successorum  eternaliter  possidendam,  ita  quidem  ut  abbates  Sancti 
Albani  qui  pro  tempore  fuerint,  cum  consilio  ejusdem  loci  conventus,  liberam  habeant  dispositionem 
priorum  et  monachorum,  tarn  in  illis  ponendis  quam  removendis,  sicut  viderint  expedire.'  The  writer 
of  these  words  must  have  had  Mowbray's  deed  of  gift  before  him.  It  was  lost  before  1292,  when  search 
was  made  for  it,  and  a  Tynemouth  monk  wrote,  '  God  only  knows  what  has  become  of  it.'  Cottonian 
MSS.  Tib.  E.  vi.  fol.  150.  ,  ■  ,      u 

The  manuscript  here  quoted  is  an  unpublished  register  of  St.  Alban's  monastery,  of  which  the 
greater  part  appears  to  have  been  compiled  in  the  last  decade  of  the  thirteenth  century.  It  has  been 
continued  by  various  writers  in  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries.  The  earlier  portion  relates  largely 
to  the  various  cells  of  St.  .A.lban's  monastery,  for  whose  history  it  is  of  the  highest  value.  It  has  never 
been  printed  as  a  whole,  though  well  deserving  of  that  attention,  but  extracts  are  given  in  the  Rolls 
edition  of  the  Rcgistrtan  Abhatiac  Johannis  Whcthamstcde,  vol.  ii.  app.  D.  Originally  a  fine  code.x,  it  was 
seriously  injured  in  the  fire  which  consumed  many  of  the  manuscripts  of  Sir  Robert  Cottons  collection. 
Fortunately  three  independent  series  of  extracts'  from  it  exist  which  were  made  before  the  fire,  viz. : 
(l)  by  Augustine  Baker  (MSS.  Jesus  College,  Oxford,  No.  77),  (2)  by  Roger  Dodsworth  (volume  78 
of  his  collections),  (3)  by  Sir  Richard  St.  George  (Lansdowne  MSS.  No.  S63).  Selden  also  quotes  it  m 
his  History  of  Tithes.  Dodsworth's  extracts  were  largely  used  in  the  production  of  Dugdale  s  Momutuon. 
Mr.  Sidney  Gibson  printed  the  Lansdowne  MS.  extracts,  so  far  as  they  related  to  Tyriemouth,  in  his 
History  of  the  Monastery  of  Tvnemotith.  The  manuscript  has  been  carefully  rebound,  and,  though  much 
injured  in  every  page  by  fire,  i't  remains  otherwise  intact.  The  greater  part  of  it  is  decipherable.  It  wi.l 
be  hereafter  quoted  in  this  work  as  the  St.  A  Iban's  Register. 


48 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Among  the  possessions  so  confirmed  to  Tynemoutli  and  St.  Alban's 
were  probably  the  manors  of  Tynemouth  and  Preston,  the  manor  of  Amble 
with  Hauxley,  its  member,  the  churches  of  Tynemouth  and  Woodhorn, 
and  the  tithes  of  Corbridge,  Rothbury,  Warkworth,  Wooler,  and  Newburn. 
Thev  were  held  by  Tynemouth  priory  from  a  very  early  period,  and  appear 
to  have  been  formerly  part  of  the  estates  of  the  official  earldom.  Other 
grants  were  made  by  Mowbray's  '  men  ; '  Hubert  de  la  Val,  for  instance, 
granted  the  tithes  of  all  the  townships  in  his  barony,  and  possibly  the 
township  of  South  Dissington  also. 

The  following  table  shows  the  extent  of  the  possessions  of  Tynemouth 
priory,  as  well  those  now  conferred  as  those  acquired  at  a  later  date. 
Exactness  cannot  be  ensured  owing  to  the  loss  of  almost  all  of  the  grants. 
Minor  possessions,  that  is  to  say,  houses  or  lands  within  a  township,  are 
omitted. 


Northumberland.    A 

Temporalities. 

Date  of 

Township. 

Donor. 

.Acquisition 

. 

Subsequent 

History. 

Tynemouth 

Robert  de  Mowbray  (?) 

1085         ... 

Retained  till  dissolution 

Preston            

1)                 )) 

Before  1 1 16 

»j 

1) 

Whitley          ^ 

Monkseaton 

Henry  I 

Circa  1 1 06- II 

16 

M 

M 

Seghill            ) 

East  &  Middle  Chirton 

Unknown      

Before  11 16 

)) 

») 

Earsdon         

,, 

» 

M 

1» 

Backuorth      

)» 

Before  11 58 

Jl 

)» 

Murton           

)) 

Before  1 1 89 

» 

Ji 

Flatworth       

Robert  de  Wircester 

Circa  11 58 

)J 

)» 

West  Chirton 

Purchased     from     William 
Heron 

1256      ... 

» 

»> 

Amble             

Mowbray  (?) 

1085  (?) 

» 

M 

Hauxley         

,, 

„ 

)1 

)» 

Coquet  Island 

Unknown      

Before  11 19 

)) 

)) 

Bewick           > 

Lilburn            

,  Queen  Matilda  '       

Circa  1105-11 

06 

J) 

J) 

Harehope       

Wooperton     , 

Eglingham     

Winnoc  the  hunter 

Circa  1106-II16 

)J 

J» 

Bebside          

Unknown      

Before  11 89 

... 

U 

») 

Cowpen          

West  Hartford 

de  Bolam  ^ 

Unknown 

J' 

)) 

tl 

'Liber  de  Benefactoribus  Monasterii  Sancti  Albani,  Rolls  Series;  Chronica  Monasterii  S.  Albani, 
vol.  iii.  p.  435.     '  Matildis  regina  dedit  nobis  Bewyk  et  Lylleburne.' 

■  '  The  manner  and  towne  of  Cowpon  by  th'  old  feodary  roll  was  holden  of  the  barony  of  Bollam, 
and  afterwardes  the  tenor  given  by  the  lordes  of  the  said  barony  emongst  other  thinges  to  the  prior  and 
convent  of  Tynemouthe.'  Early  seventeenth  century  survey  of  Tynemouthshire,  Duke  of  Northumber- 
land's MSS. 


Plate   r.' 


r-1 


V»1Tul™Jan..  banc  S  c.„c«„„f W,n.a  A[<«„<lcr  fcS  i  (.ercfconfAo  .1„„c„3,„L   I 
-~-  1^.5  ^.rV.|,l  ra.,„,fif  U.^,.  |,„_y  ,a.e5arJ.  Ren,,.*.. bp.on.li^ 

Ko5.ac  I™„M.  Ra<l„iafiululMc54a.  Radu(foa™.Kc^«lJ„);..  Vo,,,^ 


CHAP.TER  OF  EDC3AR.  SON  OF  aoSPATRIC 


R.C"»»tD    P»yui55EH   viEs 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


49 


Northumberland.    A.  Temporalities  (continued j. 


Township. 

Donor. 

Date  of 
Acquisition. 

Elswick 

■  de  Bolani 

Before  1 1 20  (?) 

Westgate 

Benwell 

I'urchased  from  James  Dela- 

1454      - 

Subsequent  History. 

Retained  till  dissolution. 


Denton 

Wolsington    ... 
South  Dissington 
Wylani 
Welton 


val 
Purchased    from    Adam    de 
Kenrother  and  others  ... 
Unknown 

William  (?)  de  la  Val' 
Unknown 


■38'       

Before  1 1 89  . . 
Before  1 158  .. 
Before  1 120  (?) 
Before  11 89     .. 


Lost  before  the  dissolution. 


The  priory  also  owned,  at  the  dissolution,  a  fee  farm  rent  from  the 
tower  of  Craster  and  land.s  in  Warkworth,  Donkin  Rigg,  Woodhorn,  North 
Seton,  Ellington,  Mersfen,  Newbiggin,  Seghill,  Holywell  and  Hartley,  as 
well  as  several    houses  in   Newcastle  and  Gateshead. 


B.  Spiritualities,    i 

—  Impropriations. 

Dale  of 

Church. 

Donor. 

Acquisition. 

Subsequent  History. 

Tynemouth    ... 

Robert  de  Mowbray 

1085 

Retained  till  dissolution. 

Woodhorn 

Mowbray  or  Guy  de  Balliol 

Before  1 1 19     ... 

11 

Whalton 

Unknown 

Before  1 1S9     ... 

n 

Hartburn 



,, 

Transferred  to  St.  Alban's 
circa  1258- 1260. 

Bcjlam 

de  Bolam  (?) 

„ 

Lost  to  the  Archbishop  of 
York,  1253-1254. 

Bewick 

Queen  Matilda         

1105-1106 

Retained  till  dissolution. 

Eglingham     ... 

Winnoc  the  hunter 

Circa  1 106-1 1 16 

Transferred  to  St.  Alban's 
circa  1215-1222. 

Edlingham     

Gospatric  II. 

Before  1 13S     ... 

Surrendered  to  Durham,  1 1 74. 

Bywell  St.  Peter's     . 

.      Guy  (?)  de  Balliol    

Before  1 1 19     ... 

»i 

Haltwhistle 

.      Richard  II 

13S4      

Retained  till  dissolution. 

2.— Tithes,  other  ihan  those  of  ihe  Churches  above-named.^ 

Date  of 
Parish  or  township.  Donor  Acquisition.  Subsequent  History. 

Corbridge       Robert  de  Mowbray  (?)      ...      Before  i!i6     ...  )   Conceded    to    Carlisle  circa 

Warkworth    „  ...  „  ...   )  1223. 

Rothbury        „  ...  „  ...     Lost  to  Carlisle. 

'  Liber  dc  Dciie/actoribus,  p.  448.  '  Willelmus  de  Lavale  dedit  huic  ecclesiae  villain  quae  Ducentuna 
appellatur  in  regione  Northanhumbroruin.' 

'' '  Henricus  Rex  Anglie  R.  Episcopo  Dunelinensi  et  omnibus  baronibus  suis  Francis  et  Anglis  de 
Northumberland,  salutcm.  .Sciatis  me  dedisse  Deo  et  Sancte  Marie  et  Sancto  Oswyno  et  abbati 
de  .Sancto  .Mbano  et  monachis  de  Tyncmulh  omncs  dccimas  suas  per  Northumberland  quas  Robcrtus 
comes  et  homines  ejus  donaverant  cis,  scilicet  dccimas  de  Colebrige,  ct  illas  de  Ovinlon  et  de  Wylum, 
illas  etiam  dc  Ncuburn,  et  illas  dc  Discington  et  dc  Calverdon  ct  de  Klstwyc,  et  illas  eli.im  [de]  Bothall 
et  de  Werkeurtli  ct  de  .Anebell,  similiter  et  de  Roubyr  et  de  Wulloure.  Et  volo  ac  praecipio  quatcnus 
supradictus  abbas  et  monachi  de  Tynemutha  bene  ct  integre  habeant  illas,  ac  libcie  tencant  in  mca 
pace,  et  quod  nullus  eis  inde  aliquid  auferat,  super  meam  forisfacturam.  Teste  Nigcllo  dc  Alben'  apud 
Brantonam.'     St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  1 16.     From  Dodsworth's  transcripts. 


Vol.  \III. 


50 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


2.— Tithes,  other  than  those  ok  the  Churches  above-named  f continued j. 


Parish  or  township. 

Newburn 

Wooler 

Elswick 

Bothal 
Wylam' 
Ovington 
Dissington 
Black  Calleiton 


Donor. 
Robert  de  Mowbray  (?) 


Guy  (?)  dc  Balliol 


Hubert  de  la  Val 


Dale  of 
Acquisition. 

Before  1 1 16 


Subsequent  History. 
Lost  to  Carlisle. 
Compounded  before  1282. 
Retained  till  dissolution. 
Compounded  in  1236. 
Retained  till  dissolution. 
Lost  before  1 189. 


DuRHA.M  (Wapentake  of  Sadberge).     A.  Temporalities. 


Township. 

Carlbury         ...  | 

Morton  Tyncmouth  J 


Date  of 
Donor.  Acquisition. 

Robert  dc  Mowbray  or  Guy      Before  11 19 
de  Balliol 

B.  Spiritualities. 


Property.                                                   Donor. 
Coniscliffe  Church    ...       Unknown-    ... 
Tithes  of   Middleton-  „  

in-Teesdale 
Tithes  of  demesne  of      Robert  Bruce  I.  (?)  ... 

the  lordship  of  Hert- 

ness 


Date  of 
Acquisition. 

Before  1093 
Before  11 58 

Before  1 141 


Subsequent  History. 

Lost  to  the  Bishop  of  Dur- 
ham nVra  1 265- 1 290. 


Subsequent  History. 
Transferred  to  St.  Alban's. 
Lost  during  the  13th  century. 

The  tithes  of  Elwick  and 
Owton  were  retained  till 
the  dissolution. 


This  list  will  show  that  the  great  bulk  of  the  possessions  of  Tynemouth 
piiory,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  were  conferred  upon  that  house  during 
the  first  century  of  its  existence.  There  is  ground  for  supposing  that  most 
of  them  formed  part  of  the  original  endowment,  to  which  many  northern 
nobles  besides  Mowbray  contributed,  such  as  Guy  de  Balliol,  the  first 
Robert  Bruce,  and  the  second  Gospatric. 

So  soon  as  Abbot  Paul  had  leisure  to  attend  to  his  new  charge,  he 
journeyed  north,  though  it  was  not  till  the  year  1093  that  he  was  able  to 
set  out  on  this  pastoral  visitation.  The  church  of  Durham  had  in  no  way 
yielded  its  claims.  Its  prior,  Turgot,  sent  some  of  his  monks  to  meet 
Abbot  Paul  at  York,  and  afterwards  went  there  himself.  In  the  presence 
of  Thomas,  the  archbishop,  and  of  many  ecclesiastics,  he  prohibited  the 
abbot    by    canonical    authority    from    usurping    the    rights    of    the    church 

'  See  the  letter  of  Robert  Hclme  to  George  Warde  quoted  in  the  account  given  below  of  the  Great 
Book  of  Tynemouth. 

-  He  is  described  in  MSS.  Cott.  Vitellius  A.  x.\.  fol.  76  b,  as  '  quidam  nobilis  de  Novo  Castello  qui 
venit  ad  Conquestum  Angliae.'  See  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  new  edition,  vol.  iii.  p.  313.  An  account  of 
this  manuscript  will  be  given  in  dealing  with  the  literature  of  the  priory. 


tVNfeMOUTH    PRIORY. 


^I 


of  Durham,  and  violating  the  sacred  canons. 
But  the  abbot  answered  that  he  cared  nought 
for  any  prohibition  ;  so  when  he  fell  ill  and  died 
on  his  homeward  journey,  the  Durham  monks 
saw  in  the  event  a  just  punishment  of  his  and 
Mowbray's  crime.' 

Upon  the  same  day  as  that  on  which  Abbot 
Paul  died,  Malcolm  Caenmore,  king  of  Scotland, 
was  surprised  and  killed  on  the  banks  of  the 
Aln,  November  13th,  1093.  Two  Northum- 
brians brought  his  body  on  a  cart  to  Tynemouth, 
where  Mowbray  had  it  buried  in  the  new  Nor- 
man church  then  in  course  of  construction. 
Subsequently  Malcolm's  son,  Alexander  I.,  asked 
that  his  father's  body  should  be  given  back.  A 
corpse  was  sent  and  buried  in  Dunfermline 
abbey.'  The  Scottish  king,  in  gratitude,  granted 
to  the  church  his  peace  and  the  peace  of  God. 
Matthew  Paris  has  a  storv  that  the  remains  sent 
to  Dunfermline  were  really  those  of  a  farmer 
from  the  neighbouring  village  of  Monkseaton. 
'  In  this  way,'  he  writes,  '  we  tricked  the  dis- 
honest Scots.''  Whether  or  no  Malcolm's  body 
continued  to  lie  at  Tynemouth,  it  so  happened 
that  when,  in  1257,  certain  foundations  were 
being  laid  for  a  new  building,  two  coffins  were 
discovered.  One  contained  the  body  of  a  man 
of  great  stature ;    the   body  in   the   other  coffin 

Symeon,    Hist.    Dunelm.    Eccl.    and   Hist.    Regiim,    loc.    cit. 
Matthew  Paris,  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  ii.  p.  34. 

'  Symeon,  Hist.  Rfgiim,  vol.  ii.  p.  222.  William  of  Malnies- 
bury,  Gesta  Regiim  Anglorum,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  309.  Cj.  King 
David's  charter  given  in  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  new  edition,  vol.  iii. 
P-  313- 

'  Chronica  Majora  (Additamenta),  vol.  vi.  p.  372.   '  De  Roberto 

de  Mumbrni,  fundatore  de  Thinemue Propter  regiam  excel- 

lentiam.  fccil  corpus  regis  occisi  honorifice  intuiiiulari  in  ecclesia    b 
de    Thyneinuc,   qiiani   idem   conies   construxerat.      Scotis   tamen 
postea  corpus  sui  regis  fruntose  postulantibus,  concessum  est  et 
datum  corpus  cujusdam  hominis  plebeii  de  Sethtune  ;  et  ita  delusa 
est  Scotoruni  improbitas.' 


irp>x " 


•50A  L  E 

I  ft 
■    .     I 


2tf. 
I  I  I 


Effigy  ix  Choik  of  Priory 

CHfKCH. 


^2  TYNEMOUXn    PARISH. 

was  of  smaller  build.  Ralph  de  Dunham,  who  was  prior  of  Tynemouth  at 
that  time,  thought  them  to  be  Malcolm  and  his  eldest  son,  Edward,  who 
was  killed  or  mortally  wounded  when  the  Scottish  king  lost  his  life.  He 
wrote  to  a  monk  of  Kelso  for  further  information  about  Malcolm.  The 
monk  sent  him  an  extract  from  Roger  of  Hoveden's  history,  and  suggested 
that  a  place  of  greater  honour  should  be  given  to  the  two  coffins.' 

Malcolm's  death  was  shortly  followed  by  the  revolt  and  overthrow  of 
his  rival  Mowbray.  Carried  away  by  his  success,  the  earl  defied  William 
Rufus  and  broke  into  rebellion  in  the  spring  of  1095.  The  royal  forces 
marched  against  him.  He  stood  isolated,  but  effected  a  stout  resistance. 
Siege  was  laid  to  Newcastle  and  to  Tynemouth,  both  of  which  places 
now  appear  for  the  first  time  as  fortified  positions.  Tynemouth  seems  to 
have  been  the  first  to  fall,^  after  it  had  held  out  for  two  months.  The 
earl's  brother  and   the  whole  of  the  garrison  were  taken  prisoners. 

The  St.  Alban's  monks  made  their  submission,  and  found  the  king,  who 
was  conducting  the  siege  of  Newcastle,  sufficiently  generous.  Three  royal 
charters,  drawn  up  during  that  siege,  have  been  recorded  in  a  register  of  St. 
Alban's.  By  one  William  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's  the  church  of  St.  Mary 
and  St.  Oswin,  and  all  things  that  belonged  to  it  in  lands  and  tithes,  waters 
and  customs  '  to  the  north  and  to  the  south  of  the  Tyne  and  in  England,' ' 

'  Matthew  Paris,  Chronica  Majora  (Additamenta),  vol.  vi.  pp.  370,  371.  It  is  impossible  to  say 
whether  the  prior's  conjecture  was  well  founded.  Only  one  may  note  that  he  claimed  to  have  found 
the  body  of  Prince  Edward  also.  Vet  no  writer  makes  mention  of  that  prince  having  been  buried  at 
Tynemouth,  and  Fordun  {Scotticronicon,  ed.  Skene,  vol.  ii.  p.  208)  asserts  that  the  prince  escaped  to 
Jedburgh,  died  there  of  his  wounds,  and  was  buried  at  Dunfermline.  The  prior  would  seem  to  attempt 
to  prove  too  much. 

■  The  part  played  by  Tynemouth  in  Mowbray's  revolt  has  been  examined  by  the  late  Professor 
Freeman  in  Thi  Rci^ii  of  Williiim  Rii/us,  vol.  ii.  pp.  603-613.  He  inclines  to  place  the  siege  of  Newcastle 
before  that  of  Tynemouth,  but  the  dating  of  the  two  charters  printed  below,  '  apud  obsessionem  Novi 
Castelli,'  militates  against  his  view.  Rufus  is  not  likely  to  have  granted  the  monks  their  rights  when 
the  castle,  .ind  therefore  the  monastery,  was  still  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels  ;  neither  are  the  monks  likely 
to  have  deserted  the  cause  of  their  founder  before  it  was  lost.  Freeman  conjectures  that  Mowbray's 
castle  was  not  upon  the  priory  rock  but  on  the  smaller  promontory  where  the  Spanish  battery  stands, 
and  that  it  was  therefore  e.xterior  to  the  monastery.  But  this  position  has  none  of  the  natural  advantages 
of  the  priory  rock  which  commands  it.  There  is  no  evidence  to  show  that  Mowbray's  stronghold  was 
not  on  the  site  of  the  fourteenth  century  castle. 

The  most  detailed  account  of  the  siege  of  Tynemouth  is  that  given  by  Florence  of  Worcester  (ed. 
Thorpe,  vol.  ii.  p.  38) :  '  Rex,  exercitu  de  tota  Anglia  congregato,  castellum  predict!  comitis  Rotberti 
ad  ostium  Tinae  fluminis  situm  per  duos  menses  obsedit  ;  et  interim  quadam  munitiuncula  expugnata, 
ferme  omnes  meliores  comitis  milites  cepit,  et  in  custodia  posuit  ;  dein  obsessum  castellum  expugnavit, 
et  fratrem  comitis,  et  equites,  quns  intus  inveniebat,  custodiae  tradidit.'  The  castelhini  is  Tynemouth. 
If  Florence  meant  the  iiutitittuiiculii  to  refer  to  Newcastle,  which  is  doubtful,  his  authority  still  is  not  so 
good  as  that  of  the  contemporary  charters.     Compare  the  Anglo-Saxon  Chronicle,  ed.  Earle,  p.  231. 

'  '  In  nort  de  Tyne  et  in  suth  de  Tyne  et  in  Anglia.'  Anglia  is  confined  to  its  Domesday  limits.  But 
Tynemouth  held  no  property  within  those  limits,  unless  the  Yorkshire  property  of  St.  Alban's  at 
Appleton  and  Thorp  Basset  was  originally  conferred  on  the  cell.  The  phrase  may  therefore  be  a 
formula,  though  it  is  difficult  to  find  another  instance  of  its  use.  See  this  charter  printed  from  the 
St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  116,  in  Dugdale,  Munasticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  313. 


TVNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  53 

together  with  all  that  Earl  Robert  and  his  men  had  given  to  St.  Oswin 
before  his  forfeiture.  By  the  two  other  charters  he  granted  to  the  monks 
of  Tynemouth  all  their  possessions  in  lands,  in  waters,  in  tithes  and  in 
churches,  in  wood  and  in  plain,  and  gave  them  leave  to  hold  their  court 
with  soc  and  sac,  tol  and  theam,  infangthef  and  wreck,  and  to  exercise 
within  their  franchise  the  royal   rights  of  jurisdiction.' 

Newcastle,  like  Tynemouth,  fell  into  the  king's  hands.  Rufus  there- 
upon proceeded  to  besiege  Bamburgh,  where  Mowbray  had  shut  himself 
up.  The  northern  fortress  was  closely  blockaded.  Mowbray  resolved  on 
a  bold  scheme  which  came  near  to  success.  He  had  succeeded  in  gathering 
the  royal  forces  in  strength  round  Bamburgh.  He  now  resolved  to 
make  a  dash  for  Tynemouth  and  Newcastle,  recover  possession  of  those 
castles,  and  so  cut  off  the  communications  of  the  king's  army  with  the 
south  before  they  knew  that  he  had  escaped  from  Bamburgh.  He  had 
reached  and  regained  Tynemouth,  and  was  on  his  way  to  Newcastle  when 
he  learned  that  the  royal  garrison  in  that  town  had  been  warned  of  his 
approach.  The  only  thing  left  for  him  was  to  beat  a  retreat  to  Tynemouth 
with  his  thirty  followers,  and  there  stand  a  siege,  cut  off  from  the  resources 
upon  which  he  had  depended.  He  held  out  for  two  days.  Then  the 
castle  was  for  the  second  time  carried  by  the  king's  men,  Mowbray's  knights 
being  all  wounded  or  taken  prisoners.  The  earl  was  himself  severely 
wounded,  but  managed  to  gain  the  church  and  there  sought  sanctuary.  He 
was  dragged  from  the  building  and  by  the  king's  orders  led  to  Bamburgh 
castle,  whose  garrison  surrendered  upon  seeing  their  leader  a  prisoner.' 

'  St.  Athan's  Register,  fol.  93.  'Willclmus,  rex  .^nglie,  justiciariis  baronibus  vicecomitibus  et  ministris 
atque  omnibus  fidelibus  suis  tocius  Anglie,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  dedisse  et  concessisse  Deo  et  Sanctc 
Marie  et  Sancto  Oswino  et  monachis  de  Tynemutlia  tetiere  libera  et  ([uiete  et  honorifice  omnes  res  suas 
in  terris,  in  aquis,  in  deciniis  et  in  ecclesiis,  in  bosco  et  in  piano  el  in  omnibus  rebus.  Et  precipio  ut 
Sancta  Maria  et  Sanctus  Oswinus  et  iiionachi  de  Tynemutha  habeant  curiam  suam  ita  libere  et  plenarie 
in  omnibus  rebus  cum  soco  et  saca,  tol  et  theam,  et  infangenelheof  et  wrek,  et  cum  omnibus  con- 
suetudinibus  et  libertatibus  sicut  ego  ipse  habeo.  Et  volo  et  tirmiter  precipio  ut  vos  defendatis  ac 
manuteneatis  ecclesiam  Sancte  Marie  et  Sancti  Oswini,  que  est  clemosina  mea  de  Tynemutha  et 
monachos  et  homines  et  omnes  res  ejusdcm  ecclesie  sicut  nieam  propriam  elemosinam,  et  ne  paciamini 
ut  aliquis  eis  injuriam  aliquam  in  aliquo  faciat  super  forisfacturam  meam.  Teste  Eudone  dapifero,  apud 
obsidionem  Novi  Castri.'     From  Baker's  transcripts. 

Ibiii.  fol.  118.  '  VVillelmus,  rex  .-\nglie,  Willelmo  Dunelmensi  cpiscopo  et  Roberto  Picot  et  omnibus 
baronibus  suis  Francis  et  Anglis  de  Northumberland,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse  et  dedisse  Sancte 
Marie  et  Sancto  Oswino  et  monachis  de  Tynemutha  plene  et  intcgie  curiam  suam,  sicut  ego  ipse  habeo, 
cum  aliis  meis  consuctudinibus.  Et  volo  et  precipio  ut  bene  et  honoritice  teneant,  et  ut  nullus  super  hoc 
eis  injuriam  faciat.  Teste  Eudone  dapifero,  apud  obsessionem  Nov!  Castelli.'  F'rom  Uodsworth  and 
Lansdowne  .MS.  transcripts. 

■  The  history  of  the  revolt  is  given  in  Freeman,  Reign  0/  William  Rii/iis,  vol.  ii.  pp.  37-55,  and  in 
vol.  i.  of  this  work,  pp.  25-27. 


54  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

This  was  the  end  of  the  revolt.  Carried  in  a  litter  on  account  of  his 
wounds,  Mowbray  was  taken  south  to  Windsor,  there  to  suffer  a  long 
imprisonment.  Twenty -six  years  later  a  Yorkshire  knight,  Arnold  de 
Percy,  who  had  been  present  at  the  expulsion  of  the  monks  of  St.  Cuthbert 
from  Tynemouth,  testified  at  Durham  to  what  he  had  then  seen.  When 
Mowbray  reached  Durham  he  asked  leave  to  enter  the  church  and  pray. 
On  his  guards  refusing  this,  he  gave  way  to  tears,  and  looking  toward  the 
church  he  groaned  and  said,  '  Oh,  Saint  Cuthbert,  justly  do  I  suffer  these 
misfortunes,  for  I  have  sinned  against  thee  and  thine.  This  is  thy  punish- 
ment on  me.     I  pray  thee,  Saint  of  God,  have  mercy  on  me.'  ^ 

Though  he  had  sinned  against  St.  Cuthbert,  it  had  been  to  enrich  St. 
Alban.  On  his  release  from  imprisonment  he  became  a  monk  in  St.  Alban's 
monastery,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age  and  was  buried.  The 
founder  of  Tynemouth  priory  is  described  as  a  tall  and  strong  soldier, 
dark  and  bearded.  When  he  spoke  a  smile  seldom  relieved  the  sternness 
of  his  expression.  He  was  of  a  silent  and  crafty  disposition,  and  his  pride 
was  such  as  to  lead  him  to  despise  his  equals  and  to  think  that  the  orders 
of  his  superiors  could  be  disregarded.^ 

When  Henry  I.  came  to  the  throne,  that  sovereign  confirmed  to  the 
monks  of  St.  Oswin  their  possessions,  court  and  customs,  to  hold  as  freely 
as  Earl  Robert  held  them  before  his  forfeiture.  He  also  definitely  specified 
in  his  charters  their  right  to  fisheries  in  the  Tyne,  as  well  as  to  wreck, 
and  accorded  them  free  warren  in  all  their  lands  in  Northumberland.  He 
added  to  their  endowment  two  small  lordships,  namely,  Winnoc  the 
hunter's  manor  of  Eglingham,  and  Graffard's  land,  which  comprised  Seghill, 
Monkseaton  and  Whitley.  His  queen,  Matilda,  was  likewise  a  benefactress 
to  the  monks.  She  gave  them  the  lordship  of  Archil  Morel,  which  com- 
prised Bewick  and  Lilburn,  for  the  sake  of  her  father,  King  Malcolm, 
who  lay  buried  in  their  church.^ 

'  Symeon,  Hist.  Regum,  vol.  i.  p.  262. 

'  Ordericus  Vitalis,  Hist.  Eccl.  ed.  le  Prevost,  1838-1855,  vol.  iii.  p.  406. 

'  No  fewer  than  seventeen  royal  charters  and  writs  of  the  time  of  Henry  I.,  relating  to  Tynemouth 
priory,  have  been  copied  into  the  St.  Alban's  Rcgisttr.     They  are  as  follows  : — 

(i)  Fol.  123.  Writ  of  Queen  Matilda,  addressed  to  Roger  Picot,  reciting  grant  to  St.  Alban, 
St.  Oswin,  and  Abbot  Richard  of  the  land  of  .Archil  Morel  ;  witness,  Bernard  the  Chancellor,  at  London  ; 
probable  year,  1105  or  1106;  printed  in  Gibson,  Tymmouth  Priory,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  No.  xix. 

(2)  Fol.  116  and  fol.  123  b.  Writ  addressed  by  the  king  to  Gerard,  archbishop  of  York,  and  Robert 
de  Lacy  the  sheriff,  and  Roger  Picot  ;  confirming  last  grant ;  witness,  Queen  Matilda,  at  Ludgershall ; 
probable  year,  1105  or  1106  ;  printed  in  Gibson,  ibid.  x.\. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  55 

(3)  Fol.  117  b.  Grant  to  St.  Oswin  of  Tynemouth  of  his  court  and  customs  to  hold  in  like  manner 
as  Earl  Robert  held  them  before  his  forfeiture  ;  witness,  Peter  de  Valoniis  ;  dated  at  Westminster  at 
Whitsuntide  ;  probable  year,  1 108-1 109  ^or  1 121)  ;  printed  in  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  313. 

(4)  Fol.  118.  '[Henricus  re.x]  Anglie,  R.  Dunelmensi  episcopo  et  omnibus  vicecomitibus  suis  de 
Everwyk[shire  et  de]  Northumberland,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse  et  dedis[se  Deo]  et  Sancto 
Oswyno  et  monachis  de  Tynemutha  curiam  suam  et  [cons]uetudines  suas  quemadmodum  rex  Willelmus 
frater  meus  dederat  [eis.     T.  Petro]  de  Waloniis  apud  Westmonasterium  in  pentecost.'     .Same  date  as  ^3). 

(5)  Fol.  115  b.  '  Henricus,  rex  Anglie,  Rogero  Picot,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  [tibi  firmi]ter  precipio 
ut  facias  habere  Sancto  .Albano  et  Sancto  Oswino  et  [monachis  Sancti]  Albani  omnes  consuetudines 
suas  in  terra  et  in  aqua  [et  in]  wrek,  scilicet  socam  et  sacam,  et  tol  et  team,  et  omnes  [libertates]  in 
omnibus  rebus  suis,  sicut  unquam  melius  habuit  Robertus  comes  tem[pore  frat]ris  mei,  et  fac  eis  plenam 
justiciam  de  omnibus  qui  terram  suam  intraverunt  et  supra  x  libras  forisfacere.  Testibus  W.  de  Werel- 
wast  et  Nigello  de  [.Aljben',  apud  Wyncestriam  in  pascha.'     Probable  year,  1 108. 

(6)  Fol.  117  b.  Grant  to  St.  Mary,  St.  Alban,  St.  Oswin,  and  the  monks  of  Tynemouth  of  all  their 
property,  in  lands  and  waters,  tithes  and  churches,  wood  and  plain,  with  soc,  sac,  tol,  tem,  infangenetheof 
and  wrek.  Order  to  defend  and  maintain  the  church  of  St.  Mary  and  of  St.  Oswin,  the  monks  and  the 
men  and  properly  of  the  said  church.  (C/.  William  Il.'s  charier);  witness,  Nigel  de  Albini  ;  dated  at 
Windsor  I'al  Pentecost) ;  probable  year,  1 1 10  (or  i  i2z). 

(7)  Fol.  1 18.  Order  to  the  justices,  sheriffs  and  barons  of  Northumberland,  to  maintain  the  church 
of  St.  Oswin  of  Tynemouth,  and  to  defend  the  monks  so  that  none  do  them  harm  ;  order  that  the  monks 
may  have  their  court  ;  witness  and  date  as  in  the  last  charter. 

(8)  Fol.  124.  Writ  addressed  to  Ligulph  and  Aluric,  sheriffs,  reciting  grant  to  St.  Alban,  Sl  Oswin, 
and  Abbot  Richard  of  the  manor  of  Eglingham  ;  witness,  Urso  de  Abetot ;  given  at  Winchester  ; 
probable  date,  1 106-11 16;  Gibson,  ibid.  xvi. 

(9)  Fol.  124.     The  same  for  quiet  possession  of  Archil  Morel's  land  ;  witness  and  date  as  before. 

(10)  Fol.  116.  Writ  addressed  to  Ranulph,  bishop  of  Durham,  and  to  .\luric  and  Ligulph,  sheriffs, 
confirming  to  the  abbot  of  St.  .-Vlban's  the  tithes  granted  by  Hubert  de  la  Val  to  the  monks  of  Tyne- 
mouth ;  witness,  Nigel  d'.-Mbini  ;  given  at  Winchester;  probable  date,  1106-1116;  Gibson,  ibid,  xviii. 

(11)  Fol.  116.  Writ  addressed  to  Ranulph,  bishop  of  Durham,  confirming  to  St.  Mary,  to  St.  Oswin, 
to  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  and  to  the  monks  of  Tynemouth,  the  tithes  given  them  by  Earl  Robert  and 
his  men  ;  witness,  Nigel  d'.\lbini  ;  given  at  ISranton  ;  probable  date,  1 106-11 16  ;  printed  above  and  in 
Dugdale,  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  313,  and  Gibson,  ibid.  xvii. 

(12)  Fol.  115  b  and  fol.  117.  Writ  addressed  to  Ranulph,  bishop  of  Durham,  and  to  Aluric  and 
Ligulph,  sheriffs,  reciting  grant  to  St.  .\lban  and  to  St.  Oswin  and  to  .A.bbot  Richard  of  Graffard's  land  ; 
witnesses,  Robert,  bishop  of  Lincoln,  and  Nigel  d'.-Mbini;  given  at  Branton ;  probable  date  1 106-11 16; 
Gibson,  ibid.  xiv. 

(13)  Fol.  117  b.  '  Henricus,  rex  Anglie,  Ranulpho,  Dunelmensi  episcopo,  et  omnibus  baronibus  et 
min[istris  suis].  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  dedi  Deo  et  .Sancto  Oswino  et  monachis  [Tynemutham]  cum 
ecclesia,  et  Prestonam,  et  Millington,  et  omnes  piscarias  in  Tina  [in  aqua]  de  Tynemutha,  et  Erdesdun, 

et  duas  Chirtonas,  et  ecclesiam ,  Sehal  et  Seton  et   Wyieicyc.  et   Hewyk  et   Lillebourn  et 

Egel[ingham,  cum]  ecclesiis  et  omnibus  pertinenciis  suis.     Hec  autem  et  omnia  quecun.que] 

dederunt  eis  in  North  et  Suth  de  Tynemutha  possideant  de  [cetero.  et  eis  et  sucjcessoribus  teneant  in 
puram  et  perpetuam  elemosinam.  Quare  [volo  et  prc]cipio  ut  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  manuieneatis 
et  defendatis,  [quia  me.a]  propria  elemosina  est.  Teste  M.  regina,  [apud]  Cestr".'  Probable  date, 
1106-1 116. 

(14)  Fol.  118.  '  Henricus,  rex  Anglie,  Alurico  et  Ligulfo,  salutem.  Precipio  ut  elemosinam  meam 
de  Tynemutha  manuteneatis  et  custodiatis  et  de  operacione  de  Novo  Castello  ita  sit  quietum  sicut  erat 
tempore  fratris  mei.  T.  Willelmo  episcopo  Exoniensi,  apud  Westmonasterium.'  Probable  date,  1107- 
1120.     From  Baker's  transcripts. 

(15)  Fol.  116.     '[Henricus,  rex  .A]nglie,  W.  Espec  et  For'  et  0[dardo]  vicecomiti,  salutem.     Volo  et 

precipio  quod  mo[nachi  de  Ti]nemuda  in  pace  et  quietudinc  habeant  et  teneant  omnes  suas terras 

et  aquas  suas  et  piscarias  et  consuetudines  et  decimas  [et  om]nes  res  suas  de  quibus  saysiti  et  vestiti 

fuerunt  die  qua  Ricardus  .Abbas  [vivus  ct  m]ortuus  fuit.     Et  videte  quod  nuUus  eis  aliquid  auferat 

Teste  Episcopo  Sarum',  apud  Odestoc'     Prob.ible  date  1120. 

(16)  Fol.  115  b.  'Henricus,  rex  .Anglie,  Odardo  vicecomiti  et  justiciariis  suis  de  Norihumberl.ind, 
salutem.  Concedo  quod  abbas  de  Sancto  .Albano  et  monachi  de  Tinemuthe  habeant  warrennam  in 
omnibus  terris  suis  de  .Northumberlandia,  et  nuUus  in  ea  fuget  nisi  licencia  sua,  super  decem  librarum 
foiisfacturam.  Teste  Willelmo  de  Pirou  et  Henrico  de  Pomer',  apud  Dunestaplam.'  From  St.  George's 
transcripts. 

(17)  Fol.  117  b.  '  Henricus.  rex  .Anglie,  vicecomitibus  et  cunctis  ministris  suis  de  Northumberland, 
salutem.  Sciatis  quod  retineo  in  manu  mea  domnm  de  Tynemulh'  et  monachos,  et  nolo  quod  abb.as  de 
Sancto  .Albano  neque  prior  Dunhelmensis  de  ipsis  se  amplius  intromittant,  sed  monachi  de  Tynemiitha 
priorem  sibi  eligant,  et  ille  prior  clericos  ad  h.nbitum  et  professionem  ibidem  recipiat.  Et  volo  et  precipio 
quod  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  ab  omni  injuria  defendatis  et  manuteneatis,  quia  mea  propria  elemosina 
est.     Teste  Nigello  de  Albini,  apud  Dunelmum.'     Date,  autumn,  1122.     Ex  placiiis  de  quo  warranto. 


56 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


During  this  reign  a  cell,  dependent  upon  Tynemouth,  was  founded  by 
a  Danish  hermit,  St.  Henry,  on  Coquet  Island.'  Another  important  event 
in  the  history  of  the  priory  was  the  completion  of  the  new  Norman  church 
of  St.  Mary,  which  must  have  been  begun  immediately  after  the  installation 
of  the  monks  of  St.  Alban's,  though  the  troubles  of  Mowbray's  rising  may 
have  delayed  the  advancement  of  the  building.  The  pre-Conquest  church, 
containing    the    relics    of    St.    Oswin,    had     been    left    standing.      On    the 


Choir  of  the  Priory  Church. 

anniversary  of  the  saint's  martyrdom,  August  20th,  11 10,  his  relics  were 
transferred  to  the  new  fabric,  and  deposited  in  a  shrine  prepared  for  them, 
in  the  presence  of  Ralph  Flambard,  bishop  of  Durham,  the  abbot  of  Selby 
and  others.^  A  large  number  of  monks,  clergy,  and  laymen  came  to  take 
part  in  the  ceremony.  Those  who  had  ridden  there  hobbled  their  horses  and 
turned  them  out  to  graze  on  the  sea-clifFs.  One  unfortunate  horse  slipped 
over  the  edge  ;    its  rescue  was  ascribed   to  the   saint's  timely  assistance. 

'  Sec  vol.  v.  of  this  work,  pp.  316-318. 

=  Vita  Oswini,  cap.  xi.     '  Hugo,  abbas  Salesbericnsis.'     Freeman  notes  the  confusion  between  Selby 
and  Salisbury  (IViltium  Kiifus,  vol.  ii.  p.  606). 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


57 


The  new  church,  like  its  predecessor,  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin. 
Her  worship,  however,  never  attained  such  importance  at  Tynemouth  as 
did  that  of  the  saint  whose  body  rested  in  her  church,  and  whose  miracles 
became  common  occurrences.  Royal  grants  were  made  to  St.  Oswin  as 
well  as  to  the  Virgin.  Their  names  began  to  be  coupled  as  the  patron 
saints  of  the  church.  So  the  church  came  to  be  called  after  the  names 
of  both  saints,  St.  Oswin  and  St.  Mary. 

The  building  was  not  yet  finished,  and  work  was  proceeding  with  the 
roof  on  September  22nd  in  the  following  year  (ini),  when  a  stout  work- 
man, named  Arkill,  fell  from  the  roof  to  the  ground,  and  narrowly  escaped 
with  his  life.'  He  soon  recovered  sufficiently  to  proceed  with  the  dormitory. 
When  laying  the  floor  beams  for  the  farther  end  of  that  chamber,  he  had 
a  second  fall  of  nineteen  feet.  The  fact  that  he  only  sprained  his  foot 
gave  additional  proof  of  the  miraculous  powers  of  St.  Oswin.'' 

Though  Bishop  Flambard  luid  tacitly  acquiesced  in  the  retention  of 
Tynemouth  by  St.  Alban's  monastery,  as  was  evidenced  by  his  presence 
at  the  ceremony  of  1 1 10,  the  monks  of  Durham  were  only  waiting  for  a 
favourable  opportunity  to  assert  their  claims.  With  this  object  they  made 
a  formal  complaint  at  York  in  the  middle  of  Lent,  1121,  in  the  presence 
of  their  bishop.  Archbishop  Thurstan,  and  his  brother,  the  bishop  of 
Evreux  ;  and  again  on  April  13th,  when  Robert  de  Brus,  Alan  de  Percy, 
Walter  Espec,  Odard,  the  sherilT  of  Northumberland,  and  many  other 
northern  nobles  had  assembled  at  York  for  Easter.  A  speech  then 
delivered  by  Arnold  de  Percy,  a  prominent  knight,  produced  considerable 
eff"ect.  It  was  generally  admitted  that  injustice  had  been  done  to  Durham  ; 
at  the  same  time  the  feeling  of  the  assemblv  was  that  no  action  could  be 
taken,  though  it  was  useful  to  put  the  protest  upon  record.' 

The  proceedings  of  1121  led  to  a  different  result  from  that  contem- 
plated. There  appears  to  have  been  now  at  Tvnemouth,  as  there  certainlv 
was  in  later  times,  a  party  in  favour  of  monastic  independence,  anxious 
to  make  use  of  any  conflict  between  the  houses  of  Durham  and  St.  Alban's 
in  order  to  acquire  for  themselves  independence  from  either  of  those 
monasteries.  The  case  was  brought  before  King  Henry,  who  came  to 
Durham  on  a  northern  tour  in  the  autumn  of  the  followinsj  vear.  The 
monks  probablv  argued  that  Mowbrav's  grant  to  St.  Alban's  was  rendered 

'  \'ilii  Osiiiiii,  c.ip.  xiv.  •  IbiJ.  c.ip.  xv.  '  Symcon,  Hist.  Rtgiiiii,  vol.  ii.  pp.  260- :6i. 

Vol.  VI 11.  8 


58  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

null  by  his  subsequent  forfeiture.  They  won  their  cause,  for  the  king  issued 
a  writ,  declaring  that  he  had  taken  the  religious  house  of  Tynemouth  into 
his  own  hand  ;  he  forbade  either  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  or  the  prior  of 
Durham  to  meddle  any  more  in  the  affairs  of  the  priory,  and  he  gave  leave 
to  the  Tynemouth  monks  to  elect  for  themselves  a  prior  who  should  have 
full  authoritv  to  receive  new  members  into  his  congresjation.' 

Durham  again  received  a  royal  visit  in  11 36.  On  Stephen's  accession, 
David,  king  of  Scotland,  took  up  arms  in  defence  of  the  claims  of  his 
niece,  the  Empress  Maud.  The  Scottish  army  overran  Northumberland, 
and  reached  Newcastle,  where  its  further  advance  was  stayed  by  the  arrival 
of  Stephen  and  his  army  at  Durham  (February  5th).  A  fortnight  was 
spent  in  arranging  terms  of  peace  between  the  two  kings,  David  consenting 
to  deliver  up  the  castles  and  lands  which  he  had  occupied  in  Northumber- 
land. Before  quitting  Durham,  Stephen  confirmed  to  Tvneinouth  priory 
the  rights  it  had  possessed  under  King  Heni-y.  A  new  privilege  mentioned 
in  a  charter  of  his  reign  is  freedom  from  tolls  and  ferry  dues  which  the 
men  of  St.  Oswin  were  to  have  when  marketing  for  St.  Oswin's  monks.^ 

The  peace  of  Durham  proved  of  short  duration.  On  January  loth, 
1 138,  King  David  again  invaded  Northumberland  and  marched  to  Cor- 
bridge,  whence  he  proceeded  ruthlesslv  to  ravage  the  country.     Newminster 

'  The  date  of  the  charter  is  fixed  by  Henry  of  Huntingdon,  Hist.  Aiigluridu,  Rolls  Series,  p.  244. 

^  Five  charters  of  King  Stephen  remain,  which  are  connected  with  the  priory.  They  arc  the 
following  : — 

(1)  St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  93.  'Stephanus,  rex  Anglie,  judiciariis,  baronibus,  viceconiitibus, 
ministris,  prepositis  et  omnibus  fidelibus  suis,  etc.  Sciatis  me  dedisse  et  concessisse  Deo  et  Sancte 
Marie  et  Sancto  Oswyno  et  monachis  de  Tynemutha  tenere  libere  et  quiete  et  honoritice  omnia  que 
tenuerunt  die  quo  Henricus,  rex  .^nglorum,  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus,  in  terris  et  in  aquis,  in  decimis  et  in 
ecclesiis,  in  bosco  et  in  piano,  et  in  omnibus  rebus  sicut  melius  et  honorabilius  et  quietius  tenuerunt, 
rejje  Henrico  vivcnte.  Et  precipio  quod  Sancta  Maria  et  Sanctus  Oswinus  et  monachi  de  Tynemutha 
haljeant  curiam  suam  ita  libere  et  plenarie  in  omnibus  rebus  sicut  rex  Henricus  eis  concessit  per  breve 
suum,  cum  soca  et  saca,  et  tol  et  theani,  infangenetheof  et  wreck,  et  cum  omnibus  consueludinibus  et 
libertatibus  sicut  ego  ipse  habeo.  Et  volo  quod  defendatis  et  manuteneatis  ecclesiam  Sancte  Marie 
et  Sancti  Oswini  de  Tynemuth',  que  est  clemosina  mea,  et  monachos  et  homines  et  omnes  res  ejusdem 
ecclesic,  sicut  mcam  propriani  elemosinam,  et  sicut  rex  Henricus  precepit  per  breve  suum.  Et  ne 
paciamini  quod  [aliquis  eis  injjuriam  vel  contumeliam  faciat,  super  forisfacturam  meam.  Teste  R. 
CanccUario,  R.  de  Olli,  apud  iJunolmum.'     .St.  George's  transcripts. 

(2)  Charter  Rolls,  3  Ric.  11.  Writ  commanding  that  the  monks  of  Tynemouth  may  have  such 
fisheries  as  they  will  in  their  waters  throughout  Northumberland  ;  witnesses,  R.  de  \'ere  and  Robert 
de  Avenel  ;  dated  at  Durham  ;  printed  in  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  xxviii. 

(3)  St.  .Alban's  Register,  fol.  124.  Charter  of  confirmation  to  St.  .Alban,  St.  Oswin  and  the  monks  of 
Tynemouth,  of  the  manor  of  Eglingham  ;  witnesses,  Robert  de  Vere  and  Hugh  Bigod  ;  dated  at  York  ; 
Gibson,  ibid,  xxvii. 

(4)  Charter  Rolls,  2  Edw.  III.  No.  75.  Writ  commanding  that  the  church  and  monks  of  Tynemouth, 
their  land  and  the  men  of  the  said  church,  be  free  from  work  on  Newcastle  and  on  all  castles  in 
Northumberland  ;  witnesses,  Robert  fitz  Richard  and  Hugh  Bigod  ;  dated  at  York  ;  Gibson,  ibid.  xxvi. 

(5)  Ibid.  Writ  commanding  that  the  men  of  St.  Oswin  be  free  from  'theolonium  et  passagium' 
wherever  they  go,  if  they  are  buying  or  hiring  goods  for  the  use  of  the  monks  of  St.  Oswin,  even  as  they 
were  free  in  King  Henry's  time  ;  witness,  Baldwin  de  Sigillo  ;  dated  at  St.  Alban's  ;  Gibson,  ibid.  xxix. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  59 

abbey  was  destroyed  ;  Hexham  narrowly  escaped.  Tynemouth,  by  paying 
twenty-seven  marks  ransom,'  obtained  a  royal  charter  of  protection.  David 
granted  its  monks  his  peace,  coupling  this  with  strict  orders  against  injuring 
them  or  tlieir  property  (June  nth).  He  was  then  at  Norham,  which  had 
surrendered  to  him  a  month  previously.  Marching  south  by  way  of  Bam- 
burgh  and  Mitford,  he  crossed  the  Tyne,  probably  at  Newcastle,  to  meet 
defeat  on  the  22nd  of  August  at  the  hands  of  the  Yorkshire  barons  in  the 
battle  of  the  Standard. 

By  a  second  treaty  of  peace,  concluded  in  April,  David's  son,  Henry, 
was  recognised  as  earl  of  Northumberland.  Under  his  rule  the  county 
became  settled,  and  the  Tynemouth  monks  won  freedom  from  military 
service  for  themselves  and  their  tenants,  except  in  the  case  of  actual 
invasion  of  the  earldom.  An  important  fishery  charter  gave  them  leave 
to  make  weirs  in  the  Tyne,  provided  that  the  centre  of  the  river  was 
left  free  for  navigation.  The  earl  also  gave  them  (as  he  did  to  Brinkburn) 
a  salt  pan  at  Warkworth  between  his  own  salt  pan  there  and  the  Coquet." 

'  Ricliaicl  of  Hexham,  Ih-  Gcslis  Regis  Stepluini,  Rolls  Series,  Chronicles  of  the  Reigns  of  Stephen, 
Henry  II.  iiiul  Richard  I.  vol.  iii.  p.  153.  'Uncle  et  illud  coenobiuiii  quod  ad  Tinae  fluminis  hostium 
situm  est,  quod  Anjjlice  Tinciiiutlie  dicitur,  ut  sibi  et  illic  existentibus  pro  praesenti  necessitate  paceni 
rediiiicrct,  regi  Scottiae  et  suis  xxvii  niarcas  argenti  persolvit.' 

-  The  Si.  Albany  Register  contains  copies  of  the  following  grants  made  by  David,  king  of  Scotland, 
and  his  son,  Earl  Henry,  to  Tynemouth  priory  : 

(i)  Fol.  1 18.  Charter  of  i)avid,  king  of  Scotland,  granting  to  the  church  of  St.  Mary  and  St.  Oswin 
of  Tynemouth,  to  the  brethren  there  and  to  the  men  on  their  demesnes  and  to  their  possessions  his 
peace  for  ever,  his  son  Henry  consenting  thereto  ;  witnesses.  Earl  ("lospatric,  Hugh  de  Morviil,  Manser 
Marmion,  Robert  Foliot,  Hugh  de  .-Xuco  and  Hugh  Briton  ;  dated  at  Norham,  June  Iith,  113S  ;  printed 
in  Dugdalc,  Munastuoii,  vol.  iii.  p.  313. 

(2)  Fol.  1  18  b.  O.,  Uei  gratia  rex  Scotoruni,  justiciariis  suis  et  vicecomitibus  et  omnibus  baronibus 
[Francis]  et  Anglis  de  Northuinb',  salutem.  Sciatis  me  dedisse  et  co[nfirmasse]  Deo  et  Sancte  Marie 
et  .Sancio  Oswino  et  monachis  de  Tynemutha  tencre  [libere  et]  (juiete  et  honoritice  omnia  que  tenu- 
crunt  die  qua  Hcnricus  [rex  Anglorum]  fuit  vivus  et  mortuus,  in  terris  et  in  aquis,  in  bosco  [et  in 
piano,  et  in]  omnibus  aliis  rebus  sicut  melius  et  honorabilius  et  quietius  [tenuerunt],  supradicto  rege 
vivente.  F2t  volo  el  iterum  prccipio  quatinus  [.Sancta  Maria]  et  Sanctus  Oswinus  et  monachi  de 
Tynemut[h]a  habeant  [curiam  suam  ita  libere]  et  plenarie  sicut  egonict  habeo,  cum  soca  et  saca  et  tol 
et  team  [et  infangcne]  theof  et  wrec  ct  omnes  alias  consueludincs  tarn  bene  et  li[bere  quam]  ipse  habco. 
Et  volo  et  precipio  ut  defendalis  et  nianutcncatis  [ecclesiam  .Sancte  Marie  et]  Sancti  Oswini  et  mon.ichos 

et  omnia  su.a,  [et  ne  paciamini   ut  aliquis  eis  injuriam]  faciat  sicut  me  diligilis,  quia  mca  propria 

[elemosina  est].     T.  E.  cancellario,  et  Roberto  Brus,  et  Roberto  de  Hunframvill,  et  Gospatricio  [comite. 
Apud]  Novum  Castellum. 

(3)  Fol.  iiSb.  Writ  of  King  David  addressed  to  his  justices,  sheriffs,  barons,  and  good  men  of 
Northumbcil.ind,  reciting  previous  charter,  '  Et  insuper  precipio  ut  [ea]  que  ad  predictam  ecclesiam 
jicrlinent  halicant  paccm  mcam '  ;  witnesses,  E[ugenius]  the  chancellor,  Robert  de  Brus,  Robert  de 
Ihmfravill,  Hugh  de  Morviil.  and  F2arl  (lospatric  :  d.ited  at  Newcastle. 

(4)  Fol.  1 19.  Cliartcr  of  Henry,  son  of  the  king  of  Scotland,  confirming  to  the  monks  of  Tynemouth 
.ill  that  they  hekl  on  the  day  on  which  King  Henry  was  alive  and  was  dead,  as  in  charter  (;)  ;  witnesses. 
Kin;.;  David,  R.,  bishop  of  .St.  Andrews,  Geoffrey,  abbot  of  Dunfermline,  (Eugenius)  the  chancellor,  and 
Hugh  de  .Morviil  ;  dated  at  H.idington. 

(5)  Fol.  I  ig.  Henricus.  filius  regis  Scotorum.  justiciariis,  constabulariis.  vicecomitibus.  baronibus, 
et  omnibus  suis  fidelibus  totius  Northunib',  salutem.  Precipio  quod  ecclesia  et  nion.achi  de  Tinemutha 
et  tota  terra  et  homines  predicte  ecclesic  sint  liberi  et  quieti  de  opere  Novi  Castelli  et  de  opere  aliorum 


6o  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  spread  of  industries  was  promoted  by  freedom  from  the  civil  war 
which  was  devastating  the  south,  though  Uttle  external  trade  was  possible. 
A  Tvnemouth  fisherman,  Leowric,  was  captured  off  Scarborough  one  day 
late  in  October  by  Ranulph,  earl  of  Chester,  carried  off  to  Malton,  there 
scourged,  starved,  thrown  into  prison,  and  hung  by  the  wrists  from  a  beam, 
according  to  the  practice  of  those  times.'  But  the  conventual  life  was 
peaceful.  An  occasional  miracle,  in  the  shape  of  a  cure  from  gout  or 
toothache,  added  a  new  chapter  to  the  monastic  annals.  One  year  might 
bring  drought,  but  another  season  produced  so  plentiful  a  harvest  that  the 
priory  barns  were  filled  to  overflowing." 

Once  during  this  period  a  dangerous  fire  broke  out  in  the  monastery. 
Its  buildings  were  arranged  on  the  usual  plan  round  a  cloister  garth. 
The  church  stood  on  the  north  side,  the  dormitory  on  the  east,  and  the 
refectory  on  the  south.     At  the  south-east  angle  a  thatched  house  adjoined 

castellorum  de  tota  Northumb',  quia  mea  propria  elemosina  est.  Et  super  hoc  prohibeo  ne  uUus  eis  inde 
vim  vel  contumcliam  facial.  Et  concede  eidem  ccclesie  quod  sui  dominici  rustic!  sint  quieti  ab  omni 
exercitu  et  et|uitatu  infra  comitatum  ad  defendendam  terrani  mcam,  [ni]si  eis  per  breve  meuni  mandavero. 
Testibus,  Arcliewold'  episcopo  Karliol',  Hugone  de  Morvill,  Gospatricio  coniite,  Gervasio  Rad',  Gilberto 
de  Uumframvill,  Willelmo  de  Somervile,  Ada  vicecomite.  Apud  Bamburu.  From  St.  George's 
transcripts. 

(6)  Fol.  119.  [Henricus]  comes,  fllius  [regis]  Scocie,  justiciariis  suis,  baronibus,  et  vicecomitibus  et 
ministris,  omnibusque  pro[bis  homjinibus  suis  tocius  comitatus  Northumb',  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem. 
[Sciatis  mc]  concessisse  et  confirmasse  Ueo  et  Sancte  Marie  et  Sancto  Oswino  et  [monachis  de] 
Tyncmutha  omnes  piscarias  suas  et  tractus  in  aqua  de  Ty[nemutha,  et  omnes]  piscarias  suas  in  tractibus 
in  aqua  de  Tynemutha  quecum[que  fuer]unt  in  ipsa  Tynem'  in  tempore  Henrici  regis  et  meo  tempore 

usque  in  hostium  Tynem',  ita  ut  aqua  rectum  suum  habeat  [videlicet]  terciam  partem  file  aque 

liberam,  et  istas  piscarias  nominatim  [expressjas,  scilicet  Elstwyk,  Brad  yer,  Hupward  yer,  Hoch,  alia 
[Hoch,  Cruck]  et  alia  Cruck,  Cavesherse,  et  apud  Tynemut'  ....  yer,  ....  yer,  et  tractus  suos  super 
sabulum.  Volo  itaquc  [et]  omnibus  ministris  meis  precipio  ut  hec  prenominata  ha[beant  et  pos]sideant 
bene  et  in  pace  et  honorifice,  sine  disturbacione  et  occasione  ....  Testibus  Humfrido,  Gilberto 
constabulario,  et  Gervasio  Rad'  dapifero,  Roberto  Bertram  vicecomite,  Eugenio  cancellario  comitis. 
Apud  Novum  Castellum. 

(7)  Fol.  119  b.     Henricus  comes,  fllius  regis  Scotorum,  justiciariis  suis,  baronibus,  vicecomitibus  et 

ministris  [et  omnibus]  hominibus  suis  tocius  comitatus  Northumb",  Francis  et  .^nglis salutem. 

Sciatis  me  dedisse  et  concessisse  Deo  et  Sancto  Oswyno  et  [monachis]  de  Tynemutha  pro  salute  anime 
mee  et  antecessorum  et  successorum  m[eorum]  in  perpetuam  elemosinam  illis  terram  in  hall  de 
Werkewurt  ad  [salijnam  faciendam,  que  est  inter  salinam  comitis  ibidem  et  aquam  de  Kofket '.  Volo 
itaque  et  firmiter  precipio  quod  hanc  salinam  libere  et  q[uie]te  et  honorabiliter  habeant  et  imperpetuum 
teneant   sicut  aliquam   elemosinam   in  to[ta]   terra  mea   liberi[us   et  quietius]  et  honorabilius   tenent. 

T.  presente  Eugenio  cancellario,   Gilberto  constabulario,  Gervasio  Ridell   dapifero,   Radulpho 

vicecomite,  Willelmo  de  Somcrvill,  G.  filio  Aylmer,  D.  de  Burnvill.     Apud  Novum  Castellum. 

(8)  Fol.  1 18  b.  Henricus  comes,  filius  regis  Scocie,  justiciariis,  baronibus,  vicecomitibus,  ministris,  et 
omnibus  probis  hominibus  suis  totius  Northumbrel',  Francis  et  Anglis,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  dedisse 
et  concessisse  ecclesie  Sancti  Oswyni  de  Tinemutha  et  monachis  ibidem  Deo  et  Sancto  Oswyno 
servientibus,  et  toti  terre  prenominate  ecclesie,  et  omnibus  hominibus  prenominata  ecclesia  terram 
suam  tenentibus,  libertatem  et  acquietacionem  de  exercitu  et  equitatu,  nisi  ita  evenerit  quod  exercitus 
super  me  et  terram  meam  infra  Northumb'  venerit  inter  Tinam  et  Twedam.  Testibus  presentibus, 
Gilberto  de  Umframvill,  Thoma  Riddell,  G.  de  Perci,  Milone  de  Arenis,  Eugenio  cancellario,  apud 
Novum  Castrum,  ad  fcstum  Sancti  Michaelis  proximum  postquam  Leowyc',  rex  Francie,  iter  Jerosoli- 
mitanum  aggressus  est  [September  29th,  1147].     From  St.  George's  transcripts. 

'  Vita  Oswiiii,  cap.  xix.  '  Ibid.  cap.  .xx.  xxi.  xxiv.  x.xv. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  6 1 

the  west  side  of  the  dormitory,  separated  however  by  a  passage  two  yards 
broad  on  the  north  from  the  refectory  and  the  principal  line  of  con- 
ventual buildings.  It  had  been  built  as  a  guest  house,  but  had  ceased 
to  be  used  for  that  purpose.  Very  early  one  morning,  when  the  monks 
had  retired  to  their  dormitory  to  rest  after  matins,  one  of  their  number 
caught  sight  from  the  window  of  flames  coming  up  from  the  former 
guest  house.  The  strong  west  wind  drove  the  flames  on  to  the  dormitory, 
which  was  also  thatched  with  straw.  Some  of  the  monks  climbed  up 
on  the  roof  to  try  and  put  out  the  fire.  Others  rushed  into  the  church 
to  remove  whatever  was  of  value  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  prior,  Rue- 
lendus,  and  the  sub-prior,  Alcuin,  carried  out  the  shrine  containing 
St.  Oswin's  body,  and  set  it  down  on  the  grass  plot  within  the  cloister. 
There  Ruelendus,  angry  and  frightened,  broke  out  in  an  apostrophe  to  the 
saint.  '  What  are  you  doing.  Saint  Oswin  ?  Do  vou  intend  to  let  your 
house  be  burnt  out  and  then  throw  the  blame  on  me,  your  servant  ?  It 
will  be  put  down  to  mv  carelessness.  If  you  are  a  saint,  if  vou  are  God's 
friend,  help  us  in  our  stress  and  fight  for  us.  Why  tarrv  ?  Why  so  slow? 
I  shall  not  stir  from  this  spot,  neither  shall  you.  The  fire  shall  burn  us 
up  together.  If  you  do  not  care  for  your  monasterv,  take  care  of  your 
corpse.'  St.  Oswin  heard.  The  wind  sunk,  not  before  the  fire  had  burnt 
out  the  former  guest  house  and  destroyed  the  passage  which  united  it  with 
dormitory  and  refectory.  The  dormitory  narrowly  escaped  ;  and  the  writer 
of  this  story  bears  witness  to  its  blackened  walls,  its  charred  window-frames, 
the  stones  loosened  and  detached  from  its  walls,  visible  traces  of  the  fire, 
which  he  found  on  his  next  visit  to  Tynemouth.  One  monk,  brother 
Richard,  nearly  met  his  death  on  this  occasion.  While  sitting  upon  the 
dormitory  roof,  where  he  had  climbed  to  get  away  from  the  fire,  a  mis- 
directed jet  of  water  caught  him  and  brought  him  to  the  ground.' 

The  Scottish  earldom  came  to  an  end  with  the  surrender  of  the  county 
bv  Malcolm  IV.  of  Scotland  to  Henrv  II.  in  December,  1 1  sj.  The  usual 
royal  charters  of  confirmation  were  obtained,  this  time  with  important 
financial  clauses  added.  The  priory  was  to  hold  its  land  free  of  all  geld, 
scutage,  aid,  customs,  forced  works  and  the  like.  No  distresses  were  to 
be  made  upon  it  for  the  debts  of  overlords,  contrary  to  the  usual  practice 
of  the  tenant  being  responsible   for  his    lord's   debts.     The   freedom   from 

'  Viia  Osii'iiti,  cap.  xxiii. 


62  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

custom  duties,  granted  under  restrictions  by  Stephen,  was  now  made 
absolute.  Orders  were  given  to  the  royal  officers  to  restore  to  the  prior 
of  Tvnemouth  his  runaway  serfs  and  their  chattels.  The  monks  now 
received  an  addition  to  their  demesne  lands,  Flatworth  being  bestowed 
on  them  by  its  owner,  Robert  de  Wircester,  at  the  king's  orders.' 

'  Henr)'  II.'s  charters  can  be  easily  dated  by  means  of  Eyton's  Itinerary  of  Henry  II.  Most 
of  them  were  drawn  up  at  different  stages  on  Henry's  journey  south  in  January- February,  1158. 
They  are  : — 

(i)  Charter  Rolls,  55  Henry  III.  pars  I,  m.  3  and  4.  '  Henricus,  rex  An^lie,  etc.,  archiepiscopis, 
etc.,  salutem.  Sciatis  me  concessisse  et  confirmasse  Deo  et  .Sancto  Albano  et  .Sancto  Osewyno  de  'I'ine- 
mutha  et  nionachis  ibidem  Deo  servieniibus,  ccclesiam  de  Tyncmullia,  et  omncs  ecclesias  terras  et 
decimas  et  alias  tenuras  ad  eam  perlinentes,  videlicet,  Wyteleyam  et  Setunam  et  Sihala  et  unam  toflam 
in  Novo  CastelJo,  et  duas  Chertunas  et  Erdisdunam,  et  Hachwurdam  et  Beuykham  ct  Egehvyn<,'ham  et 
Guedesho,  et  Wilum  ;  et  decimas  de  Corebriga,  et  de  Ncwburna,  et  de  Werchewrth',  et  de  Kodebir',  et 
de  Bothala,  et  de  Wolovela,  et  de  Wylum,  et  [de]  Dicentona,  et  de  Kalvcrduna,  et  de  Aleswycha,  et  de 
AmbeUa  ;  ct  decimas  de  dominiis  de  Herlh,  et  de  .Seylona,  et  de  Tunestal',  et  de  Daltona,  et  de  Middelton', 
et  de  Oventhuna.  Hec  supradicta  et  insuper  quicquid  Robertus,  comes  Northumberland',  et  homines  sui 
predicte  ecclesie  et  Sancto  Oswyno  dederunt,  et  quicquid  cis  a  quocunque  donatore  racionabiliter  datum 
est,  vel  in  futurum  dabitur  eis,  concedo  et  confirmo  in  perpetuam  elemosinam.  Quare  volo  et  fimiiter 
precipio  quod  ecclesia  predictaet  monachi  omnia  supradicta  habeant  et  teneant  beneet  [in]  pace,  libere  et 
quiete,  integre  et  honorifice,  cum  omnibus  perlinenliis  suis  in  bosco  et  piano,  in  pralis  et  pascuis,  in  viis 
et  semitis,  in  aquis  et  molendinis  et  piscariis  et  stagnis,  infra  burgum  et  extra,  in  omnibus  rebus  et  locis  ; 
cum  thol  et  them,  et  soca  et  saca,  ct  infangenthef  et  wrec  ;  quieta  et  soluta  de  onini  geldo  ct  scoto  et 
adjutorio,  et  ab  omnibus  consuetudinibus  et  operibus  et  auxiliis  ct  aliis  querelis.  Et  habeant  ita  plenarie 
et  libere  curiam  suam  sicut  ego  ipse  habeo,  et  sicut  caite  regis  Willelmi  et  regis  Henrici,  avi  mei, 
testantur.  Et  volo  quod  prediclam  ccclesiam  manuteneatis  et  defendatis  ab  omni  injuria,  sicut  meam 
propriam  elemosinam.  Teste  R.  archiepiscopo  Eboracensi,  Roberto  episcopo  Lincolniensi,  H.  episcopo 
Dunelmensi,  [R]  priore  Hagustaldensi,  Hugone  comite  Nortffulch',  Ivicardo  de  Luscy,  W'illelmo  fiiio 
Johannis,  Willelmo  de  V'escy,  Huberto  de  Vallibus,  Manasser"  Byselh,  dapifero,  Henrico  filio  Gerardi, 
camerario  ;    apud  Dimelmum.'     January,   11 58. 

(2)  to  (5)  Ihid.     Four  writs  witnessed  by  William  Fitz  John  at  Durham,  January,  1 158. 

(2)  Grant  of  free  warren  to  the  prior  and  monks  of  Tynemoutli  in  their  lands  in  Northumberland  ; 

Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  xxxv. 

(3)  Order  that  all  goods  of  St.  Oswin  and  of  the  monks  of  Tynemouth,  which  their  men  can 

testify  to  be  tlicirs,  shall  be  free  from  tolls  ;  Gibson,  ihid.  xxxviii. 

(4)  Order  that  St.  Oswin's  land  be  not  distrained  upon  for  another's  debt,  but  only  for  debts  due 

from  the  demesne;  Gibson,  ibid,  xxxix. 

(5)  Order  that   the   prior  and  monks  of  Tynemouth   have  their  wood  of  Jiurwood  ;    Gibson, 

tbid.  xl. 

(6)  Charter  Rolls,  9  Edward  II.  No.  39.  Order  to  restore  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  his  fugitives 
and  iiatiyi  with  their  chattells  ;  witness,  Henry  de  Essex,  constable  ;  dated  at  Nottingham,  January, 
1 1 58;  Gibson,  ihid.  xliii. 

(7)  Charter  Rolls,  55  Henry  111.  pars  i,  m.  3  and  4.  Confirmation  to  the  church  of  St.  Mary  and 
St.  Oswin  of  Tynemouth,  and  to  the  monks  there,  of  the  gift  of  p'latford  made  to  them  by  R.  de  Wir- 
cester ;  witnesses,  Warin,  son  of  Earl  Gerald,  and  William  fitz  John  ;  dated  at  Winchester,  February, 
1 158;  Gibson,  ibid,  xxxvii. 

(8)  St.  Albany  Register,  fol.  117  b.  '  Henricus,  rex  .Anglic,  etc.,  Willelmo,  vicecomiti  Northumberl', 
salutem.  Precipio  tibi  quod  pcrmittas  monachos  de  Tynemutha  et  homines  suos  tenere  bene  et  in  pace 
et  juste  omnia  teiiementa  sua,  sicut  carta  mea  testatur,  et  nominatim  de  omni  opere  castelli  et  de  geldo 
et  adjutorio,  et,  si  quid  ab  eis  injuste  cepisti  juste  reddi  facias,  et,  nisi  feceris,  justiciam  meam  facias. 
Teste  Man'  Biset,  apud  Lcons.'     .March,  1161.     From  St.  (Georges  transcripts. 

(9)  Ibid.  fol.  123.  Charter  of  restoration  to  St.  Alban.  St.  Oswin,  and  the  abbot  and  monks  of 
St.  Alban,  who  are  at  Tynemouth,  of  the  lands  which  the  king  had  taken  into  his  hand  on  the  flight  of 
Edgar  into  Scotland,  namely,  Eglingham,  Bewick  and  Lilburn  :  witnesses,  Richard,  bishop  of  Win- 
chester, (ieoffrey,  bishop  of  Ely,  Richaid  de  Lucy,  William  fitz  .A.ude!m,  dapifer,  Alfred  de  St.  Martin, 
Robert  Marmyon,  Hugh  de  Cressy,  Ralph  de  Glanvill,  and  Robert  de  Stutevill  ;  dated  at  Gaititon, 
February,  1176;  jirinted  in  Dugdale,  Momisticoii,  vol.  iii.  p.  314. 

(10)  Ibid.  fol.  123.  Writ  to  restore  seisin  of  the  said  lands  to  the  abbot  and  monks  of  St.  Alban's  ; 
witness,  W^illiam  fitz  Audelm  ;  dated  at  Woodstock,  February,  1176  ;  Gibson,  ibid.  xlii. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  63 

The  writ  of  1122  had  long  been  disregarded.  The  abbots  of  St. 
Alban's  retained  their  hold  over  Tynemouth  priory,  which  was  now  once 
more  challenged  by  the  monks  of  Durham.  Delegates  were  appointed 
by  the  Pope  to  hear  and  adjudicate  upon  the  claims  of  both  parties.  The 
case  dragged  on.  It  was  to  the  advantage  of  the  St.  Alban's  party  that 
this  should  be  so,  since  the  case  of  their  opponents  in  part  rested  upon  the 
evidence  of  certain  very  aged  clergy  and  laity  who  had  witnessed  the 
expulsion  of  St.  Cuthbert's  monks  from  Tynemouth  in  1085.  A  fresh 
commission  was  issued  and  new  delegates  appointed.  In  11 74  a  settlement 
was  reached  by  whicli  Hugh  Pudsey,  bishop  of  Durham,  and  the  prior  and 
convent  of  Durham  renounced  for  ever  all  claims  to  the  church  of  Tvne- 
mouth  and  its  estates,  and  confirmed  the  same  bv  charter  to  the  monastery 
of  St.  Alban's.  In  return  for  this  concession  the  abbot  and  brethren  of 
St.  Alban's  surrendered  to  Durham  their  churches  of  Bywell  St.  Peter's 
and  Edlingham.  Either  party  handed  over  such  muniments  as  they 
possessed  touching  upon  the  title  to  the  conceded  churches.  Bishop 
Pudsey  granted  to  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  the  right  to  receive  the  usual 
payments  from  the  churches  belonging  to  Tynemouth,  and  also,  upon 
the  death  of  their  e.xisting  incumbents,  to  increase  the  pensions  derived 
from  them  from  twentv  and  a  half  to  sixty  and  a  half  marcs  yearly.  Of 
his  own  free  will  Bishop  Pudsev  further  conceded  an  additional  yearly 
revenue  of  seven  marks  from  the  church  of  Eglingham.  It  was  probably 
on  this  occasion  that  the  same  bishop  pledged  himself  to  observe  friendlv 
relations  with  St.  Alban's  and  Tynemouth,  and  renounced  a  claim  which 
he  had  advanced  to  certain  dues  from  the  chapels  attached  to  the  priory. 
St.  Alban's  had  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  result  of  the  arbitration,  for 
its  right  to  the  advowson  of  the  priory  was  never  again  disputed  by  Durham.' 

'  Numerous  documents  connected  with  this  dispute  are  extant  at  Durham,  and  transcripts  of  others 
are  contained  in  the  St.Alhan's  RegisUr  above  quoted.  The  letter  of  the  delegates  to  the  Tope  is  printed 
in  Hist.  Duncbu.  Script.  Tra,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  9.  See  also  the  documents  printed  in  Gibson,  vol.  ii. 
appendix,  xliv-xlvii,  and  in  this  work,  vol.  vi.  p.  104,  and  vol.  vii.  pp.  144,  145.  The  following  documents, 
taken  from  Bakers  transcripts,  have  been  hitherto  unpublished  :^ 

St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  124  b.  Hugo,  Dei  gratia  Dunelinensis  episcopus,  universis  sancte  matris 
ecclesie  tiliis,  presentibus  et  futuris,  salutcm.  Inter  cetera  ad  que  debitum  officii  pontilicalis  extenditur 
circa  virorum  religiosorum  quietem  et  tr.anquillitatem  continuam,  precipue  debet  cura  sollicitudinis 
adhiberi,  ne  corda  eorum  a  sancte  conversaiionis  studio  aliquatenus  avocentur,  et  religionis  otium  per 
antiqui  iiostis  astuciam  perturbetur.  Nos  itaque  monasterio  Sancti  Albani  lanto  vojentes  studiosius 
providere  quanto  ipsuni  m.ijori  honestale  et  monastice  institutionis  observancia  preniinere  dinoscitur, 
eidem  monasterio  cellam  de  Tynemutha  cum  universis  .ad  cam  peninentibiis  que  intra  fines  nostre 
parochie  continentur  conlirmanuis  et  presentis  scripti  patrocinio  communimus:  in  quibus  hec  propriis 
duximus  exprimenda  vocabulis.  In  primis  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  cum  capella  de  Setun.a,  ecclesiam 
de  Wdehorn  cum  capella  ile  Hortuna  et  de  Wodringtona  et  dc  .Newebiggingc,  ecclesiam  de  Egelinge- 


64 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


ham  cum  ecclesia  de  liewicl)  et  capclla  dc  Lillcburn,  ecclesiam  de  Cunesclive,  ecclesiam  de  Herteburne 
cum  capellis  de  Witeun  ct  de  Camho  et  de  Staftho,  et  omnes  terras  et  obvenciones  ad  predictas 
ecclesias  pertinentes,  salvo  jure  nostro  et  successorum  nostrorum  tarn  in  ecclesia  de  Tyncmutha 
quam  in  prcnominatis  ecclesiis,  in  synodalibus.  et  in  aliis  consuetudinibus  cpiscopalilius.  Conccssimus 
eciam  et  presenti  scripto  confirmavimus  supradicto  monasterio  Sancti  Albani  et  ecclesie  de  Tynemutha 
et  monachis  ibidem  Deo  famulantibus  omnes  decimas  et  obvenciones,  tam  in  blado  quam  in  aliis 
decimacionibus,  tam  de  dominiis  regis  quam  baronum  sive  aliorum  fidelium  et  propriarum  villaruni  ct 
dominiorum,  tam  in  Northumbria  quam  in  llaliwarcsfolch,  ita  plenarie  et  libere  possidendas  sicut  eas 
plenius  et  melius  habuerunt  vel  habere  debuerunt,  tempore  nostro  vel  anteccssorum  nostrorum,  et  sicut 
donatorum  carte  testantur.  Hiis  tcstibus,  Germano,  priorc  Dunelmensi,  Burcardo  et  Willelmo,  archi- 
diaconis  Dunelmensibus,  Simone  camerario,  magistro  Ricardo  de  Coldingeham,  Henrico  dapifcro,  Roberto 
de  Adintona,  Willelmo  filio  archiepiscopi,  Alano  de  Walesende,  magistro  Aristotele,  Roberto  clerico 
Norwicensi,  Radulpho  clerico  de  Waldena. 

Fol.  124  b.  Hugo,  Uei  gratia  Dunelmensis  episcopus,  et  Germanus  prior,  totusque  ejusdem  ecclesie 
conventus,  universis  sancte  matris  ecclesie  filiis,  presentibus  et  futuris,  salutem.  Celeberrime  consuetudinis 
usus  optinuit  ut  rerum  series  ad  honorem  Dei  et  pro  ecclesiarum  pace  gestarum  litteris  commcndetur, 

que  et  earum  debeant  perpetuare  memoriam,  et  preteritorum 
posteris  recentem  noticiam  representent.  Ea  propter  universitati 
vestre  litteris  presentibus  innotescat  cjuod,  cum  inter  ecclesiam 
nostram  et  monasterium  Sancti  Albani  super  ecclesiam  de  Tyne- 
mutha et  pertinentia  ejus,  quam  nobis  de  anticjuo  jure  competere 
dicebamus,  controversia  verteretur  et  causa  fuisset,  venerabili  patri 
nostro  Rogero  dei  gratia  Wigornensi  episcopo,  et  magistro  Johanni 
de  Saresb'  Exoniensis  ecclesie  thesaurario,  et  Roberto  venerabili 
decano  Eboracensi,  a  summo  pontifice  domino  Alcxandro  tercio 
delegata,  duobus  eorum,  domino  videlicet  Wigornensi  et  magistro 
Icihanne,  apud  Warewic  in  jure  residentibus,  tercio  absenciam  suam 
'A  causis  necessariis  per  litteras  excusante,  inter  nos  et  prediclum 
monasterium  Sancti  Albani  sub  hac  pacis  forma  convenit.  Nos 
siquidem  liti  predicto  et  repeticioni  ecclesie  de  Tynemutha  atque 
ad  earn  pertinentium,  tam  ipsis  judicibus  quam  ceteris  qui  aderant 
religiosis  sapientibus  viris  ad  hoc  operam  dantibus,  imperpetuum 
renunciamus.  Abbas  vero  et  conventus  Sancti  Albani  pro  bono 
pacis  et  prefata  renunciacione  dederunt  nobis  et  scripto  suo  auten- 
tico  confirmarunt  ecclesias  de  Biwelle  et  de  Edelingham,  cum 
omnibus  ad  easdem  ecclesias  pertinentibus,  jure  perpetuo  possi- 
dendas. Volentes  igitur  prescriptam  transaccionem  et  niutuam 
inter  nos  caritatis  vicissitudinem  perpetuis  temporibus  observari, 
supradicto  monasterio  Sancti  Albani  prcnominatam  ecclesiam  de 
Tynemutha  cum  universis  ad  earn  pertinentibus  presentis  scripti 
testimonio  concessimus  imperpetuum  possidendam.  [Immo] 
sicjuando  litem  nobis  super  prenominatis  ecclesiis  vel  alterutra 
earum  contigerit  suscitari,  abbas  et  monachi  Sancti  Albani,  cum 
nulla  munimenta  in  quibus  ille  tantum  ecclesie  confirmentur,  nisi 
cum  aliis  possessionibus,  habeant,  instrumenta  que  super  ipsis 
ecclesiis  cum  aliis  possessionibus  habeant  ad  defensionem  nostram 
exhibebunt.  Hiis  testibus,  Burcardo  et  Willelmo  archidiaconis, 
Simone  camerario,  magistro  Ricardo  de  Coldingeham,  Henrico  dapifero,  Roberto  de  Adingtona, 
Willelmo  filio  archiepiscopi,  Alano  de  Walesende,  magistro  Aristotele,  Roberto  clerico  Norwicensi, 
Radulpho  clerico  de  Waldene. 

Kol.  125.  Hugo,  Dei  gracia  Dunelmensis  episcopus,  universis  sancte  matris  ecclesie  filiis,  presentibus 
et  futuris,  ad  quos  presens  scriptum  pervenerit,  salutem.  Cum  inter  ecclesiam  nostram  et  monasterium 
Sancti  Albani  super  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  et  pertinentia  ejus  controversia  verteretur,  tam  nos  quam 
ecclesia  nostra  prefate  liti  et  peticioni  ecclesie  de  Tynemutha  et  ad  cam  pertinencium  imperpetuum 
renunciavimus,  nomine  [cujus]  transaccionis  dederunt  nobis  ecclesias  de  Bywelle  et  Edelvingeham.  Nos 
etiam  pro  bono  pacis  in  consideracione  honestatis  et  religionis  que  in  prenominato  monasterio  Sancti 
Albani  vigere  dinoscitur,  tam  nostro  quam  ecclesie  nostre  nomine,  concessimus  ut  abbas  Sancti  Albani  et 
monachi  de  Tynemutha  de  ecclesiis  quas  in  parochia  nostra  habent,  decedentibus  personis  presentibus, 
supra  quam  tempore  facte  transaccionis  solvere  consueverant  quadraginta  marcas  annuas  percipiant. 
Qiias  in  hunc  modum  duximus  assignandas.  De  ecclesia  de  Wdehorna,  que  cum  duabus  capellis  de 
Widringtona  et  de  Xewebigginge  preter  capellam  de  Hortuna  quatuordecim  marcas  solvere  consueverat, 
sex  marcas  de  incremento  percipiant,  videlicet,  post  decessum  Ricardi  clerici,  viginti  marcas.  De 
ecclesia  de  Hertburna,  que  duas  marcas  solvebat,  decent  de  incremento,  id  est  post  decessum  Roberti 
clerici  duodecim  marcas  percipient,  salvo  jure  \'tredi  et  Roberti  in  eadem  ecclesia  quamdiu  vixerint. 


Se.'M.  t)i-  AniioT  SiMo.v. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


65 


De  ecclesia  de  Cunesclive,  que  prius  viginti  solidos  solvebat,  quinque  marcas  et  dimidiam  post  decessum 
Ade  clerici,  videlicet  qualuor  marcas  de  augmento,  salvo  jure  Heremeri.  De  ecclesia  vero  de  Egelinge- 
ham,  que  tres  marcas  abbati  Sancti  Albani  solvere  consueverat,  post  decessum  magistri  VValieri  de 
Insula  percipcret  idem  abbas  preter  tres  predictas  marcas  viginti  marcas,  et  completa  erit  summa 
quadraginta  marcarum.  N'os  vero,  ex  liberalitate  nostra,  amore  predict!  abbatis  et  monastcrii  Sancti 
Albani,  prescriptis  viginti  tribus  marcis  scptcm  marcas  adjecimus,  ut,  videlicet,  defuncto  magistro 
Waltero,  abbas  et  monachi  Sancti  Albani  triginta  marcas  annuas  de  Egulvingeham  et  pertinenciis  ejus 
percipiant,  ita  quod,  ut  si  residuum  administranti  honeste  sufficere  non  possit  ad  synodalia  solvenda  et  ad 
debita  episcopalium  consuetudinum  onera  sustinenda,  abbas  quod  defuerit  supplere  debebit.  Ut  igitur 
hoc  a  nobis  supradicto  ordine  constitutum  firmiter  observetur,  prohibemus  ne  quis  hoc  aliquo  tempore 
presumat  infringere.  Hiis  testibus,  Germano,  priore  Dunclmensi,  Burcardo  et  VVillelmo,  archidiaconis 
Dunelmensibus,  Symone  camerario,  magistro  Kicardo  de  Coldingeham,  Henrico  dapifero,  Roberto  de 
Adintona,  Willelmo  filio  archicpiscopi,  Alano  de  Walesende,  magistro  Aristotile,  Roberto  clerico 
Norwiccnsi,  Kadulpho  clerico  de  Waklene. 

Fol.  125  b.  Onniibus  videntibus  vel  audientibus  has  litteras,  capitulum  Dunelmense,  salutem. 
Noverit  universilas  vcstra  nos  gratam  et  ratam  habere  concessionem  quam  venerabilis  pater  noster, 
Hugo  Dunclmensis  episcopus,  fecit  dilectis  fratribus  nostris  abbati  de  Sancto  Albano  et  monachis  de 
Tynemutha  super  augmenlatione  pcnsionum  in  ecclesiis  de  Wdehorn,  Herteburna,  Cunesclive  et  de 
Egelvingham  pro  bono  pacis,  sicut  in  dicli  episcopi  autentico  continetur,  teste  sigillo  nostro. 

Fol.  125  b.  Rogerus,  Dei  gratia  Eboracensis  archiepiscopus,  apostolice  sedis  legatus,  omnibus 
sancte  matris  filiis,  salutem.  Noverit  universitas  vestra  quod  nos,  inspectis  cartis  venerabilis  patris 
nostri  Hugonis  Dunelmensis  episcopi,  ju.\ta  tenorem  cartarum  illarum  concedimus  et  present!  carta 
nostra  confirmamus  monasterio  Sancti  Albani  in  perpetuum  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  cum  universis 
ad  earn  peninentibus  que  intra  fines  nostre  provincic  continentur.  In  quibus  hec  propriis  duximus 
exprimenda  vocabulis.  In  primis  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  cum  capella  de  Setuna,  ecclesiam  de 
Wdehorn  cum  capellis  de  Hortuna  et  Wdrintun  et  de  Newebig- 
ginge,  ecclesiam  de  Egelvingeham  cum  ecclesia  de  Bewich  et  capella 
de  Lilleburn,  ecclesiam  de  Cunesclive,  ecclesiam  de  Hertebum 
cum  capella  de  Witeun  et  de  Camho  et  de  Staftho,  et  omnes 
terras  et  obvenciones  tam  in  blado  quam  in  aliis  decimacionibus, 
tarn  de  dominiis  regis  quam  baronum  sive  aliorum  fidelium  et 
propriarum  villarum  ac  dominiorum,  tam  in  N'orthumbria  quam  in 
Haliwcrcsfolch,  adeo  plenarie  et  libere  possidcndas,  sicut  eas  pre- 
fatum  monasterium  melius  et  liberius  habuerit  vel  habere  debuerit 
tempore  nostro  vel  antecessorum  nostrorum,  et  sicut  donatorum 
carte  testantur.  Preterea  transaccioni  inter  dilectos  fratres  nostros 
monachos  Sancti  Albani  et  monachos  Dunelmenses  pro  controversia 
inter  eosdeni  mota  super  ecclesiam  de  Tynemutha  concorditer  facte 
assensum  prebemus  secundum  tenorem  carte  memorati  Hugonis 
Dunelmensis  episcopi,  qua  carta  accepimus  eundem  episcopum  et 
ecclesiam  Dunelmensem  liti  et  peticioni  ecclesie  dc  Tynemutha  et 
ad  eam  pertinencium  inperpetuum  renunciasse,  concessis  eisdem  a 
monachis  Sancti  .Albani  nomine  transaccionis  ecclesiis  de  Hywell 
et  de  Edehvingham.  Prcfati  autem  episcopus  et  monachi  Dunel- 
menses pariter  concesserunt  ut  abbas  Sancti  .Mbani  et  prior  de 
Tynemutha  de  ecclesiis  quas  in  parochia  Dunelmensis  episcopi 
habent,  decedentibus  personis  presentibus,  supra  quam  tempore 
facte  transaccionis  solvere  consueverant  quadraginta  marcas  annuas 
percipiant,  adjectis  eciam  septem  marcis  quas  idem  episcopus 
predictis  monachis  Sancti  Albani  nomine  suo  et  ecclesie  Dunel- 
mensis ex  propria  liberalitate  de  incrcmento  concessit.  Que  sane 
quadraginta  et  septem  marce  in  hunc  modum  sunt  in  predictis 
ecclesiis  assignate,  videlicet  in  ecclesia  de  Wdehorn  sex  marcas  de 
augmento,  que  preter  capellam  de  Hortuna  cum  duabus  capellis 
aliis  prius  qualuordecim  marcas  solvebat  et  post  decessum  Ricardi 
clerici  viginti  marcas  annuas  reddet.  In  ecclesia  vero  de  Hertebum 
decem  marcas  de  augmento,  que  prius  duas  tantum  marcas  ecclesie  de  Tynemutha  solvebat,  et  post 
decessum  Robert!  clerici  duodccim  solvet,  salvo  jure  [Vtredi]  et  Robert!  in  eadem  ecclesia.  In  ecclesia 
de  Cunesclive  quatuor  marcas  de  incremento,  que  prius  viginti  tantum  solidos  solvebat  ;  post  decessum 
vero  .Ade  clerici  quinque  marcas  et  dimidiam  annuatim  solvet.  In  ecclesia  de  Egelvingham  viginti  et 
septem  marcas  de  augmento,  que  utique  abbati  Sancti  .Mbani  tres  marcas  soUebat,  et  post  decessum 
magistri  Walteri  idem  abbas  triginta  marcas  annuatim  percipiet.  Has  autem  predictas  concessiones 
juxta  formani  cartarum  antcdicti  Dunelmensis  episcopi,  hujus  carte  nostre  testimonio  jug!  memorie  com- 
mendantes,  necnon  et  omnia  ecclesiastica  bcneficia  que  monasterium  Sancti  Albani  m  provincia  nostra 


COUNTERSE.AL  OF  .ABBOT   SiMON. 


Vol.   \-II1. 


66  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  royal  claims,  however,  remained  a  source  of  danger.  When  their 
prior,  Gilbert,  died,  the  monks,  with  the  king's  licence,  elected  one  of 
their  own  number,  Akarius,  to  be  prior,  who  was  then  admitted  and  in- 
stituted with  King  Henry's  assent,  but  without  any  reference  to  the  abbot 
of  St.  Alban's.'  This  Akarius  was  perhaps  the  builder  of  the  Transitional 
chancel  of  the  priory  church.  Certainly  during  his  priorate  alterations  were 
being  made  to  St.  Oswin's  shrine,  which  adjoined  the  high  altar  both  in 
the  Norman  and  the  Transitional  chancels.  One  Baldwin  was  employed 
on  the  work,  a  famous  goldsmith  who  had  been  brought  from  St.  Alban's, 
where  the  art-loving  Abbot  Simon  had  been  his  patron.  He  was  especially 
skilled  in  the  setting  of  precious  stones  and  in  fine  and  intricate  floral 
ornament.  While  at  work  in  Tynemouth  upon  the  new  shrine  on  the 
festival  of  St.  Oswin,  he  heard  outside  in  the  street  the  shouting  of  the 
holiday  crowd.  He  went  out  to  see  the  sight,  and  incautiously  left  the 
door  of  his  workshop  ajar.  A  man,  looking  in  and  seeing  the  shop  empty, 
entered  and  laid  hands  on  all  the  precious  metal  that  he  found  within, 
wrapping  it  up  in   clothes  lying  there.     Going   out   again   with   the   stolen 

prescriptis  modis  habere  dinoscitur,  sigilli  nostri  impressione  confirmamus,  auctoritate  nostra  precipientes 
supradictas  concessiones  et  Iraiisaccionem  inviolabiliter  observari.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  archidiacono 
de  Notingeham,  Johanne  London',  magislro  Angot,  magistro  Lucane,  magistro  Milone,  Ada  de  Glocestria, 
et  ahis  clericis  nostris. 

Fol.  126  b.  Alexander  episcopus,  servas  servorum  Dei,  dilectis  filiis  abbati  ct  fratribus  Sancti  Albani, 
saluteni  et  apostolicam  benedictionem.  Communi  et  special!  debito  nos  vobis  et  monasterio  vestro 
recognoscimus  debitores,  cum  idem  monasterium  nobis  sit,  nullo  mediante,  subjectum,  et  vos  sitis 
speciales  Romane  ecclesie  filii  in  obsequio  et  devocione  nostra,  et  ecclesie  serventissime  persistatis. 
Inde  est  quod  cum  jam  pridem  inter  vos  et  venerabilem  fratrem  nostrum  episcopum  et  nionachos 
Dunehiienses  super  ccclesiam  de  '!">  nemutha  et  pertinencia  ejus,  de  quibus  hiiic  inde  questio  fuerat  diutius 
agitata  coram  venerabihbus  fratribus  nostris  R.  Wigornensi  et  magistro  J.  nunc  Carnotensi  episcopis, 
qui  causam  ipsam  de  mandato  nostro  susceperant  terminandam,  transaccio  facta  sit  sicut  utriusque 
partis  autentica  scripta  testantur,  nos  providere  volentes  ne  aherutra  partium  super  questione  sopita 
denuo  trahatur  in  causam,  prescripte  transaccioni  apostoHci  favoris  robur  duximus  apponcndum  ; 
eandemque  transaccioneni,  sicut  de  libero  assensu  partium  facta  est  et  suscepta  et  in  scripto  utriusque 
partis  et  predictorum  judicum  continetur,  ratam  habemus  et  tirmam,  eamcjue  auctoritate  apostoUca 
confirmantes  presentis  scripti  patrocinio  communimus  ;  statuentes  ut  nulh  omnino  hominum  Hceat  banc 
paginam  nostre  confirmacionis  infringere  vel  ei  aliquatenus  contraire.  Si  quis  autem  hoc  atlemptare 
presumpserit,  indignationem  Omnipolentis  Dei  et  beatorum  Petri  et  Pauh  Apostolorum  ejus  se  no\erit 
incursurum.     Datum  X'enetiis  in  rivo  aUo,  xv  kalendas  Junii  [1177]. 

Fol.  127.  Forma  reformate  pacis  inter  dominum  Hugonem  Dunelmensem  episcopum  et  Symonem 
abbatem  Sancti  Albani.  Hec  est,  primo  omnium,  omnis  inter  eundem  episcopum  et  ecclesias  Sancti 
Albani  et  de  Tynemutha  preconcepta  simultas  omnisque  indignacio  conquievit,  fovebitque  idem  episcopus 
de  cetero  et  provebit  jura  et  negocia  carundem  ecclesiarum  et  se  abbati  et  predictis  ecclesiis  familiarem 
et  amicum  exhibebit.  Abbas  vero  versa  vice  et  eedem  ecclesie  in  observancia  dileccionis  et  honoris 
episcopi  perseverare  studebunt.  Synodalia  que  episcopus  de  tribus  capellis,  de  Hortuna,  videlicet,  de 
Wdrinlon  et  de  Lilleburn  de  novo  exegerat  de  cetero  non  exiget.  De  cimiteriis  de  Hortuna  et  de 
Setuna,  que  episcopus  de  novo  dedicavit,  matricum  ecclesiarum  indempnitati  providit,  sicut  in  cartis  suis 
continetur,  quas  inde  abbati  dedit  de  possessionibus  ecclesiarum  Sancti  Albani  et  de  Tynemutha,  quas 
quidem  occasione  indignacionis  episcopi  turbare  presumpserunt,  efficacem  eis  justitiam  exhibebit  (sic). 
Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  archidiacono  Dunelniensi,  Synione  camerario,  magistro  Ricardo  de  Coldingeham 
et  multis  aliis. 

'  Placita  de  quo  warranto,  Record  Commission,  p.  5S5  ;  Hodgson,  ^Northumberland,  pt.  iii.  vol.  i.  p.  120. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  67 

goods  he  wandered  about  the  town,  and  at  length  went  into  the  house 
of  a  woman,  who,  unluckily  for  tlie  thief,  was  the  goldsmith's  laundress. 
She  recognised  the  wrapping  of  the  bundle.  The  thief  was  brought  to 
justice  and  hanged  upon  the  gallows.' 

The  friction  that  arose  at  times  between  the  priory  and  St.  Alban's 
is  well  illustrated  by  the  story  of  Abbot  Simon's  stay  at  Tynemouth.  His 
visit  was  so  prolonged  that  the  stores  of  the  priory  became  exhausted. 
The  monks  finally  brought  him  a  yoke  of  o.xen  harnessed  to  a  plough. 
'Everything  is  eaten  up,'  they  cried  tearfully;  'still  we  have  these  left; 
here  they  are  ;  you  may  eat  them  too.'  The  abbot,  realising  that  he  had 
outstayed  his  welcome,  called  to  his  followers,  '  Up,  and  away  from  here,' 
and  so,  in  the  words  of  the  chronicler,  '  he  left  the  house  despoiled  of 
all  that  year's  supplies  to  his  eternal  shame.' ' 

The  accession  of  Richard  I.,  and  that  monarch's  financial  needs  in  view 
of  his  coming  crusade,  gave  an  opportunity  for  the  acquisition  of  new 
privileges  by  those  who  were  willing  to  pay  the  price.  His  royal  charter 
given  on  December  28th,  1189,  may,  in  its  original  form,  have  acknow- 
ledged Tynemouth  to  be  a  cell  of  St.  Alban's,  thus  renouncing  any  claim 
to  advowson.  It  certainly  confirmed  to  the  monks  of  St.  Alban's  at 
Tynemouth  all  their  possessions,  temporal  and  spiritual.  It  gave  to  them 
in  a  more  specific  manner  than  had  yet  been  done  the  various  profits  of 
justice,  as  well  as  the  right  to  receive  for  their  own  use  the  danegeld  and 
cornage  to  which  their  estates  were  subject.  The  king  issued  in  this  grant 
a  prohibition  against  the  sending  of  any  officer  of  the  royal  household 
within  the  limit  of  their  property  should  the  monks  be  unwilling  to  receive 
him.  'We  have  granted,'  the  charter  states,  'to  God  and  to  the  church 
of  St.  Oswin  of  Tynemouth,  and  to  the  monks  of  St.  Alban's  there  serving 
God,  all  liberties  and  free  customs  which  the  royal  power  can  confer  upon 
any  church,  in  as  ample  a  manner  as  may  be  done.'' 

'  i'lta  Usuiiii,  cap.  xlv.     Cp.  Gista  Abhatum  Monasterii  Sancti  Albaiii,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  p.  190,  for 
an  account  of  lialdwin's  great  cup,  'quo  non  vidimus  in  regno  .\ngliac  nobilioreni.' 
-  Gesia  Abbatum,  vol.  i.  p.  265. 

'  The  charter  of  1 1S9,  as  confirmed  in  1 198  and  on  subsequent  occasions,  ran  .is  follows  : — 
'  Ricardus,  Dei  gratia  ie.\  Anglie,  archiepiscopis,  etc.,  et  omnibus  fidelibus  Francis  et  .-Vnglis  in 
omnibus  comitatibus  in  quibus  Sanctus  .-Mbanus  martir  terrani  habet,  amicabiliier  salulem.  .Notuni 
facimus  vobis  nos  concessisse  et  present!  carta  nostra  contirmasse  Uco  et  ecclesie  Sancti  Oswyni  de 
Tunemulh'  et  monacliis  Sancti  Aibani  ibidem  Deo  servienlibus,  omnes  homines  suos  et  omnes  terras 
suas  et  omnes  possessiones  suas,  videlicet  villam  de  Tunemuth  cum  <imnibus  peninentiis  suis,  Selonani, 
et  Prestonam,  et  Chenonam,  et  aliam  Chertonam,  .Mullitonam,  Hwithelegam,  Erdesdonam,  Hacwnh  et 
aliam  Bacwrth,  Sighale,  Mortone,  Bibeshet',  Dischetonam,  Wlsinton,  Bewic,  Egulingehain,  Lillebume, 


68  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  importance  which  was  attached  to  this  charter  is  to  be  seen  by  the 
numerous  occasions  upon  which  its  confirmation  was  sought  and  granted.' 
Not  only  did  it  bestow  real  and  extensive  privileges  upon  the  church  of 
St.  Oswin,  but  it  was  regarded  as  a  settlement  of  St.  Alban's  monastery 
in  its  possession,  and  also  as  creating  a  liberty  or  franchise  similar  in 
character  to  those  of  He.xham,  Tynedale  and  Redesdale.  When  Richard 
I.'s  change  of  seal  necessitated  the  confirmation  of  the  charters  granted  in 
the  earlier  years  of  his  reign,  this  charter  was  also  confirmed  (November 
13th,    1 198).'     It  was   one  thing,  however,  to  receive    grants  of  privileges, 

AmbcU,  Hauckeslowc,  Ailsistwic,  Wilum,  Walthcdcn,  et  dimidiam  villam  dc  Copun,  Carlcsburi  et 
Mortonam  in  Haliwerckenfolc,  ISileslio  et  terrain  de  Role  et  Danun.  Hec  omnia  conccssimus  jam 
dictis  monacliis  in  redditibus  et  homagiis,  in  pratis  et  pascuis,  in  nemoribus  et  tuibariis,  et  omnibus  aliis 
rebus  ad  jam  dictas  villas  et  terras  pertinentibus  ;  cum  soka  et  saca,  in  stronde  on  strenie,  on  wod 
et  feldc,  thol  et  tlieam,  giidbrege,  hamsoka,  et  pecunia  que  pertinet  ad  murdrum,  forstal,  danegeld, 
infangenethef  et  utfangcnedtheof,  flemenesfrenitiie,  blotwitlia,  wrec,  cornagio  ;  ut  habeant  super  onines 
terras  suas  et  super  omnes  homines  sues  ubicumcjue  sint,  intra  burgum  et  extra,  in  tantum  et  tarn 
plcne  sicut  proprii  ministri  nostri  exquirere  debent  ad  opus  nostrum.  Preterea  concessimus  eis  ecclesiam 
de  Tinemutba,  et  de  Wdehorne,  et  de  Walton,  et  dc  Boluni,  et  de  Beiwic,  et  de  Egulungeham,  et  de 
Herteburn,  et  de  Cunesclive,  cum  capellis  et  omnibus  aliis  rebus  ad  easdem  ecclesias  pertinentibus. 
Concessimus  eciam  eis  Herford  super  Blitham,  ct  decimas  de  Hertenese,  et  decimas  de  Middelton  super 
Tcisam,  et  decimas  de  Colebrug  et  de  Rodbcri  et  de  Werkewrd  et  de  Wlloure  et  de  Ncuburn,  et  omnia 
molendina  sua  cum  predictis  libcrtatibus  possidenda.  Et  nolumus  ut  aliquis  hominum,  nee  Francus  nee 
Anglicus,  de  terris  eorum  ncque  de  hominibus  ullo  modo  se  intromittat,  nisi  ipsi  et  ministri  sui  quibus  ipsi 
committere  voluerint.  Et  eciam  concessimus  Deo  et  ecclesie  Sancti  Oswini  de  Tinemutba  et  monachis 
Sancti  Albani  ibidem  Deo  servientibus,  pro  redempcione  anime  nostre  et  parenlum  nostrorum,  omnes 
libcrtates  et  libcras  consuetudines  quas  regia  polestas  liberiores  alicui  ecclesie  confcrre  potest.  Prohibe- 
mus  super  forisfactuiam  nostram  nc  alic|uis  eas  aliquo  modo  infringere  presumat.  Prohibemus  eciam  ne 
in  ipsorum  terris  vel  doniibus  minister,  dapifer  scilicet  vcl  pincerna,  camerarius  [vel]  dispensator,  janitor 
vel  propositus,  contra  ipsorum  voluntatem  ct  assensum,  tempore  nostro  aut  successorum  nostrorum,  per 
manum  alicujus  principis  vcl  justiciarii  quocumque  tempore  ponatur.  Teste  Bakhvino,  Cantuariensi 
archiepiscopo,  Galfrido,  Eboraccnsi  electo,  llugone,  Dunelmensi  episcopo,  Willelmo  Marescallo.  Datum 
per  manum  Willelmi  de  Longo  Campo,  cancellarii  nostri,  xxviii  die  Decembris,  anno  regni  nostri  prinio, 
apud  Cant'. 

Is  erat  tenor  prime  carte  nostre  in  primo  sigillo  nostro  quod,  quia  aliquando  perditum  fuit,  et,  dum 
capli  essemus  in  Alemannia  in  alia  polestaie  constitutum,  mutatum  est.  Innovacionis  autem  hujus 
hii  sunt  testes,  H.  Cantuariensis  archiepiscopus ;  Johannes,  conies  Moreton,  frater  noster ;  H.  de 
Chastellum,  Cantuariensis,  magister  K.  de  Sancto  Edniundo,  [Richemundus,  magister  .\Ialger',  Ebori- 
censis,  magister  Petrus,  liatton',  archidiaconus  ;  Willelmus  Marescallus  ;  Willelmus  de  -Stagno.]  Datum 
per  manum  magistri  Rocelini,  vices  cancellarii  tunc  agentis,  apud  rupeni  Andel',  xiij  die  Novembris, 
anno  regni  nostri  decimo.'     Cartac  Aiitiijinn;  Bl!,  18. 

Considerable  variations  occur  in  the  spelling  of  place-names  in  the  transcript  of  this  charter  in  the  St. 
Alban's  Register,  fol.  120  b,  and  also  in  those  contained  in  later  confirmations  enrolled  on  the  Charter  Rolls. 

'The  charter  was  confirmed  by  Richard  in  119S,  by  John  in  1204,  by  Henry  III.  in  1271,  by 
Edward  I.  in  1301,  by  Edward  II.  in  1315,  by  Edward  111.  in  132S,  by  Richard  II.  in  1380,  by  Henry  IV. 
in  1 40 1,  and  by  Edward  IV.  in  1463. 

■■■  Upon  Richard  I.'s  change  of  seal  see  Mr.  Horace  Round's  Feudal  England.  Mr.  Round  points  out 
that  when  the  charters  were  confirmed  in  1198  it  was  with  a  diflference  in  the  terms.  The  case  of 
Tynemouth  is  no  exception.  The  change  there  was  significant,  in  view  of  the  dormant  royal  claims  to 
the  advowson.  An  extract  from  the  first  charter,  preserved  in  the  Rotuli  Parliamentarii  (vol.  1.  p.  26), 
shows  the  change  effected. 

Charter  01-   1189.  Ch.^ktkr  ok  1198. 
Notum  facimus  vobis  nos  concessisse  ct  pre-                  Notuni  facimus  vobis  nos  concessisse  et  pre- 
sent! carta  confirmasse  Deo  et  Sancto  Albano  et  senti   carta  confirniasse   Deo   et  ecclesie   Sancti 
ecclesie  Sancti  Oswyni  de  Tynemuth',  ccllc  Sancti  Oswyni  de  Tynemuth'  et  monachis  Sancti  Albani 
Albani,  et  monachis  ibidem  Deo  servientibus.  ibidem  Deo  servientibus. 


JUX 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY    CHURCH. 
PRESBYTERY 


RICHARD      »**ULUS5tH.    VltNN 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  69 

and  another  to  enforce  them.  The  sheriff  continued  to  e.xact  cornage. 
He  even  mulcted  the  prior's  men  of  Amble  for  seizing  on  the  wrecks 
which  came  to  their  shores.'  On  King  John's  accession  it  was  determined 
to  seek  a  new  confirmation  of  the  charter  from  him,  and  an  engagement 
that  it  should  be  observed.  By  way  of  security  two  charters  were  obtained, 
one  differing  verbally  from  the  other  ;  one  was  enrolled  at  Westminster, 
the  payment  of  the  fine  for  confirmation  being  enrolled  in  the  Court  of  the 
Exchequer.  The  monks  of  Tynemouth  paid,  in  return  for  this,  si.xty  marcs 
and  a  palfrey,  and  St.  Alban's  twenty-five  marcs  and  a  palfrey.^  A  royal 
writ  was  addressed  to  the  sheriff,  forbidding  him  to  e.xact  from  the  monks 
of  Tynemouth  the  scutage  which  they  should  raise  from  their  tenants,  and 
charging  him  to  deduct  in  future  from  the  total  cornage  rent  of  the  county 
that  proportion  due  from  the  tenants  of  the  priory,  namely,  twenty- 
four  shillings  yearly.^  Assurance  was  made  doubly  sure  by  obtaining  a 
confirmation  of  the  charters  of  Richard  and  John  from  Pope  Innocent  III., 
who  likewise  confirmed  to  them  in  the  same  bull  the  churches  and  pensions 

A  more  rhythmical  form  was  given  to  the  enumeration  of  customs  and  rights  in  the  charter  of  1 189, 
which  ran  as  follows  :  '  Cum  sacha  socha,  over  stronde  et  streme,  in  wode  et  felde,  tol  et  tern  et 
gridbruch  ;  hamsock,  murdrum  et  forstallum;  danegild,  infangenethefe  et  utfangenethefe  ;  flemnienes- 
fiemeth,  bludwyte,  wrec' 

The  earlier  charter  is  described  (St.  Alban^s  Register,  fol.  116  b)  as  'Signata  sigilio  regis,  ut  multi 
asscruiit.'  Mr.  Round  states  that :  '  Such  charters  and  grants  as  are  known  to  us  all  proceed  from  the 
king  himself,  either  before  he  left  Messina  or  after  he  had  reached  Germany  on  his  return  '  (of>.  cit. 
p.  5441.  He  proposes  to  alter  the  date  of  the  first  charter  to  November  2Sth,  on  the  ground  that  Richard 
had  already  left  Canterbury  before  December  2Sth,  having  sailed  from  England  on  the  nth  of  the 
month.  The  date  cannot,  however,  be  questioned,  in  view  of  a  second  charter  given  in  the  St.  Alban's 
Rtgistey  (fol.  123  b),  dated  at  Canterbury  on  December  20th,  and  witnessed  by  the  bishop  of  Lincoln 
and  William  Marshall,  confirming  Bewick,  Eglingham,  and  Lilburn  to  the  prior)',  and  which,  like  that 
of  the  28th,  is  given  under  the  hand  of  Longchamp  as  chancellor.  The  great  seal  was  despatched  to 
Richard  in  Normandy  before  the  following  March,  but  it  would  seem  to  have  been  left  temporarily  in 
Longchamp's  hands  till  the  business  of  the  Council  of  Canterbury  was  completed. 

Mr.  Round  has  shown  that  the  journey  of  the  prior  of  .St.  .Mban's  to  France  to  secure  confirmation 
of  charters  'cum  efTusione  multae  pecuniae  et  laboris,'  described  by  Matthew  Paris  as  occurring  in  1190, 
is  to  be  assigned  to  1 198. 

'  Pipe  Rolls,  anno  1203,  Hodgson,  Sorthumberland,  pt.  iii.  vol.  iii.  p.  85. 

"Pipe  Rolls,  anno  1204,  ibid.  p.  88.  'Prior  et  monachi  de  Tinemue  computant  de  1  marcis  pro 
carta  sua  de  libertatibus  suis  confimiandis  ct  ut  carta  ilia  irrotuletur  apud  Westmonasterium,  et  ut  ipsa 
teneatur  ct  observetur,  et  ut  quieti  sint  inrotulati  ad  scaccarium  de  xxx  marcis  et  j  palfredo  quas  pro  eo 
obtulerunt,  et  pro  alia  carta  de  boscis  suis  claudendis  cjuam  non  habent.  .  .  .  Idem  reddunt  computum 
de  ij  palefredis  pro  carta  duplicanda  de  libertatibus  suis,  et  in  una  cartarum  illarum  non  ponitur  sicut, 
etc.  In  thesauro  x  marcae  pro  palefredis,  et  quieti  sunt.'  Cp.  Madox,  History  of  the  Exchequer,  vol.  ii. 
p.  405.  The  two  charters  were  given  at  York  on  February  25th  and  March  1st,  1204.  See  Rot.  Cart. 
5  John,  m.  12,  Record  Commission,  p.  120;  and  Cart.  Ant.  (j  21  and  BI5  16  and  18.  By  another 
charter  King  John  confirmed  Eglingham,  Bewick  and  Lilburn  to  the  monks,  May,  3  John.  St.  Alban's 
Register,  fol.  123  b.     The  charier  roll  for  th.it  year  is  missing. 

'Close  Rolls,  6  John,  m.  5,  Record  Commission;  writ  dated  .April  1st,  1205.  The  Pipe  Rolls 
show  a  regular  allowance  of  twenty-four  shillings  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  every  year  for  com.ige  from 
1204  onwards. 


70  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

granted  by  Archbishop  Roger  de  Pont  I'Eveque  of  York  and  Bishop 
Pudsey  of  Durham,  as  well  as  the  liberties  and  imnumities  bestowed  by 
his  predecessors  on  St.  Alban's  and  its  cells.' 

John  de  Cella,  who  was  at  tliis  time  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  established 
the  custom  of  banishing  to  distant  cells  of  the  monastery  the  more  unruly 
members  of  his  congregation.  Tynemouth  was  especially  useful  for  this 
purpose.  The  monks  received  an  unwelcome  addition  to  their  number  in 
the  person  of  William  Pygun,  of  whom  Matthew  Paris  could  write  no 
good  thing.  He  was,  he  tells  us,  no  monk,  but  a  cowled  devil,  a  Lucifer 
among  angels,  a  Judas  among  apostles.  Incited  by  Robert  fitz  Walter,  he 
had  forged  a  charter,  conferring  on  that  earl  the  patronage  of  the  cell  of 
Binham,  and  had  sealed  it  with  the  convent  seal,  surreptitiously  procured 
for  that  purpose.  Abbot  de  Cella's  successor,  William  de  Trumpington, 
continued  the  practice  of  banishment ;  among  others  he  sent  to  Tynemouth, 
Reymund,  prior  of  St.  Alban's,  'forcibly  reft  of  his  books  and  other  jewels.' " 

When  peace  was  restored  in  England,  after  the  death  of  King  John, 
Abbot  Trumpington  made  a  splendid  progress  to  the  cells  of  his  monastery. 
At  Tynemouth  he  received  the  homage  of  his  tenants,  and  entertained  the 
neighbouring  nobles  and  people  of  the  district.  The  old  prior  of  Tyne- 
mouth, Ralph  Gubiun,  took  the  opportunity  of  begging  to  be  allowed  to 
resign  his  post,  but  leave  was  refused,  though  it  was  accorded  to  him  a  few 
years  later.  A  certain  Symon  de  Tynemouth  claimed  for  himself  for  ever 
two  monks'  corrodies,''  under  the  grant  of  an  earlier  abbot,  and  the  case 
was  referred  to  the  decision  of  single  combat.  William  Pygun,  '  the  monks' 
great  champion  '  was  overcome.  Prior  Gubiun  journeyed  to  St.  Alban's 
and  insisted  on  being  allowed  to  resign,  whereupon,  leave  being  granted, 
Germanus,  a  northerner  by  extraction,  was  appointed  to  replace  him.' 

'  opera  Innocentii  III.  ed.  Migne,  vol.  ii.  p.  1526  ;  bull  dated  January  3rd,  1209. 

•  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  i.  pp.  221-223,  257,  258.  '  Cella  de  Thiiiemue,  quae  exilium  nostris  solet  esse 
raonachis.' 

'  A  corrody  was  'originally  the  right  of  free  quaiters  due  from  the  vassal  to  the  lord  on  his  circuit  ; 
but  later  applied  especially  to  certain  contributions  of  food,  provisions,  etc.,  paid  annually  by  religious 
houses.  .  .  .  Sometimes  the  contribution  might  be  commuted,  and  then  it  would  be  practically  un- 
distinguishable  from  an  annuity  or  pension.'  Plummer,  ForUscue,  pp.  337-338.  An  example  of  the  later 
form  of  corrody  is  contained  in  a  deed  of  November  20th,  153S,  by  which  Robert  Blakeney,  jirior  of 
Tynemouth,  granted  to  Thoinas  Wallis  of  Tynemouth,  for  life,  in  return  for  his  good  and  faithful  service, 
an  annuity  of  40s.  with  meat  and  drink,  coat  and  clothing,  to  the  value  of  15s.,  and  agiecd  in  default  of 
meat  and  drink  to  pay  him  I4d.  weekly  from  two  tenements  in  Whitley.  Laing  Charters,  No.  427. 
About  1290  Roger  Bercarius  was  receiving  seven  loaves  and  seven  hens  from  the  piiory  weekly. 
St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  129  b. 

'  Cesta  Abbatum,  vol.  i.  pp.  270-273,  275. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  7 1 

Pyguii's  end  was  suitably  repellent.  One  night  he  retired  to  the  rear 
part  of  the  dormitory,  and  there  fell  asleep.  His  fellow  monks  listened  to 
the  dreary  sound  of  his  snores.  At  length  the  sound  stopped,  and  there 
came  a  loud  cry,  which  they  distinctly  heard,  of  'Seize  him,  Satan,  seize 
him.'  In  the  morning  they  found  him  lifeless.  He  had  died  where  he 
had  sat.  'Perhaps,'  Matthew  Paris  wrote,  'he  had  caught  a  chill.  I  prefer 
to  think  that  he  was  struck  bv  divine  vengeance.' ' 

What  an  exile  for  the  southerner  Tynemouth  proved  to  be  is  shown 
in  a  letter  which  has  been  accidentally  preserved  in  a  formularv  of  St. 
Alban's.^      As    the    earliest    contemporary    account    of  the    priory   and    its 

'  Gesta  Abbatiim,  vol   i.  p.  224. 

-■  The  St.  Alban's  formul.ary,  in  which  the  letter  is  contained  (Cambridge  University  Library,  MS. 
Ee.  4.20),  was  once  the  property  of  Robert  de  lilakeney,  the  last  prior  of  Tynemouth,  who  was  also 
the  owner  of  a  fifteenth  century  Latin  psalter  now  in  the  possession  of  Sir  John  Lawson  at  Brough 
Hall  {Historical  Manuscripts  Commission,  third  report,  p.  255),  as  well  as  of  the  register  of  the  second 
abbacy  of  John  de  Whethamstede  (Arundel  MSS.  College  of  Arms,  No.  3),  which  has  been  printed  in 
the  Master  of  the  Rolls  Series.  The  letter  has  been  copied  in  a  fifteenth  century  hand  on  to  the  last  page 
of  the  codex.  Though  the  name  of  Tynemouth  is  not  mentioned,  internal  evidence  leaves  no  possible 
doubt  that  Tynemouth  is  the  place  described.  The  letter  cannot  be  later  than  the  building  of  the  present 
gateway  in  1390,  and  is  probably  far  older.  The  description  of  the  church  as  '  de  novo  confecta '  seems 
to  point  to  the  Transitional  extension  of  that  building  {circa  1 190)  as  being  a  recent  occurrence. 

Quoniam  supplicavit  michi  fraternitas  tua  attencius  rogando  ut  situm  loci  nostri  et  patrie  mores, 
necnon  et  quid  boni  vel  mali  ex  maris  vicinitate  inhabitantibus  proveniat  vobis  significarem,  pareo 
libens  pro  possibilitate  mea  peticioni  tue  satisfacere.  Artus  locus  noster,  super  rupcm  eminentem 
positus,  fluctibus  marinis  circumquaque  cingitur,  excepto  uno  aditu  in  quo  est  porta  fere  plaustro  nimis 
arta,  opere  huniano  de  rupe  precisa,  que  intrantibus  et  exeuntibus  unicum  preslat  iter  ad  ambulandum. 
Hunc  artissimum  locum  fluctus  cotidie  nocte  dieque  sevientes,  tumultuantes  crebris  impulsionibus  nimis 
impetuose  infestant,  corrodendo  in  tantum  quod  rupes  durissima  pendet  jam  obesa,  noviter  ut  credo 
ruitura,  non  vi  sed  assiduitate,  sicut  dicitur,  '  Gutta  cavat  lapidem  non  vi  sed  sepe  cadendo.'  Proveniunt 
nempe  ex  predictis  fluctibus  nebule  densissime  et  vehementer  caliginose,  tanquam  esset  fumus  opacus 
exiens  de  antro  Wulcani.  Hee  etiam,  nebule  etiam  tempestive,  aciem  oculorum  reddunt  ebetem  et  debilem, 
vocem  dulcisonam  acerbant,  arterias  perstringcndo  fere  concludunt  ne  aer  subtilis  in  pectore  inclusus 
per  suos  occultos  meatus  liberum  et  vagum  introitum  et  exitum  more  debito  possit  obtinere.  Quicumque 
advena  ibi  hyemaverit  rauci  Theseide  Codri  afficietur.  ■■  \'er  cum  vernis  floribus  ibi  proscribitur,  estas 
estuare  illic  non  permittitur,  sed  boreas  cum  suis  collateralibus  illic  perpetue  perhendinal,  qui,  tamquam 
de  potestate  et  carcere  Eoli  regis  sui  egressus,  patriam  nostram  jure  hereditario  sibi  vendicat  et  sedem 
suam  ibi  collocat  metropolitanam,  eandem  patriam  letali  frigore  et  compede  nivali  perstringendo.  Hie 
est  nephandissimus  boreas  cujus  ad  imperium  fretum  frequenter  fremit,  mare  amare  debacatur,  pontus 
ponte  carens  portum  petentibus  efficit  periculosum ;  pelagus  penas  laboriosissimas  infert  navigantibus  ; 
equor  inequale  efficitur  et  ultra  quam  credi  potest  in  modum  montis  exceisi  tumescendo  in  ahum  extollitur; 
unde  provenit  quod  spuma  maris  nimis  amara,  vi  ventorum  exagitata,  domos  nostras  transcendit  el  in 
castrum  in  modum  pumicis  descendit  conglobata.  Miseria  maxima  est  respicere  naufragancium  pericula, 
rates  in  caute  super  cautem  ruentes,  malum  male  titubantem,  carinas  inter  scopulos  et  sa.\a,  fractis  tabulis, 
clavorum  compage  non  obstante,  penitus  esse  collisas  ;  nautas  membris  frigore  solutis  quasi  plumbum  in 
aquis  vehementibus  demergentes,  quibus  perituris  non  potest  vis  humana  auxilium  conferre,  quia  quidam 
versificator  dixit,  'Si  ruat  in  cautem  navis  est  dictura  Tu  autem.M  Talia  infortunia  in  oculis  nostris 
flebilibus  sepius  contingunt.  \'ox  nusquani  turturis  in  terra  nostra  auditur.  Philomena  fines  nostras 
dedignatur  visitare,  quia  non  est  locus  amenus  nee  aura  suavis  ubi  possit  in  ramali  modulationes  dulci- 
sonas  per  suas  dilatatas  arterias  dulciter  organizare.  Sed  stmt  ibi  volucres  in  scopulis  nidificantes, 
glaucum  colorem  habentes,  mortuorum  cadaveribus  insidiantes  quibus  avide  vescuntur.  Hee  aves  rauca 
voce  et  horribili  prcsagium  future  tempestatis  infeliciter  pronunciant.  Homines  h.tbitantes  circa  litus 
maris  sunt  quasi  niauri,  mulieres  sunt  quasi  Ethiopisse,  virgines  eorum  squalide,  pueri  eorum  velud  nigri 

*  Cp.  Juvenal  I.  i. 

t  A  reference  to  the  phrase  used  at  the  end  of  each  lesson  in  the  church  service, '  Tu  autem,  Domine, 
miserere  nobis.' 


72  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

surroundings,  it  possesses  considerable  interest.  Stripping  the  unknown 
writer's  account  of  its  graces  of  style,  the  letter  runs  as  follows  : — 

Our  house  is  confined  to  tlie  top  of  a  high  rock,  and  is  surrounded  by  the  sea  on  every  side  but 
one.  Here  is  the  approach  to  the  monastery  through  a  gate  cut  out  of  the  rock,  so  narrow  that  a  cart 
can  hardly  pass  through.  Day  and  night  the  waves  break  and  roar  and  undermine  the  cHff.  Thick 
sea-frets  roll  in,  wrapping  everything  in  gloom.  Dim  eyes,  hoarse  voices,  sore  throats  are  the 
consequence.  Spring  and  summer  never  come  here.  The  north  wind  is  always  blowing,  and  brings 
with  it  cold  and  snow ;  or  storms  in  which  the  wind  tosses  the  salt  sea  foam  in  masses  over  our  buildings 
and  rains  it  down  within  the  castle.      .Shipwrecks  are  frequent.     It  is  great  pity  to  see  the  numbed  crew, 

pueri  hebreorum.  Protli  pudor,  indigene  patrie  illius  comedunt  algam  maris  que  est  attramenio  nigrior. 
Hec  est  quedam  hcrba  super  sa.xa  in  mari  crescens,  carens  dulcore  sapore  ac  bono  odore,  magis  vero 
stomachum  ad  nauseam  provocat  quam  confortat.  Hec  herba  vocatur  a  vulgo  staul;.  Hac  utuntur 
patrie  illius  muliercs  tanquam  esset  herba  aromatica,  unde  color  earum  assimilatur  colori  herbe  illius. 
Arbores  que  deberent  esse  fructifere  sunt  quasi  fructices  non  audentes  ramos  in  altum  extoUere 
propter  maris  asperitatem  cjue  eas  floribus  et  foliis  spoliat  et  denudat.  Tempore  verno  cum  debeat 
parens  natura  pratum  picturare,  flores  parere,  flosculos  de  arboribus  producere,  tunc  maris  flatus  nimis 
amarus  et  corosivus  teneros  flores,  ante  quam  possint  formose  et  perfecte  puUulare,  tanquam  abortivos 
eflScit  violenter  marcescere.  Hinc  est  quod  vix  aut  raro  fructus  in  arboribus  ibi  inveniuntur.  Quicumciue 
mala  punica  suaviter  redolencia  dulci  sapore  reperierit,  cum  poeta  exclaniare  poterit,  '  Rara  avis  nigroque 
simillima  cigno.'  Si  vcro  contingit  contra  spem  quod  ibi  poma  nascantur,  tunc  sunt  arida  et  sicca,  succo 
ei  sapore  carencia  ;  propter  nimiam  amaritudincm  eorum  dentes  edentium  obstupescunt.  Cave  igitur 
tibi,  frater  karissime,  ne  venire  desideres  ad  talem  locum  omni  amenitate  privatum,  omni  solacio  et 
jocunditate  carentem,  excepta  ecclcsia  eleganter  de  novo  construcia,  mire  pulcritudinis,  que  inhabitantes 
invitat  ad  devocionem,  in  qua  corpus  beati  et  gloriosi  ac  propiciabilis  martiris  Oswini  in  thcca  argentca 
auro  et  gemmis  venustissime  decorala  rcquiescere  dinoscitur.  Hie  est  vere  qui  pro  Christi  nomine 
sanguincm  suum  fudit,  qui  rabiem  persequentium  non  forniidavit  ncc  mundane  glorie  pompam  quesivit, 
set  celeste  regnum  pro  terreno  feliciter  commutavit,  celum  pro  dojiio  lutea,  margaritam  prefulgidam  pro 
carnis  testa  comparavit.  Hie  est  plus  et  propitius  rex  et  martir  inclitus  cujus  ope  inopes  ab  omni 
clade  liberantur,  qui  ex  tolo  corde  eius  deposcunt  largicionem,  cuius  munimine  muniuntur  profugi  et 
exules  a  propria  patria  propter  homicidia  furta  vel  sediciones  contra  regem  et  regni  staluta  nequiter 
perpctrata.  Hie  est  gjoriosus  martir  Oswynus  optimus  egrorum  medicus  effectus.  Quod  non 
valet  praetica  nee  quecumque  phisica,  pii  martiris  prestant  beneficia. 

'  Surdi,  elaudi,  ceci,  muti 
Sunt  ad  usum  restituti 
Martyris  clemencia.' 

Egregii  martiris  protectio  et  venuste  ecclesie  pulcritudo,  simile  conjuncte  efficiunt  quod  fratres  ibi 
habitantes  simul  anibulantes  in  domo  domini  cum  consensu  et  ore  et  corde  alacriter  decantavant, 
'Ecce  quam  bonum  et  quam  jocundum  habitare  fratres  in  unum.'  De  corporali  dieta  non  est  ibi 
murmur  aut  querimonia,  quia  magnorum  piscium  ac  reg.alium  fertilitas  materiam  auflTert  niurmurandi. 
Fertilitatis  vero  ydempnitas  quibusdam  generat  fastidium,  quorum  unus  ego  aliquando  sic  proclamo  : 
'  Inopem  me  copia  fecit.'  Multoeius  contingit  quod  copiosa  abundaneia  stomachum  efficit  fastidire. 
Si  enim  piscis  esset  ibi  rarior,  esset  preciosior,  quia  omne  rarum  earum,  et  alibi  dicitur,  '.-Mimenta  que 
minus  suflficiunt  avidius  sumuntur.'  Ecce,  karissime,  ad  vestram  instanciam  situm  loci,  mores  patrie,  et 
quid  boni  et  mali  maris  vieinitas  conferat  hominibus  circa  litus  maris  habitantibus,  prout  potui  in  tempore 
hyemali  et  estivali  perpendere,  vobis  significavi.     Valete. 

The  iilva  marina,  locally  called  dauk,  still  formed  part  of  the  food  of  the  poorer  classes  of  Northum- 
berland in  1568,  when  William  Turner,  master  of  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge,  and  a  native  of 
Morpeth,  wrote  of  it:  'The  Brion  tlialassion  of  Theophrastus  and  Pliny  is  called"  in  Northumberland 
slaiikc,  which  in  Lent  the  poore  people  seth,  and  that  with  lykes  and  oyniones.  They  put  it  in  a  pott 
and  smorc  M,  as  they  call  it,  .and  then  it  loketh  black,  and  then  they  put  oyniones  to  it  and  eate  it.  But, 
before  it  is  sodden,  it  is  wonderfully  grene.'  Herbal,  pt.  i.  p.  94.  In  an  earlier  work  the  same  writer 
describes  it  as  having  leaves  like  lettuce,  and  adds,  '  It  groweth  in  the  sea  about  shelles  and  stones  also. 
It  coleth  and  drycth.'  Names  of  Ilerbes,  1548,  ed.  James  Britten  for  the  English  Dialect  Society.  The 
reference  to  sea  gulls  nesting  in  the  cliffs  of  the  priory  rock  finds  a  parallel  in  Turner's  account  of  the 
cormorants  which  he  saw  nesting  there  :  '  In  rupibus  marinis  juxta  hostium  Tinae  fluvii  mergos  nidulantes 
vidi.'  On  Birds,  1544,  ed.  A.  H.  Evans,  p.  no.  For  the  erosion  of  the  sea-cliffs  described  in  this 
letter,  see  R.  M.  Tate,  Un  the  Erosion  and  Destruction  of  the  Coast  Line  from  the  Low  Lights  to  Tynemoiith 
and  Cnllcrcoats,  and  the  petition  of  13S0  quoted  on  p.  97. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  73 

whom  no  power  on  earth  can  save,  whose  vessel,  mast  swaying  and  timbers  parted,  rushes  upon  rock 
or  reef.  No  ring-dove  or  nightingale  is  here,  only  grey  birds  which  nest  in  the  rocks  and  greedily  prey 
upon  the  drowned,  whose  screaming  cry  is  a  token  of  coming  storm.  The  people  who  live  by  the 
sea-shore  feed  upon  black  malodorous  sea-weed,  called  'slauk,'  which  they  gather  on  the  rocks.  The 
constant  eating  of  it  turns  their  comple.\ions  black.  Men,  women  and  children  are  as  dark  as  Africans  or 
the  swarthiest  Jews.  In  the  spring  the  sea-air  blights  the  blossoms  of  the  stunted  fruit  trees,  so  that  you 
will  think  yourself  lucky  to  find  a  wizened  apple,  though  it  will  set  your  teeth  on  edge  should  you  try  to 
eat  it.     See  to  it,  dear  brother,  that  you  do  not  come  to  so  comfortless  a  place. 

But  the  church  is  of  wondrous  beauty.  It  has  been  lately  completed.  Within  it  rests  the  body  of 
the  blessed  martyr  Oswin  in  a  silver  shrine,  magnificently  embellished  with  gold  and  jewels.  He 
protects  the  murderers,  thieves,  and  seditious  persons  who  fly  to  him,  and  commutes  their  punishment 
to  exile.  He  heals  those  whom  no  physician  can  cure.  The  martyr's  protection  and  the  church's 
beauty  furnish  us  with  a  bond  of  unity.  We  are  well  off  for  food,  thanks  to  the  abundant  supply  of  fish, 
of  which  we  tire. 

The  claims  of  the  bishop  of  Durham  over  Tynemouth  had  been  settled 
in  1 174,  only  to  arise  again  in  a  new  form.  Successive  bishops  asserted 
their  rights  as  diocesans  to  visit  the  church  of  Tynemouth,  and  to  e.xact 
obedience  from  its  priors.  They  also  raised  claims  to  certain  other  churches, 
of  which  the  monastery  held  the  advowson.  Upon  the  case  being  carried 
to  Rome,  delegates  appointed  by  the  Pope  decided  that  the  bishop  and 
his  officials  should  confine  their  visitations  to  that  part  of  Tynemouth 
church  which  was  set  aside  for  parochial  purposes,  and  should  not  interfere 
in  any  way  with  the  conventual  portion  of  the  church  or  with  the  monastery 
itself.  They  confirmed  the  right  of  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  to  appoint 
or  remove,  with  the  consent  of  his  chapter,  the  priors  of  his  cell  of  Tyne- 
mouth. During  a  vacancy  at  St.  Alban's  the  prior  of  that  abbey  was  to 
exercise  the  same  right.  On  the  other  hand  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  was, 
after  his  appointment,  to  be  presented  to  the  bishop  of  Durham,  and  was  to 
promise  him  canonical  obedience  so  far  as  the  parish  churches  in  his  gift 
were  concerned,  and  as  the  privileges  granted  to  St.  Alban's  monasterv 
allowed.  He  was  not,  however,  on  that  account  to  be  summoned  to  attend 
the  diocesan  synod.  The  vicars  of  Tynemoutli  were  to  be  presented,  upon 
their  appointment,  by  the  prior  and  convent  of  that  place  to  the  bishop  ; 
they  were  to  be  answerable  to  the  bishop  for  spiritualities  and  to  the  monks 
for  temporalities  (May,    1247).' 

'  This  award  is  given  by  Matthew  Paris,  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  iv.  pp.  615,  616,  and  Gcsta  Ahhatttm, 
vol.  i.  pp.  390,  391.  Numerous  claims  were  made  by  the  bishops  of  Durham  during  the  reigns  of  John 
and  Henry  III.  to  churches  in  the  gift  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  and  the  abbot  of  St.  .-Mban's,  namely, 
to  Woodhorn  in  1205,  Hartburn  in  1252,  and  Coniscliffe  in  1258.  Patrick,  earl  of  Dunbar,  claimed  the 
advowson  of  Eglingham  in  1225;  Robert  fitz  Roger  claimed  that  of  Whalton  in  1269;  and  in  1254  the 
church  of  Bolani  was  lost  by  Tynemouth  to  the  archbishop  of  York.  In  1225  Richard  de  Natfcrton, 
probably  a  monk  of  Tynemouth,  obtained  a  letter  from  the  king  directed  to  the  bishop  of  Durham, 
forbidding  the  bishop  to  meddle  with  the  demesnes  or  villeins  of  Tynemouth  priory.  Patent  Rolls, 
1216-1225,  p.  571. 

Vol.  VII 1.  10 


74  TYNEMOUTH    TAKISH. 

In  spite  of  this  composition,  the  bishop,  Nichohis  de  Farnluun,  con- 
tinued to  inflict  such  injury  as  he  could  upon  the  monks.  He  compelled 
their  church  to  contribute  to  the  cost  of  building  the  chapel  of  the  Nine 
Altars  at  Durham,  forbade  certain  vicars  to  pay  their  annual  pension  to 
Tynemouth,  and  distrained  on  the  prior's  cattle.  Relying  upon  a  verdict 
procured  from  twelve  of  his  own  knights,  he  disregarded  the  letters  of  the 
king  and  of  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  and  endeavoured  to  wearv  the 
monks  into  submission.' 

Fortunately  for  them,  Bishop  Farnham  resigned  his  office  in  the 
following  February.  His  successor,  Walter  de  Kirkham,  surrendered  to 
St.  Alban's  all  right  to  the  churches  of  Hartburn  and  Eglingham  {cijca 
1252),  which  he  conferred  upon  the  monastery  for  the  promotion  of 
hospitality  and  the  bettering  of  their  ale.  Tvnemouth  did  not,  however, 
profit  by  the  arrangement.  So  wealthy  were  these  two  churches  that 
Prior  Ralph  de  Dunham  made  an  offer  of  two  hundred  and  fortv  marcs 
to  St.  Alban's,  if  only  he  were  allowed  to  retain  them.-  Bishop  Kirkham 
proved  in  the  end  no  better  disposed  towards  the  priory  than  his  pre- 
decessor had  been.  In  1256,  William  de  Grevstoke  commenced  a  suit  in 
the  bishop's  court  for  the  advowson  of  Conescliffe  in  Durham.  The  abbot 
of  St.  Alban's  and  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  refused  to  appear,  grounding 
their  claim  on  their  privilege  of  not  being  called  in  question  for  any  tene- 
ment belonging  to  them  except  in  the  king's  court  and  under  a  special 
royal  mandate.  Walter  de  Kirkham  retorted  by  traversing  the  right  of  the 
abbot  and  prior  to  hold  a  free  court  within  the  wapentake  of  Sadberge, 
which,  since  the  date  of  Richard  I.'s  charter,  had  been  transferred  to 
the  bishop  of  Durham.  The  lawsuit  was  of  great  length,  even  for  those 
times.  By  making  very  considerable  concessions,  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's 
ultimately,  in  1275,  secured  the  recognition  of  the  advowson  as  belonging 
to  his  monastery.' 

The  priory  had  many  enemies  besides  the  bishops  of  Durham.  Patrick, 
earl  of  Dunbar,  laid  claim  to  the  manors  of  Bewick  and  Eglingham.  Dying 
at    Marseilles  in    1248,   his    body  was    brought    home  to    Tynemouth,    and 

'  Chronica  Majoru,  vol.  v.  pp.  8-13. 

-  Gcsta  Abbatum,  vol.  i.  pp.  320-322.  The  churches  did  not  form  a  new  donation  to  St.  Alban's, 
though  Bishop  Kirkham's  confirmation  earned  him  a  place  among  the  benefactors  to  the  abbey.  Liber 
de  Bau-fictoribus,  Rolls  Series,  Chnmuks  of  St.  Alban's,  vol.  iii.  p.  441. 

'  Gesla  Abbatum,  vol.  i.  pp.  350,  427-430,  436,  and  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  vi.  (Liber  .Additamenloium) 
passim. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


burit'd  there  in  the  church  wliich  he  had 
harassed.'  John  de  Balliol  was  impartially 
hostile  to  Tynemouth  and  Durham.  On  both 
churches  he  is  said  to  have  inflicted  enormous 
loss  before  he  was  persuaded  to  conclude 
peace  with  them  in  1255.  'He  who  should  re- 
count the  wrongs,'  savs  Matthew  Paris,  'which 
William  de  Valence  did  to  the  abbot  of  St. 
Alban's  and  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  would 
draw  tears  from  the  eves  of  his  hearers  ; '  but 
the  wrongs  have  been  untold  and  our  eves 
are  dry."  Add  to  this  the  expenses  of  special 
missions  to  the  papal  court,  as  in  1256,  relative 
to  the  papal  provision  to  Hartburn,  a  living 
round  which  would-be  incumbents  are  said  to 
have  gathered  '  like  eagles  round  a  carcase  ; ' 
and  the  exactions  of  such  unscrupulous  pre- 
lates as  the  bishop  of  Hereford,  and  the 
demands  of  Henry  HI.' 

The  cell  of  Tvnemouth  was  called  upon 
to  contribute  twentv-five  marcs  to  the  (i//.\- 
iliuiii  prc/dtoi mil  of  1235,  and  again  to  make 
a  payment  of  five  marcs  in  1245.  When  in 
1253  the  clergy  granted  to  the  king  a  tithe 
of  all  ecclesiastical  revenues,  Tynemouth  con- 
tributed by  paying  a  hundred  marks  to  Ale- 
brando  Alebrandini  and  Bernardo  Prosperini, 
the  king's  Siennese  creditors.  In  spite  of 
the  convent's  rising  commercial  prosperity,  of 
which  signs  are  to  be  found  in  the  growth 
of  North  Shields,  the  development  of  the 
fishing  industrv,  the  establishment  of  tan-yards 
at  Preston,  the  holding  of  markets  at  Tyne- 
mouth and  at  Bewick,  and,  not  least  important, 


Scale 
1  <t 


^ 


'  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  v.  p.  41  ;  cf.  vol.  vii.  of  this  work,  p.  61. 

'■'  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  v.  pp.  229,  528.     William  de  Wilence  held  the  neighbouring  castle  of  Horton, 
1257-1270.  I  Qg^i^  Ahbatum,  vol.  i.  pp.  346-350,  3S3. 


76 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


the  commencement  of  the  coal  trade,  the  monastery  fell  considerably  into 
debt.  Two  small  debts  to  the  Crown  of  a  hundred  shillings  and  five  marcs, 
incurred  in  1252  and  1257,  were  still  outstanding  at  the  close  of  Henry's 
reign.  The  tithe  of  their  revenue,  which  brought  in  £66  13s.  4d.  in  1253, 
amounted   only  to   /"41    8s.  3d.  in    1292.' 

A  collection  of  letters  which  has  been  preserved,  covering  the  years 
1 258-1 269,  throws  some  light  on  life  in  the  monastery  at  this  time.  They 
give  a  few  interestinsf  notices  of  the  turmoil  into  which  the  countrv  was 
thrown  by  the  Barons'  War.  Prior  Ralph  de  Dunham  wrote  to  his  abbot 
in  the  summer  of  1258,  'I  dare  not  in  these  days  send  you  any  money  in 
return  for  the  outlay  which  you  are  making  on  behalf  of  our  cell,  alike 
in  the  king's  court  and  before  the  legate,  for  I  fear  the  robberies  to  which 
travellers  are  daily  subjected.'  A  few  years  later  a  canon  of  He.xham 
wrote  to  the  cellarer  of  Tynemouth,  '  I  am  sending  you  Stephen  de  Len, 
who  is  an  honest  workman,  and,  as  I  have  heard,  is  skilled  in  plumbing 
and  in  laying  on  water.  Do  not  think  the  worse  of  him  for  his  shabby 
clothes.  He  has  two  or  three  times  lost  his  all  in  this  war,  which  is 
hardly  yet  over.'  But  on  the  whole  the  monks  were  concerned  more  with 
lesser  matters,  such  as  the  debt  incurred  by  one  of  their  number  to  the 
flockmaster   of   Newminster    abbey,    or   the    insertion    of  new  windows    in 


'  Pipe  Rolls,  Hodgson,  pt.  iii.  vol.  iii.  pp.  177,  208,  226,  243  ;  Patent  Rolls,  40  Henry  III.  m.  13  d. 

The  5/.  Albaii's  Register  (fol.  92)  contains  a  list  of  extraordinary  payments  made  by  Tyne- 
mouth during  the  abb.icy  of  John  de  Hertford  (1235-1260).  Unfortunately  this  page  of  the  register  is 
in  particularly  bad  condition,  some  five  or  six  entries  are  altogether  illegible.     The  remainder  are  : 

'.•\d  opus  domini  pape  pro  accione  Sancti  Albani  et  [ecclesie  Dunelmensis] 


de  cella  de  Tynemuth 

Dominus  abbas      

Item  eidem 

Pro  fine  forestc  de  Bewic  domino  reg 

Pro   obligatione    facta   in    curia    Romana   per   dominum    Herefordensem 

episcopum 
Item  domino  abbati  de  -Sancto  Albano  eodem  anno  de  domo 
Item  pro  villa  de  West  Chirton  in  puram  elemosynam  redigenda,  W'illelmo 

Herun,  4  niarce,  et  domino  Gilberto  Haunsard,  100  sol.,  et  pro  finali 

Concordia  facta  in  curia  domini  Regis  apud  Novum  Castrum  coram 

justiciariis  suis,  40  sol. 
Pro  amerciamentis  et  disseysine  de  Cressewell  domino  Regi 

[Item  domino]  abbati  et  conventui  de  .Sancto  Albano  ad  auxilium,  .\.n 

Item  domino  abbati  pro  quibusdam  aliis  .... 

Item  eidem,  de  dono,  .x.n.  1260  ... 

Item  conventui  de  Sancto  Albano  pro  Roberto  de  Bewic 

communis   venditionis   decimarum   suarum   de    Herteburn    et   de 

Egelingham  ...         ...         

Item  de  arrcragiis  ecclesiarum  de    Herteburn  et   [de  Egelingham]   pro 

morte  Ilugonis  Gaidum      ...         ...         


25  marce. 
10  marce. 
10''  et  duo  [•] 
20''. 

100  marce  et  20'  pro  lucro. 
10  marce. 


7  marce. 


10  niarce. 

44["]. 

....  marce  et  10  sol. 


(There  is  also  an  item  of  ^23  17s.  4Ad.  and  another  of  100  marcs  and  2od.) 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  77 

the  refectory.  The  letters  show  how  tliey  were  called  upon  to  give  pass- 
ports to  fishermen  travelling  with  loads  of  herrings  to  other  monasteries, 
or  requested  bv  Florentine  merchants  (to  whom  they  were  under  money 
obligations)  to  inform  them  whether  the  convent  was  in  need  of  any  further 
assistance,  how  they  were  thanked  for  hospitality  shown  to  kinsmen  of  their 
neighbours,  and  received  applications  from  tenants  to  be  allowed  to  purchase 
so  much  of  the  tithe  of  corn  as  the  priory  did  not  require  for  its  own  use. 
Proprietors,  whose  estates  marched  with  those  of  the  monastery,  asked  leave 
to  put  some  of  their  sheep  on  to  the  prior's  common,  and  to  have  passage 
allowed  for  so  many  wagon-loads  of  felled  timber.  Other  letters  relate 
to  the  appointment  of  attorneys  and  to  the  adjournment  of  suits  pending 
in  the  prior's  court.  The  mayor  and  burgesses  of  Newcastle  wrote  to  the 
prior  asking  him  to  give  shelter  and  protection  to  Thomas  de  Carliol,  a 
citizen  of  their  town,  who  '  had  thrashed  a  man  and  given  him  satisfaction, 
whereupon  they  were  made  friends,'  but  who  was,  for  all  that,  liable  to 
be  called  on  to  satisfy  the  king's  officers.  In  a  curious  letter  Abbot  Roger 
de  Norton  gave  his  directions  to  the  monk  who  had  been  appointed 
as  custodian  of  the  priorv  during  a  vacancy  :  '  I  wish  bv  all  means  to 
have  that  book  which  I  mentioned  to  you.  It  is  not  very  valuable, 
but  the  late  prior  very  courteously  gave  it  me  when  I  left  Tynemouth. 
I  want  that  mazar,  price  four  marks,  for  I  have  not  got  a  respectable  one 
at  present.  See  that  a  good  part  of  the  other  silver  cups,  mazars,  and 
spoons  remains  for  the  ne.xt  prior.  I  do  not  wish  to  be  thought  covetous. 
Do  not  let  your  good  will  for  me,  whom  vou  now  represent,  lead  you  into 
raising  a  scandal.'  The  prior  seems  to  have  had  a  large  stable  ;  frequent 
applications  were  made  to  him  for  the  loan  of  horses  for  the  York  assizes 
or  upon  other  urgent  business.  Even  the  sheritf  made  application  for  a 
carter  and  cart  horse  to  go  to  York. 

Historically  the  most  important  letter  in  this  collection  is  one  from 
this  same  sheriff,  John  de  Halton,  written  at  the  close  of  1265.  The 
battle  of  Evesham  had  been  fought.  John  de  Vesci  was  escaping  north- 
ward, bearing  with  him  the  severed  foot  of  his  slain  leader,  Simon  de 
Montfort.  The  sympathies  of  Tynemouth  are  not  likely  to  have  been  with 
the  winning  side.  Halton  wrote  a  strongly  worded  letter  to  the  prior, 
in  which  he  informs  him  that  he  had  learned  that  de  Vesci  would  that 
night  attempt  to  cross  the  Tvne  from  South  Shields.     He  threatened  him 


78 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


with  the  displeasure  of  the  king  and  of  Prince  Edward  should   he  fail  to 
guard  the  ferry.     But  John  de  Vesci  and  his  treasure  came  safe  to  Alnwick.' 

'  This  collection  is  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  Codices  Di'^hciaiuic,  >o,  fol.  I  lo  et  sii/.  It  is  entered 
in  the  catalogue  of  the  collection  as  belonging  to  St.  Neol's,  but  internal^  evidence  shows  that  the 
letters  relate  to  .St.  Alban's  and  its  cells.  Proper  names  have  been  for  the  most  part  omitted,  St. 
Alban's  is  given  as  '  .Sanctus  N,'  Tynemouth  as  '  N.'     A  selection  of  these  letters  is  here  printed. 

Kol.  124  b.  \'enerande  discrecionis  viro  ac  amico  confideutissinio  domino  R.  de  N.,  suus  J.  de 
Hawelton,  salutem  quam  sibi.  Dileccionem  vestram,  omni  precum  instancia,  rogo  et  requiro  quatinus, 
sicul  de  vobis  amoris  mei,  et  precibus,  niihi  de  uno  homine  qui  c|uandam  carettam  apud  Ewerwyk 
scit  deducere,  et  de  uno  equo  ad  carettam  ad  presens  succurrere  digno,  per  quod  vobis,  si  aliquo  tempore 
penes  me  habueritis  agendum,  forcius  merito  astringar. 

Ibul.  Dilecto  et  speciali  sibi  amico,  domino  R.  de  N.,  suus  J.  de  Ihnvellon,  salulem  quam  sibi, 
cum  dileccionc  scinccra.  Vos  tanquam  amicum  rogo  et  requiro,  ac  ex  parte  domini  Edwardi  mando, 
quatinus,  visis  literis,  sicut  danipnum  vcstrum  evitare  volueritis,  mihi  transmittatis  Rohcrtum  .Schipurit, 
inimicum  et  rebellem  domini  regis,  ac  excommunicatum,  c|ucni  infra  paccm  vestram  nuliatcnus  receptare 
debetis,  quern  servientes  mei  ipsum  infra  libertatem  vestram  persecuti  sunt.  \'alete.  Velle  vcstrum 
mihi  significctis. 

Ihni.  V'enerande  discrecionis  viro  et  amico  suo  in  Christo  karissimo,  domino  R.,  priori  de  T., 
Johannes  de  Ilaulton,  salutem  et  amorem.  Quia  a  viris  fide  dignis  datum  est  nobis  intelligi  quod 
dominus  J.  de  Wesci  hac  instanti  nocte  \ersus  partes  borcales  ad  passagiuni  veslrum  de  Tynem' 
transiturus  est,  vobis  tanquam  speciali  nostro,  ac  in  fide  qua  domino  regi  tenemini,  necnon  sicuti  vos 
ac  omnia  bona  vestra  diligilis,  et  indignacioncm  domini  regis  et  domini  Edwardi,  primogeniti  filii  sui, 
vitare  nolueritis,  passagiuni  predictum  cum  omni  posse  vesiro  custodiatis  ;  ita  i|Uod  dictus  Johannes  pro 
defectu  custodie  minimc  transire  valeat,  per  quod  ad  vos  et  domum  vestram  dominus  noster  rex  et 
Eadwardus  primogenitus  graviter  capere  debeant  pro  vestro  defectu,  quia  comodum  vestrum  ac 
honorem  tanquam  meum  proprium  affecco.  Ideo  hoc  mandatuni  speciale  vobis  transmitto.  Placitum 
vestrum  n\ihi  vestro  significare  velitis  per  portitorem  presencium.     Valete. 

Fol.  125.  Reverendo  patri  et  in  Christo  karissimo  domino  R.  c.  de  N.,  suus  in  omnibus  frater 
Gilbertus  de  Hirlawe,  ciistos  ct  magister  averiorum  Novi  Monasterii,  salutem  et  quicquid  potest  honoris 
et  obsequii.  Si  dicere  audeo,  mirum  est  valde  quod  apud  vestram  paternitatem  invenio.  Nee  est 
etiam  novum  quod  antca  non  solebani.  Dominus  quippe  Elyas,  monachus  vester,  mutuo  acceptas  a 
me  duas  libras  argenti,  quod  credo  vos  non  latere,  quas  ad  diem  Ascensionis  dominice  proximo  preterite 
mihi,  sicut  fidclis  monachus  erat,  debuit,  omni  occasione  remota,  pleniter  persolvisse,  quod  necdum  fecit. 
Ego  autem  mutuo  accepi  tantam  pecuniam  ad  officium  vestiarii  domus  nostre,  ad  quod  domum 
argentuip  pertinebat.  Et  nunc  cotidie  cxigimt  a  me  debitum  suum  creditores,  et  graviter  me  niolestant. 
Quare  vobis,  tanquam  jiatri  karissimo,  devotissime  supplico  quatinus,  si  predictum  argentum  ad  opus 
vestrum  sumptum  fuit,  faciatis  illud  sine  dilacione  mihi  persolvi.  Sin  autem  in  alios  usus  per  doniinum 
E[lyani]  predictum  expensum  est,  faciatis  mihi  justiciam  de  eo,  nc  forte  compellar  vos  gravarc, 
quod  utique  invitus  facerem  sine  causa,  reniittentes,  si  placet,  mihi  dictos  denarios  ))er  latorem 
presencium.  Expecto  ergo  reditum  suum  domi.  \'alete.  \'erumptamen  de  hiis  que  ad  officium  meum 
quod  nunc  habeo  pertinet,  ct  eciam  que  ad  officium  vestiarii  pertinent,  pro  vobis  facere  volo  et  possum 
libentius  quam  .alicui  prelato  in  hac  provincia.  Mandetis  ergo  miclii  in  omnibus  tanquam  vestro 
confidenter,  si  quid  prosum,  t|uod  vobis  placet.     Iterum  valete. 

Fol.  125  b.  Viro  religioso  et  amico  in  Christo  karissimo,  domino  R.  de  Acra,  celerario  de  '1'.,  frater 
W.  de  Miteford,  canonicus  de  Hextild',  cternam  in  Domino  salutem.  Mittimus  ad  vos  Stephanum  de 
Len,  fidelem  operarium  et,  ut  a  viris  fide  dignis  didicimus,  que  ad  plumbum  et  que  ad  conducciones 
aquarum  pertinent  sufficienter  instructum,  quod  si  aliter  est,  cito  experimento  scire  poteritis  ;  non 
contempnentes,  si  placet,  vilitatem  habitus,  presertiin  cum  omnia  bona  sua  occasione  guerre  nondum 
penitus  sopite  bis  vel  ter  perdiderit.  Valete.  Salutetis,  si  placet,  dominos  socios  nostros,  R.  de  O.  et  \V. 
de  T.,  et  omnes  tarn  notos  quam  ignotos,  quos  Dominus  noster  in  vera  caritate  semper  conserve!. 
Iterum  valete. 

Fol.  126.  Domino  R.  de  Acras,  c.  de  T.,  frater  J.  de  N.,  salutem,  cum  sincere  caritatis  affectu. 
Quuni  J.  vitrearius  jam  venit  apud  T.  ad  faciendas  fenestras  in  refectorio,  et  nullum  opus  potest  facere 
antequam  habeat  v  bordas  ad  operas  predictas  componendas,  quocirca  vobis  supplico  quatinus  mihi  de 
quinque  bordis  pro  i)recio  si  jjiacct  succursum  faciatis.  Ego  vero  de  precio  earuni  ad  voluntatem 
vestram  satisfaciam.  Item  velle  vestrum  de  navi  de  Wodcorn  mihi  significantes  que  modo  est  attachiata 
apud  le  Pull,  tiuum  fere  naute  predicte  navis  cum  ca  clam  recessissent  a  nobis,  unde  velle  vestrum  super 
hoc  mihi  rcmandare  non  difTcratis.     Valete. 

Ibitl.  Venerabili  et  religioso  viro  domino  R.  de  N.,  c.  de  T.,  Reynerus  Albanis  civis  et  mercator 
Florentinus,   salutem   ct   paratam    ad   ejus    beneplacita    voluntatem.       Cum    propter   quedam    negocia 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  79 

When  Abbot  Roger  de  Norton  came  on  a  visitation  to  Tynemoiith  in 
1264,  the  men  of  Newcastle  received  him  'with  great  and  infinite  honours.'* 
This  friendlv  state  of  things  did  not  last  long,  for  four  or  five  years  had 
liardlv  gone  by  before  Nicholas  Scot,  mayor  of  Newcastle,  at  the  head 
of  over  a  hundred  armed  citizens,  named  by  the  monks  'satellites  of  Satan,' 
attacked  the  new  town  of  North  Shields,  burned  the  mills,  set  fire  to  the 
houses,  beat  the  monks,  carried  off  a  shipload  of  coals  to  Newcastle,  and 
inflicted  loss  on  the  priory  to  the  e.xtent  of  three  hundred  pounds.-  It 
was  the  beginning  of  a  lasting  enmity  between  monastery  and  town.  In 
April,  1290,  the  first  contest  commenced  over  their  conflicting  liberties. 
The  case  was  heard  before  parliament,  where  the  king  and  the  men  of 
Newcastle  joined  in  calling  in  question  the  rights  of  Tynemouth  to  load 
and  unload  vessels  and  to  buy  and  sell  at  Tynemouth  and  Shields,  within 
the  king's  port  of  Tvne,  without  obtaining  licence  from  the  Crown  ;  they 
also  brought  up  against  the  monks  the  charge  that  they  baked  bread  at 
Tvnemouth  in  public  bakehouses,  which  was  then  sold  to  the  sailors  who 
put  in  at  Shields  ;  that  they  took  wreck  of  the  sea  within  the  port  ;  that 
they  held  a  market  at  Tynemouth,  and  that  the  wharfs  of  Shields  encroached 
upon  the  soil  of  the  river.  In  all  this  they  were  stated  to  have  acted  to 
the  detriment  of  the  Crown  and  of  Newcastle.  The  action  was  heard, 
and  a  commission  was  appointed  to  certify  as  to  the  truth  of  the  charges. 
An  accidental  delay  led  to  the  report  of  the  commission  not  being 
made  before  August  of  the  next  vear.  It  was  altogether  favourable  to 
the  claims  of  the  Crown.  Judgment  was  accordingly  delivered  against 
the  priory  upon  everv  vital   point  (Julv    15th,    1292).' 

expcdienda  Willelmum  nuncium  nieum,  latorem  presencium,  in  Scocia  transmittam,  vos  tanquam 
doininum  meuni  ct  aniicum  rogo  quatinus  statuni  vestruni  et  siquid  penes  me  volueritis  cum  per  vos 
reversus  fuerit  idem  nuncius  per  eundem  mihi  significare  velitis.     V'alete  bene  et  diu. 

Fol.  126  b.  \'enerande  religionis  viro  domino  R.  de  .-X.  custodi  de  T.,  R.  de  Mideltun  clericus, 
s.ilutem  et  dileccionem  sinceiam.  Vobis  attcncius  supplico  quatinus  unum  sarum  palefridum  meum  qui 
aliqiianlulum  intirmatur  in  domo  vestra  dc  T.  ad  modicum  tcmpus  perhendinare  velitis,  saltem  quousque 
convaluit,  quod  erit  in  brcvi.  Deo  dante,  vel  status  suus  melius  mitlctur.  \'eniam  quidem  in  brevi  apud 
T.,  Domino  concedcnte,  vobiscum  super  pluribus  colloquium  habiturus.     liene  valete. 

Fol.  127.  Omnibus  Cliristi  fidelibus  piesens  scriptum  visuris  vel  audituris  frater  R.  de  A.,  custos 
de  Tynem',  salutem  in  domino  seinpiternam.  Universitatem  vestram  dignum  duximus  exorandam 
quatinus,  cum  J.  de  B.,  lator  ijrcsencium,  per  vos  transitum  fccerit  rum  x  lastis  alletum  ad  opus  domini 
N.  de  C.  et  ejusdcm  loci  conventus,  salvum  eidcm  si  placet  conductum  probeatis  et  licenciam  per  vos 
transeundi  habere  una  cum  allece  libere  et  tiuiete  in  pace  permittatis.  In  liujus  rei  testimonium  sigillum 
nostrum  apposuimus.     Datum  apud  Tynem'  die  veneris  proximo  ante  Epipbaniam.  anno  d.  M  ■CC"I.X"VIII. 

'  Magnos  atque  intinitos  honores  eidcm  impendentes.     SI.  Alhaii's  AV^isdr,  fols.  63  and  1 12. 
'  Northumberland  Assize  Rolls,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  88,  p.  163. 

'  Rotiili  Parlittmeiititrii,  vol.  i.  pp.  26,  and  Brand,  Hislnry  of  Xt-ur<istU;  vol.  ii.  pp.  557-5^^S.  .\  fuller 
account  of  this  lawsuit  will  be  gi\'en  under  Tynemouth  and  North  Shields. 


8o  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

While  this  case  was  still  proceeding,' a  quarrel  arose  between  the  prior 
and  his  tenant,  the  lord  of  Whitley.  The  latter  was  thrown  into  prison  at 
Tvneniouth  and  kept  there  for  several  months.  Pfe  laid  his  case  before 
the  king,  with  the  result  that  two  justices  of  oyer  and  terminer  were 
appointed,  who  commenced  to  investigate  the  circumstances  at  Newcastle 
on  April  27th,  1291.  They  found  that  a  serious  miscarriage  of  justice  had 
occurred,  and  that  the  case  involved  a  decision  upon  the  claims  of  the  prior 
of  Tynemouth  to  a  franchise.  Though  the  right  of  Tynemouth  to  a  private 
jurisdiction  had  been  undisputed  for  half  a  century  or  more,  the  extent  of 
its  right  and  the  basis  of  its  claim  were  extremely  doubtful.  Accordingly, 
the  proceedings  were  reserved  for  parliament,  then  about  to  commence 
its  session  at  Norham.  There  the  pleas  were  reopened  on  May  13th. 
Sentence  was  given  upon  June  24th.  The  prior  was  found  to  have  exceeded 
his  rights.  His  liberty  was  therefore  taken  into  the  king's  hands  as  for- 
feited, and  annexed  to  the  Crown.' 

With  the  loss  of  its  commercial  and  judicial  privileges,  ruin  seemed 
to  threaten  the  monastery.  Pope  Nicholas's  grant  to  the  Crown  of  a  tithe 
of  all  ecclesiastical  revenues  served  to  increase  their  financial  extremity. 
A  detailed  assessment  drawn  up  bv  the  obedientiaries  and  ministers  of 
the  priory  upon  March  26th,  1292,  shows  that  the  yearly  revenue  which 
they  derived  at  this  time  from  their  temporal  possessions  amounted  to 
_;^i8o   i6s.  6fd.  ;    the  spiritualities  brought  in  ;^2i4  2s.   iid.'^ 

The  settlement  of  the  Scotch  succession  was  at  this  time  occupying 
King  Edward's  attention.  After  declaring  in  favour  of  John  Balliol  at 
Berwick,  he  came  south,  reaching  Tynemouth  from  Horton  on  December 
22nd,  1292,  where  he  remained  a  couple  of  days  as  guest  of  the  prior, 
and  rode  on  to  Newcastle  on  Christmas  Eve  to  receive  Balliol's  homage.' 

Simon  de  Walden,  prior  of  Tynemouth,  appears  to  have  found  oppor- 
tunity in  the  previous  summer  for  laying  proposals  before  the  king.     The 

'  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  xci.  See  also  the  account  of  the  liberty  of  Tynemouth  in  this  volume. 
The  St.  Alhciii's  Register,  fol.  153  b,  and  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  ii.  p.  18,  give  details  of  the  itinerary  of  John 
de  Berkhamstead,  newly  elected  abbot  of  .St.  Alban's.  He  was  absent  from  England  at  Rome  in  the 
early  months  of  1291,  where  he  obtained  papal  confirmation  of  his  election,  reached  England  at  the 
beginning  of  May  and  arrived  at  Norham  at  the  end  of  the  same  month,  having  visited  his  cell  of 
Hertford  on  his  way  north.  At  Norham  he  presented  the  papal  letter  of  confirmation  to  the  king,  which 
done  he  returned  south  by  way  of  Tynemouth,  holding  courts  there  upon  the  Sth  and  nth  of  June.  He 
reached  St.  Alban's  upon  the  22nd  of  the  same  month. 

•  Printed  from  the  Tynemouth  Chartnhiry  in  Brand,  vol.  ii.  pp.  591-594,  and  Dugdale,  Monasticon, 
vol.  iii.  pp.  315-317. 

'  Household  Roll  of  Edward  I.,  given  in  Documents  illustrative  0/  the  History  of  Scotland,  ed, 
Stevenson,  vol.  i.  p.  372. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  8 1 

royal  claim  to  the  advowson  of  the  priory  had  been  intermittently  asserted 
and  never  definitely  waived.  A  party  existed  at  Tynemouth  which  preferred 
that  the  king,  rather  than  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  should  be  their  patron. 
Only  in  this  way  could  they  hope  to  obtain  satisfaction  for  such  grievances 
as  they  might  have  against  their  abbot.  As  matters  then  stood  they  could 
not  expect  to  make  good  their  complaints  against  a  superior  who  could  at 
pleasure  depose  an  intractable  prior,  and  remove  the  monks  to  other  cells. 
Prior  Walden  had  an  ally  in  his  cellarer,  John  de  Trokelowe.  At  least 
five  other  monks  threw  themselves  in  on  the  side  of  their  prior  against 
the  abbot.  Edward  naturally  heard  them  willingly.  Upon  November  30th 
he  issued  a  writ,  calling  upon  the  abbot  to  surrender  the  said  advowson, 
or  else  to  prove  his  case  at  the  ne.xt  assize. 

The  abbot,  John  de  Berkhamstead,  had  probably  already  become 
acquainted  with  the  plot  made  against  him.  A  search  through  the  muni- 
ments of  Tynemouth  and  St.  Alban's  showed  him  that  he  had  no  good 
case.  Mowbrav  had  definitelv  made  over  the  advowson  to  St.  Alban's, 
but  that  earl's  subsequent  forfeiture  could  be  regarded  as  invalidating  the 
grant.  Accordingly  he  hastened  to  Scotland,  and  there  threw  himself  on 
the  king's  mercy.  The  case  was  nevertheless  opened  at  Newcastle  on 
January  14th.  The  Crown  officers  cited  the  election  of  Prior  Akarius  in 
Henry  II. 's  reign,  and  produced  Henry  I.'s  writ  of  1122.  Berkhamstead, 
who  appeared  in  person,  pleaded  long  undisturbed  possession.  Further 
proceedings  were  reserved  for  the  next  meeting  of  parliament  after  Easter. 
A  select  number  of  charters  bearing  on  the  case  were  sealed  up  and 
despatched  to  London.  Orders  were  given  to  the  abbot  not  to  molest  the 
monks  who  appeared  to  give  evidence  on  the  side  of  the  Crown.'  But 
the  king  was  content  with  having  proceeded  so  far.  Upon  May  2nd,  1293, 
and  before  a  further  hearing  was  reached,  he  released  to  the  abbot  and 
his  successors  all  claims  to  the  advowson." 

The  position  of  St.  Alban's  with  regard  to  Tynemouth  was  now  for 
the  first  time  firmlv  secured.  In  a  letter  to  Berkhamstead  a  monk  of  St. 
Oswin  pointed  out  the  consequences  of  the  royal  grant.  After  showing 
that  the  claims  of  Tynemouth  to  rights  in  the  Tyne  went  back  to  the  days 
of  the  Northumbrian  earldom,  while  those  of  Newcastle  rested  upon  a 
charter  granted  by  King  John,  he  continued  : — 

'  Placita  de  quo  warranto.  Record  Commission,  p.  585. 
'  Patent  Rolls,  21  Edw.  I.  111.  19.     UuKdale,  vol.  iii.  p.  317. 

Vol.  VIII.  II 


82  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

'  I  write  to  let  your  reverence  know  that  if  the  above  considerations  had  been  urged  by  tlie  prior's 
party  in  the  course  of  the  lawsuit  between  the  prior  and  the  burgesses  of  Newcastle,  they  would  certainly 
have  been  of  weight.  But  then  no  one  of  the  prior's  party  dared  mention  the  earl  and  his  grants, 
because  the  royalists  were  threatening  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  with  a  claim  to  the  advowson  of  Tyne- 
mouth  priory.  Should  the  action  ever  be  started  anew,  I  think  that,  with  God's  help,  things  will  go 
better  for  Tynemoulh,  for  now  everyone  can  speak  freely  of  the  earl  and  his  grants,  since  the  king  has 
wholly  resigned  to  the  church  of  St.  Alban's,  for  himself  and  his  heirs,  all  claim  to  the  advowson.' ' 

Prior  Walden  must  have  thought  that  he  had  got  well  through  the 
struggle  with  his  abbot.  The  latter  was  at  Tynemouth  on  September  25th, 
1294,  holding  a  court,  and  everything  seemed  quiet.  Walden  was  thrown 
off  his  guard.  A  few  months  later,  probably  in  April,  Abbot  Berkhamstead 
made  a  secret  journey  to  Newcastle.  There  he  saw  the  mayor  and  arranged 
with  him  to  conduct  him  to  Tynemouth  with  an  armed  following.  Henry 
Scot,  a  leading  Newcastle  burgess  and  a  friend  of  the  prior,  was  bribed  to 
take  part  by  a  promise  of  lands  in  Elsvvick.  The  whole  party  came  silently 
one  night  up  to  the  gate  of  the  priory.  Scot  went  forward  and  knocked. 
The  porter  opened  the  gate,  whereupon  the  band  rushed  in,  overpowered 
the  porter,  and  seized  the  keys.  They  made  their  way  to  the  prior's 
lodging  and  hammered  at  the  door.  It  was  past  midnight  ;  Walden  had 
returned  from  attending  matins  ;  he  had  doffed  his  cowl,  and,  wrapping 
himself  in  a  sheepskin,  had  lain  down  to  sleep.  The  sound  of  knocking 
aroused  him.  He  asked  who  was  at  the  door.  '  Your  abbot,'  was  the 
reply  ;  to  which  he  made  answer,  '  Nay,  what  should  the  abbot  be  doing 
here  at  this  hour?'  At  that  moment  the  door  was  burst  open.  The 
soldiers  rushed  in,  and,  at  the  abbot's  bidding,  seized  the  prior,  who  was 
sent  a  few  days  later  by  sea  to  St.  Alban's,  and  a  new  prior  was  appointed 
in  his  place.  John  de  Trokelowe  and  his  other  accomplices  had  before 
this  been  carried,  fettered  and  chained,  to  the  same  monastery.' 

The  greatest  of  all  Edward  I.'s  exactions  from  the  clergy  was  the 
demand    for  one   half  of  the   whole   of  their  revenue    (September,    1294). 

'  St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  150,  printed  in  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  .xcii. 

•  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  ii.  pp.  19-23.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  prior's  name  is  there  given  as  Adam 
de  Tewing.  But  Prior  Walden,  who  was  elected  to  his  office  in  1280,  was  still  prior  on  September  25th, 
1294  (St.  Alban's  Reghtei;  fol.  154  b).  The  name  of  .A.dam  de  Tewing  first  appears  on  .-^pril  30th,  1295 
(ibid.).  Tewing  was  still  prior  in  1300  {Assi:e  Roll,  P.R.O.,  No.  638),  long  after  this  supposed  removal, 
which  is  said  to  have  taken  place  in  the  fifth  year  of  John  de  Berkhamstead  (Dec.  1294  to  Dec.  1295). 
Taking  into  consideration  the  fact  shown  by  the  Assize  Roll  of  21  Edw.  I.  that  Walden  was  prior 
when  the  action  for  the  advowson  was  being  carried  on,  there  seems  no  doubt  that  the  author  of  the 
Gestd  Abbatum  has  recorded  the  name  of  the  wrong  prior.  One  may  observe  that  John  de  Trokelowe, 
who  was  cellarer  in  January,  1293,  no  longer  filled  that  office  in  September,  1294.  His  removal  was 
therefore  probably  antecedent  to  tliat  of  his  prior. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  83 

Tynemouth  contributed  /  204  9s.  lod/  A  general  tallage-roll  of  1294,  a 
survey  of  lands  held  in  demesne  and  in  villeinage,  taken  at  Christinas, 
1295,  and  a  custuinal  of  about  the  same  time,  alike  attest  to  the  necessity 
for  strict  economy  which  this  financial  pressure  must  have  caused,  and 
add  to  our  knowledge  of  the  state  of  the  priory  lands  at  this  period.' 

The  destruction  of  Hexham  priory  by  the  Scots  in  April,  1296,  must 
have  warned  the  monks  of  Tynemouth  that  the  time  had  come  to  put  their 
monastery  into  a  state  of  defence.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  they  obtained 
licence  from  the  king  to  fortify  the  priory  with  a  wall  of  stone  and  lime, 
and  to  crenellate  it.^  They  appear  to  have  commenced  work  at  once  upon 
their  new  fortress,^  and  it  was  well  that  they  did  so,  for  in  November,  1 297, 
a  Scottish  army,  led  by  William  Wallace,  again  invaded  Northumberland. 
Marching  down  the  Tyne  from  Hexham,  the  Scots  laid  waste  the  village 
of  Wylam,  a  possession  of  the  priory,^  and  advanced  upon  Newcastle.  The 
inhabitants  of  Tynemouthshire,  alarmed  at  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
carried  their  valuables  to  the  monastery.  But  the  Scots,  upon  this  occasion, 
did  not  dare  to  attack.* 

Edward  I.  stayed  a  second  time  at  Tynemouth  from  December 
1st  to  4th,  1298.'  A  little  later  he  restored  to  the  monks  their 
forfeited  franchise  (February  20th,  1299).'  He  was  again  at  Tynemouth 
on  December  8th,  1299.  Upon  a  fourth  visit  (June  21st  to  26th,  1301), 
he  was  met  by  Anthony  Bek,  bishop  of  Durham.  That  bishop  was  then 
engaged  in  a  dispute  with  the  prior  of  Durham,  which  Edward  heard  in 
the  chapter  house  upon  the  day  of  his  arrival."     Two  years  later  the  young 

'  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  ii.  p.  71. 

^  The  rental  is  given  in  the  St.  Alban's  Register,  fols.  109-111,  and  the  mensuration  and  custumal  in 
the  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  4-10  and  36-44.  Both  may  be  supplemented,  as  evidences  for  the 
economic  position  of  Tynemouthshire,  by  the  Subsidy  Roll  of  1296. 

'  Pro  priore  ct  conventu  de  Tynemuth.  Re.\  omnibus,  etc.,  salutem.  Sciatis  quod  concessimus  pro 
nobis  et  heredibus  nostris  dilectis  nobis  in  Christo  priori  et  convenlui  de  Tynemuth  quod  ipsi  prioratum 
suum  predictum  muro  de  petra  et  calce  firmarc  et  kernellare,  et  ilium  sic  tirmatuni  et  kcmcUatum  icnere 
possint  sibi  et  successoribus  suis  sine  occasione  vel  impedimento  nostri  vel  heredum  noslrorum  justiciar- 
orum  aut  aliorum  ballivorum  seu  ministrorum  nostrorum  quorunicumque.  In  cujus,  etc.  T.  R.  apud 
Berewyk  super  Twedam,  5  die  Sept.  [1296].  Pat.  Rolls,  24  Edw.  1.  m.  8.  Duke  of  Northumberland's 
transcripts. 

'  Upon  February  2nd,  1296- 1297,  John  de  Greystoke  and  Robert  de  Somervill  granted  to  the  prior 
and  convent  of  Tynemouth  a  wayleave  over  lienton  moor,  presumably  for  the  carting  of  building  material 
to  the  castle.     Newmiiister  Chartulary,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  66,  p.  2S3. 

*  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  28.  "  Rishanger,  Gesta  Eiluardi  I.  Rolls  Series,  p.  4'4- 

'  Rishanger,  Chronica,  Rolls  Series,  p.  188. 

"  Charter  Rolls,  27  Edw.  I.  No.  31  ;  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  ci.  '  Coram  Rege  Rolls,  No.  165. 


84  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

queen,  Margaret,  stayed  for  some  months  (June  to  October,  1303)  at  the 
monastery.'  Her  royal  husband  did  not  forget,  in  the  press  of  a  Scottish 
campaign,  to  order  a  consignment  of  pike,  bream  and  eels  to  be  sent 
thither  to  her  from  the  fishponds  of  the  Fosse  at  York.'  The  men  of 
Tynemouth  were  less  hospitable,  for  some  of  them  set  upon  her  trumpeter, 
and  robbed  him  of  his  silver  and  gilt  trumpets.'  Upon  leaving  Tynemouth, 
Queen  Margaret  joined  the  king  in  Scotland,  and  returned  south  with  him 
ne.\t  year.  Their  hosts,  the  monks,  took  advantage  of  this  last  .stay 
(September  8th  to  i8th,  1304)  to  obtain  the  queen's  mediation  with  Edward 
for  the  restoration  of  Tynemouth  market,  which  was  granted  to  them  ; ''  so 
their  position  was  now  nearly  as  secure  as  it  liad  been  before  their  unfor- 
tunate lawsuits  of  the  last  decade. 

Edward  II.  also  once  visited  Tynemouth.  He  had  come  to  Newcastle 
with  his  favourite.  Piers  Gaveston,  recalled  for  the  last  time  from  the 
banishment  to  which  the  baronial  party  had  consigned  him.  Oueen  Isabella 
accompanied  them,  but  left  Newcastle  to  go  to  Tynemouth.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  Ascension  Day  (May  4th,  1312),  news  came  that  Thomas,  earl  of 
Lancaster,  Henry  de  Percy  and  Robert  de  Clifford  were  marching  upon 
Newcastle  with  a  large  armed  following.  In  hot  haste  the  great  seal  was 
sent  off.  The  king  and  Gaveston  retreated  to  Tvnemouth,  just  in  time  to 
escape  capture,  for  the  barons  rode  into  Newcastle  the  same  afternoon. 
Next  day,  in  spite  of  the  high  seas,  and  in  spite  of  the  supplications  of 
his  wife,  who  was  shortly  to  give  birth  to  a  child,  Edward  set  sail  with 
Gaveston  for  Scarborough.  The  earl  of  Lancaster  followed,  and  forced 
Gaveston  to  capitulate  on  the  19th  of  the  month.  The  subsequent  e.xecution 
of  the  unlucky  favourite  is  a  well-known  tale.  It  was  afterwards  made  a 
charge  against  Hugh  Despenser  the  younger,  who  was  at  Tynemouth  upon 
this  occasion,  that  he  had  counselled  Edward  to  leave  his  queen  in  great 
bodily  peril  when  the  county  was  full  of  invaders.^  Queen  Isabella  was 
again  at  Tynemouth  in  1322,  at  which  time  a  bastard  child  of  the  king, 
named  Adam,  was  buried  there. ° 

'  Ciil.  Doc.  Rcl.  Scot.  ed.  Bain,  vol.  ii.  pp.  1376,  139S.  -  Close  Rolls,  ^i  Edw.  I.  m.  3. 

'  Coram  Regc  Rolls,  No.  186.  '  Charter  Rolls,  32  Edw.  I.  No.  14  ;  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendi.x,  ciii. 

"John  de  Trokelowe,  Aniiales,  Rolls  .Series,  p.  75.  Gesta  Edwardi  dc  Carnarvon,  Rolls  Series; 
Chronicles,  Edsuird  I.  and  Edward  II.  vol.  ii.  p.  88.  Rymer,  Foedera,  Record  Commission,  vol.  ii.  p.  169. 
Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  cix  and  cxi. 

"  Wardrobe  account  of  Edward  Ii.  cited  by  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  92. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  85 

A  few  vears  later  the  Ion?  struggle  between  St.  Alban's  and  the  Grev- 
stokes  over  the  possession  of  the  advowson  of  Conescliffe  came  to  an  end. 
Though  the  abbey  had  obtained  a  formal  recognition  of  its  claims  in  1275, 
it  had  never  gained  peaceable  possession.  Hugh  de  Eversdon,  abbot  of 
St.  Alban's,  now  induced  Ralph  fitz  William,  lord  of  Greystoke,  to  quit- 
claim all  right  to  the  advowson  in  exchange  for  the  surrender  of  Thorpe 
Basset  in  Yorkshire.  Eversdon  also  conceded  to  Greystoke  and  his  heirs 
the  right  to  have  one  secular  chaplain  in  Tynemouth  who  should  pray  for 
the  souls  of  Ralph  de  Greystoke,  John  de  Greystoke  his  kinsman,  and 
for  the  souls  of  their  ancestors  and  of  all  faithful  departed.  The  prior 
and  convent  bound  themselves,  March  26th,  1315,  to  appoint  and  make 
provision  for  the  said  chaplain  and  his  successors.' 

With  the  inroads  made  into  Northumberland  by  Robert  Bruce  and 
the  increasing  turbulence  and  restiveness  of  Northumbrian  landowners,  the 
county  was  in  a  very  unsettled  state.  In  November,  1313,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  issue  letters  of  protection  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth.'  The 
English  defeat  at  Bannockburn,  ne.xt  June,  made  matters  worse,  followed 
as  it  was  by  renewed  activity  on  the  part  of  the  Scottish  invaders.  New 
letters  of  protection  were  obtained,  which  forbade  the  carrying  off  of  the 
prior's  corn  or  hay  or  farm  stock — good  evidence  that  the  prohibited  oflfence 
had  been  committed.^ 

The  four  following  years  (13 14- 13 18)  were  probably  the  most  disturbed 
in  the  whole  history  of  the  priory.  Upon  the  office  of  prior  falling  vacant, 
the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  gave  that  onerous  position  to  a  man  who  in 
every  way  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him.  '  Richard 
de  Tewing  well  and  nobly  ruled  the  cell  with  a  strong  hand  in  a  time 
of  great  distress,   when  for  four  years  on   end  no  serf  dared  plough    and 

'  Gisia  Ablhituin,  vol.  ii.  pp.  1 15-117.  Xeu'iiiiiistcr  ChartuUxry,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  66,  pp.  290-291.  The 
names  of  the  followins,'  chaplains  of  the  chantry  .are  recorded  ;  Thom.as  de  Bulmer  '  ante  priniam 
pestilenciam,'  Gilbert  Wilkynson  of  Tynemouth  (living  1363-1391),  Robert  de  .\mble,  John  de  Walsing- 
ham,  and  John  de  Whalton.     Ibid. 

■  Cal.  Put.  Rolls,  1313-1317,  p.  42. 

'  De  Protectione.  Rex  omnibus  ballivis  et  fidelibus  suis  ad  quos,  etc.,  salutem.  Indempnitati 
dilectorum  nobis  in  Christo  prioris  et  conventus  de  Tyncmuth,  quorum  bona  et  catalla  per  hostiles 
aggressus  Scotorum  inimicorum  et  rebellium  nostrorum  in  comitatu  Northumbric  quam  plurimum 
devastantur,  prospicere  volentes,  suscepimus  in  proteccionem  ct  defensionem  nostram  ipsos  prioiem 
et  conventum,  homines,  terras,  res,  redditus,  et  omnes  posscssiones  suas.  Et  ideo  vobis  mandamus 
quod  ipsos  priorem  ct  conventum,  etc.  Volumus  eciam  quod  de  bladis,  fenis,  victualibus,  carcagiis,  vel 
aliis  bonis  seu  catallis  dictorum  prioris  et  conventus  .ad  opus  nostrum  seu  aliorum  quorumcumque  contra 
voluntatem  ipsorum  prioris  et  conventus  quicquam  nullatenus  capiatur.  In  cujus,  etc.  Per  unum  annum 
dur.  T.  R.  apud  Eboracum  .\v  die  Sept.  [1314].  Pal-  Rolls,  8  Edw.  II.  p.  1,  m.  25.  Duke  of  Northum- 
berland's transcripts. 


86  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

no  sower  dared  sow  for  fear  of  the  enemy.  Yet  none  the  less  did  he 
keep  the  place,  and  not  only  by  his  industry  did  he  honourably  maintain 
the  monks,  but  during  that  time  he  kept  within  the  priory  eighty  armed 
men  to  guard  the  place,  not  without  great  expense.' '  Prior  Tewing  has 
earned  the  gratitude  of  the  historian  by  having  left  a  chartulary  and  a 
fragmentary  register  of  his  priorate.^ 

The  Scots  poured  over  the  border  in  1315.  Carlisle,  Newcastle, 
Tynemouth  priory  and  the  Northumbrian  castles  were  the  only  places  in 
which  safety  could  be  found,  and  even  their  defence  was  difficult  and 
costly.'  Marauding  bands  of  English  too  roamed  over  the  country.  They 
were  known  as  '  shavaldores '  and  their  mode  of  warfare  as  '  shavaldry.'  ^ 
Chief  among  these  robbers  were  Gilbert  de  Middelton  and  Walter  de 
Selby,  whose  eventful  histories  will  be  related  later.  John  the  Irishman — 
an  old  soldier  of  Bamburgh  garrison,  who  kidnapped  the  Lady  Cliflbrd — 
was  another  noted  shavaldore.  The  Tynemouth  Chartulary  gives  two 
letters  relating  to  him,  written  to  the  bailiffs  of  Tynemouth  by  Adam  de 
Swynburn,  the  sheriff,  who  afterwards  turned  rebel  himself ;  in  one  of 
which   the   arrest   of  John   the    Irishman  and  his  band  is  ordered  ;    in  the 

'  Cottonian  MSS.  Nero  D  vii.  fol.  51  b,  cited  by  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  p.  36. 

•■  They  form  the  nucleus  of  the  so-called  Tynemouth  Clnirtiilayy,  a  small  octavo  volume  of  218  leaves 
in  the  possession  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland.  The  chartulary  of  Richard  de  Tewinjj  is  a  good 
specimen  of  medieval  penmanship  and  is  illuminated  ;  a  facsimile  of  one  of  the  charters  is  given  in 
Gibson,  vol.  i.  to  face  p.  140.  It  extends  from  fol.  77  to  fol.  104  of  the  volume,  and  is  headed, 
'  Conscripta  diversarum  eartarum  et  diversorum  scriptorum  de  tempore  fratris  Ricardi  de  Tewing, 
quondam  prioris.'  Later  hands  have  continued  it  (unilluminated)  to  1352  and  thence  to  13S1  (fols. 
105-11S).  The  Register  extends  from  1328  to  1340  (fols.  159-176),  and  documents  relating  to  the  earlier 
part  of  Tewing's  priorate  arc  given  in  other  parts  of  the  codex. 

'  John  de  Trokelowe,  Annates,  Rolls  Series,  p.  91. 

'  There  are  several  authorities  for  the  use  of  the  name  '  shavaldores '  as  applied  to  marauders  at  this 
period.  (l)  Trokelowe,  Annates,  p.  99,  in  an  account  of  the  capture  of  Lewis  de  Beaumont  in  1317 — 
'  Quidam  fatui  de  Northumbria,  qui  dicebantur  savalJores  (quorum  duces  fuerunt  Gilbertus  de  .Midiltone 
miles  et  Walterus  de  Selby),  cum  magna  multitudine  fatuorum,  de  quadam  valle  ex  inopinato  prorum- 
pentes,  irruebant  in  eos.'  (2)  Sir  Thomas  Grey,  Scataclironica,  Maitland  Club  Publications,  p.  147 — 
'Johan  le  Irroys  ravist  la  dame  de  Clifilorde.  Les  niaufesurs  estoint  appellez  st/iid'n/rfoins.'  (3)  Robert 
de  Graystanes,  Ties  Scriptores,  p.  94 — '  Quidam  enim  qui  portabat  robas  episcopi  (Uunelmensis),  et  erat 
in  munitione  castri  de  Norham,  occidit  quendam  sckavatdum  vel  praedonem,  Johannem  de  Wardal 
nomine,  sed  regi  familiarem,  in  Insula  Sacra.'  (4)  Guisboivtigh  Chartidiuy,  vol.  ii.  p.  357  ;  Surt.  Soc. 
No.  89— Sciat  celsitudo  regia  .  .  .  ecclesias  nostras  de  Valle  Anandiae,  de  dyocesi  Karliolensi,  ac  etiam 
de  episcopatu  Dunolmensi,  per  miserabilem  Scotorum  et  etiam  seliavatdonim  depredationem  .  .  .  multis 
temporibus  retroactis  funditus  dissipatas.  (5)  Tynemouth  Chartutary,  fol.  II,  survey  of  Tynemouth  in 
1336 — '  Primo  est  una  placea  terrae  vastae  propinquior  porte  prioratus  de  Tynemuth  ex  parte  australi, 
quae  placea,  dum  edificata  fuit,  reddere  consuevit  xviijd.  ;  set,  domibus  super  eandem  place.im  edificatis 
per  priorem  de  Tynemuth  dirutis,  et,  ut  oportuit,  prostratis,  ne  sliavatdores  et  alii  barones  tempore 
guerrae  et  shavaldr'  in  destrucionem  et  capcioncm  prioratus  de  Tynemouth  in  eisdem  domibus  fuissent 
recepti  et  absconsi,  Robertus  de  Slikborne  eandem  placeam  dicto  priori  sursum  reddidit  ;  set  adhuc 
eadem  placea  jacet  vasta  in  manu  prioris  nee  aliquid  reddit.'  .\\\  these  writers  refer  to  northern  events, 
so  that  the  name  would  seem,  in  its  origin,  to  have  had  a  verj-  local  character.  It  is  difficult  to  find  an 
etymology  for  the  word,  which,  from  its  suffix,  would  seem  to  be  of  French  origin.  It  occurs  latinised 
as  '  discursor,  vacabundus.' 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  87 

Other,  written  after  some  members  at  least  of  that  company  had  been 
captured,  directions  are  given  for  the  levying  of  distraint  upon  their  goods 
with  a  view  to  enforcing  their  appearance  before  the  king.' 

Gilbert  de  Middelton  was  a  more  dangerous  enemy.  He  appears  to 
have  made  a  strong  effort  to  get  Tynemouth  castle  into  his  hands.  Vigor- 
ous measures  were  taken  by  the  monks.  A  number  of  the  houses  which 
nestled  round  the  priory  gateway  were  pulled  down,  lest  the  shavaldores 
should  use  them  as  a  cover  for  attack.  The  defence,  which  was  entrusted 
to  Sir  Robert  Delaval,  proved  successful.' 

Middelton's  capture  and  execution  in  131 8  lessened  the  strain  of  the 
situation,  but,  as  things  were  still  in  a  very  unsettled  state,  the  king,  with 
the  consent  of  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  entrusted  the  custody  of  the  castle, 
INIay  1 2th,  13 18,  to  John  de  Haustede  to  hold  at  the  royal  pleasure. 
This  measure  was  prompted  bv  the  necessity  for  resisting  the  attacks 
of  the  Scots  and  Northumbrian  rebels,  and  giving  some  security  to  the 
people   of  the   district.*     A   two   years'  truce  was  made  with  the  Scots  in 

'  .Adam  de  Swyneburn  viscount  de  Northumbr'  as  bailiffs  de  la  fraunchis  de  Tynemue  salulz.  Le 
maundemcnt  monsieur  William  de  Mountague  gardeyn  du  chastel  Bernard  ai  resceu  en  cestes  paroles. 
"  William  de  Mountague  gardeyn  du  chastel  Bernard  de  part  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  a  sire  Adam  de 
Swyneburn  viscount  de  Northumbr'  salutz.  Nous  vous  comaundoms  de  part  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  que 
vous  prenetz  Johan  de  Ircys  et  tot  sa  campaignie  ou  que  vous  les  trovetz  deintz  vostre  baillie,  deintz 
fraunchis  ou  dehors,  ct  sauvemcnt  en  prison  le  gardetz  taunque  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  en  face  sa  volente." 
Par  quoi  vous  maund  que  execuscion  de  ceo  maundement  deintz  vostre  fraunchis  pleynement  parfourmetz 
issint  que  le  roi  neit  meistre  de  niettre  la  meyne. 

Adam  de  -Swyneburn  viscount  de  Northumbr"  as  baillifs  de  la  fraunchis  de  Tynemue  salutz.  Le 
maundement  nostre  seigneur  le  roy  ai  resceu  en  cest  paroles.  "  Edward  par  la  grace  de  dieu  roy 
d'Engleterr  etc.  a  viscount  de  Northumbr'  salutz.  Pur  ceo  que  vous  avetz  maunde  que  vous  ne  avetz 
dount  a  faire  venir  les  prisouns  en  vostre  gard  et  que  fourent  en  la  compaignie  Johan  le  Ireys,  vous 
maundoms  que  vous  facetz  enquere  en  qi  meyns  les  biens  sount  que  feurent  pris  ovesq  cux,  et  ces  biens 
facetz  prendre  et  seisir  en  nostre  meyn,  et  de  ces  biens  facetz  venir  les  prisouns  avaunditz.  ou  que  nous 
seioms  en  Engleterr',  a  pluis  en  haste  que  vous  poaitz.  Don'  soutz  nostre  prive  seal  a  Clipston  en 
Sherwode  le  primer  jour  de  Januer  I'an  de  regne  novisme."  Par  quay  vous  maund  que  plenere  execucion 
de  ceste  maundement  facetz. 

Memorandum  quod,  die  Jovis  proxime  ante  festum  sancti  Hillarii  anno  r.  E.  fil.  reg.  E.  nono, 
Warinus  de  Swctopp,  subvicecomes  Northumbriae,  recepit  apud  castrum  regis  ville  Novi  Castri  super 
Tynam  de  Thoma  de  Belsowe,  sencscallo  libcrtatis  de  Tynem',  per  returnum  brevis  domini  regis  de 
privato  sigillo  dicto  senescallo  et  ballivis  liberlatis  predicle  directum,  corpora  W'illelmi  Cosyn  et  Johannis 
Lyvet,  Hibernicorum  caplorum  et  imprisonatorum  in  prisona  liberlatis  de  Tynem'  per  returnum  et 
mandatum  liltere  domini  Willelmi  de  Montague,  constabularii  et  custodis  castri  de  Castro  liemardi, 
ad  corpora  predictorum  Willelmi  et  Johannis  unacum  aliis  qui  fuerunt  de  secreta  Johaimis  de  Hibemia 
capienda  et  in  prisonam  salvo  custodienda,  ad  ducenda  corpora  dictorum  Willelmi  et  Johannis  coram 
domino  rege  ubicumque  fuerit  in  .Anglia,  prout  idem  dominus  rex  per  littcram  suam  de  privato  sigillo 
prefato  vicecomiti  mandavit.  In  cujus  rci  testimonium  sigillum  otficiale  conventuale  est  apensum. 
Datum  apud  castrum  regis  Novi  Castri  super  Tynam,  die  et  anno  supradictis  [January  ist,  1315-1316]. 
Tymmouth  Clnirtiilury,  fol  167  b. 

Adam  de  Swynburn  was  appointed  sheriff  October  i6th,  131 5.    P.R.O.  Lists  and  Indexes,  No.  ix.  p.  97. 

'Ancient  PititioHS,  No.  3,994,  and  Tynemouth  ChartuLiry,  fol.  II. 

'  De  custodia  mansi  prioratus  de  Tynemuth  commissa.  Rex,  de  assensu  abb.itis  de  Sancto  .-Mbano, 
commisit  Johanni  de  Haustede  custodiam  mansi  prioratus  de  Tynemuth,  qui  est  cella  abbatie  predicte, 
habend.im  quamdiu  regi  placeret,  pro  repulsione  .Scotorum  inimicorum  et  rcbcllium  regis  et  securiori 
salvacione  populi  regis  partium  earundem.     In  cujus,  etc.     T.  R.  apud  Wyndes'  xij  die  Maii.    Per  ipsum 


88  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

1319,  but  was  kept  with  difficulty,  owing  to  acts  of  aggression  on  the  part 
of  the  English.  A  letter  in  the  Tyucmoutli  Chartiilary  furnishes  an 
instance  of  this  continued  bickering. 

'To  his  dear  friend.  Rich.ird,  prior  of  Tynemouth,  Robert  de  Unifranivyll,  earl  of  Angus,  guardian 
of  the  truce  in  the  north  parts,  love  and  greeting.  As  we  have  heard  that  your  men  have  arrested  three 
poor  .Scottish  boys,  who  landed  at  Sliields  out  of  a  Scottish  vessel,  partly  because  their  vessel  was 
damaged  in  a  gale  in  the  port  of  Tyne,  and  partly  for  want  of  food,  as  we  are  credibly  informed,  we 
pray  you  and  command  you,  sir,  in  the  king's  name,  for  the  maintenance  of  the  truce  and  accord 
between  the  kingdoms,  to  deliver  up  the  said  boys,  that  the  men  of  Scotland  t.ake  not  example  and 
grieve  our  people  of  England  by  reason  of  the  said  boys'  detention.     May  God  keep  you,  sir.' ' 

Walter  de  Selby  surrendered  at  Mitfoid  in  November,  132 1,  and 
William  de  Middelton,  a  brother  of  Gilbert,  was  taken  with  him.  Middel- 
ton,  thrown  into  prison  at  Newcastle,  was  afterwards  released  on  bail. 
When  on  bail  he  was  captured  and  carried  off  by  the  Scots,  but,  escaping 
from  them,  found  refuge  in  the  liberty  of  Tynemouth.  The  bailiffs  of  the 
liberty  refused  to  hand  him  back  to  the  sheriff,  and  a  special  mandate  had 
to  be  sent  to  them  bv  the  king  before  he  was  surrendered.^ 

regem.  Et  mandatum  est  comitibus,  baronibus,  militibus  et  omnibus  aliis  de  comitatu  Northumbrie,  tam 
infra  libertates  quam  extra,  ad  quos,  etc.,  quod  eidem  Johanni  m  omnibus  que  ad  repulsionem  dictorum 
inimicorum  regis  ac  salvacionem  populi  regis  ibidem  et  partium  predictarum  ac  custodiam  illam  pertinent 
intendentes  sint  et  auxiliantes,  quociens  et  prout  idem  Johannes  regi  scire  fecerit  ex  parte  regis. 
Pat.  Rolls,  II  Edw.  II.  j).  2,  m.  iS.      Ouke  of  Nortliumberland's  transcripts. 

Haustede  was  appointed  custodian  of  the  river  Tyne  from  Newcastle  to  the  sea  on  August  23rd  of 
the  same  year  (Cal.  Pat.  Roth,  131 7-1 321,  p.  201). 

'  A  son  chier  amy  Richard  priour  de  Tynemuth,  Robert  d'Umframvyll,  counte  d'Anegus,  gardeyn  de 
la  trewe  en  les  parties  dc  North',  salutz  et  bon  amour.  Pur  ceo,  sire,  que  nous  avoms  entenduz  que  vos 
gentz  ount  arestuz  trcis  povres  garceons  d'Escoce  qui  vyndrent  sur  terre  as  les  Sheles  hors  d'une  nief 
d'Escoce,  qui  fuyt  chatrie  desur  (.')  en  le  haven  de  Tyne  par  tempeste  et  par  defaute  des  vitailes  alee  que 
nous  avoms  de  certeyn  ;  par  quoi,  sire,  vous  prioms  et  chargeoms  de  par  le  roi,  pur  la  trewe  meyntiegner 
et  acord  entre  les  realmes,  voiletz  les  dilz  garceouns  delyvrerer,  issynt  que  les  gentz  d'Escoce  ne  preignent 
ensample  de  grever  nos  gentz  d'Engleterre  par  la  reson  de  la  detenue  des  les  avant  ditz  garceouns.  A 
dieu,  sire,  qui  vous  gard. 

Littera  originalis  hujus  transcripti  est  in  thesauro.     Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  215. 

■  (l)  De  Willelmo  de  Middelton  vicecomiti  Northumbrie  liberando.  Rex  dilecto  sibi  in  Christo  .  .  . 
priori  de  Tynemuth,  salutem.  Cum,  ut  accepimus,  Willelmus  de  Middelton,  qui  cum  aliis  malefactoribus 
et  pacis  nostre  perturbatoribus  in  castro  de  Mitford,  tunc  contra  nos  tento,  captus  et  ea  occasione  per 
vicecomitem  nostrum  Northumbrie  prisone  nostre  castri  de  Novo  Castro  super  Tynam  extitit  mancipatus, 
et  postmodum  per  ipsum  vicecomitem  per  manucapcionem  a  prisona  praedicta  deliberatus,  ut  dicitur,  per 
Scotos  inimicos  et  rebelles  nostros,  tunc  partes  marchie  hostiliter  invadentes,  captus  fuisset  et  abductus, 
idemque  Willelmus  a  manibus  ipsorum  -Scotorum  evadens  se  transtulit  ad  libertatem  nostram  in  qua  per 
vos  detinetur,  licet  dictus  vicecomes  a  vobis  petierit  ipsum  Willelmum  sibi  liberari,  per  quod  dictus 
vicecomes  nobis  supplicavit  ut  ei  subvenire  curaremus  in  hac  parte;  nos  supplicacioni  illi  annuere  et 
manucapcionem  predictam  in  suo  robore  volentes  permanere,  vobis  mandamus  quod  ipsum  Willelmum 
prefato  vicecomiti  nostro  liberetis  prisone  nostre  predicte,  sicut  prius  niancipando.  T.  R.  apud  Eboracum 
.\xv  die  Junii  [1322].     Close  Rolls,  15  Edw.  II,  m.  4.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  transcripts. 

(2)  Writ  to  the  sheriff  to  the  same  effect,  dated  June  30th. 

(3)  Hec  indentura  testatur  quod  die  Martis  proximo  post  festum  Translationis  Sancti  Thome  Mar- 
tiris,  a.  r.  r.  E.  fil.  r.  E.  16",  Johannes  de  Fenwyk,  vicecomes  Northumbriae,  recepit  de  ballivo  libertatis  de 
Tynemuth,  yirtute  cujusdam  brevis  domino  K.  priori  de  Tynemuth  directi,  Willelmum  de  Middelton,  etc. 
In  cujus  rei  testimonium,  etc.  In  presentia  Roberti  de  RyhuU,  Gilberti  Daudre,  Alani  de  Castro,  et 
aliorum  tunc  presentium.  Datum  apud  TynenV,  die  et  anno  suprascriptis  [July  5th,  1322].  Tynemouth 
Chartulary,  fol.  212  b. 

Cp.  vol.  V.  of  this  work,  p.  299,  for  similar  documents  from  this  chartulary  relative  to  Nicholas  of  Hauxley. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  89 

These  dissensions,  and  the  want  of  harmony  prevailing  between  the 
king's  officers  and  those  upon  whose  help  they  ought  to  have  relied, 
received  a  further  illustration  a  few  months  later  when  David  de  Strabolgy, 
warden  of  Northumberland,  ordered  the  arrest  and  detention  at  Newcastle 
of  forty-one  of  the  armed  men  whom  the  prior  was  keeping  at  his  own 
expense  as  a  garrison  for  Tynemouth.' 

King  Edward  found  it  necessarv  to  interfere  and  to  disavow  the  action 
of  his  officer.  It  was  an  act  of  folly  to  deprive  Tynemouth  at  this  critical 
time  of  half  its  defenders.  He  wrote,  therefore,  to  the  prior,  desiring  him 
not  to  allow  any  of  his  garrison  to  quit  the  castle,  and  sent  a  similar  com- 
mand to  Strabolgy.  Orders  were  issued  to  the  warden  not  to  compel  any 
of  the  garrison  to  come  before  him  ;  but  to  permit  them  to  go  out  and 
in  freely  for  stores,  and  assist  the  prior.  The  sheriff  was  commanded  to 
release  at  once  those  whom  he  had  arrested  and  to  restore  what  he  had 
distrained.'  Prior  Tewing  secured  his  position,  March  8th,  1322/3,'  by 
obtaining  fresh  letters  of  protection. 

'  Johan  de  Fenwyk  vie'  de  Northumbr'  as  les  bailifs  de  la  franchise  de  Tynemuth,  salut.  Jeo  ai 
resceu  le  maundement  Davy  de  Strabolgy,  counte  d'AthoU,  seigneur  de  Chillam,  gardeyn  de  Northumbr'; 
'  Au  viscount  de  Northumbr',  salulz.  Nous  vous  maundoms  de  par  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  que  vous 
facetz  attacher  et  prendre  trestoutz  les  corps  dont  nous  vous  enveioms  les  nouns  deynz  nostre  lettre, 
c'est  assavoir,  etc.  (a  list  of  41  names  follows),  quele  part  que  vous  les  puyssetz  trover  deynz  vostre 
baillie,  issynt  que  vous  mctz  lour  corps  daynz  le  chastel  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  de  la  ville  de  Noef 
Chastel  sur  Tyne  yceo  lundy  proscheyn  dcvant  la  feste  seynt  Thomas  I'aposlle,  illoesque  salvement 
agardyr  tanque  vous  eietz  altre  maundement  de  part  nostre  seigneur  le  roi.  Et  facetz  seisyr  en  la 
meyn  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  lour  terres  et  tenementz  biens  et  chateux  ou  qu'ilz  soient  trovez,  qux  q'ilz 
soient  el  ou  q'ilz  soient  trovez,  et  salvement  les  gardetz  al  oeps  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  tanque  il  vous 
maunde  sa  volunte,  et  ceo  ne  lessetz  sur  quant  que  vous  porriez  forfaire  vers  le  dit  nostre  seigneur 
le  roi.  Escrjpt  a  Tyn'  le  jour  de  seynt  Luce,  Ian,  etc,  xvj"  [October  iSth,  1322].'  Par  quoi  vous 
maunde  de  par  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  que  vous  perfacetz  ceste  maundement  en  toutz,  sur  pcyne  de  quant 
que  vous  porrietz  forfaire  au  roi  et  de  perdre  vostre  fraunchise.     Tynemouth  Cluirtul.iry,  fol.  213. 

John  de  Fenwyk  was  appointed  sheriff  of  Northumberland  October  12th,  1319,  and  again  February 
19th,  1325.     P.R.O.  Lists  and  Indexes,  No.  ix.  p.  97. 

■  De  prioratu  de  Tynemuth  sufficienti  garnistura,  etc.,  muniendo.  Rex  vicecomiti  Northumbrie, 
salutem.  Ex  parte  dilecti  nobis  in  Christo  prioris  de  Tynemuth  nobis  est  ostensum  quod,  cum  ipse 
habeat  prioratum  ilium  de  Tynemuth  suo  periculo  custodiendum,  etc.,  dilectus  et  fidelis  nosier  David 
de  Sirabolgi,  comes  Athol,  etc.,  tibi  jam  precepit  quod  ipsum  priorem  et  quam  plures  de  garnestura 
predicta  per  corpora  sua  capi,  ac  libertatein  ejusdem  prioris  ibidem,  et  terras  et  tenementa,  bona  et 
catalla  sua  et  aliorum  quamplurium  de  eadem  garnestura  in  manum  nostrum  seisire  faceres,  causa 
aliqua  precepti  illius  in  eodem  mmiine  exprcssa  ;  nolentes  quod  idem  prior  in  hac  parte  indebite 
prosequetur  seu  super  custodiam  dicti  prioratus  faciendam  aliqualiter  inipediatur,  tibi  precipimus 
quod,  si  prefatus  comes  preceptum  hujus  modi  tibi  fecerit,  et  tu  eo  prete.xtu  ipsum  priorem  aut  aliquem 
de  garnestura  predicta  ceperis,  seu  libertatem  ipsius  prioris  aut  terras  aut  tenementa,  bona  vel  cat.allri 
aut  aliquorum  de  garnestura  predicta  in  manum  nostram  seisire  feceris  ;  tunc,  accepta  sufficienti 
securitate  a  prefato  priore  et  aliis  de  garnestura  ilia,  quos  negotium  illud  tangit,  de  respondendo 
nobis  si  prefatus  comes  vel  alius  nomine  nostro  versus  eos  loqui  voluerit  de  inobediencia  aliqu.-i 
nobis  facta  in  hac  parte,  ipsum  priorem  et  alios  de  garnestura  predicta  sic  captos  a  prisona  hujusmodi 
sine  dilacione  aliqua  deliberari  eidemque  priori  libertatetn  suam  predictam,  ac  terras  et  teneinenta, 
bona  et  catalla  sua,  et  aliis  de  garnestura  similiter  terras  et  tenementa,  bona  et  catalla  sua  in  manum 
nostram  sic  seisita,  restitui  facias,  per  securitatem  predictam,  ipsum  priorem  seu  aliquem  de  garnestura 
predicta  de  cetero  non  molestans  seu  gravans  pretextu  precepti  memorati.  T.  R.  apud  Eboracum 
XXX  die  Decembris.     Close  Rolls,  16  Edw.  H.  m.  16.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  transcripts. 

'  Cal.  Pitt.  Rolls,  1321-1324,  p.  2C1. 

Vol.  VI H.  '- 


90 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


The  truce  now  made  with  the  Scots  relieved  the  Northumbrian  land- 
owners from  the  duty  of  defence,  and  left  them  a  free  hand  in  the  pro- 
secution of  their  private  enmities.  Robert  Delaval,  Walter  Delaval, 
Thomas  de  Woodburn,  Walter  de  Gourley,  and  John  de  Oseworth  cut 
down  the  prior's  trees  in  the  manor  of  Bewick,  carried  off  plunder,  and 
turned  cattle  into  the  standing  corn  ;  seized  his  goods  and  chattels  at 
Ellington  and  at  Middle  Chirton,  impounded  and  starved  a  number  of 
his  cattle  at  Seaton  Delaval,  and  stole  ten  cows  and  other  property  from 
Tynemouth  itself.  The  prior  estimated  his  losses  at  ^150.'  Thomas  de 
Middelton  and  others  took  away  eighty  oxen  and  sixty  cows  as  well  as 
household  goods  from  Tynemouth,  Preston,  East  and  Middle  Chirton, 
Backworth  and  Monkseaton,  the  whole  valued  at  ;^300.  William  de 
Ellerington  and  his  companions  cut  down  trees  and  carried  away  valuables 
at  Wylam  to  the  amount  of  £  200.  These  are  a  few  instances  of  the 
brigandage  to  which  the  monastic  lands,  and  especially  Bewick,  were 
subjected.'' 

It  speaks  well  for  the  capacity  of  Prior  Tewing  that,  in  spite  of  these 
heavy  losses  and  of  the  legal  expenses  which  they  entailed,  in  spite  too  of 
the  expense  of  keeping  up  a  large  garrison,  he  was  able  to  satisfv  the 
financial  demands  of  his  abbot,  Hugh  de  Eversdon  (itself  no  easy  task),  by 
judicious  purchases  of  demesne  land  and  house  property  in  Newcastle  and 
Berwick.  Nor  did  his  enterprise  stop  at  investments  in  temporalities. 
Abbot  Eversdon  was  renowned  for  his  special  devotion  to  the  Virgin, 
of  which  he  gave  proof  by  completing  the  Lady-chapel  at  the  east  end  of 

'  Prior  de  Tynemuth  per  Tliomam  de  Wilton  attornatum  suum  optiilit  se  versus  Robertuni  de 
la  Val,  Waltcrum  de  la  \'al,  'riiomam  de  Wodebiirn,  Waltcrum  de  Gourley  et  Johannem  de  Oseworth 
de  placito  quare  vi  et  armis  arbores  ipsius  prioris  apud  Beuyk  nunc  crescentes  succiderunt  et  arbores 
illas  ac  alia  bona  et  catalla  sua  ad  valenciam  quadraginta  libraruin  ibidem  inventa  ceperunt  et  aspor- 
taverunt,  nccnon  blada  et  lierba  sua  ad  valenciam  sexaginla  librarum  ibidem  similiter  nuper  crescencia 
cum  quibusdam  averiis  depasti  fuerunt  conculcaverunt  et  consumpserunt  ;  versus  Johannem  de  Ose- 
worth de  placito  quare  vi  et  armis  bona  et  catalla  ipsius  prioris  ad  valenciam  viginti  librarum  apud 
Middel  Chirton  inventa  cepit  et  asportavit ;  versus  Robertum  de  la  Val,  Walterum  de  la  \'al,  et 
Johannem  de  Oseworth,  de  placito  quare  vi  et  armis  decem  vaccas  ipsius,  precii  decern  librarum,  apud 
Tynemuth  inventa,  maliciose  interfecerunt,  et  bona  et  catalla  sua  ad  valenciam  decem  librarum  ibidem 
similiter  inventa  ceperunt  et  asportavcrunt  ;  versus  Radulphum  Hoby,  Willelmum  Roberdespundere 
de  la  Val,  Robertum  de  la  Val,  et  Johannem  de  Oseworth,  de  placito  quare  vi  et  armis  averia  ipsius 
prioris  apud  Seton  de  la  Val  absque  causa  rationabili  ceperunt  et  imparcaverunt,  et  ea  tam  diu  imparcata 
sine  alimento  contra  legem  et  consuetudinem  regni  nostri  detinuerunt,  quod  magna  pars  averiorum 
illorum  fame  interiit  ;  versus  Thomam  de  Wodeburn  de  placito  quare  vi  et  armis  bona  et  catalla  ipsius 
prioris  ad  valenciam  decem  librarum  apud  Elyngton  inventa  cepit  et  asportavit.  Coram  Ri-ge  Rolls, 
No.  260.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  transcripts. 

■  Cal.  Pat.  Rolls,  1324- 1327,  p.  2S9,  and  ibid.  1330-1334,  pp.  389,  444.  Details  of  an  outrage  at 
Elswick  committed  against  the  prior  will  be  found  ibid.  1334- 1338,  p.  512. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  9 1 

St.  Alban's  church.'  Prior  Tewing,  emulous  of  his  example,  found  means 
to  erect  a  Lady-chapel  at  Tynemouth.  It  is  described  as  a  new  building 
in  1336,  and  was  probably  begun  before  Eversdon's  death  in  1326.  A 
special  endowment  of  lands  was  set  apart  for  its  maintenance,  and  it  was 
put  under  the  control  of  a  master  or  warden,  an  office  held  by  Geoffrey 
de  Binham  in  1338.^  Repairs  to  other  conventual  buildings  seem  to  have 
been  proceeding  in  1320,  when  Henry  de  Faukes  granted  to  the  prior 
and  convent  a  wayleave  for  their  carts  for  carrying  stone  slates  from  the 
quarries  in  West  Backworth  for  roofing  the  monks'  dwellings.^ 

Building  and  purchases  of  land  were  both  calculated  to  be  profitable  in- 
vestments. But  capital  was  being  sunk  at  a  time  when  much  depended  upon 
the  retention  of  a  balance  in  hand.  The  maintenance  of  a  garrison  over 
several  years  was  e.xceedingly  costly.  Private  purses  were  providing  the 
means  for  public  defence.  So  great  had  the  strain  become  at  the  commence- 
ment of  Edward  III.'s  reign  that  the  prior  addressed  the  following  petition 
to  the  king,  in   which   he  drew  a  gloomy  picture  of  the  state  of  affairs  : 

To  our  lord  the  king  and  to  his  council,  their  chaplain,  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  prays  that,  whereas 
the  property  of  his  priory  is  burnt  and  destroyed  by  the  Scottish  enemy,  so  that  he  is  unable  to  sustain 
or  retain  men-at-arms  and  others  for  the  safeguard  of  the  said  house,  if  he  be  not  aided,  it  may  please 
you  to  command  that  he  be  aided  with  victuals  for  the  safety  of  the  house  above-mentioned,  or  certainly 
he  must  abandon  the  defence. 

The  king  accordingly  granted  supplies  to  the  amount  of  ;^20,  and 
(September  28th,  1327)  ordered  his  receiver  of  victuals  at  Newcastle  to 
make  the  necessary  payment.''  Letters  of  protection  were  issued  to  the 
prior  in  the  same  year,  and  again  in  1332,  when,  after  the  ineffectual  peace 
of  Northampton,  war  recommenced  between  England  and  Scotland.'^     The 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  iS  b  (survey  of  Tynemouth  in  1336),  cited  in  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  148,  note. 
For  Hugh  de  Eversdon's  cult  of  the  Virgin,  see  Gcsla  Abhatuiii,  vol.  ii.  p.  114.  '  Hie  abbas,  cum,  inter 
nnines  elcctos  Dei,  Bcat.im  ejus  Genitricem  speciali  devotione  venerarelur,  loca  sua  et  omamenta  eidem 
\'irgini  dedicare  semper  studuit."  He  also  had  a  reputation  for  extortion.  The  prior  of  Tynemouth  is 
reported  to  have  been  'so  cleared  out'  (tantum  exinanitus)  as  to  be  unable  to  make  any  gift  at  the 
election  of  the  next  abbot.     Ibiii.  p.  187. 

-  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  172  b.  '  Ibid.  fol.  So  b  ;  Brand,  XeucastU;  \ol.  ii.  p.  90. 

'  A  nostre  scignur  le  roi  et  a  son  conseil  prie  son  chapelleyn  le  priour  de  Tynemulh  que  come 
les  biens  de  mesme  sa  pr[iorie  s]oient  ars  et  destrutz  par  Ics  enemys  d'Escoce  par  quoi  il  n'est  niye  de 
poair  de  suslcnir  ne  de  rctenir  gentz  d'armcs  et  autres  pur  la  sauve  gard  de  mesme  la  meson  s'il  ne 
soit  eidetz,  ifil  vous  pleisc  comander  q'il  soit  eidetz  de  vitailles  pur  la  sauvete  de  la  meson  avantdite, 
ou  certeynement  il  lui  co\ent  weyvcr  la  gard.  Endorsed  :  Memorandum  quod  habeat  de  victu.ilibus 
que  sunt  apiid  Novum  Castrum  super  Tinam  pro  municione  ad  valenciam  xx/i.  hac  vice  de  dono,  etc., 
et  super  hoc  mandetur  custodi  victualiuni,  etc.,  quod  liberet.  Ancient  Petitions,  P.R.O.  3,800.  Cp. 
Cal.  Close  Rolls,  1327- 1 330,  p.  170. 

^  Cal.  Pat.  Rolls,  1327-1330,  p.  98  ;  lii./.  1330-1334,  p.  344.  Letters  of  protection  were  also  granted 
i'l  1335  ;  '■'"■''•  i334-'338,  P-  178. 


92  TYNKMOUTH    PARISH. 

battle  of  Halidon  Hill  won  the  En<^Ush  a  temporary  advantage.  Next 
year  (July  ist,  1335),  the  king,  who  was  then  at  Newcastle,  paid  a  visit  to 
Tynemouth  priory.'  Meanwhile  his  army  lay  at  Elswick,  where  the  soldiers 
did  such  damage  to  the  prior's  pasture  by  their  going  and  coming  that 
but  little  was  offered  for  it  during  the  next  few  years."  This,  however, 
was  of  comparatively  small  consequence  to  the  priory,  since  Richard  Scot 
of  Newcastle  levied  the  prior's  rents  at  Elswick  and  Wylam  himself,  and 
so  terrorised  the  men  and  servants  of  the  monastery,  that  they  dared  not 
even  come  to  Newcastle  to  buy  victuals  or  to  transact  business.'' 

Prior  Richard  Tewing  died  in  1340.  Thomas  de  la  Mare,  a  St.  Alban's 
monk  of  aristocratic  connections,  succeeded.  Among  his  near  kinsmen 
he  numbered  the  Montacutes,  de  la  Zouches,  and  Grandissons.  His  two 
brothers  and  his  sisters  had,  like  himself,  adopted  the  monastic  profession. 
The  description  given  of  him  by  his  biographer,  as  well  as  the  fine  brass 
of  Flemish  workmanship  which  formerlv  marked  his  grave  in  St.  Alban's 
abbey  church,  shows  him  to  have  been  singularly  handsome.  He  had  well- 
modelled  features,  long  graceful  fingers,  and  as  a  boy  he  had  had  a  very 
delicate  complexion.  He  was  a  good  scholar,  being  especially  a  student 
of  rhetoric.  'The  Pope  himself,'  it  was  said,  'could  find  no  fault  in  his 
Latinity.'  His  pleasant  courtesy  won  him  popularity  with  high  and  low. 
The  Black  Prince  was  in  later  days  his  special  friend,  and  is  reported  to 
have  said  to  the  earl  of  Northampton  upon  one  occasion,  '  I  love  Thomas 
de  la  Mare  as  if  he  were  my  father's  son.'  The  sick  and  the  leprous  were 
tended  by  him  ;  he  was  always  ready  to  supplv  his  fellows  with  personal 
comforts,  and  his  natural  dignity  was  such  that  he  did  not  shrink  from  the 
performance  of  menial  offices.  Afterwards,  when  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  he 
would  sometimes  himself  ring  the  chapel  bell  for  the  services  at  which 
he  was  a  regular  attendant.  He  was  justly  proud  of  the  singing  of  his 
monks.  Always  punctual  himself,  he  knew  how  to  promote  punctuality 
in  others  ;  those  who  came  late  to  dinner  were  not  met  with  angry 
words,  but  were  made  to  pay  for  the  wine  drunk  during  the  meal.  The 
encomium  passed  upon  him  by  Edward  HI.  was  probably  true,  '  In  person, 
breeding,  and  humanity,  there  is  no  abbot  in  my  kingdom  who  can  com- 
pare with  him.'' 

'  Cal.  Close  Rolls,  1333-1337,  p.  415.  -  Tynemouth  Chnrtulary,  fols.  166  b,  172  b. 

"  Cal.  Pat.  Rolls,  1 338-1 341,  p.  67.  '  Gesta  Ahbatum,  vol.  ii.  p.  371  et  seq. 


PLATE     VI. 


Brass  of  Thomas  de  la  Mare.  Abbot  of  St   Albans. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  g3 

Thomas  de  la  Mare  had  assumed  the  monastic  habit  at  Wymondham, 
where  he  had  been  chaplain  to  the  prior.  At  St.  Alban's  he  had  held  the 
offices  of  kitchener  and  cellarer,  and  tlie  business  capacity  which  he  there 
showed  was  much  needed  in  the  conduct  of  affairs  at  Tvnemouth.  He 
found  that  house  'so  miserably  depressed  in  its  estate  that  its  goods  no 
longer  sufficed  for  the  maintenance  of  the  prior  and  convent,  and  for  the 
defence  of  the  priory  against  the  perils  then  imminent.'  This  was  due  to 
the  need  of  entertaining  the  nobles  whom  the  conduct  of  the  Scottish  war 
brought  into  those  parts,  quite  as  much  as  to  the  frequent  forays  of  the 
Scots  themselves,  who  burnt  the  manor  houses,  villages,  barns,  and  buildings 
of  the  priory,  drove  off  the  cattle  from  the  estates  and  plundered  the  houses 
of  the  tenants.  One  of  Thomas  de  la  Mare's  first  acts  was  to  journey  to 
Langley  in  Hertfordshire,  where  the  king  was  holding  a  great  tournament. 
There  he  disclosed  to  King  Edward  the  necessities  of  the  priory,  and  what 
danger  there  was  of  its  capture  and  destruction.  He  succeeded  in  getting 
letters  of  protection  for  the  monastery  and  its  possessions  during  the 
duration  of  the  war.  The  king  also  issued  injunctions  to  the  wardens  of 
the  inarches  that  neither  they  nor  others  should  upon  any  prete.\t  make 
a  stay  in  the  priory  unless  they  were  specially  invited  to  that  house  by 
its  prior,  and  that  they  should  not  take  anything  of  the  prior  and  convent 
or  of  their  tenants  against  their  will.' 

'  De  Proteccione.  Rex  univerais  et  sinyulis  custodiljiis  M;irchie  Scocie  viceconiitibus  baliivis 
ministris  et  aliis  fidelibus  suis  ad  quos,  etc.,  salutcin.  Quia  piioratus  de  Tynemutli,  qui  est  cella 
abbathie  Sancti  .'Vlbani  que  quidem  abbathia  de  nostra  patronatu  esse  dinoscitur,  tam  per  frcquentes 
aggressus  et  invasiones  Scotorum  inimicorum  nostrarum  qui  maneria  villas  giangeas  et  alia  edificia 
ad  prioratum  predictum  spectancia  hostiliter  sepius  conibusserunt  et  pecora  ac  alia  bona  et  catalla 
dilectoruni  nobis  in  Cristo  prioris  et  conventus  eiusdem  piioratus  ceperunt  abduxerunt  et  totaliter 
consunipseiunt,  quani  accessus  magnatum  et  alioium  ad  prioratum  predictum  contluencium  et  in  eodeni 
perhendinancium,  adeo  miserabiliter  deprimitur,  ut  accepimus,  hiis  diebus  quod  bona  illius  ad  sus- 
tentacionem  dictorum  prioris  et  conventus  prioratus  illius  ac  municiones  pro  eodcm  necessarias  et  ad 
quedam  alia  ad  custodiam  eiusdem  prioratus  spectancia  invenienda  gucrrarum  pcriculis  imminentibus 
sufficere  non  poterunt,  quodque  de  status  eiusdem  prioratus  subversione  et  monachorum  ibidem  pro 
animabus  progenitorum  nostrorum  omniumque  fidclium  divina  celebrancium  dispersione,  necnon 
elemosinarum  que  ibidem  hactenus  fieri  consueverunt  diminucione  et  subtraccione,  et,  quod  peius 
est,  predictus  prioratus,  qui  castrum  reputari  poterit,  perdicionali  capcione  quod  absit  yerisimiliter 
formidatur,  nisi  remedium  super  hoc  cicius  apponatur  ;  nos  tantis  malls  periculis  et  dispendiis  precavere 
volentes  ut  tenemur,  affectantesque  quod  exitus  redditus  seu  provcntus  terraruni  et  possessionum 
predictarum,  quatenus  ultra  sustentacioneni  dictorum  prioris  et  conventus  et  ministrorum  sucrum 
necessario  sufficere  poterunt,  in  relevacione  status  prioratus  predicti  saluam  et  securam  custodian! 
eiusdem  applicentur,  prioratum  predictum  ac  priorem  et  conventum  et  homines  terras  res  redditus  et 
omnes  possessiones  ad  prioratum  predictum  spectantes  seu  pertinentes  suscepimus  in  proteccioneni  et 
defensionem  nostram  specialem.  Et  ideo,  etc.  Et  si  quid,  etc.  Nohniius  enim  quod  aliquis  vestruin 
aut  alius  quicumque  cuiuscumque  status  seu  condicionis  tuerit  in  prioratu  predicto,  iminentibus  periculis 
predictis,  quocumque  colore  hospitetur  aut  moram  faciat  quovis  modo,  nisi  per  priorem  dicti  prioratus 
ex  certa  causa  fuerit  specialius  invitatus,  nee  de  bonis  aut  rebus  ipsoruni  prioris  et  conventus  seu 
hominum  suorum  contra  voluntatem  suani  quicquam  capiant  quovis  modo.  In  cuius,  etc.  Quanidiu 
dicta  guerra  duraverit  duratura.  Teste  rege  apud  Langele  viij  die  Februarii  [a.D.  134']-  ^^^r  ipsum 
regem  et  consilium.     Patent  Roll,  P.R.O.  15  Edw.  III.  pars  I,  m.  44. 


94  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  first  three  years  of  de  la  Mare's  priorate  were  spent  in  the 
prosecution  of  various  lawsuits.  In  the  most  important  of  these  suits 
Gerard  de  Widdrington  claimed  tiie  manor  of  Hauxley.  As  the  case  pro- 
ceeded it  became  more  and  more  evident  that  the  prior  would  win,  upon 
which  Widdrington  attempted  force.  The  prior's  biographer  reports  that 
for  a  whole  year  de  la  Mare  was  daily  in  iear  of  assassination  ;  no  day 
dawned  which  might  not  bring  news  of  the  murder  of  one  of  his  supporters. 
Upon  one  occasion  some  Austin  friars  were  caught  by  Widdrington  on  their 
way  from  Tynemouth  and  put  to  the  torture  under  the  impression  that  they 
were  Benedictines.  Sir  Henry  Percy,  though  a  friend  of  the  prior,  was 
unwilling  to  give  him  any  help,  since  he  would  not  take  any  steps  against 
a  knight  who  was  of  his  fee,  so  strong  had  the  tie  already  become  which 
bound  lord  and  retainer.  His  wife,  Lady  Mary  Percy,  was  the  only  friend 
upon  whom  the  prior  could  rely.  She  is  said  to  have  sent  him  all  her 
jewels,  and  to  have  bidden  him  sell  them  and  employ  the  proceeds  in 
the  suit  rather  than  suffer  it  to  drop  for  lack  of  means.  She  also  sent  him 
a  renowned  duellist,  vSir  Thomas  Colville,  for  force  could  onlv  be  met  by 
force.  Colville  engaged  to  maintain  the  prior's  cause  in  battle,  and  as  no 
one  dared  to  stand  up  against  him,  de  la  Mare  won  the  day.  Lady  Mary 
Percy  subsequently  appointed  the  prior  to  be  her  confessor. 

Another  three  years  were  spent  mainly  in  the  work  of  religious  in- 
struction. De  la  Mare  himself  preached  effectively,  both  in  English  and 
in  Latin.  So  earnest  was  he  in  discourse  that  his  sermons  were  often 
interrupted  by  his  sobs.  He  gathered  round  him  many  secular  clergy  and 
mendicant  friars  to  assist  him  in  his  work.  The  Scottish  invasion  of  1346, 
when  the  upper  Tyne  vallev  fell  entirely  into  the  hands  of  the  invaders, 
put  an  end  to  peaceful  evangelization.  Their  leader,  Sir  William  Douglas, 
sent  a  message  to  the  prior,  bidding  him  prepare  dinner  for  him  at  Tyne- 
mouth ;  for  in  two  davs'  time,  he  said,  he  would  sup  with  him  in  his  priory. 
So  it  was,  though  under  different  circumstances  to  those  which  had  been 
in  Douglas's  mind  when  he  sent  his  arrogant  message,  for  he  was  captured 
at  Neville's  Cross,  and  sent  to  Tynemouth  for  safe  custody.  De  la  Mare 
met  him  and  bade  him  welcome  to  the  dinner  w'hich  was  made  ready.  '  In 
truth,'  said  Douglas,  'I  am  sorry  for  this  visit.'  De  la  Mare  replied,  'You 
could  not  have  chosen  a  better  time  for  it.'  In  the  same  fight  David,  king 
of  Scotland,  was  taken  prisoner.     The  prior  was  suffering  at  the  time  from 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


95 


an  eye  complaint,  but  the  joyful  news  made  him  well  again.     He  tore  off 
his  bandages,  and  never  had  a  return  of  the  disorder. 

Though  the  victory  of  Neville's  Cross  relieved  the  priory  of  the  long 
strain  of  the  Scottish  war,  it  occasioned  a  struggle  with  the  English  military 
leaders.  Ralph  de  Neville,  who  had  lately  been  appointed  warden  of  the 
marches,  argued  that  Tynemouth  was  a  royal  castle.  He  sent  there  all 
the  able-bodied  Scottish  prisoners  to  be  kept  under  guard.  Their  custody 
naturally  proved  an  expensive  charge  upon  the  monastery,  as  well  as 
detrimental  to  its  privileges.  Accordingly  the  prior  journeyed  to  the  royal 
court,  and,  through  the  mediation  of  a  nobleman  there,  named  De  Ufford, 
obtained  a  royal  writ  which  forbade  any  prisoner  to  be  sent  into  Tyne- 
mouth castle,  and  ordered  that  no  one  e.\cept  the  prior  for  the  time  being 
should  exert  authority  within  the  castle.' 

De  la  Mare  had  already  planned  several  alterations  to  the  priory 
buildings,  which  had  hitherto  been  deferred  owing  to  the  necessities  of  the 
time.  Peace  being  now  regained,  he 
was  able  to  execute  his  projects,  and 
the  last  three  years  of  his  priorate 
(1346- 1 349)  were  spent  in  repairing 
the  walls  and  buildings  of  the  castle 
and  priorv,  as  well  as  in  making  new 
buildins;s.  Until  that  time  the  shrine 
of  St.  Oswin  had  been  united  with 
the  high  altar.  Monastic  services 
had  consequently  interfered  with,  or 
been  interrupted  by,  the  devotions 
of  pilgrims.  The  prior  now  moved 
the  shrine  from  its  original  position 
to  another  portion  of  the  church  (his 

'  Walsingham's  narrative  cannot  be  accepted  as  it  stands.  He  says  that  the  prior  'clam  venit 
ad  Langleve,  ubi  curia  regis  fuit,  et  hastiludia  ob  puerperium  Philippae  reginae,  quae  enixa  fuerat  tunc 
Edmunduiii.'  The  tournament  was  held  on  February  2nd,  1341  (Baker,  Chronicon,  Caxton  Society, 
p.  73),  while  Edmund  of  Langley  was  not  born  till  June  5th  following  (Chromcoii  Angliaf,  1328-138S, 
Rolls  Series,  p.  12).  .-Kpart  from  this  discrepancy,  there  is  the  more  serious  difficulty  that  Ralph 
Neville,  warden  of  the  marches,  is  made  the  principal  in  the  quarrel.  Neville  was  not  ni.ide  warden 
till  September  12th,  1346;  and  the  battle  of  Neville's  Cross,  about  which  tune  these  events  are  said 
to  have  occurred,  was  fought  on  October  17th,  1346.  Walsingham  appears  to  have  confused  an 
occurrence  of  1346  or  1347  with  the  granting  of  the  letters  of  protection  quoted  in  the  last  note,  which 
were  granted  at  Langley  on  Februarv  8th,  1341.  His  whole  account  of  the  priorate  of  Thomas  de  la 
Mare\Gcsta  Ahkitiim,  vol.  ii.  pp.  375-380I  is  a  vivid  and  perhaps  highly-coloured  sketch,  which  cannot 
be  trusted  for  accuracy  of  historical  detail. 


SrANDKii.  IN  Priory  Chirch. 


g6  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

biographer,  unfortunately,  does  not  indicate  what  new  place  was  found 
for  it).  This  work,  with  the  alteration  to  the  high  altar  necessitated  by 
the  removal  of  the  shrine,  and  the  decoration  of  the  church  in  certain 
minor  and  unspecified  particulars,  cost  £']0.  De  la  Mare  further  expended 
£()0  in  building  a  new  brew-house,  and  £%1  in  making  a  dormitory.  The 
total  outlay  made  by  him  upon  the  church  amounted  to  no  less  than  £'i^^. 
On  the  other  hand,  by  the  purchase  of  various  tenements  and  590  acres 
of  arable  and  meadow  land,  he  increased  the  annual  revenue  of  the  priory 

by  ^35  4s.   lo^d. 

A  strange  storv  is  told  of  what  was  seen  at  Tvnemouth  one  winter 
morning  when  Thomas  de  la  Mare  was  prior.  Service  was  daily  said  for 
the  souls  of  the  departed  in  the  'chapel  of  the  dead,'  which  was  perhaps 
a  mortuary  chapel  within  the  conventual  cemetery.  Early  in  the  morning, 
before  sunrise,  a  monk  was  reciting  the  customary  service  in  this  chapel. 
He  was  alone,  except  for  a  boy  who  made  the  responses.  Office,  collect, 
epistle  and  gospel  had  been  read,  and  the  ceremony  of  cleansing  the  sacred 
vessels  was  being  performed,  when  the  boy  turned  round  and  saw  a  cowled 
figure  coming  in  at  the  chapel  door.  In  the  half-light  he  saw  it  kneel 
down  in  a  corner  of  the  chapel  and  bend  its  face  to  the  earth,  as  if  in 
prayer.  The  scared  lad  put  himself  between  the  priest  and  the  altar.  His 
behaviour  surprised  the  priest,  who,  however,  proceeded  with  the  mass, 
and,  when  the  celebration  was  over,  asked  the  boy  the  cause  of  his  alarm. 
Then  he  too  saw  the  apparition  kneeling  in  the  corner  of  the  building. 
Boldly  approaching  the  figure,  he  lightlv  touched  it  with  his  sleeve,  saying, 
'  Rise,  brother  ;  return  to  thy  rest  ; '  upon  which  the  kneeling  form  stood 
up,   went  out  at  the  door,  and  was  lost  to  sight.' 

When  the  Black  Death  depleted  the  monastery  of  St.  Alban's  and 
carried  off  its  abbot,  Thomas  de  la  Mare  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy, 
and  a  Tynemouth  monk,  Clement  of  Whethamstede,  was  nominated  as 
prior  in  his  stead.  De  la  Mare  went  with  a  notification  of  his  election  to 
the  papal  court.  But  the  Roman  cardinals,  on  hearing  the  words  of  the 
decree  which  announced  the  election  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  to  be 
abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  broke  in  with  the  commentary,  '  Then  the  priory  is 
vacant.'  Though  the  appointment  to  the  cell  lay  wholly  within  the  sphere 
of  the   abbey,   upon   which   it   depended,   the    papal    legate    demanded    the 

'  Gcita  Abbatuin,  vol.  ii.  p.  36S. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  97 

first  fruits  from  the  prior  designate,  using  threats  to  obtain  payment.  '  On 
this  occasion,'  it  was  said,  'trifling  as  it  was,  we  spent  an  immense  sum  of 
money  before  the  cell  could  have  its  customary  liberty  recognised.  When 
the  abbot  saw  the  cardinals  and  some  of  the  Curia  eagerly  waiting  to  see 
who  would  have  the  priory  allotted  to  him,  he  sought  audience  with  the 
Pope,  and  obtained  from  him  a  bull  giving  him  licence  to  confer  the 
priory  upon  one  of  his  own  monks.  So  Tynemouth  was  saved  from  out 
of  the  clutches  of  the  Roman  harpies.'  Besides  the  bull  (dated  August 
iitb,  1349),  a  royal  letter  to  the  papal  legate  was  obtained.  In  this  letter 
the  king  stated  that  Tynemouth  priory  was  one  of  the  strongest  fortresses 
in  the  marches,  that  during  the  Scottish  wars  it  had  been  garrisoned  and 
provisioned  against  attack,  and  that  its  revenues  were  not  in  themselves 
sufficient  for  the  cost  of  defence  ;  wherefore  he  commanded  the  legate  not 
to  appropriate  the  revenues,  as  such  action  would  bring  impoverishment 
and  ruin  upon  the  monastery.* 

The  first  thirty  years  of  Whethamstede's  long  priorate  are  blank  except 
for  a  dispute  with  Newcastle  with  regard  to  the  ownership  of  Fenham  in 
1357.  When  we  next  meet  with  the  priorv,  it  is  to  find  that  its  walls, 
which  Thomas  de  la  Mare  had  repaired,  were  crumbling,  while  the  rents  of 
the  priorv  lands  were  diminished  by  the  constant  harrying  of  Bewick  and 
Eglingham.     In    1380  the  following  petition  was  addressed  to  the  king: 

To  our  lord  the  king  and  his  council,  their  poor  chaplains,  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth, 
show  that,  whereas  their  said  priory  has  been  long  time  and  still  is  one  of  the  strong  fortresses  of  the 
north,  and  now  by  the  inroad  of  the  sea  the  walls  of  the  said  priory  are  in  great  part  fallen,  and  the  rents 
of  the  said  priory  are  in  no  way  sufficient  to  repair  them  as  well  as  to  bear  their  other  charges,  because 
great  part  of  their  said  rents  lies  near  the  march  of  Scotland  and  is  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  therefore 
the  said  prior  and  convent  pray  our  lord  the  king  and  his  council  to  assign  them  some  reasonable  aid, 
whereby  they  pray  to  be  recovered,  to  the  saving  of  the  said  priory  and  fortress  and  of  the  country 
round  about." 

Richard  II.  thereupon  (February  20th,  1380)  granted  licence  to  the 
prior  and  convent  to  acquire  lands  and  tenements  to  the  amount  of  ;^20 

'  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  ii.  pp.  390-394. 

-  Ancifiit  Petitions,  I'.R.O.  7,157.  A  nostre  seignur  le  roy  et  son  consail  mustrount  se  povers 
chapeleins  priour  et  couent  de  Tvnmuth  que  come  lour  dit  priourre  ad  este  par  long  temps  et  ore  est 
un  de  les  forcible  forteles  de  North',  et  or  par  cretyn  et  surunder  de  mer  les  mures  de  dit  priourrie  sunt 
chaies  en  grant  partie  et  les  rentz  de  dit  priourrie  ne  sunt  mie  sufficiant  de  les  reparailer  et  porter  lour 
autres  charges  pur  ceo  que  grant  partie  de  lour  ditz  rentz  gist  pres  de  march  d'Escoce  et  est  destruit  par 
les  enmis,  sur  quoy  les  ditz  priour  et  couent  priount  a  nostre  seigneur  le  roy  et  son  consail  de  les  assigner 
asqune  ayde  resonable  dunt  ils  priont  estre  recouere  en  eel  part  en  saluacion  de  dit  priourrie  et  (orcelet 
et  tout  le  pais  environ.  Cp.  Letters  Patent  printed  in  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  pp.  96,  97  i  and  Gibson, 
vol.  ii.  appendix,  c.x.wi. 

Vol.  VIII.  '3 


g8  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

yearlv  rent.  Next  year  ihey  increased  their  resources  by  purchasing  the 
manor  of  West  Denton,  a  rich  coal-field  on  the  Tyne,  and  at  the  same 
time  added  362  acres  to  their  home  demesne.  In  this  year  (1381),  the 
peasants'  revolt  broke  out.  Northumberland  remained  quiet,  and  the 
prior  of  St.  Alban's  and  four  of  his  brethren  did  not  think  themselves 
safe  from  their  angry  serfs  till  they  had  reached  Tynemouth.'  In  1384 
there  was  a  renewal  of  the  old  complaints  as  to  the  decay  of  the  sea-walls 
and  priory  buildings,  the  '  constant  mortal  pestilence '  of  the  Scottish  in- 
vasions, and  the  cost  of  entertaining  nobles.  This  time  the  complaints 
of  the  priory  were  voiced  by  the  king's  two  uncles,  the  dukes  of  Lancaster 
and  Gloucester,  who  were  friends  of  the  monastery  and  partakers  of  its 
hospitality.  Richard  allowed  the  monks  to  appropriate  for  their  own  use 
the  advowson  of  Haltwhistle  in  Tynedale."  The  year  1384  is  deserving  of 
remembrance  in  the  history  of  the  priory,  for  in  it  St.  Oswin  performed 
his  last  miracle  : 

In  this  year,  on  the  20th  of  August,  being  the  clay  of  the  Passion  of  St.  Oswin,  at  Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne,  two  sailors  wished  to  hollow  out  a  piece  of  timber  for  their  vessel.  And  when  one  of  them  had 
struck  the  wood  with  his  axe,  to  his  amazement  blood  poured  from  it  as  if  it  had  been  a  living  thing. 
He  stood  rooted  with  fear,  and  then,  remembering  that  it  was  St.  Oswin's  Day,  he  vowed  that  he  would 
never  work  again  on  that  day  as  long  as  he  lived.  His  comrade  made  little  of  it  and  swore  that 
he  would  hollow  out  the  timber  ;  but,  when  he  had  struck  it,  he  saw  blood  flow  more  freely  than  before. 
He  aimed  at  another  part  of  the  wood,  but  blood  followed  from  every  stroke  ;  so  then  he  saw  his 
wickedness  and  promised  to  cease  from  the  work  on  that  day.  This  miracle  was  seen  by  many  and  gave 
great  proof  of  the  martyr's  holiness.^ 

Scottish  invasions  now  came  nearer  home.  The  Scots  pressed  south 
in  1386  ;  they  had  reached  Billv-mill  moor  before  a  truce  was  arranged. 
In  1388  they  appeared  before  the  walls  of  Newcastle.  Upon  August  19th 
in  that  year,  the  day  upon  which  the  battle  of  Otterburn  was  fought,  the 
king  granted  protection  for  a  year  to  the  priory,  in  similar  terms  to  those 
which  Edward  III.  had  used  at  Langley  in  1341.''  Twelve  months  later 
came  a  fresh  invasion,  and  this  time  the  Scots  harried  and  burnt  nearly 
the  whole  of  Tynemouthshire,  meeting  with  no  opposition.  When  they 
had  come  to  Tynemouth,  they  desired  to  hold  a  parley  with  the  cellarer 
and  those  who  were  in  the  castle.  So  the  cellarer  went  out  to  treat 
with  them  for  sparing  the  town,  but,  while  he  conferred  with  them,  some 


Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  iii.,  p.  301.  -  Gibson,  vol.  ii.,  appendix,  cxxviii  and  cxxix. 

Thomas  of  Walsingham,  Historia  Ang 
tnd,  Rolls  Series,  p.  240. 

'  Patent  Rolls,  12  Ric.  II.  pars  I,  m.  28. 


'Thomas  of  Walsingham,  Historia  Aiiglicana,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  116;  Capgrave,  Chronicle  0/ 
England,  Rolls  Series,  p.  240. 


TYNEMOl'TH    PRIORY. 


99 


of  the  enemy  were  entering  the  houses,  and  suddenly  flames  burst  out  in 
every  street.  Seeing  this,  one  of  the  garrison  of  the  castle  levelled  his 
crossbow  and  shot  a  servant  of  the  earl  of  Moray,  whereat  the  Scots 
raised  a  great  outcry,  declaring  the  cellarer  to  have  done  treacherously  ; 
and  he  had  almost  lost  his  life  but  that  some  of  the  Scots,  who  were  his 
friends,  saved  him  and  allowed  him  to  go  in  again  to  the  castle  upon  this 
condition,  that  he  should  cure  the  wounded  man  of  his  wounds  and  send 
him  home  at  the  charges  of  the  house.' 

It  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  improve  the 
military    defences    of  the 


castle.  Its  gate  -  house 
was  in  ruins  ;  the  greater 
part  of  its  walls  seaward 
were  thrown  down ;  and 
neither  the  revenues  of" 
St.  Alban's  nor  those  of 
its  cell  sufficed  for  the 
work  of  reparation.  A 
petition  made  bv  Thomas 
de  la  Mare  and  his  con- 
vent was  strongly  sup- 
ported by  the  dukes  of 
Lancaster  and  Gloucester, 
the  earl  of  Huntingdon, 
and  the  earl  of  Northum- 
berland. King  Richard 
agreed  (February  23rd, 
1390)  to  give  /.  500  in 
aid  of  the  needful  repairs, 
John  of  Gaunt  himself 
subscribed  ^"100,  and 
Henry  Percy,  first  earl 
of  Northumberland,  gave 


Newel  Stair  in  Gate-house 


'  Walsingham,  vol.  ii.  p.  402.  Contemporary  surveys  corroborate  the  harrj-ing  of  Tynemouthshire 
and  destruction  of  the  town  ;  e.g.,  a  house  in  Tynemouth  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Sir  Alan  de  Heton  was 
returned  as  worth  ten  shillings  in  1388  (im;.  p.m.  12  Ric.  II.  No.  28),  but  three  years  later  it  was  worth 
nothing  'causa  destructionis  Scotoruin'  {ibid.  15  Ric.  II.  pars  i,  No.  87). 


lOO  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

a  hundred  marks,  as  well  as  a  thousand  trees  to  replace  those  which  the 
Scots  had  burned.  The  gate-house,  which  is  still  standing,  was  then  built  by 
the  prior,  John  de  Whethamstede.'  Another  building  erected  about  this 
time  was  the  prior's  great  stone  house,  which  stood  upon  the  Quayside,  in 
Newcastle,  till  1S54,  when  it,  and  several  old  streets  adjoining,  were  burnt  by 
fire.'  The  priory  acquired  considerable  house  property  in  Newcastle  in  1391. 
In  1405  Whitley  was  purchased  for  the  priory  by  William  de 
Whethamstede,  the  cellarer  above-mentioned.  During  his  tenure  of  office, 
Johanna,  widow  of  the  Black  Prince,  gave  a  donation  for  the  adornment 
of  St.  Oswin's  shrine.^  This  William  was  a  member  of  a  family  which 
was  for  long  closely  connected  with  Tynemouth.  His  nephew,  John  de 
Whethamstede,  surnamed  Makarey  or  Macrel,  was  at  this  time  prior. 
The  prior  in  his  turn  had  a  nephew,  also  named  John  de  Whethamstede, 
who  attained  celebrity  as  abbot  of  St.  Alban's.* 

Makarev. 

I 


Thomas  Makarey  of  Whethamstede.         William  Whethamstede,  cellarer  of  Tynemouth  in  1384. 
^ I 

John  Makarey  of  Whethamstede,  prior  of  Margaret.  =  Hugh  Bostock,  came  out  of  Cheshire  to 

Tynemouth,  1 393-1418.  I        Whethamstede. 


I 
John  Bostock  of  Whethamstede,  prior  of  Gloucester  Hall,  Oxford  ;  abbot  of  St.  .Mban's,  1420-1440,  and  1451-1464. 

'  Pro  priore  et  conventu  de  Tynemoth.  Rex  omnibus  ad  c]uo5,  etc.,  salutem.  Supplicarunt  nobis 
dilecti  nobis  in  Cristo  abbas  et  conventus  abbatie  de  sancto  Albano  ut,  cum  prioratus  de  Tynemoth  in 
comitatu  Northumbrie,  cella  eiusdem  abbatie,  qui  supra  portum  maris  et  os  aque  de  Tyne  situatur, 
tantam  et  excessiuam  destruccionem  de  terris  et  possessionibus  suis  per  .Scotos  adversaries  nostros 
sustinuent,  quod  magna  turris  et  porta  ac  maior  pars  murorum  dicti  prioratus  versus  mare  per 
infortunium  ad  terram  prosternuntur  ;  ita  quod  omnia  bona  abbatie  et  prioratus  illorum  ad  reparacioneni 
eiusdem  prioratus,  qui  castrum  et  refugium  toti  patrie  tempore  guerre  existere  consuevit,  non  sufficiunt 
ut  accepimus  ;  velimus,  consideratis  tam  dampnis  cl  deperditis  in  premissis  que  toti  patrie  predicte,  si 
dictum  castrum  pro  defectu  celeris  reparacionis  per  inimicos  nostros  quod  absit  capiatur,  quam  quod 
predicli  abbas,  prior,  et  conventus,  nisi  magnum  auxilium  et  succursum  nostra  in  hac  parte  habuerint,  ad 
defendcndum  et  reparandum  eundem  prioratum  sine  castrum  minus  sufficienles  exislunt,  poterunt 
evenire,  ordinari  iubere  quod  idem  prioratus  siue  castrum,  ad  quod  faciendum  iidem  abbas,  prior,  et 
conventus  plenariam  potestateai  suain,  ut  asserunt,  tideliter  apponent,  cum  omni  festinacione  possibili 
reparetur;  Nos  ad  supplicacionem  predictam  et  alia  premissa  debitam  consideracionem  habentes,  primo 
ad  honorem  Dei  et  subsequenter  ad  rogatum  carissimorum  avunculorum  nostrorum  ducum  Lancastrie  et 
Gloucestrie  ac  carissimi  fratris  nostri  comitis  Huntyngdonie  et  dilecti  consanguinei  nostri  comitis 
Northumbrie,  de  gracia  nostra  speciali  concessimus  eisdem  abbati,  priori  et  conventui  quingentas  libras 
habendas  per  sufficientem  assignacionem  inde  infra  duos  annos  proximo  futuros  solucndas  in  auxilium 
reparacionis  prioratus  antcdicli.  In  cuius,  etc.  Teste  rege  apud  Westmonasterium  xxiij  die  Kebruarii 
(A.D.  1390)  per  breve  de  privato  sigillo.  Patent  Rolls,  P.R.O.,  13  Ric.  II.  pars  2,  m.  8.  Cp.  Lihir  dc 
Benefacturibus,  Rolls  Series,  pp.  434,  436  ;  and  Walsingham,  vol.  ii.  p.  403. 

•Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  100.  Dr.  Embleton,  'Ruins  of  Buildings  once  existing  on  the 
Quayside.MrW;.  Ael.  second  series,  vol.  xviii.  ■■<  Liber  dc  Bcncfactortbus,  p.  435. 

'  Old  writers,  e.g.,  Dugdale  and  Hearne,  are  mistaken  in  classing  John  de  Whethamstede,  abbot  of 
St.  Alban's,  among  the  priors  of  Tynemouth.  See  Riley,  jfohii  0/  Amuiidesham,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii. 
p.  xvi,  note  2.     Prior  Clement  de  Whethamstede  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  member  of  this  family. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  10 1 

Prior  Whethamstede,  besides  building  the  gatehouse,  inserted  several 
windows  in  the  church,  amongst  which  is  probably  to  be  reckoned  the 
large  Perpendicular  window  in  the  west  front  of  the  nave.  He  restored 
the  monks'  house  at  Wylam  which  had  fallen  into  ruins  during  the  Scottish 
wars.  It  is  also  recorded  of  him  that  he  increased  the  half-yearly  allow- 
ances paid  to  members  of  the  monastery,  and  instituted  the  practice  of 
distributing  pittances  or  doles  among  the  sick  monks  in  the  infirmar}\' 

What  knowledge  we  possess  of  him  is  derived  from  some  verses  writ- 
ten by  his  nephew,  Abbot  Whethamstede,  in  1426,  when  he  made  a 
visitation  to  Tynemouth.  Upon  that  occasion  the  abbot,  after  conducting 
an  investigation  into  the  affairs  of  the  priory,  issued  a  set  of  constitutions 
to  the  following  elTect  : ' 

1.  The  brethren  are  to  attend  the  daily  and  nightly  services  in  the  choir.  The  precentor  of  the 
choir  is  to  see  that  the  services,  and  especially  the  psalms,  are  distinctly  rendered  ;  special  care  is  to  be 
taken  on  festivals.  In  starting  the  antiphons,  the  precentor  is  not  to  begin  to  intone  the  psalm  until 
the  antiphonist  has  finished  his  phrase.     The  priests  are  to  celebrate  mass  daily. 

2.  The  brethren  are  to  discontinue  the  practice  of  acting  plays  in  the  church,  ever>'  fourth  of 
September,  for  the  entertainment  of  their  dependents,  who  have  been  accustomed  to  make  that  day 
a  general  holiday. 

3.  They  are  to  minister  to  feeble  and  sick  monks  ;  the  pittances  assigned  by  Prior  John  de 
Whethamstede  to  brethren  in  the  infirmary  are  hereby  confirmed. 

4.  Twice  a  year  they  may  absent  themselves  from  the  monastery.  But  they  are  not,  on  these 
occasions,  to  wander  about  aimlessly,  or  to  go  to  places  which  may  make  them  the  subject  of  scandal. 

5.  The  sums  of  money  which  they  used  to  receive  from  the  hands  of  the  prior  shall  be  paid 
to  them  by  an  officer  appointed  for  this  purpose,  and  shall  be  a  charge  on  the  rents  of  the  townships 
of  Hauxley  and  West  Cliirton.' 

6.  The  prior  is  to  give  diligent  attention  to  the  discipline  of  his  monks,  and  to  use,  if  necessary, 
the  rod  of  correction.  He  is  to  guard  against  a  diminution  of  temporalities,  which  he  is  to  augment 
if  possible.  He  is  to  have  a  cellarer  who  shall  look  after  the  estates  and  afibrd  alleviation,  when 
necessary,  to  the  tenants  of  the  townships  and  stewards  of  the  manors  ;  the  cellarer  shall  be  free 
from  all  duties  which  do  not  concern  his  office. 

7.  Every  year,  on  the  eve  of  All  Souls'  Day,  the  prior  shall  call  together  his  obedientiaries  and 
receive  their  accounts  ;   he  shall  present  his  own  accounts  every  third  year  to  the  sub-prior. 

'  .\bbot  Whethamstede  has  left  the  following  account  of  his  great-uncle  and  uncle  : 
'  Primus  Whitleia  cum  pratis  cmerat  arva 
Et  domui  jun.xit,  claviger  unde  fuit  ; 
Post  Haltuesiliae  rectoriam  propriare 
Prudenter  stiiduit ;  praeter  haec  bona  plurima  fecit. 
Proximior  primo,  prior  ordine,  junior  illo, 
Uiruptam  januam  reparat,  rursusque  relapsam 
Erigit  a  fundo,  variatquc  situm  situando. 
Drnat  honore  locum,  terret  munimine  Scotum. 
De  Wylomqiie  domum,  riunt  ubi  gaudia  fratrum, 
Per  guerras  lapsam,  rursus  levat,  cfficit  ipsam. 
Aegris  aera  dedit,  cameram  quoque  fratribus  auxit  ; 
Ecclesiam  variis  in  vestui  isque  fenestris 
Ornat  et  illaesa  sua  servat  singula  jura.' 
John  of  Amundesham,  AimaUs  MoiuisUrii  Smicti  Albaui,  vol.  i.  pp.  220-221.  '  Ibiil.    pp.  212-220. 

'  This  is  the  'camera  fratrum'  which  Prior  Whethamstede  is  said  to  have  increased.  For  further 
regulations  concerning  it  see  Gcsta  Abbutiim,  vol.  ii.  pp.  312.  313. 


I02  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

It  may  have  been  upon  this  visit  that  Abbot  Whethamstede  made  his 
present  to  the  monastery  of  a  silver-gilt  chalice,  valued  at  £^,  and  a 
purple  cope  of  cloth  of  gold  sumptuously  worked,  of  the  value  of  ;^20. 
He  also  presented  the  cellarer  of  the  monastery  with  a  silver-gilt  cup." 
The  necessity  of  attending  a  general  chapter  made  him  hurry  home 
without  taking  the  usual  homages  of  his  tenants.^ 

This  abbot's  letter-book  preserves  a  portion  of  his  correspondence 
with  members  of  the  cell.^  He  wrote  to  the  monks  admonishing  them  to 
guard  against  the  sin  of  overeating.  Upon  banishing  to  Tynemouth  a 
refractory  monk  of  Beaulieu,  he  sent  directions  to  Prior  Barton  that  this 
disobedient  brother  was  to  be  put,  if  necessary,  into  gyves  and  fetters. 
Barton,  upon  another  occasion,  sent  his  superior  a  book  called  the  Pilgrim's 
Scrip,  with  strict  injunctions  that  it  should  be  returned.  Whethamstede 
replied  that  he  had  read  portions  of  Aristotle's  Ethics,  and  that  he  would 
not  fail  to  comply  with  this  request. 

A  certain  Robert  de  Rhodes  is  said  to  have  been  prior  in  the  middle 
of  Henry  VI. 's  reign.  He  appears  to  have  acquired  the  manor  of  Benwell 
for  the  priory  by  purchase  from  the  Delaval  family,  but  it  was  more 
probably  acquired  in  the  capacity  of  seneschal  than  in  that  of  prior.^ 
That  he  was  the  Robert  de  Rhodes  who  built  the  spire  of  St.  Nicholas' 
church,  Newcastle,  is  far  from  being  probable. °  His  coat  of  arms  was 
upon  the  gate-house  of  the  priory  until  1705,  when  it  was  taken  down  by 
Colonel  ^'illiers,  then  governor,  and  sent  to  Dr.  Ellison,  vicar  of  Newcastle.* 

Another  name  connected  with  Tynemouth  at  this  period  is  that  of 
the  sub-prior,  John  de  Bamburgh,  who  was  afterwards  prior  of  Wallingford 
and  finally  of  Belvoir.     He  was  a  donor  to  the  library  of  the  convent  and 

'  Jolin  of  Aimindesliam,  Annaks  Monasterii  Sancti  Albnni,  vol.  ii.  p.  257. 

"  Meinoranduiii  quod  12"  die  mensis  Junii,  anno  domini  millesimo  cccc°  xxvj",  anno  vero  regni  regis 
Henrici  sexti  quarto,  apud  Tyneniutham  in  camera  prioris  ibidem,  Simon  de  Welden,  alias  Weltesden, 
armiger,  fecit  homagium  et  fidelitatem  Johanni  Whethamstede  abbati  pro  terris  dominicis,  et  abbas,  de 
sua  gracia  speciali,  condonavit  eidem  feodum  camerarii  sui,  presentibus  domino  Thonia  15arton,  tunc  priore, 
domino  Willelmo  Saxage,  Nicholao  Wellis,  capellanis  dicti  abbatis,  Roberto  Welpynton,  predicti  loci 
senescallo,  Willelmo  de  la  Vale,  armigero,  cum  tota  familia  domini  abbatis.  Et  nota  quod  alii  varii  qui 
propter  suas  tenuras  prestassent  et  fecissent  dicto  abbati  homagium,  admoniti  fuerint  sub  pena  juris  ut 
venirent  et  facient  homagia  sua,  set,  quia  abbas  dictus,  ad  instanciam  prioris  ecclesie  cathedralis  Dunelmie, 
citius  quam  proposuit  propter  celebiationem  generalis  capituli  reversus  est  ad  partes,  pro  tunc  dictus 
abbas  a  suis  tenentibus  talia  servicia  non  recepit,  sed  posuit  in  suspense  quousque  hujusmodi  negocio 
liberius  vacare  posset  ;  Willelmo  de  la  \'ale,  propter  sue  defectum  etatis.abeo  servicio  pro  tunc  excusato. 
St.  Albans  Register,  fol.  61  b.     From  Baker's  transcripts. 

"  Registrum  Abbatiae  Johannis  Whethamstede,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  appendix  E. 

'  Flower,  Visitatioit  of  Yorkshire,  Harl.  Soc.  No.  xvi.  p.  98.        "■  Grey,  Chorographiti,  pub.  1649,  p.  10. 

°  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  101,  citing  Dr.  Ellison's  MSS. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


103 


himself  an  author.  He  wrote  a  life  of  Prior  Whethamstede,  and  sent  it  to 
the  prior's  nephew,  the  abbot.  The  latter  fell,  as  he  himself  puts  it,  into 
'a  stupor  of  admiration'  over  the  book.  After  comparing  Bamburgh's 
achievement  with  those  of  the  several  Latin  authors  from  Ennius  to 
Eusebius,  and  expressing  his  wonder  that  Bamburgh  should  have  come  by 
such  eloquence,  though  he  had  'never  slept  by  the  Hippocrene  which 
wells  up  in  the  heart  of  Oxford,  nor  ever  tasted  a  single  draught  of  the 
Cirrean  stream  which  flows  past  Cambridge,'  he  prophesied  an  immortality 
for  this  work,  that  'while  sun  gives  forth  its  rays  and  the  stars  their  light, 


Bosses  over  the  Doorway  of  the  Percy  Ch.apel. 

Steel  shall  not  raze  it  nor  fire  consume,  neither  shall  time  nor  eld  have 
power  to  destroy.'  But  our  literature  is  no  longer  enriched  by  its 
presence,  for  the  book  is  lost.' 

John  Langton,  who  first  occurs  as  prior  in  1450,  has  the  best  claim 
to  be  considered  the  builder  of  a  chapel  or  chantry  at  the  east  end  of 
the  priory  church,  popularly  known  as  the  Lady-chapel  ;  for  the  monogram 

'  Re^istrum  Whethamstede,  vol.  i.  pp.  311-316. 


I04  TYNEMOUl'H    PARISH. 

I.L.P.  (lohannes  Langton,  prior)  twice  occurs  upon  the  bosses  of  its  roof. 
The  Percy  chapel  would  be  a  more  suitable  name,  for  the  arms  of  Percy 
and  I.ucy  and  the  crescent  and  shacklebolt  badge  are  to  be  found  within 
it,  and  point  to  some  connection  with  the  earls  of  Northumberland.  Its 
style  of  architecture  dates  it  a  centurv  later  than  the  time  when  the  real 
Lady-chapel  was  constructed. 

Margaret  of  Anjou,  sailing  from  France  in  the  autumn  of  1462  with 
French  reinforcements  for  her  husband,  landed  at  Tynemouth,  probably 
intending  to  attack  Newcastle  ;  but  a  sudden  change  of  plan,  or  a  panic 
among  her  troops,  led  her  to  embark  once  more  and  set  sail  for  Berwick, 
whither  she  made  her  way  in  a  rising  gale.'  Otherwise  the  Wars  of  the 
Roses  passed  lightly  over  the  priory,  which  presumably  remained  resolutely 
Yorkist.  A  few  months  after  Oueen  Margaret's  abortive  landing,  King 
Edward  I\".  issued  to  the  priory  a  confirmation  of  Richard  I.'s  charter, 
this  time  with  a  commentary  upon,  and  specification  of,  its  terms  as  being 
general  and  obscure.  He  further  granted  to  the  prior  and  convent  the 
right  to  buy  all  kinds  of  victuals  and  goods  for  their  own  use  in  the  port 
of  Tyne,  from  their  own  or  from  stranger  vessels,  and  to  load  and  unload 
there  their  cargoes  of  salt  and  coal,  without  any  impediment  from  the 
men  ot  Newcastle.  He  also  sanctioned  the  erection  of  breakwaters  at 
Tynemouth  and  Shields,  the  baking  of  bread  and  brewing  of  ale,  and  the 
sale  of  fresh  and  salt  fish  free   from  all  payment  of  custom.'- 

Some  remarkable  transactions  concerning  Tynemouth  are  disclosed  in 
the  register  of  Abbot  William  Wallingford,  a  successor  of  Whethamstede. 
In  November,  1462,  a  commission  was  granted  to  Nicholas  Boston,  almoner 
of  St.  Alban's  monastery,  to  make  a  visitation  of  Binham  priory,  which  was 
then  ruled  by  William  Dixwell.  Boston's  report  appears  to  have  been 
unfavourable,  and  Dixwell  was  superseded.  In  January,  1464,  Abbot 
Whethamstede,  acting  probably  at  Boston's  suggestion,  wrote  to  Edward 
IV.,  asking  him  to  secure  the  ex-prior's  arrest,  '  forasmuch  as  he,  like 
another  son  of  perdition,  wanders  about  from  place  to  place,  from  village 
to  village,  and  from  market  to  market,  more  like  a  vagabond  and  an 
apostate  than  a  regular  monk.'  However,  when  Whethamstede  died,  the 
new  abbot  reinstated  Dixwell  in  his  former  position  at  Binham. 

John  Langton,    who   was  then   prior  of  Tynemouth,  was  growing  old, 

'  Hall,  Chronicle,  ed.  1S09,  p.  259.  =  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  cxxxvii. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


105 


and  on  that  score  and  on  the  ground  of  ill-health  he  was  unable  to  attend 
Abbot  Wallingford's  election  in  1476.  Preparations  were  made  to  provide 
for  the  approaching  vacancy  in  that  cell.  In  accordance  with  the  prevalent 
practice  of  trafficking  in  preferment,  the  right  was  accorded  to  Richard, 
duke  of  Gloucester,  and  to  Lord  Say  of  appointing  to  Tynemouth,  upon 
the  next  vacancy,  Nicholas  Boston,  now  (1477)  archdeacon  of  St.  Alban's. 
Very  shortly  after  this  grant  was  made,  two  officers  of  St.  Alban's  monastery 
were  despatched  to  Tynemouth  to  hold  a  visitation  there,  carrying  with 
them  certain  letters  to  Prior  Langton.  Whatever  these  letters  may  have 
contained,  and  they  may  have  called  upon  Langton  to  resign  in  favour  of 
Boston,  they  were  not  to  his  liking.  He  tore  them  into  shreds,  and  the 
two  emissaries  thought  themselves  fortunate  to  have  escaped  from  Tvne- 
mouth  alive.  Upon  March  15th,  1478,  sentence  of  deposition  was  pro- 
nounced upon  Langton.  He  was  inhibited  from  celebrating  mass,  and  was 
summoned  to  appear  at  St.  Alban's  within  fifteen  days,  there  to  give  account 
of  his  conduct.  Boston  succeeded,  as  a  matter  of  course,  to  the  vacant  cell. 
Next  day  the  abbot  secured  to  him  his  new  dignity  for  life,  but  he  did  not 
set  out  for  the  North  until  the  following  September,  and  then  spent  thirtv- 
nine  days  upon  the  road,  spending  also,  it  is  said,  large  sums  of  money  which 
might  have  much  availed  his  house. 

His  tenure  of  office  was  a  short  one.  On  April  2Sth,  1480,  a  com- 
mission was  issued  for  visiting  the  priory.  The  commissioners  were  the 
dispossessed  prior,  John  Langton  ;  Boston's  old  enemy,  William  Dixwell  ; 
and  another.  Ten  days  later  the  abbot  appointed  Dixwell  to  be  prior  of 
Tynemouth.  The  letter  of  appointment  must  have  come  close  on  the  heels 
of  the  commissioners.  Armed  with  it  they  presented  themselves  to 
Boston,  who,  on  his  part,  produced  the  grant  of  the  office  of  prior  to  him 
for  life.  Dixwell  snatched  the  deed  out  of  his  hands  and  tore  it  to  pieces. 
Prior  Boston  submitted  to  the  inevitable,  and  in  '  the  chapel  hard  by  the 
prior's  chamber,'  resigned  the  post  from  which  he  would  otherwise  have 
been  deposed.  Retirement  was  made  easy  to  him  by  the  grant  of  an 
annuity  of  ^10,  secured  upon  the  manor  of  Hauxley.  By  a  rather  curious 
arrangement,  Henry  Percy,  fourth  earl  of  Northumberland,  granted  a 
similar  annuity  at  the  same  time  to  Prior  Dixwell,  nominally  upon  appoint- 
ing him  to  be  one  of  the  earl's  council.  Consequently  the  maintenance 
of  Nicholas  Boston  actually  fell  upon  the  earl. 

Vol,  VIII.  14 


I06  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Events  followed  hard  upon  one  another.  It  was  upon  July  24th  that 
the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  confirmed  Boston's  annuity.  On  September  5th 
he  issued  a  commission  to  prior  Dixwell  to  take  and  examine  Boston,  who 
had  been  accused  to  him  of  excesses.  Boston  was  ordered  to  appear  before 
the  prior,  and  a  few  days  later  a  letter  was  sent  to  the  bishop  of  Durham 
requesting  him  to  arrest  the  ex-prior,  '  forasmuch  as  he,  like  another  son 
of  perdition,  wanders  about  from  place  to  place,  from  village  to  village, 
and  from  market  to  market,  more  like  a  vagabond  and  an  apostate  than  a 
regular  monk.'  The  repetition  of  his  own  phrase  must  have  proved  bitter 
to  him  if  he  saw  the  writing.  He  replied  by  making  charges  against  his 
rival  which  put  a  different  complexion  upon  the  case,  and  in  December  the 
prior  of  Belvoir  was  empowered  to  visit  Tynemouth  and  to  make  enquiry 
into  the  case.  This  resulted  in  the  reinstatement  of  Boston  in  his  former 
post,  while  Dixwell  again  became  prior  of  Binham.  Two  years  afterwards 
the  latter,  being  seized  with  repentance,  entreated  Abbot  Wallingford  to 
re-issue  to  Boston  his  old  grant  of  the  priorate  in  perpetuity,  which  was 
done,  but  sealed  only  with  the  abbot's  seal.  Upon  the  intervention  of 
Richard  III.  it  was  again  granted,  this  time  sealed  with  the  conventual  seal 
in  addition.  At  the  same  time  the  king  promised  Prior  Boston  a  valuable 
benefice  and  £100  towards  building  a  water  mill  (possibly  that  at  Harden 
burn).  It  will  be  remembered  that  Richard,  when  duke  of  Gloucester,  had 
presented  Boston  to   the   priorate. 

A  final  reconciliation  between  Boston  and  Dixwell  was  effected  in 
1485.  Dixwell  made  a  promise  in  writing  to  discharge  all  debts  incurred 
by  him  as  prior  of  Tynemouth.  Ten  years  afterwards  Prior  Boston  died, 
and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  the  Grey  Friars  in  London.  His  former 
antagonist  survived  him  at  least  sixteen  years,  and  died  prior  of  Hertford.' 

A  large  establishment  appears  to  have  been  maintained  by  the  later 
priors  of  Tynemouth.  When  Henry  VII. 's  daughter,  Margaret,  the  affianced 
bride  of  James  IV.  of  Scotland,  made  her  progress  to  the  Scottish  court  in 
1503,  Prior  Stony  well  came  to  meet  her  three  miles  from  Newcastle,  'well 
appointed,  and  in  his  company  thirty  horses,  his  men  in  livery.'  ^  His 
successor  assembled  at  Tynemouth  great  numbers  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Tynedale   and   Redesdale,  to  whom   he   gave   arms   and   wages  of  sixpence 

'  Registrum  abbatiae  IVilUlmi  Wallingforde.     The  events  have  been  carefully  investigated  by  Kiley 
{Registnim  Wlicthamstede,  vol.  ii.  pp.  xxxv-xliv),  whose  account  is  here  followed. 

'  Leland,  Collectanea,  ed.  Hearne,  1774,  vol.  iv.  p.  277. 


TYNIi.MOUTH    PRIORY.  IO7 

a  day,  to  the  intent,  it  was  said,  that  by  his  commandment  they  should  have 
murdered  the  mayor,  aldermen,  and  other  inhabitants  of  Newcastle.'  At  the 
same  time  the  upkeep  of  the  castle  and  monastic  buildings  was  neglected. 
In  1527  it  was  stated  that  the  decays  within  the  castle  walls  of  the  priory 
were  numerous  and  that  it  would  cost  much  to  remedy  them  ;  the  glass 
windows  and  leads  of  the  church  and  the  barns  and  garners  for  the  corn 
were  in  especial  need  of  repair.- 

A  marked  feature  of  the  close  of  the  history  of  this  monastery  is  its 
growing  independence  of  St.  Alban's  and  dependence  upon  persons  of 
influence  at  court.  Wolsey,  in  15 19,  with  the  nominal  consent  of  Abbot 
Ramrigge,  exempted  Prior  Stonywell  from  the  jurisdiction  of  St.  Alban's 
during  that  prior's  lifetime.'  When  he  determined  to  create  Stonywell's 
successor  abbot  of  Peterborough,  William  Franklin,  chancellor  of  Durham, 
and  Sir  William  Buhner,  hearing  of  the  cardinal's  intention,  wrote  re- 
questing him  to  give  the  priory  to  Dr.  Peter  Lee  of  the  monastery  of 
Durham,  a  man  of  learning  and  good  conversation.''  Lady  Mary  Cary 
prevailed  in  getting  the  appointment  given  to  Thomas  Gardiner,  one  of 
the  king's  chaplains,  a  son  of  William  Gardiner,  citizen  of  London,  by  a 
natural  daughter  of  Jasper  Tudor,  earl  of  Pembroke.  She  was  rewarded 
by  receiving  an  annuity  of  a  hundred  marks  out  of  the  conventual  revenues. 
The  favour  of  Thomas  Cromwell  was  secured  by  the  grant  of  a  pension, 
and  altogether  Gardiner  burdened  the  revenues  of  his  house  with  annuities 
amounting  to  two  hundred  marks.'  Cromwell  informed  the  abbot  of  St. 
Alban's  that  it  was  the  king's  pleasure  that  Gardiner  should  have  Tyne- 
mouth  priorv  for  life,  an  order  with  which  the  abbot  was  obliged  to  comply." 

An  ominous  hostility  towards  the  priory  on  the  part  of  the  neighbouring 
gentry  was  beginning  to  be  apparent,  as  is  shown  in  the  following  petition 
addressed  to  the  king  at  some  date  between  1528  and  1536  : 

To  the  kynge  our  soveraigne  lord. 

In  his  most  humble  wyse  shewith  and  complayneth  unto  your  excellent  hiyhnes  your  daily  and 
feithfull  oratour,  Thomas,  pryor  of  Tynmowth,  in  your  countie  of  Nonhumbreland,  that  where  Sir 
Thomas  Hylton,  knyght,  son  and  heire  apparent  vnto  the  baron  of  Hylton,  Sir  John  Delavale,  knyght, 

'  Star  Chamber  Proceedings,  Hen.  \'II1.  bundle  20,  No.  2. 
'"'  Letters  itml  Papers,  Hen.  VHI.  vol.  iv.  p.  1469. 

•■'  Letters  and  Papers,  Hen.  VHI.  vol.  iii.  p.  176.  '  Ibid.  vol.  iv.  p.  1574. 

'  See  Augmention  Office,  Conventual  Leases,  Northumberland,  bundle  i,  for  an  annuity  of  ten  marks 
granted  by  Gardiner  out  of  Benwell.     Gibson,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  cli. 

'  Letters  and  Papers,  Hen.  VIII.  vol.  vi.  p.  337. 


Io8  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Henry  Ewer  and  Richard  Bellyces,  esquyers,  accompayned  with  cc  persons  or  iher-aboutes  to  your 
seid  oratour  unknowcn,  the  Fryday  next  before  Candehnes  Day  last  past,  ryottously  assembled  and 
gathered  themselfes  togider  at  Tynniouthe  forseid,  and  than  and  ther  ryottously  with  force  and 
armes  endyvored  tliemsclfes  to  the  best  of  ther  power  to  Iiave  entred  in  at  the  gate  of  the  priory  of 
Tynniowthe  forseid,  to  th'entent  and  purpose  without  any  autoritie,  right  or  title,  against  the  order 
of  your  lawes,  sovcraigne  lorde,  and  against  the  will  of  your  seid  oratour,  to  have  kepte  a  court 
within  the  precyncte  of  the  seid  pryory  ;  and  for  the  appeasyng  of  the  seid  ryottous  persons,  and  to 
th'entent  that  no  hurt  or  brechc  of  your  peax  shuld  growe  or  ensue  therby,  your  seid  oratour  shewed 
and  declared,  in  the  open  presence  of  them  all,  that  my  lorde  of  Rocheford  was  high  stuard  of  the 
seid  pryory,  and  it  apperteyned  to  no  person  other  than  to  the  seid  Lorde  Rocheford  and  his  deputies 
to  kepe  any  court  within  the  precyncte  of  the  seid  pryory.  And  for  by  cause  your  seid  oratour  wold 
have  had  the  good  will,  love  and  favour  of  the  seid  Sir  Thomas  Hylton  and  Sir  John  Delavale,  and 
of  the  other  above  named,  desired  them  in  gentill  nianer  to  come  into  his  place  and  take  such  chere 
as  he  than  had,  and  they  shuld  be  welcome  right  hartily  thereto  ;  and  than  the  seid  Sir  Thomas 
Hylton,  being  in  a  great  fury,  swore  many  great  othes  that  he  wold  be  high  stuard  of  the  sayed 
pryory  whosoever  sayed  nay  ;  and  than  and  ther,  most  gracious  soveraigne  lorde,  the  seid  Sir  Thomas 
Hylton  and  Sir  John  Delavale  gafe  unto  your  seid  oratour  many  great  manessheyng  wordes,  and 
put  your  seid  oratour  and  all  his  household  and  servaunttes  in  great  feare  and  jupardie  of  ther  lyfes. 
And  aswell  the  seid  Sir  John  Delavale  as  the  seid  Sir  Thomas  Hylton  than  and  ther  openly  reported 
and  sayed  that,  yf  your  seid  oratour  or  any  of  his  servaunttes  came  within  ther  waike,  they  wold  do 
them  right  high  displeasure.  And  so  it  is,  most  gracious  soveraigne  lorde,  the  seid  ryottous  persons 
perseveryng  ther  said  ungracious  purpose,  shortely  after  a  mounke  of  your  seid  oratour,  being  bowser ' 
of  the  seid  pryory,  was  rydyng  in  the  countrey  ther  aboute  the  besynes  of  the  seid  pryory  by  the 
comaundement  of  your  seid  oratour  ; — diverse  of  the  servaunttes  of  the  seid  Sir  John  Delavale,  by  the 
commaundement  of  the  seid  Sir  John  Delavale,  lay  in  watche  for  the  seid  bowser,  and  with  force  and 
armes  forcibly  against  his  will  toke  hym  and  caryed  hym  to  the  place  of  the  seid  Sir  John  Delavale, 
and  ther  kepte  hym  prysoncr  by  the  space  of  too  dayes.  And  furthermore,  the  seid  Sir  John 
Delavale,  therwith  not  contentid,  syns  that  tyme  hath  made  his  avowe,  and  in  sundry  places  within 
your  seid  contie  openly  reported  and  sayed,  that  he  wold  serve  your  seid  oratour  in  lyke  maner  as 
he  served  his  chaplen,  by  reason  wherof  your  seid  oratour  dar  not  for  feare  and  juperdie  of  his  lyfe 
goo  oute  of  his  seid  pryory  to  kepe  his  courtes  and  oversee  his  manourz,  landes,  tenementes  and 
hereditamentes  belongyng  to  the  seid  pryory,  for  feare  of  the  seid  Sir  John  Delavale  and  Sir  Thomas 
Hylton  ;  for  they  be  confidered  togider  to  murder  and  slaye  your  seid  oratour,  as  far  as  your  seid 
oratour  can  understond  and  perceive  ;  which  haynous  actes  be  not  onely  against  your  peax  and  lawes, 
but  also  to  the  worst  example  that  hath  been  seen  in  those  parties,  yf  due  punesshement  be  not  had 
and  provided  herein.  In  consideracion  wherof  may  it  please  your  gracious  highnes  of  your  most 
aboundaunt  grace  to  grauntte  your  gracious  letters  of  pryvey  seale  to  be  directed  unto  the  seid  Sir 
Thomas  Hylton,  Sir  John  Delavale,  Henry  Ewer  and  Richard  Bellycez,  comaundyng  them  in  your 
most  dreid  nanie  personally  to  appere  before  your  roiall  highnes  and  the  lordes  of  your  most  honorable 
counsaill,  at  a  certen  day  and  under  a  certen  payn  by  your  seid  highnez  to  be  lymytted,  in  your  halles  at 
Westminster  to  make  aunswer  unto  the  premyssez,  and  for  the  same  to  be  orderd  and  punesshed 
according  to  ther  demerites  ;  and  your  seid  oratour  shall  daily  pray  for  your  most  noble  and  ryall 
person  long  to  endure. 

(Endorsed.)     Fiant  brevia  sub  privato  sigillo  ad  comparendum  quindena  Trinitatis  Thome  Hilton 
militi  et  tribus  aliis  infrascriptis. 

Tho.  More,  Knight,  Chauncellour.' 

Like   all   other  northern  monasteries,   Tynemouth  was  visited    by  the 
king's   commissioners    early  in    1536.      Charges  of  a    most    serious   nature 

'  I.e.  bursar.  ■■"  Star  Chamber  Proceedings,  Hen.  VIII.  bundle  29,  No.  84. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  lOQ 

were  made  against  Prior  Gardiner  and  seven  of  the  fifteen  monks.'  Though 
the  statements  are  lacking  in  substantiation,  it  must  be  admitted  that 
Tynemouth  was  not,  like  other  religious  houses  in  the  county,  beyond  the 
reach  of  calumny.  Abbot  Whethamstede's  correspondence  shows  that 
the  standard  of  morals  there  a  century  earlier  was  low,-  and  it  is  probable 
that  it  had  not  been  raised  since  his  time. 

Gardiner  did  not  long  remain  prior.  In  the  following  December  his 
post  was  vacant.  The  Pilgrimage  of  Grace  had  taken  place  in  the  meantime. 
Rich  monasteries  like  Tynemouth  had  little  to  gain  by  joining  in  that 
movement  ;  indeed,  that  house  seems  to  have  suffered  from  standing  aloof ; 
its  own  tenants  carried  off  cattle,  sheep  and  corn  from  the  demesne,  withheld 
the  rents  by  force,  and  threatened  to  enter  into  the  priory.' 

Cromwell  was  the  means  of  securing  the  appointment  of  Robert 
Blakeney,  late  chaplain  to  Abbot  Ramrigge,  to  the  office  of  prior.  Shortly 
after  his  election,  on  April  3rd,    1537,  Blakeney  wrote  to  his  patron  : 

'When  of  your  goodness  you  preferred  me  to  the  room  of  the  prior)'  of  Tynemouth,  I  showed  your 
lordship  that  my  lady  Mary  Carye,  now  Stafford,  had  an  annuity  of  a  hundred  marks,  under  convent 
seal  of  my  house,  for  no  cause  except  it  should  be  for  preferring  my  predecessor  to  his  room.  The 
said  lady  can  now  demand  no  such  annuity,  as  she  can  do  no  great  good  for  me  or  my  house,  which 
is  now  onerate  by  first  fruits  and  charges.  I  once  stopped  the  payment,  but  could  not  continue, 
through  the  command  of  my  lord  chancellor.  These  be  to  desire  your  lordship  that  the  convent 
seal  may  be  reversed,  as  this  bearer,  Mr.  Warmyngton,  your  servant,  shall  declare.  For  your  kindness 
herein  your  annuity  of  twenty  marks  shall  be  made  thirty  marks,  to  your  lordship  and  Mr.  Gregory 
your  son  in  survivorship.'  ^ 

Blakeney  sought  to  have  a  grant  of  the  priory  for  life.  On  July  14th 
in  this  same  year,  John  Gostwyk,  Cromwell's  secretary,  wrote  to  his  master  : 

'  Be  good  lord  to  my  old  acquaintance  the  prior  of  Tynemouth.  The  valuation  made  of  his 
monastery  in  the  time  of  Mr.  Bellesses  (1527)  is  much  more  than  it  is  now  worth,  and,  since  then, 
the  last  prior  gave  away  over  two  hundred  marks  in  annuities  ;  yet  he  is  willing  to  compound  for 
your  lordship's  favour  by  a  grant  under  convent  seal  of  .St.  Alban's,  like  his  predecessors.' ' 

The  prior  also  obtained  the  good  services  of  the  duke  of  Norfolk  in 
laying  his  case  before  Cromwell.  By  a  convenient  confusion  of  surname, 
that  nobleman's  ancestors,  the  Mowbrays,  had  come  to  be  regarded  as 
founders  of  the  priory." 

'  Letters  and  Papers,  vol.  .\.  p.  142.  -  Registnim  Whdhamstcdc,  vol.  ii.  pp.  45S-463. 

'  Letters  and  Papers,  vol.  ,\i.  p.  524.  '  Ibid.  vol.  xii.  pt.  i,  p.  363. 

"  Ibid.  pt.  2,  p.  109.  '  Ibid.  pt.  I,  p.  544. 


no 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Though  the  extent  of  its  income  saved  Tynemouth  from  suppression 
in  1536,  it  must  have  been  evident  that  the  blow  could  not  be  long  deferred. 
Every  effort  was  made  by  the  monks  to  raise  money  and  to  attach  influential 
landowners  to  their  cause  by  leasing  to  them  for  long  terms  of  years  various 

outlving  estates  of  the  priory.  Thus 
on  September  ist,  1536,  the  prior 
and  convent  leased  to  Thomas 
Lawson  of  Cramlington  their  lands 
at  West  Hartford  for  forty  years, 
and  on  October  8th  following  a 
sixty-one  years'  lease  of  the  manor 
of  Bewick  was  granted  to  Robert 
Collingwood.  Sir  Thomas  Clifford 
lent  to  them  'in  their  great  need' 
the  sum  of  a  hundred  marks,  to  be 
employed  to  the  use  aud  profit  of 
their  monastery.^ 

At  last  they  submitted.  On 
January  12th,  1539,  Prior  Blake- 
nev  and  his  monks  signed  a  deed 
of  surrender,  by  which  they  made 
over  their  monastery  and  all  its 
possessions  to  the  king."  They 
had    previously   parted    with   what 


^  i  they  could.    Only  four  days  earlier 

1  K^v 


■":-  a   lease  had   been  drawn   up  con- 
ferring upon    John,    son    and    heir 
r-'-'-"^'  ^^     apparent    of   their   former    enemy, 
Sir  John  Delaval,  the  tithe  sheaves 

of  corn    in   the   town   of  Whitley 
Doorways  in  the  Gate-house.  ,        r  1        tt  1 

tor  fortv   vears.        liut   thev  were 

liberally  rewarded  for  their  surrender.     Blakeney  received  a  pension  of  ^80 

and  was  allowed  to  farm  from  the   Crown   his  former  manor  of  Benwell. 

'  Acknowledged  in  bond  dated  February  20lh,  1538.     Madox,  Formularc  Aiiglicniiuiii,  p.  367. 

•  Dads  of  Surreiuicr,  Augmentation  Office,  No.  228  ;   Rynier,  Foedci-a,  vol.  xiv.  p.  623,  and  Gibson, 
vol.  ii.  appentli.x,  clii.     Facsimiles  of  the  signatures  to  the  deed  are  reproduced  ibid.  vol.  i.  to  face  p.  20S 
'  Watcrjurd  Charters,  No.  25,  at  Ford  Castle. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY,  I  I  I 

The  sub-prior,  Thomas  Castell,  obtained  ten  marks  yearly,  together  with 
the  perpetual  curacy  of  Earsdon.  Annuities  varying  from  £2  to  £(:>  were 
given  to  the  other  monks,  and  smaller  allowances  to  their  servants." 

Sir  George  Lawson  was  appointed  to  take  the  surrender.^  All  the 
household  stuff,  stores  and  farm  stock  were  sold,  and,  together  with  out- 
standing debts,  realised  ^"261  i6s.  The  lead  was  reserved,  but  the 
commissioners  carried  off  the  six  bells,  62  ounces  of  gold,  and  1,8275 
ounces  of  silver/  St.  Oswin's  shrine  was  broken  up  and  his  bones  were 
scattered. 

One  might  be  allowed  to  fancy  that  the  Deiran  king  still  rested  at 
Tynemouth,  were  it  not  that  a  certain  Christopher  Chaitour,  servant  to 
the  bishop  of  Durham,  had  told  of  how  one  Sunday,  coming  from  Hunting- 
don, he  overtook  two  men  and  rode  past  them.  But  one  of  them  named 
Cray  followed  and  asked  him  what  news  and  why  he  rode  so  fast,  and, 
so  falling  into  conversation,  enquired  whether  there  were  any  abbeys  still 
standing.  Chaitour  answered,  '  They  shall  down  shortly,  by  report.'  Then 
he  asked,  'How  doth  vour  shrines?  Are  thev  taken  awav  ? '  and  Chaitour 
said  there  was  one  at  Tynemouth,  where  he  had  seen  the  visitors  handling 
the  relics  very  irreverently,  spoiling  them  of  their  gold  and  silver  and 
casting  them  away.  They  gave  him  some  bones  garnished  with  silver, 
'and  he  that  gave  me  them  said  the  silver  thereof  would  make  a  chaipe^ 
to  my  dagger.'  He  said  he  had  them  still  and  had  gathered  up  some  of 
the  bones  they  cast  awav.  He  would  have  great  need  ere  he  should  sell 
them,  '  for,  as  I  have  heard  a  learned  man  say,  which  was  Dr.  Ridley  that 
is  dead,  St.  Jerome  and  Ambrose  had  these  relics  of  saints  in  honour.' 
Cray  was  '  a  man  much  inquisitive,'  and  began  asking  about  other  things 
as  he  and  his  companion  travelled  along  the  London  road.' 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  examine  a  little  more  closely  certain  features 
in  the  history  of  the  priory  which  was  thus  dissolved.  Subject  to  the  Bene- 
dictine rule  generally,  and  in  particular  to  the  regulations  of  St.  Alban's 
monastery,  upon  which  it  was  dependent  and  in  whose  privileges  it  shared, 
it  had  certain  characteristics  which  were  not  common  to  other  monasteries. 

'  Lethi-s  and  Papers,  vol.  xiv.  pt.  i,  p.  68.     Ministers'  Accouuts  in  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  225. 

-  Ibid.  p.  60.  '  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  209,  quoting  Harleian  MSS.  No.  604,  fol.  92  b. 

'  Chape:  'the  metal  plate  01  mounting  of  a  scabbard  or  sheath,  particularly  that  which  covers  the 
point.'  Murray,  New  English  Dictionary,  vol.  ii.  p.  274  ;  citing  Holland,  Pliny,  vol.  ii.  p.  483-  '  Their 
scabberds  and  sheaths  bee  set  out  with  silver  chapes.' 

'  Letters  and  Papers,  vol.  xiv.  pt.  2,  pp.  277,  281. 


112  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

There  were  in  this  house  fifteen  monks'  and  a  few  novices,  all  under 
the  authority  of  the  prior.  Appointments  to  the  post  of  prior  were  made 
by  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  who,  upon  vacancies  occurring,  presented  his 
nominee  to  the  bishop  of  Durham  with  the  request  that  he  might  be 
admitted  to  the  priorate.  To  a  very  limited  extent  the  prior  was  subject 
to  his  diocesan,  who  visited  the  parochial  portion  of  his  church  and 
ordained  members  of  his  house,  but  could  not  compel  him  to  attend  the 
diocesan  councils  or  to  join  in  monetary  contributions  imposed  upon  the 
rest  of  his  diocese.  When  appointed,  the  new  prior  took  an  oath  of 
obedience  to  his  abbot.  In  virtue  of  his  office  he  obtained  a  stall  in  the 
abbey  church,  a  seat  in  its  chapter,  and  a  vote  in  the  election  of  a  new 
abbot.  On  the  other  hand  he  remained  subject  to  the  visitatorial  juris- 
diction of  his  superior,  who  might  depose  him  at  will.  He  was  supreme 
in  his  cell  and  reckoned  among  his  privileges  the  right  to  receive  the 
professions  of  monks  who  entered  his  monastery,  to  confess  and  absolve 
his  monks,  over  whom  he  exercised  disciplinary  powers,  to  appoint  and 
remove  the  officers  of  the  convent,  and  to  present  to  benefices  in  the  case 
of  churches  of  which  his  priory  held  the  advowson. 

Quite  half  the  total  number  of  the  monks  at  Tynemouth  held  some 
sort  of  monastic  office.  Most  of  them  were  priests  or  at  least  were  in 
minor  orders.  They  were  by  no  means  all  of  northern  extraction,  and 
there  were  frequent  cases  of  a  single  family  sending  more  than  one  of  its 
members  to  the  priory  in  the  same  or  in  successive  generations. 

Occasionally  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  came  upon  a  visitation  to  his 
cell.  Abbot  Simon's  visit  was  long  remembered  for  its  length,  William  de 
Trumpington's  for  its  magnificence.  Eversdon  employed  the  threat  of  a 
six  months'  stay  to  extort  contributions  from  priors  who  knew  the  cost  of 
entertaining  their  abbot."  Upon  these  visitations  the  abbot  came  attended 
by  some  of  his  tenants  on  horseback,  who  held  their  lands  of  him  upon 
this  service.'  On  his  arrival  at  Tynemouth  he  feasted  his  tenants,  who  in 
return  paid  him  the  dues  known  as  the  'Abbot's  Welcome.'  There  he 
conducted  a  visitation  of  the  priory,  issued  constitutions  for  the  monks, 
presided  at  the  manorial  court  and  received  the  homage  or  the  fealty  of 

'  Fifteen  monks  paid  poll  t.ix  in  1381  (Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  160),  and  the  same  number  signed  the  deed 
of  surrender  in  1 539. 

=  Gesta  Abbattim,  vol.  ii.  p.  130.  '  Ibid.  vol.  i.  p.  265,  and  vol.  ii.  p.  208. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  II3 

those  who  held  their  land  of  him.'  The  sums  then  demanded  from  the 
tenants  as  a  recognition  of  the  abbot's  overlordship  proved  a  heavy  tax 
upon  the  poorer  of  their  number.  Abbot  Heyvvorth  in  consequence  waived 
his  right  to  hold  homages  at  Tynemouth,  and  his  predecessor  de  la  Mare 
only  exacted  it  because  '  men  of  the  stamp  he  had  to  deal  with  were  ever 
ready  to  rebel  against  their  lords'  and  to  take  advantage  of  the  breach  of 
custom.' 

A  detailed  account  has  been  preserved  of  Abbot  Norton's  progress 
in  1264.^  Reaching  Tynemouth  on  December  13th,  he  held  his  visitation 
of  the  priory,  and  then  on  the  22nd  in  the  great  hall  of  Tynemouth  received 
the  homages  of  the  six  tenants  who  held  of  him  by  military  service.  The 
day  after  Christmas  he  took  the  fealty  of  the  men  of  Tynemouth,  and  that 
of  the  tenants  of  Shields  on  the  27th.  Next  day  Hugh  de  Milneton  and 
the  heir  of  Anick  came  before  him.  On  January  8th  he  was  at  Bewick, 
receiving  the  fealty  of  that  place  and  of  Lilburn  and  Eglingham.  On  the 
nth  in  the  hall  of  Amble  he  took  the  fealty  of  the  men  of  Amble 
and  Hauxley,  and  those  of  Cowpen  on  the  13th  in  the  hall  of  Bebside. 
He  was  again  at  Tynemouth  on  the  15th  taking  the  fealty  of  Earsdon, 
Monkseaton,  Preston,  and  East  and  Middle  Chirton.  Next  day  came  the 
turn  of  West  Chirton.  Three  tenants  came  before  him  on  the  22nd  in  the 
prior's  chamber  and  there  received  confirmation  of  their  lands,  before  he 
left  Tynemouth  for  Wylam,  where  two  days  later  the  tenants  of  that  place 
and  William  de  Dissington  and  Walter  Scot  of  Welton  paid  him  fealty 
and  homage,  as  did  the  men  of  Elswick  and  the  burgesses  of  Newcastle 
on  the  25th  in  the  hall  of  Elswick.  Gilbert  de  Wolsington  did  him  homage 
there  on  the  morrow,  and  on  the  29th  he  was  taking  homages  and  fealty 
at  Carlburv  in  Durham. 

During  the  first  two  centuries  of  its  existence,  the  priory  appears  to 
have  found  little  difficulty  in  providing  the  hospitality  expected  of  all 
religious  houses  to  laymen  and  to  religious  alike.  But  under  the  pressure 
of  the  Scottish  wars  its  revenues  were  no  longer  equal  to  the  burden,  being 

'  The  oath  of  homage  ran  as  follows  :  'Ego  devenio  vaster  homo  ab  hac  hora  in  antea,  et  fidem 
vobis  facie  pro  illis  tenementis  que  de  vobis  et  de  ecclesia  vestra  de  Sancto  Albano  in  capite  t?"^"'  ^ 
fide  semper  salva  qua  regi  dominisqiie  meis  superioribus  obligatus  existo.'  SI.  Alban's  Regtstir,  fol.  ol  b, 
Baker's  transcripts. 

-  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  ii.  p.  395  ;  vol.  iii.  p.  495. 

'Primed  from  the  St.  Alban's  Register,  fols.  62,  iii  and  112,  in  Registrum  Whethamstede,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  3'9-324- 

Vol.  VIII.  '5 


114 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


c 

S. 

d. 

235 

13 

4 

191 

8 

8 

96 

8 

4 

30 

0 

0 

188 

10 

8 

^732 

, 

0 

mainly  derived  from  landed  estates  which  were  exposed  to  forays  and 
attacks.  In  1292  the  yearlv  income  from  temporalities  was  estimated  at 
_2^i8o  i6s.  6|d.,  and  that  from  spiritualities  at  ;2f2i4  2s.  iid.  A  detailed 
account,  prepared  in  1526,' shows  what  other  sources  of  revenue  then 
existed. 


Rents  of  farm  lands 

Rents  of  demesne  lands  let  to  farm 

Tithes 

Fines  for  lands  and  tenements     

Sales,  viz.:  hides,  ;fl2  4s.;   wool,  £1;^  6s.  8d.;  salt,  £61;  coal,  /"lo  ; 
malt,  /40  ;  fish,  ^40  ;  sheep,  £\2      ... 


Perquisites  of  courts,  goods  of  felons  and  fugitives,  and  sales  of  woods 
and  underwoods  (of  which  the  priory  owned  forty  acres)  brought  in  ad- 
ditional revenue,  so  that  the  total  sum  can  hardly  have  fallen  short  of 
£7^0.  And  when  consideration  is  taken  of  payments  in  kind,  labour 
services  and  the  produce  of  demesnes  in  the  hands  of  the  prior  and  con- 
vent, it  will  be  seen  that  at  the  dissolution  the  monastery  must  have  been 
in  receipt  of  about  ;^i,ooo  yearly.  The  clear  value  of  its  possessions  over 
and  above  annual  reprises  was  then  returned  by  the  Commissioners  as  being 
£S2>7  i°s.  iid.,^  but  eighteen  months  later  the  farmer  for  the  Crown 
accounted  for  £'iS-\  2s.  g^d.  as  the  income  from  these  lands  during  the 
previous  year.' 

A  small  income  may  have  been  derived  from  the  exhibition  of  relics, 
for  here,  amongst  many  other  treasures,  the  beard  of  St.  Euthymius  the 
abbot,  Moses'  bush,  the  earth  of  which  Adam  was  made,  and  '  four  very 
small  bones  and  one  great  bone  '  were  exhibited  to  the  curious  or  devout.'' 

The  priory  was  continually  adding  to  its  capital  and  increasing  its 
demesne  by  purchases  of  land,  as  is  shown  in  the  table  given  below  of  land 
acquired  from  the  time  of  the  Statute  of  Mortmain  to  the  commencement 
of  the  fifteenth  century. 

'  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  319. 

■  Certificate  made  upon  the  dissolution,  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  209. 
'  Ministers'  Accounts,  30-31  Hen.  VIII.     Gibson,  ibid.  pp.  218-232. 
'  Gibson,  ibid.  p.  201,  citing  MS.  C.C.C.  O.xford,  No.  134,  fol.  2. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY. 


I  I 


Place. 


Hartford 
)) 
it 

»i 
Bebside 

j» 
Cowpen 


East  Backworth  and 
West  Backworth  ... 
Tynemouth 


Preston 

Backworth    ... 
East  Murton 
Whitley 
Milneton 

Newcastle    ... 
Woodhom    ... 
Seaton  Woodhom 
Berwick 


Seghill 


Ellington 

Tynemouth 

Murton 


Elwick,  CO.  Durham 

Tynemouth,  Preston,  Back- 
worth,  jVIurton,  Seaton 
and  Bewick 

Murton  and  Cowpen 

Earsdon 


Tynemouth 

Chirton 
Backworth 


and      Middle 


East  Murton,  Milneton  and 

Backworth 
Tynemouth,     Preston     and 

East  Chirton 
Elswick 


:::1 


Extent  of  property. 

I  messuage  

87  acres  3  roods  of  arable 
2i  acres  of  meadow 
23d.  rent   ... 

1  messuage 
12  acres    ... 

4  tofts        

70  acres    ... 

2  tofts        

22J  acres  ... 

7  tofts        

140  acres  ... 

4  acres      

I  acre 
I  acre 
I  acre        

1  messuage  and  40  acres  ~ 

2  acres 

1  messuage  and  3  roods... 

2  messuages  and  iS  acres, 

I  messuage  in  Pamper- 
dene 

I  messuage 

I  acre        

I  messuage 

I  acre        ...  ...         ...  J 

I  messuage  in  Uddynggate 

13s.  4d.  rent  from  a  mes- 
suage in  St.  Marygate 

I  acre        

13s.  4d.  rent 

^  rood       

1  messuage 

2  acres  i  rood 

I  messuage  and  60  acres 
I  messuage 

8  messuages,  285  acres  of 
arable  and  9  acres  of 
meadow 

3  messuages  and  28  acres 

1  messuage,  30  acres  of 
arable  and  3  acres  of 
meadow 

2  messuages  and  q  acres 

6s.  of  rent  in  reversion  on 
the  death  of  John  de 
Backworth 

I  messuage  and  112  acres 
in  reversion  on  the  death 
of  John  de  Bacworth 

I  messuage,  2  tofts  and 
4o|  acres 

I  messuage  and  6  acres... 


Grantor. 
Robert  Chevale 

» 
John  de  Horton 


Walter   fitz   Roger  fitz 
Hughtred 

)»  )) 

Robert  de  Bebside     ... 

,, 
Adam  de  Pickering    ... 

,,  ... 

William    fitz    Alan    le 

Machun 
Adam  le  Vacher 
William  de  Kenneslawe 
Geoffrey  fitz  ."Man 

Thomas  de  Raynton  ... 


John  de  Felton,  chap- 
lain 


Yearly  value. 
£     s.     d. 
O     O   12 
o  14     6^ 

026 
I     II 

0  6 

3    o 

1  4 


Dale. 


r  Thomas  de  Ravnton  . . 


John  Gros  of  Berwick 


Thomas    de    Aukland, 
vicar  of  Whalton 


John  Deste      

John  Deste  and  Robert 

de  Kelleseye 
Richard   de  Dalton  of 

Newcastle 
John      de      Thoresby, 

rector  of  Elwick 
Henry     de    Burnetoft, 

chaplain 

John  de  Libert ofSa.\ton 

Robert    de    Stevcnton 

and  Roger  Tumour 

Robert  de  Tewing 


o 
o 
o 
o 


o  17 
o    o 
o 
o 

O    I  I 
O      2 


6 
6 
5  74 
3  6 
8 
o 


1307 


o  4 

o  4 

4  4 
13 


(o  13     &   ] 

1  over  and  I 

<  above        > 

rents  and 

ser\ices 

4  marks 


1325- 


1326' 


1328' 


6     0     0    1 

0   13     4 

'335' 

0     4   10 

over  and 

above        \ 

'337' 

rents  and 

services 

0  10    0 

1339' 

■340' 


2    14    10     \ 


o  15     5 
o  13    4 


076/  1345' 
060 


Hcnr)'    de     Burnetoft. 

chaplain 
John  Lyberd  ... 


9     5 


134S" 


66  acres  and 
12  oxen 


pasture  for 


Richard  Scot 
castle 


of  New- 


Ii6 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Place. 

West  Murton,  West  Back- 
worth,  Tynemoulh,  Pres- 
ton, East  Backworth  and 
East  Chirton 

Tynemoulh  ... 


Wolsington 


Murton  

Middle  Chirton       

Denton  and  Redewood  near 
Newbum 


Tynemoulh,  Monkseaton, 
East  Chirton,  Middle 
Chirton,  Preston,  East 
Murton,  East  Backworth, 
Cowpen,  Wylam  and 
Eglingham 

Newcastle     ... 


Haltwhistle 
Newcastle 


Extent  of  property. 

9  messuages,    i    toft,    i6o 
acres  and  los.  rent 


3  tofts  and  14  acres 


2  tofts  and  10  acres 

8  tofts,  140  acres,  lod.  in 

rent,  and  half  a  pound 

of  pepper  in  rent 
1  toft  and  14  acres  i  rood 
I  toft  and  6  acres  I  rood 
The  whole  manor  (subject 

to     two      yearly      rent 

charges    of    10    marks 

and  I  mark) 


8  messuages,  8  tofts  and 
362'  acres 


I  messuage  and  2  shops 


I  garden 


I  messuage 


Reversion  of  3  messuages 
upon  the  death  of  Robert 
Galeway  of  Newcastle 
and  of  Agnes  his  wife 

Advowson 

2  messuages 


2  messuages 

3  messuages 


I  messuage 
4  messuages 
4  marks  rent 


Grantor.  Yearly  value. 

i     s.     d. 
John      de      Wheteley,       i     g     4 
vicar  of  Tynemoulh 


John  de  Wheteley  and 
Alan     Whitheved, 
chaplain 
Alan  Whitheved 
Richard  de  Stanhope 


Date. 

•354" 


7  shillings  rent    ... 


John  Cisseson... 

Simon  del  Vikers 

.'Xdam  de  Fenrolher, 
clerk  ;  William  Mer- 
yngton,  chaplain  ; 
Hugh  de  Brandon, 
William  de  Chevyng- 
ton  and  William  de 
Seton 

Alan  Whitheved,  vicar 
of  Tynemoulh,  and 
Robert  de  Fenrolher 


Alan  Whitheved,  Adam 
de  Fenrother,  master 
of  the  hospital  of  St. 
Edmund.  Gateshead, 
and  H  ugh  de  Brandon 

Alan  Whitheved,  Hugh 
de  Brandon,  and 
Roger  del  Bulh, 
chaplain 

Thomas  de  Walton, 
Thomas  de  Whilly, 
William  Warenner 
and  William  V'escy 

Hugh  de  Brandon  and 
William  de  Chevyng- 
ton 


Adam  de  Fenrolher, 
rector  of  Stokesley, 
.Man  Whitheved  and 
Thomas  de  Walton 

Alan  Whitheved  and 
Thomas  de  Walton 

Alan  Whitheved,  John 
de  Dalton,  chaplain, 
Robert  de  .■\mble, 
chaplain,  Thomas  de 
Walton  and  Thomas 
de  Whilly 

Robert  de  Amble  and 
Thomas  de  Walton 

Thomas  de  Walton  and 
William  de  Seton 

Alan  Whitheved, 
Thomas  de  Walton, 
Adam  de  Fenrother 
and  Sampson  Hard- 

yng 
John  de  Dalton 


i2  II  6i 
over  and 
aboveser- 
vices  and 
customs 


1 360  '= 


4  1  4* 
over  and 
above  ser- 
vices and 
customs 


1380" 


>   - 


1382" 


7  4 


1384" 
1391  " 


I 


>  15 


139' " 


tynemouth  priory. 


117 


Place. 


Elswick 


Newbiggen  ... 

Widdrington 

Cowpen 

Tynemouili,    Preston,   Chir- 

ton  and  Milneton 
Tynemouth  ... 


Backworth    ... 

Seghill  

Tynemouth,     Preston     and 

Chirton 
Whitley         


Extent  of  property. 

5  acres 

I  messuage 

I  cottage  ...         

3  messuages,  3  cottages, 
42  acres  and  3  roods 

4  cottages  and  48  acres... 

1  messuage,  i  acre,  and  a 
yearly  rent  of  3s.  from 
a  tenement  formerly 
belonging  to  Philip 
Tailliour 

I  messuage,  i  cottage  and 
29  acres 

Yearly  rent  of  20s. 

I  messuage  and  g  acres... 

The  whole  manor 


Grantor. 

John    de    Dalton    and 

William  Cheseman 
Thomas  de  Walton  and 

Hugh  Ainl)le 
Thomas  de  Whitly  and 

William  de  .Seton 
Thomas  de  Walton  and 

Alan  Whitheved 


Yearly  value.         Date. 


£ 
o 


r 


3  4 


-•Man  Whitheved 

Thomas  Thornburgh, 
William  Parker  and 
William  Asshe 


I    13     2 


1392  '• 


10    o    o 
over    and 
above  ser- 
vices and 
customs 


1404 


'  Acquired  without  licence,  Iiiq.  act  quod  damnum,  file  65,  10.  Pat.  Rotts,  35  Edw.  I.  m.  29.  The 
properties  here  mentioned  were  purchased  at  \arious  dates  after  the  Statute  of  Mortmain  (1279)  and 
before  1307,  e.g.,  Adam  le  Vacher's  acre  was  acquired  in  or  before  1291.     Assize  Rott. 

-  luq.  ad  quod  damnum,  file  175,  3.  Pat.  Rolls,  ig  Edw.  II.  pars  I,  in.  35.  The  acquisitions  of 
1325-1345  were  made  in  virtue  of  letters  patent,  dated  June  26th,  1323,  according  licence  to  the  prior  and 
convent  to  acquire  lands  and  teneinents  of  the  annual  value  of  ;f  10. 

'  Ibid,  file  187,  4.     Ibid,  pars  2,  m.  4.  '  Ibid,  file  194,  l.     Ibid.  2  Edw.  III.  pars  I.  m.  35. 

'  Ibid,  file  235,  9.     Ibid,  g  Edw.  III.  pars  i,  m,  6. 

'  Ibid,  file  243,  3.     Ibid.  11  Edw.  III.  pars  1,  m.  2. 

'  Ibid,  file  247,  4.    Ibid.  13  Edw.  III.  pars  I,  m.  11.    Assigned  to  be  held  as  of  the  value  of  15s.  yearly. 

"  Reg.  Pal.  Dun.  vol.  iii.  p.  279.  Confirmed  to  the  priory  by  Bishop  Burj',  subject  to  a  perpetual  rent 
charge  of  5s. 

°  ///(/.  ad  quod  damnum,  19  Edw.  III.  No.  31.  Pat.  Rolls,  ig  Edw.  III.  pars  3.  m.  4.  .Assigned  to  be 
held  as  of  the  value  of  29s.  Sd.  yearly. 

'"  Inq.  p.m.  22  Edw.  III.  pars  2,  No.  12.  Ibid.  22  Edw.  III.  pars  2,  m.  30.  The  acquisitions  of 
1348-13S0  were  made  in  virtue  of  letters  patent,  dated  October  14th,  1335,  according  licence  to  the  prior 
and  convent  to  acquire  lands  and  tenements  of  the  yearly  value  of  ^10.  The  properties  here  mentioned 
were  assigned  to  be  held  as  of  the  value  of  30s.  yearly,  in  part  satisfaction  of  the  said  .i{^io. 

"  luq.  ad  quod  damnum,  27  Edw.  III.  No.  3.  Ibid.  28  Edw.  III.  pars  I,  m.  2.  Assigned  to  be  held 
as  of  the  value  of  40s.  yearly. 

'-  7)11/.  p.m.  34  Edw.  111.  pars  2,  No.  52.  Ibid.  34  Edw.  III.  pars  i,  ni.  ig.  .Assigned  to  be  held  as 
of  the  value  of  30s.  yearly. 

"  Inq.  p.m.  4  Ric.  II.  No.  122.  Ibid.  4  Ric.  II.  pars  2,  ni.  3.  Assigned  to  be  held  as  of  the  value 
of  ;CS  yearly. 

"  Pat.  Rolls,  5  Ric.  II.  pars  2,  m.  2.  Inquisition  missing.  The  acquisitions  of  1382-1404  were  made 
in  virtue  of  letters  patent,  dated  February  20th,  13S0,  according  licence  to  the  prior  and  convent  to 
acquire  lands  and  tenements  of  the  yearly  value  of  ^^20. 

"■  Ibid.  8  Ric.  II.  pars  I,  m.  2.     Being  a  grant  from  the  Crown. 

'"  Inq.  p.m.  15  Ric.  II.  pars  2,  No.  3g.     No  entry  on  Patent  Rolls. 

"  Ibid.  No.  155.     Pat.  Rolls,  15  Ric.  II.  pars  i,  111.  12. 

'"  Inq.  p.m.  16  Ric.  II.  pars  I,  No.  1 12.     Ibid.  16  Ric.  II.  pars  I,  m.  6. 

'"  Inq.  ad  quod  damnum,  5  Hen.  IV.  No.  13.  Ibid.  6  Hen.  1\'.  pars  I,  ni.  35.  Assigned  to  be  held 
as  of  the  value  of  ^^15,  in  full  satisfaction  of  the  grant  of  ^20. 


Il8  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Annual  payments  had  to  be  made  to  St.  Alban's  by  its  cell.  Various 
regulations  were  made  at  different  periods.  Richard,  who  was  abbot 
between  1097  and  11 19,  decreed  that  Tynemouth  should  pay  thirty  shillings 
yearly,  and  took  into  his  own  hand  the  manor  of  Amble,  Coquet  Island, 
and  the  churches  of  Bywell  and  Woodhorn.'  Fragmentary  accounts  for 
the  years  1270- 1277  in  the  St.  Albans  Register  show  that  the  priory  was 
then  paying  yearly  ;^i5  15s.-  At  the  dissolution  the  sums  paid  were  ;^20 
pension  in  token  of  subjection  to  the  abbey,  £1  13s.  4d.  contribution 
towards  a  sum  of  seventy  marks  paid  yearly  to  the  king  and  the  Pope,  and 
£b  8s.  paid  as  pensions  for  scholars  at  Oxford.'  Extra-ordinary  payments 
were  numerous ;  for  instance,  a  grant  had  to  be  made  by  the  priory  upon 
the  election  of  each  new  abbot. 

Restrictions  were  placed  upon  the  prior's  control  of  the  finances  of  his 
house.  He  was  forbidden  by  the  regulations  of  Abbot  Maryns  (1302-1308) 
to  make  any  alienation,  to  sell  or  lease  customary  lands  to  a  free-man  or 
to  enfranchise  them  in  any  way,  or  to  grant  corrodies  and  pensions  in 
perpetuity.  He  might  not,  without  previously  obtaining  the  abbot's  consent, 
lease  manors,  mills,  tithes,  or  rents  for  a  term  of  more  than  three  years.'' 
These  regulations  were  subsequently  relaxed  by  de  la  Mare,  who,  by  a 
constitution  of  1352,  permitted  the  priors  of  his  cells  to  lease  lands  and 
tenements,  which  their  predecessors  had  retained  in  their  hands,  for  thirty 
years  or  for  one  or  two  lives,  without  special  licence  from  the  abbot.^ 

In  the  premier  cell  of  St.  Alban's  literature  was  sure  to  find  a  place. 
The  contents  of  its  library  have  been  scattered  and  for  the  most  part  lost, 
but  the  few  volumes  remaining  show  something  of  the  character  of  the 
collection.     They  are  : 

1.  Brit.  Mus.  Cottonian  MSS.  Julius  A  X.      Life  of  St.  Oswin,  an  illuminated  manuscript  of  about 
1300,  published  by  the  Surtees  Society,  No.  8. 

2.  Ih'id.  Galb.'i  A  V.  Psalter  ;  an  Irish  manuscript  of  the  twelfth  century,  illuminated  in  purple, 
scarlet  and  gold,  erroneously  called  King  Oswin's  psalter. 

3.  Ibid.  Vitellius  A  XX.  Various  historical  collections,  including  an  abridgment  of  Matthew  Paris. 
This  portion  of  the  volume  was  given  to  the  library  by  Prior  Ralph  de  Dunham  (1252-1265),  and  is  said  to 
be  the  work  of  Matthew  Paris  himself,  but  see  Catalogue  of  Materials  for  British  History,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  iii. 
p.  318.     Also  a  history  of  England  from  ISrutus  to  1348  and  chronicles  from  the  birth  of  Christ  to  1347. 

'  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  i.  p.  69. 

•  St.  Alban's  Register,  fols.  65  and  71,  cp.  fol.  65  b.  '  Memorandum  quod  quolibet  anno  percipiendum 
fuit  de  Tynemuth  x[''  vj"]  et  iiij",  videlicet  pro  pensione  magistri  Bonetti  v'',  de  cornagio  iij'  et  iiij'',  de 
Northon  xlv",  de  Torp  xxx",  ad  opus  [procuratoris]  Romani  j  marca,  pro  Conisclive  j  marca  ;  de  quibus 
debent  subtrahi  xl  denarii  [qui]  debent  solvi  pro  cornagio  Carlebur'  et  Morton.'  Two  additional  items 
elsewhere  mentioned  are  abbot's  cornage  (£2  16s.  8d.)  and  tithes  from  the  house  (£3  13s.  4d.). 

'  John  of  .'Vmundesham,  vol.  ii.  p.  309.  '  Gesta  Abbatum,  vol.  ii.  p.  96.  "  Ibid.  p.  447. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  II9 

4.  Ibid.  Faustina,  B  IX.  Three  chronicles,  namely,  the  Chronicle  of  Melrose,  Rishanger's  Chronicle 
(printed  in  the  Rolls  Series),  and  a  chronicle  of  English  history,  1360-1399  (printed  to  1377  in  the  Rolls 
Series  as  Chronicon  Angliae).  This  is  the  volume  which  Leland  says  he  found  in  the  Tynemouth  library 
{Collectanea,  ed.  Hearne,  1774,  vol.  iii.  p.  403),  and  which  he  cites  as  the  Tynemouth  Chronicle.  It  is  to 
be  distinguished  from  the  work  so  named  by  Glover  and  Camden. 

5.  Bodleian  library,  Laudian  MSS.  No.  657.  Richard  de  Wallingford,  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  on  the 
Albion  and  Rcclcmgulum,  revised  by  Symon  Tounstede  ;  a  fifteenth  century  manuscript  presented  to 
the  priory  by  John  de  Westwyke,  and  afterwards  the  property  of  Thomas  Horsley. 

6.  Library  of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxford  ;  No.  134.  Life  of  St.  Oswin,  a  sermon  on  his  passion, 
and  oflices,  hymns,  etc.,  for  his  festival,  with  musical  settings  ;  an  illumin.ited  manuscript  of  the  twelfth 
century. 

7.  Ibid.  No.  144.  Astronomical  and  poetical  treatises,  including  Geoffrey  de  Vinsauf  Dt- noKa /loe/ica, 
and  Richard  de  Wallingford  on  the  Albion  and  Rectangulum.  This  volume  was  presented  to  the  library 
by  John  Hamburgh,  sub-prior,  in  1438,  1447,  and  1450.  It  and  the  life  of  St.  Oswin  mentioned  above 
were  given  to  Corpus  Christi  College  by  Bryan  Twyne,  the  antiquary.  The  life  of  St.  Oswin  contains 
the  autographs  of  Gilbert,  Robert,  and  Mark  Errington  of  Woolsington. 

8.  Library  of  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge,  No.  82.  Bede's  Ecclesiastical  History ;  late  twelfth 
century  manuscript,  containing  the  autograph  of  John  de  Westwyk. 

g.  Library  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Durham,  A.  N.  6.  The  books  of  Daniel  and  Esdras,  with 
interlinear  gloss  ;  a  thirteenth  century  manuscript  given  to  the  priory  by  brother  Henry  de  Goreham. 

10.  The  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  Tynemouth  Chartulary.  This  contains,  besides  the 
chartulary  and  register  already  mentioned,  transcripts  of  many  documents  which  were  formerly  in 
the  treasury  of  the  priory,  including  rentals  and  custumals  of  1295  and  later  dates,  extracts  from  the 
Testa  de  Nevil  and  from  plea-rolls,  and  Walter  de  Henley's  tract  on  husbandry.  It  has  never  been 
published  as  a  whole,  but  an  abstract  of  its  contents  is  given  in  the  sixth  report  of  the  Historical 
Manuscripts  Commission,  pp.  224-226.  In  the  seventeenth  century  it  belonged  to  Sir  Ralph  Portington, 
from  whose  executors  it  was  bought  for  ^5. 

Of  literature  properly  so-called,  the  only  existing  work  known  to  have 
been  produced  in  the  monastery  is  the  life  and  miracles  of  St.  Oswin, 
which  is  valuable  for  the  light  which  it  throws  upon  the  history  of  the 
priory  during  the  twelfth  century.  The  life  and  the  earlier  portion  of  the 
miracles  was  the  work  of  an  anonymous  prior  of  Wymondham  who  visited 
the  priory  in  i  iii  and  was  subsequently  invited  by  its  monks  to  write  an 
account  of  their  patron  saint.  His  volume  appears  to  have  drawn  a  healing 
power  from  the  miracles  of  which  it  told,  for  one  of  the  brethren  of 
Gervase,  abbot  of  Westminster,  on  applying  it  to  his  eyes,  staved  off  the 
blindness  which  threatened  him.'  Fresh  chapters  were  added  from  time 
to  time  as  noteworthy  events  occurred,  but  the  work,  as  it  e-xists,  stops 
short  with  the  close  of  the  twelfth  century. 

John  of  Throckley  (Trokelowe),  whose  history  of  Edward  II.  is  one 
of  the  best  accounts  of  that  king's  reign,  was  once  cellarer  at  Tynemouth, 
but  he  did  not  commence  his  work  until   some    years    after    he  had  been 

'  Vita  Oswini,  cap.  xxxii.  The  life  in  the  twelfth  century  Corpus  Christi  College  manuscript 
concludes  at  this  point. 


I  20  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

carried  thence  in  chains  to  St.  Alban's.  John  Bainburgh,  his  life  of 
Whethamstede  being  lost,  has  left  nothing  but  a  short  commentary  upon 
Geoffrey  de  Vinsauf.  John  of  Tvnemouth  has  little  or  no  claim  to  be 
considered  a  member  of  the  monastery  which  his  name  has  made  famous. 

Much  has  been  lost.  The  early  court-rolls  have  been  long  missing. 
Of  the  numerous  deeds  which  once  filled  the  treasury,  a  twelfth  century 
grant  to  the  priory  of  a  few  acres  in  Jesmond  and  a  lease  of  a  fishery 
in  the  Tyne  were  found  among  the  records  of  the  Court  of  Augmentations 
and  again  disappeared.'  The  fine  charter  of  Edgar,  son  of  Gospatric,  re- 
produced in  this  volume,  remains  because  it  was  handed  over  to  Durham 
priory  in  1174.     Two  late  leases  of  little  consequence  complete  the  tale. 

Nothing  is  known  of  the  long  roll  of  which  one  of  the  earl  of  North- 
umberland's officers  wrote  to  his  master  about  the   year   1600  : 

'  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  his  lordship  may  move  Sir  Robert  Cycill  to  have  the  ancyent  grantes 
of  Tvnemouth  againe  containing  three  large  skinnes  of  parchment,  which  the  late  earle  your  father 
did  deliver  to  the  late  Lord  Treasourer,  Sir  Robert's  late  father,  which  he  can  come  by  and  gett  if  he 
please,  which  would  greatly  further  his  lordship's  proceedinges  for  the  libertyes,  etc.,  bycause  the[y] 
conteyne  the  grantes  and  confirmacons  of  sundry  kinges  and  princes  of  this  land,  and  made  to  the 
prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth.' ' 

The  Tynemouth  Chronicle  survived  long  enough  to  be  quoted  by 
Glover  and  Camden,  and  then  all  knowledge  of  it  was  lost.  Judging  from 
the  few  extracts  from  it  which  remain,  it  must  have  been  of  some  value  for 
northern  history  during  the  twelfth  century.' 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  77. 

-  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  ;  an  early  seventeenth  century  survey  of  Tynemouthshire. 

'  Anno  1080,  Walterus,  Dunelmensis  episcopus,  in  loco  qui  dicitur  (Jatesheveth,  id  est  caput  caprc, 
a  Northumbrensibus  innocenter  est  occisus  in  ultione  necis  Liulfi  nobilis  generosque  ministri. 

Anno  gratiae  1093,  ecclesia  nova  Dunelmi  est  incepta,  iii  kal.  Augusti,  feria  quinta,  episcopo 
Willelmo  et  Malcolmo  rege  Scotorum,  cum  Alexandre  fratre  suo  et  Turgoto  priore,  ipso  die  ponentes 
primos  lapides  in  fundamento. 

Anno  domini  1179,  in  Natali  Domini,  apud  Oxenhal  in  territorio  de  Derlington  in  episcopatu 
Dunelmensi,  elevavit  se  terra  in  ahum  ad  similitudinem  procerae  turris,  et  mansit  ab  ilia  die  quasi 
imniobilis  usque  ad  vesperam,  et  tunc  cecidit  tam  horribili  strepitu  quod  vicinos  terruit  omnes,  et  absor- 
buit  eam  tellus,  et  fecit  ibidem  puteum  profundum,  qui  est  ibi  in  testmionium  usque  in  hodiernum  diem. 

Anno  1 177  Willelmus  comes  Gloucestriae,  filius  Robert!  comitis  fratris  imperatricis,  dedit  Johanni, 
filio  domini  sui  regis  Angliae,  filiam  suam  in  uxorem  cum  comitatu  (iloucestriae,  si  praefatus  Johannes 
praediclam  mulierem  licentia  domini  papae  posset  sibi  in  matrimonio  copulare.  Et  pro  hac  concessione 
dominus  rex  Angliae  pater  dedit  promogenitis  filiabus  ejusdem  comitis  ducentas  libratas  reddituum  in 
Anglia,  scilicet  uxori  Aumari  comitis  Ebroicarum  centum  libratas,  et  uxori  Ricardi  comitis  de  Clare 
centum  libratas. 

The  third  of  these  extracts  is  from  Camden's  Britannia,  ed.  1587,  p.  498;  the  others  from  the 
Ashmole  MSS.  (Bodleian  Library),  vol.  860,  fol.  7  b, 'ex  codice  MS.  collectaneorum  Roberti  Gloveri, 
scilicet  miscellaneorum  liber  2,'  fols.  18  b  to  21.  For  an  allusion  made  by  a  writer  who  was  apparently 
a  monk  at  Tynemouth  in  the  fifteenth  century  to  'a  very  old  book  kept  in  this  monastery  called  Septcm 
Signacula,'  which  book  contained  an  account  of  the  later  history  of  Robert  de  Mowbray,  see  Registrum 
Whethamstede,  vol.  i.  p.  449. 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  12  1 

Lastly  nuist  be  added  to  the  list  of  lost  records  the  Great  Book,  also 
called  the  Black  Book,  of  Tvnemouth.  In  the  early  years  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  it  was  kept  in  the  custody  of  John  Carville,  solicitor  to  the 
earl  of  Northumberland,  and  it  was  frequently  consulted  upon  points  of 
law  and  title.  Robert  Helme,  an  officer  of  the  earl,  wrote  about  it  in 
1606  to  George  Warde,  the  king's  surveyor  for  Northumberland  : 

I  perceyve  you  have  scene  Codnelian's  purchase  of  the  paisonadge  of  Ovingham,  parcell  of  the 
late  monastery  of  Hexham.  Nowe  to  prove  and  shew  you  that  the  tyethes  of  Ovington  were  and  are 
belonginge  to  the  late  monastery  of  Tinemouth  ys  very  easye  to  be  made  and  done  yf  you  can  procure 
the  Lord  Highe  Treasurer's  lettre  to  the  nowe  earle  of  Northumbreland  to  deliver  the  great  book  of  Tine- 
mouth,  which  is  the  king's  evidence,  nowe  in  the  custody  of  John  Carvile,  his  lordship's  solicitor  ;  in 
which  booke  yt  appeareth  playnely  ;  and  the  gift  of  John  Baliole,  lord  of  liywell,  who  did  give  the  said 
tyeth  and  the  tyeth  of  Wyllim  to  the  church  of  Tinemouth,  annexed  to  the  said  bookc  will  shewe. 
Besides  there  is  in  the  same  book  iiij  severall  sentences  against  John  Pikeworth,  dark,  parson  of 
Ovingham,  at  the  suyte  of  the  pryor  and  covent  of  Tinemouth,  with  like  chardges,  which  I  think  ys 
suflficyent  prouff  of  the  mater,  ^■ou  must  not  make  me  an  author  that  Carvile  hath  the  book,  leste  by 
some  sinestcr  informacion  to  my  lord  and  master  1  lease  his  lordship's  favour  ;  but  use  the  mater  in  that 
sort  as  to  your  good  discretion  shall  seame  convenyent  and  good,  so  hereby  1  may  be  saved  lil.amclesse.' 

This  letter  was  intercepted  by  George  Whitehead,  the  captain  of  Tyne- 
mouth  castle,  who  sent  it  on  to  a  friend  at  Esse.x  House  with  the  commentary  : 

Sir.  P.y  great  happe,  1  met  with  this  lettre  which  somewhat  concernes  my  lorde ;  and  yf  I  had  not 
by  great  fortune  prevented  the  delivery  therof  as  it  was  directed,  it  might  wrought  soome  discontent 
to  his  lordship.  Onely  nowe  it  rests  to  prevent  the  lyke  hcareafter,  and  is  good  we  have  found  out  a 
false  disciple  to  soe  good  a  master,  which  to  make  knowen  to  his  lordship  I  thought  it  my  dewty,  and 
therfor  intreat  you  to  certefye  his  lordship  heareof.-' 

It  subsequently  passed  out  of  the  earl's  hands.  A  note  in  the  Tync- 
moiith  Chartulary  informs  iis  that  'Sir  Orlando  Bridgman  hath  a  coucher 
book  of  his  lordship's  for  Tynemouth  in  fol  : ' 

Among  conventual  seals  and  seals  of  the  priors  of  Tynemouth  may 
be  noticed : 

1.  Dur.  Treas.  3""  t^'^'  Spec.  No.  37,  and  2""  i'""-  Ebor.  Nos.  10  and  1 1.  Seal  of  Prior  .\karius  in  1 19S, 
oval,  2\  inches  by  li  inches;  tonsured  figure  standing  to  right ;  cape  of  habit  thrown  back;  right  hand 
placed  on  breast ;  a  clasped  book  held  in  the  left  hand.   ^  sigillvm  .-vch.ar  . . .  RlORlS  DE  TINE.MV 

2.  Ihid.  4'"  2''"''  Spec.  No.  25.  Seal  of  a  prior  of  Tynemouth  between  1210  and  1239  ;  rounded  oval, 
lij  inches  by  ij  inches,  ancient  gem;  head  of  an  emperor.     >i<   CAPVT  NOSTRVNt  XPS  EST. 

3.  Ibid.  I'""  I'"""  .Archidiac.  No.  2.  Seal  of  Prior  Germanus,  circa  1230;  oval,  ij  inches  by 
li  inches;   figure  kneeling  to  right,  holding  right  hand  on  breast  and  some  object  in  the  left  hand. 

ijl    NON   CL.WSAL.-VT NGIS    P.\TET. 

4.  Charter  in  the  possession  of  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.  Seal  of  Prior  Ralph  de  Dunham  (?) ; 
oval,  if  inches  by  \\  inches  ;  (a)  Our  Lady  seated  with  the  Child  on  her  knee.  PLENlT  de  .  .  .  .  th.\. 
(b)  On  counter  seal  a  male  figure  seated  facing.  .-X  conventual  seal  attached  to  a  lost  charter  of  Prior 
Germanus  is  described  as  having  on  it  the  figure  of  St.  Oswin,  on  the  counter  seal  the  figure  of  the 
Virgin  (Augmentation  Oflfice,  Cartae  Antiquae,  B.  81). 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  Ibid. 

Vol.  VIII.  >6 


122  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

5.  Dm:  Tims.  Misc.  Chart.  No.  4361.  Seal  of  I'rioi-  Simon  ilc  Walden,  1310;  oval,  ij;  inches  by 
I  inch ;  demi-king  facing,  holding  a  sceptre  topped  with  flein"  de  lys  in  right  hand,  his  left  hand  on  his 
breast  ;  a  pinnacle  on  each  side  on  a  canopy  above  him  ;  beneath,  under  a  sharply  pointed  trifoliated 
arch,  a  demi-figure  praying  to  left ;  on  the  canopy  work  above  the  praying  figure,  sf;rvf.  deL'.m. 
FRIS  S  .  .  .  NIS  :  PRIORIS  :  DE  Tl  .  EMV  .  .  .  This  seal  was  used  by  Prior  Richard  de  Tewing  in  1330 
{Dm:  Treas.  4'"  i""  Elemos.  No.  8),  and  by  Prior  Clement  de  Whcthamstede  in  1380  to  a  charter  in  the 
possession  of  Sir  Charles  Legard,  bart.,  reproduced  as  frontispiece  to  vol.  vii.  of  the  Genealogist,  new  series. 

6.  Ditr.  Treas.  i™*  3""  Pont.  No.  7  and  .Augmentation  Ofifice,  P.R.O.  Deeds  of  Surrender,  No.  228. 
Conventual  Seal,  1385  and  1539;  oval,  3  inches  by  :i  inches;  Our  Lady  standing  facing,  holding 
Christ  with  the  left  hand  ;  on  her  left  a  king  standing  holding  a  spear  in  his  right  hand  and  a  sceptre 
in  his  left;  each  under  a  canopy;  above,  a  female  bust  facing,  with  a  star  on  each  side  of  neck. 
SIGII.I.V  :  COE  :   PRIORATV.S:  SCE  :   MARIE:  ET  :   HI:  OSWINI  :   DE  :    riNE.M\' rii.\. 

In  a  visitation  of  1530  the  following  arms  were  ascribed  to  the  monas- 
tery :  ,ii'i(/cs,  t/ircc  cravens  or.  The  three  crowns  were  formerly  visible  on 
a  shield  on  the  eastern  exterior  of  Percy  chapel.'  Thev  appear,  along 
with  the  arms  of  the  founders  of  the  other  cells  of  St.  Alban's,  at  the  east 
end  of  the  chapel  of  Abbot   Ramrydge   in  the  abbey  church    (1490-1521). 

Priors  ni'    rv.\i;\inriii.- 
1129.     Remigius. 

1148.     Germanus,  elected  abbot  of  Sclby  in   1153. 
II....     Ruelendus. 

Geoffrey. 

[Henry.]" 

[Robert.]  » 

Gilbert. 

1 189  (before).     Akarius,  elected  by  the  monks  of  Tynemouth  on  the  death  of  (lilbert  ;  occurs  as  prior  in 

1 195  and  1 197;   afterwards  prior  of  St.  .Mban's  ;   elected  abbot  of  Peterborough  in  1200; 

died  1 2 10. 
1200,  fi'irn.     [Hugh  Gubiun.] 
1208.     Ralph   Gubiun  [prior  of  liinhiuii  in   1 199]  ;    as  prior  of  Tynemouth  was  party  to  tines  in   1208 

and  I2I2;'   resigned  circa  1217  and  retired  to  St.  Alban's;   died  May  4th,  1223. 
1224.     [William  de  Bedford,  elected  prior  of  Worcester  and  admitted  to  that  office  November  21st, 

1224;    died  October  29th,  1242.]^ 
1227.     Germanus  [^pcr  resig.  Gubiun].^ 

'  Tunge's  Visitation,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  41,  p.  35.  lirand,  Newcastle,  vol  ii.  plate  to  face  p.  47.  A  shield, 
similarly  blazoned  and  encircled  with  the  inscription,  Sciitiini  Sancli  Osjryni  Regis,  occurs  on  the  ceiling 
of  the  choir  of  St.  Alban's  church.  The  ceiling  has  been  ascribed  to  John  de  Whcthamstede.  See 
J.  G.  Waller,  '.Armorial  Bearings  on  the  Ceiling  of  the  Monks'  Choir  in  the  Abbey  Church  of  St.  Alban,' 
Archaologia,  vol.  li.  pp.  427-446.  The  same  arms  were  attributed  to  Offa,  king  of  .Mercia,  the  founder 
of  St.  Alban's  monastery,  whose  shield  appears  on  the  ceiling  of  the  nave  of  the  same  church.  See  Rev. 
C.  Boutell,  '  The  Early  Heraldry  of  the  Abbey  Church  of  St.  .-Mban,'  Journal  of  A  rcha:ological  Association, 
vol.  x,\xiv.  pp.  16-30. 

■  For  further  details  and  authorities  see  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  ii.  Several  additional  priors  are 
given  in  Gibson's  list,  whose  inclusion  is  not  warranted  by  evidence. 

"  Henry  and  Robert  occur  in  the  Belvoir  Obituary  as  priors  of  Tynemouth,  but  without  date.  Their 
absence  of  surname  makes  an  early  period  probable.  '  '  Feet  of  Fines,  John,  \os.  2  and  17. 

'The  Curia  Regis  Rolls,  Nos.  88  and  96,  show  that  Germanus  was  prior  in  1227,  and  consequently 
there  is  a  conflict  of  evidence  between  Gesta  Ahhatum,  vol.  i.  p.  275  (where  Germanus  is  said  to  have 
immediately  succeeded  Ralph  Gubiun),  and  Annalesde  Wigornia,  Rolls  Series,  Annales  Monastici.  vol.  iv. 
p.  417  (where  William  de  Bedford  is  stated  to  have  been  prior  of  Tynemouth  in  1224). 


Plate  VI 


4(bJ 


TYNE  MOUTH     PRIORY    SEALS. 


nCHARD    PfcULUSSEH.  VIENV\ 


TYNEMOUTH    PRIORY.  I  23 

1233.     Wallei-  de   noluin,'  died  January  2nd,   1244. 

1244.     Ritliard  de  Parco,  surnanied   Kufus,  of  Winchelconiljc  ;    prior  of  liinham    1226-1244  :    elected 

prior  of  Tynemoutli  before  February  20th,  1244;   died  April  25111,  1252. 
1252.     Ralph  de   Dunham,  elected   prior  on  or  l^efore   May   ist,   1252;    living  in   1264;    died  August 

13th,   126... 
1265,  f (mi.     William  de  Horlon,  prior  of  W'ymondham  in   1264. 
1273.     Adam  de  Maperteshall." 

1279.  William  Bernard,  died   12S0.' 

1280.  Simon  de  Walden,'  p.m.  Hernard  ;   deposed  in   1294  or  1295  ''"d  banished  to  St.  .Alban's. 
1295.     Adam  de  Tewing,  party  to  a  suit  with  the  master  of  the  leper  hospital  at  liurton  in   1300.' 
1305.     Simon  de  Walden,  restored;   living  in   1310;"   died  April   17th,  [131 1]. 

131!.     Simon  de  Taunton,  presented  July  ist  and  admitted  July  21st,  131 1.' 

1315.     Richard  de  Tewing,  presented  March  20th  and  admitted  March  31st,  1315  ;'   died  September 

29th,   1340. 
1340.     Thomas  de  la  Mare,  born  in  1309  ;   presented  October  6th,  1340  ;°   elected  abbot  of  St.  .Alban's 

in  1349;   died  September  ist,  1396;   buried  at  St.  .^Iban's. 
1349.     Clement  de  Whethamstede,  pcy  irsig.  de  la  Mare,  admitted   .   .   .    1350;'*   living  in   1389." 
■393-     John  Macrell '-  of  Whethamstede,  took  part  in  the  election  of  .-Xbbot  Heyworth  in  1401  ;  buried 

at  Tynemouth. 
1419.     Thomas  Barton,  [p.m.  Macrell,]  presented  May  12th,  admitted  June  6th,  1419  ;  "  living  in  1436. 
1440,  circa.     [Robert  de  Rhodes.] 

1450.     John  Langton,  deposed  March   15th,   1478:    living  in  .May,   1480;   died  August  21st,   14... 
147S.     Nicholas   Boston,  nominated   successor  to  Langton   in    1477  ;    presented   by   Richard,  duke  of 

Gloucester,  and  Lord  Say  ;  appointed  prior  for  life  in  May,  1478  ;  resigned  May  17th,  1480. 

1480.  William  Dixwell,  prior  of  liinham,  1462-1480;    appointed  prior  of  Tynemouth.  May  8lh,  1480; 

presented,  June  29th,  14S0  ;   removed  from  Tynemouth  .and  again  made  prior  of  Binhani, 
circii   14S1  ;    created  prior  of  Hertford  in   1495;   living  in   151 1. 

1 48 1,  ciirii.     Nicholas  Boston,  restored  ;   appointed  prior  for  life  by  grant  of  the  abbot  of  St.  .\lban's, 

March  8th,   1483,  and  by  grant  of  the  abbot  and  convent,   November  19th,   1483  ;    died 

June  12th,    1495  '   buried  in  the  chapel  of  St.  Francis  in  the  church  of  the  Crey  Friars, 

London. 
1503.     John  Bensted,"  born  1455  !  prior  of  Hertford  in  1483  ;  appointed  abbot  of  Whitby  and  received 

episcopal  confirmation  in  that  office  .\ugust  I2th,  1505;   died  in   1514. 
1512.     John  Stonewell,  S.T.P.,  received  from  Wolsey  exemption  from  the  Jurisdiction  of  St.  .Albans 

for  life,  November  14th,  1518  ;  as  prior,  made  a  return  of  the  revenue  of  his  house  in  1526  ; 

died  or  resigned  before  July  3rd,  1527.'' 
1528.     Thomas  Gardiner,  chaplain  to  Henry  \TII. ;  ajipointed  prior  for  life  in  1533;  died  or  resigned 

shortly  Ijefore  December  13th,  1536.'" 
1537.     Robert  Blakeney,  appointed  prior  before  .April,  1537  ;  signed  deed  of  surrender  of  his  monastery, 

January  12th,  1539  ;  received  a  pension  of  ^80  and  retired  to  Benwell  ;  died  before  1553. 

'  Curiii  Regis  Kulls,  No.  1 16.  -'  Feci  of  Fines,  I  Edw.  L  No.  4. 

'  Put.  Rolls,  7  Edw.  1.  m.  2  d.     .Issi^t;  Rolls,  No.  1254.  m.  7. 

'  Ibiil.  18  Edw.  I.  m.  5  i\.  ^  Assi:c  Rolls,  No.  658. 

'  Coiani  Rcgc  Rolls,  No.  202.         '  Rcgiiliiim  PiiLiliiiiim  Diiitclmense,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  pp.  44,  79-S4. 

"  Ibid.  vol.  ii.  pp.  696,  699.  °  Ibid.  vol.  iii.  p.  37S. 

"  Durham  Registers,  Hatfield,  fol.  1.  "  Hodgson,  Sorthumherlaiui,  pt.  ii.  vol.  ii.  p.  252. 

'-  Cal.  Papal  Registers,  Letters,  vol.  i\-.  p.  487.  "  Durham  Registers,  Langley,  fols.  267,  26S. 

"  Registrum  Whetluimstede,  vol.  ii.  p.  xlviii. 

''Letters  and  Papers,  Hen.  VIII.  vol.  iii.  p.   176;  vol.  iv.  p.   1469. 

'"  Ibid.  vol.  V.  |).  329  ;   vol,  vi.  p.  ^^y  ;   vol.  xi.  p.   524. 


1^4  TVNEMOUTH    I'ARISH. 


The  Parish  Chikch. 

Part  of  the  priorv  church  at  Tynemuiilh  was  set  apart  lor  parochial 
purposes  and  divided  from  the  rest  of  the  building  by  a  stone  screen 
erected  at  the  time  of  the  Transitional  extension  of  the  chancel.  The 
vicar  was  appointed  by  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  with  the  consent  of  the 
abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  and  admitted  by  the  bishop  of  Durham.  The  church 
shared  the  immunity  from  contributions  to  the  diocesan  conferred  by  Pope 
Adrian  IV.  and  his  successors  on  churches  in  the  gift  of  St.  Alban's.' 

Disputes  having  arisen  between  Durham  and  St.  Alban's  as  to  the 
bishop's  right  of  visitation,  an  agreement  was  effected  in  IJ47,  and  by  it 
the  bishop's  right  to  visit  the  parochial  portion  of  the  church  was  acknow- 
ledged. It  was  arranged  that  the  vicars  should  be  responsible  to  the  bishop 
for  spiritualities,  and  to  the  monks  for  temporalities. 

An  instrument  drawn  up  bv  Prior  Dunham  in  1250,  with  the  consent 
of  his  abbot,  specified  the  extent  of  the  endowment  of  the  vicarage.  The 
vicar  for  the  time  being  was  to  receive  the  fruits  of  the  vicarage,  estimated 
at  forty  marks,  to  be  paid  to  him  in  kind  in  the  following  way  :  every  day 
he  was  to  have  from  the  priory  two  monks'  loaves,  four  bottles  of  ale, 
one  small  white  loaf,  one  squire's  loaf,  and  two  gallons  of  ale  drawn  from 
the  wood,  as  well  as  a  quarterlv  pavment  of  forty  quarters  of  oats  for  his 
horses,  and  fodder  for  two  horses.  The  prior  and  convent  further  assigned 
to  him  the  tithes  of  corn  and  hay  in  the  townships  of  Burradon  and  Murton, 
and  the  tithe  of  one  of  their  fisheries.  They  were  to  pay  him  weekly  one 
pennv  for  bread  for  the  mass,  and  allowances  for  service  books.  He 
had,  as  vicar,  two  houses  in  the  village  of  Tynemouth  and  two  houses  at 
Earsdon,  free  from  all  customary  service,  to  be  kept  in  repair  at  his  own 
cost.  He  was  to  serve  the  church  of  Tynemouth  in  person  along  with  a 
competent  chaplain  and  clerk,  and  to  find  a  chaplain  and  a  clerk  to  cele- 
brate mass  daily  in  the  chapel  of  Earsdon.  These  had  to  be  lodged  by  the 
vicar,  and  were  all  to  take  oath  of  fealty  to  the  prior  and  convent.  The 
vicar  was  to  find  the  mother  church  of  Tynemouth  and  the  chapel  of 
Earsdon  in  wine,  wafers,  lights,  vestments,  vessels,  utensils,  and  all  things 

'  Chronica  Majoni,  vol.  \.  p|>.  ij-ii. 


Tynemouth  parish  church.  125 

needful,  for  which  the  sacristan  was  to  pay  him  forty  shillings  vearlv.  On 
the  other  hand  the  sacristan  was  bound  to  provide,  in  the  usual  manner, 
lights  for  burial  services.  All  the  ordinary  dues  to  which  the  church  of 
Tynemouth  and  the  chapel  of  Earsdon  were  liable  were  to  be  paid  bv 
the  vicar/ 

This  sum  of  forty  marks  paid  to  the  vicar  was  only  a  small  portion  of 
the  total  yield  of  the  rectory,  which  was  stated  in  a  taxation  of  1292  to  be, 
apart  from  the  vicar's  endowment,  £111  12s.  lod.,  of  which  thirtv  pounds 
was  yearly  bestowed  in  alms  and  ten  pounds  in  pittances  to  the  monks.  It 
was  made  up  of  _£.  87  i  is.  8d.  from  the  grain  tithes  of  the  parish  (excepting 
those  of  Burradon  and  Murton  held  by  the  vicar),  five  marks  from  the 
mills,  sixty-nine  shillings  from  the  tithes  of  wool  and  lambs,  five  shillings 
and  six  pence    from    the  tithes  of  geese  and  pigs,  fortv  shillings  from  the 


'  [Omnibus]  sancle  niatris  ecclesie  filiis  ad  quorum  noticiain  presens  sciiptum  per[vcnent,  Rijcardus 
prior  de  Tynemuth  et  ejusdem  loci  conventus,  salutein  in  domino  seni[piternam.]  Noverit  universitas 
vestra  nos,  de  consensu  venerabilis  patris  nostri  [Johannis,]  Dei  gratia  abbalis  de  sancto  Albano,  ad 
sustentacionem  doniini  Petri  vicarii  et  successorum  ejus  [de  Tynemuth.]  ac  capellanorum  ac  clericorum 
eorundem  lam  in  ecclesia  [de  Tynemuth]  quani  in  capella  de  Krdesdun  deser\iturorum,  in  hunc  modum 
providisse.  .  .  .  Predictus  Petrus  vicarius  et  successores  ejusdem,  qui  pro  tempore  [fuerint,  singujiis 
annis  nomine  vicarie  percipient  ad  valenciam  quadragin[ta  m]arcarum,  quam  juxta  estimacionem 
bonorum  virorum  sic  duximus  expri[mendam,  \ide]licet  duos  panes  tnonathalcs  et  qualuor  justatas 
cervisie  mo[nachaHs,]  et  duos  panes,  unum  panem  parvum  album  et  aliuni  paneni  anniycri,  et  duas 
lagenjas  cervisie  de  dolco  expensabilis  singulis  diebus  percipient.  Ad  sustentacionem^  suoruni  equorum 
quadraginta  quarteria  avene  qualiter  de  garba  [ad  qua]tuor  terniinos,  videlicet  ad  fcstum  sancli  .Mich.ielis, 
ad  festum  [Purif]icationis  virginis.  ad  paschani  et  nativitatem  beati  Johannis,  [quolibet  fest]o  decern 
quarteria,  et   foragium  ad  duos  equos  singu[ii5  diebus  percijpient.      Preterea  dicti  prior  ct  conventus 

concesserunt decimani  garbaruni  et  fenorum  de  ISurudon  imperpeluum,  [et  gran]i  et  fcni  de 

Morton,   cum  decinia  garbaruni  per  [tines]  tote  parochie  sue ;  item   decimam  piscarie    ihree 

lines  illegible     sacristam  dicte  ecclesie  et  dictum  vicarium  et  ejusdem  su[cccssores] legataria 

fabrice  ecclesie,  luminaria  sancti  Oswini,  et  cap dictarum  fabrice  capcUe  et  cerei  memorati 

predictus  vicarius  et  successores  [septimanis]  singulis  unum  denarium  pro pane 

benedicto  ofierendo,  denarios  missalicios  et  denarios salicios.     Habebunt  e[tiam  imjperpctuum 

vicarius  et  successores  ejus  nomine  vicarie  duo  mcssuagia  in  villa  d[e  Tynemuth,]  unum  videlicet  t|Uod 
fuit  quondam  Kogeri  le  Harpur  et  aliud  i|Uod  fuit  Koberti  Coki  Dunelmensis  de  empcione  Petri  ejusdem 
loci  tunc  vicarii,  sibi  et  success[oribus]  suis  imperpetuum   possidenda,  et  terciuni   mesuagiuni  in  villa 

de    Herdesdun capelle,    preter   unum    ex    parte    orientali,   ex   omni    servili    exactione 

liberum  et  [quietum],  sibi  et  successoribus  suis  propriis  cum  sumptibus  constituenda  cl,  cum  o[ccasio] 
fuerit,  eadem  reparanda.  Et  sciendum  quod  supradiclus  vicarius  et  ejus  [sucjcessores  in  prcdicta 
ecclesia  de  Tynemuth  in  propriis  personis  cum  capell[ano]  et  clerico  competenti  dcscrvient.  et 
capellanum  ydoneum  et  clericum  compete[ntem  in]  capella  dc  Herdesdun  singulis  diebus  niinistraluros 
invenient,  et  o[mni]bus  cum  habitaculo  competenti  exhibebunt.  Preterea  predictus  Petrus  vicar[ius  ct] 
successores,  necnon  et  eorundem  capellani  et  clerici,  juramentum  tidelitatis  pr[i]ori  et  conventiii  de 
omnimoda  indenipnitate  dicte  ecclesie  et  de  aliis  ....  tibus  successive  preslabunt.  Predictus  vcro 
vicarius  et  ipsius  successores  onine  [nii]nisteriuni,  lam  niatricis  ecclesie  de  Tyneni'  quam  capelle  de 
Erdesdon,  nec[non  ui]pote  in  vino,  oblatis,  luminaribus,  vesiimcntis,  vasis,  ulensi[libus,  et]  aliis  con- 
similibus  invenient  ;  ad  que  invenienda  percipient  a[nnuatini]  de  sacrista  quadraginta  [solidos].  scilicet 
inedielatem   in    festo   sancti    [Cuthberti    in]  autunipno.   et   aliani    medietalem   ad   paschani,    luminaria 

tantum  ad et   niorluorum   cxec|uias    perlinencia   sacrista  more  solito  inveniet.      [Et   scienjdum 

quod  vicarius  de  Tynemuth  qui  |)ro  tempore  fuerit  omnia  s[ervicia]  malriceni  ecclesiam  de  Tynemuth  et 
capellani  de  Erdcsdon  quocum[que  nomine  con]tingencia  sustinebil  :  extra  ordinarium  vero  juxta 
quantitatem  sue  '  porcionis.  UtJ  autem  liec  ordinacio  imperpeluum  robur  optineal  tirmilatis,  [prior  el 
convenjtus  et  Petrus  vicarius  huic  scripto  in  modum  cyrograh  s[igilla  bua]  apposuerunt.  Uatuni  apud 
Tynemutham  in  vig[ilia] anno  gratie  in'cc"  quinquagesinio.     67.  .llhiin's  Kigiilcr,  fol.  I2i>. 


126  TYKEMOUTH    PARISH. 

tithes  of  hav  and  flax,  forty  shilliiii,'s  from  wax,  twenty  shillings  from  baptism 
and  churching  fees,  seventy  shillings  from  mortuaries  and  the  sale  of  the 
clothes  of  deceased  persons,  six  pounds  ten  shillings  from  annual  offerings, 
and  forty  shillings  from  sundries  ('de  niinutis  rebus  propter  conscientiam '). 

It  appears  from  an  inquisition  taken  in  1295,  upon  the  death  of  the 
vicar,  that  a  third  jxirt  of  the  goods  of  all  fugitives  within  the  parish  was 
paid  over  to  the  incumbent,  that  the  chaplain  and  the  clerk  received  a 
proportion  of  every  mortuary,  and  that  the  vicarage  was  of  the  annual 
value  of  forty-five  marks.' 

Sometimes  the  right  of  presentation  Iiac  vice  was  accorded  by  the  prior 
and  convent  to  others.  Anthonv  Bek,  bishop  of  Durham,  presented  divers 
of  his  clerks  to  the  vicarage  upon  three  occasions.  In  1308  he  drew  up 
a  statement  acknowledging  that  this  was  not  done  of  right  but  by  the 
courtesy  of  the  prior  and  convent,  who  should  henceforward  make  iree 
exercise  of  their  privilege.' 

John  de  Barneburgh  was  presented  to  the  living  in  or  about  that 
vear.  He  was  succeeded  bv  John  de  Howvk,  who  was  followed  in  his 
turn  bv  John  de  Howorth.  One  of  these  three  men  may  have  been  the 
compiler  of  the  Saiicti/oj^iiuii  and  the  Hisioiia  Aiiica,  John  of  Tvnemouth, 
who  is  connnonlv  reputed  to  have  been  vicar  here,  and  to  have  afterwards 
entered  St.  Alban  s  monastery  as  a  monk.  John  of  Tynemouth's  history 
and  identity  are,  however,  obscure.  vSir  Thomas  Grey,  the  earliest  writer 
who  mentions  him,  has  recounted  a  vision  in  which  he  was  led  by  a  sybil 
up  the  ladder  of  historv  ;  and,  when  thev  had  stepped  upon  the  fourth 
rung,  thev  were  in  a  chamber  in  a  village  that  stood  before  a  strong 
castle,  where  they  found  a  chaplain  writing  upon  a  lectern.  'Sweet  friend,' 
said  the  svbil,  'this  is  the  vicar  of  Tillmouth,  who  is  writing  the  I/i.ston'a 

'  St.  Alhtiii's  Kcj^idir,  fol.   108  b.     liraiul,  Scutmlli,  vol.  i.  p.   593. 

■  St.  A  Iban's  Kcj^istcr,  fol.   1 29  h. 

^  [A.  pennijssione  divina  sancte  Jeiosolimile  etclesie  patriaiclia  et  episcopus  Dunulnieiisis.  .Atten- 
ilcntfs  quod  relijjiosi  ....  prior  el  convciuus  de  'rvnemutli.  nostre  diocesis  Dunulmcnsi^,  diversos  clericos 
nostros  [ad  vitariam]  de  'lyiicnv  predicte  jam  per  Ires  vices  ad  nostri  ro^atiis  inslanciani  presentarunt, 
....  [indjeiiipnitate  probpicere  in  hac  parte,  ne  eciani  eoruin  curialitas  ipsis  in  prcsenlai  ionc  dicle 
vicarie  [sil]  in  prejiidiciinn  \el  jaiUirani.  iMii\ersib  tenore  presencium  volumus  esse  nouini  quod  ditli 
[religiosi]  non  ex  aliquo  de1)ito  nominacionis  nostre  set  ex  sola  liberalilatc  sua  dictos  clericos  nostros  [ct] 
lion  aliter  presentarunt,  quodque  nee  nos  nee  successores  nostri  occasione  noniinacionis  nostre  [claiii]einus 
in  jure  ipsoruni  ad  dictani  \  icariani  liberc  prcscnlandi  quicquam  juris  ali(|uibus  [modis],  sed  dicti  prior 
et  conventus  clericuni  queni  volucrunt  ydoneuni  possint  ad  dictani  vicariani  libere  presentare.     In  cujus 

rei   testimonium  has  nostras  patentes  litteias  prefa[ 1    siyillo  nostro  episcopali   signatas  fieri 

fecinius  coniniunitas.       Datum  I.ondoniis,  anno    domini    m"ccc""'octavo,   patriarchalus   nostri   tercio  et 
consccracionis  nostre  [vicesimo  se.\to_.     Ibid.  fol.  21J. 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH    CHURCH.  1 27 

Aiirea.'  Sybilliiie  sayings  are  dark,  and,  as  the  niannscript  of  Grev's 
history  is  unique,  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  'Tilhnouth'  is  a  copyist's 
error,  or  whether  it  contains  a  correct  tradition.' 

No  visitations  of  the  church  antecedent  to  1501  have  been  recorded. 
In  that  year  it  was  presented  that  the  vicar  was  non-resident,  that  matins 
and  vespers  were  not  said  at  fitting  times,  and  that  the  glass  windows  in 
the  choir  were  broken." 

After  the  dissolution,  the  choir  or  conventual  portion  of  the  church 
was  suffered  to  fall  into  ruin,  but  the  nave  remained  standing  as  a  separate 
church.  This  probablv  necessitated  some  alteration  in  its  structure,  and 
on  Januarv  19th,  1546,  Sir  Francis  Leeke,  then  captain  of  the  castle,  had  a 
warrant  from  the  Privv  Council  for  '/.  20  towards  the  making  of  a  church 
at  Tvnemouth.'  Use  was  made  of  the  building  for  storing  artillery,  a 
procedure  which  Bishop  Tunstall  of  Durham  brought  in  1558  to  the  notice 
of  the  Privy  Council,  with  the  result  that  an  order  was  issued  to  the  lord 
lieutenant  and  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton,  captain  of  the  castle,  for  the  removal 
of  the  ordnance,  '  to  th'ende  the  inhabvtauntes  may  have  the  use  of  the 
churche  for  the  hearing  of  Devyne  service,  as  reason  is.'  '  The  conversion 
of  the  monasterv  into  a  roval  castle  and  a  house  for  the  Percys  made  it 
inconvenient  to  the  residents  to  have  a  parish  church  within  it,  and  on 
October  27th,  1566,  Sir  Henry  Percy  wrote  to  Sir  Robert  Cecil:  'I 
have  alreadv  told  vou  the  annoyance  to  this  house  by  the  parish  church 
being  within  it,  and  much  frequented  by  the  strangers  who  visit  the 
haven.  At  my  request  Sir  Richard  Lee  has  inspected  it,  and  can  report 
on  the  cost  of  a  new  one,  and  the  value  of  this  towards  it.'^  Percy's 
suggestion  was  not  carried  out  ;  on  the  other  hand,  little  was  done  to 
keep  the  church  in  repair,  though  Luke  Akome  of  Tynemouth,  by  will 
dated  December  i8th,  1563,  left  2od.  to  the  mending  of  the  south  window,'' 
and  I2S.  4d.  was  paid  in  1592  for  the  making  of  new  stalls  in  the  church 
for  the  use  of  the  captain  of  the  castle.' 

'  Sciilachnmicii,  ed.  .Stevenson  for  the  Maitland  Club,  p.  3.  There  was  a  chantr>'  but  no  vicamge  at 
Tilhnouth.  It  stood  near  to  the  strong  castle  of  Wark,  which  was  Clrey's  home.  Upon  John  of  Tyne- 
mouth see  Xova  Le^cmia  Anglic,  edited  for  the  Clarendon  Press  by  Carl  Horstman,  who,  with  too 
Kreat  positiveness,  identifies  Tynemouth  with  John  of  Howyk.  Horstman  relies  upon  a  statement  made 
by  John  Boston  of  Bury  :  'Johannes  dictus  .\nglicus,  vicarius  de  Tynemuthe,  floruit  A.C.  mccclx\i_  et 
scripsit  Historiam  .Aureani,  etc'  Boston,  who  wrote  about  fifty  years  after  Oey's  death,  was  the  first 
writer  to  jfive  a  full  account  of  John  of  Tynemouth  s  works.  Pits,  in  1619,  adds  that  the  vicar  afterwards 
became  a  monk  of  .St.  .Alban's.  a  statement  unsupported  by  direct  evidence. 

=  Ecclesiastical  Proceedings,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  22,  p.  xxi.         '  Ads  0/ the  Privy  Council,  1542-1547,  p.  316. 

'  Ibid.  1556-155S,  p.  382.  '  Cal.  State  Papers  Domestic,  .Addenda,  1566-1579.  p.  iS. 

"  l?rand.  Xeurnstte,  vol.  ii.  p.  1 14.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


128 


TVNF.MOrTH    PARISH. 


Upon  a  visitation  mack'  in  lAoS  the  church  was  stated  to  be  in  great 
decav.'  Sir  William  Hrt-rtton,  who  came  to  TvntMnoiith  in  163:;,  in  the 
course  of  a  tour  throuL;h  llic  countv,  described  it  as  'the  fairest  church 
I  have  seen  in  anv  castle,  but  nmv  it  is  out  of  repair  and  much  neglected.'' 
Wlu-n  the  Civil  War  broke  out  the  j-jarishionL-rs  were  no  longer  able  to 
obtain  access  to  their  church,  since  it  lay  within  the  castle.  It  was  rapidlv 
becoming  dismantled,  and  the  Oliveriau  commissioners  in  1650  reported 
it  to  be  quite  ruined.'  Ten  vears  later  the  roof  fell  in.  Work  had  then 
alreadv  commenced  upon  a  new  parish  church  (Christ  Church),  near  North 


Thf  Priokv  Chi'K(~h  fkom   the  South-west. 

Shields.  Proposals  made  to  rebuild  the  ruined  nave  of  the  priory  church, 
which  had  been  used  during  four  centuries  for  parochial  services,  were  not 
executed,  but  the  east  chapel  was  fitted  up  and  appropriated  to  the  parish  ; 
a  movable  oak  communion-table,  covered  with  a  red  marble  slab,  being 
substituted    for    the    former    altar.''      This    building    continued    to    be    used 

'  Diirluiiii  \'isiliitioii  Books. 

■  Brereton,  SoUs  of  a  Journey  throiii;h  Dnvham  ami  NovthiiinhciUvK},  Rirli.irdsnirs  Reprints,  p.  17. 

'  Arch  Ad.  ist  series,  vol.  iii.  p.  9. 

'  'April  [31!),  1675.     Richard,  son  of  Richard  Hudson  of  Tinemonth,  baptised  ;  ve  first  baptised  in 
Tinemouth  church  after  it  was  rebuilded.'     Tyncmouth  Parish  Registers,  ed.  Couchman',  vol.  i.  p.  97. 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH    CHURCH.  129 

for  services  until  1810,  when  it  was  taken  over  by  the  Board  of  Ordnance 
and  converted  into  a  powder  magazine,  in  which  state  it  remained  for  forty 
years.  It  was  then  restored  to  the  parish  and  repaired  under  the  supervision 
of  Mr.  John  Dobson.     vServices  are  occasionallv  held  in  it. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century,  if  not  earlier, 
the  chancel  of  the  priory  church  was  used  as  a  burial  ground  for  the  parish. 
In  the  course  of  two  centuries  and  a  half  interments  had  covered  a 
considerable  area,  including  the  nave  and  site  of  the  Ladv- chapel  and 
ground  on  the  east  and  south  sides  of  the  chancel.  The  incongruity  of  a 
churchyard  with  undefined  limits  existing  within  the  walls  of  a  government 
fort  was  a  circumstance  which  not  unnaturally  led  to  disputes  between 
the  parish  and  the  militarv  authorities.  The  governor  of  the  castle  raised 
a  claim  in  1826  to  a  payment  of  ten  shillings  upon  each  occasion  that 
ground  was  broken  for  the  interment  of  a  parishioner.  This  claim  was 
abandoned,  but  at  the  same  time  the  parish  consented  to  a  limitation  of 
the  burial  ground.'  E.xcept  in  certain  vaults,  burials  no  longer  take  place 
within  the  precincts  of  the  castle. 

Monumental  Inscriptions. 

Here  lyeth  the  body  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Ralph  Clarke,  vicar  of  Long  Benton,  who  departed  this 
life  March  the  4th,  1733/4,  aged  59  years.  Also  near  this  place  lyeth  interred  Eliz.  Taylor,  daughter  to 
the  Rev.  Ra.  Clarke,  who  departed  this  life  Nov.  the  9th  day,  1741,  aged  41  years.  Eliz.,  wife  of  the 
Reverend  Ralph  Clarke,  died  .Sept.  the  3rd,  1758,  aged  79  years.  Also  lieth  here  Ralph  Clarke,  son 
of  the  above  Rev.  Ralph  Clarke,  who  died  the  2nd  of  May,  1785,  aged  77  years.  .Arms:  A  saltire 
engrailed  between  four  horses'  heads  coupcd. 

In  memory  of  Henry,  son  of  Robert  Clarke  of  North  Shields,  master  mariner,  who  died  the  26th  of 
December,  1768,  aged  5  years.  Also  four  more  children  who  all  died  young.  Dorothy,  wife  of  the  said 
Robt.  Clarke  and  mother  of  the  above  said  children,  died  the  12th  of  October,  17S4,  aged  51  years. 
Near  this  place  also  lyeth  interred  the  body  of  the  above  named  Robert  Clarke,  who  departed  this  life 
the  3rd  August,  1786,  aged  73  years. 

Thomas  Dawson,  esq.,  died  9th  October,  1784,  aged  59. 

Barbara  Dawson,  died  July  27th,  1781,  aged  24.  Also  in  memory  of  Dorothy  Sanderson,  sister 
of  the  above,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  9th  day  of  Oct.,  1S09,  aged  41  years.  Also  of  Mary 
Clementina,  eldest  daughter  of  Capt.  \Vm.  Henry  Temple,  late  of  the  52nd  reg.,  and  granddaughter 
of  the  above-named  D.  Sanderson,  who  died  on  the  13th  of  Jany.,  1830,  aged  6  years  and  6  months. 

The  burial  place  of  Armorer  Donkin  at  the  Low  Lights.  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Elizabeth  Donkin, 
who  departed  this  life  the  8th  of  May,  1772,  aged  46  years.  Also  the  above-named  Armorer  Donkin, 
who  departed  this  life  the  12th  of  March,  1798,  aged  76  years.  Likewise  two  of  his  children  who  died 
young. 

William  Sidney  Gibson,  esquire,  born  Nov.  12th,  1814,  died  Jan.  13th,  1871,  greatly  beloved  and 
deeply  regretted. 

'  Gibson,  vol.  i.  pp.  cl.\.\.\ii-clx.\xv. 
Vol.  VIII.  '7 


130  TYNEMOUTH     PARISH. 

Sacred  to  the  memor>'  of  Frances,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Haigh,  vicar  of  Wooler,  who  died  October 
17th,  1824,  aged  60  years.  Frances  Susannah  Haigh,  eldest  daughter  of  the  above,  departed  this  life 
Sept.  23rd,  1851,  aged  63  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  William  Preston  Haigh,  esq.,  captain,  Royal  Engineers,  eldest  son  of  the 
late  Rev.  William  Haigh,  A.M.,  vicar  of  Wooler,  departed  this  life  March  nth,  1840,  aged  49. 

In  memory  of  Edward  Hall  of  Whitley,  esquire,  who  died  the  7th  of  June,  1792,  aged  65  years. 

Erected  to  the  memory  of  John  Johnson  of  Woodhorn,  who  departed  this  life  March  22nd,  1825, 
aged  70  years.  Isabella,  his  daughter,  died  July  i8th,  1821,  aged  8  years.  Also  three  of  his  children 
died  young.     Mary,  wife  of  the  above,  died  Feby.  25,  1825,  aged  53  years. 

The  burial  place  of  Samuel  Lacy  of  Great  Yarmouth,  master  and  mariner,  who  died  October  the  6ih, 
1762,  aged  71  years.  He  marryed  Ann,  the  daughter  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Ralph  Clarke,  vicar  of  Long 
Henton,  who  had  issue  eighteen  children — si.\teen  died  young.  Ann,  the  wife  of  the  above-named,  who 
died  the  6th  of  December,  1765,  aged  60  years.  Arms  :  On  a  bend  three  martlets,  over  all  a  label  of  as 
many  points,  Lacy  ;  impaling  a  saltire  engrailed  between  four  horses'  heads  cottped,  Clarke. 

The  burial  place  of  Richard  Lacy,  esq.,  of  Newcastle,  who  married  Dorothy,  third  daughter  of 
Joseph  Dacre,  esq.,  of  Kirklinton  in  the  county  of  Cumberland.  Richard  Lacy  died  March  iSth,  1778, 
aged  34.  Joseph  Dacre  Lacy,  his  second  son,  died  May  25th,  1772,  aged  5.  Arms:  On  a  bend  three 
martlets.  Lacy  ;  impaling  quarterly  first  and  fourth  three  escallops,  Dacre  ;  second  and  third  six  martlets, 
three  two  and  one,  Appleby. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  John  Liddell  of  Dockwray  Square,  who  departed  this  life  the  14th  of  Nov., 
1802,  aged  67.  Jane  Liddell,  wife  of  John  Liddell,  departed  this  life  the  i6th  of  August,  1805,  aged 
69  years.  John  and  Anthony,  sons  of  John  and  Jane  Liddell,  both  died  young.  Also  Jane,  their 
daughter,  departed  this  life  the  21st  of  May,  1781,  aged  12  years.  Elizabeth  Cay,  granddaughter  of 
the  above  John  and  Jane  Liddell,  died  the  27th  of  August,  1803,  aged  11  months.  Sarah  Wright, 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Liddell,  died  the  loth  of  Dec,  1821,  aged  58  years.  Albert  Liddell,  son  of 
the  above-named  John  and  Jane  Liddell  departed  this  life  the  17th  of  Dec,  1826,  aged  61  years. 
Elizabeth  Cay,  died  at  Edinburgh  the  27th  of  Oct.,  1831,  aged  61  years.  Isabella  Robinson,  died  in 
London,  the  13th  of  June  1833,  aged  57  years.  George  Liddell  died  at  Beech  (irove,  near  Chester-le- 
Street,  i6th  of  Aug.,  1835,  aged  68  years.  Barbara  Liddell,  died  in  Edinburgh,  Jan.  2nd,  1845,  aged 
72  years. 

Here  lyeth  ye  body  of  Mr.  John  Lomax,  who  departed  this  life  May  ye  25,  1693. 

In  memory  of  John  Lowes,  genlilman,  died  Jany.  13th,  1760,  aged  44  years.  Eleanor  his  daughter, 
died  June  i6th,  1764,  aged  16  years.  Jane  Boucher,  his  daughter,  died  July  29th,  1782,  aged  28  years. 
Mary  Lowes,  wife  of  Ralph  Clarke  Lowes,  departed  this  life  January  23rd,  1784,  aged  25  years.  Jane, 
relict  of  the  above-named  John  Lowes,  died  the  19th  of  August,  1794,  aged  75  years.  Mary,  wife  of 
Willm.  Fall,  died  July  23rd,  1804,  aged  82  years. 

In  memory  of  Anthony  Pearson  of  North  Shields  ropery,  who  departed  this  life  ye  6th  day  of 
February,  1769,  aged  58  years. 

Here  lieth  interred  the  body  of  Henry  Reay,  esq.,  alderman  and  twice  mayor  of  Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne,  and  Hannah  his  wife,  daughter  of  Utrick  Whitfield  of  Whitfield,  esq.,  by  whom  he  had  issue  two 
sons,  Utrick  and  Joseph,  who  both  survived  them.  She  departed  this  life  July  loth,  1733,  aged  58,  and 
he  October  18th,  1734,  aged  63.     Here  lieth  interred  the  body  of  Utrick  Reay,  son  and  heir  of  Henry 

Reay,   esq.,   alderman   of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne By   his   wife    Bridget,   daughter  of  Henry 

Blencowe  of  Blencowe,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  esq.,  he  had  issue  three  children,  Philadelphia, 
who  died  .A.pril  4th,  1736,  in  the  first  year  of  her  age,  Hannah  and  Utrick  who  survived  him.  He  died 
April  loth,  1742,  aged  30.  Here  also  lieth  the  body  of  Utrick  Reay,  his  son,  who  died  March  4th,  1744, 
aged  6  ;  to  whose  memory  this  monument  was  erected  by  the  above-named  Bridget  Reay. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Sarah  Shadforth,  who  died  the  loth  of  March,  1806,  in  the  35th  year  of 
her  age,  leaving  four  young  children  and  a  most  disconsolate  husband  ever  to  lament  her  loss. 

Here  lieth  the  body  of  Prudence,  late  wife  of  John  Topping,  some  years  governour  of  this  castle, 
who  departed  this  life  in  child-bearing  the  19th  day  of  Feby.,  1658,  as  alsoe  four  of  her  children,  Ellinor, 
Hichard,  and  a  sonne  still  borne,  with  a  child  who  was  interred  with  her,  the  21st  Febr.,  1658 , 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE.  I3I 

Also  lieth  here,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Zechariah  Tizack,  who  died  May,  1748,  aged  44  years.  Also  Benjamin 
Cowley  Tyzack,  chain  and  anchor  manufacturer,  of  North  Shields,  who  died  April  gth,  1851,  aged  78  years. 

Hie  sitae  sunt  mortales  reliquiae  Henrici  Villiers,  armigeri,  stirpe  antiqua  prognati,  unici  honora- 
tissimi  comitis  de  Jersey  fratris,  necnon  hujus  presidii  circiter  20  annos  fidelis  et  perquam  dilecti  prefect!. 
Vixit  annos  49;  obiit  18  Aug.,  Anno  Domini  1707.' 

Here  lies  the  body  of  James  Wilkinson,  merchant,  of  Newcastle,  who  died  the  nth  of  August, 
1761,  aged  46.  Here  also  lieth  interred  the  body  of  Bridget,  the  wife  of  the  above-named  James 
Wilkinson,  who  died  the  12th  day  of  November,  1776,  aged  71.  Christopher  Wilkinson,  merchant, 
died  the  21st  November,  1784,  aged  38  years.  Also  lie  interred  the  remains  of  James  Wilkinson,  esq., 
most  sincerely  and  deservedly  lamented  by  all  his  friends  :  he  departed  this  life  on  the  28th  of  .August, 
1801,  aged  52  years.  Here  lie  interred  the  remains  of  Jane  Wilkinson,  widow  of  the  above  James 
Wilkinson,  who  died  March  loth,   1823,  aged  71  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  John  Wright,  esq.,  of  North  Shields,  founder  of  several  elegant  streets 
both  there  and  at  Newcastle.  He  died  the  25th  November,  1806,  aged  75  years.  Also  of  .Ann,  his 
widow,  who  died  on  the  29th  of  June,  18 12,  in  the  60th  year  of  her  age.  Also  of  his  eldest  son,  William 
Wright,  who  died  Dec.  loth,  1S47,  aged  80  years.  He  was  many  years  deputy-lieutenant  and  acting 
magistrate  for  the  county  of  Northumberland  and  Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Also  of  Frances,  his  widow, 
who  died  the  5th  of  April,  1864,  in  the  83rd  year  of  her  age. 

.Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Stephen  and  Margaret  Wright  of  Dockwray  Square.  Margaret  Wright, 
died  March  28th,  1795,  aged  72  years.  Stephen  Wright,  died  June  28th,  1803,  aged  86  years.  Also 
near  this  place  lie  eleven  of  their  children  who  all  died  young. 


DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    PRIORY    AND    CASTLE. 

Pre-Conquest  Remains. 

As  might  be  expected  on  the  site  of  an  Anglian  settlement,  occupied 
from  early  davs  bv  a  religious  congregation,  Tynemouth  has  supplied  some 
remains  of  the  sepulchral  memorials  of  its  early  christian  inhabitants.' 
They  are  few  in  number,  however,  and  are  all  fragmentary,  consisting  of 
portions  of  the  shafts  and  heads  of  the  crosses  which  once  stood  over  the 
graves  in  the  cemetery  of  the  church.  One  of  these  stones  is  of  more 
than  ordinary  interest.  It  is  known  as  the  Monk's  Stone,  and  now  stands 
a  mile  to  the  north  of  the  priory  ruins,  at  a  little  distance  from  the  road 
to  Whitley.  Its  present  position  is  not  the  original  one,  and  it  is  without 
doubt  part  of  a  memorial  cross,  originally  placed  in  the  cemetery. 

The  roughly-hewn  square  base,  on  which  the  cross  stands,  is  modern. 
The  upper  portion,  including  the  cross-head,  is  wanting,  and  the  shaft,  which 
Grose  ^  described  as  being  ten  feet  in  height,  is  now  only  si.\  feet  high 
above  the  socket.     The  two  faces,  which  stand  east  and  west,  taper  from 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  122.  '  For  Roman  remains  found  at  Tynemouth  see  pp.  36-3S. 

'  Antiquities  0/ England  and  Wales,  new  edition,  vol.  iv.  p.  127. 


132 


tYnEmouth  parish. 


i8  inches  to  14  inches;  the  sides  from  ii|  inches  to  8^  inches.  For  a 
space  of  22  inches  from  the  base,  the  shaft  is  plain  on  all  sides,  never 
having  had  any  carved  work  there.  The  remainder  has  been  sculptured 
over  the  whole  surface  with  human  figures,  a  tree,  animals,  lacertine 
creatures,  and  interlacing  knot-work  patterns.  These  elaborate  ornamental 
designs  exhibit  many  tasteful  qualities,  giving  evidence 
of  the  emplovment  of  a  skilled  and  experienced  work- 
man, though  there  is  nothing  to  show  the  influence  of 
the  vine  and  other  foliage  motives,  characteristic  of  the 
Hexham  school,  or  of  that  which  produced  the  Bew- 
castle  and  Ruthwell  crosses.  Neither  the  design  nor 
the  execution  show  any  sign  of  decadence,  and  the  cross 
mav  be  assigned  to  a  time  not  later  than  the  first  part 
of  the  ninth  century.  As  it  has  suffered  considerably 
from  weathering,  an  adequate  description  of  its  sculp- 
tured work  cannot  easily  be  given. 

The  angles  of  the  stone  have  all  been  occupied 
by  bead-mouldings,  carried  across  the  four  sides  as  single 
beads,  immediately  beneath  the  ornamental  work.  The 
heading  is  also  to  be  seen  on  the  north  side,  above  the 
upper  pair  of  loops  of  knot-work,  as  well  as  on  the  south 
side,  between  the  interlaced  pattern  and  the  two  lacer- 
tine creatures  presently  to  be  described. 

On  the  north  side  alone  can  the  design 
be  made  out  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 
That  has  had  an  interlacing  pattern  in  double 
bands  of  a  not  uncommon  kind,  very  similar 
to  that  on  a  cross  once  built  into  the  tower 
of  St.  Oswald's  church  at  Durham.'  Ten  sets 
of  circles,  similar  to  those  on  the  Dnrhani 
stone,  can  be  clearly  seen,  the  bands  which  form  them  being  continued  as 
four  sets  of  knots  up  to  the  point  where  the  side  is  crossed  by  a  line  of 
moulding.  AboVe  this,  for  a  space  of  six  inches,  the  stone  is  covered  with 
interlaced  work. 

The  south  side  has,  on  the  lower  part,  two  pairs  of  creatures  whose 
extremities    appear    to    form    groups    of   knot-work,   filling  the    intervening 

'  Victoria  County  History  of  Durham,  vol.  i.  |)p.  224-225.     Durluim  ami  Northumberland  Architatural 
Society,  vol.  iv.  pp.  2S1-2S3. 


Monk's  Stone,  North  Side  and 
West  Face. 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE. 


133 


spaces.  Above  them  there  seems  to  have  been  a  quatrefoil  flower  of  con- 
ventional design,  and,  above  that  again,  are  apparentlv  two  birds,  whose  long 
beaks  cross  each  other  at  the  middle  of  their  length.  Beading  traverses 
the  stone  at  this  point,  separating  the  last  mentioned  design  from  two 
lacertine  creatures,  whose  bodies  are  placed  saltire  fashion,  the  tails  being 
rolled  round  towards  one  another.  Limbs  and  tails  are 
continued  as  bands,  which  intertwine  and  compass  the 
bodies.  This  pattern,  though  similar,  is  more  elaborate 
than  that  on   the   St.  Oswald's   cross   mentioned   above. 

The  design  on  the  west  face  has  almost  entirely 
perished.  It  seems  to  have  been  divided  into  three 
panels.  The  bottom  space,  which  is  13  inches  in  length, 
contained  two  creatures  facing  one  another,  from  whose 
limbs  an  interlacing  design  was  perhaps  evolved.  The 
middle  panel  is  9  inches  long,  and  the  upper  26  inches 
appear  to  have  been  filled  bv  a  subject  carved  in 
bold  relief. 

The  east  face  is  the  most  interesting,  and  contains 
two  human  figures,  much  worn  away  but  still  standing 
out  in  some  degree  of  relief.     Above  the  head  of  each 
figure,   the    arching   branch   of   a    tree    forms    a    sort    of 
canopy.     Higher  branches  of  the  same  tree  make  similar 
arches  over  a  pair  of  animals  somewhat  like 
sheep.      Other    parts    of   the    tree    may    have 
branched   into   interlaced   work.     The   lowest 
compartment   of  this  face  has  had   upon  it  a 
design   of  interlaced   work   of  a   delicate   and 
unusually    minute    pattern.      If  a    conjecture 
may  be  hazarded,  the  subject    perhaps  repre- 
sents our  first  parents  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  among  the  trees  and  animals 
with  which  it  was  filled. 

In  addition  to  the  Monk's  Stone,  portions  of  four  other  crosses  have 
been  discovered  at  Tynemouth,  and  are  now  preserved  at  the  Black  Gate 
Museum  in   Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 

The  first  (fig.  i)  consists  of  one  limb  and  the  central  portion  of  the 
head  of  a  cross.     It  is  made  of  sandstone  and  is  14  inches  high,  9^  inches 


Monk's  Stone,  South  Side  anu 
East  Face. 


134 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


wide,   and  4^  inches  tliick.     In  the  centre  is  the   not  uncommon   feature 

of  a  round  boss,  surrounded  by  a  raised  circular  rino;.     The  limb  is  occupied 

by   a   knot   made    by   a  ribbon    interlacing    at 

each  end,  and  other  knots  probably  existed  in 

the   missing   limbs.      A  similar  design  occurs 

on   the  other  side.     The  sides   are  plain. 

The  second  (fig.  2)  is  a  single  limb  of  a 

cross-head,    8   inches  in    height,    7^    inches   in 

width,  and  of  a  thickness  diminishing  from  6 

inches  to  5  inches.     The  sides  are  plain.     An 

interlacing  knot-pattern  of  a  single  band  occu- 
pies both   faces. 

The  third  stone  ^  is  a  portion  of  the  shaft 

of  a  cross,   14  inches  high,  the  faces  tapering 

from    1 2    inches  to    1 1    inches,   and    the   sides 

from  8  inches  to  7^  inches.     On  one  face  the 

design  has  been  chiselled  off.     The  remaining 

face  has  upon  it  two  series  of  well  sculptured 

knots  of  double  bands,  placed  one  above  the 

other,  an  effective  and  beautiful  pattern 
found    upon   many   crosses   of  Anglian 
work.      The   sides   have   an   interlacing 
j      knot-pattern  of  one  band. 

The  last  fragment  is  also  part  of 
the  shaft  of  a  cross.  Though  of  in- 
ferior workmanship  to  those  already 
described,  it  is,  in  regard  to  the  sub- 
jects carved  upon  it,  of  equal  interest 
to  the  Monk's  Stone.     It  is   18  inches 

>\       y     i  ^RPIk        higli)  with  faces  tapering  from    11^  to 

^       ^        ,^    "  II    inches,    and    sides    from    9^    to    9 

inches.  The  edges  consist  of  a  plain 
roll-moulding.  The  faces  are  divided 
into  panels  by  a  band  of  broad  cable- 


m  / 


Fig.  I. 


Fig.  2. 


moulding,  bordered  on  each  side   by  a 


An  illustration  of  this  stone  is  given  in  Arcli.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xxv.  p.  121 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE. 


135 


narrow  roll-moulding.  One  face  of  the  fragment  is  occupied '  by  a  draped 
human  figure  standing  facing.  With  each  hand  he  holds  a  book  in  front 
of  his  chest,  and  he  seems  to  be  standing  between  two  trees,  which  arch 
over  his  head.  The  lower  part  of  the  other  face  (fig.  3)  contains  an 
interlacing  pattern  of  three  knots  placed  horizontally.  Above  is  a  creature 
which  has  been  described  as  a  centaur,  since,  besides  having  four  legs,  two 
appendages  like  arms  proceed  from  the  shoulders.  If  these  are  arms,  then 
the  creature  is  holding,  poised  in  its  right  hand,  a  long  shaft  ending  in 
a  spear-head  at  the  bottom,  and  in  a  round  ball  at  the  top.  With  its  left 
hand  it  grasps  its  tail,  which  seems  to  be  pro- 
longed into  an  interlacing  pattern  over  its  back. 
A  raised  ring  is  placed  between  its  legs.^  The 
creature,  which  is  apparentlv  in  motion,  has 
a  counterpart  upon  one  of  the  crosses  at 
Aycliffe^  ;  but  while  that  on  the  Aycliffe  cross 
resembles  a  horse,  this  animal  has  cloven  hoofs, 
and  is  more  like  a  lamb.  The  carved  work 
on  one  side  of  the  stone  has  perished  ;  the 
other  side  is  covered  by  a  double  row  of 
knotted  cords,  placed  perpendicularly  and  con- 
nected at  the  top  and  bottom. 

These  fragments  of  sepulchral  memorials 
represent  all  that  remains  of  the  monastery 
which  stood  upon  the  headland  in  the  eighth 
and  ninth  centuries.  The  church  in  which 
Saint  Oswin's  body  was  discovered,  and  its  tower  seen  by  the  soldiers  of 
William  I.  upon  their  foray,  are  gone,  and  no  trace  of  Anglian  masonry  is 
found  in  the  later  structure.  The  monks  of  St.  Alban's  apparently  began 
to  build  a  new  church  about  the  year  1085,  as  soon  as  they  had  been 
established  at  Tynemouth.  This  building  was  in  course  of  construction  in 
1093,  when  King  Malcolm  was  buried  in  it,  and  was  sufficiently  far  ad- 
vanced in  1 1 10  to  receive  the  body  of  St.  Oswin,  translated  in  that  year 
from  the  Anglian  church,  which  then  fell  into  disuse. 

'  For  a  view  of  this  face  and  an  alternative  account  of  the  design  upon  it,  see  Arch.  Ael.  he. 
cit.  p.  1 19-120. 

-  A  similar  ring  occurs  on  two  of  the  cross  heads  from  the  foundations  of  the  chapter  house  at 
Durham,  there  in  connection  with  the  Holy  Lamb:  Durham  and  Sorthumbcrland  ArchtUctural  Society, 
vol.  iv.  p.  129  ;   I'ictoria  County  History  of  Durham,  vol.  i.  pp.  226,  228.  'bid-  P-  220. 


Ki(,. 


136 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


The  Church  :  Technical  Details. 

The  great  monastic  churches  erected  in  this  country  shortly  after  the 
Conquest  were  invariably  cruciform,  having  an  eastern  arm  with  aisles  and 
an  apsidal  end,  transepts  with  eastern  chapels,  and  a  nave  with  aisles.  It 
was  not  unusual  for  the  eastern  terminations  to  be  apsidal  internally,  and 
square  externally,  as  at  Durham  and  Lindisfarne  ;  more  rarely,  as  at 
Worcester,  Gloucester,  Norwich  and  Winchester,  the  aisles  continued  round 
the  apse,  forming  an  ambulatory.  Recent  excavations  have  shown  that  the 
priory  church  of  Tynemouth  was  of  the  latter  and  rarer  type,'  differentiated 
in  this  case  by  the  addition  of  three  chapels,  radiating  from  the  choir,  the 
middle  one  being  the  longest.  A  single  eastern  chapel  is  a  common  feature, 
and  occurs  at  Winchester  ;  at  Canterbury  and  Gloucester  there  are  side 
chapels  in  the  crvpts,  but  the  design  carried  out  at  Tynemouth  was  most 
uncommon  in  the  smaller  Norman  monastic  churches,  and  this  example  is 
probably  unique  in  England. 

A.      T/ie  Noniuui   Structure. 

The  position  of  the  west  end  of  the  Norman  nave  is  indicated  on 
Plate  VTII.,  and  remains  of  the  bases  of  the  arcade  piers  and  the  internal 


TYNEMOUTn    PRIORY. 
NORTHUMBERL'AND. 

CONJECTURAL  PLAN   OP  Tht    NORMAN    CHURCH. 


HEFEHtNCtS    TO  bn&DINC 

tXISTINC  ^H 

POUNDATIONb  1^ 

ASSUMED.  CZ] 


■...f....r 


W  n   KHOVMLtS.  H>  A 
fp  MENS   CT  del! 


SCALt  otfttr 


'  The  above  plan  is  developed  on  evidence  afforded  by  these  excavations.  The  portions  in  black 
represent  existing  walls,  the  shaded  portions  foundations  or  other  evidence,  and  the  dotted  lines 
conjectural  work. 


TYNEMOUTn     PRIORY 
NORTnVMBERLT^ND . 

GROUND       PLAN. 


lo  5  o 


liiiihiiil- 


5CALE    OF   FtET 


PLATE    nil. 


CMOID 
f—  yss. 


B 


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£ — 1 xiRCA-pga 

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f-i;.:.-a: is^.CEKTv'-y. 

te^Sai-ATEfi   &.  MOOESISL 
I  !        FOVNOATIONS. 


WJ1  JOI0WI.E5.  F.5-A. 
MEJ«S  ET  OELTAUC  905 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE.  137 

and  external  pilasters  of  the  aisle  walls  show  the  nave  to  have  been  of  seven 
bays.  A  central  tower  surmounted  the  crossing  space.  The  transepts, 
as  at  St.  Alban's,  were  aisleless,  with  eastern  apsidal  chapels  similar  to 
those  at  Lindisfarne,  Tewkesbury  and  Romsey.  As  nothing  of  the  choir 
remains  except  foundations,  it  is  not  possible  to  say  with  certainty  how  it 
was  subdivided,  but  its  length  suggests  that  it  had  two  bays  of  the  same 
width  as  those  of  the  nave,  the  apse  being  divided  into  five  bays,  as  in 
Norwich  cathedral. 

The  foundation  walls  of  the  ambulatory,  or  apse,  which  formed  the 
eastern  termination  of  the  choir,  are  in  coursed  ashlar  work  ;  while  those 
of  the  radiating  chapels,  at  a  lower  level,  arc  of  rough  masonry,  somewhat 
coursed,  and  carried  five  or  six  feet  down  in  a  sandy  soil.  There  is  no 
indication  of  the  floor  level,  and  the  depth  of  the  masonry  appears  to  be 
due  to  the  insecuritv  of  the  foundation.  Three  of  the  crossing  piers,  which 
carried  the  central  tower,  remain,  as  also  the  foundations  of  the  fourth. 
The  two  western  piers  have  responds  composed  of  triple  semi-shafts 
towards  the  crossing,  transepts  and  nave,  and  broad  flat  pilasters  towards 
the  aisles ;  in  the  case  of  the  eastern  piers  there  are  similar  responds 
towards  the  transepts  and  crossing,  and  pilasters  on  the  sides  towards  the 
choir  and  aisles.  The  piers  have  slightly  moulded  bases  on  a  massive 
square  plinth  ;  their  capitals  are  cushioned  with  chamfered  abaci  continued 
as  a  string  course  on  each  side.  Only  a  few  square  voussoirs  of  the  outer 
order  of  the  crossing  arch  remain.  The  greater  part  of  the  south  and  east 
walls  of  the  south  transept  is  standing,  the  former  containing  two  built-up 
window-openings  with  chamfered  string-course  below  the  sill  level,  the 
latter,  which  has  been  pierced  in  its  lower  stage  by  the  later  choir  aisle, 
retaining  portions  of  two  round  arches  about  the  level  of  the  clerestory 
and  of  an  archway  below  giving  access  to  the  ambulatory.  In  the  west 
wall  of  the  north  transept  there  is  a  similar  semicircular  arch  opening 
into  the  aisle,  flat  on  the  soflSt  and  springing  from  a  chamfered  impost. 

The  nave  arcades  appear  to  have  carried  a  clerestory.  They  have 
all  fallen  except  a  single  pier  at  the  east  end  of  the  north  side.  This  is 
cylindrical  in  plan,  and  the  bases  of  other  piers  suggest  that  they  were 
all  of  the  same  design.  It  has  a  many-sided  capital  of  cushion  form,  with 
carving  imitative  of  arcading,  and  over  it  is  a  portion  of  two  square  orders 
of  a  round  arch.     The  north  and  south  nave  walls  have  chamfered  plinth 


138  TYNKMOIJTH    PARISH. 

courses,  and  are  emphasized  externallv  and  internally  bv  flat  pilasters 
corresponding;  with  the  bays  of  the  arcade.  The  eastern  bay  of  the  north 
wall  contains  portions  of  a  semicircular-headed  window,  of  a  single  light, 
opening  above  the  level  of  a  chamfered  string  course.  Possibly  a  similar 
window  occupied  each  bav  between  the  pilaster  buttresses.  Opening  ofl" 
the  cloister,  and  in  the  second  bay  from  the  east  end  of  the  south  wall 
of  the  nave,  there  is  a  semicircular  arched  doorway  of  three  orders,  each 
springing  from  a  chamfered  impost,  with  the  exception  of  the  middle 
order,  which  was  supported  by  a  detached  nook-shaft. 

The  construction  of  the  domestic  buildings  was  commenced  as  soon  as 
the  church  was  completed.  Documentary  evidence  shows  that  a  dormitory, 
forming  part  of  the  eastern  range  of  the  cloistral  buildings,  and  probably 
raised  over  the  monastic  parlour,  was  being  erected  in  iiii.  On  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  cloister  a  building  projected  beyond  the  west  end  of  the 
nave  on  its  south  side,  as  is  shown  on  Plate  \'III.  Its  lower  stage  was 
decorated  by  a  simple  arcade  on  attached  semi-shafts  resting  on  a  chamfered 
stone   seat. 

H.      I'lic  Early   English  Dcvclopinoit. 

The  Norman  choir  lasted  for  a  century  and  then  gave  place  to  the 
noble  eastern  arm  which  dominates  the  coast,  and  recalls  Whitbv  in  its 
style  and  situation.  Throughout  England,  and  especially  in  Northumber- 
land, considerable  building  operations  were  proceeding  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  thirteenth  centurv.  At  Tynemouth  the  reconstructed  choir 
was  abnormallv  large,  for  the  separation  of  the  nave  for  parochial  purposes 
was  probablv  already  contemplated.  The  work  may  be  attributed  to 
Prior  Akarius,  and  was  commenced  during  the  last  decade  of  the  twelfth 
century,  at  the  same  time  that  John  de  Cella,  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  was 
beginning  the  extension  westwards  of  the  mother  church.  Its  magnitude 
may  be  understood  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  Norman  choir  extended 
only  about  48  feet  eastwards  of  the  crossing,  whereas  this  arm  of  the 
Transitional  church  covered  a  length  of  116  feet.  It  was  larger  than 
the  corresponding  limb  of  the  priory  church  of  Hexham,  and  its  length, 
with  the  addition  of  the  tower,  was  equal  to  the  total  length  of  Brinkburn. 
Besides  being  increased  in  length,  it  was  made  10  feet  wider  than  the 
former  choir.  Its  arcade  piers  occupy  the  outer  alleys  or  aisles  of  the 
Norman    church,    the    new    aisle    walls    being    outside    those    which    thev 


PRIORY    AND   CASTI.E.  139 

replaced.  The  demolition  of  the  old  choir  was  therefore  not  necessary 
until  the  completion  of  its  successor,  in  which  it  was  enclosed,  and  the 
work  of  building  did  not  interrupt  the  services  of  the  monastic  body. 

The  Transitional  choir  consisted  of  five  bays  with  aisles,  and  was 
continued  eastwards  as  an  aisleless  presbytery  of  four  bays.  The  presbytery 
and  a  portion  of  the  south  aisle  of  the  choir  remain. 

The  e.xterior  of  the  east  end  has  an  impressive  simplicity  of  design. 
It  is  divided  into  three  compartments  by  buttresses,  of  Hat  pilaster  shape 
in  the  two  lower  stages,  becoming  semi-octagonal  on  the  face  of  the  gable. 
In  place  of  the  tiers  of  triple  lancets  which  occur  at  Brinkburn  and 
Whitby,  the  Tyncmouth  elevation  is  occupied,  on  the  lower  stage,  by  three 
tall  lancets  of  two  chamfered  orders,  and,  on  the  second  stage,  by  two 
small  pointed  windows  in  the  outer  and  a  vesica  in  the  middle  compartment. 
The  gable  is  more  ornate,  each  division  comprising  an  arcade  of  three 
pointed  arches  on  shafts  with  nuuilded  caps  and  bases  ;  the  arches  occupy- 
ing the  side  bays  are  of  varying  height,  following  the  rake  of  the  original 
roof  line.  The  middle  arch  of  the  centre  bay  is  pierced  by  a  lancet  of 
two  orders  with  banded  nook -shafts.  Stepped  string  courses  divide  the 
stages,  and  octagonal  turrets  originally  capped  the  angle  buttresses  above 
the  level  of  the  roof.  The  south  wall  is  pierced  by  lancets  having  their 
sills  on  the  same  level  as  those  in  the  lower  stage  of  the  eastern  gable,  to 
which  they  correspond  in  design.  Smaller  pointed  windows  with  nook- 
shafts  occur  above  the  lancets,  the  eaves  course  above  the  latter  being 
carried  on  corbels  carved  as  grotesque  heads.  A  flat  pilaster  divides  the 
windows  of  the  first  and  second  bav,  whilst  a  buttress  of  greater  projection 
encloses  a  staircase  formed  in  the  masonry  of  the  fourth  bay. 

The  interior  of  the  presbytery  was  vaulted.  It  is  finely  proportioned 
and  the  design  is  full  of  resource  in  its  varied  form  and  detail.  The  space 
below  the  level  of  the  window-sill  is  occupied  bv  a  wall  arcade  of  pointed 
arches  on  detached  shafts  with  moulded  bases  and  slightly  carved  capitals 
with  square  moulded  abaci.  The  centre  of  the  wall  arcade  on  the  east 
side  is  pierced  by  a  door  giving  access  to  the  Percy  chapel,  and  on  either 
side  of  the  door  are  aumbries.  At  the  east  end  of  the  north  and  south 
walls  the  arcade  is  broken  bv  wide  segmental  arched  recesses,  intended 
to  receive  effigies,  anti  in  the  third  bay  on  the  south  side  it  is  similarly 
broken  by  a  double  sedile  with  trefoil-headed  openings.  There  is  also  an 
aumbry  and  piscina  in  the  second  bav. 


tJ[0  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Triple  clustered  shafts  or  responds  divide  the  bays  and  the  eastern 
lancets,  their  bases  resting  on  the  string  course  over  the  wall  arcade.  The 
capitals  are  carved  and  have  octagonal-shaped  abaci,  which  are  continued 
as  a  string  over  the  side  lancets,  but  at  the  cast  end  are  at  the  level  oi 
the  springing  of  the  lancet  arches.  Wuilting  ribs,  moulded  and  enriched 
with  dog-tooth  ornament,  spring  from  the  capitals.  The  window  openings 
arc  deeply  recessed,  and  their  treatment  is  varied  in  detail.  At  the  east  end 
the  lower  lancets  have  a  hood-moulding  with  dog-tooth,  but  the  openings 
in  the  side  compartments  above  them  have  only  a  single  roll  moulding 
to  both  jambs  and  arch,  the  capitals  to  the  jambs  having  square  abaci 
continued  as  strings.  The  vesica  has  an  enriched  hood-moulding  with 
sunk  trefoiled  circles  in  the  spandrils  below.  On  the  sides,  the  lancet 
arches  are  of  two  moulded  orders  carried  on  detached  banded  nook-shafts, 
the  clerestory  lights  over  them  being  similar  in  arrangement  but  having 
a  hood -moulding  with  dog-tooth  ornament,  whilst  the  same  enrichment 
adorns  the  angles  of  the  jamb  between  the  shafts.  The  two  westernmost 
bays  contained  staircases,  and  there  is  a  wall  gallery  at  the  level  of  each 
stage.  The  south  wall  of  the  presbytery  has,  at  the  level  of  the  choir 
triforium,  a  double  pointed  arch  within  a  semicircular  containing  arch. 
String  courses  above  and  below  indicate  the  height  and  proportion  of  this 
member  of  the  choir  arcade. 

Unfortunately  nothing  remains  of  the  choir  excepting  a  portion  of 
the  aisle  at  the  west  end  of  the  south  side.'  That  fragment,  however, 
together  with  the  pier  plinths  and  the  responds  on  the  side  of  the  presbytery 
bay  containing  the  staircases,  and  the  drawings  of  Ralph  Waters,  made  in  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  provide  sufficient  data  for  reconstructing 
this  beautiful  arm  of  the  church. 

The  choir  comprised  a  central  alley  with  north  and  south  aisles,  and, 
independently  of  the  aisleless  presbytery,  measured  73  feet  in  length 
and  63  feet  in  breadth  between  the  aisle  walls.  An  arcade  of  five  bays, 
with  a  triforium  and  clerestory  windows  above,  separated  the  aisles.  Its 
main  arches  were  of  three  deeply  moulded  orders,  and  sprang  from  piers 
formed  of  a  cluster  of  eight  large  shafts  filleted  towards  the  cardinal 
points  of  the  compass,  the  diagonal  shafts  being  pear-shaped.  Each  pier 
carried  a  moulded  octagonal  capital,  and  its  base,  which  was  also  moulded, 
rested  on  octagonal  plinths  with   a  roll    moulding  on   the   edge,    continued 

'  .See  illubl ration  on  page  56. 


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PRiORY    AND   CASTLE.  I4I 

on  a  dwarf  wall  between  the  piers.  .\.t  the  east  end  the  arch  sprang  from 
a  triple-shafted  respond  supported  on  a  corbel.  Similar  responds  rose 
from  the  pier  capitals  and  terminated  at  the  level  of  the  Hat  ceiling  which 
covered  the  central  portion  of  the  choir,  being  divided  in  their  height  by 
a  string  course  at  the  levels  of  both  triforium  and  clerestory,  and  bv  the 
abacus  moulding  of  the  latter.  Above  the  arcade  was  a  triforium  of  three 
members,  the  two  outer  of  single  pointed  arches,  and  the  inner  of  two 
sub-arches  within  a  semicircular  containing  arch,  all  supported  on  clustered 
and  nook  shafts.  Above  that  again  was  a  clerestory  consisting  of  three 
arches  to  each  bav,  decorated  with  carving  and  supported  on  detached  and 
nook  shafts,  with  moulded  caps  and  bases,  the  angles  between  the  arches 
being  ornamented  with  the  dog-tooth  flower. 

The  aisles  were  vaulted  in  simple  quadripartite  form,  with  moulded 
transverse  and  diagonal  ribs.  These  sprang  from  the  aisle  walls  on  triple 
clustered  responds,  with  moulded  octagonal  capitals,  the  abacus  moulding 
-being  continued  as  a  string  between  the  single  lancet  windows  which  occu- 
pied each  compartment.  An  arched  opening,  broken  through  the  east  wall 
of  the  Norman  transept  (at  the  west  end  of  the  aisle),  was  of  four  orders 
towards  the  transept,  and  supported  bv  nook-shafts  in  the  jambs  below. 

The  division  of  the  church  for  conventual  and  parochial  uses  was 
effected,  as  at  Wymondham  and  Binham  (also  cells  of  St.  Alban's),  by 
assigning  the  nave  to  the  parish.  At  Tynemouth  that  arm  of  the  church 
was  shut  off  from  the  rest  bv  a  stone  screen,  built  between  the  western 
piers  of  the  crossing.  This  is  plain  towards  the  nave,  where  the  high 
altar  of  the  parish  church  stood,  and  is  pierced  on  either  side  by  low 
doors,  between  which,  on  the  eastern  face  of  the  screen,  is  an  arcade 
of  five  pointed  arches  on  detached  shafts,  standing  on  a  stone  seat.  A 
door  was  inserted  in  the  east  bay  of  the  south  aisle  of  the  nave  in  order 
to  give  access  from  the  cloister  to  the  conventual  church. 

After  the  enlargement  of  the  choir,  the  ne.xt  great  alteration  in  the 
structure  of  the  church  was  its  extension  westwards  by  the  removal  of 
the  Norman  west  wall,  and  the  erection  of  two  bays.  This  was  done  about 
the  year  1220,  a  work  possibly  to  be  associated  with  Abbot  Trumpingtons 
notable  visitation  of  his  cells.  It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  this  exten- 
sion appears  to  have  been  completed  before  the  removal  of  the  old  gable, 
which  accounts  for  the  unusual  width  of  the  bav  uniting  the  old  and   the 


142 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


new  bays.  The  piers  and  respond  carryiii<(  the  arcade  arches  were  octa- 
gonal in  plan,  with  moulded  capitals  and  bases.  The  aisles  were  vaulted, 
and  the  chamfered  ribs  of  the  vaulting  sprang  from  corbels  in  the  aisle 
walls.  Details  in  the  walling  suggest  that  the  work,  which  included  the 
vaulting  of  the  previously  unvaulted  aisles,  proceeded  from  west  to  east. 
The  west  front  arrests  attention  directly  the  castle  gateway  is  passed, 
thousih  in  heis-ht  it  does  not  compare  with  the  east  end.'  The  elevation  is 
divided  into  three  compartments  by  Hat  pilaster  buttresses  dying  into  the 
wall  at  the  eaves  level.  In  the  centre  is  a  deeply  recessed  door  of  five 
richlv  moulded  orders  with  hood,  placed  on  shafted  jambs  having  moulded 
capitals  and  bases.  The  space  on  either  side  between  the  door  and  the 
buttress  is  occupied  by  a  pointed  arched  recess,  the  two  recesses  being  of 
unequal  width.  Above  the  doorway  was  a  row  of  lancets,  ornamented 
on  jamb  and  arch  with  the  dog-tooth  moulding.  This  was  afterwards 
replaced  by  a  large  fifteenth  century  window,  which  filled  the  whole  width 
of  the  nave,  and  of  whicii  the  sill  and  jambs  remain.  The  south  compart- 
ment is  divided  into  three  stages,  the  lower  being  filled  with  an  arcade 
of  three  pointed  and  moulded  arches  on  detached  shafts  with  moulded 
capitals  ;  the  middle  stage  contains  two  trefoil-headed  openings  with  only 
a  simple  roll  to  both  jambs  and  arch  ;  the  upper  stage  comprised  an  arcade 
of  four  arches  stepped  to  the  rake  of  the  aisle  roof,  and  supported  by 
capitals  resting  on  detached  shafts.  The  north  compartment,  like  the  centre 
bay,  received  in  the  fifteenth  century  a  window  which  filled  the  space. 
A  bold  moulded  plinth  passes  round  the  thirteenth  century  extension,  and 
on  either  side  is  a  lancet  window.  In  the  west  bay  on  the  north  side  is 
a  doorway  which  was  screened  by  a  porch  or  gave  access  to  a  vestry, 
whilst  on  the  south  side  is  a  mutilated  door-opening  which  originally  gave 
access  to  a  chamber  that  projected  beyond  the  Norman  west  end  and  was 
afterwards  used  as  a  means  of  communication  with  the  interior  of  the  church. 

C.      I'lic  L(ul\-chapcL 

Before  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century  the  church  iiad  reached 
a  length  of  261  feet.  In  interest,  variety  and  beauty  it  compares  well, 
especially  in  regard  to  the  choir,  with  any  of  its  contemporaries.  It 
continued  unaltered  until  about  1336.  In  that  year  a  Lady-chapel  was  in 
course  of  construction.      It    was   presumably    in    this   chapel    that    Prior  de 

'  See  illubti'.uion  on  page  12S. 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE.  1 43 

l:i  Mare,  about  1347-1349,  placed  the  shrine  of  St.  Oswin,  'so  that  those 
who  came  to  it  might  more  quietly,  freely  and  fittingly  continue  their 
devotions  around  the  martyr.''  The  large  chapel,  shown  in  an  Elizabethan 
plan  of  the  castle  (Plate  XII.)  as  existing  on  the  north  side  of  the  presby- 
tery, appears  to  be  the  onlv  one  of  sufficient  size  to  answer  the  requirements 
of  such  a  building.  Its  foundations  can  still  be  seen  running  eastwards  in 
continuation  of  the  north  wall  of  the  presbytery,  and,  as  the  wall  arcade 
of  the  latter  is  intact  on  this  side,  access  to  the  chapel  must  have  been 
from  the  north  aisle  of  the  choir  or  from  its  first  bav.  Its  length  on  the 
interior  was  therefore  not  less  than  70  feet.  It  was  larger  than  the  Ladv- 
chapel  that  Abbot  Eversdon  had  built,  some  twenty  vears  earlier,  at  St. 
Alban's,  itself  a  gem  of  the  decorated  period  of  architecture.  Apart  from 
the  moulded  plinth  courses  and  the  plan  already  mentioned,  the  onlv 
evidence  of  the  work  is  to  be  found  in  a  drawing  made  by  Grimm  about 
1780,"  in  which  is  delineated  the  jambs  of  a  window  attached  to  the 
north-east  angle  of  the  presbyterv.  Some  fragments  of  traceried  work  on 
the  site  may  have  belonged  to  the  windows,  and  there  are  also  some 
spandril  pieces,  richlv  carved  with  emblems  and  foliage,  which  may  have 
formed  part  of  a  screen. 

D.      T/ic  Cliambcr  over  t/ic  Clioir. 

About  the  same  time,  and  possibly  bv  the  energy  of  Prior  de  la  Mare, 
who  spent  the  large  sum  of  £^(:>\  upon  the  church,  the  presbytery  and 
choir  received  an  additional  storey,  of  which  evidence  remains  in  the  jambs 
of  windows  above  the  Transitional  south  walls  and  the  massive  masonry 
over  the  original  roof  line  of  the  east  gable.  This  large  and  important 
chamber  was  probablv  intended  to  receive  relics,  muniments,  or  other 
church  moveables.  A  similar  addition  was  made  at  Brinkburn  priory 
(vol.  vii.  p.  485).  It  is  not  a  common  feature,  but  is  to  be  found  in 
some  parish  cliurches,  as  at  Stewklev  and  St.  Peter's  in  the  East,  O.xford, 
the  cathedrals  of  Canterbury  and  Linc<iln,  the  chapel  of  King's  College, 
Cambridge,  and  it  existed  in  the  demolished  chapel  of  Pembroke  College, 
Oxford.  About  this  period  the  single-light  Norman  window  in  the  eastern 
bav  of  the  north  aisle  of  the  nave  gave  place  to  a  double-light  ogee 
window  a  little  to  the  west  of  it,  and  a  door  of  communication  between 
the  church  and  the  prior's  lodging  was  inserted  in  the  same  bay. 

'  Gis/(i  Alibiitiim,  vol.  ii.  p.  379.  ■  Rrit.  Mus.  P.R.,  Kaye.  vol.  iii.  p.  llS. 


144 


TYNEMOrTH    PARISH. 


/•;.  'Ilic  Pcrcx  Chapel. 
The  only  portion  of  the  church  reniaininj;  to  be  noticed  is  the 
interesting  chapel  at  the  extreme  east  end,  commonly  but  erroneously 
known  as  the  Lady-chapel.  It  was  built  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth 
centurv,  when  John  Langton  was  prior.  From  the  occurrence  of  the 
arms  and  badge  of  the  Percys  upon  its  walls  and  vaulted  ceiling,  it 
appears  to  have  been  erected  by  that  family,  possibly,  as  the  heraldry 
suggests,  by  the  second  earl  (14 17- 1455).  The  interior  of  this  chapel, 
which  measures  only  19  feet  by  12  feet,  is  divided  into  three  bays, 
each  containing  a  double-light  traceried  wiiulow  with  jamb  mouldings, 
formed  of  a  series  of  hollows  continued  across  Hat-pointed  heads.  At  the 
east  end  is  a  circular  window  tilled  with  modern  tracerv,  and  on  either 
side  a  niche  with  a  cusped  head.  Below  are  square  aumbries,  and  in  the 
south  wall  is  a  piscina  under  an  arched  recess.  Each  compartment  ot  the 
vaulting  has  a  ridge  and  transverse  and  diagonal  ribs  ;  and,  on  each  side  of 
the  centre,  the  semi-compartment  is  again  divided  by  longitudinal,  trans- 
verse and  diagonal  ribs  At  each  intersection  of  the  three  longitudinal 
ribs  is  a  large  circular  boss  with  representations  of  the  Redeemer  and  the 
Apostles,  sacred  monograms,  etc.  The  subjects,  commencing  with  the 
central  ridge  rib  and  proceeding  from  the  east,  are  : 

He.-ul  of  Christ  with  nimbus. 

Standinj;  figure  of  the  risen  Christ  holding  n  b;inner  in  liis  right  h.ind  ;  .it  his  feet  is  a  small  female 

figure  I  Si.  Mary  M.agdalene)  ;  the  whole  encircled  by  a  label  bearing  the  inscriptions  :    RAUO  . 

E  M.\(;isTKR  and  Noi.i  .mk  t.\ngkkk. 
.Seated  figure   >J<   .  .  .\ndre.\   >J«  ok.\  p  nop.  .  . 

.Seated  Majesty  between  four  angels,  blowing  trumpets.     .  N  Dili  ivdicu  \.\\\.\  xo?  no  ...  . 
Seatetl  figure,  staflf  in  left  hand,  book  in  right.     ^   scE  l.\COBE  ORA  p  NOi;'. 
.Standing  figure  holding  a  lamb,     sck  iohks  B.\prisT.\  ORA  p  nobis. 
Agnus  Uei  with  cross  and  flag  surrounded  by  cable  mounting. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  central  ridge  are  : 

Eagle  of  St.  John  ;  scroll  missing. 

Sacred  monogram,  1  H  S,  surmounted  by  crown. 

Seated  figure  with  palm  leaf  in  right  hand  and  book  in  left,     sce  iOh  ev.\(;elista  ORA  p  Nor.is. 

Monogram  of  the  Virgin,  9^. 

Seated  figure,  three  loaves  in  right  hand,  book  in  left,     sce  phii.ippe  ORA  p  NOBIS. 

Star  with  nine  waving  rays. 

.Seated  figure,  a  sword  in  left  hand,  book  in   right,  the  feet  on  a  cushion  supported  by  a  human 

head.     >J«  sce  pavi.e  oka  p  nobis. 
Sun  in  splendour  ;  round  the  edge  the  inscription   >J<   IHES  .  mercv. 

Seated  figure  holding  book  in  right  hand,  flaying  knife  in  left.     scE  barthoi.omf.e  or  a  |)  nob'. 
Percy  crescent  and  shacklcbolt  on  a  shield. 


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PRIORY    AND    CASTLE. 


M5 


Seated  figure,  book  in  right  hand,  pillar  in  left.     ^   scE  SVMON  ora  p  NOBIS. 

Monogram  of  Prior  John  Langton,  4^ 

Lion  of  St.  Mark,  holding  scroll  lettered  ScE  M.\RCE  ORA  p  NOB  .  . 

On  the  south  side  of  the  central  ridge  are  : 

Cheiub  of  St.  Matthew  holding  scroll ;  lettering  obliterated. 

Square  rose  of  fifteenth  century  type. 

Seated  figure  holding  fuller's  bat  in  left  hand  and  book  in  right.     .scE  lACOBE  MINOR  ORA  p  NOBIS. 

Emblems  of  the  crucifixion,  namely,  cross  encircled  by  crown  of  thorns,  and  at  its  foot  three  nails 

and  a  scourge. 
Seated  figure,  book  in  right  hand  and  spear  in  left.     scE  thoma  ORA  p  NOBIS. 
Circular  rose. 
Seated  figure  with  keys  in  right  hand,  and  book  in  left,  the  feet  on  a  cushion  supported  by  a  human 

head.     ^  scE  petre  ora  p  nobis. 
Bearded  head. 

Seated  figure,  book  in  right  hand  and  saw  in  left.     scE  mathias  ora  p  NOBIS. 
Monogram  of  Prior  John  Langton  repeated. 

Seated  figure,  book  in  right  hand  and  halberd  in  left.     ScE  thadee  ora  p  NOBIS. 
Emblem  of  the  five  wounds,  namely,  a  cross  with  central  boss,  the  boss  and  limbs  each  pierced  with 

a  nail  mark,  the  whole  surrounded  by  a  cable  mounting. 
Bull  of  St.  Luke  holding  scroll  lettered  ScE  LVCA  ora  p  N  .  .  .  . 

On  the   west  wall  : 

Over  the  door  a  crowned  figure  seated,  sceptre  in  left  hand  ;  at  the  feet  to  the  right  a  kneeling 
figure  holding  scroll  lettered  fvndator  ;  on  the  base  ....  oswyne  .... 

At  the  terminations  of  the  hood-moulding  two  shields,  that  on  the  south  bearing  a  cross  (for  St. 
George  ?),  that  on  the  north  bearing  arms  of  Percy  and  Lucy  quarterly. 

On  the  east  wall  : 

North  of  window,  kneeling  figure  of  an  angel. 

South  of  window,  standing  female  figure  (the  Virgin). 

Human  heads,  angels  holding  scrolls, 
and  square-shaped   roses   also   enter  into 
the 
the 

which  still  occur  placed  diagonally  at  the 
eastern  angles.  On  either  side  of  the  cir- 
cular window  are  panels,  which  formerly 
contained  shields,  bearing  the  arms  of  St. 
Alban's  and  of  Tynemouth.  Above  the 
window  is  a  third  panel  containing  the 
sacred  monogram,  IHS.  The  hood- 
moulding    over   the    two   side    panels,   as 

well  as  that  of  the  gable,  terminates  in  two  portrait-heads,  the  one  that  of 
a  bishop  or  mitred  abbot,  the  other  bearded  and  bare-headed. 

Vol.  vin.  '9 


scheme  of  decoration.  On  the  exterior, /■-.r'   ^    r  ".  "  v   ^"      ' 

bays  were  emphasized  by  buttresses,  \\^'  J  \' 


I 


I 


-^vrt 


s 

.\R.Ms  OF  St.  Alban's  in  Percy  Chapel. 


146  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Sepulchral  Remains. 

The  floor  of  this  chapel  was  dug  up  in  1774,  'in  the  hope  of  hnding 
the  remains  of  St.  Oswin,  or  some  other  curiosity,"  but  the  onlv  discovery 
was  of  a  large  matrix  of  a  brass,  perhaps  that  one  of  which  some  fragments 
still  remain.  A  brass  or  stone  effigy  once  existed  in  the  church,  com- 
memorating Prior  Whethamstede.     Round  the  border  ran  the  verses  : 

Quern  pax  legavit  cum  se  super  astra  levavit 
Pace  gregem  pavit  pius  hie  prior  et  saturavit, 
Huic  grex  implores  implorandoque  perores, 
Pacis  in  Auctore  requiescat  pacis  amore. 

At  the  feet  of  the  effigy  was  written  : 

En  licet  oblita  jacet  hie  sub  pulvere  trita 

.Sculpta  suis  annis  W'ethamstede  ymago  Johannis.-' 

St.  Henry  of  Coquet  Island  was  buried  in  11 27  in  the  Norman  choir, 
and,  though  no  memorial  marks  his  grave,  his  biographer  has  indicated 
the  exact  spot  of  his  interment.  He  was  buried  to  the  south  of  the 
shrine  of  St.  Oswin,  'where  the  wall  bows  outward,'  a  description  which 
tallies  with  the  position  of  the  apsidal  chapel  opening  off  the  choir  to  the 
south  of  the  high  altar.' 

No  inscribed  stone  is  now  remaining.  An  effigy  of  a  lady,^  clothed 
in  a  long  garment  reticulated  over  the  head  and  draped  in  loose  flowing 
robes  to  the  feet,  formerly  filled  the  northern  arched  recess  in  the  presby- 
tery, and  is  nearly  contemporary  with  that  part  of  the  building.  The  head 
of  the  figure  rests  within  a  trefoil-arched  canopy  ;  the  hands  appear  to 
have  held  some  object  now  worn  away  ;  and  the  general  effect  is  dignified 
and  graceful.  A  second  effigy,^  of  a  later  date,  was  found  during  the 
excavations  of  1905  in  the  south  wall  of  the  nave,  where  it  had  been  used 
as  a  foundation  stone.  Top  and  bottom  of  the  stone  are  missing.  The 
figure  is  that  of  a  lady,  carved  in  higher  relief  than  that  on  the  earlier 
effigy,  but  its  features  are  less  well  cut.     The  head  rests  within  a  cusped 

'  A  Tour  in  the  Northern  Counties,  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 
'  Regislrtim    Whethamstede,  vol.  ii.  p.  441. 

'  '  In   latere   parietis  arcuato.'     Acta   Sanctorum,  vol.  ii.  p.  61.     The   site  of  the  southern  apsidal 
chapel  is  covered  by  a  high  bank  of  earth  in  which  several  modern  interments  have  been  made. 
'  See  illustration  on  p.  51.  '  See  illustration  on  p.  75. 


Pier    Works    S*'^'^' 


PLATE    Xl. 


W.H.KNOWLES.  F-5A. 
MEN5  tT  DELTAUG  1905. 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE.  1 47 

arch  and  is  covered  by  a  hood  falling  over  the  shoulders.  The  hands 
are  raised  in  an  attitude  of  prayer.  A  loose  garment  covers  the  figure 
and  reaches  to  the  feet ;  its  sleeves  have  lappets.  Carving  imitative  of 
arcading  occupied  the  right  edge  of  the  slab. 

Four  medieval  grave -covers  have  been  unearthed.  The  earliest  in 
point  of  date  bears,  in  relief,  a  cross  of  which  the  head  is  in  the  form  of 
a  cross  patee.  On  two  other  stones  the  cross  is  of  a  design  common 
in  the  neighbourhood,  good  instances  occurring  at  St.  Helen's  Auckland, 
Barnard  Castle,  and  Chester- le -Street.  The  shaft  of  the  cross  is  plain, 
the  head  is  voided,  and  the  four  arms  are  of  the  fleur-de-lys  type.  One  of 
these  grave-covers  has  a  chamfered  moulding  and  is  carved  with  a  sword 
in  addition  to  the  cross.  It  is  of  a  smaller  size  than  the  others.  The 
fourth  is  fragmentary  and  shows  a  sword  and  cross-shaft. 

A  limestone  slab,  broken  in  several  pieces,  contains  a  portion  of  a 
matri.x  of  a  brass,  probably  dating  about  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century. 
The  indents  are  the  lower  quarter  of  a  figure  and,  on  the  de.xter  side  of 
the  foot,  what  seems  to  be  an  outline  of  part  of  a  dog's  breast  ;  whilst 
between  the  figure  and  the  shafts,  which  supported  a  canopy,  are  the 
indents  of  two  shields,  and  an  inscription  filled  the  borders.' 

Little  evidence  is  left  of  the  internal  arrangement  of  the  church. 
Besides  the  high  altar  there  was  an  altar  of  St.  Alban  and  St.  Amphibalus, 
and  altars  in  the  various  chapels.  King  Edward  I.  had  a  private  chapel 
in  the  church,"  and  a  chantry  was  founded  by  Ralph  fitz  William,  lord  of 
Grey  stoke,  in  1315. 

The  Site  :  Conventual  Buildings. 

The  church  occupies  a  central  position  within  the  twelve  acres  of 
ground  which  form  the  castle  precincts.  On  its  south  side  were  the 
monastic  lodgings  and  offices,  and  beyond  them  again  a  south  court  com- 
prised the  slopes  down  to  the  Prior's  Haven.  Gardens  e.xtended  eastward 
from  the  church,  farm  buildings  lay  to  the  north  of  it,  and  due  west  a 
medieval  gate-house  still  stands  and  affords  communication  with  the  town. 
A  curtain-wall,  strengthened   at  intervals   by  towers,  followed  the  lines  of 

'  For  a  detailed  account  of  monumental  stones  at  Tynemouth,  see  Mr.  S.  .S.  Carr's  article  on  the 
subject  in  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xxv.  p.  1 18. 

"  Wardrobe  Accounts  cited  by  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  p.  civ. 


148  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

the  cliffs  and  contained  the  whole  site.  But  now,  besides  the  church  and 
the  gate-house,  only  a  single  chamber  and  a  few  isolated  fragments  of 
masonry  are  left  of  the  medieval  buildings  ;  graves,  cottages  and  roadways 
cover  the  whole  site.  It  is  therefore  necessary,  in  order  to  obtain  a  picture 
of  the  monastery,  to  supplement  architectural  evidence  by  documentary 
records,  of  which  the  chief  is  a  plan  of  the  castle  made  in  the  time 
of  Queen  Elizabeth,'  a  plan  involved  and  incorrect  in  its  details,  but 
tolerably  trustworthy  in  regard  to  the  disposition  of  the  various  buildings. 

Though  evidence  with  regard  to  the  conventual  buildings  is  slight, 
the  little  that  remains  points  to  four  periods  of  construction  :  (i)  the  wall 
arcade  at  the  west  end  of  the  south  wall  of  the  nave,  (2)  a  similar  wall 
arcade  attached  to  the  south  transept,  (3)  the  existing  building  shown  on 
the  plan,  which  stood  possibly  outside  the  south-east  angle  of  the  cloisters, 
and  (4)  the  fourteenth  century  fragments  of  buildings  engrafted  on  the 
south-west  corner  of  the  nave. 

The  western  arcade  marks  the  position  of  a  range  of  buildings,  probably 
consisting  of  the  refectory  and  dormitory  of  the  lay  brethren,  which 
enclosed  the  cloister  garth  on  this  side.  A  chapter-house  and  a  dormitory 
are  shown  on  the  Elizabethan  plan  as  forming  the  opposite  side  of  the 
cloister.  The  early  thirteenth  century  arcade  on  the  south  wall  of  the  south 
transept  indicates  the  position  of  a  building  which  may  be  identified  with 
the  chapter- house.  The  dormitory  of  11  11  was  rebuilt  by  Prior  de  la 
Mare  in  1347- 1349  ;  it  stood  at  the  south-east  angle  of  the  cloister,  and 
was  raised  on  a  substructure,  being  probably  built  over  a  parlour  or 
warming-house,  and  a  '  slype '  or  passage  leading  to  the  monks'  cemetery 
and  to  the  sacristies  and  vestries  adjoining  the  choir  of  the  conventual 
church.  The  chamber  shown  on  Plate  VIII.,  south  of  the  dormitory,  is 
designated  'the  lord's  lodging'  in  the  Elizabethan  plan.  It  is  of  thir- 
teenth century  date,  but  has  been  altered  and  adapted  to  modern  uses. 
There  are  built-up  window -openings  and  recesses  in  its  south  and  west 
walls.  Its  ceiling  is  vaulted,  with  chamfered  ribs  springing  from  moulded 
corbels.  A  narrow  space  covered  with  a  similarly  ribbed  segmental  vault, 
and  having  an  opening  in  the  west  wall,  adjoins  it  on  the  north.  According 
to  the  plan,  the  lord's  lodging  formed  part  of  the  south  side  of  the  cloister 
garth.     If  that  were  so,  the  cloister  was  of  an  anomalous  shape,  a  double 

'  Cotton  MSS.  Augustus,  pt.  i.  vol.  ii.  p.  6. 


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PRIORY    AND   CASTLE.  149 

instead  of  a  single  square,  measuring  83  feet  from  east  to  west  and  164  feet 
from  north  to  south.  More  probably  the  range  of  buildings  on  the  south 
of  the  cloister  occupied  the  usual  position,  but  was  pulled  down  before 
the  Elizabethan  plan  was  made.  On  this  supposition,  the  lord's  lodging 
may  have  been  one  of  a  series  of  guest-chambers  to  the  south  of  the 
cloistral  buildings.  A  refectory  existed  on  the  south  of  the  cloisters,  as 
described  in  the  account  of  the  fire  which  broke  out  in  the  time  of  Prior 
Ruelendus.     Kitchens  lay  to  the  west  of  it. 

Already  in  1577,  'the  ruynes  of  certeine  lodginges  abowt  the  cloyster ' 
were  'all  uncovered  and  defaced.''  It  is,  therefore,  not  surprising  that 
hardly  a  vestige  of  them  is  now  remaining. 

The  fragments  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  nave  belong  to  a 
fourteenth  century  vestibule  or  open  porch  added  to  the  earlier  chamber 
which  formed  the  western  boundary  of  the  cloister.  Its  addition  neces- 
sitated the  lowering  of  an  Early  English  window  and  the  rebuilding  of 
the  angle  of  the  nave.  Some  springer-stones  inserted  in  the  wall-arcades 
of  the  west  gable  show  that  a  later  structure  was  attached  to  the  church 
at  this  point,  perhaps  the  '  litle  towre  used  for  a  prison,  called  the  Hye 
prison,'  described  in  the  survey  of  1577  as  being  'on  th'est  parte  of  th'entrye 
in  th'enner  court.' ^ 

Upon  entering  the  castle  through  the  gate-house,  the  great  court  was 
reached.  The  church  lay  straight  in  front.  On  the  right  a  bake-house 
and  brew-house,  built  by  de  la  Mare,  were  ranged  with  other  domestic 
offices  round  an  inner  court,  which  enclosed  the  space  between  the  gate- 
house and  the  cloisters.  A  malt  kiln  and  a  building  where  the  constable 
lodged  were  on  the  left.  A  passage  round  the  north  side  of  the  church 
led  to  the  prior's  lodging,  of  which  the  foundations  are  shown  on  Plate 
VIII.  To  the  north  of  this  point  there  was  a  large  poultry  yard  and 
barn  yard,  containing  barns,  garners,  stables,  and  a  farm  pond.  All  these 
buildings  are  shown  in  the  Elizabethan  plan,  but  there  is  no  trace  in  it 
of  an  infirmary.  Probably  this  indispensable  adjunct  of  a  monastery  was 
to  be  found  east  of  the  lord's  lodging. 

'  Exchequer  Special  Commissions,  No.  1736. 

=  Hutchinson  alludes  to  'a  gateway  of  circular  arches,  comprehending  several  members  inclining 
inwards,  and  arising  from  pilasters'  as  existing  at  this  point  in  177S  and  givmg  access  to  the  cloisters  ; 
History  of  NortliiimberUind,  vol.  ii.  p.  344- 


150  tynemouth  parish. 

The  Great  Gate-house. 

As  at  Dunstanburgh,  Bywell  and  Bothal,  the  strength  of  the  castle 
lay  in  its  gate-house.  Originally  the  monastery  was  approached  by  a  raised 
causeway  which  led  through  a  narrow  entrance  cut  out  of  the  rock.  This 
was  superseded  bv  the  great  tower,  which  formed  part  of  the  Edwardian 
defences,  and  probably  dated  from  1296,  in  which  year  Edward  I.  gave 
his  licence  to  crenellate.  As  it  had  fallen  completely  into  ruin  a  century 
later,  Richard  II.,  the  duke  of  Lancaster,  and  the  first  earl  of  Northumber- 
land contributed  funds  towards  constructing  a  new  gate-house  on  or  near 
the  site  of  the  old  one,  and  in  1390  the  present  group  of  buildings  was 
erected  by  Prior  John  Whethamstede.  This  comprises  an  oblong  tower 
with  a  projecting  barbican,  similar  to  those  of  Alnwick  and  Prudhoe.  The 
tower  has  an  external  measurement  of  56  feet  by  35  feet,  and  is  four  stories 
in  height  ;  the  barbican  projected  54  feet  beyond.  The  outer  portion  of 
the  barbican  was  covered  over.  It  measured  38^  feet  by  34  feet.  In  the 
survey  of  1577  it  and  the  loftier  structure  behind  it  are  respectively  desig- 
nated the  low  tower  and  the  gate-house  tower.'  The  intervening  space 
of  20  feet  originally  formed  an  open  courtyard."  Enclosing  the  south-east 
angle  of  the  gate-house  tower  is  a  building  to  which  the  same  survey  gives 
the  name  of  the  mount  chamber. 

In  1783  the  Government  fitted  up  the  gate-house  for  barracks  and 
mess-rooms,  removed  the  turrets  and  upper  portions  of  the  high  tower, 
and  added  to  the  barbican,  in  this  way  completely  altering  the  old  lines 
of  the  building  and  still  further  concealing  them  by  a  coat  of  stucco.  On 
Plate  XIII.  is  shown  the  amount  of  medieval  work  which  has  been 
retained. 

The  entrance  was  through  an  arched  opening  protected  by  a  portcullis 
and  gates,  and  was  flanked  on  either  side  by  towers,  of  which  the  basements 
were  vaulted  and  used   as  guard-rooms,  each  being  twenty-eight  feet  long 

'  They  are  the  low  white  hall  and  the  high  white  hall  of  an  inventory  of  1585.  'The  white  hall 
or  towre  is  the  gatehouse  and  entrance  into  the  castle,  wheare  the  powder  and  shott  lyeth,  and  some 
other  nesesaries  of  that  kinde.'  Letter  of  Sir  John  Fenwick,  April  ist,  1617.  Duke  of  Northumberland's 
MSS. 

■  'The  tower  comprehends  an  outward  and  interior  gateway,  the  outer  gateway  having  two  gates  at 
the  distance  of  about  six  feet  from  each  other,  the  inner  of  vvhicli  is  defended  by  a  portcullis  and  an  open 
gallery.  The  interior  gateway  is  in  like  manner  strengthened  by  a  double  gate.  The  space  between  the 
gateways,  being  a  square  of  about  six  paces,  is  open  above,  to  allow  those  on  the  top  of  the  tower  and 
battlements  to  annoy  assailants  who  had  gained  the  first  gate."  Hutchinson,  Northumberland,  1778, 
vol.  li.  p.  342. 


TYNEMOATH         PDIOCY       GA 


GROUND      PLAN 


PID5T    noon    PLAN, 


PLATE    XIII. 


^PEHOUSE 


lO  s  o 

lirii I 


Jt^ 


^= 


SCALE  OF  rCET. 


TniDD    riOOR    PLAN. 


SECOND     PLOOP     PLAN 


W.n  KN0WLES.F.5A. 

mens  et  oelt. 
Aug.  \9os. 


PRIORY    AND    CASTLE.  I5I 

by  eight  feet  wide.  A  newel,  emphasized  bv  an  opening  in  the  vaulting 
overhead,  indicates  that  a  staircase  occupied  a  portion  of  the  south  guard- 
room. Possibly  there  were  chambers,  including  one  for  the  working  of 
the  portcullis,  upon  an  upper  floor.  A  chamfered  offset,  forming  the  lower 
member  of  the  parapet,  is  visible  on  the  exterior.  The  roof  could  be 
reached  from  the  gate-house  tower  at  the  level  of  the  second  floor. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  small  courtyard  is  a  narrow  chamber  which 
may  have  been  covered  with  a  lean-to  roof,  or  else  was  carried  up  to 
increase  the  side  walk  leading  from  the  tower  to  the  barbican.' 

The  middle  section  of  the  ground  floor  of  the  tower  is  gated  at  each 
end.  The  massive  masonry  covering  the  entrance  from  the  priorv  precincts 
appears  to  have  been  carried  no  higher  than  the  ground  floor.  On  either 
side  of  the  passage  is  a  vaulted  store-room,  of  which  the  doors  and  one 
loophole  are  ancient.  The  other  openings  in  these  rooms  have  been 
enlarged,  including  one  at  the  west  end  of  each  chamber,  commanding  the 
sides  of  the  barbican.  At  the  south-east  corner  are  two  chambers,  ac- 
cessible from  the  exterior  only.  It  appears  from  the  name  of  the  '  mount 
chamber'  given  to  this  portion  of  the  gate-house  that  it  adjoined  and 
possibly  intruded  into  a  slope  which  was  utilized  as  an  ascent  to  the 
first-floor  level. 

This  could  only  be  reached  by  the  existing  door  (marked  A  on 
Plate  XIIT.)  through  the  vestibule,  B  which  gave  access  either  directly  or 
through  a  screen  at  C  to  a  large  room  measuring  forty-five  feet  by  twenty- 
three  feet.  This  is  probably  the  great  chamber  of  the  castle.  It  was 
lighted  on  all  sides  by  windows  since  modernized.  Some  corbels  intended 
to  carry  the  floor  joists  still  remain.  In  the  east  wall  there  is  an  ancient 
fireplace,  with  an  arched  head  supported  bv  corbels  carried  on  chamfered 
jambs,  and  the  beginning  of  a  mural  stair  which  must  originally  have  served 
as  an  approach  to  the  second  floor.  A  staircase  in  the  west  wall  gave 
access  to  the  parapets  of  the  barbican,  and  at  the  south-east  corner  a 
newel  stair  led  up  from  the  outer  doorway  to  the  third  floor,  and  so  to 
the  tower  roof.  In  this  way  the  great  chamber  commanded  the  movements 
of  all  the  occupants  of  the  gate-house.  The  ceilings  of  the  passages  about 
the  newel  staircase  are  of  large  flat  stones  on  a  chamfered  stone  cornice. 
The  openings  are  arched,  and  the  work  is  generally  of  a  fair  character.* 

'  See  an  ini.iginary  sketch  in  Anh.  Ad.  2nd  series,  vol.  xviii.  p.  62. 

'  See  pp.  99  and  1 10  for  illustrations  of  the  newel  stair  and  doors  leading  to  it. 


152 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


On  the  second  floor  the  newel  stair  leads  on  to  a  landing  which  opens 
on  the  right  into  a  small  chamber,  and  on  the  left  into  one  or  more  apart- 
ments which  may  have  been  used  as  kitchens.  The  stair  which  starts  in 
the  thickness  of  the  east  wall  of  the  great  chamber  probably  continued 
and  opened  at  E  into  the  jamb  of  the  east  window  of  the  room  above. 
This  room  is  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the  great  chamber,  and  was  once 
lighted  upon  three  sides. 

The  third  floor  was  lofty  before  the  modern  insertion  of  an  e.xtra  floor. 
It  was  lighted  at  either  end  by  a  large  window,  with  rear-arches  of  simple 
proportions,  and  had  a  fireplace  similar  to  that  in  the  great  chamber.  At 
the  south  -  west  angle  there  are  signs  of  a  mural  chamber,  possibly 
used  as  a  garde-robe.  Almost  the  entire  length  of  the  east  wall  is 
pierced  by  a  passage  which  was  perhaps  divided  into  garde-robes  or  small 
chambers,  though  another  purpose  is  suggested  for  it  in  the  view  of  the 
north-east  side  of  the  gate-house,  given  in  Grose's  Antiquities.  There  a 
door  is  shown,.about  the  level  of  the  third  floor,  opening  on  to  an  external 
landing  corbelled  out  on  the  north  side  of  the  tower,  and  it  is  possible 
that  the  mural  passage  led  through  this  door  to  the  curtain-wall,  which 
may  have  been  high  at  this  point.  Similarly,  the  door  leading  out  from 
the  newel  staircase  landing  may  have  admitted  to  the  curtain  on  the  south 
side  of  the  gate-house.  These  approaches  suggest  that  the  third  floor  was 
occupied  by  the  garrison. 

A  staircase  led  upwards  from  the  south-east  angle  of  the  same  chamber. 
The  upper  portion  of  its  south  wall  and  part  of  the  west  wall  were  also 
occupied  by  a  passage  or  stair.  Either  or  both  of  these  staircases  may 
have  led  to  a  newel  in  a  turret  at  the  south-east  angle  of  the  tower.  In 
Grose's  view  the  tower  is  shown  finished  at  the  four  angles  by  round 
bartizans,  oversailed  from  the  walls  below  like  those  at  Chipchase  castle.' 

The  Curtain. 

About  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet  north  of  the  gate-house,  with 
which  it  was  connected  by  a  curtain  wall,  a  fragment  of  the  Whitley  tower 
clings  to  the  side  of  the  cliff'.  Its  masonry  is  massive,  and  indicates  three 
floor  levels  below  the  present  surface.  The  basement  contains  a  door 
leading  north  into  a  second  chamber  lately  fallen  away,  popularly 
known  as  Jingling  Geordie's  Hole.      On  the  south  side  of  the  gate-house 

'  See  vol.  iv.  of  this  work,  plate  facing  p.  332. 


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TYNEMOUTH    CASTI.E.  1 53 

the  curtain  wall  screened  the  mount  and  led  to  the  mount  tower,  of  which 
a  fragment,  corbelled  out  on  the  first-floor  level,  can  be  seen  from  the 
Pier  Road.  The  wall  immediately  beyond  it  has  been  largely  rebuilt. 
Probably  it  was  at  this  point  that  a  gallery,  described  in  the  survey  of 
1577,  extended  behind  the  curtain  as  far  as  the  drum  tower,  where  the 
inner  wall  of  the  south  court  was  reached.  At  right  angles  to  the  latter 
a  considerable  length  of  wall  descends  rapidly  towards  the  Prior's  Haven. 
It  is  curved  in  plan  and  has  some  stepped  and  splayed  plinth-courses,  but 
no  buttresses. 

In  an  eighteenth  century  drawing  by  Waters,'  as  well  as  in  a  painting 
of  somewhat  earlier  date  (Plate  XIV.),  the  western  wall  of  the  castle 
is  shown  terminating  in  a  square  tower,  having  a  door  towards  the  Prior's 
Haven.  Over  the  doorway,  at  the  roof  level,  the  tower  is  finished  with 
heavilv  corbelled  machicolations.  This  is  probablv  '  the  tower  in  the 
madder  garth'  of  the  1577  survey.  It  stood  at  the  south-western  angle 
of  the  south  court,  but  has  disappeared,  together  with  the  wall  which  ran 
eastwards  from  this  point  to  the  sea,  for  the  side  of  the  cliff  has  been 
quarried  away  to  form  the  present  pier.  Midwav  between  the  tower  in 
the  Madder  Garth  and  the  eastern  e.xtremitv  of  the  wall  there  once  stood 
the  dovecote  tower,  shown  in  Waters's  drawing  as  having  a  door  or  postern 
from  which  steps  descended  to  the  haven.  The  height  and  precipitous 
character  of  the  cliffs  on  the  east  and  north  rendered  towers  unnecessary 
along  the  curtain,  which  pursued  a  devious  course  along  the  edge  of  the 
promontory  until  it  reached  the  Whitlev  tower.'- 

'  Repioduced  in  Arch.  AcL  2nd  series,  vol.  xviii.  p.  80. 

-  Absjract  of  inquisition  taken  at  Tynemouth  castle,  July  15th,  1577  : 

At  the  entry  of  the  house  towards  the  west  is  the  gate  in  '  the  low  towre,'  1 2  yards  square,  9  yards  high. 

.Vdjoining  the  same,  with  a  void  place  between,  is  'a  towre  called  the  yate-house  towre,'  three  stories 
in  height,  14  yards  square,  15  yards  high. 

.Adjoining  the  south  end  of  the  said  tower  is  another  little  house  called  'the  mount  chambre,'  10 
yards  long,  7  yards  high. 

'The  barne  called  th'oote  barne,'  38  yards  long,  loi  yards  broad,  4  yards  high. 

'The  barne  called  the  wheat  barne,'  53  «  14  "  5  yards. 

The  wheat  garner,  20  x  8  x  5  yards. 

The  hay  barn,  21  y.   10  x  4  yards. 

'  The  gate  howse  betwene  the  capteyn's  stable  and  the  hay  barne,'  7  yards  long,  5  yards  high. 

The  captain's  stable,  24  x  6  x  2'  yards. 

The  guest  stables,  17x9x4  yards. 

'  The  store-house  wher  th'artillery  lyeth,  vawted  over  with  stone,  and  the  gardner  above  the  same." 
37  X  10  X  8  yards. 

'The  howse  at  the  water  stone  .adjoyninge  upon  the  pound,  and  the  chambres  above  the  same," 
15x8x4  yards. 

Vol.  VIII.  20 


154  TYNEMOtTM    PARISH. 

TVNEMOUTH    CASTLE. 

The  promontory  now  occupied  by  Tynemouth  castle  being  easy  of 
defence,  the  supplies  of  the  surrounding  country  were  carried  thither,  at 
the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror's  inroad  of  1070,  that  they  might  not 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Norman  soldiery.'  Perhaps  defensive  works 
already  protected  the  western  side  of  the  rock,  where  approach  was  alone 
possible,  and  the  castle  may  date  from  a  period  earlier  than  the  Conquest. 
Setting  aside  the  theory  of  a  Roman  occupation,  there  is  a  tradition  that 
it  was  made  a  military  base  by  the  Danish  invaders.^  But  there  is  no 
certain  evidence  of  a  castle  here  before  1095  ;  it  is  straining  the  words 
of  the    Life    of  St.    Oswiii    to    represent    Earl    Tostig    as    having    had    a 


'The  water  poole  or  pound  lyinge  upon  th'est  syd  of  the  sayd  howse.' 

The  house  called  '  the  kylne  dodd,'  9  yards  long,  8  yards  broad. 

'The  malt-house  adjoyning  upon  th'est  ende  of  the  sayd  kylne,'  21  x   13  x  S  yards. 

The  plumber's  house,  14x6x4  yards. 

The  horse-mill,  14  yards  long,  10  yards  broad. 

The  bake-house  and  bolting-house,  16x6x3  yards. 

The  brew-house,  15  x  13  x  4  yards. 

'On  th'est  parte  of  th'entrye  in  th'enner  court  is  a  litlc  towre  used  for  a  prison,  called  the  hye  prison,' 
10  X  6  X  5  yards. 

Adjoyning  the  same  are  '  the  ruynes  of  certeine  lodginges  abowt  the  cloyster,  all  uncovered  and 
defaced.  A  litle  within  ys  th'entrye  into  the  hall,  ascendinge  upp  certeyne  stepps,  which  entry  is  of 
stone  and  vawted  over.' 

The  hall,  buttery  and  yellow  chamber  on  the  right  hand  of  the  entry,  19  x   10  x  7  yards. 

Then  out  of  the  hall  southward  is  a  chapel  and  a  chamber,  .\djoining  the  same  westward,  ascending 
certain  steps,  is  a  little  chamber  railed  '  the  utter  parlour.  Next  adjoining  thereto  is  th'inner  parlour  as 
a  too-full,  both  adjoininge  together  with  the  gallery  end,'  22  x  y  x  5  yards. 

Within  which  parlour  is  certain  chambers  and  lodgings  and  a  gallery  '  placed  as  in  four  houses  '  near 
to  the  brew-house,  15x6x5  yards. 

Upon  the  other  side  of  the  entry  into  the  hall  is  a  house  called  Edmund's  chamber,  10  yards  square. 

Adjoining  thereto  is  a  house  called  '  th'old  kytchinge,' defaced  and  uncovered.  Adjoining  thereto 
is  'the  kytchinge  which  befor  was  called  'ewryall,'  17  x   14  x  9  yards. 

Another  little  house  adjoining,  called  the  steward's  chamber. 

A  tower  on  the  north-west  part  called  'Whitley  towre,'  with  stone  vaulting  and  battlement, 
10  X   10  X  13  yards. 

The  walls  from  thence  to  the  gate-house  towre  south,  62  yards  long,  7  yards  high. 

The  mount  between  the  mount  towers  is  40  yards  long,  2J  yards  high.  '  Th'ester  towre,"  5x5x7 
yards  ;  the  other,  10x6x7  yards. 

The  wall  betwi.\t  the  gallery  and  the  tower  ne.xl  to  the  Prior's  Haven.  14  yards  long,  6  yards  high. 

The  tower  in  the  madder  garth,  with  a  little  turret  adjoining,  each  5  x  5  x   15  yards. 

The  walls  betwixt  the  said  tower  and  the  'duckett'  tower,  with  two  small  towers  thereupon,  80  yards 
long,  6  yards  high. 

'  The  dowecoate  towre,  containing  about  yt  30  yardes,'  1 5  yards  high. 

'  The  walls  from  thence  and  the  end  next  to  the  I'ryour's  Haven,  being  the  uttermost  part  to  the  sea,' 
110  yards  long,  5  yards  high.     Exchequer  Special  Commissions,  No.  1736. 

The  .above  is  only  a  partial  survey,  containing  estimates  of  the  cost  of  repairing  those  parts  of  the 
castle  which  required  restoration  ;  thus  it  leaves  out  of  account  the  ruined  monastic  buildings  and  the 
curtain-wall  on  the  east  and  north.  Its  measurements,  where  they  can  be  checked,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  gate-house,  are  found  only  approximately  accurate. 

'  Vita  Oswini,  cap.  viii.     See  also  p.  43. 

•  I.eland,  Coltectaiien,  ed.  Hearne.  1774.  vol.  iv.  p.  43.     See  also  p.  40. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  155 

Stronghold  here,'  or  even  a  permanent  residence,  nor  is  there  reason  for 
connecting  his  name  more  closely  with  Tynemouth  than  witli  any  other 
village  on  his  demesnes. 

If  the  castle  be  not  pre-Conquest  in  its  origin,  Robert  de  Mowbray 
may  be  regarded  as  its  founder,  as  he  was  of  the  priory  within  it.  In  the 
summer  of  1095  William  Rufus  captured,  after  a  two  months'  siege,  '  Earl 
Robert's  castle  which  is  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tyne.''^  Seized  again 
by  Mowbray,  it  again  fell  and  the  rebel    earl  was  captured  within  it. 

A  suggestion  that  has  been  made^  that  the  Norman  fortifications  were 
not  on  the  castle  promontory,  but  on  the  little  spit  of  land  afterwards 
occupied  by  the  Spanish  battery,  hardly  merits  consideration,  being  opposed 
to  the  evidence  of  one  who  saw  the  place  iifteen  years  later,  and  has 
described  the  church  of  St.  Mary  as  being  '  within  the  circuit  of  Mowbray's 
castle  of  Tynemouth.'  '  They  probablv  did  not  consist  of  more  than  earthen 
ramparts,  surmounted  by  a  wooden  stockade.  In  this  connection  it  is 
noteworthy  that  at  the  present  day  a  sloping  bank  of  earth,  some  fifteen 
feet  in  height,  lines  the  interior  of  the  western  wall  and  stretches  across 
the  neck  of  the  promontory.  The  same  slope  or  '  mount  is  mentioned 
in  a  survev  of  1577^38  extending  southward  from  the  gateway.  As  the 
entrance  to  the  gate-house,  built  in  1390,  is  on  the  first-floor  level,  it  is 
clear  that  it  was  reached,  if  not  by  an  outside  staircase,  then  by  an  inclined 
plane.  Similar  'mounts'  are  known  to  have  existed  at  Newcastle  and  other 
fortified  positions  where  defences  were  erected  .shortly  after  the  Conquest, 
though  no  stone  curtain-walls  can  be  assigned  to  so  early  a  period.  These 
earthen  mounds  at  Tynemouth  are  therefore  perhaps  the  work  ot  Mowbray 
or  of  one  of  his  predecessors  in  the  Northumbrian  earldom,  and  were 
incorporated  into  the  later  line  of  defence.* 

'  Vita  Oswiiii,  cap.  vii.     Cf.  C.  J.  Bates,  Boiilcr  HuUls,  \i.  2. 

-  '  Castellum  comilis  Rolbeili  ad  ostium  Tinae  lUiminis  situin.'  Florence  of  Worcester,  fw^'/.  Hist. 
Soc.  vol.  ii.  p.  38.     See  also  p.  52. 

'  Dy  the  late  I'rofcssor  Freeman,  Reign  of  Willinm  Ru/iis,  \ol.  ii.  pp.  606-607. 

'•Hie  I'Koberlus  dc  Mulbray'  coepil  sanctum  regem  ct  niartyreni  Oswiniim  cxiniiae  devotionis 
diligentia  excolerc,  ct  ecclcsiani  in  (.[ua  sani  tissimum  ejus  corpus  rei|uicsccbat,  quia  infra  ambitun\  caslri 
ejus  in  Tyncinudtha  conlinebatur,  fundorum  et  praediorum  copia  ditavit.      I'l/ii  Osuini,  cap.  iv.  p.  15. 

'  Excheiiuer  Special  Commissions,  No.  1736. 

'  'The  motive  for  erecting;  moimds  amid  lowers  is  not  obvious  ;  anil  it  is  extremely  probable  that  in 
such  uorks  vvc  may  often  have  the  sites  of  the  wooden  edifices  on  earthen  mounts  which  preceded  the 
more  elaborate  fortresses  of  the  later  Norman  period,  and  are  conspicuous  in  the  Hayeux  tapestr)'.' 
W.  II.  n.  Lonystaffe  in  Aiili.  Ail.  2ni.\  series,  vol.  iv.  p.  74. 


156  TYNEMOITH    PARISH. 

On  September  5th,  1296,  Edward  1.  granted  his  licence  to  the  prior 
and  convent  of  Tvneniouth  to  surround  their  monastery  with  a  w'all  of  stone 
and  lime,  and  to  hold  it  without  let  or  hindrance  on  the  part  of  the  king 
or  his  officers.'  The  medieval  walls  and  towers  still  remaining  belong, 
with  the  exception  of  the  gate-house,  to  that  period.  According  to  the 
terms  of  Edward  I.'s  patent,  the  Crown  had  no  special  rights  over  the 
castle.  When  Edward  II.,  in  a  time  of  general  confusion,  put  John  de 
Haustede  in  charge  of  it,  he  first  obtained  the  consent  of  the  abbot  of 
St.  Albans  to  the  appointment.'  In  the  following  reign  (1346)  Ralph  de 
Neville  attempted  to  treat  Tynemouth  as  a  royal  fortress,  but  was  frustrated 
by  Prior  de  la  Mare,  who  won  from  the  king  a  recognition  of  the  right 
of  the  prior,  for  the  time  being,  to  exercise  sole  authority  within  its  walls.'* 

Prior  Richard  de  Tewing  (13 15- 1340)  maintained  a  garrison  of  eighty 
armed  men  within  the  monastery,'  but  a  permanent  force  was  probably 
only  necessary  during  the  Scottish  wars.  In  1380,  1384  and  1390,  petitions 
addressed  to  the  king  called  attention  to  the  decay  of  the  walls  consequent 
upon  the  encroachment  of  the  sea.°  The  gate-house,  built  in  the  latter 
year  upon  the  site  of  an  earlier  work,  marks  the  completion  of  the  medieval 
castle  ;  ;^666  13s.  4d.  was  subscribed  by  the  king,  the  duke  of  Lancaster 
and  the  earl  of  Northumberland  towards  its  erection." 

On  January  12th,  1538/9,  Prior  Blakeney  and  tlie  convent  surrendered 
their  house  to  the  Crown,  and,  on  March  29th  following,  Henry  VIII. 
granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton  of  Hilton  the  site  of  the  monastery  and 
of  the  dissolved  hospital  of  Tynemouth,  Tynemouth  demesnes,  Flatworth, 
various  coal  mines,  salt  pans  and  mills,  and  the  tithes  of  the  parishes 
of  Tynemouth  and  Woodhorn,  for  the  term  of  twenty-one  years,  to 
hold  at  the  rent  of  ;£  163  is.  5d.  yearly.'  Hilton  had  already  established 
a  connexion  with  the  place,  for  he  was  the  leader  in  the  attack  on  the 
priory  in  Thomas  Gardiner's  time  ;  he  had  taken  steps  to  keep  order  there 
during  the  Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  and  was  in  receipt  of  an  annuity  of  two 
pounds    from    the    house    when    it    was    dissolved.'^      He  now   took    up    his 

'  Cal.  Pat.  Rolls,  1292-1301,  p.  197.     See  also  p.  S3. 

-  Ibid.  1317-1321,  p.  140.     .See  also  p.  87.  '  Gcslu  Abhatum,  vol.  ii.  p.  379.     See  also  p.  95. 

'  See  p.  86.  *  See  pp.  97-99.  "  See  p.  99. 

•  Letters  and  Papers,  Hen.  Mil.  vol.  xiv.  pt.  i.  p.  610.     (Jibson,  vol.  i.  pp.  216,  217. 

'  Ibid.  vol.  xi.  p.  524.     Uutj'dale,  Mumtsticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  308,  note  '  e.' 


Tynemol'th  castle.  157 

residence  in  the  quarters  Injin  which  the  monks  had  been  expelled. 
Richard  Bellasis  of  Henkiiowl  in  the  countv  of  Diiriiani,  who  had  previ- 
oiislv  joined  Hilton  in  attacking;  tiie  monastery,  acted  as  agent  for  the 
Crown  in  selling  the  goods  and  chattels.' 

In  April,  1544,  the  earl  of  Hertford  made  Tynemontii  a  base  for  the 
Knglish  fleet  in  his  invasion  of  Scotland.  He  seems  to  have  realised  the 
importance  of  converting  the  dissolved  priory  into  a  royal  fortress,  for 
in  the  following  Januarv  tiie  Privy  Council  directed  Sir  Richard  Lee  to 
view  the  state  of  Tynemouth  and  to  set  in  liand  such  works  as  should 
be  thought  necessary  for  strengthening  the  same,  taking  with  him  Antonio 
de  Bergoma  and  John  Thomas  Scala,  Italians  expert  in  fortification.-'  Lee 
reported  that  he  thought  it  '  a  place  so  nedeful  to  be  fortihed  as  none  within 
this  realme  more,'  and  sent  up  plans  showing  what  work  it  was  proposed 
to  carry  out.'  One  of  these  plans  is  still  in  existence,  annotated  in  Italian.' 
The  new  fortifications  were  to  include  an  outwork  in  front  of  the  gate-house, 
a  battery  on  the  low  promontory  to  the  south  of  the  caStle  but  separated 
from  it  by  the  Prior's  Haven,  and  walls  connecting  the  new  battery  with 
the  priory  ;  while  cannon  were  to  be  mounted  along  the  old  landward 
wall.  Spades,  shovels,  mattocks,  and  baskets  were  to  hand,  having  been 
stored  at  Tvnemouth   for  the  late  expedition  into  Scotland. 

Work  was  connnenced  on  February  21st,  1545,  and  continued  until 
July  19th  following.  A  thousand  workmen  were  impressed  /  2,1 18  6s. 
was  spent  on  labourers'  wages,  and  £2^^^,  8s.  6d.  on  the  wages  of  masons 
and  other  artizans.  As  the  total  expenditure  amounted  to  no  more  than 
£2,62^^)  4s.  3d.,  it  is  evident  that  materials  were  ready  to  hand.  Boards, 
nails  and  ironwork  were  purchased,  but  stone  was  to  be  had  for  nothing,'^ 
the  priorv  church   no  doubt   proving  a  readv  quarrv. 

The  earl  of  Shrewsbury,  lord  lieutenant  for  the  northern  counties, 
made  arrangements  for  garrisoning  the  castle.  On  April  30th  he  wrote 
the  foUowinc;  letter  to  the  kinu  : 


"& 


'  Gibson,  vol.  i.  p.  211.  "  Lotlyc,  Illustrations  a/  British  History,  vol.  i.  p.  So. 

^  Hamilton  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  555. 

'  Cotlon  MS.S.  .Augustus  I.  ii.  7,  beiny  a  plan  of  Tyneniouth  castle, /t;H/>.  Henry  \lll.  llie  plan 
i;ives  measurements  for  the  foitilicntions  above  described,  is  annotated  in  Italian,  and  therefore  can  be 
attributed,  uitli  a  fair  measure  of  certainty,  to  Sir  Richard  I.ee's  cn};inccrs  in  r54;.  It  has  been  repro- 
duced in  Anil.  Acl.  2nd  series,  vol.  \ix.  to  face  p.  68. 

'  I'ipe  (.)rtice,  iJeclared  .Accounts,  No.  3534. 


I  1^8  TYNEMOUTH    I'AKlSH. 

I'lease  it  your  roy.ill  maje^-li;  tAiiulresland.  that  presentlie  arrived  here  letters  from  the  loriles  and 
others  of  your  hiyhiies  most  honorable  privie  coiuibaile,  addressed  to  nie,  th'erle  of  Shrewesbury,  by 
the  whiclie  I  doo  perceive  that  your  majeste's  pleasure  is  that  I  shulde  appoynt  suiniiie  mete  personage 
with  2  or  300  men  to  lye  in  garrison  at  Tynmouthc  for  the  defence  and  safegardc  of  your  highnes'  newe 
fortifications  there  :  for  th'accomplishment  wherof,  considering  that  there  be  at  Tynemowthe  at  this 
piesent  aboutes  a  thousand  woorkemen  or  nio,  wherof,  as  we  be  infoiirnied,  inayc  be  pyked  oute  aboutes 
400  able  and  tall  men,  we  have  thought  mete  to  take  order  for  the  sending  thither  of  harnes  and  weapon 
to  furnishe  a  good  nomber  of  them,  whiche  shall  bothe  supplie  the  woorket;,  and  reniayne  there  as 
souldiours  for  defence  of  the  saide  foitressc,  as  the  case  shall  rei|uyer,  withoute  puttyng  your  majeste 
to  any  further  charge  then  for  the  wages  whiche  they  have  alreadie  as  woorkemen.  And  for  the  better 
order  of  them  in  case  of  defence,  if  th'ennemyes  shall  approche,  we  have  not  onelie  taken  order  with 
oone  John  Norton  of  Clydderowe,  who  is  a  hardie  gentilman  and  of  good  experience  of  the  warres, 
to  repayre  fourthwith  unto  Tynniowthe,  to  reside  there  and  to  joyne  with  John  lirende,  your  majeste's 
servaunt,  who  hathe  the  oversight  and  ordre  of  the  saide  woorkes  to  be  as  capitaynes  to  the  saide 
wc)orkemcn  ;  but  also  wc  have  appoynled  Hughe  Boyfelde,  master  of  your  majeste's  ordinaunce  in  theis 
panes,  to  sende  unto  Tynniowthe  aforsaide  from  Xewcastell  a  cannon,  a  saker,  2  fawlcons  and  2  slynges, 
for  to  be  placed  for  the  lyme  in  suche  places  of  the  saide  fortresse  as  shalbe  most  mete  for  defence  ;  and 
also  the  countrcy  thereaboutes  shalbe  in  a  readines  to  repayre  thither  for  defence  at  all  tymes  as  the 
case  shall  requyer.  This  order  wc  have  thought  best  to  be  taken  in  this  behaulfe,  bothe  for  the  avoyding 
of  your  majeste's  further  charge,  and  also  for  that  victualles  be  so  scarce  that  there  is  uuichc  adoo  to 
gett  sufficient  for  the  saide  woorkemen  which  be  alre.idie  at  Tynniowthe  as  is  aforsaide.' 

Two  days  later  Slitevvsbiiry  informed  the  king  that  thirteen  hiuidred 
Spanish  troops  had  arrived  at  Newcastle,  and  that  the  wardens  of  the  east 
and  middle  marches  intended  to  divide  them  up  into  small  bodies  and  place 
them  at  dilFerent  points  along  the  coast.  He  suggested  that  some  of  them 
should  be  placed  in  garrison  at  Tynemouth  '  for  the  better  defence  of  his 
majesty's  new  fortifications  there.' "  The  suggestion  was  adopted.  A  body 
of  mercenaries  appears  to  have  been  placed  in  the  new  outwork,  which 
received  from  them  its  name  of  the  Spanish  battery. 

Sir  Francis  Leeke,  who  was  also  governor  of  Berwick,  was  appointed 
captain  of  the  castle.  Some  maintenance  had  to  be  found  for  him.  It  was 
therefore  decided  to  attach  to  the  office  of  captain  the  second  and  more 
lucrative  post  of  steward  of  all  the  estates  of  the  suppressed  monastery. 
This  was  in  the  hands  of  Sir  Thomas  Hilton,  who  was  approached  with 
the  view  of  inducing  him  to  sell  his  interest  for  200  marks.  He  proved 
so  amenable  that  '  he  offered  not  only  his  farm  and  stewardship  aforesaid, 
but  all  that  iie  hath  in  the  world  besides,  to  be  at  the  king's  majesty's 
pleasure.'"*     Accordingly,  on   January    20th,    1545/6,    Leeke   was   given   the 

'  state  Papers,  Hen.  \'I11.  \o\.  \.  p.  441.  Cp.  vol.  i.  p.  7S6.  Ldtirs  mul  Piipcn,  Hen.  \'11I.  vol.  x\. 
pt.  i.  p.  294. 

'■  Stall  Papers,  vol.  v.  p.  443.  Litters  and  Papers,  vol.  \\.  pt.  i.  p.  289.  !■  or  the  employment  of 
mercenary  troops  upon  the  Borders,  see  vol.  ii.  of  this  work,  pp.  125-126. 

'  Slate  Papers,  pp.  490,  495.     A  els  11/  I  lie  Privy  Council,  1547-1550,  p.  100. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  159 

office  of  Steward,  together  with  the  demesnes,  tithes,  fisheries  and  coal 
pits  attached  to  it.  -As  captain  he  also  received  a  hnndred  marks  yearly,  a 
snm  increased  on  December  6th,  1547,  to  £^i  14s.  lod.,  in  consideration 
of  his  continuing  captain  for  life.'  He  kept  fifty  men  under  him,  for  a 
larger  permanent  garrison  was  found  unnecessary.  Rv  way  of  obtaining 
a  reserve  'it  was  ordered  that  the  footmen  within  the  lordship  of  Tynemouth 
should  be  attendant  upon  the  castle  there,  and  not  to  assemble  with  the 
warden  unless  it  were  for  resistance  of  an  urgent  or  dangerous  invasion.'-' 
Three  culverins  and  a  saker  were  sent  from  Newcastle  to  add  to  the 
artillery.'  Leeke  did  not  long  continue  to  hold  office,  bt-ing  succeeded 
on  April   5th,    1549,  bv  Sir  Thomas   Hilton.' 

Tvnemouth  had  so  far  remained  Crown  property,  but  on  December  8th. 
1551,  the  site  of  the  monasterv  and  all  its  possessions  in  the  parishes  of 
Tynemouth  and  Woodhorn  were  granted  to  John  Dudley,  earl  of  Warwick, 
and  afterwards  duke  of  Northumberland,  in  exchange  for  lands  in  the 
counties  of  O.xford  and  Worcester,  with  the  reservation  of  a  fee  farm  rent 
of  /"is  15s.  6d.  payable  to  the  Crown.  The  mistake  of  letting  a  national 
fortress  become  the  private  property  of  an  ambitious  statesman  was  rectified 
by  the  subsequent  exchange  (November  Sth,  1552)  of  the  castle,  site  of  the 
monasterv  and  demesnes  of  Tvnemouth,  for  lands  in  Wiltshire,  Yorkshire 
and  Norfolk.' 

Hilton  appears  to  have  remained  in  uninterrupted  possession  of  the 
site  of  the  monasterv,  and  its  demesnes  were  restored  to  him  when  Leeke's 
occupancy  ended.  His  lease  was  due  to  expire  in  1560.  Though  he  applied 
for  its  renewal,  that  was  denied  to  him,  the  site  of  the  priory  being  leased 
to  Thomas,  seventh  earl  of  Northumberland,  on  August  17th.  1557,  for 
twenty-one  vears,  at  an  annual  rent  of  /."53  3s.  4d.''  In  May,  155Q,  before 
the  expiration  of  the  lirst  term,  Hilton  diet!  of  a  fever,  having  devised  the 

'  .Vugnientation  Office,  Miscellaneous  Books,  \a\.  236,  fol.  121,  and  vol.  21S.  fol.  172.  Ctil.  Slate  Papers, 
Foreign,  15  59- 1560,  p.  279. 

■  Sir  Robert  IJowes'  -Survey.     Hodgson,  Sorthumherland.  pt.  iii.  vol.  ii.  p.  245. 

'  Acts  of  the  Privy  Council,  1542-1547,  p.  316. 

'  Augmentation  Office,  Miscell.  Jiooks,  vol.  220,  fol.  iSi. 

'  .Vugnientation  Office,  Deeds  of  Kxcliangc,  box  (".,  No.  30,  and  1)0\  H,  No.  8.  C.ibson.  vol.  i. 
pp.  237-238. 

"  Acts  0/  the  Privy  Council,  iJS^-iSjS,  p.  21)5.  I\il.  Kolh,  4  and  5  I'liilip  and  Mary.  pt.  2.  C.ibson, 
vol.  i.  p.  239. 


l6o  TYNEMOUTH    TAKISH. 

remainder  of  his  lease  to  his  wife,  who  survived  him.'  She  shortly  after- 
wards married  William  Bulleiii,  her  husband's  phvsician.  He  was  author 
of  several  popular  treatises  upon  medicine,  including  a  work  upon  the 
'Governance  of  Health'  whicii  he  had  dedicated  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton 
about  the  time  of  tliat  knight's  fatal  illness.  A  brother  of  the  latter, 
William  Hilton  of  Biddick,  accused  Bullein  of  murdering  his  patron  and 
brought  him  to  trial  before  the  duke  of  Norfolk,  but  failed  to  prove  his 
charge.'"' 

The  post  of  captain  now  being  vacant,  Sir  Henry  Percy,  governor  of 
Norham  castle  and  younger  brother  of  the  seventh  earl,  was  appointed 
to  the  ofHce  through  the  iuHuence  of  Sir  William  Cecil,  the  future  Lord 
Burleigh.'  Letters  patent,  dated  February  8th,  1561,  formallv  placed  him 
in  command,'  but  he  did  not  find  it  easv  to  effect  an  entrance.  Writing 
to  Cecil,   he  explained  : 

I  li.ivc  been  at  Tyncmoutli,  and  fnidinj,'  no  man  save  one  priest  in  the  house,  have  left  Raiilph 
Lowrauncc  and  twelve  of  ni\-  men  to  keep  it.  I  demanded  of  my  lady  Hilton  the  delivery  of  the  house 
•ind  all  things  of  tlie  queen's  by  right,  whereon  she  sent  a  servant  with  me  and  look  a  note  of  the 
munition  .ind  artillery,  l)ut  would  not  deliver,  as  by  indenture  she  received  it — saying  the  indenture 
was  not  there — so  I  took  the  house  only.  On  Thursday  next  she  has  promised  her  indenture  shall 
be  ready.  If  I  took  the  house  as  the  lady  would  deliver  it,  there  would  be  neither  door,  lock,  key, 
forms  or  boards,  mill,  brew-house,  or  anything  except  munition  and  ordnance,  for,  as  she  says,  .Sir 
Thomas   Hilton  bought   it  all. 

Hilton's  death  gave  an  opportunitv  for  reducing  the  cost  of  the  garrison, 
which  had  been  £47^  los.  vearlv  in  the  time  of  Henrv  VHL  Some  pro- 
vision had  to  be  made  for  Sir  Henry  Percv,  who  became  a  rival  with  his 
brother,  the  earl,  for  the  tithes  of  Tynemouthshire.  Oueen  Elizabeth 
decided  that  these   should    be   '  let  to  the  keeper  only  of  the   house  from 

'  Will  dated  November  cSth,  155S  :  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  pp.  32,  },■>,.  Inventory  of  goods  taken 
on  .April  24th,  1559;  W'llh  ami  Iiiviiiloriis,  Sun.  Soc.  Xo.  2,  pp.  181-1S4.  The  inventory  details  goods 
an{|  chattels  remaining  in  the  kitchen  at  Tynemouth,  the  brew-house,  the  bake-house,  the  kiln,  the  salt- 
garner,  the  gallery,  the  closet  within  the  gallery,  the  cellar,  the  outer  parlour,  the  buttery,  the  chapel 
chamber,  the  hall,  (lilbert  Erringlon  chamber,  and  the  mill  house.  C.ilbert  Errington's  connexion  with 
the  monastery  throws  light  upon  the  circumstances  in  which  the  manuscript  life  of  .St.  Oswin,  containing 
his  autograph,  may  have  come  into  his  hands.  He  was  brother-in-law  of  Richard  Bellasis,  who  had  the 
disposal  of  the  goods  and  chattels  of  the  dissolved  monastery. 

"Diet.  Nat.  Biog.  sub  voce  William  Bullein.  Ijullein,  Booke  oj  Simples,  1576,  fol.  79.  Flower, 
I'isitation  0/  Yorkshiye. 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Foreign,  1558-1559,  pp.  338,  359. 

*  Pat.  Roll,  3  Eliz.  pt.  i. 

'  Cal.  Scottish  Papers,  ed.  Bain,  vol.  i.  p.  238  ;  letter  dated  August  4th,  1 559.  In  an  inventory  t.aken 
November  30th,  155S,  the  following  pieces  of  brass  ordnance  were  found  at  Tynemouth:  one  cannon, 
one  demi-cannon,  two  demi-culverins,  two  sakers,  and  four  falcons  ;  also  o.ie  iron  demi-culverin,  and 
one  iron  saker.     State  Papers,  Borders,  vol.  i.  No,  16. 


PLATE  XV. 


Chart  of  the  Tvne  temp.  Henry  VIII. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  l6l 

time  to  time,  and  not  to  be  dissevered  from  the  house  as  it  now  is  ;  the 
like  also  shall  be  with  the  demesnes.' '  This  did  not  content  Percy,  who 
wrote  on   April  30th,    1560,  to  Cecil  : 

For  my  own  atitaiis— I  mean  Tynemouth— I  pray  you  let  me  not  be  burdened  with  sa  weighty  a 
piece  and  so  small  a  commission  to  rule  it ;  for  you  know  I  have  kept  it  this  twelve-month  almost 
at  my  own  charges,  too  sore  a  burden  for  a  younjjer  brother  of  my  ability." 

Accordingly,  the  duke  of  Norfolk  was  directed  to  report  on  the  cost 
of  the  establishment.  He  recommended,  on  August  8th,  that  the  garrison 
should  have  one  captain  with  a  salary  of  a  hundred  pounds  a  year,  a 
constable  and  a  porter  who  should  receive  ten  pounds  each,  four  gunners 
engaged  at  a  shilling  a  day,  and  thirty-two  soldiers  at  eightpence  a  dav, 
an  advance  of  nearly  a  hundred  pounds  upon  the  sum  paid  in  Henry  Vni.'s 
reign,  when  fiftv  soldiers  were  maintained.'  This  did  not  accord  with  the 
queen's  views.     She  wrote  on  October  5th  to  Sir  Richard  Lee  : 

Trusty  and  welbeloved,  we  grete  vow  well.  Where  as  our  chardg  hath  bene  lately  in  the  tyine 
of  these  late  troubles,  that  waye  amongst  other  thynges,  augmented  at  our  howse  of  Tynemouth,  which 
by  advise  of  our  counsell  we  meane  to  abridg  ;  our  pleasure  is  that  ye,  at  your  retoune  from  Barwyk, 
shall  view  the  seate  thereof,  and  consider  whyther  the  same  be  nedefull  to  be  kept  in  fortification  as 
it  is  for  the  defence  and  gard  of  the  city  of  the  haven  there,  or  that  some  other  lower  place  nerer 
the  same  haven  might  be  more  mete  for  the  same  purpoose  to  be  kept  and  with  less  chardg,  as  it 
hath  bene  hertofore  at  other  tymes  thought,  and  with  small  chardg  to  us  might  be  kept  by  our  towne  of 
Newcastell  ;  wherin  we  praye  yow  have  as  good  consideration  as  to  such  a  case  belongethe.' 

The  letter  is  interesting,  as  it  shows  a  change  coming  over  the  system 
of  national  defence.  It  had  been  the  practice  in  the  middle  ages  to  have 
strong  castles  built  on  sites  where  nature  assisted  the  engineer  in  rendering 
the  work  of  defence  easy,  castles  which  provided  shelter  for  the  inhabitants 
of  the  neighbouring  districts  until  the  tide  of  invasion  sank  back  e.xhausted 
from  an  attack  upon  impregnable  positions.  In  the  si.xteenth  century  the 
growth  of  foreign  navies,  the  danger  of  continental  invasion,  and  the 
extension  of  mercantile  towns  beyond  the  limit  of  their  neglected  walls, 
made  it  increasingly  necessary  to  guard  coast  and  estuary.  Batteries 
furnished  with  good  artillery  were  of  more  value  than  the  double  or  triple 
defences  of  fourteenth  century  strongholds.  Tynemouth  was  no  longer 
regarded  as  an  isolated  place  of  refuge,  but  as  the  chief  of  the  defences 
of  the  Tyne. 

'  Cal.  state  Papers,  Domestic,  1547- 1580,  p.  147.     Haynes,  State  Papers,  p.  220. 

"  Cal.  Scottisli  Papers,  vol.  i.  p.  391. 

"  Cal.  State  Papers,  Foreign,  1560- 1 561,  p.  217.  '  State  Papers,  Borders,  vol.  iii.  No.  346. 

Vol.  VIII.  2' 


l62  TVNF.MOrril    takish. 

Lee  could  hardly  be  expected  to  advocate  the  demolition  of  works 
which  he  himself  had  planned.  A  compromise  was  effected,  by  which  Sir 
Henry  Percy  received  ^'66  13s.  4d.  a  year  for  his  fee,  and  an  annnity  of 
£2)2>  6s.  8d.,  an  allowance  of  a  shillinj^  a  day  for  a  master  gunner,  and 
provision  for  eight  gunners  at  sixpence  a  day,  and  for  eleven  household 
servants  at  £b  8s.  4d.  yearly,  the  total  sum  being  £2b^  us.  8d.  a  year, 
a  saving  of  ^^215.'  Certain  repairs  were  carried  out  upon  the  castle,  which 
was  otherwise  left  unaltered.  Percy  experienced  difficulty  in  recouping 
himself  for  his  outlay,  as  well  as  in  getting  his  salarv  regularly  paid."  Stores 
and  munitions  were  despatched  to  Tynemouth,  as  well  as  to  Berwick  and 
Holy  Island,  in  December,  1560,  conveyed  thither  by  Sir  William  Winter 
on  his  mission  to  help  the  Scottish  reformers,  then  in  arms  against  their 
regent.' 

In  the  succeeding  autumn  Mary  Stuart  returned  to  Scotland  out  of 
France.  Her  voyage  was  unopposed  by  the  English  government,  though 
plain  hints  were  given  of  the  action  which  Elizabeth  would  have  liked 
her  subjects  to  take  if  occasion  offered.  Ten  days  before  Mary  set  sail 
for  her  father's  kingdom,  on  August  5th,  1561,  the  earl  of  Rutland  wrote 
significantly  to  Sir  Henry  Percy  : 

1  require  you,  upon  the  entry  of  any  strange  ship,  especially  French  or  Scottish,  into  Tynemouth 
haven  or  road,  to  cause  some  trusty  man  of  yours  to  search  the  same.  If  there  be  any  matter  that 
carrieth  with  it  any  manner  of  suspicion,  give  orders  that  the  ships  be  courteously  stayed  and  1  speedily 
advertised.  I  do  understand  by  special  intelligence  that  there  is  like  to  happen  such  things  of 
importance  as,  being  well  forseen  and  stayed,  may  highly  advance  her  hignhess'  service.  Use  diligence 
and  good  circumspection  in  this  service,  as  the  same  may  lend  to  a  good  end.^ 

Queen  Mary  arrived  at  Leith  in  safety,  without  touching  at  any  port 
on  the  way.  Eighteen  months  later,  in  January,  1563,  her  future  husband, 
the  earl  of  Bothwell,  was  captured  on  Holy  Island  when  escaping  from 
confinement  in  Edinburgh,  and  was  committed  to  the  custody  of  Sir  Henry 
Percy  at  Tynemouth.  There  Bothwell  was  kept  for  a  year,  during  which 
time  he  captivated  his  keeper  by  his  '  courteous  and  honourable  behaviour.' 
Percy  told  Cecil,  '  he  is  very  wise  and  not  the  man  he  was  reported  to 
be,'  and  wrote  again  after  Bothwell's  release,  '  I  doubt  not  but  that  this 
realm  will  find  him  a  friend  for  his  usage  here.' ' 

1  Haynes,  State  Papers,  p.  400.  -  Cat.  State  Papers,  Foreign,  1 561-1562,  p.  388  ;  ibid.  1562,  p.  159. 

'  Ibid.  1559-1560,  pp.  199,  311.  '  Diihe  of  Rutland's  MSS.  vol.  i.  p.  73.  Hist.  MSS.  Com. 

"  Cat.  Stale  Papers,  Foreign,  1 563,  pp.  66,  1 29  ;  ibid.  1 564- 1 565,  p.  83. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTI.E.  1 63 

Other  important  Scottish  prisoners,  such  as  Lord  Keith,  son  of  the 
earl  marshal  of  Scotland,  and  Sir  Andrew  Ker  of  Cessford,  were  detained 
for  a  time  within  the  castle   walls.' 

Sir  Henry  Percy  refused  to  join  his  brother,  the  earl  of  Northum- 
berland, in  the  Rising  of  the  North.  He  was  strongly  opposed  to  that 
movement,  and  was  considered  by  so  capable  an  observer  as  the  Spanish 
ambassador  to  have  contributed  largely  to  its  failure.  Early  in  December 
the  news  came  that  the  rebels  were  in  retreat,  making  for  the  northern 
fortresses.  It  was  important  to  bar  their  way  at  the  Tyne,  still  more 
necessary  to  prevent  a  royal  stronghold  like  Tynemouth  falling  into  their 
power.  Percy  mustered  all  the  men  of  the  shire,  and  put  a  garrison  of 
two  hundred  in  the  castle  ;  at  the  same  time  he  sent  out  twelve  hundred 
horsemen  to  keep  watch  along  the  river  between  Tynemouth  and  Newcastle. 
Sir  Valentine  Brown,  who  commanded  at  Newcastle,  '  for  the  more  surety  ' 
sent  a  hundred  shot  of  his  old  band  to  join  Percy's  garrison.  Had  not 
Scrope,  at  Carlisle,  been  half-hearted  in  his  support,  few  of  those  who  came 
out  with  the  earls  would   have   escaped.^ 

After  the  rising  was  over  Percy  came  to  court,  where  he  was  very 
well  received.  His  brother,  the  seventh  earl,  was  attainted  ;  consequently 
the  lease  of  the  site  of  Tynemouth  monastery  fell  to  the  Crown,  and  was 
on  May  3rd,  1570,  granted  to  Sir  Henry  Percy  for  life,  with  remainder 
to  his  sons,  Henry  and  Thomas,  successively  for  their  lives,  at  the  annual 
rent  of  ^16^  us.  5d.  The  offices  of  captain  of  the  castle  and  of  seneschal 
of  the  estates  of  the  dissolved  religious  house  were  regranted  to  Percy 
with  the  like  reversion.^ 

Barely  a  year  passed  before  he  was  involved  in  one  of  the  ramifications 
of  the  Ridolphi  conspiracy.  He  consented  to  be  party  to  the  escape  of 
the  Queen  of  Scots  from  her  prison  at  Tutbury,  and  to  convey  her  into 
Scotland.*  Apparently  tiie  scheme  was  abandoned  before  its  discoverv, 
but  none  the  less  a  warrant  was  issued  for  Percy's  arrest.  Sir  John 
Forster,    warden    of   the   inarches,   came   to   Tvnemouth   to  search  for  him. 

'  Cal.  Slate  Papers,  Foreign,  1564-1565,  p.  366  ;  1566-1568,  p.  269.     See  also  vol.  v.  of  this  work,  p.  66. 

-'  Ibid.  1569-1571,  p.  162  ;  Domestic,  Addenda,  1566-1579,  p.  154. 

'  Gibson,  vol.  ii.  pp.  115-119.     Pat.  Rolls,  12  Eliz.  pt.  10. 

'  '  He  said  he  had  a  sine  at  this  parlament  to  be  enheritoiir  to  his  brother,  and  if  that  did  not  take 
effect,  he  wold  do  the  best  he  could  for  the  deliveiy  of  the  Scots  quene  ;  but  if  it  did,  he  wold  not  medle, 
because  of  his  nere  children,  but  he  wold  loke  through  his  fyngars,  if  she  eskapcd  away.'  .Murdin,  State 
Pa f CIS,  pp.  21-22. 


1 64  tynemouth  parish. 

He  found  the  porter,  John  Metcalf,  standing  at  the  gates  with  the  keys 
in  his  hand.  Misliking  the  man  he  removed  him  and  added  trusted  men 
of  his  own  to  the  garrison.'  Percy  had  already  hastened  to  London  to 
clear  himself,  and  there  he  was  committed  to  the  custody  of  Sir  Ralph 
Sadler.  At  the  same  time  Forster  was  directed  by  the  Privy  Council  to 
take  with  him  two  justices  of  the  peace  '  not  holden  suspected  of  aiiy  un- 
kindness  towards  the  said  Sir  Henry,'  and  with  them  to  view  and  examine 
the  state  of  Tynemouth  castle.  He  accordingly  went  with  Sir  John 
Delaval  and  viewed  the  ordnance  there,  which  he  found  'almost  useless 
for  want  of  stocks,  ladles,  sponges  and  wheels.'  '  Munition,'  he  continued, 
'  is  needed,  and  a  master  gunner  of  skill  should  be  assigned,  as  the  castle 
is  destitute  of  one.' " 

Upon  the  receipt  of  Forster's  report.  Sir  Henry  Percy  was  thrown  into 
the  Tower  of  London  upon  a  charge  of  criminal  negligence  in  the  queen's 
service.  '  I  think,'  Queen  Elizabeth  said  to  the  earl  of  Leicester,  '  his  fault 
is  as  great  as  any  man's,  though  it  be  no  high  treason.'  ^  A  confession  of 
carelessness  was  extorted  from  him  ;  he  was  brought  to  trial  and  condemned 
to  pay  a  fine  of  5,000  marks,  and  eventually  was  set  at  liberty  but  not 
allowed  to  return  to  the  north.  He  was  allowed  to  retain  the  captaincy 
of  Tynemouth  upon  appointing  and  paying  the  fees  of  a  deputy,  the  first 
man  who  filled  that  position  being  the  earl's  brother-in-law,  Francis  Slmgsby 
of  Scriven,  the  keeper  of  Tynedale.^  Sir  John  Forster  was  disappointed 
in  his  hopes  of  securing  the  castle  for  his  son-in-law.  Lord  Francis  Russell, 
eldest  son  of  the  earl  of  Bedford  ;  otherwise,  as  Lord  Hunsdon  told 
Burleigh,  the  Rising  of  the  North  had  been  '  a  happy  rebellion  for  him.'  ' 

The  town  of  Newcastle  was  also  an  unsuccessful  suitor  for  Tynemouth, 
having,  in   1574,  addressed  the  following  petition  to  the  Crown  : 

That  it  woulde  please  heyr  heighnes,  in  consideracion  of  tlieir  dutyfull  services  donne  by  them  and 
their  predyssessors  to  hir  majestie  and  to  hir  most  noble  proginitors,  as  also  for  the  pacyfienge  of  the 
greate  controvercies  which  hathe  byne  of  a  longe  tyme  betwixte  the  ofificers  of  the  castell  of  Tynmouthe 
and  the  officers  of  the  aforsaid   towne  of  Newcastell,  to  unitte  the  said  castell  with  the  membars  of 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  Addenda,  1 566-1 579,  p.  369. 

■  Ibid.  p.  374.  Acts  of  the  Privy  Council,  1571-1575,  p.  51.  There  was  only  one  hundredweight  of 
serpentine  powder  and  one  hundred  shot  at  this  time  w-ithin  the  castle.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  vol.  .\.\. 
No.  100,  pt.  ii. 

'  .Murdin,  State  Papers,  p.  229.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  .\ddenda,  1566-1579,  p.  393. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  1 65 

tl)c  same  as  the  carle  of  Noilhoinbarland  clothe  nowe  injoyc  the  same  by  force  of  his  majesties 
graunte,  unto  the  corporation  of  Newcastell  aforsaid  ;  and  they  sliall  not  onlye  see  the  aforsaid  castell 
safelye  kepte  unto  hir  majesties  use,  and  paye  yearlye  unto  the  earlc  of  Northomberland  and  hi^ 
Sonne  duringe  ther  patten  the  some  of  fower  hundreth  poundes,  but  also  shall  discharge  hir  majestie 
and  hir  successors  of  the  some  of  fower  hundreth  markes  in  monyc,  which  hir  majestie  dothe  nowe 
yearlye  paye  for  the  kepinge  of  the  said  forte  :  and  what  debiiie  shalbe  appointed  by  the  said  towne 
for  the  kepinge  of  the  said  forte  to  be  allowed  at  all  tymes  l)y  hyr  majestie  and  to  injoye  the  same 
but  duringe  pleasure.' 

Thomas,  seventh  earl  of  Northumberland,  had  been  e.\ecuted  for 
treason  on  August  22nd,  1572  ;  but  it  was  not  until  1576  that  Sir  Henry 
Percy  was  formally  recognised  as  having  succeeded  to  his  brother's  dignities. 
Though  partially  restored  to  favour,  the  eighth  earl  plunged  more  deeply 
into  conspiracy.  Throgmorton's  confessions  in  November,  1583,  revealed 
the  preparations  made  for  the  invasion  of  England  by  the  Catholic  powers 
of  France  and  Spain,  and  disclosed  the  names  of  the  English  leaders,  of 
whom  the  earl  of  Northumberland  was  chief.  He  was  again  imprisoned 
in  the  Tower.  This  time  he  was  not  allowed  to  retain  the  charge  of 
Tynemouth  ;  Lord  Francis  Russell  was  given  the  post  which  he  had  sought 
to  obtain  twelve  years  before.  Northumberland  refused  at  lirst  to  deliver 
up  the  keys  of  the  castle.  He  represented  that  his  estate  was  but  small 
to  maintain  the  dignity  of  an  earl,  and  that  the  benefit  of  the  office  of 
Tynemouth  was  a  good  portion  of  his  living,  without  which  he  would  not 
be  able  to  sustain  the  charge  of  housekeeping  and  the  education  of  his 
children.  By  holding  this  office  he  had  been  able  to  maintain  twenty  of 
his  old  servants  who  had  served  him  ten  to  thirtv  vears,  which  he  had  no 
other  means  of  doing,  and,  if  they  should  be  displaced,  they  would  be 
left  to  beg  their  bread.  Disgrace,  he  said,  would  grow  to  him  in  his  own 
country  bv  his  removal  from  the  office  which  he  tendered  as  his  life.' 

His  appeal  was  disregarded.  Allan  King,  the  deputy  at  Tynemouth, 
was  instructed  to  report  on  the  supplies  in  his  charge,  which  he  did  on 
March  24th,  15S3/4.  There  were  then  ten  pieces  of  ordnance  in  the  fortress  ; 
each  gun  had  live  to  nine  shot  ;  ammunition  was  represented  by  a  single 
barrel  of  powder,  small-arms  by  si.\teen  unserviceable  harquebuses.  There 
were  no  calivers,  pikes  or  bills,  no  spades,  nails,  pickaxes  or  lanterns  ; 
nothing  in  fact  but  decayed  cannon,  insufficient  annnunition,  and  no  match 

'  state  Papers,  Domestic,  Elizabeth,  vol.  xcvii.  No.  24. 

"'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Dou/ts/ii ,  .\ddtnda,  1580-1625,  p.  134. 


1 66  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

with  which  to  light  it.  Even  the  walls  were  tailing  into  ruin  ;  their  repair 
was  estimated  to  cost  five  hundred  pounds  'only  for  workmanship,  besides 
lime  and  stone  whereof  thev  have  sufficient  store.' ' 

Lord  Francis  Kussell  came  to  Tyneniouth  in  April,  1585,  to  find 
nothing  done.  '  Kemember  that  the  castle,  which  is  without  ordnance  and 
powder,  may  be  furnished,'  was  the  burden  of  his  repeated  letters  to 
Walsinfjhani.  It  was  stated  that  one  hundred  calivers  were  necessary  and 
as  many  pikes  and  bows,  two  hundred  sheaves  of  arrows,  four  barrels  of 
corn  powder,  eight  barrels  of  serpentine  powders,  and  two  hundred  shot 
for  each  class  ot  ordnance,  namely,  culverins,  dcnii-culverins,  sakers,  demi- 
sakers,  falcons  and  falconets.^  'The  time  is  dangerous,'  he  wrote  on  June 
22nd,  'and  her  majestv's  house  here  had  need  be  provided."  Danger  of 
foreign  invasion  was  certainly  great.  Throgmorton's  revelations  had  dis- 
closed but  not  disarmed  conspiracy.  Northumberland,  released  from  the 
Tower,  had  again  begun  the  work  of  plotting,  and  was  lodged  for  the  third 
time  in  his  old  prison.  The  morning  before  Russell  wrote  his  letter,  the 
earl  was  found  dead  in  his  bed,  a  bullet  in  his  heart.  It  was  given  out 
that  he  had  died  by  his  own  hand,  and  so  Walsingham  told  Russell,  who 
replied  frankly,  '  the  lord  of  Northumberland's  death  will  hardly  be  believed 
in  this  country  to  be  as  you  have  written,  yet  I  am  fully  persuaded,  and 
have  persuaded  others,  that  it  was  not  otherwise.'' 

'  state  Papers,  Domestic,  Elizabetli,  vol.  clxix.  No.  ;i2.     A  more  specific  iinentorj-,  taken  a  few  months 
later,  is  here  given  : 

The  first  daye  of  July,    1584.      This   inventory  was   taken  of  all   the  quenes  majesties  store  att 
Tynmowth  castle,  viz.  : 

First  there  is  uppon  the  niounte  headc  a  saker  and  two  falcons  mounted  uppon  cariagies  not  service- 
able ;  in  the  store  howse  a  falcon  without  cariage  ;  a  demi-coheryn  of  brasse  mounted  uppon  unshod 
cariage  ;  a  demi-colveryn  of  iron  mounted  uppon  unshod  cariage  ;  a  flancker  of  iron  and  fower  chambers 
not  serviceable  ;  uppon  the  back  side  of  the  barnes  a  demi-coheryn  of  brasse  mounted  uppon  cariage 
not  serviceable  ;  in  the  churche  ycirde  a  saker  of  brasse  mounted  uppon  decayed  cariage  ;  in  the  mather 
yeirde  a  saker  of  iron  mounted  uppon  decayed  cariage;  seventene  falcon  shott  of  iron  ;  eleven  saker 
shott  of  iron  ;  sixe  and  twenlie  dcmi-colveryn  shott  of  iron  :  thre  score  stone  shott  ;  a  falcon  ladle  ;  a 
saker  ladle  ;  a  demi-colveryn  ladle  ;  one  sponge  :  one  old  decayed  harquebus  of  crock  ;  more  in  the 
store  howse  twentie  harquebutes,  broken  and  not  serviceable  ;  two  and  twentie  olde  plates  of  iron; 
fewer  collers  and  trayces  for  carte  horsscs  not  serviceable  ;  xlviii''  sheves  of  old  decayed  arrowes  not 
serviceable  ;  two  cressett  headcs  ;  two  bill  heades  ;  eighte  cloven  shott  for  small  peces  ;  thre  small 
peces  of  webbes  of  leade  which  were  parccll  of  a  sestern  :  a  pece  of  a  strake  of  iron  for  a  whele  ;  a  bowe 
chest  wantinge  a  coveringe  ;  a  bodye  of  a  cart  not  ser\  iceable  ;  more  thre  percelles  of  webbes  of  leade 
taken  of  the  steple  ;  more  a  broade  plate  of  iron  ;  thre  cranes  to  mounte  ordynaunce  not  furnyshed  nor 
serviceable  ;  in  the  churche  one  old  salt  panne  of  iron  decayed  ;  more  twelve  sondry  peces  and  a  rownde 
bottom,  parcelles  of  decayed  salt  panns  of  iron  ;  in  the  hall  tenne  olde  decayed  corslates  with  burgonettes 
and  collers  ;  more  in  the  store  howse  certeyne  peces  of  tyniber  which  were  the  whole  frame  of  an  old 
decayed  howse  taken  downe,  and  some  other  od  peces  of  tyniber.     Ibid.  vol.  clxxii.  No.  2. 

■  Stale  Papers,  Domestic,  vol.  clxxxi.  No.  79. 

'  Cat.  Stale  Papers,  Domestic,  .Addenda,  1580-1625,  pp.  t42,  143,  145.  '  Ibid.  p.  145. 


TYNEMOl'TH    CASTLE.  1 67 

A  month  later  there  was  a  day  of  truce  on  the  inarches,  and  the 
wardens  met  at  Cocklaw  to  hear  and  satisfy  complaints.  Sir  John  Forster 
was  there,  accompanied  by  Lord  Francis  Russell.  The  Scots  were  restive  ; 
a  slight  incident,  a  few  beats  on  a  drum,  and  they  were  charging,  three 
thousand  strong,  upon  the  surprised  English.  Volleys  of  shot  set  Forster 
and  his  followers  flying,   leaving  Russell   dead  on  the  field.' 

Robert  Carey,  Lord  Hunsdon's  son,  was  appointed  to  replace  Russell 
at  Tynemouth.^  He  made  Robert  Delaval  of  Seaton  Delaval  his  deputy. 
The  inventorv  of  household  stuff"  handed  over  with  the  castle  is  worth 
quoting  : 

Ane  inventorie  of  such  parcells  of  howshold  stuffe  as  ar  remaninge  in  Tynemouth  castell  and 
belonging  to  the  earle  of  Northumbreland,  being  delyvered  by  Thomas  Dickhani  into  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Roberte  Delavale,  esqr..  constable  of  the  said  castell,  14th  Octobre,   1585. 

Hull.  The  hall  hanged  with  hangings  of  woUen,  read  and  blake.  Item,  one  table  with  a  paire 
of  tressells,  two  formes,  twoo  benches. 

The  utter  parlor.  Imprimis,  a  framed  table  of  waynscott,  a  table  with  a  paire  of  tressells,  three 
formes  and  benches,  a  plate  candlesticke,  a  irone  chymney,  greyne  hangings,  a  portall  with  a  dore. 

Great  chambre.  Imprimis,  a  framed  table  of  waynscott  with  drawing  leves,  a  square  framed 
table  of  wainscot  in  the  wyndowe,  sixe  buffett  stowles,  a  wainded  skrej-ne,  a  paire  of  plaing  tables 
without  men,  a  spring  locke  on  the  dore.     Item,  a  shelfe  and  a  tressell. 

Item,  a  bedstedd  of  waynescott,  cupbord  and  lockers  of  waynescotl  .-ibout  the  chamber. 

a  table  with  two  tressells,  three  locks  with  three  keys. 

The  gallorie  hanged  with  hanging  of  grene  sales. 

Read  chamber.  Imprimis,  hangings  of  redd  about  ye  chamber,  a  read  chaire  imbrodered  over 
the  back,  a  cupbord  with  a  foldcn  frame,  a  iron  chymney,  a  standing  bedstedd  of  walnott  tree,  a  ponall 
with  a  dore,  a  locke  and  key. 

The  studie  howse  hanged  with  hangings  of  blewe  sayes.     Item,  one  cupbord  with  locke  and  no  key. 

The  blewe  chamber  hanged  with  blew  wollen.  Item,  a  blewe  chaire  imbrodred  on  ye  backe.  a 
standing  bedstedd,  a  irone  chymney,  a  lock  without  key,  a  matted  chaire  of  ease. 

The  inner  chapell  chambre  hanged  with  greyde.     Item,  one  irone  chymney. 

[Three  other  chambers  are  mentioned  and  their  contents  given.  In  one  'a  ledd  spowie  for 
avoyding  water,'  in  another  'one  gret  banded  chist  with  two  locks  and  one  key.'  Inventories  follow 
of  Edmund's  chamber,  the  cooks  chamber,  the  chamber  over  Dune's  lodge,  the  high  white-hall,  the 
low  white-hall,  the  porters  lodge,  the  laundry-house,  the  inner  brewing-house,  the  outer  brewing-house, 
the  baking-house,  the  buttery,  the  larder-house,  the  kitchen,  and  the  paistry." ' 

Meanwhile  an  armada  was  preparing  in  Spain,  It  was  essential  for 
safety  to  look  to  the  coast  defences.  On  March  i8th,  15S8,  Lord  Hunsdon 
informed  Walsingham  that,  if  a  letter  were  directed  to  him  from  the  Privy 
Council,  he  would  take  the  surveyor  of  works  with  him  from  Berwick 
and  an  officer  of  the  ordnance,  and  so  take  '  a  perfect  view '  of  Tynemouth  : 

'  Cat.  Border  Papers,  vol.  i.  p.  138  .■/  Sd/.  "  IM.  vol.  ii.  p.  1X3. 

'  .Marquis  of  Waterford's  MSS. 


l68  TYNEMOrill    I'ARISH. 

but  no  letter  came.'  News  reached  England  that  the  duke  of  Medina 
Sidonia  had  sailed  from  Lisbon  on  May  19th.  The  Privy  Council,  meeting 
on  June  17th,  sent  a  letter  to  the  earl  of  Huntingdon,  lord  president  of 
the  north,  directing  him  '  for  the  better  defence  of  the  castle  of  Tynemouth 
and  that  coast,'  to  repair  to  Newcastle  that  he  might  be  the  readier  to  make 
resistance  should  the  Spaniards  send  their  forces  thither.- 
Huntingdon  sent  back  word  ; 

I  trust  your  wisdoms  will  consider  how  unable  I  should  be  to  do  her  majesty  fit  service,  unfurnished 
.IS  I  am  of  men  and  munitions.  Tynmouth  I  doubt  is  defenceless,  and  there  is  little  in  the  storehouse  at 
Xewcastle.  Your  lordships  give  me  no  direction  how  many  men  to  take  with  me.  Order  must  be  taken 
for  money,  armour,  munition,  and  victual  there,  iic  forti'  .Scotland  should  prove  to  be  a  worse  neighbour 
than  I  hope  it  will.' 

It  was  of  this  castle  of  Tynemouth  that  Camden  had  written  in  the 
previous  year,   '  Tvnemouth  glories  in  a  splendidly  fortified  castle.'^ 

The  danger  was  great.  Writing  from  Newcastle,  Huntingdon  told 
the  queen  on  August  3rd  :  '  Sure  I  am,  the  enemy  cannot  be  ignorant  of 
the  weakness  of  these  parts,  neither  doth  he  doubt  to  find  some  friends 
here,  and  yet  the  same  shall  little  hinder  him  in  anything  that  he  purposeth 
to  do  in  the  south.'"'  The  decisive  action  had  then  already  been  fought, 
the  Armada  was  in  flight,  and  fear  of  foreign  invasion  at  an  end. 

Henry,  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland,  had  given  proof  of  his  loyalty 
bv  volunteering  against  the  Spanish  fleet.  He  was  admitted  to  the  royal 
favour  which  his  father  had  lost,  and  in  1591  was  restored  to  the  captaincy 
of  Tynemouth,  presumably  in  consequence  of  an  arrangement  with  Carey. 
News  of  his  restoration  to  his  dignities  was  hailed  with  joy  by  the  gentry 
of  Northumberland,  who  came  in  inconvenient  numbers  to  offer  their 
congratulations.  Captain  Power,  the  earl's  deputy,  explained  to  his  master, 
'  I  cannot  let  them  go  without  their  dinners  or  suppers,  which  will  grow 
to  some  charges  in  the  year  ;  and  yet  I  cannot  devise  to  be  a  better  husband 
respecting  your  lordship's  honour  and  my  credit.'  Power  was  fully  resolved 
not  to  let  the  castle  go  again  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Percys.  In  the  same 
letter,  dated  June  17th,  1592,  he  wrote  : 

■  Salisbury  MSS.  vol.  iii.  p.  313,  Hist.  MS.S.  Com.  -  Ads  0/  the  Pi-ivy  Council,  1588,  p.  129. 

'  Cal.  Border  Papers,  vol.  i.  p.  325. 

'  '  Castro  magnifico  et  munito  superbit.'     Camden,  Biitcinnni,  1587,  p.  543. 

^  Cal.  Border  Papers,  vol.  i.  p.  327. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  1 69 

Right  honorable  and  my  most  especiall  good  lord.  It  dide  please  your  lordship  to  writt  unto 
me  from  the  B.iythe  that  all  suche  thinges  as  was  necessarye  I  should  have  with  all  convenient  speed. 
Her  is  great  want  of  those  weapones  which  I  acquainted  your  lordship  withall,  especially  if  any  device 
should  be  put  in  practise  for  the  takinge  in  againe  of  the  castell,  which  I  will  prevent  so  farr  forthe  as 
my  bones  shall  witnesse  howc  I  parte  from  it  befor  it  gooe.  I  feare  no  waye  (if  they  be  so  minded) 
but  to  be  surprized,  for,  Ictt  me  have  but  one  bower's  warninge,  I  will  make  the  old  walles  stronge 
enoughe  to  keepe  ther  forces  out  by  strengthe  of  mene.  I  will  have  five  hundred  men  in  that  space, 
but  men  cane  do  lyttle  without  weapones.  Many  other  occasiones  here  will  be  to  use  those  small 
store  of  weapones  which  I  dide  writt  to  your  lordship  for,  besides  the  cominge  in  of  the  contre  which 
shall  see  the  men  without  furniture.' 

Again  and  again  the  attention  of  the  government  was  called  to  the 
dismantled  state  of  the  castle.  All  the  artillery  upon  which  the  castle 
had  to  rely  in  1597  was  the  ordnance  pronounced  useless  twenty-si.x  years 
earlier.^  Joshua  Delaval,  a  cadet  of  the  Seaton  Delaval  family,  drew  up  the 
following  report  about   1596  : 

Josua  Delavale,  one  of  the  jurie  for  enquiric  of  decayes  in  Tinemouthshire,  enformcth  as  foloweth,  viz.: 
Tineniouth  castle,  since  the  decease  of  the  late  earle  of  Northumberland,  is  fallen  into  great  decay, 
and,  by  reason  that  ye  lead  is  taken  of  severall  lodgings,  the  timber  flores  and  tymber  above  the  sellers 
and  larder  and  many  other  necessarie  houses  of  office  are  like  utterlie  to  be  decayed  and  waisted  if 
ye  rofe  be  not  fourthwith  covered  againe  with  sclait  or  otherwyse.  The  bakehouse  and  other  houses 
of  office  are  either  pulled  downe  or  suftcred  to  fall  downe,  and  the  timber  and  sclaits  theirof  conveied. 
Also  ther  is  municon  ther  planted  in  severall  places  about  the  castle,  viz.  :  on  the  mount  one  saker 
of  brasse  and  iii  falcons  of  brasse  all  lying  on  ye  grass  unmounted  with  their  cariadge  crushed  under 
theim  ;  in  the  madder  garth  one  saker  of  iron  lying  in  like  case  ;  in  the  church  yearde  one  saker 
of  brasse  in  like  sort  unrnounted  with  her  cariadge  rotten  crushed  under  her  ;  in  the  bulewarke  in 
Tineniouth  park  one  saker  of  brasse  lying  in  like  sort  ;  in  the  store  house  three  sakers  of  brasse 
with  whole  cariadge  and  one  fowler  without  a  cariadge  ;  and  not  so  much  as  one  shot  or  dischardge 
of  powder  for  any  of  the  foresaid  peeces  within  the  castle  at  this  instant  if  they  were  mounted.  Ther 
is  furniture  for  soldiers  in  the  armorie  but  14  muscetts,  bandelers,  and  rests,  tcnne  pelronelles,  xx  pykes, 
19  halberds,  but  neither  powder  nor  shot  at  all  for  the  same  pieces  nor  trayning  of  men  for  presente 
service  if  need  required.  The  decay  and  naked  estate  of  this  house  is  so  corned  to  passe  by  reason  that 
the  custodie  therof  haith  bene  committed  unto  severall  deputies  since  the  late  earle  of  Northuml)er|and 
deceased,  who  have  rather  sufTred  decay  then  any  way  procured  reformation,  as  upon  view  and 
inquisition  therof  had  and  maid  may  and  will  appere.  .Also  I'eter  Delavale,  gentleman,  since 
Candlemas  last  gardeth  the  said  castle  as  deputie  unto  the  now  earle  of  Northumberland,  and  haith 
severall  times  since  his  entry  enformed  the  earle  of  the  decay  of  municon  and  want  of  provision 
and  furniture  for  defence  of  the  house  wherby  his  honour  might  move  for  refonnation,  which  as  yet 
is  not  had.     Ther  is  in  Tinemouth  castle  of  able  men  attending  Peter  Delavale.  deputy  captaine  ther, 

and  his  brother  Raiphe  Delavale,  xx'"'  able  men, all  which  ser\e  the  said   Peter  and  haith 

interteynment  ther.^ 

Even  more  serious  than  the  decay  of  the  castle  was  the  dearth  of 
yeomen  upon  whom  it  had  hitherto  been  dependent  for  its  reserves. 
Delaval  went  on  in  his  report  to  describe  how  the  policv  of  the  neighbouring 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  .MS.S.  -  Cal.  Border  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  361. 

'  Delaval  MSS.  in  the  possession  of  the  Newcastle  Society  of  Antiquaries. 

Vol.  VIII.  iZ 


170  TYNEMOCTH    PARISH. 

landowners  in  evicting  their  tenants  and  in  turning  their  land  into  pasture, 
as  well  as  the  heavy  burden  of  the  'hall-corn  '  on  the  tenants  of  Tyneniouth- 
shire,  was  driving  them  perilously  near  to  extinction.  Further,  so  long 
as  the  Tyne  defences  were  neglected,  Newcastle  lay  open  to  hostile 
attack.  'It  is  most  needful,'  says  a  writer  of  the  time,  'that  the  ordnance 
at  Tynemouth  castle  should  be  mounted  and  placed  for  defence  of  the 
castle  and  haven,  if  there  was  a  sufficient  gunner  there  resident  to  attend 
them  ;  there  has  been  no  such  man  in  the  place  of  late.  I  must  not 
omit  to  advertise  how  nakedly  and  dangerously  the  town  of  Newcastle  is 
at  present,  if  the  queen's  enemies  intend  harm  on   these  coasts.' ' 

Toby  Matthew,  the  bishop  of  Durham,  did  not  mince  matters  in  a 
letter  of  February  17th,  1599,  in  which  he  described  the  state  of  Newcastle. 
He  told  Cecil  that  he  had  found 

The  place  of  more  iinportanre  than  strength  ;  the  people  of  more  courage  than  experience;  their 
provisions  rather  competent  as  aforehand  than  sufficient  for  a  fierce  assault  ;  their  number  not  many  ; 
their  leaders  none  ;  Tynemouth  castle,  a  promontory  in  the  mouth  of  the  haven  seven  miles  off,  utterly 
disfurnished  ;  no  blockhouse  or  other  piece  or  platform  for  defence  on  the  river  between  that  and 
Newcastle  ;  no  shipping  among  the  merchants  worth  the  naming  ;  therefore  of  themselves,  their  men 
being  untrained,  unable  to  resist  a  mean  force." 

With  a  non-resident  governor  and  landlord,  and  oflTicers  whose  aim 
was  to  serve  the  interests  of  their  master  rather  than  those  of  the  state, 
it  was  not  surprising  that  the  castle  was  neglected,  and  that  the  earl  of 
Northumberland  was  more  bent  on  getting  in  his  rents  and  tithes  than  on 
effecting  repairs  for  which  he  received  no  encouragement  from  Elizabeth's 
government.  Peter  Delaval,  a  younger  brother  of  Joshua  Delaval,  was 
invited  from  London  to  farm  the  earl's  estates  in  Tynemouthshire.  A  cadet 
of  a  good  Northumbrian  family,  '  well  qualified,  sober,  discreet,  very  careful, 
honest  and  well  experienced,'  after  ten  vears  of  trading  in  the  east  countries,' 
he  had  become  a  London  citizen  and  had  settled  down  to  work  cloth  in 
Bishopsgate  Street.  He  had  a  keen  eye  in  matters  of  business,  stood  on  his 
rights,  carried  litigiousness  to  a  fault,  did  not  scruple  to  make  enemies  in  the 
performance  of  his  duty,  and  rose  superior  to  reversals  of  fortune.  Already 
he  and  his  brother,  Ralph  Delaval,  held  the  rectory  of  Tynemouth,  and 
he  now  took  leases  from  the  Crown  of  coal  mines  in  Bebside,  Cowpen 
and  Preston,  as  well  as  of  salt  pans  in  Bebside,  Cowpen  and  North  Shields. 

'  Cal.  Border  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  232.  s  Ibid.  p.  589.  ''  Ibid.  p.  6. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE. 


171 


He  also  purchased  freeholds  in  Tynemouth  and  copyholds  in  Tynemouth, 
North  Shields  and  East  Chirton.  Very  soon  after  cominj,'  north  he  had 
a  violent  quarrel  with  Thomas  Power,  the  captain  of  the  castle.  His 
account  of  it  was  as  follows  : 

Thomas  Power  .ind  I  beinj;e  bothe  alone  in  the  K^eat  chamber  in  Tyncmoulhc,  he  fynding  hymselfe 
discontented,  began  to  charge  me  that  I  had  wrought  hym  great  injurie  over  his  hcade  in  abridging  his 
libertie  within  the  castle,  and  sundrye  other  displeasures  to  long  nowe  to  treble  your  lordship  uithall, 
wherby  he  perceived  I  dyd  not  love  hym.  And  therfore  he  challenged  me  to  pytch  the  feild  to  feight 
with  hym.  My  answere  unto  hym  was  that  I  had  a  wife  and  vj  children,  and  great  matters  I  had  to 
discharge  as  well  unto  your  lordship  as  unto  others,  and  that  all  th.it  herde  of  my  appoynting  such  a 
mattch,  knowing  mync  estate  and  his,  woulde  condempne  me  for  having  the  lawe  so  muche  advauntage 
of  mc,  whichc  I   woulde  prevent.' 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


DELAVAL     OF     TYNEMOUTH. 


Edw.akd   Dei.avai.  ((/),  second  son  of  Sir  John  Del.iv.il  of  ^  PhiUis  («),  daughter  of  John  Ogle  of  Ogle  (6) ;   she  re 


Seaton  Delaval,  knight,  by  Mary  Carey,  his  wife,  dead 
before  31st  December,  1571,  when  his  brother,  Sir  John 
Delaval,  made  his  will,  leaving  five  children  then  living  (c). 


married,  secondly,  George  Cramlirgton  of  Cramlington, 
and,  thirdly,  John  Ogle  of  Ncwshani  (and  Bebside),  and 
made  her  will  at  Leraington,  22nd  June,  1606  (d}. 


Joshua  Delaval  (/*),  had  River : 
Green  by  grant  of  his  brother 
Ralph  (/) ;  had  a  rent  charge 
out  of  llailley  under  the  will  of 
his  uncle.  Sir  John  Delaval  (f)  ; 
described  in  the  seltlcnicnl  made, 
iSlh  June,  1599,  by  Sir  Robert 
Delaval,  as  his  cousin  geiman 
(e);  will  proved  2Sth  Septem- 
ber,  16 14  (1/).' 


.Anne,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert 
Raynics  (rt) 
of  Shorlllal, 
named  in  her 
husband's 
will  (</). 


Ralph  Delaval  (/<),  had  a  grant  of  River  Green,  27th  =  Grace ad- 


J  une,  1 583,  out  of  the  Court  of  Exchequer  (/) ;  was 
residing  at  Tynemouih  castle  in  1599,  being  then 
4S  years  of  age  (^Exch.  J)ipos.\l  Eliz.  19  North.)  ; 
named  in  settlement,  I.Sdi  June,  1599  (<■)  :  -'d- 
minislration  of  his  personal  estate,  7th  December, 
1609  ((/)  ;  buried  22nd  July,  i6og  (»). 


Phillis,  under  age  7th  December,  1609  (</). 


mmistratnx  to 
her  husband's 
personal  estate 
(1/)  ;  [remar- 
ried 4th  Sep- 
tember, 1627, 
John  Heslop, 
vicir  of  Tyne- 
mouth (^)(0]. 


Robert     De-  =  .Vnne,  daughter  William  Delaval  (it),  murdered 

laval     (<0,           of  Mid-  at   Hexham,  35lh   May,  1618 

apparently            dieton  («).  (»•).'■ 

died   in   his  Edward    Delaval   («)  of  River 

falher'slife-  Green,  buried  26ih  February, 

lime.  1654:5  {g). 


I     I     I     I 
Ralph,  under  .age  at  the  date  of  his  fathers  will  (d)  ; 

[query  married  .\rin  Smith,  l6lh  .\ugust,  l6l8(,f)]. 

John,  under  age  at  the  date  of  his  father's  will  (</). 

James,  baptised  27th  August,  1599  («). 

Francis,  baptised  Ilth  June,  itJOI  («). 

.\nn,  baptised  26th  October,  159S  (.»). 


Robert  Delaval  (.«),  to  whom  his  grandfather  gave  his  lands  at  River  Green  (d).  =  , 


Robert  Delaval,  born  before  28lh  August,  1666  (a). 


Peter  Delaval  (_i)  of  London  (O,  =  -Mary,   daugh 
afterwards     of      Tynemouth,  ler  of  Thomas 

named    rn    the    settlement  of  .Allen  of  Lon- 

iSth  June,  1599  (,c)  ;    rruiicu-  don  (^). 

pative  will,  Sth  .\ugust,  161 1 
(c/)  ;  buried  lOlh  .\ugust, 
l6ii(/). 


Clement  Delaval  (/5),  joint  lessee  with  =  Lucy     (/), 

his  brother  Ralph  of  Crown  lands  daughter    of 

at  Cowpen  in   1599  {Exih.  Dtpos.  Gawcn  .Mil- 

41  F^iz.  19  North.)  ;   named  in  the  burn  of  Bed- 

seldement  of  iSth  June,  I599(<');  lington  («). 
administi"ationof  his  personal  estate, 
l6th  June,  1607  (./). 


I 
Barbani,  ["mar- 
ried John 
Watson  of 
Newcastle  and 
Bedlington 


172 


TVNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


John  ncl;iv;il  of : 
Tynemouth,'  lo 
whom  (wilh  his 
mother)  his  f;Uher 
gave  his  hinds  in 
Tynemouth  ;  died 
at  Tynemouth ; 
buried  27lh  July, 
1632  (/) ;  ad- 
ministration of  his 
personal  estate, 
I7lh.\usjust,  1632 
{'0- 


I     I      I     I     I      I      I     I 
James,  baptised  30th  July,  1592  (A). 
Son,  baptised  6th  Oitober,  1593  (//). 
Thomas,    baptised    I4lh     December,    1597    (/;)  ; 

apprenticed  midsummer,  1614  (<«)■ 
Mary,    married    at    Tynemoutli,    3rd    l'"el)ruary, 

161 1/2,  lidward  Lee  of  Monkwearmouth  (/); 

died  in  childbed,  25th  May,  1617  ;   .Monumental 

Inscription,  Monkwearmouth. 
Martlia,  baptised  1st  Inly,  i;<jo  (//). 
Elizabeth,  baptised  i;th  .Xus^nst,  1591  (/;). 
Catherine,   luplised   lyth   Feliruary,    I594'5   (//), 

[married  Ijth  Janu.uy,  i6lo'l,  John  Hanswell 

of  Preston  (0- 
Jane, baptisedat  Tynemouth, Gth  .\ugust,  1609  (/). 


I     I      I      I      I      I      I     I 
Gawen,  under  age  l6lh  Juiu*,  1607  ('/). 
Thomas,  under  age  i6ih  June,  iCioj  (//). 
Ral|)h,  under  age  i6th  June,  1607  (</). 
Robert,  uniler  age  161I1  lime,  1607  ('^)  ; 

living  7th  December,  1609  (</). 
Clement,  baptised  at  Karsdon,  7th  April, 

1605,  as  son  of  Clement  Delaval  and 

Lucy  his  wife  (/)  ;  living  iCnh  June, 

1607  (r/). 
Margaret,   under     age    l6tlijunc,    lOo? 

Dorothy,  under  age  1 6th  June,  1607  (</). 
[Lucy,   married    lOlh    June,    16^5,   John 
Hall  (:).] 


I      I 
:alph 
November,  1623  (()• 
Peter  Delaval,  baptised  l8th  Novem- 
ber,  1625   (;■) ;    dead    before    17th 
August,  1632  ((/). 


I      I     I      I 


Frances,  baptised  loth  June,  161S  (/)  ;  dead  before  17th  .August,  163:  (./"). 
Mary,  baptised  Slh  July,  1621  (;  )  ;  living  17th  .\ugust,  1632  (</). 
Phillis,   ba])tised    l8th    November,    1625    (0  !     called    'daughter  and    sole    heir'; 
married  before  2oth  .\ugust,  1652,  George  Grey  of  Newcastle,  master  and  mariner. 
Sarah  (r/),  living  17th  August,  1632  (r/). 


(rt)    Dugdale's  VisitatuiiiofNorlhumlieiliinil,  1666. 

(/<)    h'lower's  Viaitalion  of  Yorkshire,  1 563-1 564. 

(<:)    Durlinm  Wills  ami  /nvenlories,  Surt.  Soc. 

((/)   Raine,  7V.</.  Dunelm. 

(e)    .Martiuis  of  Waterford's  MSS. 

(y)  Earsdon  Register. 

(^)  >S'/.  John's  Register,  Newcastle. 


(//)    Register  of  St.  Helen  s,  Bishopsgale. 

(/)     Tynemouth  Register. 

(/)    Cooke's  Visitation  of  London,  156S. 

(/)    Hodgson,  Northuinherland,  ])t.  ir.  vol.  ii.  p.  23. 

(w/)  .Skinners  Com]>aiiy  .Apprenticeships,  Misc.  Gen. 

et  Her.  3  ser.  vol.  i.  p.  1 02. 
(«)    Berwick  Register. 


*  Seal  of  Peter  Delaval  of  London,  citizen  and  clothvvorker  :  oval,  J  in.  by  J  in.,  a  shield  of  arms.  Quarterly,  i 
and  4,  liarry  of  six  ermine  {and  vert].  2.  Three  eagles  displayed,  two  and  one.  3.  A  lion  rampant.  Crest:  On  a 
helmet,  ornamental  mantling  and  wreath,  a  ram's  head  attired.     Brit.  .ilus.  Catalogue  of  Seals,  vol.  ii.  p.  726. 

'  Note  of  slaughters  committed  by  inhabitants  of  the  East  Wardenry,  1596  :  John  Daglish  of  Wideopen  slain  in 
his  own  house  of  \Videopen  by  Joshua  Delaval  and  others  of  the  Berwick  garrison.  Cal.  Border  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  181. 
Delaval  was  subsequently  found  'foul'  of  the  said  murder.  Iliid.  p.  248.  On  June  loth,  1598,  he  occurs  as  constable 
of  the  horse  .it  Berwick.  Ibid.  p.  540.  For  a  further  account  of  Joshua  Delaval  and  his  descendants,  see  Hodgson, 
Northumherland,  pt.  ii.  vol.  ii.  p.  23. 

-  May  26th,  1618.  Deposition  of  .Anne  Ridley  of  Westwood,  widow.  The  said  Anne  Riddley  sayeth  uppon  her 
oath  that  j'esterdaye,  beinge  the  xxv"'  of  -Maye,  161S,  she  was  rydinge  toward  Westwood  one  horseback  behynd  Mr. 
William  Delavale,  and  in  there  compenye  .Mr.  Edward  Delavale,  Joseph  Ward,  and  Thomas  Hebourne,  servant  to  the 
said  William  Delavale.  And  as  they  came  to  Hexham  grean  about  nyne  of  the  clock  in  the  eveninge,  there  Edward 
Delavale  gott  a  fall,  wheruppon  the  said  Joseph  Ward  and  Thomas  Hebourne  went  backe  to  heipe  him,  and  the  said 
William  Delavale  rydd  one  with  this  examynat  behynd  him.  .And  as  soone  as  they  came  to  the  allors  at  the  weste  end 
of  Hexham  greane,  there  came  south  to  the  allor  bushes  there  a  man  of  middle  stature,  thick  shouldred,  brownishe 
bearded,  bigg  faced,  apperelled  with  a  sadd-cullered  cloak  under  which  he  carried  a  drawen  sword  ;  which  man 
presently  steepl  before  the  said  William  Delavale  in  the  high  waye,  who  asked  who  he  was.  The  man  aunswered  : 
'Thou  art  noe  justice  of  peace  to  examyne  me;  and  alllhough  thou  knowe  not  me,  1  knowe  the.'  and  presently 
strook  at  the  said  William  Delavale  with  his  sword,  who  instantly  fell  of  horsback  therewith,  and  then  gave  the  said 
William  Delavale  ane  other  stroke  one  the  hynder  parte  of  his  head,  and  said  to  him  :  '  Thou  art  Delavale,  and  I 
have  vowed  thy  death,'  and  then  went  his  wayes  into  the  allorr  busbies  :  whom  this  examynat  purseweinge,  he  said 
unto  her :  '  Goe  thy  waye  or  els  I  will  thrust  my  sworde  in  the.'  And  theruppon  she  lost  sight  of  him,  and  the 
said  William  Delavale  presently  dyed  of  the  said  strokes.  (From  'A  book  of  the  examynations  touchinge  William 
Delavale's  death.'     Marcjuis  of  Waterford's  MSS.) 

'  Petition  of  John  Delav.ale  to  the  earl  of  Northumberland  :  Humbly  shewing  unto  your  lordship  that,  whereas 
your  suppliant's  father,  Peter  Delavale,  dyed  greatly  indebted  unto  your  lordship,  as  alsoe  to  dyverse  other  persones,  in 
great  somes  of  money,  not  leavrng  wherewith  fully  to  discharge  the  same,  being  left  most  indebted  unto  your  lordship, 
which  your  said  suppliant  with  much  care  and  endevour  hath  payd  the  most  parte  tif  unto  your  lordship's  officers  ;  the 
p.aing  whereof  and  other  great  deptes,  with  his  great  charge  of  his  mother  and  eight  children,  your  said  suppliant  ys 
almost  undone  and  not  able  to  pay  the  same  unless  yt  might  please  your  good  lordship  to  take  commiseration  of  your 
said  suppliant  and  to  geve  your  said  suppliant  tyme  for  the  paing  of  his  dept  due  to  your  lordship,  being  xlvj"  xiij^  iiij'', 
and  the  last  pament  dew  to  your  lordship  of  his  said  father's  depte,  without  which  he  shalbe  utterly  over  throwen  and 
undone.  And  he,  his  mother,  and  the  rest  of  his  falherles  brothers  and  sisters,  wyll  pray  for  the  most  prosperous 
estate  of  your  lordship  ever  to  continewe.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


TYNEMOITTH    CASTLE,  173 

To  prevent  further  dissension,  Northumberland  deposed  Power  and 
appointed  Delaval  in  his  place.'  The  latter  assured  his  position  by 
persuading  his  master  to  let  him  farm  the  demesnes  and  mills  of  Tyne- 
mouth  and  the  hall  corn  of  the  shire,  for  the  round  sum  of  a  thousand 
pounds  yearly.'  Military  considerations  were  subordinated  to  estate 
management  and  speculation  in  coal,  salt  and  agricultural  produce.  An 
account  of  a  scuffle  in  the  castle,  sent  bv  Delaval  to  the  earl's  solicitor 
in   London,   lights   up  the   history  of  these   uneventful   years  : 

This  clayc  one  uiddowc  Dymon  and  one  Roljeil  Atcheson  hir  brother,  of  Middle  Chirton,  within 
the  liberties  of  Tynenioiith,  coniplayning  unto  me  that  Willni.  Kenwick  of  the  Sliccle  Milnes  dyd  not 
onely  viheniently  threatten  to  beat  them,  but  in  forceable  manner  tooke  away  ther  corn  and  were 
threshing  it  fourthe  to  convert  to  his  owne  use,  and  therfore  they  craved  to  have  justice  that  the 
threshing  of  ther  come  might  be  stayed  till  ther  cause  was  herde,  and  that  they  might  have  Willm. 
Kenwick  and  his  man  Robert  Fenwicke  bounde  to  keepe  the  peace  against  them,  wherby  they,  being 
verie  oulde  and  poore,  might  lyve  in  peace.  Uppon  which  complaynt  I  sent  for  the  threshers  of  the 
come  commaunding  them  to  remayne  in  the  castle  till  ther  master  came  to  aunswere  the  poore 
widdowe's  complaynt  and  hir  brother's.  Sone  .after  dynner,  I  being  in  the  great  chamber  together 
with  my  brother  Raph  Delavale  and  thre  gentlemen  of  the  Fenwicks  dyning  with  me  ther  and  departing, 
my  servaunts  being  all  abrode  tything  in  severall  townes  in  Tynemouthshier  and  busy  about  the  bames 
in  the  castle,  in  the  meanetyme  Willm.  Fenwick,  against  whome  the  widdowe  and  hir  brother  com- 
playned,  came  into  the  same  great  chamber  in  verie  sawsye  manner,  accompayned  with  towe  of  his 
servaunts  with  swords,  daggers  and  daggs  charged  and  bent  together,  with  one  Roger  Murton  who 
weares  my  lord's  cloth  and  servaunt  unto  Mr.  Fenwick  of  Wallington  and  Thomas  Pore  at  Flatworth. 
And  at  F"enwick's  first  speche  he  affirmed  unto  me  that  he  was  wonderfully  abused  by  a  peasantly 
fellowe  which  he  said  I  maynteigned  against  him,  and  swore  by  God  he  had  much  adoo  to  houlde  his 
hands  for  beating  of  hyni.  I  tould  Fenwick  I  was  to  deale  upreightly  betwLxt  hym  and  those  that 
complayned  of  hym,  as  with  all  others  under  my  charge,  and  he  dyd  to  farr  abuse  me  in  that  place 
in  charging  me  to  be  a  niaynteigner  of  any  peasant  to  abuse  hym  or  any  other  :  but  I  said  unto  him, 
'  Heare  is  towe  honest  aged  folks,  a  widdowe  and  hir  brother,  that  earnestly  craves  the  peace  against 
you  and  your  servaunts,  and  therfore  they  being  sworne  you  have  both  bett  them  dayly,  thretneth  them 
and  oppresseth  them,  so  that  they  stand  in  doubt  of  bodely  hort  to  be  done  by  you  and  your  servaunts  ; 
and  for  that  cause  you  must  fynde  suertie  to  keepe  the  peace  ere  you  depart.'  Said  Fenwick,  standing 
with  liis  halt  on  his  heade  in  verie  sawsye  and  scornefull  manner,  '  Your  authoritie  will  not  extend  to 
bynde  me  to  the  peace.'  I  tould  him,  although  I  were  no  justice  of  peace,  yet  he  should  knowe  that 
by  my  office  and  prescription  of  the  libertycs  of  this  place,  I  was  a  conservator  of  the  peace  here,  and 
by  vertue  of  that  I  shoulde  be  of  such-lyk  misdemeanor  as  he  was  of  by  enformacion  geven  against 
hym.  Said  Fenwick  unto  me,  '  If  you  undertake  to  quell  me,  you  shall  fynde  me  the  unruelyest  coult 
to  tayme  that  ever  you  undertook  to  quell  in  all  your  lyfe  ;'  and  therwith  syngiing  hymself  in  the  great 
chamber,  unfoulding  his  cloke,  and  laying  his  hand  uppon  his  dagger,  wylled  none  come  nere  hym  or 
touch  hym,  for,  if  any  dyd,  he  swore  by  God  he  woulde  stik.  My  brother  Raph,  standing  next  hym 
and  asking  hym  if  he  eather  knewe  where  he  was  or  what  hec  dyd,  and  preassing  nere  F'enwick  as 
he  dyd  threaten,  so  in  deed  he  drewe  his  dagger  and  assaulted  my  brother  Raph,  who  allso  drewe 
his  dagger,  having  nothing  ells  about  hym,  and  so  closed  with  F'enwick.  The  thre  Fenwicks  ther  with 
me  before  Wm.  Fenwick's  coming,  and  I  having  nothing  but  my  dagger  onely  about  me,  bestiring 
ourselves  to  part  Fenwick  and  my  brother,  who  ere  we  got  unclosed,  Fenwick's  men  drawes  ther 
swords  and  ran  uppon  my  brother  and  smot  hym  over  the  bare  headc  a  grevous  wondc,  being  dosed 

'  Uukc  of  N'orthumbcrland's  MSS.  '•'  /'"'•'• 


I  74  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

with  Fcnwick.  The  thre  Fenwicks,  returning  towards  William  Fenwick's  scrvaunts  having  ther  swords 
and  daggers  drawen  and  ther  daggs  bent  readye  to  shoot,  partlye  stayed  them  ;  but  I,  seing  my 
brother  spoyled,  ran  uppon  Wm.  Fenwick  and,  being  closed  with  hym,  one  of  the  thre  Fenwicks  and 
Roger  Murton  aforesaid  allso  closing  with  us,  my  brother  Raph  drawing  nere  ine  to  releve  me,  Roger 
Murton  caught  hym  by  the  dagger  and  hand  and  helld  hym  l\  II  one  of  Fenwick's  men  smot  my  brotlier 
twise  over  the  head  agayne  deadly  woonds  suposed.  Therwith  1  having  my  dagger  in  Fenwick's 
chast,  and  he  crying  he  was  slaync,  praying  to  save  his  lyfe,  with  that  I  unclosed  with  hym,  and, 
felling  hymself  loose,  rann  fourth  of  the  great  chamber  with  his  men,  which  when  Roger  Murton 
perceived  and  seing  me  follow,  he  stept  betwene  me  at  the  great  cliamber  dore  and  helde  me  untill 
the  ryoters  ran  away,  till  I  was  forced  to  stik  hym  ere  he  would  let  me  pursue,  as  my  sister  helld 
my  brother,  Murton  never  oflring  to  liould  Fenwick  or  his  men,  but  still  my  brother  or  me.  Yett  my 
brother  and  I,  getting  wcapens  in  our  hands  and  pursuing  the  ryoters,  overtook  them  at  the  gate, 
which  contrary  ther  expectacions  they  found  shutt  by  others  then  the  porter  ;  and  wee  offring  ther 
to  assalt  them,  they  yeelded  themselves,  saying  they  were  allready  slayne,  and  being  bluddy  shewed 
ther  woonds,  whereat  I  stayed  myselfe  and  brother,  and  apprehended  Fenwick  and  his  men  and 
comittcd  them  to  prysone.' 

For  seven  years  Delaval  was  captain  of  the  castle.  His  fall  was  due 
to  pressure  brought  upon  the  earl  bv  the  authorities  of  Newcastle.  Delaval 
told  the  earl  that  the  real  reason  of  his  loss  of  favour  was  '  soni  harde 
information  luito  your  lordship  againste  me,  which,  my  good  lord,  hathe 
beane  in  plottinge  this  fyve  yeares  bv  thym  of  Newcastell,  who  spake 
thies  words  in  my  presents  to  my  fayce,  that  it  should  coste  fyve  thowsant 
pounds,  but  that  theye  woulde  crose  me.'  ^ 

Delaval's  successor,  William  Wycliffe,  the  earl's  receiver-general,  was 
probably  no  better  suited  to  his  new  charge,  but  he  was  wise  enough  not 
to  encroach  upon  the  liberties  of  Newcastle.     He  soon  obtained  leave  from 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.     Letter  of  Peter  Delaval  to  John  Carvile  of  the  Inner  Temple, 
September  17th,  1597. 

■  Ihiil.     Delaval  has  elsewhere  given  a  more  explicit  account  of  his  dismissal. 

'That  W'illyam  Wyklyfe  hath  beine  the  cause  of  my  troubles  I  will  prove  as  followethe  : 

Thai   first  he   soughte  for  my  place  of  Tynemouthe, and  to  efect  the   same  he  unjustly 

suggested   unto  my   lord  of  Northumberland   that   I   should  be  indepted  unto  his  lordship  dew  ^550, 

whearby  he  gott  a  warrant  from  my  lord  for  my  place Upon  the  which   I   repaired  prcseiitly 

to  London  unto  his  lordship,  he  then  ready  within  3  dayes  to  take  his  jurnay  of  travaile  beyonde  the 
se.iees,  and,  at  my  coming  to  London,  moved  my  lord  of  my  discharge  by  Willyam  Wykelyfe  ; 
whearupon  my  lord  replycd  that  he  had  reason  so  to  doo,  for  that  he  was  informed  I  owghte  him  /550 
long  dew  ;  to  the  which  I  answered  hym  I  owghte  him  no  monye  at  all  that  was  dew,  but  I  had  paied 
him  £330  thre  monethes  before  my  daye.  So  presentlye  his  lordship  sent  for  Mr.  Francis,  his  lordship's 
steward,  and  Mr.  Powlton,  his  cotierrer,  who  cold  not  disprove  me.  Wherupon  my  lord  apoinled  me 
to  come  the  next  daye  for  a  warrant  to  Willm.  Wykelyfe  for  my  continewance  in  Tynemouthe  castle  as 
afore.  I'>ut  that  very  daye  Willm.  Wyktlyfe,  contrary  his  promise  and  oathes,  had  written  his  letters 
which  came  to  London  to  my  contrary  to  this  cficct,  that  Thomas  Wykelyfe,  his  brothei-,  should  presently 
repaire  unto  hislordship  and  geve  him  to  know  from  hym  that,  whcaras  his  lordship  had  appointed  him 
to  be  his  deputie  captaine  at  Tynemouthe,  and  so  the  wholl  country  dyd  liould  and  reputt  him,  «  hich  if 
his  lordship  should  discharg  hym  againe  of  the  suddon,  yt  would  no  lyltle  redound  discredytt.  Therfore 
he  hoped  his  lordship  would  consyder  the  prei\iisses  and  Icve  him  with  as  much  creadytt  as  his  lordship 

found  he  brought  with  hym The  next  day  after,  according  to  his  lordship's  appointement,  I 

rcpared  to  his  lordship  as  he  had  appointed  me,  to  come  for  his  warrant  to  Willm.  Wykelyfe  for  the 
contynewing  of  my  place  as  before.  His  lordship  tooke  me  asyde  and  went  into  his  garding  and  tould 
me  that  so  it  was,  he  had  refar  all  things  unto  Wykelyfe,  and,  his  tyme  being  short,  he  could  not  alter 

what  he  had  done  before.     "  But,"  quothe  he,  "  Wykelyfe  will  deale  well  with  you." '     Marquis  of 

Waterford's  MSS. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  1/5 

his  master  to  resign  the  command  in  favour  of  his  brother-in-law,  George 
Whitchratl  of  Boulmer,  described  by  Delaval  as  'such  a  spochting  fellow 
as  is  not  manye  such  in  ail  thi-  countre,  as  I  refar  me  to  the  generall  report 
of  all  such  as  knoweth  hym  in  the  countre,  what  George  Whythead  is.'  ' 

Whitehead  wrote  in  1604  'to  remember  his  lordship  for  some  powder 
and  shot,  as  also  allowance  for  mounting  the  ordnance  that  lie  in  decay,"- 
but  failed  to  obtain  either.  A  year  later  the  Gunpowder  Plot  changed 
the  position  of  affairs.  The  earl,  who  was  not  always  fortunate  in  his 
choice  of  officers,  had  appointed  his  kinsman,  Thomas  Percy,  receiver  of 
his  rents  in  the  north,  and  had  used  his  influence  to  obtain  for  him  a 
post  at  court.  In  the  autumn  of  1605,  Thomas  Percy,  having  collected 
the  earl's  rents  in  Northumberland,  came  up  to  London  with  three  thousand 
pounds  which  he  had  gathered  in,  and  on  November  4th  dined  with  the 
earl  at  Svon  House.  Next  day  the  news  was  abroad  that  a  plot  for 
blowing  up  the  king  and  ixith  houses  of  parliament  had  been  discovered, 
and  that  Thomas  Percy  was  one  of  the  conspirators.  Whitehead,  on 
hearing  ol   what   had   happened,   wrote  to  his  master  : 

I  have  taken  upon  mc  for  the  belter  further.ince  of  your  lordship's  service  to  make  seasure  for 
your  lordship's  use  of  such  goodes  as  could  be  founde  of  Mr.  Percey's,  which  was  very  small,  the 
inventory  wherof  I  send  your  lordship.  1  wishe  to  Clod  he  had  never  bene  borne  to  prove  himself 
a  traytor  to  soe  gracious  a  prince,  and  false  to  so  honourable  a  master  by  whom  he  did  onely  live. 
For  1  doe  muche  doute  he  is  much  behynd  with  your  lordship  in  his  accompts;  for  I  knowe  he  got 
upe  towards  300''  of  me  and  others  at  Lammas,  saying  he  must  of  necessity  send  it  to  your  lordship; 
and  I  hard  he  neyther  came  nor  sent  it  to  your  lordship.  Besides,  befor  I  know  him  to  be  arreared  for 
Tynemouth  last  yeare.  1  pray  God  send  him  soone  t.aken,  that  he  may  have  his  desarts.  For  my 
chanlye  heare  I  take  the  best  course  bothe  by  sea  and  land  for  the  apprehensione  of  thesse  traytors; 
for  I  kepe  wach  in  the  porte  every  night,  and  cause  every  shipe  going  out  or  cominge  in  to  be 
throiighely  searched  both  for  passengers  and  lettres.  This  is  all  I  can  doe  till  1  heare  your  lordship's 
further  directiones.' 

Meanwhile  suspicion  fastened  upon  the  carl.  His  relations  with  the 
Catholic  party  and  his  patronage  of  one  of  the  conspirators  gave  a  colour 
of  probabilitv  to  the  supposition  that  he  had  a  hand  in  the  plot.  There 
was  no  direct  evidence  to  prove  it,  but  Cecil  boldly  ordered  his  detention 
and    directed    Sir   Henrv   Widdringfton    to    seize    on    the    Percv   castles    of 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MS.S.  William  Wycliffe  was  probably  brother  of  John  Wyclifie  of 
Offerton,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Whitehead  of  Monkwcarmouth  and  sister  of  the 
above-mentioned  George  Whitehead.  Surtecs,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  p.  194.  George  Whitehe.ad  settled  at 
Bouhner  in  160S  ;  his  family  coniinued  to  reside  there  until  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  centur>-.  .As 
George  Whitehead  of  Newcastle  he  made  his  will  on  January  22nd,  1625.  Me  was  great-nephew  of 
Hugh  Whitehead,  the  last  prior  of  Durham.  .\  pedigree  of  the  family  of  Whitehead  of  Monkwearmouth 
is  given  in  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  p.  8,  and  of  Whitehead  of  Boulmer  in  vol.  ii.  of  this  work,  p.  403. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  'Ibid.     Letter  dated  November  12th,  1605. 


176  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Tvnemouth,  Alnwick,  Prudhoe  and  Cockermouth.'  Ten  days  later  King 
James  commanded  Widdrington  to  hand  over  Tynemouth  castle  to  Sir 
William  Selbv,  the  younger,  of  Twisell,  sheriff  of  Northumberland  in  that 
year,  and  lately  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  north.-'  '  Not 
from  any  dislike  of  vou,'  the  royal  letter  ran,  '  but  other  respects,  we  think 
fit  to  commit  the  castle  of  Tynemouth  to  some  other  person.  We  therefore 
require  you  to  deliver  up  the  said  castle  with  the  housing,  armour,  artillery, 
munition,  etc.,  to  Sir  William  Selby,  whom  we  have  appointed,  being  sheriff 
of  the  county,  to  take  charge  thereof  until  we  otherwise  dispose." 

Enquirv  was  forthwith  made  into  the  decayed  state  of  the  castle. 
Various  buildings  had  been  destroyed  and  their  materials  carried  off  by 
unauthorised  persons.  The  kiln  had  been  pulled  down  and  its  timber 
and  slate  used  for  the  '  repayring  and  lofting '  of  the  house  of  the  vicar, 
William  Hamilton.  The  covering  and  leads  were  gone  from  Edmund's 
chamber  ;  '  the  little  chamber  wherin  John  Harbotle  and  John  Smvth 
laye,  called  by  theire  names,'  had  been  demolished  ;  the  bake-house  and 
bolting-house  had  been  pulled  down  and  its  timber  and  slates  conveved 
into  the  town  of  Shields.^ 

After  a  preliminarv  examination  Northumberland  was  committed  to 
the  Tower.  His  imprisonment  came  as  a  shock  to  the  servants  who  had 
never  doubted  his  loyaltv.  Wycliffe,  in  a  letter  of  December  28th,  wrote 
sadly  to  a  friend  at  Essex  house  : 

God  send  you  as  much  coniforth  as  by  your  lettres  I  have  had,  being  contynuewalhe  filled  with 
nialitious  and  slanderous  reports  of  his  lordship's  doeinges,  some  such  as  I  did  know  to  be  most 
faulse  and  untrewe,  as  the  stour  of  gould  and  mony  found  in  his  howse,  haps  and  fothers  above 
2000,  with  many  moor  such  like.  I  am  and  ever  was  confident  of  his  lordship's  loyaltie,  and  I 
beseche  God  deliver  him  of  his  trowbles  with  the  king's  majesty's  favor  and  to  his  honor  ;  for  he 
shall  endure  greyves  so  many  to  heare  the  robbing  of  himself  and  his  tennants  by  that  unfortunat 
wretch  more  than  almost  is  credeble.^ 

In  the  following  June,  Northumberland  was  tried  in  the  Star  Chamber, 
found  guilty,  and  ordered  to  pay  a  fine  of  thirty  thousand  pounds.  He 
was  further  sentenced  to  deprivation  of  all  offices  held  by  him  from 
the   Crown,   and  to  remain   a  prisoner  in  the   Tower   during  his   majestv's 

'  Ctil.  Stiitt-  Papers,  Domestic,  1603-1610,  p.  254. 

'  Sir  William  Selby  was  also  gentleman-porter  at  Berwick  and  thrice  represented  that  place  in 
parliament.  He  is  to  be  distinguished  from  his  uncle  and  namesake,  also  member  of  parliament  for 
Berwick,  to  whose  property  at  Igtham  in  Kent  he  succeeded  in  161 1.  Raine,  Sorth  Dtiihiim,  p.  315.  A 
full  account  of  the  Selbys  of  Igtham  .Mote  is  given  in  Archacohgia  Ccmtiana,  vol.  xxvii. 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  .Addenda,  1 580-1625,  p.  490.     '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.     '  Ibid. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  1 77 

pleasure.  Under  the  terms  of  the  sentence  the  governorship  of  Tynemonth 
castle  was  taken  away  from  liiin  and  granted  to  George  Hume,  earl  of 
Dunbar,  Sir  William  Selby  being  allowed  to  retain  his  post  as  captain. 
The  governorship  was,  however,  distinct  from  Northumberland's  other 
offices  as  being  of  the  nature  of  an  entailed  estate.  He  explained  this  to 
Dunbar,  who  at  once  withdrew  his  claims,  thus  leaving  the  castle  in  the 
nominal  possession  of  Northumberland,  though  Selby  continued  to  draw 
full  pay  for  his  charge. 

Selby  petitioned  in  1607  for  money  for  the  repair  of  the  castle.  His 
request,  forwarded  to  Northumberland,  met  with  criticism  from  the  earl  : 

For  the  importance  of  the  castle,  I  shall  not  neede  to  saie  more  then  thankes  be  God  Scotland 
is  our  frende  and  Dunkerke  not  our  enemie.  For  the  reparacions  5,000''  will  not  make  it  tcne.able 
for  18  men  against  a  verie  meane  force.  What  Sir  William  Selbie  may  require  to  make  an  old 
monastry  fitt  for  his  dwelling,   I  know  not.' 

None  the  less  Selby  set  to  work  to  repair  some  of  the  houses  in  the 
castle  and  to  relav  the  conduit  which  broutrht  water  thither.  .  He  sought 
out  some  rusty  suits  of  armour,  muskets,  pikes,  partizans,  and  halberds  from 
the  storehouse  at  Newcastle,  cleaned  them  and  brought  them  to  Tynemouth. 
Finally,  the  old  cannon  which  he  had  found  'in  case  neither  to  defend  nor 
oiTend  '  were  at  last  mounted  on  carriages.  It  cost  only  ^^i  8s.  to  make 
them  serviceable,  but  the  government  had  delayed  for  forty  years  to  take 
this  otvious  precaution." 

If  a  prejudiced  statement  can  be  trusted,  Selby  found  it  convenient 
to  draw  his  pay  without  wasting  money  on  maintaining  an  e.xtensive  garrison. 
Information  reached  Northumberland  that 

Sir  William  Selby  hayth  had  from  your  lordship  thesse  seven  yeares  by  past  these  allowances 
due  to  your  lordship  : 

Imprimis,  the  captaine's  fee       ...         ...         66''  13*    4'' 

Item  for  eleaven  souldiers  and  seaven  gunners  with  a  master  gunner      ...       164"   11"     8' 

I'or  which  number  of  19  he  hayth  kept  thesse  3  or  4  yeares  by  past  but  one  N.athaniell  Orde,  his 
deputie,  one  Thomas  Milles,  an  olde  souldier  of  Barwicke,  and  one  John  Selby,  .another  old  soldier  who 
is  nowe  deade,  a  pore  fellowe  to  kepc  the  lightes  and  to  be  porter  lykwise,  and  nowe  this  last  yeare 
he  hayth  hyered  foure  pooer  fellowes  that  woork  at  the  cole  pitts  and  allowes  them  every  one  xl'  by 
yeare  to  attend  his  deputy  to  the  church  one  the  Sund.ay,  but  els  never  comes  within  the  castle, 
himself  continewinge  allways  in  Kent. 

All  thesse  men  have  but  small  allow.ance,  wheras  he  himself  h.ayth  from  his  majesty,  all  which 
belonges  your  lordship  but  an  encrcasc  fee  of  66"  13"  4'',  the  soome  of  356"  13"  4''.^ 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.     Letter  to  the  lords  of  the  council,  May  26th,  1607. 
°  Gibson,   vol.   ii.  pp.   120-122.     Devon,   Issues  of  the  Exchequer,  James   I.   p.  301.      Slate  Pilfers, 
Domestic,  James  I.  vol.  xli.K.  No.  57.     E.xchequcr  Special  Commissions,  No.  4352. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 
Vol.  VIII.  23 


178  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

An  unsatisfactory  state  of  affairs  was  remedied  by  the  recognition,  on 
the  part  of  the  Crown,  of  Northumberland's  right  to  the  governorship,  and 
by  appointing  Sir  John  Fenwick  of  Wallington  to  be  captain  during  the 
governor's  restraint  in  the  Tower  (March,  1616).'  Fenwick  came  into  a 
ruinous  possession.  He  and  Whitehead  and  Sir  Henry  Widdrington  re- 
ported to  the  earl  that  '  the  most  parte  of  the  houses  ar  so  ruinated  that 
without  some  present  coste  they  ar  not  fitt  to  lodge  any  person  ;  and  all 
the  platformes  ar  so  gonn  to  decay  that  they  must  be  new  made.' ''  The 
terms  of  Fenwick's  appointment  were  rather  ambiguous.  Whitehead  told 
the  earl  :  '  I  doc  publikelv  give  it  out  that  thcr  he  is  by  vour  lordship's 
choyse  and  as  vour  deputie,  as  all  other  have  bene  for  vour  lordship,  and 
no  otherwise,  and,  for  anythinge  I  can  perceave,  he  is  a  right  Northumber- 
land man,  once  in  possessione  houldes  himself  better  half  ovvener.'' 

Fenwick  was  allowed  to  retain  possession  after  the  earl  of  Northum- 
berland's release  in  1621,  and  was  sent  bv  the  latter  in  November,  1622, 
to  the  earl  of  Middlesex,  then  lord  treasurer,  to  report  to  him  personally 
on  the  decayed  state  of  the  castle. ''  The  larger  part  of  the  ordnance 
had  been  latelv  removed  elsewhere.'  So  great  was  the  neglect  to  which 
the  castle  was  subjected  that  Fenwick  at  last,  in  November,  1625,  informed 
the  lord-lieutenants  of  the  north  parts  that  the  castle  was  so  '  ruinated ' 
that  he  could  no  longer  remain  there."  Richard  Neile,  bishop  of  Durham, 
joined  in  advising  that  Tynemouth  haven  should  be  secured.  '  Newcastle,' 
he  wrote,  '  lies  open  to  the  enemy,  who,  besides  the  spoil  of  a  great, 
populous,  and  very  rich  town,  may  burn  200  or  300  ships,  for  there  are 
oftentimes  so  many  lying  in  the  river.' '  The  lord-lieutenants  laid  the  matter 
before  the  Privy  Council,  with  the  result  that  on  December  14th  an  order 
w^as  sent  out  for  repair  and  fortification.  An  engineer  named  Cramfield 
was  to  be  employed  in  the  work.'  The  government  did  not,  however, 
undertake  the  whole  expense,  but  agreed  to  provide  twelve  hundred  pounds 
towards  it  ;  the  town  of  Newcastle,  in  whose  interests  the  fortification  had 
been    commenced,    undertaking    to    bring    it    to    completion    at    their    own 

'  Duke  of  Nortliumberland's  MSS.      For   Sir  John  Fenwick  see  Diet.  Nat.  Diog.,  and  Welford, 
Men  of  Mark  'Iwixt  Tyne  and  Tweed. 

-  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  •  'Ibid. 

•  Earl  De  la  Warr's  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  4th  report,  appendix,  pp.  278,  315. 

»  Cat.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1625-1626,  p.  129.  '  Ibid.  p.  152.  '  Ihid.  p.  134. 

'Duke  of  Devonshire's  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  3rd  report,  appendix,  p.  40. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  179 

charges.'  The  twelve,  hundred  pounds  was  to  be  raised  by  privy  seal  within 
Newcastle  and  the  county  of  Durham,  and  to  be  administered  by  the  bishop 
of  Durham,  the  mayor  of  Newcastle,  and  five  other  persons  appointed  by 
order  of  council  dated  April  21st,   1626. 

Apparently  the  original  plan  of  repairing  the  castle  was  abandoned 
in  favour  of  a  scheme  for  building  a  fort  elsewhere.  There  was  delay  in 
commencing  work.  Bishop  Neile  wrote  to  the  lord  president  of  the  council 
in   August  : 

Your  lordsliipp  knoweth  th.it  the  getting  and  carryeing  of  the  niaterialls  to  soe  great  a  worke  will 
require  the  authoritye  of  a  commission  for  all  sortes  of  cariagcs  at  reasonable  prices,  especially  at  this 
tyme  of  the  yeare  when  all  mens  cartes  waynes  and  cattell  are  necessarily  imployed  in  their  harvest, 
and  perhapps  there  may  be  need  of  a  commission  for  workemen,  which  I  must  leave  to  your  lordship's 
consideracion.     The  setting  of  many  handes  upon  the  worke  must  recompence  the  tyme  hetherto  lost.' 

In  its  turn  the  modified  scheme  was  dropped  on  the  score  of  expense. 
Twelve  months  afterwards  Lord  Clifford,  lord-lieutenant  of  the  northern 
counties,  visited  the  ground  where  they  had  intended  to  hav-e  erected  a 
fort.  He  found  that  advantage  could  be  taken  of  the  Tudor  outworks, 
known  as  the  Spanish  battery,  that  this  provided  a  better  situation,  and 
reduced  the  cost  to  a  quarter  of  the  sum  originally  proposed.     He  added  : 

Surely,  my  lord,  the  townc  of  Newcaslell  is  for  the  lime  well  provided  with  amies  and  powder, 
but  the  castell  of  Tineniouthe  hathe  not  one  peece  mounted  nor  any  amies  within  it  fitt  for  use  ; 
and  therfore  I  am  much  importuned  by  the  mayor  and  the  aldermen  to  nioove  his  majesty  for  sum 
ordinance  for  ther  towne  (for  which  they  will  give  money  for  the  one  halfe),  and  that  likew•i^e  his 
majesty  would  be  pleased  to  bestowe  sum  cost  upon  Tineniouthe  castell,  it  beeinge  his  majesty's  ownc 
house  and  the  key  of  that  towne  and  cuntr%e.' 

Subsequent  events  show  that  Clifiord's  advice  was  disregarded.  The 
proposed  fortifications  were  only  carried  out  fifteen  years  later,  and  under 
a  different  set  of  circumstances. 

In  1632,  on  November  5th,  the  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland  died. 
His  death  determined  the  Percv  tenure  of  the  post  of  governor  of  the 
castle,  which  had  been  created  by  the  patent  of  1570,  for  Thomas  Percy, 
a  younger  brother  to  whom  the  office  would  have  reverted,  was  already 
dead.  Letters  patent,  issued  at  the  commencement  of  King  James's  reign, 
had  renewed  the  grant  of  1570  in  favour  of  the  earl's  eldest  son,  Algernon 
Percy,  but  they  had  subsequentlv  been  revoked  and  the  governorship  given 
to  Robert  Carey,  who  had  already  held  command  before  Northumberland's 

'  Cat.  Slate  Papers,  Domestic,  1625-1626,  p.  567. 

'  Slate  Papers,  Domestic,  Charles  I.  vol.  xxxiii.  No.  39.  '  Ibid.  vol.  Ixxv.  No.  55. 


l8o  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

restoration  to  favour  in  1592.  A  clause  in  the  new  patent  gave  the  rever- 
sion, upon  Robert  Carey's  death,  to  Thomas  Carey  his  second  son.'  The 
father,  now  earl  of  Monmouth,  consequently  succeeded  in  1632  to  the 
nominal   duties  of  a  governor. 

King  Charles  I.  visited  Tynemouth  on  June  5th,  1633,  when  on  his 
way  to  Scotland  to  be  crowned,  being  conveyed  thither  from  Newcastle 
by  the  master  and  brethren  of  the  Trinity  House,  who  took  the  opportunity 
of  presenting  a  petition  to  the  king,  in  which  they  set  forth  the  damage 
done  to  the  river  by  allowing  ballast  to  fall  into  it.' 

The  lack  of  ordnance,  to  which  Cliiford  had  called  attention  in  1627, 
met  with  the  serious  attention  of  the  Privy  Council  nine  years  later.  A 
report  was  presented  to  the  following  effect  : 

May  it  please  your  honors,  being  informed  by  the  clarke  of  the  councell  tliat  il  was  your  honors 
pleasure  I  should  article  what  ordinaunce  and  other  munition  were  fitt  for  the  present  supplie  of  the 
castle  of  Tynmouth  for  the  strengthning  of  the  haven  there,  doth  humbly  offer  theis  proposicons  follow- 
ing to  your  honorable  consideracon. 

That  his  majesties  castle  of  Tynmouth  standeth  at  the  mouth  of  the  said  haven,  but  of  such  height, 
that  if  it  were  furnished  with  ordinance  and  munition  would  bee  to  little  or  noe  purpose  for  the  hindering 
of  shipps  to  come  and  goe  forth  of  that  harbor,  and  his  majesties  daylie  charge  there  ymploied  to  little 
or  noe  purpose. 

That  the  safest  and  readiest  course  wee  can  conceave  to  offend  and  hinder  the  enemies  to  enter  that 
harbor  in  future  tymes  is  to  build  twoe  block  howses,  one  of  either  side  of  that  haven  neere  unto  a  highe 
water  marke,  where  stone  and  lyme  is  to  be  had  at  reasonable  rates,  in  either  of  which  block  howses 
thre  or  fower  peeces  of  good  ordinance  being  placed,  with  all  furniture  thereunto  belonging,  will 
command  any  shipp  or  vessel  which  shall  come  or  goe  foorth  of  the  said  haven,  ffor  the  said  haven  at 
the  entrance  of  the  sea  is  soe  narrowe  that  with  a  faire  wind  there  cann  come  but  twoe  vessells  sydeling 
together,  and  if  the  wyndes  doe  never  soe  little  crosse  the  east  or  southeast,  then  they  are  to  make 
2,  3,  or  4  borders  or  turnynges  before  they  cann  recover  the  harbor.^ 

This  proposal  was  taken  up  by  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  who  ob- 
tained the  royal  consent  to  demolish  Tynemouth  castle,  and  in  lieu  thereof 
to  build  a  block -house  on  the  river.*  There  the  matter  rested  for  two 
more  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1638  the  Scottish  Covenant  was  drawn  up  and  signed, 
and  war  threatened  to  break  out  between  the  two  kingdoms,  making  it 
more  necessary  than  ever  to  strengthen  the  border  fortresses.  Once  more 
the  abandoned  schemes  of  1625  and  1636  were  revived.  At  a  meeting 
of  the  council   of  war,  held   on   September    loth,  it   was  decided   that  the 

'  Letters  Patent,  9  Jas.  I.  pt.  17. 

-  Tynemouth  Register,  ed.  Couchman,  vol.  i.  p.  235.     Arch.  Ad.  2nd  series,  vol.  xxi.  pp.  85-89. 

'  State  Papers,  Domestic,  Charles  I.  vol.  ccc.\li.  No.  65.      *  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1635-1636,  p.  555. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  l8l 

fort  of  Tynemouth  should  be  'slighted,'  and  a  fort  made  half  a  mile  from 
the  same.'  Only  the  lirst  half  of  this  design  was  executed.  Sir  Jacob 
Astley,  who  was  sent  to  secure  the  north,  had  his  time  too  well  occupied 
in  putting  Newcastle  into  a  state  of  defence,  and  the  erection  of  a  '  sconce  ' 
at  North  Shields,"  as  being  of  minor  importance,  was  again  postponed.  On 
the  other  hand  the  ordnance,  carriages  and  furniture  belonging  to  Tyne- 
mouth castle  were  handed  over  to  the  earl  of  Newport,  master  of  the 
ordnance.'  It  was  at  first  intended  that  this  artillery  should  be  sent  up  to 
the  Tower  of  London,  but,  upon  representations  made  of  the  defenceless 
state  of  Newcastle,  Astley  was  allowed  to  transfer  the  guns  and  military 
stores  to  that  town.'     He  informed  Secretary  Windebank  : 

As  concerning  this  place  (Newcastle),  which  will  be  the  centre  of  the  war,  here  must  be  a  train  of 
artillery.  I  have  sent  for  the  brass  pieces  in  the  cellar  at  Tynemouth  to  be  broujjhl  here,  according;  to 
the  Lords'  order,  being  six,  shooting  a  bullet  of  six  in  the  pound  and  three  of  three  in  the  pound,  and 
have  already  bespoken  timber  and  workmen  to  mount  them  on  carriages.  Here  are  already  six  iron 
pieces,  shooting  a  bullet  of  nine  in  the  pound. ^ 

The  cannon  arrived  a  few  days  later,  and  were  mounted  on  carriages 
for  use  in  the  field."  Astley  had  previously  visited  Tynemouth  in  the 
company  of  some  of  the  aldermen  of  Newcastle,  but  found  that  there  was 
no  means  of  fortifying  it  against  a  siege,'  so  the  place  was  vacated  and 
the  haven  left  unguarded. 

Astley's  prediction  that  Newcastle  would  be  the  centre  of  the  war 
seemed  at  first  to  be  unwarranted.  The  first  Rishops'  War  came  to  an  end 
without  the  Scots  having  crossed  the  Tweed,  but  the  campaign  of  1640 
had  a  different  conclusion.  On  Friday,  August  28th,  1640,  the  rout  of 
Newburn  opened  the  passage  of  the  Tyne  to  Leslie's  Scottish  force.  Ne.xt 
day  Conway,  the  royalist  general,  hurriedly  evacuated  Newcastle,  which 
was  entered  by  Leslie  on  Sunday.  A  detachment  of  the  invading  armv 
was  at  once  despatched  to  Tynemouth  to  occupy  that  deserted  position, 
and  establish  communication  with  Scotland  bv  sea.''  So  long  as  they  held 
the  port  of  Tvne  the  Scots  had  the  northern  coal-trade  at  their  mercy, 
and  by  that  means  could  e.xert  pressure  upon  the  English  government. 
Tynemouth  was  re-fortified  and  supplied  with  good  ordnance.'     By  an  order 

'  Cell.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  163S-1639,  pp.  9,  404.  ■'  IbiJ.  p.  176.  '  Ibiii.  pp.  15,  20. 

'  Ibid.  pp.  28,  3S6.  '  Ibid.  p.  436.  '  Ibid.  pp.  45S,  512.  '  Ibid.  p.  349. 

'  Clarendon,  State  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  98.     Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1640-1641,  p.  28. 
'  Ibid.  p.  14S.     Diary  of  John  Rous,  Camden  Soc.  p.  98. 


1 82  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

of  the  committee  of  estates,  dated  September  I5lh,  Hugh,  Lord  Mont- 
gomery, was  appointed  to  '  lodge  in  the  castell  of  Tinmouthe,  and  to  keep 
watche  therein  and  doe  all  devvty  requisite.  Item,  to  caus  assist  the 
searchear  there,  and  to  appoint  twentie  four  or  nioe  musquetiers  to  wait 
upon  him  for  arresting  the  ships  who  will  not  doe  dewty.  It  is  appointed 
that  his  lordship  sail  have  two  keills  and  a  whery  to  w^ait  upon  his  regiment 
at  all  occasiones,  and  to  be  at  all  places  where  he  sail  appoint.' ' 

Negotiations  followed.  A  treaty  was  drawn  up  at  Ripon,  ratified  on 
August  7th,  1 64 1,  and  on  the  21st  the  Scottish  armv  evacuated  their 
positions  and  returned  home.  Ten  months  later,  on  June  20lh,  1642, 
William  Cavendish,  marquis  of  Newcastle,  received  the  royal  command  to 
take  upon  himself  the  government  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  and  the  four 
northern  counties.  He  at  once  went  to  Newcastle  and  started  to  fortify 
that  town  and  to  secure  the  haven.  Sir  John  Marley,  in  a  memorandum 
of  military  proceedings  in  the  north  between  1641  and  1645,  'i^^  given  the 
following  account  of  the  visit  made  bv  the  marquis  to  Tynemouth  : 

My  lord  [of  Newcastle]  ridd  downe  to  Tynemouth  castle,  and  took  soonie  horse  and  foot  with  him  ; 
but  the  puritans  had  possessed  his  soldiers  with  a  fear  that  my  lord  carryed  them  that  way  to  shipp 
them  for  Ireland  or  soome  other  place,  which  made  they  ready  to  mutynie  and  refuse  to  j,'oe,  but  with 
good  words  and  persuasions  they  weare  appeased.  When  my  lord  came  to  the  castle  he  found  it 
exceding  ruianous,  and  none  in  it  but  one  Captain  Fenwick"  and  his  famylie,  who  was  willing  that 
the  castle  should  be  at  my  lord's  commaund  ;  but,  it  being  then  of  no  valewe  until!  it  weare  repared  and 
fortified,  which  could  not  sodainely  be  doone,  my  lord  for  the  present  caused  make  soom  little  forts 
ujipon  the  river  on  both  sides,  to  kepe  the  seamen  in  subjection,  least  he  might  receive  soome  prejudice 
by  them.-' 

The  little  forts  upon  the  river  were  situated,  the  one  near  the  Low 
Light  house  at  North  Shields,  the  other  upon  the  opposite  shore.  Together 
they  commanded  the  narrow  entrance  of  the  river.  They  were  built  of 
baskets  filled  with  sand  and  mortar,  with  guns  placed  between  the  baskets.' 
Troops  were  raised  by  the  marquis,  and  three  companies  were  sent  to  Tyne- 
mouth. Marley  tells  that  he  had  been  promised  the  command  of  that 
fortress  as  well  as  of  Newcastle,  but  now 

'  Earl  of  Eglinton's  MSS.  Hist.  M.SS.  Com.  loih  report,  appendix,  pt.  i.  p.  36. 

-  Henry  Fenwick  was  captain  of  the  castle  under  .Sir  John  Fenwick  in  1634,  and  the  baptisms  of 
several  of  his  children  are  recorded  in  the  Tyncmuuth  Rc-i^istir,  1634-1636.  He  was  now  given  a  command 
in  the  army  by  the  marquis  of  Newcastle,  and  was  slain  in  Yorkshire,  leaving  a  widow  who  was  living  in 
1656.     Cal.  Stiih-  Papers,  Domestic,  1656-1657,  p.  196. 

'  Bodleian  Library,  Clarendon  Papers,  No.  2064.  '  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  331,  note. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  1  83 

My  lord,  being  much  intreated  and  perswaded  by  frends,  told  me  he  must  nowe  make  Sir  Thomas 
Kiddell,  junior,'  governor  of  Tynemoulh  castle.  1  must  confess  I  was  not  well  pleased,  but,  after  soome 
debate,  rather  then  disturbe  the  service,  I  yealded  the  power,  which  afterwards,  I  think,  proved  not  much 
lo  Jiiy  lord's  content  nor  to  the  advance  of  his  majesty's  service,  but  1  am  sure  much  to  my  prejudice." 

The  puritan  party  in  Newcastle  was  llioroii^lily  alarmed.  One  of  its 
members  informed  the   House  of  Connnons  : 

We  fear  a  storm  and  we  see  it  already  begun.  The  earl  of  Newcastle  came  here  on  Friday  last,  to 
be  governor  of  Newcastle.  .  .  .  Three  hundred  soldiers  is  sent  down  to  Tynmouth  castle  to  guard  it, 
and  they  have  all  arms  given  lluin  out  of  the  magazine  here  in  this  town.  There  is  great  guns  going 
down  to  tliem,  six  pieces.  They  are  casting  up  trenches  as  fast  as  may  be.  There  is  a  fort  making 
at  the  haven  mouth,  that  no  ships  can  go  in  or  out  without  their  leave.  We  never  lived  in  the  like  fear 
which  we  now  live  in.  ...  I  was  down  at  .Sheelcs  and  saw  the  trenches  myself  .  .  .  They  have  got 
engineers  out  of  Germany  and  gunners  for  the  great  guns.  .  .  .  The  earl  is  making  forts  at  Sheeles, 
one  on  each  side.  There  is  divers  of  the  great  ordnance  removed  to  the  keyside  to  be  sent  down. 
There  is  here  an  expectation  of  some  ilircclions  from  Parliament  to  countermand  them  ;  and,  if  speedy 
course  were  yet  taken,  it  might  reduce  all  that  is  done.' 

Upon  receipt  of  these  letters  two  ships  were  sent  by  order  of  Parlia- 
ment to  guard  the  mouth  of  the  Tyne,  'to  receive  and  execute  from  time 
to  time  the  directions  of  the  Parliament  .  .  .  for  the  preservation  of  that 
place,  and  prevent  the  inconveniences  that  might  happen  bv  the  fort  there 
in  building.'''  It  was  represented  that  by  the  fortification  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Tyne,  'the  whole  trade  of  Newcastle,  for  coal  or  otherwise,  will 
be  subject  to  be  interrupted  whensoever  his  majesty  shall  please.'''  Lords 
and  Commons  therefore  petitioned  the  king  to  forbear  all  preparations 
of  war,  and  particularly  to  remove  the  forces  from  Newcastle,  Tynemouth, 
and  other  places,  to  which  the  king  replied  that  '  when  he  shall  be  assured 
that  the  same  necessity  and  public  good  which  took  Hull  from  him  may 
not  put  a  garrison  into  Newcastle  to  keep  the  same  against  him,  he  will 
remove  his  from  thence  and  from  Tinmouth  ;  till  when,  the  example  of 
Hull  will  not  out  of  his  memory.'" 

King  and  Parliament  were  already  on  the  verge  of  civil  war.  On 
August  22nd  the  royal  standard  was  set  up  at  Nottingham.  Men,  money, 
horse  and  ammunition  poured  into  Newcastle  from  Holland.  An  ordinance 
of  Lords  and  Commons  was  passed  on  January  14th,  1643,  that  'no  ship, 
ships  or  barks  shall  from  henceforward  make  any  voyage  for  the  fetching  of 

'  Of  Fenham  ;  so  styled  to  distinguish  him  from  his  father,  Sir  Thomas  Riddell  of  Gateshead  ;  was 
member  of  parliament  for  Newcastle  in  1640.  For  biographies  of  him  see  Diet.  Sat.  Biog.,  and  Wejford, 
Mill  of  Murk  :  and  for  a  pedigree  of  the  Riddell  family  see  vol.  iv.  of  this  work,  p.  2S4. 

•  Clarendon  Papers,  No.  2064.  '  Journals  of  House  of  Lords,  vol.  v.  pp.  170,  171. 

'  Journals  of  House  of  Commons,  vol.  ii.  p.  59S.  '  Lords  Journals,  p.  202.  '  Ibid.  pp.  207,  236. 


1 84 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


coals  or  salt  from  Newcastle,  Siinderland,  or  Blythe,  or  carrying  of  corn 
or  other  provision  of  victual,  until  that  town  of  Newcastle  shall  be  freed  of 
and  from  the  forces  there  now  raised  or  maintained  against  the  Parliament.' ' 
Meanwhile,  the  fortifications  of  Tynemouth  were  repaired,  four  pieces  of 
heavy  artillery  were  sent  down  from  Newcastle,  and  Sir  Richard  Lee's  low 
stone  walls,  which  formed  the  Spanish  battery,  were  raised  by  the  addition 
of  a  brick  superstructure  furnished  with  casemates  for  guns.  Three  hundred 
men  were  '  in  worke  making  a  sconce  to  command  all  ships  that  come  in 


The  Spanish  Battery. 

and  go  out,'  with  the  result  that  '  ship  masters  refuse  to  go  in,  least  their 
ships  be  stayed,  seeing  such  strange  combustion  beginning  to  arise.' ^  The 
forts  at  the  Shields  were  annexed  to  the  governorship  of  Tynemouth  castle. 
Neighbouring  landowners  purchased  protection  for  their  property  by  sub- 
scribing funds  for  the  maintenance  of  the  garrisons.^ 

'  Lords  Journals,  p.  555. 

•  Terry,  Life  and  Campaigns  of  Alexander  Leslie,  p.  172,  qunUng  Lamentable  and  Sad  NeJt'es  from  the  North. 

"April  15th,  1643.  Mrs.  Harb.-ira  Delaval  of  .Seaton  Delaval,  widow,  paid  Sir  Thomas  Riddell, 
junior,  governor  of  Tynemouth  castle,  /^loo  for  his  ni.ijesty's  present  service  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
garrisons  of  Tynemouth  antl  -Shields,  for  which  she  is  to  be  protected  in  her  person,  goods  and  estate.' 
Arch.  Act.  2nd  series,  vol.  xv.  p.  219. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  1 85 

On  January  19th,  1644,  the  Scottish  army  crossed  the  Tweed  into 
Northumberland,  and  on  February  3rd  appeared  before  Newcastle.  Parlia- 
mentarians looked  for  an  immediate  success.  A  certain  Colonel  Curset 
wrote  on  the  12th,  'as  for  the  Shields,  they  are  not  yet  taken,  but,  being 
only  but  houses,  they  doe  expect  that  it  will  bee  no  great  matter  to  take 
them  ;  they  can  doe  it  when  they  list.  The  greatest  matter  ne.xt  unto 
the  taking  of  Newcastle  town  is  Tinmouth  castle.'  The  same  writer  adds 
in  a  postscript  that  he  '  is  very  confident  that  Newcastle  is  before  this  time 
in  the  hands  of  the  Scots,  and  that  they  are  in  the  town,  after  which  they 
intend  to  take  the  Shields,  and  so  to  fall  upon  Tinmouth  castle,  without 
which  there  is  no  passage  for  ships  to  bring  us  coals.'  ' 

Similar  optimistic  accounts  appear  in  the   London  papers  : 

If  the  Scots  are  now  besieging  Tinmouth  castle,  while  some  other  forces  are  diverting  the  enemy 
from  releiving  it,  it  will  be  an  excellent  service,  for  by  taking  of  the  said  castle,  we  shall  be  master  of 
the  sea,  and  be  inabled  not  only  to  bring  in  provision  by  our  ships  for  the  army  of  .Scots,  but  to  send  out 
coale  and  accommodate  the  city  of  London  with  them,  which  would  be  a  far  better  way  of  merchandize 
then  to  transport  them  as  the  enemy  now  doth  into  Holland,  whereby  to  get  mony,  arms,  and  other 
accommodations  for  the  supporting  of  this  unnaturall  warre. 

And  the  said  castle  of  Tinmouth  being  once  taken,  the  towne  of  Newcastle  would  never  long  be 
able  to  hold  out.  There  is  a  report  that  Coloncll  Riddel,  governour  of  Tinmouth  castle,  hath  been 
summoned  by  the  Scots  to  surrender  it  to  the  Parliament  of  England,  and  that  the  said  Colonell  hath 
had  a  parley,  and  received  propositions  from  them,  but  I  conceive  this  report  to  be  very  uncertaine,  and 
no  great  credit  to  be  given  to  it.- 

Leslie,  now  earl  of  Leven,  the  commander  of  the  Scottish  anny,  had 
an  initial  success  in  the  capture  of  Shieldfield  fort  just  outside  the  walls  of 
Newcastle.  Though  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale  inflicted  a  reverse  on  Leslie's 
outposts  at  Corbridge  on  February  19th,  the  loss  was  made  good  about 
the  same  time  at  Tynemouth.  A  number  of  the  garrison  of  that  place, 
variously  estimated  at  fifty  and  a  hundred  musketeers,  was  sent  out  to  burn 
and  destroy  corn  in  the  enemy's  quarters.'  The  party  met  with  twenty-five 
Scottish  horsemen,  commanded  by  one  Montgomery,  major  to  the  earl  of 
Esflinton,  lost  several  of  their  number  and  had  fortv-five  or  fiftv  taken 
prisoners.       Leven   kept   two   of  the   prisoners   and   sent   the  remainder  to 

'  Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  ii. ;  .4  Tikc  Relation  of  the  Scots  taking  of  Cocket  Island,  pp.  1 1  - 1 3. 

'  The  Weekly  Account,  February  29th  to  March  6th,  1644. 

'  In  a  schedule  of  his  losses,  drawn  up  in  165 1,  Ralph  Gardner  of  Chirton  stated  that  the  king's 
party  burnt  fifteen  ricks  of  corn  and  eighty  loads  of  hay  belonging  to  him.     Uuke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

Vol,.  VIII.  24 


l86  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Newcastle.  The  marquis  of  Newcastle,  who  had  thrown  himself  into  the 
town  the  day  before  the  arrival  of  the  Scots,  thanked  Leven  for  his  civility 
and  said  that  he  hoped  verv  shortly  to  pay  the  debt  with  interest.' 

Heavy  artillery  had  been  despatched  from  Scotland  and  landed  on 
the  6th  at  Blvth,  but  the  Scots  were  not  prepared  to  commence  a  lengthy 
siege,  so  on  the  22nd  they  retired,  marched  up  the  Tyne,  crossed  into 
Durham,  and  on  March  i6th  appeared  before  South  Shields.  Two  assaults 
were  delivered,  but  the  fort  and  Tynemonth  castle  '  plaved  hotly  '  on  the 
attackers.  Thev  fell  back,  renewed  the  attempt  on  the  20th,  and  this  time 
met  with  success,  the  garrison  escaping  across  the  Tyne  to  Tynemouth." 
This  event  and  some  operations  round  Hilton  closed  the  first  act  of  the 
northern  campaign  of  1644.  The  Scots  followed  the  marquis  of  Newcastle 
into  Yorkshiie,  leaving  garrisons  at  Morpeth  and  South  Shields,  and  the 
centre  of  interest  shifted. 

In  May  the  royalists  at  Newcastle  were  joined  by  the  marquis  of 
Montrose.  Morpeth  and  South  Shields  were  captured  with  his  help,  but 
the  latter  place  was  regained  shortly  afterwards  by  the  Scots  stationed  at 
Sunderland.  Even  so,  the  north  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  king's 
party.  Upon  June  loth,  therefore,  instructions  were  issued  by  the  Scottish 
parliament  to  the  earl  of  Callander  to  lead  a  second  army  into  England. 
'You  shall,'  the  order  ran,  'be  all  meanes  endevor  to  reduce  and  secure 
the  towne  of  Newcastell,  castell  of  Tynemouth,  and  all  other  places 
possessed  by  the  enemy.' '  After  reducing  Morpeth,  Hartlepool  and 
Stockton,  Callander  advanced  on  July  27th  to  Gateshead.  The  victory  of 
Marston  Moor  and  the  capitulation  of  York  enabled  Leven  to  join  him  on 
August   15th,  and  the  siege  of  Newcastle  commenced. 

Tynemouth  also  was  closely  blockaded.  '  There  is  no  hope  of  supply 
from  Tynemouth,'  a  London  news-letter  announced,  'for  all  passages  and 
intercourses  between  the  town  (of  Newcastle)  and  it  are  cut  off.'  *  Though 
in  the  latter  part  of  September  two  successful  sorties  of  the  royalists  in 
Newcastle  caused  a  temporary  withdrawal  on  the  part  of  its  besiegers,'^ 
Tynemouth  did  not  long  remain  free.     Early  in  October  the  Scots  attacked 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1644,  p.  42.     Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  ii. ;  A  Faithful!  Relation  of  the 
late  Occurrences  and  Proceedings  of  the  Scottish  Army,  p.  11.     Teiry,  Life  of  Alexamler  Leslie,  p.  192. 

-Arch  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  i.  p.  2  13.  '  Acts  of  the  Parliament  of  Scotland,  pt.  i.  vol.  vi.  p.  112. 

*  Diary  or  Exact  Journal,  September  5ih  to  13th. 
^  Merctirius  Anlicus,  September  28th  to  October  5th. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  I  87 

the  Low  Lights  fort  at  North  Shields,  carried  it  by  assault,  lost  it,  and 
recovered  it  on  the  same  day.'  Nine  Scottish  soldiers  were  killed  on  this 
occasion.  Five  pieces  of  ordnance,  arms,  powder,  and  some  prisoners  were 
taken  in  the  fort.^  Newcastle  itself  fell  on  October  19th,  its  governor 
surrendering  at  discretion  two  days  later.  Leven  was  now  able  to  turn 
his  whole  attention  to  Tynemouth. 

A  letter  from  Sir  Thomas  Riddell  to  Sir  Thomas  Glenham,  governor 
of  Carlisle,  had  lately  been  intercepted,  and  from  it  the  Scots  learned  that 
plague  was  working  havoc  with  the  Tynemouth  garrison.  Eight  of  the 
soldiers  had  died  in  one  week  ;  sixty  more  were  infected  ;  the  chief  surgeon 
was  dangerously  ill.'*  It  was  said  that  the  chief  commanders  had  already 
fled.'  Leven  now  sent  his  troops  to  Tynemouth,'  whither  he  came  in 
person  on  the  27th.  But  plague  was  more  effectually  reducing  the  garrison 
than  the  Scottish  artillery  could  liave  done.  'Though  we  cannot  reach 
them  in  that  high  hill,'  a  letter-writer  of  the  time  reflected,  'yet  God  can, 
vou  see  ;  and  indeed  it  is  very  wonderful  to  observe  how  wonderfully  God 
hath  wrought  for  us  in  these  troubles,  without  and  beyond  the  help  of  man."' 

There  was  a  short  parley.  Leven  offered  easy  conditions  which  were 
readily  accepted.     These   were   as  follows  : 

I.  — That  every  officer,  soldier,  gentleman  and  clergyman  shall  march  out  with  bag  and  baggage 
and  the  officers  with  their  arms  ;  and  that  such  goods  as  properly  belong  to  them,  but  which  they 
cannot  take  with  them,  shall  be  kept  for  them  till  fit  opportunity. 

2. — That  the  National  Covenant  shall  not  be  enforced  either  upon  officer,  soldier,  gentleman  or 
clergyman. 

3.— That  all  who  stay  in  their  own  country  shall  have  protection  for  their  persons  and  estates, 
and  such  as  will  go  to  his  majesty  shall  have  free  pass  with  a  safe  convoy. 

4. — Oblivion  for  all  things  past  in  this  service  to  be  extended  to  officers,  soldiers  and  gentlemen 
who  will  stay  at  home  in  their  own  houses. 

5. — That  Sir  Thomas  Riddell  shall  deliver  up  the  castle  this  day  with  a  perfect  list  of  all  arms, 
ammunition,  cannon  and  furniture. 

6. —  It  is  always  provided  that  those  who  stay  at  home  and  have  protection  for  their  persons  and 
estates  shall  be  liable  to  all  ordinances  of  parliament." 

Late  that  evening  the  castle  was  delivered  up  to  Leven,  who  put  his 
own  soldiers  in  it,**  constituting  himself  governor.     'The  royalists  were  glad 

'  Arch.  Ai-l.  2nd  series,  vol.  x.xi.  p.  200,  quoting  Country  Misscitgir,  October  4th  to  i  ith. 

'  Wallis,  History  of  Nortliumberland,  vol.  ii.  p.  255. 

'  Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  iv. ;  A  True  Relation  of  the  Taking  of  Newcastle,  p.  34.  '  Ibid. 

'  Weekly  Account,  October  23rd  to  31st. 

'  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xv.  p.  219,  quoting  Perfect  Occurrences,  No.  11. 

'Cat.  State  P.ipers,  Domestic,  1645-1647,  p.  206.  '  IhiJ.  1644-1645,  p.  74- 


I  88  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

to  yield,'  said  the  historian  of  the  siege  of  Newcastle,  'the  pestilence  having 
been  live  weeks  amongst  them  with  a  great  mortality.'  '  A  schedule  taken 
of  the  arms  found  in  the  castle  showed  a  supply  of  twenty-nine  pieces  of 
ordnance,  fifty  barrels  of  powder,  five  hundred  muskets,  ball  and  match.'' 
News  of  the  victory  reached  London  on  November  4th. ^  The  next  day 
had  been  appointed  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  the  victories  of  Newbury 
and  Donnington  castle.  Tynemouth  was  now  added  to  the  number  of 
successes,  and  the  preacher  at  St.  Margaret's,  Westminster,  received  orders 
from  the  House  of  Commons  to  take  notice  of  it  in  his  sermon.'' 

Riddell  might  have  been  less  ready  to  yield  had  he  known  that  two 
days  before  his  surrender  a  resolution  had  passed  the  House  of  Commons 
that  he  was  to  expect  no  pardon.'*  On  November  19th  an  order  was  issued 
that  he  and  his  brother,  Sir  William  Riddell,  who  had  taken  part  with 
him  in  defending  Tynemouth  castle,  should  be  sent  up  to  London."  Sir 
Thomas  managed  to  escape  in  a  fishing  boat  from  Berwick,  and  reached 
Antwerp,  where  he  died  in  1652.'  Sir  William  Kiddell,  less  fortunate, 
was  committed  to  the  Tower.'^  Representations  were  made  by  Prince 
Rupert  that  the  imprisonment  was  a  violation  of  the  articles  of  surrender," 
but  the  House  of  Commons  insisted  on  their  right  to  detain  their  prisoner.'" 
The  remainder  of  the  garrison  were  allowed  to  scatter  themselves  over  the 
country,  carrying  with  them  the  plague,  which  made  its  way  into  Scotland." 

'Now,'  was  the  comment  made  on  the  news  of  the  capture  of  Tyne- 
mouth, 'we  shall  have  firing  at  a  reasonable  rate.'  '"  Trade  revived  with  the 
rescinding  of  the  order  which  had  prohibited  intercourse  with  Newcastle," 
and  the  price  of  coals  sank  in  the  London  market.  The  Civil  War  was 
at  an  end  in  the  north  ;  the  Scots  were  free  to  join  the  English  Parlia- 
mentary troops. 

'  Lithgow,  Siege  of  Newcastle,  Newcastle  Typographical  Society,  p.  41. 

■  Weekly  Accoiiiil,  October  31st  to  November  6tli.  The  Perfect  Diurnal,  No.  67,  puts  the  number  of 
pieces  of  ordnance  at  thirty-eight. 

^  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1644-1645,  p.  94. 

'  Journals  of  the  House  of  Commons,  vol.  iii.  p.  687.  '  Ibid.  p.  676.  '  Ibid.  p.  700. 

'  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  p.  127.  "  Journals  of  the  House  of  Commons,  vol.  iii.  p.  723. 

»  Duke  of  Portland's  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  vol.  i.  p.  206. 

"  Commons  Journals,  vol.  iv.  p.  131.  The  reason  given  was  'that  since  the  recklition  of  Newcastle 
there  have  been  meetings  of  dangerous  persons  and  malignants,  wearing  their  arms,  whereof  Sir  William 
Kiddell  was  one,  and  that  he  is  a  known  recusant,  and  so  ought  to  be  liable  to  the  laws  of  this  kingdom.' 

"  Lithgow,  Siege  of  Newcastle,  p.  41.  '-  Weekly  Account,  October  31st  to  November  6th. 

"  Commons  Journals,  vol.  iii.  p.  694. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE. 


189 


With  the  capture  of  Newcastle  the  Scots  had  obtained  a  foothold  in 
the  north  from  which  they  did  not  intend  to  be  dislodged,  for  its  occupation 
allowed  them  to  treat  advantageously  with  both  political  parties,  and  to 
assist  those  who  most  favoured  the  Presbyterian  order  of  government. 
They  refused  to  accede  to  the  thrice- 
repeated  request  of  the  English  com-  ,  .  ,:  ' 
missioners  that  their  garrisons  in 
Warkworth,  Tynemouth,  Newcastle, 
Hartlepool,  Stockton,  and  Thirlwall 
should  be  removed.'  Instead  they 
began  negotiating  with  the  king, 
who,  on  May  13th,  1646,  entered 
Newcastle. 

Attended  by  the  earls  of  Lothian 
and  Dumfermline  and  others,  with 
twenty-four  captains  to  wait  on  him, 
the  king  went  on  the  21st  in  a  barge 
to  Shields  and  dined  with  the  gover- 
nor of  Tynemouth  castle.'  He  had 
a  cold  reception.  'The  most  solem- 
nity of  his  entertainment  were  three 
pieces  of  ordnance  fired  at  the  castle, 
and  some  fired  by  the  collier  ships 
that  rode  in  the  harbour  both  as  his 

majesty  went  and  returned.' '  Later  news  was  more  disquieting  to  the 
parliamentarians.  The  governor  of  Tynemouth  had  delivered  up  the  keys 
of  his  castle  to  the  king.''     A  cornet,  John  Carruth,  testified  on  June  5th  : 


FlKEl'LACE   I.N   THE   GKEAT    ROOM   OF   THE   GaTE-HOOSE. 


At  Monkseaton  I  met  with  a  party  coming  from  Scotland  to  recruit  the  garrison  of  Tynemouth 
castle.  I  asked  the  officers  what  news  in  Scotland,  who  answered  that  in  Scotland  they  were  levying 
the  sixth  man.  I  replied,  '  I  hope  we  shall  have  peace,  and  then  what  will  be  done  with  those  men?' 
They  answered  they  were  to  be  for  his  majesty's  service,  and  at  his  command  whenever  he  would 
command  them.' 

x'Vgain,  on  September  2nd,  the  king  visited   Tynemouth,   dined   at   the 
castle,  and  was  '  entertained  there  very  gallantly  '  in  '  the  great  room,  richly 

'  Ciil.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1645-1647,  pp.  16,  200,  226. 

■  Arch.  Ael.  vol.  x.\i.  p.  1 16,  citing  Moderate  Intelligencer,  No.  64. 

"  Ibid,  quoting  Kingdom's  Weekly  Intelligencer,  June  l6th  to  23rd. 


'  Perfect  Occurrences,  July  3rd  to  loth. 


•  Duke  oj  Portland's  MSS.  vol.  i.  p.  360. 


I  go 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


liunc;.' '  During  the  remainder  of  the  month  he  was  occupied  in  conference 
with  commissioners  who  had  arrived  from  Scothuid.  The  final  failure  of 
these  negotiations  impressed  the  Scots  with  the  hopelessness  of  coming  to 
terms  with  the  king,  and  they  consented  to  evacuate  Newcastle.  It  was 
af^reed  that  Newcastle,  Gateshead,  and  Tynemouth  should  be  delivered  to 
the  Parliament,  with  all  arms  and  ammunition  there.'  On  December  iith, 
Major-General  Skippon  was  approved  of  by  the  House  of  Commons  to 
be  governor  of  those  places,''  an  appointment  to  which  a  condition  was 
added  in  the  House  of  Lords  :  '  Provided  that  this  ordinance,  nor  anything 
therein  contained,  shall  no  way  prejudice  the  earl  of  Northumberland's 
right,  title,   or  interest   unto  the   castle  of  Tvnmouth.'  ' 

King  Charles  had  no  wish  to  be  left  in  England  after  the  departure 
of  the  Scots,  and  made  his  own  arrangements  for  escape.  A  Dutch 
man-of-war,  sent  by  his  son-in-law,  the  Prince  of  Orange,  appeared  olf  the 
Tyne  in  November.  Its  captain  was  met  at  Tynemouth  bv  persons  in 
the  king's  suite,  wlio  all  were  feasted  bv  the  governor  of  the  castle,  when 
'  thev  drank  hcallhs  to  the  king  and  all  his  friends.'"  There  seemed  likeli- 
hood of  the  castle  turning  royalist.  A  Newcastle  letter  of  December  14th 
reported  : 

There  are  many  cavaliers  of  espcciall  iiiialily,  both  captaines,  heutcnants  .iiul  ensigiies,  hitlcy  taken 
into  Tynniouth,  and  all  in  capacity  of  common  souldicrs;  such  is  the  people's  feares,  that  they  think 
this  to  purport  some  new  designe.  They  give  out  harsh  speeches,  as  that  those  northern  parts,  in 
particular  Tynniouth  and  Newcastle,  must  once  more  be  in  their  hands;  and,  saith  the  letter,  is  like  to 
be  if  not  timely  prevented." 

Escape  was  planned  for  Christmas  night.  The  captain  of  the  Dutch 
ship  was  prepared  to  leave  the  river  in  face  of  any  opposition  which  might 
come  from  the  guns  of  Tynemouth  castle.  The  ship  waited  in  vain. 
Charles  had  failed  to  make  his  way  out  of  Newcastle. 

Skippon  was  already  on  his  way  north.  He  reached  Newcastle  on 
January  30th,  1647,  the  Scottish  rearguard  quitting  the  town  the  same 
afternoon.  On  the  following  day  he  informed  the  Speaker  of  the  House 
of  Lords : 

'  Arch.  Ael.  vol.  xxi.  p.  123,  quoting  Perfect  Occurrences,  September  4th  to  i  nh. 
■  Commons  Journuls,  vol.  v.  p.  2.  '  Ibid.  p.  10.  '  Ibiil.  p.  22. 

'  Arch.  Act.  vol.  xxi.  p.  133,  quoting  Diulinus  DriUinicus,  November  25tli  to  December  2nd. 
•  Ibid.  p.  134,  quoting  Moderate  Intelligencer,  December  loth  to  17th. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  I9I 

I  have  received  an  express  fioni  liim  whom  I  commanded  to  receive  ihe  castle  of  Tynmoiith  that 
the  same  was  fairly  and  quietly  delivered  into  our  possession  about  six  of  the  clock  last  night;  and  I 
doubt  not,  through  the  blessing  of  (}od,  but  that,  as  things  have  happily  succeeded  hitherto  between  our 
brethren  an<l  us,  so  there  will  be  such  an  issue  of  the  same  as  will  be  to  the  good  of  both  kingdoms.' 

Parliament  resolved,  on  March  ist,  that  a  garrison  of  three  hundred 
foot  should  be  kept  in  Tynemouth  castle  and  its  outworks.-  At  the  end 
of  the  month  Skippon  was  called  up  to  London  and  ordered  to  depute  one 
in  his  place  to  take  charge  of  Tynemouth  and  Newcastle.' 

Parliament  was  face  to  face  witli  a  discontented  and  ill-paid  armv. 
The  soldiers  of  Skippon's  regiment  shared  in  the  general  feeling' when  free 
from  the  moderating  influence  of  their  general.  John  Cosyn,  a  Puritan 
alderman  of  Newcastle,  writing  on  June  7th,  said  of  them:  'As  yet  they 
come  not  to  doe  anything  vissible,  but  certainly  as  soone  as  they  receive 
the  word,  they  will  secure  this  towne  and  the  castle  of  Tinmouth  in  a 
moment.     For  mv  part  I   looke  for  it  everv  day.'^ 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  House  of  Commons,  when  |nirged  of  its 
leading  Presbyterian  members,  was  to  order  one  month's  pay  upon  account 
to  the  forces  at  Newcastle  and  Tynemouth.* 

Later  in  the  year,  Sir  Arthur  Hesilrige,  a  staunch  Independent,  was 
nominated  by  Lord  Fairfax  to  be  governor  of  the  two  northern  garrisons, 
his  appointment  being  ratified  by  the  Commons  on  December  30th,  when 
thanks  were  voted  to  Skippon  for  his  services  in  that  quarter."  Hesilrige 
had  two  regiments  of  foot  at  Newcastle,  from  which  he  drew  four  companies 
to  garrison  Tynemouth.  On  March  21st,  164S,  certain  sums  of  money  were 
allotted  by  Parliament  to  be  paid  over  to  the  mayor  of  Newcastle  for 
repair  of  the  fortifications  about  the  town  of  Newcastle  and  the  castle  of 
Tynemouth,  in  such  inanner  as  Sir  Arthur  Hesilrige  should  direct.'  A 
month  later,  as  the  case  was  urgent,  it  was  resolved  that  five  thousand 
pounds  should  be  raised  and  advanced  forthwith  for  this  object.* 

In  the  same  autumn  the  second  Civil  War  broke  out.  Sir  Marmaduke 
Langdale  received  a  commission  from  the  Prince  of  Wales  for  recovering 
the  five  northern  counties  for  the  Royalists.  '  I  had,'  he  afterwards  narrated, 
'intelligence  with  the  governor  of  Tynemouth  castle,  who,  by  means  of 
his  majesty's  friends  in  those  parts,  was  persuaded  to  declare  for  the  king 

'  Lords  Journals,  vol.  viii.  p.  700.  -  Commons  Jouriuits,  vol.  v.  p.  102.  '  Ibid.  p.  129. 

Clarke  Papers,  Camden  Soc.  vol.  i.  p.  126.     Welford,  Men  of  Mark,  vol.  i.  p.  630. 
'' Commons  Journals,  \o\.\. -p.  21!^.  , /tirf.  pp.  410,  41 1.  ' /fc/rf.  p.  506.  ' /*i./.  p.  544. 


192  TYNEMOUTH     PARISH. 

and  to  accept  of  a  coiiimission  from  me.''  The  officer  in  question  was 
Lieut. -Col.  Henry  Lilburn,  deputy  to  Hesilrige.  His  defection  was 
altogether  une.xpected.  '  He  was  governor  of  that  castle,'  Hesilrige  said 
of  him,  '  before  1  had  command  of  it.  He  hath  been  in  the  Parliament's 
service  since  the  beginning  of  the  wars,  and  under  mv  command  near  seven 
years  since.  He  was  ever  verv  active  and  faithful  for  the  Parliament,  and 
known  to  be  a  valiant  man.  He  did  not  give  the  least  suspition  of  being 
a  traitor  to  the  Parliament  till  the  day  of  his  revolt.'  The  story  of  the  loss 
and  recapture  is  best  told  in   Hesilrige's  own  words. 

Yesterday  between  2  and  3  of  the  clock  in  the  afternoon,  Lieut. -Col.  Lilburn,  being  deputy-governor 
of  that  castle,  commanded  most  of  the  ofTicers  upon  several  services  out  of  the  castle,  and  then  armed 
and  set  at  liberty  the  prisoners,  and  plucked  up  the  drawbridge,  and  told  the  soldiers,  that  he  would 
pistol  every  soldier  that  would  not  be  for  himself  and  King  Charles.  Whereupon  many  ran  over  the 
works,'  and  a  very  honest  and  faithful  corporal,  refusing  to  deliver  up  his  arms  to  him  upon  those  terms, 
he  thrust  him  through  the  body  and  killed  him.  And  immediately  he  shot  otT  several  pieces  of  ordnance, 
declaring  that  he  kept  the  castle  for  King  Charles,  and  sent  to  the  Sheels  and  other  adjacent  towns,  and 
made  proclamation  for  all  that  loved  him  and  King  Charles  to  come  to  the  castle  for  his  assistance ;  antl 
many  seamen  and  others  came  to  him  immediately. 

So  soon  as  I  heard  the  sad  news  of  his  trayterous  revolt,  I  commanded  a  very  considerable  body  of 
foot  to  be  drawn  out  of  the  regiments  in  this  garrison,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Ashfield,  and 
sent  also  one  hundred  dragoons  with  them.  I  sent  also  many  ladders  down  by  water  and  gave  orders  to 
storm  the  castle  that  night  whatsoever  hapncd. 

Between  one  and  two  of  the  clock  this  morning  they  drew  near  to  the  castle.  Lieut.-Col.  Lilburn 
fired  four  pieces  of  ordnance  upon  them  as  they  came  up.  Major  Cobbet  led  on  the  forlorn  hope.  They 
took  no  notice  at  all  of  the  canon,  but,  when  they  came  within  twenty  yards  of  the  works,  bringing  their 
ladders  with  them,'  they  gave  a  great  shout  and  fell  on.  The  works  are  exceeding  high,  and,  though 
their  ladders  were  long  they  could  not  easily  get  up ;  the  enemy  still,  as  they  mounted,  with  pikes  and 
gunners'  ladles  pushed  them  down.  Some  storming  at  the  gunholes,  the  enemy  were  forced  to  come  so 
high  upon  the  works  that  our  soldiers  underneath  shot  them  into  the  bellies  and  killed  divers  of  thcni  ; 
but  at  last  ours  mounted  the  works,  recovered  the  castle,  and  killed  many  sea-men  and  others  ;  and, 
amongst  the  number  that  were  slain,  they  found  Lieut.-Col.  Lilburn.' 

The  castle  had  been  recaptured  with  the  loss  of  only  three  wounded 
and  one  slain  on  the  side  of  the  attacking  party.'^  Lilburn's  head  was  cut 
off  and  set  up  on  the  castle,  and  his  property  was  confiscated. °  Hesilrige 
received  a  letter  of  thanks  from  Parliament  for  his  energy  and  promptitude." 

'  Ciil.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1651-1652,  p.  388. 

■  Amongst  them  was  Captain  Henry  Goodyeare  (of  Auckland  in  Durham),  who  carried  off  eighty 
soldiers  with  him  to  Newcastle  and  returned  to  take  part  in  the  attack.  Cat.  Committee  for  Aiivanee 
of  Money,  p.  1234. 

'August  2 1  St,  1648.  Paid  to  Captain  Rogers,  which  Lieut.-Col.  Ashfield  promised  the  soldiers  for 
carrying  ladders  to  the  storming  Tynemouth  castle,  to  33  soldiers,  3s.  per  man  ;  ^4  19s.  State  Papers, 
Domestic,  Commonwealth,  Exchequer,  Bundle  133. 

'  Hesilrige's  letter,  which  was  printed  by  order  of  the  House  of  Commons  {Commoiisjonrnals,  vol.  v. 
p.  670),  has  been  republished  in  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xv.  pp.  221-223. 

'  Rushworth,  Collections,  pt.  iv.  vol.  ii.  p.  1226.  '  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1660-1661,  p.  250. 

■  Ibid.  1 648- 1 649,  p.  244. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTI.E.  I93 

'  Let  this  gallantry  of  Sir  Arthur  Heslerig  and  the  stormers,'  said  a 
pamphleteer  of  the  time,  '  never  be  forgotten.  Let  London  especialy 
remember  this,  for  unlesse  so  happily  regained,  no  more  coles  could  be 
expected  this  year.     Treachery  was  never  yet  unpunished.'  ' 

Colonel  George  Fenwick  of  Brinkburn  was  put  in  command,  and  four 
companies  of  foot  were  raised  to  replace  Lilburn's  soldiers.'  The  new 
garrison  joined  with  those  of  Newcastle,  Hartlepool  and  Holy  Island, 
in  a  petition  presented  to  Fairfax  on  November  14th.'  In  this  they 
demanded  that  the  king  should  be  speedily  called  to  justice  as  'the 
principal  author,  contriver,  abettor,  manager,  of  all  the  bloodshed, 
massacries,  devastations,  and  whatsoever  ruines  have  befaln  not  only  this 
kingdom  but  also  that  of  Ireland.'  '  All  endeavours,'  they  affirmed,  '  for 
the  bringing  of  other  instruments  and  incendiaries  to  condign  punishment, 
while  the  grand  delinquent  is  untouched,  are  to  little  purpose,  as  being  not 
an  acceptable  sacrifice  to  the  justice  of  God,  to  offer  him  ought  else  while 
the  Agag  is  spared.' 

Few  local  records  are  to  be  found  of  the  adventurous  six  years  which 
have  just  been  described  in  their  relation  to  Tynemouth.  During  the 
Scottish  occupation  Leven  held  the  earl  of  Northumberland's  demesnes  and 
the  rent  known  as  '  hall  corn  '  to  his  own  use.  The  tenants  were  subjected 
to  quartering  of  troops.  Ralph  Gardner  of  Chirton  estimated  his  losses  in 
this  respect  at  eleven  hundred  pounds,  namely,  the  royalists  five  hundred, 
the  Scots  four  hundred,  and  the  parliamentarians  two  hundred  pounds. 
Those  who  were  coalowners  were  compelled  to  provide  the  garrison  with 
coal  free  of  charge.'*  As  parishioners  they  were  deprived  of  the  use  of 
their  church,  which  fell  completely  into  ruin,  and  were  forced  to  bury  their 
dead  elsewhere.^ 

On  February  i6th,  1649,  Parliament  directed  the  committee  of  the 
army  to  take  into  consideration  the  supply  of  stores  for  the  garrisons  of 
Newcastle,  Tynemouth,  Berwick  and  Carlisle,  to  settle  an  establishment 
for  those  garrisons,  and  to  consider  what  lands  and  revenues  had  formerly 

'  A  Bloody  Fight  at  Tiiimouth  Castle,  reprinted  in  Proc.  Sac.  Ant.  Nr.icasth;  3rd  series,  vol.  ii.  pp.  23-25. 
■  State  Papers,  Domestic,  Commonwealth,  Exchequer,  Bundle  240. 
'  Given  in  Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  ii.,  as  a  separate  tract. 
*  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

=■  Tynemouth  Churchwardens'  Books.     There  is  a  break  in  the  parish  register  of  marriages  and  burials 
extending  from  January,  1644,  to  May,  1646. 

Vol.  \-in.  -S 


194 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


belonged  to  them.'  Among  other  sums  allowed  to  them  was  a  temporary 
tax  of  four  shillings  per  chaldron  of  coal,  payable  at  Newcastle,  and  other 
charges  both  on  imported  and  exported  coal,  which  were  imposed  for  the 
supply  and  fortification  of  the  four  castles.'^  A  magazine,  under  the  charge 
of  a  storekeeper,  was  established  at  Tyncmouth,^  which  also  served  as  a 
state  prison,  several  Scottish  prisoners  being  sent  thither  after  Worcester 
light. ^  Upon  the  appointment  of  Colonel  Fenwick  in  1649  to  the  governor- 
ship of  Berwick,  Captain  Robert  Blunt  succeeded  to  the  Tynemouth 
command.  He  received  two  shillings  a  dav  out  of  the  five  shillings  allowed 
to  Hesilrige  as  governor  of  Tynemouth  and  Newcastle.  The  usual  weekly 
pay  of  each  of  the  four  companies  amounted  to    /31    14s.  8d.^ 

Various  efforts  were  made  by  royalist  refugees  to  win  over  the  troops 
at  Tynemouth.  A  certain  William  Slade  was  committed  to  prison  in  1650 
for  endeavouring  to  draw  the  officers  into  disobedience  against  their 
commander."  Nicholas  Armorer  of  Belford  suggested  to  Sir  Marmaduke 
Langdale  in  1652  a  scheme  for  seizing  Newcastle  and  Tynemouth  with  the 
help  of  the  Dutch.'  During  the  war  with  Holland  then  in  progress,  a  fleet 
was  stationed  off  the  Tyne  for  the  protection  of  the  coal-trafiic,  though 
that  did  not  prevent  De  Witt  making  an  attempt  to  raid  a  fleet  of  colliers 
in  April,  1653.  Owing  to  a  mistake  in  a  signal  given,  twenty  of  his  best 
sail  ran  in  under  Tynemouth  castle  and  got  oflT  again  with  difliculty, 
receiving  many  shot  from  the  English  guns.** 

During  the  year  1654  a  scheme  was  hatching  for  a  general  royalist 
rising  throughout  England.  Armorer  was  again  active.  He  wrote  to  Sir 
lulward  Hyde  that  he  must  have  ;^I50  for  Tynemouth,  'which  will  put 
that  place  in  a  good  and  thriving  condition.' '  A  few  days  later  he  reported 
that  '  if  anything  of  man  be  certain,  we  shall  go  near  to  make  Tynemouth 
do  what  the  king  desires.''" 

Major  Topping,  the  commander,  appears  to  have  been  in  ignorance 
of  what  was  passing.     But  in   February,  1655,  information  with  regard  to 

'  Commons  Journals,  vol.  vi.  p.  144.  -  Ibid.  vol.  vi.  p.  210. 

''  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1651-1652,  p.  559  ;   1659-1660,  p.  48. 

*  Ibitt.  1651-1652,  p.  64.     They  were  released  by  order  of  the  Council  of  State,  October  31st,  1653. 
Ibid.  1653-1654,  p.  224. 

^  State  Papers,  Domestic,  CommoiiHealth,  Exchequer,  Bundles  133  and  240.     In  1659  the  pay  of  the 
governor  of  Tynemouth  amounted  to  4s.  per  diem.     Harleian  MSS.  No.  6844. 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1650,  p.  90.  =  Cal.  Clarendon  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  149. 

»  Marquis  oj  Ormondes  MSS.  Kilkenny  Castle,  new  series,  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  vol.  i.  p.  288. 

"  Cal.  Clarendon  Papers,  vol.  ii.  p.  336.  "  Ibid. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  I  95 

the  conspiracy  came  into  the  hands  of  Cromwell  and  his  ministers.  Writing 
on  March  8th,  the  very  day  on  which  the  insurrection  was  to  break  out, 
Topping  told  Secretary  Thurloe,  '  Newcastle  men  will  not  believe  there  is 
any  plot.'  Several  of  the  Erringtons  and  other  northern  gentry  were 
suspected,  but  'nothing  can  be  found  by  them,  they  are  so  secret.'  The 
previous  evening,  the  '  Elizabeth  '  of  Newcastle  had  come  from  Antwerp 
into  Shields  harbour  with  a  lad  of  nineteen  on  board,  Robert  Marley  by 
name,  son  of  Sir  John  Marley  who  had  been  governor  of  Newcastle  during 
the  siege.  Topping  had  him  searched,  but  found  no  letters  on  him,  '  only 
an  ould  peice  of  paper  with  some  verses  writ,  and  in  four  places  begune  the 
verse  with  "God  damne  me  ".'* 

A  wedding  party  had  been  fi.xed  for  the  8th  at  Duddo,  in  the  parish 
of  Stannington,  and  guests  were  bidden  there  'to  wash  the  bridegroom's 
head.'  They  came  horsed  and  armed.  With  Thomas  Carnaby  as  their 
leader  they  were  to  march  on  Newcastle  that  night  and  enter  by  the 
Sandgate.  Willoughby  and  Cholmley  had  undertaken  to  seize  Gateshead  ; 
one  of  the  Delavals  was  to  lead  three  troops  in  at  the  Westgate.  News  that 
a  fleet  of  three  hundred  sail  had  entered  the  Tvne  came  to  baffle  their 
design,  and  the  party  marched  away  westward.' 

A  second  party  of  royalists  mustered  at  Morpeth.  Colonel  Howard, 
marching  from  Berwick  with  three  hundred  foot,  surprised  them  there. 
Thev  confessed  to  having  intended  to  seize  Tvnemouth  castle,  whither  ten 
or  eleven  of  their  leaders  were  promptlv  sent  under  escort.'  In  a  letter 
of  the  17th,  directed  to  Thurloe,  Topping  described  the  worn-out  state  of 
his  soldiers  : 

Wee  have  1 1  contray  gentlemen  prisoners,  who  are  suspected  persons  ;  and  I  expect  more  to  be  sent 
in  this  day.  Wee  have  two  companyes  into  this  garrison,  consisting  of  70  men  in  a  company.  Yesterday 
I  sent  thirty  men,  comanded  by  captain  Simpson,  to  secure  the  castle,  untill  130  men,  who  are  on  their 
march  from  Barwicke,  come  to  secure  the  towne  alsoe.  Wee  were  on  the  third  night's  duty  before  I  sent 
this  party  away;  and  indeed  this  place  is  as  cold,  standing  into  the  sea,  as  any  place  1  ever  came  to, 
which  causes  our  soldiers  to  falle  sicke,  and  will  weaken  us  muche  if  thecentinells  go  on  ever)-  third  hour, 
as  nowe  they  doe.  Lord's  day  last  a  party  of  the  ca\eleares,  about  60,  were  in  armes  neere  .Morpeth, 
and  yesterday  captain  Lilburne  was  upon  his  march  to  fall  upon  a  party  of  caveleares,  got  together  at 
Barnye-castle.  .All  these  things  considered,  I  thought  it  my  duty,  to  request  you  inform  his  highness 
therewith,  that,  if  it  seeme  good,  a  greater  number  of  men  may  be  allowed  to  secure  this  place,  for  here 
was  never  soe  small  a  number,  untill  the  yearc  52,  in  all  the  late  warrs.  ...  I  am  unwilling,  yet  if  I  doe 
not  make  it  knowne,  it  may  redound  to  my  shame  :  we  cannot  subsist  without  a  constant  supply  of 

'  Tliiirlo^s  Stale  Papers,  ed.  Birch,  vol.  iii.  p.  207.  "  Ibid.  p.  216. 

'  Clarke  Papers,  vol.  iii.  pp.  zy,  29.     Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1655,  p.  409. 


ig6  TVNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

money  ;  our  soldiers  are  i6  weeks  pay  beliinde  ;  and  it  made  us  poore,  because  we  live  upon  one 
another.  I  have  lent  the  other  company  out  of  my  own  purse  50/.,  and  we  are  in  as  much  want  as  ever. 
Barwickc  and  Carlisle  can  borrow,  or  provide  otherwise  ;  it  is  not  soe  w  ith  us.  I  blcssc  God,  we  are 
all  contented ;  and  I  heare  noc  inquictnesse  ;  but  want  of  pay  hatli  bcgott  mutinycs,  and  1  feare  the 
worst.' 

Though  considerablv  reduced  in  1652,  the  co.st  of  iiKiiiUainino;  a  garri- 
son at  Tvnemoiith  was  hcavv,  amounting  in  Jiilv,  iC'55,  tt)  /  199  5s.  4cl. 
per  month."  By  an  order  dated  xVugust  lotli  of  that  year,  the  establisiinient 
was  further  limited  to  fifty  sentinels.^ 

The  failure  of  the  general  rising  did  not  put  an  end  to  royalist  intrigue. 
Lady  Appolonia  Hall,  who  was  employed  as  an  agent  by  the  e.xiles  of  the 
Hague,  betrayed  her  trust  in  1656,  and  disclosed  further  designs  on  Tyne- 
mouth.  According  to  her  statement,  the  castle  was  to  be  betrayed  to  the 
use  of  Charles  Stuart  ;  Major  Towlehurst  had  had  conference  with  one 
Marley  for  that  purpose  ;  Mr.  Clavering  and  Adam  Shipperdson  were  to 
contriv^e  a  way  from  the  coal-pits,  about  two  miles  distant,  underground 
into  the  castle,  and  so  to  supply  the  garrison  with  provisions  in  the  event 
of  its  declaring  for  the  king  and   having  to  stand  a  siege. ^ 

At  the  close  of  1659  the  military  and  constitutional  parties  in  the 
Commonwealth  came  into  conflict.  Major-General  Lambert,  after  expelling 
Parliament  from  Westminster,  marched  north  in  November  to  Newcastle, 
that  town  and  the  two  companies  then  stationed  at  Tynemouth  immedi- 
ately declaring  for  him.^  The  soldiers  of  the  castle  assembled  in  the  old 
church  to  sign  an  engagement  to  stand  by  Lambert,  when  part  of  the 
building  fell  in  and  killed  five  or  si.x  of  them.*'  The  accident  seemed 
ominous.  November  and  December  passed  in  fruitless  negotiation  between 
Lambert  and  General  Monk,  who  placed  his  veteran  army  upon  the  Scottish 
border,  ready,  when  the  time  came,  to  enforce  parliamentary  supremacy  by 
the  sword.  On  New  Year's  Day,  1660,  Monk  crossed  the  Tweed  at  Cold- 
stream, and  Lambert's  men  at  once  fell  away  from  their  leader,  who  escaped 
south. 

As  soon  as  the  news  of  Monk's  action  reached  Durham,  pistols,  swords, 
bandeleers,  pikes  and  muskets  were  despatched  from  that  castle  to  Tyne- 

'  Thurloc's  State  Papers,  vol.  iii.  p.  262.        '  Cal.  State  Papers,  Dumestic,  1655,  p.  239.        '  Ibid.  p.  279. 

'  Thurloc's  State  Papers,  vol.  v.  p.  572.     The  information  was  certainly  inaccurate  ;   Major  Towlehurst 
was  governor  of  Carlisle  and  not  of  Tynemouth. 

'  Clarke  Papers,  vol.  iv.  p.  i  iS. 

"  lirand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  iiS,  quoting  Mercuritis  Briltanicus,  December  23rd,  1659,  to  January 
3rd,  1660. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE. 


197 


mouth/  but  they  were  not  needed,  for  on  the  same  day  (Monday,  January 
2nd),  Major  Topping  and  the  officers  under  him  declared  for  Monk  and 
the  Parliament,  their  example  being  followed  the  next  day  by  the  rank  and 
file.-  Monk  meanwhile  advanced  to  Wooler  on  Monday,  and  sent  forward 
Colonel  Knight,  with  three  troops  of  horse  to  Newcastle,  which  they 
entered  at  six  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning.  Knight  was  able  to  announce 
that  Tynemouth  had  declared  for  the  Parliament,  his  letter  reaching  Monk 
at  Morpeth  on  Wednesday.  The  general  requested  his  subordinate  to  get 
the  soldiers  to  march  out  of  the  castle  at  once,  and  he  would  appoint 
quarters  for  them  in  the  country.''  On  Thursday,  the  5th,  Monk  was  in 
Newcastle,  quitting  it  on  Friday  for  Durham.  Apparently  there  were 
rumours  that  Topping's  surrender  was  insincere,  for,  on  the  6th,  Monk 
received  two  letters,  one  from  the  inhabitants  of  Newcastle,  praying  that 
Tynemouth  castle,  '  the  key  of  the  trade  of  that  place,'  might  be  committed 
to  an  approved  commander  ;  the  other  from  the  soldiers  at  Tynemouth 
castle,  denying  the  report  that  their  governor  was  about  to  revolt  from  his 
obedience  to  the  Parliament.^ 

Monk's  march  south  to  London  led  directly  to  the  restoration  of 
monarchy  and  the  return  of  Charles  II.  The  position  of  parties  was  re- 
versed. Hesilrige  was  brought  to  trial  with  the  other  regicides  and  found 
guilty.  Only  Monk's  interposition,  and  the  fact  that  he  had  stood  aloof  from 
Lambert  at  a  time  when  '  his  conjunction  with  him  might  have  hazarded 
the  hope  of  all,'  saved  him  from  the  penalty  of  death.'  Algernon,  tenth 
earl  of  Northumberland,  and  his  son  Joscelin,  Lord  Percy,  received  a  grant 
of  the  office  of  captain  of  Tynemouth  castle ; "  the  post  of  governor,  to 
which  alone  real  duties  were  attached,  being  allotted  to  Colonel  Edward 
Villiers,  nephew  of  the  first  duke  of  Buckingham.  Two  companies  of  foot 
were  raised  to  form  a  garrison,  and  the  monthly  sum  of  ^261  6s.  8d.  was 
appointed  to  be  paid  to  them.' 

'  Bishop  Cosin's  Correspondence,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  55,  p.  89.     Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1661-1662,  p.  271. 

"  Duke  of  Portland's  MSS.  Hist.  IVIS.S.  Com.  vol.  i.  p.  692.  Letter  of  John  Topping  and  others  to 
VVilHam  Lenthall,  January  5th,  1660.  This  corrects  Gumble's  statement  (Life  of  General  Monk,  1671, 
p.  205)  that  the  soldiers  of  Tynemouth  castle  secured  the  governor  and  other  officers  and  brought  them 
to  the  general. 

'  Sir  Wnt.  FitzherberVs  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  13th  report,  appendix,  pt.  vi.  p.  3.  Letter  of  General 
Monk  to  Colonel  Knight,  January  4th,  1660.     Cp.  Clarke  Papers,  vol.  iv.  p.  238. 

'  Mr.  Leyhorne-Pophamh  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  p.  139.  '  Clarke  Papers,  vol.  iv.  p.  302. 

'  Pat.  Rolls,  January  19th,  1661.     Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1660-1661,  p.  497. 
'  Privy  Seal,  January  15th,  12  Chas.  II.     Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xviii.  p.  74. 


198  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  disbanded  forces  which  hiy  about  Newcastle,  the  sectarians  and 
the  Tvneside  merchants  who  had  risen  to  power  during  the  Connnonvvealth, 
furnished  elements  for  future  conflagration  on  which,  as  William  Delaval 
told  a  London  friend,  'the  pulpit  blew  sparks.''  There  were  rumours  in 
July,  1662,  of  an  intended  general  rising  in  the  north,  and  Lord  Fauconberg 
ordered  Sir  John  Marlev  to  have  an  eye  to  Tynemouth,  for  Captain  Thomas 
Love,  the  deputy-governor  there,  was  keeping  the  old  chaplain  and  many 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  Commonwealth  army."  Sporadic  risings  took  ])lace 
in  October,  1663,  but  were  easilv  suppressed.  Captain  Leving,  one  of  the 
rebels,  confessed  that  Love  had  been  tampered  with  and  would  betray  the 
place  for  gain.^ 

A  traveller  to  Tynemouth,  Marmaduke  Rawdon  of  York,  has  described 
the  castle  as  he  saw  it   on   September    13th,    1664  : 

A  lar^e  and  slroiif^e  place  itt  is,  situated  iippoii  a  rock  over  the  sea,  att  the  very  nioiitli  of  the  river 
Tine.  Itt  is  well  forlefied,  haith  very  good  guns,  and  a  good  guard  of  soldiers  that  doe  constantly  keepe 
itt,  of  which  was  then  captain  a  worthy  gentleman,  captain  Guillims,  who  was  of  thosse  that  killed 
.■\schani,  Oliver's  ambassador  in  Madrid.  Ther  is  within  itt  a  prettie  faire  church  gon  much  to  decay, 
but  since,  I  heare,  repaired.  Itt  haith  a  bowlinge  grecne  and  convenient  howses  for  thosse  that  live 
theirin.  Itt  haith  a  faire  watch-tower  lately  built,  where  every  night  all  the  yeare  longe  their  is  a  greate 
coale  fire  made  to  be  a  guide  to  ships  that  saile  into  that  port.  One  Collonel  Moyer,  a  greate  slider  in 
Oliver's  time,  was  here  prisner.' 

\'arious  sums  were  paid  to  Colonel  Villiers  in  1663  for  repairs  effected 
on  the  castle.*  In  May,  1665,  the  king  requested  the  citizens  of  Newcastle 
to  contribute  towards  the  cost  of  repairing  and  fortifying  the  castle,  for 
the  security  of  their  town  and  trade  during  the  war  with  Holland,  and  thus 
to  relieve  him  of  an  expense  not  convenient  in  the  great  and  pressing 
occasions  of  the  war.''  Two  hundred  pounds  was  accordingly  voted  by  the 
Common   Council.'' 

Tlure  was  danger  of  the  Dutcli  joining  hands  with  the  malcontents 
at  home.  Sir  John  Marley  informed  Clarendon  in  September  that  the  ill- 
affected  party  at   Newcastle    were    high    and   vigilant.     '  If  things    fall  out 

'  Oil.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  i66o-i66r,  p.  470.  -  Ibht.  1661-1662,  p.  441. 

'  //)/(/.  1663-1664,  p.  615.  The  plot  was  known  under  many  names,  and  in  Durham  was  celebrated 
as  the  Muggleswick  I'lot,  for  ;in  account  of  which  see  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  pp.  3S9-392,  and  Depositions 
from  York  Castle,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  40. 

'  Life  of  Mannaciuke  Rawdon,  Camden  Soc.  p.  1 43. 

^  Cal.  Treasury  Books,  1660-1667,  P-  532.     Cal.  Slate  Papers,  Domestic,  1663-1664,  pp.  100,  146. 

"  Ibid.  1664-1665,  p.  384. 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  uy,  citing  Common  Council  Books,  June  2Slh,  1665. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTI.E.  1 99 

Otherwise,'  he  said,  '  nothing  but  a  governor  and  a  strong  garrison  can 
prevent  Newcastle  being  delivered  into  the  enemy's  hands.'  A  fortnight 
later  it  was  rumoured  that  a  plot  was  forming  among  the  garrisons  of 
Berwick  and  Tynemouth/  '  The  fanatics  at  Shields,  where  there  is  a  nest 
of  them,'  said  another  letter-writer,  'pray  and  hope  for  deliverance  by  the 
Dutch  and  French.'  ^  As  the  war  proceeded,  men's  nerves  were  on  the 
tension.  An  Ipswich  mariner,  sailing  to  the  north  of  Shields,  saw  'appear- 
ances in  the  heavens  of  ships,  first  one  or  two,  then  three  or  four,  which 
vanished  ;  then  the  hull  of  a  great  ship  without  masts,  and  at  last  a  fleet  of 
ships,  one  of  which  was  a  very  great  ship,  with  hull,  masts,  vards,  vanes,  etc., 
all  discernible;'  the  apparition  was  'much  credited,  but  most  among  the 
fanatics.'*  Orders  were  sent  to  the  governors  of  the  seaside  forts,  including 
Tynemonth,  to  have  their  works  repaired  and  victualled  for  two  months, 
and  to  fill  up  the  allotted  number  of  soldiers,  in  face  of  a  coming  invasion.* 
Meanwhile  round  about  Newcastle  '  quakers  and  other  sectaries  met  often, 
and  in  greater  numbers  than  formerly,  and  little  care  was  taken  to 
hinder  them."' 

Upon  June  I2th,  1667,  the  Dutch  sailed  up  the  Medway  and  burned 
three  men-of-war  lying  anchored  in  the  river.  For  a  few  days  England  was 
in  a  state  of  panic.  '  People  are  distracted  and  at  their  wits'  end  with  the 
sad  news,'  Richard  Forster  wrote  from  Newcastle:  'the  people  generally 
give  up  the  place  for  lost,  and  daily  apprehend  the  enemy's  landing  ;  they 
cry  that  all  is  lost  for  want  of  care.' '  Fortunately  a  battery,  recentlv 
completed  at  Tynemouth,  gave  some  protection  to  the  shipping  at  Shields, 
and  Colonel  Villiers  and  Sir  Ralph  Delaval  got  the  shipmasters  to  man  si.x 
Newcastle  shallops  and  some  long  boats.  Three  hundred  volunteer  horse- 
men were  raised  in  the  county,  of  whom  Villiers  remarked  that  '  they  may 
do  good  service  in  frightening  an  enemy  at  a  distance.'  * 

At  the  end  of  the  month  the  earl  of  Carlisle  reached  Tynemouth, 
having  been  appointed  lieutenant-general  of  all  militia  forces  and  of  all 
towns  and  garrisons  in  the  four  northern  counties."     Thither  came  also  the 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1664-1665,  p.  547. 

'-'  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  12th  report,  appendix,  pt.  vii.  p.  38. 

=  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1665- 1666,  p.  270.  '  Ibid.  p.  5S3.  »  Ibid.  p.  461. 

"  Ibid.  1666-1667,  p.  116.  ■  Ibid.  1667,  p.  205. 

"  Ibid.  p.  220.     The  battery  is  perhaps  the  half-moon  battery,  which  was  to  the  east  of  the  lord's 
lodging  and  is  traditionally  supposed  to  have  been  erected  in  the  civil  wars.  '  Ibid.  p.  20S. 


200  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

earl  of  Ogle,  governor  of  Newcastle,  and  Lord  Widdrington,  governor  of 
Berwick,  with  a  volunteer  troop  of  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  twenty 
horse,  '  most  of  them  the  best  gentry  in  the  county.' '  Four  companies  of 
guards  marched  from  Berwick  to  Tynemouth  castle.'  Lord  Ogle  was  busy 
raising  a  regiment  and  fi)uncl  no  difficulty  in  getting  volunteers.  Villiers 
reported,  'the  number  could  easily  have  been  doubled,  that  being  the 
best  part  of  England  for  raising  foot.' '  '  Men  are  so  willing,'  Forster 
wrote,  '  to  serve  against  a  proud  insulting  enemy  like  the  Dutch.' ''  On 
July  1st,  the  regiment  was  mustered  upon  Killingworth  moor.*  The  earl 
of  Carlisle  actively  proceeded  with  the  defence  of  the  Tyne.  Ships  were 
ready  to  be  sunk  if  needful,  and  two  fireships  and  other  guardships  were 
anchored  at  the  harbour  mouth.  On  Julv  4th  he  was  able  to  announce 
that  no  attempt  by  water  need  be  feared." 

All  at  Newcastle  were  'mad  for  peace.''  The  news  that  reached 
England  on  July  26th  that  peace  had  actually  been  concluded  was 
received   everywhere  with    enthusiasm. 

Joscelin,  eleventh  earl  of  Northumberland,  dying  on  May  21st,  1670, 
the  captaincy  of  Tynemouth  castle  was  granted,  by  warrant  dated  June 
16th,  to  Colonel  Villiers.''  A  second  warrant,  issued  on  June  2Sth, 
abolished  the  office  but  continued  to  Villiers  his  present  fees." 

The  third  Dutch  war  (167 2- 1674)  provided  no  such  exciting  incidents 
as  the  second  war  had  done.  When  it  broke  out  Villiers  was  appointed 
lieutenant-governor  of  Newcastle,  with  powers  to  command  all  ships  and 
seamen  in  the  river,  and,  if  necessary,  to  sink  ships  for  security.'"  A  new 
fort  just  completed  at  Shields,  and  named  after  Lord  Clifford  of  Cabal  fame, 
added  to  the  security  of  the  Tyne.  The  garrison  at  Tynemouth  was 
temporarily  increased  to  three  companies  by  the  addition  of  a  company 
from  Carlisle." 

'  Cal.  Stnti  Papers,  Domestic,  1667,  p.  242.  The  officeis  in  Lord  Witldiington's  Uoop  were  :  captain, 
Lord  Widdrington  ;  lieutenant,  Sir  \Vm.  lUakeston  ;  cornet,  Jo.  Thornton  ;  quartermaster,  Ralph  Read. 
Hiid.  p.  182. 

-  Ibid.  p.  241.  "  Ibid.  p.  255.  '  Ihid.  p.  2S9. 

'  Its  officers  were:  colonel,  earl  of  Ogle;  lieut.-colonel.,  Edw.  Villiers;  major,  Wm.  Strolher  ; 
captains,  earl  of  Ogle,  Edw.  Villiers,  Wm.  Strother,  Robt.  IJclaval,  Jo.  Strother,  Thos.  Haggerston,  .Sir 
Jo.  Swinburne,  Roger  Widdrington,  Jo.  Digby,  Fr.  Sandvs  ;  lieutenants,  Rob.  Anderson,  Jo.  Price, 
Lance.  Ord,  Mich.  Whitehead,  Rolj.  Marley,  Jo.  Grey,  R'al])h  Kutherforth,  Jo.  Forster,  Rob.  Sutton, 
Edw.  Tourney  ;  ensigns,  VV.  Erington,  Rog.  Mollineux,  Wm.  Armorer,  Fr.  Read,  Edw.  Widdrington, 
Lance  Errmgton,  Allan  Swinborne,  Ralph  Widdrington,  Jo.  Walker,  Geo.  Sandys.     Ibid.  p.  180. 

"  Ibid.  p.  266.  '  Ibid.  p.  286.  »  Ibid.  1660-1670,  pp.  280,  406.  °  Il>id.  p.  302. 

'"  Ibid.  1671-1672,  p.  252.  "  Ibid.  1672,  pp.  408,  669. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE. 


20 1 


On  May  2nd,  1674,  a  warrant  was  issued  for  a  grant  to  Colonel  Villiers, 
for  ninety-nine  years  at  the  yearly  rent  of  five  shillings,  of  the  ground 
adjoining  to  the  lighthouse  erected  by  him  within  the  castle,  whereon  he 
had  built  a  house  at  the  cost  of  eleven  hundred  pounds,  the  better  to 
enable  him  and  his  heirs  to  maintain  the  lighthouse  in  order,  and  also  of 
the  waste  ground  within  the  castle,  whereon  he  had  begun  the  rebuilding 
of  an  old  ruinated  church,  which  he  had  promised  to  finish  at  his  own 
charge  ;    with  a  proviso  that  he  should  not   by  his   building  prejudice   the 


j/ie  llMfKc/ f^differPj'/^rf  J^mtii  /ifc  fltc//:~' 


Cliffori/'s  Fort,  from  a  Sketch  takfn  about  i6So. 

fortifications  of  the  soldiers'  quarters.'  The  governor's  house,  then  built, 
stood  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  priory  church  and  was  demolished  in 
1902.  Above  the  gateway  were  the  Villiers  arms,  argent  on  a  cross  gules 
five  escallops  of  the  field,  and  crest,  a  Hon  rampant,  and  the  date  1676 
appeared  on  the  waterspouts." 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1673-1675,  p.  23S. 

-  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  iig,  note.  The  governoi-'s  house  and  lighthouse,  as  they  stood  in  17S4, 
are  shown  in  an  engraving  by  Byrne  in  Hearne's  Pictorial  Antiquities,  vol.  i.  See  also  Proc.  Soe.  Aiit. 
Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  x.  p.  274. 


Vol.  VIII. 


?6 


2o: 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


VILLIERS     OF    TYNEMOUTH     CASTLE. 

SiK    EnUAKIi   N'lI.l.lERS,   knight,  of  IJrookesby-hiill  (son  of  Sir  KLUvanI   \'illiers,   h;ilf-brother  of  = 
George,   first  duke  of  Buckingham),  born   i;th  April,   1620;    governor   of  Tynemouth   casile, 
l66o-~i6Sg;   obtained  a  grant  of  Tynemonth  lighthouse,  13th  June,  166;;   knighted   7th  .'\pril, 
1680;  buried  in  Westmiiister  Abbey,  2nd  July,  1689  ;  will  dated  8th  May,  168;  ;   proved  at  the 
Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  8ih  July,  1689. 


!•' ranees,  daughter 
of  Theophilus, 
eail  of  Suffolk. 


Sir  Edward  Villiers, 
knight,  son  and  heir, 
created  Baron  \'il- 
liers,  20th  March, 
1690/1,  and  earl  of 
Jersey,  I  Jlh  October,  ^ 
1697. 


Barbara,  daughter  and  heir 
of  William  Chafifinch, 
Keeper  of  the  Closet  of 
Charles  II.;  articles  be- 
fore marriage,  19th  and 
20lh  December,  168 1. 


Henry  Villiers,   governor  of   Tynemouth  =  Ann,   to   whom 

administration 
of  her  hus- 
band's person- 
al estate  was 
granted,  25th 
April,  1 709  («). 


castle  1689-1707,  and  colonel  of  foot, 
acquired  his  brother  Edward's  right  in 
Tynemouth  lighthouse  by  purchase, 
14th  June,  1695;  died  nth,  buried  at 
Tynemouth  priory,  22nd  August,  1707, 
aged  49  (a)  (^). 


Elizabeth,  married  George  Hamilton,  first  earl  of 

Orkney. 
Catherine,  married  first,  Marquis  de  Puissars,  and 

second,  William  Villiers. 
Barbara,  married  John,  Viscount  Fitz  Harding. 


I     I      I 
Ann,  married  William,  first  earl  of  Portland. 
Henrietta,     married     John,    second     earl     of 

Breadalbane. 
Mary,  married  William,  thiid  earl  of  liicliiquiu. 
wife  of  Colonel  Macdonell  (,/y 


.Xrabella,     daughter  =  Henry  Villiers,  lieut.-governor  of  =  Mary    Lockey,    sister 


of  John  Rossiter 
of  Sowerby,  Lin- 
colnshire; married 
13th  February, 
1726/7  (?)  ;  died 
13th  October,  1 733 
W-  


Tynemouth,  died  29th  May, 
1753,  aged  60,  seised  of  Tyne- 
mouth lighthouse  ;  '  happy 
himself,  his  family,  friends  and 
acquaintances  were  happy  in 
him  '  (rf). 


of 
Thomas  Fawk,  Lieut. - 
General  ;  married  5^^ 
February,  1736/7  (^)  ; 
died  7th  January,  1767 
(r/)  ;  will  dated  22nd 
October,  1766. 


I     I     I 
William,  baptised  14th  June, 

1 69 1  (a). 
FMward,  baptised  20th  July, 

1693  (a). 
James,  baptised    20th   July, 

1703     (a);     buried     26th 

February,  1703/4  (a). 


Mary,  baptised  20th  May,  1685  (a)  ;  buried  13th  November,  1688  («). 
Barbara,  baptised  12th  May,  1686  (rt). 

Charlotte,  baptised  24lh  June,  1692  ;  buried  igth  January,  1703/4  (a). 

Catherine,  married   I7ih  January,  1726/7,  John  Craster  of  Craster  (^)i  and  died  1st  October,  1772;   will 
dated  30th  September,  1772.  4, 


(fl)  Tyiienwiil/i  Register. 

(Ji")  Monumental  Inscription,  Tynemouth  Priory. 

(c)  Geni:s  .iUg.  1733,  p.  550. 

(d)  Monumental  Inscription,  Taplow,  Bucks. 


(e')     Raine,   7'est.  Dimehn. 

(/)   Hist.  MSS.  Com.  15th  Report,  appendix,  pt.  i.  p.  124. 
(^)   Registers  of  Christ  Church.,  Newgate  Street ;    Harl. 
Soc.  Registers,  vol.  xxi. 


Though  there  are  other  references  to  the  rebuilding  of  the  church 
at  this  period,'  nothing  in  the  e.xisting  ruins  points  to  any  reconstruction. 
Tradition  has  represented  Colonel  Villiers  in  a  worse  light  than  that  of  a 
restorer,  for  he  is  said  to  have  pulled  down  much  of  the  monastic  building 
to  erect  barracks,  the  lighthouse,  the  governor's  house  and  other  edifices, 
and  to  have  stripped  off  the  lead  which  till   then  had  covered  the  church.^ 


'  Brand,  ibid.  p.  120,  note,  states  that  Bishop  Cosin  was  petitioned  to  grant  his  licence  to  pull  down 
the  east  end  of  the  old  church,  that  a  less  chapel  at  the  west  end  might  be  fitted  up  for  the  service  of 
the  garrison. 

•  Grose,  Antiquities  of  England  and  Walei,  new  edition,  vol  iv.  p.  151. 


TYNEMOUTH    CASTLE.  203 

Ralph  Thoresby,  visiting  the  castle  in  1681,  found  it  'almost  ruined 
and  maintained  by  a  slender  garrison."  Repairs  appear  to  have  been 
undertaken  in  the  following  year.^ 

On  November  5th,  1688,  William  of  Orange  landed  at  Torbay.  The 
close  connection  between  his  family  and  the  Stuarts  rendered  Villiers 
naturally  loyal  to  the  reigning  house,  and  two  companies,  one  of  foot,  the 
other  of  grenadiers,  marched  south  from  Tynemouth  to  oppose  the  Dutch, 
but  were  captured  by  the  earl  of  Danby  at  York.'  A  few  days  later,  on 
December  14th,  Captain  Love  wrote  to  Danby  from  Tynemouth,  informing 
him  of  the  condition  of  the  castle  and  garrison,  and  offering  to  procure  a 
surrender.  Philip  Bickerstaffe  of  Chirton  wrote  to  the  same  effect,  and  on 
the  1 8th,  Henry  Villiers,  son  of  Colonel  (now  Sir  Edward)  Villiers,  informed 
Danby  that  there  was  not  a  Roman  Catholic  in  the  garrison,  that  they  were 
for  protecting  the  Protestant  religion  and  for  a  free  parliament.  Next 
dav  Tvnemouth  castle  was  summoned  and  surrendered.  Carlisle  had 
surrendered  on  the  15th  and  Berwick  on  the  16th,  leaving  the  king  no 
stronghold  in  the  north.^  Tynemouth  was  temporarily  entrusted  to  the 
mayor  of  Newcastle,  but  the  Villiers  family  were  restored  to  favour  upon 
their  submission  to  William  III.  Sir  Edward  Villiers  died  in  i68q  and 
was  buried  in  Westminster  abbey,  being  succeeded  as  governor  by  his 
second  son,  Henry.  The  connection  of  the  Villiers  family  with  the  castle 
lasted  for  three  generations,  ending  with  the  death  in  1753  of  a  second 
Henry  Villiers,  lieutenant-governor.* 

The  revolution  of  1688  set  at  rest  the  religious  and  constitutional 
questions  whieh  had  for  so  long  agitated  the  country.  Administration  has 
become  centralized,  rendering  local  politics  of  less  national  importance  ; 
and  the  later  history  of  Tynemouth  castle  is  of  less  interest  than  the 
century  and  a  half  of  plot,  insurrection  and  invasion  which  began  with  the 
Pilgrimage  of  Grace  and  closed  with  the  '  Glorious  Revolution.'  Many  of 
the  old  features  have  disappeared.  In  1784  the  gate-house  was  modernised 
and  nearly  all  the  remaining  monastic   buildings  were  destroyed.     During 

'  Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  vi.,  Wayfarings  of  Ralph  Thoresby,  p.  i;. 
=  Earl  of  Dartmouth's  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  I  Ith  report,  appendix,  pi.  v.  p.  75- 
'  Earl  of  Lindsey's  MSS.  ibid.  14th  report,  appendi.x,  pt.  ix.  p.  450. 
'  Duke  of  Leeds'  MSS.  ibid,  iitli  report,  appendix,  pt.  vii.  pp.  28-29. 

'  Mr   H.  A.  Adamson  has  given  an  account  of  the  Villiers  family  as  governors  of  Tynemouth  castle 
in  Arch.  Acl.  second  series,  vol.  xx.  pp.  15-26. 


204  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

the  earlier  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  floor  of  the  chapter-house 
was  dug  up,  and  the  interments  within  it  scattered,  to  make  ceUars  for 
a  regimental  canteen.  In  1863  the  foundations  of  the  claustral  buildings 
were  removed  without  record  taken  of  their  position.  Since  then  the  old 
Spanish  battery,  the  half-moon  battery,  the  governor's  house  and  the 
lighthouse  have  given  way  to  the  exigencies  of  military  defence,  and  a 
trench  excavated  on  the  landward  side  of  the  castle  in  1856  has  altered 
the  character  of  the  approach.  On  the  other  hand  the  work  of  demolition 
has  resulted  in  the  discovery  of  various  Roman  and  Anglian  stones.  The 
ruins  were  handed  over  by  the  War  Department  in  1904  to  the  care  of 
His  Majesty's  Office  of  Works,  as  the  authority,  under  the  Ancient  Monu- 
ments Acts,  for  the  care  and  protection  of  ancient  monuments  and  historic 
buildings  in  Great  Britain  ;  and,  with  the  sanction  of  that  office  and  the 
permission  of  the  military  authorities,  careful  plans  have  been  made  of 
the  medieval  gate-house  and  excavations  have  laid  bare  the  foundations  of 
the  Norman  church.  Much  more  may  be  done  towards  the  elucidation 
of  the  history  of  the  castle  rock,  especially  for  the  pre-Conquest  period,  if 
only  exact  records  are  kept  of  fresh  discoveries. 

Captains  of  Tynemouth  Castle. 

1545/6,  January  20th.     Sir  Francis  Leeke,  lent. 

1549,  April  5th.     Sir  Thomas  Hilton  of  Hilton  Castle,  knt.,  died  May,  1559. 

1560/1,  February  8th.     Sir  Henry  Percy,  knt.,  afterwards  eighth  earl  of  Northumberland,  died  June  21st, 

1585. 
1585.     Henry,  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland,  on  the  death  of  his  father,  under  terms  of  grant,  dated 

May  3rd,  1570;  died  November  5th,  1632. 
1632.     Robert  Carey,  first  earl  of  Monmouth,  by  grant  dated  March  2nd,  161 1/2  ;  died  April  12th,  1639. 
1661/2,  January  19th.     Algernon,  tenth  earl  of  Northumberland,  died  October  13th,  1668. 
1668.    Joscelin,  eleventh  earl  of  Northumberland,  under  the  terms  of  his  father's  patent;  died  May  21st,  1670. 
1670,  June  i6th.     Edward  Villiers.     Office  abolished  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month. 

Governors  of  Tynemouth  Castle  and  Clifford's  Fort. 

1670.     Edward  (afterwards  Sir  Edward)  Villiers. 
1702,  July  2nd.     Henry  Villiers,  his  son. 
1707/8,  February  20th.     Thomas  Meredith. 

1714/5,  January  i  ith.     Algernon,  earl  of  Hertford,  afterwards  seventh  duke  of  Somerset. 
i749/5o>  February  13th.     Sir  Andrew  Agnew  of  Lochnow,  co.  Wigtoun,  bart. 

1771,  August  28th.     Hon.  Alexander  Mackay,  afterwards  commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  in  Scotland. 
1778,  April  4th.     Lord  Adam  Gordon. 
1796,  November  2nd.     Charles  Raineford. 

1807,  May  27th.     General  David  VVemyss,  upon  whose  death,  in  September,  1839,  the  office  was  allowed 
to  lapse. 


THE    LIGHTHOUSE.  205 


The  Lighthouse. 


In  a  letter  from  the  Privy  Council  to  the  mayor  of  Newcastle,  dated 
January  17th,  1581/2,  reference  is  made  to  'a  certaine  order  established 
for  the  kepinge  of  a  continuall  light  in  the  night  season  at  the  easte  ende 
of  the  churche  of  Tinmouthe  castle,  as  in  former  times  had  ben,  for  the 
more  safegarde  of  such  shippes  as  should  passe  by  that  coast.' '  The  light 
was  maintained  by  Henry,  eighth  earl  of  Northumberland  (captain  of  the 
castle,  1 561- 1 585),  with  whom  the  master  and  mariners  of  the  Trinity 
House  at  Newcastle  compounded  to  pay  yearly,  during  the  life  of  the 
said  earl,  four  pence  upon  every  English  ship  and  twelve  pence  upon 
every  stranger  ship  coming  within  the  river.  These  tolls  were  collected 
for  the  earl  at  the  custom  house  of  Newcastle  and  went  to  defrav  the 
charges  of  maintaining  the  light."  It  was  a  fire  made  of  coals,  burnt 
probably  in  an  open  brazier  upon  the  top  of  one  of  the  two  turrets  flank- 
ing the  east  end  of  the  presbytery  of  the  priory  church.^  It  does  not 
seem  to  have  burned  continually  through  the  night  but  to  have  been 
lighted  every  half-tide,  when  the  water  in  the  river  had  become  deep 
enough  for  vessels  to  venture  over  the  flats  and  shoals  which  studded  the 
Tyne  between  its  mouth  and  Newcastle.  In  1608  the  fire  was  said  to 
have  been  established  thirty  years  before,  and  the  tolls  were  estimated 
as  amounting  to  forty  pounds  yearly/ 

This  arrangement  continued  until  1659,  the  profits  of  the  light  usually 
going  to  those  who  had  the  charge  of  the  castle  ;  but  about  Martinmas 
of  that  year  the  stairs  leading  up  to  the  top  of  the  turret  fell  down. 
In  the  following  May  representations  were  made  by  the  master  and 
brethren  of  the  Trinity  House  at  Newcastle  of  the  '  great  necessity  of 
having  a  new  light  high-placed,  either  in  the  east  end  of  the  castle  wall, 
or  else  a  new  one  built  upon  the  ground  a  little  way  east  from  the  said 
castle '  ;  and  this  was  followed  up  by  a  petition  from  many  masters  of 
ships  using  the  port  of  Newcastle.^  Consequently,  upon  September  14th, 
a  warrant  was  issued   to   the   mayor  of  Newcastle,  the  governor  of  Tyne- 

'  Acts  of  the  Privy  Council,  1 581-1582,  p.  306.  ■  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

"  '  Upon  an  old  steeple.'     Trinity  House  Letter-book. 

'  Land  Revenue  Misc.  Books,  223,  fol.  294.  The  estimate  was  low  ;  for  example,  between  Michaelmas, 
1604,  and  Michaelmas,  1605,  1,983  English  ships  and  346  strangers  paid  duty,  and  the  profits  were 
therefore  £jO  7s.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  ^iSS. 

''  Trinity  House  Letter-book. 


2o6  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

month  castle,  the  master  of  the  Trinity  House  and  others,  to  have  the 
charge  of  erecting  the  light.  It  was  only  proposed  to  repair  the  stair  in 
the  turret,  and  the  collector  of  customs  at  Newcastle  was  ordered  to  pay 
a  hundred  pounds  towards  this.' 

There  was  delav  in  executing  the  work,  of  which  Colonel  Villiers, 
then  governor  of  the  castle,  took  advantage  and  negotiated  with  the  ship- 
masters of  Newcastle  and  Sunderland  for  the  raising  of  the  former  toll 
from  fourpence  to  twelvepence  per  ship  on  every  English  ship  and  from 
one  to  three  shillings  on  every  foreign  vessel.  This  he  obtained,  as  well  as 
a  grant  from  the  Crown  of  the  said  toll  to  him  and  his  heirs  to  hold  at  a 
yearly  rent  of  twentv  marks,'^  and  then  proceeded  to  build  a  new  lighthouse 
at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  castle  promontory.  It  was  completed 
before  September,  1664.  An  early  painting  (Plate  XIV.)  shows  it  to  have 
been  a  stepped  tower  carrying  a  conical  roof.  Like  the  former  light  it 
burned  coals.  Though  complaints  were  made  that  the  old  one  was  much 
better,  Villiers  was  probably  justified  in  claiming  superioritv  for  his  new 
tower,  as  it  threw  out  light  on  both  sides  and  not  forward  only.' 

The  new  light  proved  costly.  'Some  lights,'  to  quote  Villiers'  words, 
'  are  low  candle  lights.  These  cost  little  building  and  less  maintaining  ; 
but  your  high  fire  lights,  where  coals  burn  in  cradles,  waste  coals  e.xcessively, 
and  put  the  owners  to  great  charge  in  repairing  the  iron  works,  insomuch 
that  one  of  these  cost  more  building  and  keeping  than  four  others.'  Finding 
that  the  toll  did  not  pay  the  interest  on  the  monev  which  he  had  expended 
on  building  the  tower,  he  petitioned  the  king  in  1681  for  an  alteration  of 
the  charge  from  twelvepence  per  ship  to  a  farthing  per  ton,  arguing  that 
it  was  fair  that  ships  of  great  burden  should  pay  proportionably  more  than 
smaller  craft.  His  demand  met  with  strong  opposition  from  the  Trinity 
House  of  Deptford,  which  offered  to  repay  him  his  principal  expended  in 
the  erection  of  the  light  and  to  reimburse  him  for  his  past  expense  in 
keeping  it,  and  so  to  maintain  the  same  without  any  further  increase  of 
charge  upon  navigators.  Sir  Edward  Villiers  abandoned  his  claim  but 
retained  the  lighthouse.'' 

'  Cal.  Treasury  Books,  1660-1667,  P-  278- 

-•  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1661-1662,  p.  383  ;   1664-1665,  p.  283.     Letters  Patent,  June  30th,  1665. 

'  Exchequer  Depositions,  Easter,  23  Chas.  II.  No.  32.     Trinity  House  Letter-book. 

'Bodleian  Library,  Riuclinsoii  MSS.  A,  vols.  178,  I  S3  and  190.  Other  correspondence  relating  to 
the  dispute  is  to  be  found  among  the  manuscripts  of  the  Trinity  House  at  Tower  Hill,  London.  Hist. 
MS.S.  Com.  Sth  report,  appendix  i.  pp.  257-259. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  207 

His  grandson,  Henry  Villiers,  attempted  in  1728  to  obtain  a  toll  of  a 
penny  per  chaldron  of  exported  coals  towards  the  erection  of  a  new  light 
at  Tynemouth,  but  the  construction  was  held  to  be  unnecessary.'  Mary 
Villiers,  his  widow,  devised  her  freehold  estate  in  the  lighthouse  to  her 
nephew  William  Fowke.  About  1775  the  old  tower  was  taken  down  and 
rebuilt.  Further  alterations  were  made  in  1802,  when  William  Fowke 
added  a  copper  lantern  and  substituted  for  the  old  coal  light  an  oil  lamp 
with  silver-plated  reflectors  and  a  revolving  machine,  obtaining  for  so  doing 
a  further  toll  of  a  farthing  upon  every  chaldron  of  coal  exported  by  river.''' 
By  Act  of  Parliament,  August  13th,  1836,  the  lighthouse  was  transferred 
to  the  London  Trinity  House,  by  whom  it  was  purchased  from  Mr.  Fowke's 
representatives  in  1840  for  /"i  25,678/  It  was  demolished  in  1898  (when 
nearly  two  hundred  carved  stones  from  the  priory  ruins  were  found  to 
have  been  built  up  into  its  structure),  its  further  continuance  having  been 
rendered  unnecessary  by  the  erection  of  new  lighthouses  upon  St.  Marv's 
Island  and  Souter  Point.  There  are  also  lights  at  the  end  of  the  north 
and  south  piers  in  the  hands  of  the  Tyne  Commissioners.* 

TYNEMOUTHSHIRE. 

The  Liberty. 

The  term  '  shire  '  is  capable  of  several  interpretations.  Primarily  it 
means  an  office.  In  a  secondary  sense  it  is  used  to  signify  a  district 
'  ashired  '  or  severed  for  certain  purposes  from  other  districts,  and,  in  its 
usual  acceptance,  is  identical  with  the  county,  the  unit  of  royal  administra- 
tion. In  Northumberland,  however,  as  in  Yorkshire,  shires  exist  within 
the  county.  Sometimes  the  name  is  applied  to  a  division  of  the  county, 
namely,  a  hundred  or  wapentake,  and  this  is  perhaps  the  origin  of  Bam- 
burghshire.*  It  is  equally  applicable  to  an  outlying  portion  of  a  regality, 
such  as  Islandshire,  Norhamshire  and  Bedlingtonshire,  all  formerly  portions 

'  Trinity  House  Letter-book. 

-  '  An  .-Vet  for  improving  the  Tinmoiith  Castle  Lighthouse  and  Light,  and  for  authorizing  additional 
Light  Duties  in  respect  of  such  improvement,'  42  Geo.  III.  cap.  43. 

'  'An  Act  for  vesting  Lighthouses,  Lights  and  Sea  Marks  in  the  care  of  Trinity  House  of  Deptford 
Strand,'  6  and  7  \Vm.  lY.  cap  79.     Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  Ixxvi.  pp.  445-474. 

"  For  further  particulars  see  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  article  on  'The  Villiers  Family'  in  Arch.  Ael, 
2nd  series,  vol.  xx.  pp.  15-26. 

^  See  vol.  i.  p.  i. 


208  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

of  the  conntv  palatine  of  Durham.  Finally,  a  shire  may  itself  be  a  regality, 
withdrawn  from  the  sheriff's  jurisdiction,  having  its  own  court  in  which 
justicf  is  administered  without  reference  to  the  courts  of  county  and 
hundred.  E.xamples  in  Northumberland  are  to  be  found  in  the  cases  of 
Hexhamshire'  and  Tynemouthshire. 

A  regality  was  not  necessarily  limited  to  a  contiguous  area,  and  the 
liberty  of  Tynemouth  comprised  all  the  scattered  manors  and  townships 
held  in  free  alms  by  the  prior  and  convent.  A  charter  accorded  to  the 
monastery  by  Richard  I.  in  1189,^  while  it  prefaced  a  grant  of  liberties  by 
an  enumeration  of  the  temporal  possessions  of  the  convent,  was  worded 
with  sufficient  vagueness  to  allow  of  the  inclusion  of  later  territorial 
acquisitions  within  the  liberty.  It  was  probablv  from  fear  of  prejudicing 
his  successors  by  a  limitation  of  their  franchise  that,  in  the  course  of  judicial 
proceedings  taken  in  1291,  Prior  Walden  refused  to  state  what  townships 
were  included  within  it.'  In  1381  the  following  townships  had  their  con- 
tributions towards  the  expenses  of  the  knights  of  the  shire  for  North- 
umberland remitted  as  being  in  the  liberty  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  : 
Tynemouth,  Milneton  with  Shields,  Preston,  East  Chirton,  Middle  Chirton, 
West  Chirton,  Flatworth,  Murton,  Whitley,  Monkseaton,  Earsdon,  Back- 
worth,  Seghill,  Wolsington,  Dissington,  Elswick,  Wylam,  Welton,  Hartford, 
Cowpen,  Bebside,  Hauxlev,  Amble,  Eglingham,  Bewick,  and  Lilburn.^ 
West  Denton  and  Benwell,  acquired  by  the  monastery  at  a  later  date, 
came  to  be  included  within  the  libertv. 

A  theory  has  been  put  forward'^  to  account  for  the  origin  of  the 
Northumbrian  palatinates,  which,  as  far  as  Tynemouth  is  concerned,  may 
be  taken  as  representing  the  probable  course  of  events.  'The  regality 
of  the  Northumbrian  kings,'  according  to  Mr.  Page,  '  was  continued  in 
the    person   of  the    earl,    who    exercised  jura    regalia    over   all    his    lands 

'  For  an  account  of  the  regality  of  Hexham,  see  vol.  iii.  pp.  20-65.  '  See  p.  67. 

'  'Ut  attrahere  possit  libertati  suae  terras  extra  libertatem  suam,  libertatem  predictam  elargantlo  et 
super  coronam  occupando.'     Gibson,  Tyiu-mouth,  vol.  ii.  p.  Ixxvii. 

'  Wallis,  History  of  Northumberland,  vol.  i.  appendix  i.  A  similar  list  is  given  in  an  inquisition  held 
.-It  Tynemouth  on  May  31st,  1428,  before  commissioners  appointed  to  levy  and  collect  a  subsidy  of  6s.  8d. 
on  every  knight's  fee.  Shields  and  Milneton  are,  however,  omitted  in  this  later  list,  as  is  Wolsington  ; 
Dissington,  Hartford  and  Lilburn  are  defined  as  South  Dissington,  West  Hartford  and  East  Lilburn  ; 
and  the  prior  is  stated  to  hold  only  half  the  townships  of  Cow  pen  and  Bebside.     Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  \^f. 

'By  Mr.  \Vm.  Page  in  Archaeologin,  2nd  series,  vol.  i.  pp.  143-155,  'Some  Remarks  on  the 
Northumbrian  Palatinates  and  Regalities.'  Mr.  Hodgson  Hinde  had  already  pointed  out  that  all 
jura  regalia  in  Northumberland  were  in  the  hands  of  the  earl  and  not  of  the  king.  Hodgson  Hinde, 
History  of  Northumberland,  p.  245. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  209 

north  of  the  Humber,'  and  the  rights  subsequently  enjoyed  within  the 
liberty  of  Tynemouth  had  their  orisrin  in  this  regality.  After  the  resumption 
of  the  earldom  in  1095,  upon  Robert  de  Mowbray's  forfeiture,  William  II. 
granted  to  the  monks  of  Tynemouth  a  court  with  soc  and  sac,  toll  and 
theam  and  infangenetheof,  to  hold  as  freely  and  fully  as  the  king  himself 
then  held  it.'  In  three  charters  issued  in  or  about  1 108,  Henry  I.,  with 
slight  verbal  differences,  confirmed  to  St.  Oswin  and  to  the  monks  of  Tyne- 
mouth their  court  and  their  customs,  'to  hold  in  as  full  a  manner  as  ever 
Earl  Robert  held  the  same  in  mv  brother's  time  before  he  forfeited  to  him.'^ 
The  fact  that  later  royal  charters  contain  grants  of  special  privileges 
is  not  inconsistent  with  the  supposition  that  in  theory  all  jtira  rc^aliiX 
passed  under  the  charters  of  William  II.  and  of  Henry  I.,  and  that  the 
court  and  customs  of  Robert  de  Mowbray  contained  the  potentiality  of 
a  fully-developed  palatinate.  Royal  recognition  was  accorded  to  established 
custom  ;  royal  charters  gave  form  to  the  practices  which  developed  inde- 
pendently of  them.  A  charter  of  Henry  I.  gave  the  monks  free  warren,' 
and  their  men  enjoyed  exemption  from  royal  tolls  in  the  reign  of  the 
same  sovereign.^  By  a  charter  of  King  Stephen  (1136)  they  were 
freed  from  work  on  the  royal  castles  in  Northumberland.'  Two  charters 
of  Earl  Henry  (1147)  released  their  free  tenants  and  villeins  from  the 
obligation  of  the  fyrd."  Henry  II.,  by  a  charter  given  in  1158,  conferred 
upon  the  monks  immunity  from  all  existing  forms  of  royal  ta.xation.'  But 
the  keystone  of  their  liberties  lay  in  a  charter  which  Richard  I.  accorded 
to  them  in  11 89.'  In  this  their  right  was  recognised  to  deal  with 
pleas  of  the    crown,   including    in    that    category   cases  of  larceny    (infan- 

'  See  above,  pp.  52-53. 

-  '  .Sicut  unquam  Robertus  comes  melius  habuit  tempore  fratris  mei  antequam  ei  forisfactus  esset,' 
P-  55  (3)-  '  ^icut  unquam  melius  habuit  Robertus  comes  tempore  fratris  mei,'  '\hid.  (5).  '  Quemadmodum 
rex  Willelmus  frater  meus  dedcrat  eis,'  ihid.  (4).  A  tradition  current  at  Tynemouth  in  1293  derived  the 
customs  and  liberties  of  that  monaster)',  not  from  the  charters  of  William  II.  and  of  Henr)-  I.,  but  from 
an  earlier  ^rant  made  to  the  monks  there  by  Mowbray  before  his  forfeiture.  '  Monachi  sancti  .Xlb.ani 
habuerunt  in  aqua  de  Tyne  et  alibi  libertates'et  consuetudines  quas  dictus  comes  habuerunt,  ex  quo  m^ 
dono  quod  dictis  monachis  donaverat,  nihil  sibi  retinuit,  et  super  hoc,  ut  dicitur,  cartam  eis  fecerat. 
St.  A  Weill's  RcgisUr,  fol.  77  b.  Whichever  view  is  correct,  whether  the  creation  of  the  liberty  occurred 
before  or  after  Mowbray  forfeited  his  earldom,  the  rights  afterwards  exercised  by  the  prior  and  convent 
were  those  which  had  previously  belonged  to  the  earl.  The  Tynemouth  tradition  implies  that  Mowbray 
had  the  right  of  creating  regalities  within  his  earldom. 

'Ibid.  {16).        '  See  above,  p.  58,  note  2  (5).        ' /6uf.  (4).         '  See  above,  p.  59,  note  2  (5)  and  (8). 

'  See  above,  p.  62,  note  (i).  '  Quieta  et  soluta  de  omni  geldo  et  scoto  et  adjutorio,  et  ab  omnibus 
consuetidinibus  et  operibus  et  auxiliis  et  aliis  querelis.' 

'  See  above,  p.  67. 

Vol.  VIII.  -7 


2IO  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

genetheof  and  utfangenctheof),  breach  of  tlie  peace  (grith-breclie),  burglary 
(ham-soon),  murder  (murdrum),  premeditated  assault  (forstal),'  and  out- 
lawry (flvmena-frith).  Yet  more  important  was  the  complete  exclusion 
from  the  liberty  of  the  sheriff  and  of  the  royal  justices.  '  We  will  that  no 
man,'  the  charter  runs,  'either  French  or  English,  in  any  way  have  to 
do  with  their  lands  or  with  their  men,  but  only  they  themselves  and 
their  officers  to  whom  they  will  give  commission.  .  .  .  We  forbid  the 
placing  of  any  officer  in  their  lands  or  houses  contrary  to  their  will  and 
assent,  either  in  our  time  or  in  the  time  of  our  successors,  by  direction  of 
any  prince  or  justice,  upon  any  occasion  whatsoever.' 

Before  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  century  the  prior  of  Tynemouth 
had  come  into  the  possession  of  an  extensive  franchise,  based  in  part  upon 
royal  charters  and  in  part  upon  prescriptive  right.  He  had  the  '  return  of 
writs.'  All  pleas  of  the  crown,  as  well  as  common  pleas  touching  his 
men  or  lands  and  tenements  within  the  libertv,  were  heard  in  the  prior's 
court"  and  before  his  own  justices,  to  whom  he  granted  commissions  of 
assize,  oyer  and  terminer,  and  gaol  delivery.  On  the  other  hand  the 
supremacy  of  the  Crown  was  marked  by  the  customs  of  craving  court  and 
petitioning  for  pleas  of  the  crown.  When  a  civil  action  came  before  the 
royal  courts  and  cognizance  of  the  plea  lay  with  the  prior,  the  baililf  of 
the  liberty  appeared  before  the  king's  justices  and  asked  leave  to  transfer 
the  plea  to  the  prior's  court.  When  the  royal  justices  itinerant  came  to 
hold  assize  in  Northumberlantl,  the  prior  or  iiis  bailitV  met  them  '  at  the 
well  called  ("liille  at  the  head  of  Gateshead  '  if  they  came  from  Durham,  or 
at  Fourstones  if  they  came  from  Cumberland,  and  requested  to  have  his 
liberties.  On  this  being  granted,  he  asked  for  a  copy  of  the  articles  of 
the  eyre  for  execution  within  the  franchise,  and  the  prior  then  issued  a 
similar  commission  to  two  of  his  justices,  to  whom  the  justices  itinerant 
assigned  a  third.''  An  assize  was  then  held  by  the  three  within  the  libertv, 
the  usual   place  for  it   being  the  held  of  Elswick,  outside  the   walls  of  the 

'  In  1291  Prior  Walden  based  on  this  grant  of  forstal  the  right  of  forstalling  the  market  of  Newcastle 
by  tlie  purchase  of  goods  bound  for  that  market  at  his  own  port  of  Shields.  The  kin;.4's  advocate  gave 
the  true  interpretation  of  the  term.  '  Hoc  verbinii  Jor>.taUnm  interpretari  del^et  et  intelligi  ad  inipediendum 
aHqiiem  vel  insultandum  in  regia  strata,  el  non  .alio  modo,  siciit  praedictus  prior  ilhid  inlelligit.'  Rutuli 
Piirliiiiiuittaiii,  Record  Com.  vol.  i.  p.  28. 

■Time  Northiimhrian  A$si~.e  Rolls,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  88,  p.  54.  Cp.  Tynemouth  Charliiliuy,  fols.  51  b 
and  5S  b  ;  'Consuetudo  antiqua  fuit  quod  nullus  viscinus  portaret  aliiiuod  breve  regis  ad  implacitan(him 
viscinum  suum,  nisi  prius  breve  directum  priori  ad  placitandum  in  curia  sua  propria.'  The  practice  was 
already  obsolete  at  the  date  of  this  entry  (late  fourteenth  century). 

'  Kegislniiii  PaUiliiuim  Duiielmense,  vol.  iii.  p|).  49-50. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  2  I  I 

preaching  friars  of  Newcastle.'  Appeal  lay  from  the  priors  court  to  the 
king,  and,  it  it  was  found  that  a  miscarriage  of  justice  had  occurred,  the 
case  was  brought  up  to  the  royal  courts  by  a  writ  of  ccitididii?  A  con- 
sideration ot  the  special  forest  jurisdiction  exercised  by  the  lords  of  the 
libertv  is  reserved  for  the  account  of  Bewick  township. 

Besides  a  regular  start  of  justices,  the  prior  had  his  own  coroner.  He 
had  at  Tynemouth  a  prison,^  gallows,  tumbrel,  and  pillory,  and  a  gallows  and 
tumbrel  at  Bewick.'  Hi-  held  an  assize  of  bread  and  ale,  and  punished  by 
line  or  pillory  for  breach  of  the  assize.^  The  royal  casualties  of  waif,  estray, 
treasure  trove  and  wreck  of  the  sea  were  his,  as  well  as  all  mines  of  coal 
within  the  liberty,  e.xcept  perhaps  the  mines  under  freehold  land.  He  had 
free  warren.  The  profits  of  jurisdiction  went  to  him,  namely  the  fines  and 
amercements  of  his  men,"  deodands,  and  the  goods  of  murderers  and  felons. 

The  right  of  sanctuary  was  another  important  privilege  possessed  by 
the  priory  from  an  early  date.  Tynemouth  had  its  grith  or  special  peace, 
of  which  the  boundaries,  marked  by  crosses  where  roads  intersected  them, 
probably  extended  a  mile  around  the  priory,'  and  it  is  not  impossible 
that  the  Monk's  Stone  near  the  junction  of  the  roads  leading  from  Tyne- 
mouth to  Whitlev  and  to  Monkseaton,  is  a  memorial  cross  removed 
from  the   Anglian   cemetery   to  serve   in   post -Conquest   times  as  a  grith - 

'  The  following  two  rubrics  from  the  Assize  Rolls  illustrate  the  procedure:  'Assisa  capta  extra 
niuros  fratrum  predicatorum  apud  Novum  Castrum  super  Tynam  infra  libertatem  prioris  de  Tynemuthe, 
die  martis  proxima  post  festum  apostoloruni  Petri  et  Pauli,  anno  regni  regis  Edwardi  sexto,  coram 
Johanne  de  Reygar  et  Willelmo  de  Xorthbury,  justiciariis  assignatis,  et  Willelmode  Middclton  qiiem  sibi 
associaverunt.'  KoU  1239,  m.  14  d.  '  Placita  de  juratis  et  assisis  apud  Elstewyk  in  crastino  Epiphanie, 
anno  regni  regis  Edwardi  undecinio,  coram  Johanne  de  Farneakers  et  Kadulfo  de  Essenden,  justiciariis 
domini  prioris  de  Tynemuth,  et  Roberto  Bertram  assignato  per  dominum  regem.'     Roll  1254,  m.  7. 

-  For  an  instance  of  this  in  1284  see  Abbreviatio  Placitorum,  Record  Com.  p.  276. 

'  (Prior)  dicit  quod  sicut  prisona  domini  regis  Novi  Castri  super  Tynam  hucusque  deliberata  exlilit 
per  breve  domini  regis  et  ejus  justiciarios,  ita  prisonam  suam  de  Tynemuc  hucusque  deliberari  fecit  sine 
breve  regis  per  justiciarios  et  coronatores  suos  quos  idem  prior  ad  hoc  constituit.  Gibson,  Tynaiwulh, 
vol.  ii.  p.  Ixxiv. 

'  Placita  de  quo  zcurniiito.  Record  Com.  p.  593  ;     Hodgson,  Northumberland,  part  iii.  vol.  i.  p.  I49- 

'Memorandum  quod  in  crastino  apostolorum  Petri  et  Pauli,  A.D.  1307,  frater  S[imon],  prior  de 
Tynemuth,  per  consilium  amicorum  levari  fecit  in  villa  de  Tynemuth  collistrigium,  hoc  est  pillori,  eo 
quod  t.ile  judicium  pertinet  ad  assisam  panis  et  cervisiequam  dictus  prior  et  predecessores  sui  habuerunt 
sicut  communiter  dicitur  a  tempore  quo  non  extat  memoria,  per  liberlates  concessas  in  cartis  regum 
Angliae;  sed  tali  judicio,  hoc  est  pillori,  per  suam  negligenciam  usi  non  fuerunt  usque  ad  lerminum 
apostolorum  Petri  et  Pauli  supiadictum.  Tyiiemoiith  Ciuirtulary,  fol.  191  b.  .At  an  assize  held  in 
Newcastle  in  1279  the  jurors  presented  that  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  had  had  a  gallows  and  had  kept 
the  assize  of  bread  and  ale  since  the  time  of  Henry  I.     Three  Xorthttmbriait  Assize  Rolls,  p.  54. 

'  Memorandum  quod  preceptum  fuit  xvij  die  Aprilis,  anno  regis  Henrici  undecimo,  per  comnnunc 
consilium  regni,  quod  abbas  de  Sancto  .Albano  habeat  amerciamenta  hominum  suorum  de  Tynemuth.  et 
quod  ea  de  cetero  capiat  ad  scaccarium.     St.  Alhaii's  Register,  fol.  97  b.     Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  207. 

'  As  in  the  case  of  Hexham,  for  which  see  vol.  iii.  p.  242. 


212  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

cross.'  Suspected  or  convicted  felons  who  crossed  the  bounds  of  the  grith 
escaped  the  penalties  of  life  and  limb.  To  these  the  prior  gave  his  pro- 
tection, as  in  the  case  of  Thomas  de  Carliol,  for  whom  the  mayor  and  good 
men  of  Newcastle  asked  permission  to  live  in  his  hired  house  at  Tyncmouth, 
as  he  had  been  guilty  of  an  assault."  A  lawless  population  of  grith-men 
grew  up  within  the  limits  of  sanctuary,  whose  services  were  occasionally 
useful  in  Scottish  wars.  In  1342  Edward  Baliol  was  empowered  to  array 
the  grith-men  of  Tynemouth  and  other  northern  sanctuaries,  if  they  were 
willing  to  serve  at  their  own  expense  upon  a  pardon  being  granted  to  them.' 
Occasionally  prisoners  in  Newcastle  succeeded  in  breaking  prison  and 
found  a  safe  asylum  at  Tynemouth,  their  escape,  on  at  least  one  occasion, 
being  attributed  to  the  miraculous  agency  of  St.  Osvvin.'' 

In  grave  cases,  as  where  a  murder  had  been  committed  within  the 
liberty,  the  guilty  person  might  insure  himself  against  loss  of  life  or  limb 
by  taking  refuge  in  the  priory  church,  where  he  confessed  to  his  deed 
before  the  coroner  and  abjured  the  realm.^  A  late  instance  of  the  use  of 
sanctuary  occurred  in  1523,  when  one  Robert  Lambert,  having  taken  part 
in  the  murder  of  Christopher  Ratclift'e  at  Sherston  in  Durham,  fled  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory  for  refuge.  Cardinal  Wolsey,  upon  that  occasion,  requested 
Lord  Dacre,  warden  of  the  marches,  '  by  all  means  and  politic  ways  which 
ye  can  devise,'  to  secure  Lambert's  apprehension." 

The  liberty  of  Tynemouth  had  its  financial  as  well  as  its  judicial  side. 
The   prior  and   his  men   enjoyed  freedom   from  tolls  and  customs,'  and   by  a 

'  In  1294  the  abbot  of  St.  Albaii's  and  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  were  summoned  to  shew  'quo 
warranto  clamant  receptarc  omnes  homines  felones  vcnientes  'mfvAgyitlicyos  de  Tynemuth.'  PLuilii  dc  quo 
Karrtinto,p.  593;   Hodgson,  Nortltiinibirhiiul,  part  iii.  vol.  i.  p.  149. 

■'  Viro  rehgioso  et  discreto  ac  aniico^suo,  si  placet,  specialissimo,  domino  p[riori]  de  T[yncmuthe],  sui 
devoti  major  et  prolji  homines  de  Novo  Castro,  salutem  in  domino  sempiternam,  cum  omni  reverencia  et 
honorc.  Noverit  eminens  discrecio  vestra  tiuod  Thomas  de  Karl',  lator  presencium,  noster  fidelis 
comburgensis  est  et  lauilabiliter  inter  nos  conversatus,  cujus  famam  testamur  bonam  et  probabilcm,  nisi 
tantum  quod  verberavit  quendam  hominem  et  inde  satisfecit  dicto  homini,  unde  amici  facti  sunt.  Quare, 
propter  discrecionem  vestram.omni  qua  possumus  affeccione  altentc  et  devote  exoiamus  quatinus  dictum 
Thomam  et  suos,  si  placet,  manuteneatis,  proteyatis  et  defendatis,  non  inferentes  eideni  nee  inferri 
permittcntes  injuriam,  molcstiam,  dampnum  ant  gravamen,  sed  potius  ipsum  in  donio  sua  conducla  in 
villa  vestra  de  T[ynemutheJ  pacifice  remancre  permittatis  ;  ila  quod  preces  nostras  senciat  valiluras  et 
vobis  et  vestris  ad  codignas  teneamus  gratiaruni  acciones.  Valete  in  domino,  liodleian  Library,  Digby 
Cviliccs,  20,  fol.  125  b. 

'  Rotiili  Scotiae,  Record  Com.  \ol.  i.  p.  629.  '  Vita  Os-u'ini,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  6,  cap.  xlii. 

^  This  practice  explains  the  anonymous  monk's  panegyric  upon  St.  Oswin  (quoted  on  p.  72),  'cujus 
munimine  muniuntur  profugi  et  exules  a  propria  patria  propter  homicidia  furta  vel  sediciones  contr.i 
regem  et  regni  statuta  nequiler  perpetrata.' 

°  Cal.  Letters  and  Papers,  Henry  VIII.  vol.  iii.  ]).  1299  ;  Heaine,  Ottcrtntrn,  vol.  ii.  p.  579. 

'Writ  of  Henry  II.  given  in  1158:  '  Precipio  quod  omnes  res  sancti  Oswyni  et  monachorum  de 
Tynemutha,  quas  homines  sui  poterunt  affidare  suas  esse  proprias,  [sint]  quiete  de  iheoloneo  et  passagio 
et  de  omni  consuetudine.'     See  p.  62,  note  (3). 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  213 

charter  of  Henry  III.  they  were  immune  from  the  murage  paid  on  merchan- 
dise brought  into  walled  towns.'  It  has  even  been  asserted  that  the  prior 
had  a  mint  at  Tynemouth.^  Sheriffs  took  nothing  from  within  his  liberty. 
He  and  his  men  were  exempt  from  most  forms  of  royal  taxation,  including 
danegeld,  tallage,  and  cornage.'  The  monks  were  liable,  as  clergy,  to 
contribute  to  all  clerical  aids  and  subsidies.  Compulsory  loans  were  exacted 
from  them,^  and  the  king's  purveyors  enforced  them  to  levy  supplies  and 
to  provide  horses  and  carts  for  military  campaigns.^  Otherwise  the  onlv 
taxes  paid  into  the  royal  exchequer  bv  the  men  of  the  shire  were  lay 
subsidies.  Upon  the  receipt  of  the  sheriff's  writ,  officers  were  elected  in  the 
prior's  court  to  carry  out  the  unpopular  task  of  assessment  and  collection.' 
Though  the  prior  and  convent  were  released  in  1204  from  the  obli- 
gation of  paying  cornage  to  the  Crown,  they  continued  to  collect  it  from 
holdings  within  the  liberty.  Cornage  had  ceased  to  be  forensic,  it  continued 
to  be  an  intrinsic  service.  A  portion,  amounting  to  £2  5s.  lofd.,  was  paid 
to  the  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  on  the  feast  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul,  and  went 
by  the  name  of  abbot-scoth  ;  7s.  ffd.  was  paid  at  Michaelmas  to  the  prior 
of  Tynemouth.  Assuming  that  these  figures,  which  are  given  in  a  document 
of  the    fourteenth    century,"   correspond    with   the   sums  paid   before    1204, 

'  'Concedimus  quod  ipsi  et  homines  eorum  per  totum  rcgnuni  et  potestalcm  nostrani  in  perpetuum 
de  nuiragio  sint  quieti.'     Charter  of  April  22nd,  1271  ;  Gibson,  Tyiumoullt,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  No.  Ixxxvi. 

-'  Horsley  wrote  in  1729/30  that  he  had  seen  a  piece  of  money  coined  at  Tynemouth,  Inedikd 
Contributions  to  the  History  of  Northumberland,  p.  23.  It  is  much  more  probable  that  what  he  saw  was  a 
token,  similar  to  those  engraved  in  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  164. 

'  See  p.  69.  '  Rymer,  Foedera,  Record  Com.  vol.  iii.  pars  i.  pp.  116,  132. 

*  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  214  b.     Rotuit  Seotiae,  vol.  i.  p.  122. 

"  Edwardus,  Dei  gratia  rex  .-\ngliae,  etc.,  vicecomiti  Northumbriae,  salutem.  Cum  .  .  .  dilecti  el 
tideles  nostri,  Johannes  de  Haullon  et  -Simon  de  Creppynge,  taxatores  quintedecimc  in  comitatu  predicto, 
per  breve  suum  ballivis  libertatis  prcdictae  mandassent  quod  de  comitatu  dictae  libertatis  cerlos  homines 
ad  taxandum  bona  omnium  hominum  ejusdem  libertatis  eligi  et  eos  coram  prefatis  Johanne  et  Simone 
super  hoc  praestandum  venire  facerent  ;  ac  insuper  iidem  ballivi  averia  Walteri  Scot  de  Wcltedeii  et  .Adae 
de  Selby,  duorum  hominum  de  libertate  predicta  ad  hoc  electorum,  pro  eo  quod  coram  eis  veniie  et 
hujusmodi  sacramcntum  facere  contcmpserunt,  cepissent  prout  ad  ipsos  |)ertinuit  r.-itionc  libertatis 
predictae  ;  dictus  Walterus  et  .\dam  averia  sua,  ea  ratione  capta,  sibi  per  te  repligiari  maliciose 
procurarunt,  et  ipsum  priorcm  et  balHvos  suos  inde  iniplacitant  coram  tc  in  coniitatu  tuo,  per  quod 
taxatio  quintedecime  nostre  infra  libertatcm  predictam  nimiam  ccpit  dilationem,  in  nostrum  dampnum 
et  predicti  prioris  et  libertatis  sue  prejudicium  manifcstum  ;  et  te  nolumus  prcdictum  priorem  vel  ballivos 
suos  occasione  distructionis  prcdicte,  si  pro  contemptu  predicto  et  non  alia  de  lam  facta  sil.  per 
hujusmodi  placitum  vexari  ;  tibi  precipinuis  quod,  si  ita  est,  tunc  placito  isli  nominato  supersedeas, 
et  predicto  priori  averia  pretliclorum  Walteri  et  .Adae  pro  contemptu  predictorum  capta  retornari  facias, 
quousque  sacramentum  predictum  praestiterint,  et  officium  per  taxatores  predictos  eis  milii  motum 
fecerint  in  hac  parte.  Teste  mcipso,  etc.,  22'"  iMaii,  anno  quarto  [May  22,  1276].  Tynemuuth  Churlnlary, 
fol.  215  b. 

'  Tynemouth  Chcirtul.irv,  fol.  67,  printed  bv  Brand,  Xeuaistle.  vol.  ii.  p.  79-  Hodgson  Hindc 
{Northumberland,  p.  261)  adduces  a  similar  instance  in  the  barony  of  .Appleby.  The  origin  of  this  rent 
has  been  discussed  by  I'rofessor  Wailland  in  the  English  Historical  Review,  vol.  v.  pp.  625-632.  See  also 
Dr.  Lapsley's  treatment  of  the  subject  in  Victoria  County  History  of  Durham,  vol.  1.  p.  272  et  seq.,  and 
authorities  there  cited. 


214  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

when  twenty-four  sliilliiigs  was  vearly  cleniaiuled  by  the  ("rown,  it  follows 
that  less  than  half  of  the  sum  exacted  from  the  tenants  found  its  way 
into  the  national  exchequer.  Cornage  was  imposed  alike  on  hee  and  on 
customary  tenements,  but  not  all  the  lands  helil  of  the  prior  in  any  one 
township  were  liable  to  it,  and  some  townships,  including;  those  of  Eglingham, 
Bewick  and  Lilburn,  paid  no  cornage.  It  is  not  easy  to  discover  the 
principle  of  the  assessment.  Possibly  each  township  was  assessed  at  a 
certain  figure,  averaging  3s.  4d.,  and  certain  holdings  were  then  made  re- 
sponsible for  its  payment. 

Castle  ward  was  another  source  of  profit.  The  whole  township  of  West 
Chirton  was  paying  a  quarter  of  a  maik  vearly  to  the  monastery  for  castle 
ward  in  1295,'  though  the  monks  of  Tvnemouth  made  no  corresponding 
contribution  to  the  defence  of  Newcastle. 

Certain  military  obligations  were  incumbent  upon  the  prior  and  his 
men,  but  here  too  the  liberty  had  its  privileges.  As  the  lands  of  the  monas- 
tery were  held  in  frankalmoin,  they  were  free  from  the  feudal  obligations  of 
military  service.  On  the  other  hand  the  prior  maintained  tlie  castle  of 
Tynemouth  at  his  own  cost,  and  so  contributed  to  the  work  of  national 
defence.  His  men  were  not  required  to  go  out  with  the  fyrd,  except  in 
cases  of  actual  invasion  of  the  earldom.-  They  were  released  from  work 
upon  Newcastle  and  other  castles  in  Northumberland  (the  hiirh-bot  of  the 
tniKnhi  iicccssit(ts)  by  a  charter  given  to  them  in  1136  by  King  Stephen.' 
With  the  use  of  commissions  of  array,  the  liberty  lost  much  of  its  ex- 
ceptional character,  but  its  men  formed  a  separate  levy  under  their  own 
commander,'  and  as  such  they  were  present  at  the  battle  of  Flodden  when 
they  'fled  at  the  first  shot  of  the  Scottish  guns.'* 

'  Tynemouth  CiuirtiiUiiy,  fol.  40.  Castie  ward  occurs  only  as  an  incident  of  military  tenure,  and  its 
payment  by  West  Chirton  is  accounted  for  by  tlie  fact  that  the  township  had  been  held  by  military 
service  until  1256,  when  it  was  acquired  in  frankalmoin.  Yet  the  payment  continued  to  be  collected. 
Upon  the  subject  of  castle  ward  see  Hodgeon  Hinde,  Northumberland,  pp.  261-263,  ^"d  ^''<:'<-  ^'^l-  >st 
series,  vol.  iv.  p.  285. 

•-•  See  above,  p.  59,  note  2  (5)  and  (8).  »  See  above,  p.  58,  note  (4). 

'  John  de  -Segrave,  tenaunt  le  lieu  nostre  seigneur  le  roi  en  le  parties  de  North',  au  baillif  de  la 
fraunchi=e  Tabbe  de  seynt  Alban  de  Tynemuth,  salulz.  Pur  ceo  que  nous  serroms  a  Rokesburgh  le 
denieynge  proscheyn  devant  le  quaresme,  prenant  ove  tot  le  poer  que  nous  porroms  purchaccr  auxi  bien 
des  parties  avant  dites  com  de  ailliours  pur  reboter  les  eneniys  le  roi  en  Escoce,  sicom  est  acorde  entre  nous 
et  la  dite  communalte,  vous  maundonis  de  par  le  roi  sur  quant  que  vous  poetz  forfaire,  que,  veues  cestes 
lettres,  facetz  eslyre  deynz  la  dite  fraunchise  ceniz  honimes  a  pee  et  un  centener  vigrous  et  defensable, 
issynt  que  vous  le  eietz  as  ditz  jour  et  a  lieu  sauntz  nul  defaule.  .  .  .  Et  sachetz  que,  si  vous  n'eietz 
mesmes  le  gentz  as  ditz  jour  et  lieu,  vous  encurretz  qeu  est  ordeyne  com  celuy  q'est  desobeileaunt  au  roi. 
Don  a  Bamburgh,  le  disme  jour  de  Fev',  Pan  du  regne  le  roi  Edward  xxxj  [Februarv  10th,  1303/4]. 
Tynemouth  C/iartultiry,  fol.  214. 

'  Cal.  Letters  ami  Papers,  Henry  Mil.  vol.  i.  p.  687. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  21 5 

Like  other  seaports,  Tvnemouth  was  called  upon  in  time  of  war  to 
provide  its  quota  of  ships  to  the  royal  navy.  Orders  for  the  impressment 
of  vessels  were  directed  to  the   bailiff. 

The  officers  of  the  liberty  included  a  staff  of  justices,  a  bailiff  and  a 
coroner.  The  bailiff  held  a  position  within  the  liberty  corresponding^  in 
almost  every  respect  with  that  of  the  sheriff  outside  it  ;  he  was  the  chief 
executive  officer.  By  an  arrangement  uncommon  in  palatinates  the  coroner 
was  elected  in  the  free  court.'  A  grand  jury  or  standing  committee  of 
twelve  {jiiratorcs  coroiiac)  existed  for  the  purpose  of  making  presentments 
in  the  court  of  the  liberty.*  There  was  a  receiver  general  of  rents,  and 
a  seneschal  who  held  the  manorial  courts.  The  post  of  seneschal  after- 
wards lost  its  ministerial  character  and  came,  in  the  later  days  of  the  priory, 
to  be  an  honorarv  office  conferred  upon  noblemen.^     The  castle  was  under 

'  Willelmus  Stiwaid  .  .  .  dicit  quod  est  coronator  intromittens  se  de  his  quae  pertinent  ad  coronam 
domini  regis.  .  .  .  Reqiiisitus  per  qiiem  factus  est  coronator,  dicit  quod  electus  est  ct  factus  per  ballivum 
et  liberam  curiam  praedicti  prioris  et  non  per  breve  domini  regis.  .  .  .  Et  dicit  quod  multotiens  excrcuit 
officia  coronalia,  faciendo  visum  de  liominibus  occisis,  oppressis,  et  submersis.  Gibson,  Tyiumuiilh, 
vol.  ii.  p.  Ixxv. 

=  In  the  subsidy  roll  of  1295  (Lay  Subsidies  P.R.O.  No.  158/1)  the  jurors  of  the  libeily  are  given 
imder  a  separate  heading,  and  their  names  consequently  do  not  appear  under  the  townships  to  which 
they  respectively  belong.     The  entry  was  as  follows  ; 

Sunima  bonorum  Willelmi  de  Welteden  ...         270     undc  regi 

„  Radulphi  servientis  de  Seyton 

,,  Willelmi  de  .Seyton 

,,  Roberli  filii  ("lilbcrti 

,,  Alani  de  Hcrtlaw 

„  Willelmi  clerici  de  Welteden 

„  l\(il)erti  de  Prudhow     ... 

„  Willelmi  de  Chirton     ... 

,,  Johannis  de  Copun 

„  Willelmi  (jray  ... 

„  Johannis  de  Wytteley  ... 

„  Roberli  de  Chirton 

Summa  hujus  iluodcnae  £27  los.  2d.,  uncle  regi  £2  loo,[d. 

'  As  deeds  drawn  up  in  the  prior's  court  were  often  dated  simply  by  the  stewardship  of  tlie  presiding 
officer,  it  is  as  well  to  give  a  list  of  such  seneschals  as  have  their  names  recorded  in  the  Jyiumoiith 
Cluirtiiliiry,  the  SI.  Athan's  Rff^ish-r,  and  early  charters  : 

1256.     Hugh  le  Moyner.  1302.     John  de  Dudden.  1351-     William  de  Heppescoles. 

1264.     John  de  Middleton.  i^[2  (ctrca).     Thomas  de  Fishburn.      1392.     John  le  Ornford. 

1276.     Thomas  de  Clyvedcn.      1319-i  320. '    Henry  de  Harden.  1421.     William  de  Mitford. 

1291.     William  de  Heslerig.       1325.     Thom.as  de  Raynlon.  1426-1434.     Robert  W  hclpmgton. 

1294/5.     Nicholas  le  Vigrus.       1333-1344.     Robert  de  Sorcys.  1 530  (riio().     Lord  Rochlord. 

After  the  dissolution  the  office  of  chief  steward  of  the  lands  of  the  dissolved  monastery  and  of  the  courts 
there  was  held  by  Sir  Cuthbert  Ratcliff;  Sir  Francis  LeeUc,  January  20th,  1545/6  (••Xugmentation  Office, 
Misc.  Books,  vol.  236,  fol.  121) ;  Sir  Thomas  Hilton,  April  6th,  1549  {ihiil.  vol.  220,  fol.  iSi)  ;  Su-  Henry 
Percy,  afterwards  eighth  earl  of  Northumberland,  I'ebiuary  8lh,  1561  :  Henry,  nnilh  earl  of  Northumber- 
land, on  the  death  of  his  father  in  15S5,  under  terms  of  patent  dated  May  3rd,  1570.         ,    ,  ,     „ 

The  court  rolls  of  the  manor  give  the  names  of  ihe  following  persons  who  have  held  office  snicc 
1685:  Thomas  lioath,  1685;  William  Coles,  1707:  Thomas  Elder  and  Henry  Sunon,  1725;  rhomas 
Elder,  1735  ;  James  Scott,  1756  ;  Richard  C.rieve,  1760  ;  Collingwood  Forster,  1761  ;  Henry  tollmgwood 
Selby,  1775;  Jonathan  Raine,  1796;  Christopher  Cookson,  1831;  Cresswell  Cresswell,  1832;  SirW.^ller 
Buchanan  Kiddell,  bart.,  1S42  ;  Cuthbert  Umfreville  Laws,  1S70;  Edward  Leadbitter,  1SS2  :  W  ilham 
Hall  Ryott,  1S94.     Since  1735  the  title  of  steward  has  superseded  that  of  seneschal. 


£ 

s. 

d. 

2 

7 

0 

4 

'3 

8 

-T 

1 1 

9 

1 

10 

4 

0 

'3 

3 

0 

18 

0 

3 

"9 

4 

0 

12 

8 

0 

'5 

0 

3 

■7 

4 

3 

'5 

6 

2 

1 1 

4 

2i6  TVNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

the  rule  of  a  constable.'  Chief  among  the  lay  officers  of  the  prior's 
household  was  the  dapifcr  or  server,  whose  duties  became  a  grand  serjeantry 
hv   whicii   the  manor  of  Seghill   was  held. 

There  is  some  slight  evidence  for  the  e.xistence  of  a  council  or  advisory 
body,  composed  partly  of  the  chief  tenants,  partly  of  officers  of  state,  in 
receipt  of  salaries  and  liveries  from  the  prior.  It  was  upon  the  advice  of 
his  council  that  Prior  Walden  erected  a  pillory  at  Tynemouth  in    1307.* 

In  I2iji  the  liberty  of  Tvnemouth  was  forfeited  to  the  Crown  under 
the  following  circumstances.^  At  noon  on  October  29th,  1290,  according 
to  the  plaintiffs  statement,  John  de  Whitley,  lord  of  the  manor  of  Whitley, 
Gilbert  Andre,  and  William  de  Cowpen,  came  to  the  house  of  Walter  litz 
Nicholas  in  Whitley,  broke  through  the  east  door  of  the  house  with  an 
axe,  and  concealed  themselves  in  a  chamber  within  till  midnight,  when 
thev  forced  open  a  chest  and  a  strong-box,  and  took  thence  two  women's 
cloaks,  one  green  and  the  other  blue,  valued  at  two  marcs  ;  two  pieces 
of  Rheims  tapestrv,  worth  one  marc  ;  forty  ells  of  linen  cloth  worth  ten 
shillings,  and  two  kerchiefs  and  four  sleeves  valued  at  twenty  shillings. 
Next  morning,  finding  his  house  rifled  and  the  burglars  fled,  Walter  fitz 
Nicholas,  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  raised  hue  and  cry  after  them,  and 
followed  them,  until  they  were  caught  and  attached  at  his  suit.  William 
Stiward,  coroner  for  the  liberty,  took  pledges  from  fitz  Nicholas  for  his 
appeal,  and,  on  November  iith,  threw  the  defendants  into  prison  to  await 
their  trial. 

Late  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  a  letter  from  the  sheriff  of  North- 
umberland was  given  into  the  hands  of  the  bailiff  of  the  liberty,  informing 
him  that  next  morning  William  Heron  and  two  other  of  the  king's  justices 
were  coming  to  Tvnemouth  to  hold  a  gaol  deliverv,  and  ordering  him  to 
have  the  prisoners  and  a  jury  ready  to  appear.  According  to  a  statement 
subsequently   made    by  Prior   Walden,  there   was  no   time  to  summon   the 

'  .'Vmhony  Mitford,  who  held  the  office  of  constable  at  the  dissolution,  had  a  fee  of  ^5  yearly. 
Uugdale,  Monaslicon,  vol.  iii.  p.  308. 

•  '  Per  consilium  amicorum ' ;  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  igi  b.  The  St.  Albein's  Register  (fol.  129  b.) 
gives  a  list  of  officers  receiving  salaries  about  1306.  '  Isti  accipiunt  pensiones  de  Tynemuth  per  priorem. 
Thomas  de  Kisburn,  40s.;  Ricardus  de  Ciikesho,  40s.;  (ialfridus  de  Herterpol,  40s.;  Johannes  de  Insula, 
IOCS.  ;  Johannes  Gray,  robam  el  ...  ;  dominus  Walterus  de  Cambou,  20s. ;  Johannes  de  Horton,  20s.  ; 
Adam  de  Benton,  robam  et  .  .  .' 

'  The  record  of  these  proceedings  is  given  in  the  Coram  Rege  Rolls,  No.  130,  printed  by  Gibson, 
Tynemouth,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  No.  xci.  and,  with  some  additional  details,  in  the  St.  Alban's  Register,  fols. 
I  50  b  to  132  b,  and  the  Tynemouth  Chnrtuhiry,  fols.  iSo-183. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  217 

jury,  but,  more  probably,  the  prior  and  his  officers  regarded  the  holding  of  a 
gaol  delivery  by  the  king's  officers  as  a  violation  of  their  privilege.  On  the 
following  morning  the  justices  came  and  sat  down  in  the  prior's  great  hall 
and  there  read  the  warrant  to  the  bailiffs,  whom  they  ordered  in  the  king's 
name  to  bring  their  prisoners  before  them  ;  but  the  bailiffs  replied  that 
the  place  in  which  they  sat  was  within  the  precincts  of  the  church,  and 
that  they  must  not  bring  any  prisoners  before  them  there.  Then  the  justices 
went  to  the  door  of  the  prison,  where  the  same  demand  met  with  the  same 
response.  Finally  they  proceeded  to  the  market  cross  which  stood  in  the 
village  outside  the  monastery,'  and,  sitting  upon  its  steps,  the  justices  read 
their  warrant  for  the  third  time ;  whereupon  the  bailiffs  made  answer 
that  they  had  never  seen  any  of  the  king's  justices  come  there  to  make 
delivery  of  the  prior's  prison,  and  that  they  would  not  bring  any  prisoners 
before  them.  So  Heron  and  his  companions  returned  without  eflfecting 
their  purpose. 

Afterwards,  upon  January  6th,  1291,  William  de  Heslerig,  the  prior's 
seneschal,  issued  a  summons  for  a  court  at  Preston  on  the  20th,  and  made 
public  proclamation  that  a  gaol  delivery  would  be  held  on  that  day.  The 
court  met,  the  three  prisoners  were  brought  before  it,  and  Walter  fitz 
Nicholas  made  appeal  against  them.  They  pleaded  a  variation  from  the 
original  indictment,  and  asked  that  this  should  be  read.  Stiward  produced 
his  coroner's  roll,  which,  upon  examination,  was  found  to  contain  the  indict- 
ment in  the  form  of  an  inquest,  and  not  of  an  appeal,  and  that  too  was 
without  the  twelve  attestations  necessary  to  render  it  valid.  The  appeal 
was  therefore  rejected  by  the  court.  The  prisoners  were  then  asked  how 
they  wished  to  purge  themselves  of  the  charge  of  robbery  and  breach  of 
the  peace.  They  replied  that  they  would  put  themselves  on  their  country 
and  craved  a  jury  ;  but  the  bailiffs  refused  to  hold  the  inquisition  at  the 
same  court,  though  there  were  sufficient  suitors  there  to  impanel  a  jury, 
and  sent  the  three  defendants  back  to  prison,  to  remain  there  till  the  ne.xt 
meeting  of  the  court  on  the  30th  of  the  month.  At  that  court  the 
bailiffs  stated  that  the  appeal  had  been  illegal  ;  no  precedent  could  be 
adduced  for  the  hearing  of  appeals  in  the  prior's  court  without  a  writ 
and  special  order  from  the  king  ;  and  John  de  Whitley  was  sent  back  to 

'  A  cross  is  shown  at  the  head  of  the  village  street,  near  the  gate-house  of  the  prioiy,  in  the  plan  of 
Tynemouth  castle  made  in  1545.     Arch.  Aft.  2nd  series,  vol.  .\ix.  plan  facing  p.  6S. 

Vol.  VIII.  2S 


21  8  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

the  prior's  prison  with  his  two  companions  pending  the  arrival  of  the 
justices  itinerant  at  Newcastle  upon  their  next  assize,  when  the  case  was 
to  be  recommenced. 

The  three  were  detained  in  prison  for  three  months,  and  then  were 
released  upon  the  king's  writ.  They  had  suffered  such  hardships  during 
their  confinement  that  William  de  Cowpen  died  on  the  day  after  his  release. 
Letters  of  over  and  terminer  were  issued  by  the  king  at  Newcastle  on 
April  25th,  directing  certain  of  his  justices  to  hear  the  appeal.  Two  days 
afterwards  the  justices  came  to  Tynemouth  to  carry  out  their  commission. 
Prior  Walden  met  them  by  claiming  his  old  liberty  of  jurisdiction.  As 
they  were  not  prepared  to  decide  so  large  a  subject  as  the  legality  of  the 
franchise,  the  whole  case  was  referred  to  the  king  and  his  council  at 
Norham,  where  proceedings  recommenced  on  May  13th.  Walden  took  his 
stand  on  the  charter  of  Richard  I.,'  but  could  not  bring  any  evidence  to 
show  that  pleas  of  the  crown  or  common  pleas  were  heard  in  his  court 
before  1235.  He  produced  a  king's  writ  given  in  that  year,  and  several 
from  1255  onwards,  which  had  been  delivered  to  him  by  justices  of  the 
king's  bench,  justices  of  oyer  and  terminer,  and  justices  in  eyre,  showing 
that  his  court  had  latterly  practised  a  civil  and  a  criminal  jurisdiction.  But, 
as  proof  of  continuity  of  seisin  since  1189  was  not  forthcoming,  the  king 
in  council  pronounced  the  liberty  claimed  by  the  prior  to  be  not  consonant 
with  the  law  of  the  realm,  and  on  this  ground,  and  because  various  ille- 
galities had  been  committed  in  the  course  of  the  proceedings  against  John 
de  Whitley,  the  franchise  was,  on  June  24th,  declared  to  be  forfeited  and 
annexed  to  the  Crown. 

Though  forfeited  by  the  prior,  the  liberty  continued  to  have  an  inde- 
pendent existence.  Its  criminal  jurisdiction  is  illustrated  by  a  record  of 
the  pleas  of  the  crown  taken  by  the  king's  itinerant  justices  in   1293.'^ 

Pleas  of  the  crown  of  the  liberty  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  before  H.  de 
Cressingham  and  his  companions,  justices  itinerant,  on  the  Tuesday  next  after  Ascension  Day,  in  the 
twenty-first  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Edward  [May  12th,  1293]. 

Jurors.  Gilbert  Andrew,  bailiff;  Nicholas  de  Morton,  Nicholas  Faukes  of  Backworth,  Alan  de 
Hertlawe,  electors  ;  John  le  Clerk  of  Coupoun,  Robert  de  bracina,  Roger  de  Morton,  Richard  de 
Hereford,  Peter  de  Backworth,  William  Russel,  Roger  de  Tynemuth,  Robert  Acorne,  Hugh  de  Back- 
worth. 

'  Requisitus  si  predictam  libertatem  clamet  alio  modo  vel  per  aliud  quam  per  predictam  cartam, 
dicit  quod  non. 

-  lK.ssize  Rolls,  No.  651,  m.  23. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  219 

From  the  whole  liberty  because  it  does  not  share  in  the  geldable  land,'  by  way  of  fine  for  false 
judgment  and  other  trespass,  20  marks. 

These  were  coroners  since  the  last  iUr :  Adam  de  Pykering,  who  is  dead,  William  Styward  and 
Roger  Maudut,  who  are  alive  and  make  answer.  And  Adam  has  no  heir  or  executor  to  answer  for 
the  rolls,  for  before  his  death  he  enfeoffed  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  of  his  lands  and  tenements.  Order 
to  the  sheriff  to  make  the  prior  appear.  The  prior  came  in  the  person  of  Nicholas  Vigerus,  his  attorney, 
and  made  fine  of  40s. 

Thomas  Bridock  and  Nicholas  Leker  were  crushed  to  death  in  the  field  of  Elswick  in  a  pit  which 
fell  in  on  them  ;  verdict,  misfortune.  Adam  de  Pykering,  who  is  dead,  has  no  heir  or  executor  to 
answer  for  him  on  that  plaint,  for  he  died  destitute.  Recourse  had  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  the 
then  lord  of  the  liberty. 

Agnes,  who  was  wife  of  Nicholas  Belle  of  Newcastle,  was  found  dead  from  exhaustion  in  the  field 
of  Elswick.  Nicholas  Belle,  who  first  found  her,  did  not  appear  ;  neither  he  nor  anyone  else  is 
suspected  ;  verdict,  misfortune.  Nicholas  was  attached  by  Robert,  son  of  the  said  .Agnes,  and  Walter 
de  Halywell  of  Newcastle,  who  now  have  him  not,  therefore  fined.  The  townships  of  .-Vmble  and 
Hauxley  did  not  come  to  the  inquest,  therefore  fined. 

Richard  de  Ryton  dug  for  coals  in  the  field  of  Elswick  and  the  earth  fell  in  on  him  and  crushed  him. 
An  unknown  man  was  found  dead  in  the  field  of  Monkseaton,  in  a  place  called  Wellepeth.     The 
townships  of  Hertford,  Wclton,  Eglingham  and  Cowpen  did  not  present  that  plaint  at  the  next  county 
court,  therefore  fined. 

Christiana,  wife  of  Laurence  the  tailor  of  Tynemouth,  was  found  dead  from  cold  in  the  field  of 
West  Chirton. 

William  Gut,  son  of  Robert  de  Roucestre,  fell  into  a  pit  in  Elswick  moor  and  was  dashed  to  pieces. 
Roger  de  Mykeley,  wishing  to  cross  the  Tyne,  was  drowned. 

An  unknown  man  was  found  in  Wylam  wood,  killed  by  malefactors  unknown.  It  was  not  known 
who  they  were  or  what  became  of  them. 

Roger  Horlyne  and  Robert  Fundelyng  made  away  for  com  stolen  from  the  prior  of  Tynemouth. 
Sentenced  to  exile  and  outlawry.     They  have  no  chattels. 

Of  wine  sold  contrary  to  the  assize.  They  state  that  Peter  Mareys  of  Bewick  sold  three  jars  of 
wine,  Roger  de  Tynemouth,  clerk,  six  jars,  and  Richard  Prat  of  Tynemouth  three  jars,  contrarj-  to 
the  assize  ;   therefore  fined. 

Thomas,  servant  of  William  de  Hamcldon,  killed  Adam  Langthong  in  the  town  of  Tynemouth 
in  the  daytime,  and  at  once  after  the  deed  was  done  he  fled  to  Tynemouth  church  ;  and  there  before 
Roger  Maudut  the  coroner  he  confessed  the  deed  and  abjured  the  realm  ;  value  of  his  chattels,  five 
shillings. 

John  le  Flemyng  fell  out  of  a  boat  in  the  Tyne  and  was  drowned.  Misfortune.  Price  of  the  boat, 
two  shillings. 

Of  unjust  distraints.  They  state  that  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  and  his  bailiffs  do  not  allow  the 
free  men  of  Tynemouth  to  herd  their  cattle  in  the  king's  highway  between  Tynemouth  and  East 
Chirton,  nor  between  Tynemouth  and  Tynemouth  wind-mill,  as  they  were  wont ;  but  whenever  they 
wish  to  cross  there  with  their  cattle,  the  prior  sends  his  bailiffs  to  impark  the  said  cattle  and  detam 
them  till  they  have  made  fine  for  them.  And  the  prior,  in  the  person  of  his  attorney,  questioned 
as  to  this,  says  that  he  never  sent  his  bailiffs  to  impark  the  cattle  of  the  free  men  in  the  king's 
highway  nor  prevented  them  from  herding  them  there  :  but  he  says  that  there  is  in  that  place  a 
certain  pasture  near  the  road  which  is  his  severalty,  of  which  he  found  his  church  seised ,  and  if  it 
happens  that  their  cattle  cross  the  road  into  the  pasture  and  do  damage,  then  he  imparks  them  as 
he  lawfully  may,  and  not  otherwise.  And  as  to  this  he  puts  himself  on  his  countr>-.  .And  the  jurors 
state  on  their  oath  that  the  said  pasture  is  the  prior's  severalty,  namely,  from  Tynemouth  to  the  bridge 
of  the  hospital  of  St.  Leonard,  and  that  the  prior  has  not  prevented  the  free  men  from  herding  or 
driving  their  cattle  on  the  king's  highway.  Therefore  the  prior  is  quit,  and  the  twelve  jurors  arc 
fined  for  false  presentment. 

'  '  Quare  non  participat  cum  geldabili.' 


220  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Of  lands  alienated  contrary  to  the  Statute  of  Mortmain.  They  state  that  the  prior  of  Tynemouth 
acquired  an  acre  of  land  from  Adam  le  Vacher  and  one  acre  of  land  from  William  de  Wytton  since 
the  statute.     The  sheriff  ordered  to  make  the  prior  appear. 

Walter,  son  of  Nicholas  de  Tynemouth,  appealed  in  the  court  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  John 
de  Whitley,  Gilbert  Andreu,  and  William  de  Coupoun  who  is  dead,  for  robbery,  burglary  and  breaking 
the  king's  peace.  And  the  appeal  was  carried  before  the  king,  and  there  terminated  as  the  jurors 
testify.  And  upon  this  came  the  aforesaid  John  and  Gilbert  and  state  likewise  that  the  appeal  was 
there  terminated  and  that  they  were  acquitted  of  it,  etc. 

The  jurors  present  that  William  de  Chirton  of  Tynemouth  was  distrained  by  the  township  of 
Tynemouth  of  a  cow,  for  eightpence,  which  he  owed  towards  the  charges  of  the  four  and  of  the  reeve 
of  Tynemouth  coming  before  the  justices  at  Newcastle.  And  after  the  cow  was  imparked,  William 
took  the  cow  out  of  the  park  without  licence.  Therefore  the  sheriff  is  ordered  to  make  him  appear. 
And  he  comes  and  denies  the  whole  and  says  that  he  did  not  take  the  cow  out  of  the  park,  but  that 
a  boy  of  si.x  years  old,  to  whom  the  cow  had  belonged,  took  it  out  of  the  park.  Judgment  given  by 
jurors  against  William,  who  is  fined  half  a  mark. 

Of  those  who  fish  with  '  kidell  and  starkell.'  They  state  that  Simon  Post  of  Suthloges,  John 
Scot  of  the  same,  John,  son  of  Arnold,  Roger  Nelle,  Liolf,  son  of  John,  and  Patrick  Gobyclif  fish 
with  fine-meshed  nets  in  the  Tyne  in  common  through  the  whole  year,  as  well  in  the  close  season 
as  in  the  open.  And  they  catch  salmon,  contrary  to  the  statute.  Order  to  the  sheriff  to  arrest  them. 
They  also  state  that  Patrick  de  Sheles  catches  salmon  in  the  Tyne  in  the  close  season.  Order  to 
the  sheriff  to  arrest  him,  and  to  summon  Thomas  de  Milleburn  and  Robert  de  Throckelawe,  conser- 
vators of  the  said  river.  And  Patrick  now  says  that  he  has  not  fished  for  salmon  with  fine-meshed  nets. 
The  jury  find  him  not  guilty,  therefore  he  is  quit.  Afterwards  the  sheriff  announces  that  Symon  and  the 
others  have  not  been  found  in  his  bailiwick,  nor  have  they  anything  by  which  they  may  be  attached. 
The  jury  bear  witness  that  they  have  twice  contravened  the  statute.  Order  to  the  sheriff  to  arrest  them 
if  they  are  found  in  his  bailiwick,  and  to  imprison  them  for  three  months  according  to  the  statute.' 

The  jurors  present  that  one  Michael  de  Flaundres  killed  Geoffrey  le  Messor  of  Tynemouth  in  the 
daytime  with  an  axe  in  the  field  of  Tynemouth,  and  he  was  at  once  caught  and  imprisoned  in  the  prior 
of  Tynemouth's  prison,  and  was  guarded  there  by  the  township  of  Tynemouth.  And  afterwards  he 
escaped  from  prison  and  put  himself  in  the  priory  church,  and  there,  before  Adam  de  Pykering,  the 
coroner,  who  is  dead,  he  confessed  the  deed  and  abjured  the  realm.  He  had  no  chattels.  The  said 
township  put  on  its  trial  for  allowing  the  escape,  for  they  had  guard  of  the  prison.  And  the  twelve  jurors 
concealed  that  felony  in  their  verdict,  therefore  they  are  put  on  their  trial. 

Of  Hugh  Gobyon,  sherifl",  for  the  forfeited  chattels  of  an  unknown  woman  who  sought  sanctuary  at 
Tynemouth,  because  she  did  not  confess  before  the  coroner  that  she  had  any  chattels  ;  fourteen  shillings. 

The  jurors  present  that  William  de  Coupon  was  arrested  for  robbery  committed  upon  Walter,  son  of 
Nicholas  de  Whiteley,  of  which  the  latter  brought  an  appeal  against  him  in  the  court  of  the  prior  of 
Tynemouth,  and  he  was  placed  in  the  stocks  at  the  order  of  William  Styward,  coroner,  and  guarded 
there  for  three  months  and  more  by  one  William  Glede  and  John,  son  of  Christiana  de  Tynemouth,  who 
so  wickedly  kept  the  said  William  in  duresse  of  prison  in  the  said  stocks  during  that  time,  that  he  died 
in  consequence  of  the  imprisonment  on  the  day  after  his  release.  This  was  done  at  the  order  of  William 
Styward,  coroner,  and  of  Henry  de  Harden,  clerk  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth.  Therefore  let  them  be 
arrested.  Afterwards  William  Styward  and  John,  son  of  Christiana,  came  and  made  fine  for  postpone- 
ment at  one  mark.  Bail  found  for  them.  Afterwards  it  was  announced  by  the  sheriff  that  the  said 
Williain  Glede  had  not  been  found,  but  had  made  away,  and  is  suspect.  Therefore  he  is  exiled  and 
outlawed.  He  has  no  chattels.  Then  William  Styward,  Henry  de  Hardenn  and  John,  son  of  Christiana, 
came  and  were  asked  how  they  would  acquit  themselves  of  the  death  of  the  said  William.  They  plead 
not  guilty,  and  put  themselves  wholly  upon  the  country.  And  the  jurors  state  on  their  oath  that  none  of 
them  is  guilty  of  the  said  William's  death  ;  therefore  they  are  all  quit. 

Entry  of  payment  of  two  marks  by  the  twelve  jurors  for  concealment  and  other  trespasses. 

'  For  regulations  respecting  salmon  fisheries  on  the  Tyne,  see  Cal.  Due.  Rel.  Scot.  vol.  i.  p.  512. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  221 

Six  years  later,  upon  the  petition  of  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tyne- 
mouth/  on  February  20th,  1299,  Edward  I.  restored  to  them  all  their  former 
privileges/  which  were  afterwards  specifically  confirmed  to  them  by  a 
charter  of  Edward  IV.,  dated  March  19th,  1463.'  The  civil  jurisdiction 
of  the  priory  does  not  seem  to  have  outlasted  the  fourteenth  century.  The 
difficulty  of  enforcing  royal  prerogatives,  which  had  outlasted  their  useful- 
ness, led  to  a  practical  extinction  of  the  franchise  long  before  the  dissolution ; 
but,  for  that  very  reason,  the  liberty  was  never,  and  has  never  been  formally 
abolished. 

The   Manor. 

As  stated  above,  there  was  one  court  {libera  curia)  for  the  whole 
liberty,  held  every  three  weeks  and  attended  by  all  the  free  tenants  of 
the  monastery.  It  was  usually  convened  in  the  prior's  great  hall  at  Tyne- 
mouth,  but  might  be  held  in  any  part  of  the  liberty.  It  was  at  once 
seignorial  and  feudal,  and  combined  the  functions  of  a  court  leet  with 
those  of  a  court  baron. 

The  franchise  was  not,  however,  devoid  of  a  manorial  organization, 
though  the  manor  was  rather  an  economic  than  a  jurisdictional  unit.  An 
assessment-roll  of  1292  enumerates  the  ten  manors  of  Tynemouth,  Preston, 
Monkseaton,  Backworth,  Flatworth,  Bebside,  Elswick,  Wylam,  Amble, 
and  Bewick.^  On  a  tour  through  the  liberty  made  by  Abbot  Norton  in 
1264,  courts  were  held  at  Tynemouth  and  at  the  five  places  last  named.'' 
Though  Preston,  Monkseaton,  Backworth,  and  Flatworth  do  not  appear  in 
the  record  of  1264,  corroborative  evidence  of  their  manorial  character  is 
found  in  their  possessing  halls,  while  Flatworth,  Backworth,  and  Monk- 
seaton had  separate  demesnes,  though  Preston  and  Tynemouth  had  their 
demesnes  in  common.  It  may  be  inferred  that  the  liberty  was  parcelled 
into  manors,  and  that  courts  were  retained  in  the  outlying  districts,  though 

'Ancient  Petitions,  P.R.O.  No.  3761.     ...  Petunt  etiam  quod  si  dominus  rex  ob  amorem  Uei  et 

reverenciam   sancti   Oswyni   velit   reddere  dictam  libertatem   prefate  ecclesie  de  Tynemutli,  ut  possinl 
habere  illam  ex  special!  done  suo,  sicut  illam  habuerunt  ex  speciali  dono  regis  Ricardi  antecessoris  sui. 
Kt  ubi  dicitur  in  carta  dicta  regis  Ricardi  omnca  homines  et  omnes  terras,  etc.,  quod  ipse  velit  specilicare 
villas  et  loca,  si  placet,  et  qualiter  debeant  amodo  justiciaries  et  coronatores  suos  creare.  .....   Ista 

petunt  prior  et  conventus  ut  dominus  rex  concedat  eis,  si  placet,  ex  sua  clemencia  et  pro  sancti  Oswyni 
reverencia,  et  quod  capiat  de  eis  pro  tali  gracia  juxta  facultateni  domus  eorum  ita  quod  habeant  racion- 
abiles  terniinos  de  solucione  sine  depressionc  domus  sue.  Et  sciat  dominus  rex  quod  dicti  prior  et 
conventus  non  petunt  aliqua  de  quibus  dominus  rex  danipnum  vel  jacturam  habere  poterit.  Et  hoc 
scire  poterit  pro  certo,  si  placeat  jubere  ut  rei  Veritas  per  lidedignos  inquiratur. 

■  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  318.         "  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  .No.  c.x.xxvii. 

'  Dugdale,  Monasticon,  vol.  iii.  p.  315.         '  Registriini  WhcthamsteJe,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  pp.  319-324. 


222  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

round  the  monastery  itself,  and  under  the  shadow  of  its  great  hall,  there 
was  no  scope  for  their  development.  The  free  court  of  the  whole  liberty 
was  also  the  court  of  the  adjacent  manors. 

In   this  inner  group   a  distinction   arises  at  the  outset  between  Tyne- 
mouth  (with  its  later  offshoots  of  North  Shields  and  Cullercoats)  and  the 
remaining  townships.      Not   only   had   Tynemouth  its  own  mills,  while  its 
neighbours  did  suit  to  the  mill  at  Flatworth,  but  it  had  a  separate  pasture, 
the  other  vills  intercommoning  upon  the  Shire  Moor.      In  this  connexion 
it   is  significant   that   Tynemouth   did   not   contribute    to    the   cornage   rent 
imposed  on  the  rest  of  the  district.'    It  is  undoubtedly  an  older  settlement, 
less  distinctly  pastoral  in  its  origin,  while    the    presence   of  a   fishing   and 
seafaring    population    prevented    it    from    becoming    a    purely    agricultural 
community.     It  contained  numerous  small  freeholds.     The  bondage  system, 
which  formed  the  basis  of  the  agricultural  system  of  other  vills,  was  absent 
here.     Racial  difference  may  account  in  part  for  its  individuality,  for  there 
are  traces  of  a  marked  Danish  element  in  the  population'  of  the  sea-bord. 
The  greater  part   of  each  township  was  arable,  and,   besides   the    de- 
mesne, comprised  free  land  and  land  held  by  base  and  customary  services. 
The   customary   land   was   divided   up  into   a   number  of  bondage-holdings 
{bondagia)    of   equal    size,    having   equal    rights   of   common    and    meadow 
appurtenant  to  each.     A  mensuration  taken  by  Prior  Adam  de  Tewing  at 
Christmas,  1295,^  shows  the  method  of  division.     An  estimate  was  made  of 
the  whole  of  the  land  within  the   township   held   by  bondage   tenure,  and 
the  total  was  then  divided  into  holdings  comprising  two  bovates  or  thirty- 
six  acres.     Each  holding  consisted  of  a  number  of  acre  or  half-acre  strips 
scattered   over  the  common  fields,  and  was  farmed   by  a   single  person  of 
unfree   status,   termed   a   bond   or   huse-bond    (husband).'      The  remaining 
acres — the   odd  fraction   in   the   division   sum — were   portioned   out   among 

'  There  is  a  total  absence  of  the  burr,  or  uvular  pronunciation  of  the  letter  'r',  in  the  speech  of  the 
old  inhabitants  of  North  Shields,  of  the  seafaring  communities  of  Tynemouth  and  Cullercoats,  and  of 
the  fishing  population  along  the  coast.  For  the  bearing  of  this  on  the  racial  origin  of  the  population, 
see  Mr.  R.  O.  Heslop's  article  on  'The  Permian  People  of  North  Durham,'  Arch.  Ad.  2nd  series, 
vol.  X. 

■■'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  7  b  to  8. 

'  The  terms  '  villain  '  and  '  villainage  '  never  found  currency  in  Northumberland,  their  meaning  being 
expressed  by  'bond'  and  'bondage.'  The  old  Norse  word  'bonde'  first  finds  place  in  the  English 
language  in  the  laws  of  court,  and  became  anglicised  as  'bonda'  or  'bunda.'  Cp.  Vita  Oswini,  cap. 
xxiv.  p.  38.  '  Ut  moris  est  provinciae,  servi  ecclesiae,  quos  bundos  vocant  lingua  materna,  de  jure  operis 
sibi  impositi,  annonam  in  plaustris  suis  ad  coeptam  metam  advehunt,  et  earn  in  brevi  ex  messis  allatae 
abundantia  insurgere  compellunt.'  This  passage,  written  in  the  first  half  of  the  twelfth  century,  contains 
an  early  description  of  the  carriage-work  in  harvest-time,  known  a  century  and  a  half  later  as  mUuie,  and 
shows  that  bond  had  already  degenerated  from  its  original  signification  of  a  free  ceorl.  The  term 
huubandi  occurs  once  in  the  custumal  of  1295  ;  Tyncmoutli  Chartulary,  fol.  40. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  223 

the  bonds  and  formed  a  surplusage  to  their  holdings  for  which  they  paid 
rent.'  For  their  two  bovates  they  performed,  each  of  them,  similar  services, 
all  carefully  set  out  in  a  custumal  drawn  up  in  or  about  the  year  1295. 
John  Miller  of  Preston  serves  as  a  model  for  the  rest. 

John  Miller  holds  a  toft  and  36  acres  of  land  as  bond,  and  pays  in  pence,  8d.  ;  for  Merdeflfen-penies, 
2S.  ;  for  heth-penies,  6d. ;  for  Hertenes-penies,  3d.  ;  for  abbote-scoth  at  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  3|d.  Sum  total  in  pence,  3s.  8|d.,  excepting  conevais-silver.  He  pays  at  the  feast  of  St.  Oswin 
in  the  autumn  one  cock  and  one  hen,  and  at  Easter  60  eggs. 

He  shall  cart  two  cartloads  for  his  inlad,  doing  service  anywhere,  if  so  ordered,  and  for  this  carting 
he  shall  not  have  lade-bund.  When  he  carts  as  part  of  his  work  from  the  field  of  Tynemouth  north  of 
Keneualdes-den,  on  the  west  of  the  dene  leading  to  the  hospital,  he  shall  cart  four  loads;'  and  between 
Kenewaldes-den  and  the  town  and  the  dene  leading  to  the  hospital  and  to  the  town,  he  shall  cart  six 
loads  ;  and  from  all  the  closes  round  about  the  town,  he  shall  cart  eight  loads.  When  he  carts  tithes 
from  Whiteley,  Preston,  from  the  three  Chirtounes,  and  from  Milneton,  he  shall  cart  three  loads  ;  and 
from  Erdesdon,  Seton,  Moerton,  and  Flatford,  he  shall  cart  two  loads  in  the  course  of  the  day  ;  and  he 
shall  do  this  for  all  the  corn  that  has  to  be  carted.  When  he  carts  from  Hertelawe,  Haliwell,  North 
Seton,  Neusoni,  Seighale  and  Bacworthe,  he  shall  cart  once  in  the  course  of  the  day.  For  all  the  above- 
mentioned  cartings,  except  for  his  inlad,  he  shall  have  lade-bund.  When  he  carts  turves,  and  when  he 
mows  Segrestan-leche,  then  he  shall  cart  two  loads  ;  when  he  does  not  mow,  then  three  loads  in  the 
course  of  the  day.  Item,  when  he  mows  Wymber-leche,  he  shall  cart  two  loads  in  the  course  of  the  day. 
Moreover,  when  it  is  necessary,  he  shall  mow  and  he  shall  do  anything  else  at  the  will  of  the  prior, 
wheresoever  the  prior  or  his  servant  wills,  or  else  he  shall  do  it  as  part  of  his  work.  When  he  carts 
from  Hertlawe  and  from  Haliwell  to  Seton  Monachorum  he  shall  cart  twice  and  shall  have  lade-bund. 
When  he  carts  from  Seton  to  Tynemouth,  he  shall  cart  three  loads  and  shall  have  lade-bund. 

From  the  feast  of  St.  Martin  to  the  feast  of  the  Purification  of  the  Blessed  Mary,  he  shall  thresh 
daily  one  thrave  of  wheat  or  winter-wheat ;  moreover  at  other  times  one  thrave  and  eight  sheaves  of 
wheat  or  mesline,  and  of  barley  or  of  oats  always  two  thraves,  and  of  beans  or  peas  as  well  after  the 
feast  of  St.  Martin  as  before.  The  said  John  shall  reap  in  the  autumn  two  days  with  two  men  in  each 
week,  and  those  two  men  shall  each  day  have  three  'bilmynges"  and  six  herrings  with  pottage.  And 
he  shall  do  the  great  auth-rep  with  the  whole  family  of  his  house  except  the  house-wife  ;  and  he  shall 
bring  out  with  him  fifteen  'kakes'  as  food  for  the  reapers,  which  he  shall  hand  over  to  the  servant  or  to 
the  reeve  to  distribute  on  the  prior's  behalf;  and  he  shall  have  on  the  same  day,  together  with  another 
given  him  as  a  messmate,  three  'bilmynges'  or  six  'kakes,'  and  pottage  and  meat  and  cheese  and  beer. 
And  it  is  to  be  understood  that  when  the  bonds  mow  the  prior's  pasture,  they  shall  have  three  sheep  by 
way  of  custom. 

The  said  John  shall  give  every  year  5^  quarters  of  malt  on  the  feast  of  St.  Martin,  and  one  quarter 
of  conevais-ates  at  Christmas.  And  it  is  to  be  understood  that  the  bonds  of  Preston  shall  give  every 
year  for  conevei-silver  7s.  7id.,  and  the  said  bonds  shall  retain  in  their  hand  one  quarter  of  malt  and  one 
quarter  of  conevais-ates. 

The  said  John  shall  do  every  week  in  the  year  two  days'  work  without  food,  excepting  the  feasts  of 
Easter  and  Christmas  and  Whitsuntide.  He  shall  plough  and  harrow  one  acre  of  the  prior's  land  when 
he  is  given  notice,  and  he  shall  sow  the  same  with  the  prior's  seed,  without  food.  He  shall  do  one  boen- 
ere  and  shall  have  food,  to  wit  two  'bilmynges'  and  one  'swayn-laf,'  six  herrings,  and  one  dish  of  peas, 
and  beer  in  plenty.     He  shall  cart  three  loads  from  MerdefTen.' 

'  West  Chirton  ;  sunt  ibidem  xv  bondi,  et  debent  habere  cccxv  acras,  scilicet  quilibet  x.\v  acras  ;  et 
inveniuntur  ibi  cccxxvij  acras,  scilicet  xij  acras  plus,  quarum  vj  acras  debent  habere  quinque  bondi,  et 
alias  vj  decern  homines.     Tynemouth  Cltartulary,  fols.  7  b  to  S. 

^  The  name  of  Kenewaldes-den  survives  in  the  corrupted  form  of  Kennersdean.  The  hospital  was 
that  dedicated  to  St.  Leonard  ;  its  ruins  are  visible  in  the  Northumberland  Park  at  Tynemouth. 

'  Probably  some  kind  of  scone  or  bannock.  '  Tytumouth  Chartulary,  fols.  36  b  to  37. 


224  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Week-work  is  the  characteristic  trait  of  the  bond's  tenure.  At  Martin- 
mas he  has  to  plough  and  harrow  an  acre  of  the  prior's  demesne,  and  then 
to  sow  it  with  the  prior's  seed.  When  called  upon  he  has  to  put  in  an 
extra  dav,  with  his  plough  (bon-ere),  and  a  day  with  his  horse  and  harrow 
(bon-harrowe),  receiving  three  or  four  loaves,  six  herrings,  a  dish  of  peas 
and  beer  in  plenty  for  the  ploughing,  but  providing  himself  with  food  at 
the  harrowing.  During  the  time  of  harvest  he  has  to  join  in  the  reaping 
two  days  each  week,  and  to  bring  two  other  labourers  to  work  with  him. 
The  whole  population  of  the  manor  turns  out  into  the  harvest-field  for  the 
prior's  great  boon-work  (magnum  auth-repe),  and  then  John  Miller  and 
the  other  bonds  bring  each  of  them  fifteen  cakes  for  the  reapers.  They 
fare  well  upon  loaves  and  pottage,  meat,  cheese,  and  beer,  provided  at  the 
prior's  cost.  Then  the  harvest  has  to  be  carted  to  the  manorial  grange, 
and  for  each  cartload  the  bond  receives  his  sheaf  (lade-bund).  At  the  close 
of  the  harvest,  all  the  prior's  tenants,  bond  and  free,  join  in  the  harvest- 
home.  Each  has  a  specified  number  of  '  thraves  '  to  cart,  and  on  this  day 
they  have  no  lade-bund.  Other  cartings,  such  as  the  bringing  of  tithes 
from  Newsham  (Neusum-lade)  and  turves  from  Mason,  are  carefully  regu- 
lated. From  Martinmas  until  the  feast  of  the  Purification  the  bond  has  to 
thresh  wheat  daily  in  the  prior's  barn,  and  there  is  threshing  to  be  done 
at  other  times. 

At  the  feast  of  St.  Oswin  he  has  to  render  a  cock  and  hen,  and  sixty 
eggs  at  Easter,  the  latter  payment  being  perhaps  the  '  egge-brod  '  for  which 
all  the  bonds  of  the  whole  parish  received  each  of  them  a  '  swayn-Iaf.' 
There  are  also  various  forms  of  customary  rent  paid  by  him,  namely  8d.  on 
Palm  Sunday  for  '  yevel-penies  '  (that  is,  gafol  or  rent  in  the  strict  sense, 
as  distinct  from  payments  in  commutation  of  services)  ;  at  Whitsuntide 
a  shilling  in  lieu  of  carting  turves  from  Mason  (MerdefFen-penies),  and 
the  like  at  Michaelmas  ;  si.xpence  on  Ascension  Day  as  chevage  or  poll- 
tax  (hed-penies)  ;  upon  St.  John  the  Baptist's  Day  a  sum  varying  from  3d. 
to  4jd.  for  abbot's  cornage  (abbote-scoth)  ;  three  pence  at  Michaelmas 
as  commutation  for  bringing  in  tithes  from  Hertness  (Hertnes-penies)  ;  and 
upon  St.  Andrew's  Day  ii^d.  in  place  of  provender-rents  (conevais-penies 
or  conevais-silver). 

The  '  conevais '  is  in  practice,  if  not  in  name,  identical  with  the  '  cum- 
feorm,'  or  duty  of  feeding  strangers,  mentioned  in  Anglo-Saxon  charters  of 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  225 

the  ninth  century.'  In  its  fully-developed  form  it  appears  as  the  chief 
incident  of  the  drengage  tenures  of  Whitley  and  Backworth  in  the  four- 
teenth century.  There  at  Christmastide  the  tenants  of  each  of  these  two 
townships  had  to  entertain  the  prior  and  his  household,  his  servants,  horses 
and  dogs,  for  two  days  and  two  nights,  and  to  find  them  food  and  shelter. 
The  bonds  of  other  townships  had  to  give  five  or  five  and  a  half  quarters 
of  barley-malt  at  Martinmas,  and  a  quarter  of  oats  (conevais-ates)  at  Christ- 
inas. '  Scat '  malt  and  '  scat '  oats  occur  as  distinct  payments.  In  Earsdon 
the  bonds  who  gave  scat-malt  were  to  be  remitted  twopence  of  their 
'  conevais-penies.' 

Recognition  had  to  be  made  for  the  right  of  pannage  in  the  prior's 
woods  ^  and  of  herbage  upon  his  waste.  Suit  to  the  manorial  mill  was 
obligatory.  Finally,  above  and  beyond  all  customary  services,  the  bond 
could  be  tallaged  'high  and  low.'  In  1294  the  prior  and  convent  collected 
as  much  as  ^78  9s.  8d.  by  tallage  from  their  bondage  tenants.'  The  fact 
that  some  paid  a  mark,  while  others  were  excused  all  payment  on  the  score 
of  poverty,  shows  that  equality  of  holdings  by  no  means  implied  equality 
of  wealth.  Their  tenure  was  precarious  ;  they  held  by  the  will  of  the 
lord,  and  had  no  fi.xity  of  holding. 

Customary  services  were  also  owed  by  various  classes  of  free  men. 
The  name  of  drengage  is  not  met  with  in  the  custumals  of  this  period,  but 
the  tenure  exists,  and  three  townships,  namely,  Seghill,  Whitley,  and  Back- 
worth,  are  so  held  of  the  prior.  Graffard's  charter  of  enfeoffment  for  Seghill 
stipulates  that  he  shall  go  with  the  host  and  perform  riding  services,  do 
suit  of  court,  answer  for  his  men,  and  do  all  other  things  incumbent  on 
men  of  his  status.  In  thf  case  of  Whitley  the  customs  are  more  specifically 
set  out.  They  comprise  the  service  called  'conveys'  already  mentioned, 
the  payment  of  a  money  rent,  as  well  as  cornage  and  the  composition  rent 
known  as  '  Hcrtnes-pcnyes,'  and  suit  to  the  prior's  court  from  three  weeks 
Id  three  weeks.  There  are  various  services  connected  with  the  manorial 
mill,  namely  suit  to  the  mill,  the  payment  of  multure,  the  reparation  of  the 
mill  and  mill-pond,  and  the  carting  of  grind-stones.  Agricultural  services 
include  the  boon-ere,   boon   harrow  and  autumn  works   (auth-reps),  which 

'  Thorpe,  Diplomatarium,  p.  102. 

'"  At  the  dissolution  two  pence  was  paid  by  each  tenant  in  hiisbandr)-  for  pann.age  or  '  swine-tack.' 

'St.  Allan's  Ri\!;islcr,  fols.    109-11 1.     The  tallage  was  presumably  levied  as  a  means  of  paying 
Edward  I.'s  taxation  of  the  same  year. 

Vol.  VIIl.  ;q 


226  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

were  also  incumbent  upon  bondage-tenants,  and  carting  from  Newsham 
and  from  Seaton  Delaval.  Finally,  by  a  curious  jumble  of  incidents  of 
free  and  unfree  tenure,  the  lord  of  Whitley  pays  aids  to  the  prior,  gives 
fine  upon  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  (merchet),  and  yet  the  prior  claims 
the  feudal  rights  of  marriage  and  wardship. 

A  second  group,  found  in  East  and  in  Middle  Chirton,  is  marked  by 
the  payment  of  five  shillings  from  each  holding  as  'rad-mal'  or  composition 
for  riding-services.  The  holdings  vary  in  size  from  eighteen  to  forty-five 
acres.  The  agricultural  services  owed  bv  them  are  similar  to  those  in 
Whitley,  namely,  boon  works  and  the  cartings  termed  Neusum-lade  and 
in-lade.  They  also  render  provender-rents  of  oat  and  malt,  pay  i|d.  upon 
the  feast  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  as  '  miln-silver  '  in  lieu  of  carting  mill- 
stones, and  pay  rent. 

In  the  third  class  of  free  holdings  no  rad-mal  is  paid.  On  the  other 
hand  cornage  is  due  to  the  abbot  or  the  prior,  and  in  some  cases,  a  toll 
called  'abbot's  welcome,'  payable  when  a  new  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  came 
on  his  first  visit  to  Tynemouth.  Special  duties  are  annexed  to  some  of 
these  tenements,  such  as  the  guarding  of  the  prior's  prison  or  the  herding 
of  the  cattle  taken  by  him  by  way  of  distraint.  The  tenants  give  merchet 
and  '  layre-wite '  (fine  for  incontinency).  In  other  respects,  both  as  to 
services  and  as  to  the  extent  of  the  holding,  there  is  little  to  distinguish 
this  class  from  that  of  which  the  payment  of  rad-mal  is  the  characteristic 
feature.' 

All  these  classes  of  customary  free  holdings  are  hereditary.  Son 
succeeds  father  upon  payment  of  a  fine  or  relief  amounting  to  two  years' 
rent.  Widows  have  their  free-bench.  The  holding  or  any  part  of  it  may 
be  alienated  upon  fine  made  in  the  prior's  court,  to  which  the  tenants  owe 
suit  from  three  weeks  to  three  weeks. 

In  other  cases  labour-services  are  for  the  most  part  wanting,  and  a 
money-rent  is  the  chief  or  the  sole   burden.     These  form  a   miscellaneous 

'  Thus  at  Cowpen  in  1323  'Johannes  Flane  tenet  j  toftum  et  cioftum,  j  cotagium,  xx  acras  et  j  rodani 
terre  heretlitarie,  et  reddit  per  annum  domino  priori  iij*  viij''  et  welcum  abbatis  et  merchetuni  pro  filiabus. 
Filius  suus  post  obitimi  patris  releviabit  lerram  patris  sui,  et  talliabitur  per  priorcm,  el  dabitur  pro 
anccHis  et  filiabus  suis  layreuyt  cum  advenit,  et  dabit  cornagiuni  abbatis,  et  mulier  dotabitur  post 
obitum  viri.'  Tyinmoiitk  Chiniiildiy,  fol.  33.  His  services  stand  as  a  type  for  all  free  land  wiiliin  the 
township.  At  Preston  it  is  laid  down  in  1295  that  all  the  free  tenants  shall  do  suit  to  the  prior's  mill  at 
the  thirteenth  dish  ;  also  they  shall  do  suit  to  the  prior's  court  (hal)  ;  and  they  shall  give  merchet  and 
leirwyt  for  their  daughters;  also  they  shall  cart  millstones  from  Slawlee  (that  is,  Slaley)  to  all  the 
prior's  mills  along  with  their  peers  within  the  liberty  of  Tynemouth.     Ibitl.  fol.  37  b. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  227 

group  of  laiul  held  in  common  socage,  burgage  tenements,  intakes,  lease- 
holds, and  cottage  holdings.  Parcels  of  the  demesne  and  vacant  bondage 
lands  arc  often  leased  out  for  a  term  of  years  or  for  life,  the  terms  of  the 
lease,  which  admit  of  considerable  variety,  being  enrolled  on  the  court 
roll.'  The  cotman  or  cottager  has  a  cottage  and  one  bovate  of  land  or 
less,  and  pavs  rent.  He  appears  to  be  distinct  horn  the  selfode,  whose 
holding  includes  a  cottage,  for  which  he  pays  rent,  and  a  small  plot  of 
land,  varying  in  size  from  half  an  acre  to  four  acres,  for  which  three  days' 
work  are  due  in  the  autumn." 

It  is  not  possible  to  obtain  more  than  a  few  glimpses  of  the  change 
of  system  in  progress  during  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth  centuries.  The 
year  1295  found  agriculture  in  Northumberland  on  the  crest  of  a  wave. 
It  witnessed  the  first  of  a  long  series  of  Scottish  raids.  A  survey  of 
Cowpen  taken  in  1323,  in  a  brief  interval  of  truce,  shows  that  war  had 
already  driven  the  bonds  there  out  of  existence.  All  bondage  holdings 
within  the  township  were,  at  the  taking  of  the  survey,  in  the  prior's  hands 
for  want  of  tenants.  In  1377  things  had  gone  from  bad  to  worse.  In 
Monkseaton,  where  in  1295  fifteen  bonds  had  cultivated  as  many  arable 
holdings,  only  ten  tenements  remain  ;  and,  of  these  ten,  four  render  no 
labour  services  and  are  in  the  prior's  hand,  while  the  remaining  si.\  have 
lain  waste  since  the  Black  Death  for  want  of  tenants.  Within  the  township 
of  Middle  Chirton  there  were  twelve  bondage  holdings  in  1295,  eleven 
cultivated  by  bonds  and  one  by  Roger  de  Wylam,  a  free  man.  In  1377 
John  de  Wvlam  was  farming  seven  out  of  the  twelve  tenements  ;  the 
other  five,  having  no  tenants,  were  leased  out  for  a  rent  of  malt.  The 
townships  of  Preston,  East  and  Middle  Chirton,  Monkseaton,  and  Earsdon, 
contained  sixty  bonds  in    1295  and  twentv-three  in    1377. 

In  1539  the  greater  part  of  the  arable  land  in  each  township  was  still 
divided  into  customary  holdings  of  equal  size,  though,  in  consequence  of 
a  diminution  of  population  during  the  long  period  of  border  warfare, 
accompanied  by  a  rise  in  the  standard  of  living,  their  number  had 
diminished  and  their  size  increased. 

'  '  VValterus  filius  Uctredi  tenuit  viij  acras  de  bondagio  prioris  per  rotulum  curie  et  reddidit  xli/.,  que 
servicia  in  manu  prioris  propter  i,'ucrrani.'     Survey  of  Cowpen,  1323  ;  ibiii.  fol.  ^^. 

•  In  a  survey  of  Woodhorn  taken  in  1271,  selfodes  are  glossed  as  'reddilarii.'     dil.  Doc.  Rcl.  Scot. 
vol.  i.  p.  532. 


228  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Number  of  Holdings. 

Number  of  Acres  of  Arable 

to  each  Holding 

Township. 

In  I2g.|. 

In  1539. 

In  1294. 

In  1539- 

Preston        

7h 

5 

36 

45 

East  Chirton 

S 

5 

36 

45 

Middle  Chirton 

1 1 

3 

36 

40 

Whitley        

— 

5 

— 

40 

Monkseaton 

isi 

10 

36 

36 

Murton         

— 

4 

— 

42 

Earsdon       

17 

8 

36 

26 

Backworth 

— 

10 

— 

36 

There  has  been  strikingly  little  change  in  appellation  ;  bondage  hold- 
ings have  become  husbandry  holdings,  and  husebondi  have  turned  into 
husbands,  whose  tenure  is  still  nominally  at  the  will  of  the  lord.  On  the 
other  hand  the  tenants  have  attained  freedom  and  become  suitors  at  the 
manorial  court.  Their  services  equate  with  those  rendered  in  1295,  by 
the  'liber  homo'  and  not  with  those  of  the  bond.  Merchet  and  layrewite, 
chevage  and  tallage  are  no  longer  paid.  The  servile  badge  of  week- 
work  has  gone,  leaving  monev  rents,  provender-rents,  boon-works,  autumn- 
work,  carriage  work,  and  suit  to  the  lord's  mills'  still  due  from  the  tenant. 
Owing  to  the  loss  of  the  court  rolls,  it  is  impossible  to  speak  positively  of 
the  certainty  of  the  tenure,  but  the  fact  is  to  be  noticed  that  many  of  the 
same  family-names  recur  in  successive  rentals,  and  there  is  a  case  of  testa- 
mentary disposition  of  a  husbandry  holding  as  early  as  1570.°  It  is  highly 
probable,  and  evidence  quoted  later  supports  the  assumption,  that  a 
nominally  precarious  tenure  had  acquired  fixity,  and  that  the  right  of  the 
son  to  succeed  the  father  was  recognised  by  the  manorial  officers,  though 
the  amount  of  the  fine  payable  upon  succession  had  not  yet  become  fixed 
by  custom.  A  curious  story  was  told  in  151 1  before  the  Council  of  the 
North,  of  how  one  of  the  later  priors  of  Tynemouth  would  not  grant  a 
tenant  a  copy  of  his  father's  tenement  in  Amble  '  untill  he  was  content 
to  give  so  many  nobles  as  there  were  dores  about  his  house,  and  there 
were  found  xiiij  dores '  (an  improbable  number)  ;  and  then,  upon  the  said 
tenant  giving  satisfaction  to  the  prior,  he  had  his  copy  according  to  custom.' 

In  a  trial  held  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  in  1609  it  was  stated  that  the  copyholders  were  bound  to 
present  their  corn  to  be  ground  at  the  lord's  mills,  unless  wind  or  water  did  not  serve  to  grind  their 
grain  in  reasonable  time.  Freeholders  were  not  bound  to  do  suit,  neither  were  tenants  dwelling  in 
newly  erected  houses  and  having  no  corn  growing  within  the  manor.  Exchequer  Depositions,  Mich. 
7  Jas.  I.  No.  g. 

-  By  will  dated  February  2nd,  1569/70,  Robert  Cutter  of  Earsdon  devises  his  farmhold  to  Alice,  his 
wife;   'and  she  to  pay  ^10  to  Thomas  Cutter  my  father.'      Bequests  of  this  nature  were,  however, 
without  legal  validity,  and  depended  for  their  execution  upon  the  good  will  of  the  steward  of  the  manor. 
See  vol.  v.  of  this  work,  p.  279. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE. 


229 


Arable  demesne  lands  no  longer  existed  at  the  dissolution  except  in 
Tynemouth  and  Preston  townships.  The  original  demesnes,  enlarged  by 
freehold  land  of  which  large  quantities  were  acquired  by  the  monastery 
during  the  fourteenth  century,  as  well  as  by  bondage  holdings  which  had 
fallen  into  the  lord's  hand  and  had  never  been  granted  out  again  for  lack 
of  tenants,  had  been  turned  iiUo  pasture,  and  appropriated  by  the  customary 
tenants,  so  that  each  husbandry  holding  had  now  extensive  rights  of 
common  appurtenant  to  it.  Several  townships,  from  being  almost  entirely 
arable,  had  become  mainly  pastoral,  and  every  tenant  in  husbandry  had 
now  common  of  pasture  for  six  oxen,  six  to  twelve  cattle,  twenty  to  forty 
sheep,  and  two  to  four  horses. 

Money-rents,  now  distinguished  as  '  shire-rents,' '  show  a  very  large 
increase,  the  average  rent  for  a  holding  of  thirty-six  acres  of  arable  being 
twenty  shillings.  Six  quarters  of  corn,  consisting  of  oats  and  barley  in 
varying  proportions,  is  paid  yearly  out  of  each  tenement.  The  payment  is 
known  as  'hall-corn'  and  is  estimated  to  be  of  equal  value  to  the  money-rent, 
whence  the  name  of  '  half-corn  '  sometimes  applied  to  it.  At  first  sight  the 
identification  of  the  six  quarters  of  barley  and  oats  rendered  in  1539  with 
the  six  or  six  and  a  half  quarters  of  barley-malt  and  oats  rendered  in  1295 
may  seem  obvious,  but  this  point  will  require  further  examination.  For  the 
present  it  may  be  noticed  that  the  term  of  payment  of  the  hall-corn,  namely, 
St.  Andrew's  Day,  coincides  with  that  for  the  payment  of  'coneveis-penies'  in 
the  thirteenth  century,  '  coneveis-penies  '  being  a  commutation  of  provender- 
rents. 


Money 

Rent. 

Corn 

Rent. 

Township. 

In  1^94- 

In  I 

539- 

In  1294. 

In  1539. 

s.      d. 

s. 

d. 

Preston       

4     Si 

26 

S 

5i  qrs.  barley-malt 
and  I  qr.  oats. 

4  qrs.  barley  and 
2  qrs.  oals. 

East  Chilton 

4     8] 

37 

4 

5i  qrs.  barley-malt 
and  I  qr.  oats. 

3  qrs.  barley  and 
3  qrs.  oats. 

Middle  Chirton 

4     4i 

44 

6 

5i  qrs.  barley-malt 
and  I  qr.  oals. 

None. 

Whitley      

— 

33 

4 

— 

4  qrs.  barley  and 
2  qrs.  oats. 

Monkseaton 

4     iJ 

20 

0 

ji  qrs.  barley-malt 
and  I  qr.  oats. 

4  qrs.  barley  and 
2  qrs.  oats. 

Murton       



22 

0 

— 

4  qrs.  oats. 

Earsdon     

5       2\ 

20 

0 

5  qrs.  barley-malt 
and  I  qr.  oats. 

4  qrs.  barley  and 
2  qrs.  oats. 

Backwoith 

— 

20 

0 

— 

2i  qrs.  wheat  and 
[l  qr.  oats]. 

'  The  shire-rent  is  clearly  an  assize-rent  and  not,  as  has  been  suggested,  an  acknowledgment  for  the 
privilege  of  depasturing  on  the  common  and  open  lands  within  the  manor. 


230 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


Meadow-closes  aiul  the  <,'art!i  of  tlie  manor-hall  are  tanned  in  coiniimn 
bv  the  tenants  of  each  respective  township  for  a  separate  money-rent  ;  and 
as  the  few  remainiiii;  freeholds  are  usnally  annexed  to  some  customary 
tenement,  it  follows  that  almost  the  whole  of  the  land  within  the  township 
is  already  in  the  hands  of  husbandry  tenants. 

By  deed  of  surrender,  dated  January  12th,  1538/9,  all  the  possessions 
of  the  monastery  of  Tynemouth  were  made  over  to  the  Crown.  During 
the  succeeding  century  the  lordship  of  Tynemouth,  in  which  expression 
were  included  the  townships  of  Preston,  East  Chirton,  Whitley,  Monkseaton, 
Murton,  Earsdon  and  Backworth,  was  let  out  on  successive  leases  of  twenty- 
one  years  each,  at  a  yearly  rent  of  ;^105  7s.,  renewable  upon  the  payment 
of  a  fine  of  double  that  amount.  The  lessees  were  John  Banester,  February 
1 2th,  1545/6;'  Thomas  Kay,  November  6th,  1558;"  Henry,  eighth  earl  of 
Northumberland,  December  12th,  1580;'  Henry,  ninth  earl  of  Northumber- 
land, November  23rd,  1596.^  The  office  of  seneschal,  the  demesnes  of 
Tynemouth  and  Flatworth,  and  certain  mills  and  coal  mines  within  the 
liberty  went  with  the  governorship  of  Tynemouth  castle. 

A  change  of  custom  was  introduced  bv  Sir  Thomas  Hilton,  the  first 
lessee  of  the  demesnes  after  the  dissolution,  who  substituted  a  money-rent 
for  the  various  labour-services.  This  was  termed  boon  days  or  day-work 
rent,  and  is  still  payable.     A  survey  taken  at  the  close  of  the  century  states : 

Ther  is  besides  the  dayworkes  of  the  icnnantes  of  every  of  these  townes  following,  that  is  to  say, 
Ersden,  Moreton,  Munckseaton,  Whitley,  Preston,  Est  Chirton  and  .Middle  Chirton.  Every  tennant  of 
these  townes  did  lead  to  the  castle  in  the  priors  tynie  one  load  of  hay,  mow  three  severall  dayes  work  of 
hay,  rake  one  day  worke,  and  sheare  three  severall  dayes  worke  in  the  corne  in  harvest  every  yeare, 
which  dayes  worke  Sir  Thomas  Hilton,  knight,  in  his  tyme  immediately  after  the  suppression,  turned 
into  money ;  that  is,  every  tennant  of  these  towns  abovesaid  paid  for  the  said  day  workes  at  Michaelmas 
onely  2s.  4d.,  and  2d.  for  hempe  and  line,  which  made  upp  2s.  6d.  a  man  ;  besides  every  of  them  two 
fudder  of  whynnes  at  Mayday  yearely  ;  yett  the  captaine  of  the  castle  saith  that  they  ow  every  of  them 
a  fudder  at  Michaelmas  allso  yearely,  wheruppon  some  of  the  tennantes  stand  and  most  part  pay. 

Thcr  is  allso  two  shearing  day  workes  dew  by  every  cottinger  of  every  of  these  townes  aforesaid  and 
of  the  husbandes  and  cottingers  in  Tynemouth  besides.  All  which  were  also  in  Sir  Thomas  Hilton's 
tyme  turned  into  money  ;  that  is,  every  husbandman  in  Tynemouth  for  day  workes,  hempe  and  line  paid 
lod.  a  peice,  and  every  cottinger  ther  and  in  the  townes  above  named  Sd.  a  peice,  wedow  and  others." 

'  Augmentation  Office,  Miscell.  Books,  vol.  217,  fols.  25-28  and  89. 

'  Patau  Roll,  5  and  6  Philip  and  Mary,  part  3.  '  Ibid.  23  Eliz.  part  3. 

'  Ibid.  39  Eliz.  part  8.     The  lease  was  renewed  to  him  on  October  iSth,  1617. 

'  Early  seventeenth  century  survey  of  Tynemoulhshire  ;  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  Carriage- 
work  remained  uncomniuted.  'The  tennants  of  Tynemouthshier  have  ahvayes  ben  accustomed  since  I 
served  ther  to  bring  in  two  further  of  whynes  every  of  them,  one  in  somer  and  th'  other  in  wynter, 
comonly  after  St.  Eline  Day  and  Michelmas  ;  to  lead  every  of  them,  if  nead  required,  one  wayne  load  of 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  23 1 

The  various  payments,  and  particularly  the  hall-corn,  proved  a  heavy 
burden  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  shire.  At  a  muster  of  the  middle 
marches  held  in  1580,  the  tenants  of  Backworth,  Murton,  Earsdon,  Preston, 
Monkseaton,  Whitlev,  East  and  Middle  Chirton,  Hauxley,  Amble,  Denton, 
Benwell  and  Elswick  were  not  able  to  furnish  more  than  six  horsemen. 
The  inhabitants  of  Benwell  and  Elswick  said  that  they  could  not  serve  as 
they  did  before  the  monastery  was  suppressed.  Those  of  Hauxley  and 
Amble  were  so  exacted  by  the  queen's  officers  that  they  were  ready  to  give 
up  their  holdings.  Those  of  Tynemouthshire  were  not  able,  by  reason  that 
their  corn,  which  they  called  the  hall-corn  and  paid  yearly,  did  so  undo 
them,  paying  as  they  did  24  bowls  (6  quarters)  of  corn  for  20  shillings  of 
rent,  and  some  10  bowls  of  wheat  for  20  shillings  of  rent.  The  tenants 
of  Amble  and  Hauxley,  it  was  stated,  were  accustomed  to  pay  partly 
money  and  partly  corn.  At  the  audit  the  custom  was  that  the  price  of 
the  rent-corn  should  be  delaved  until  the  audit  twelve  months  after,  '  and 
then  of  curtesie  of  th'officers  it  ys  set  at  a  grote  in  a  bowll  under  the  price 
of  the  markett  at  Newcastell.' ' 

Considerable  light  is  thrown  on  the  payment  of  hall-corn  by  the 
records  of  a  suit  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  in  1597  between  Edmund 
Milbanke  and  other  tenants  of  the  seven  towns  of  Tynemouthshire  and 
Peter  Delaval,  farmer  of  the  hall-corn  under  the  ninth  earl  of  Northum- 
berland. The  plaintiffs  by  their  bill  complained  that,  whereas  they  and 
their  ancestors  had  been  customary  tenants  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth 
and  afterwards  of  her  majesty,  paying  rent  and  doing  services  on  the 
borders  and  in  defence  of  Tynemouth  castle  at  their  own  charges,  and  by 
reason  of  the  scarcity  of  money  the  prior  was  wont  to  allow  them  to  pay 
half  their  rent  in  corn  according  to  the  Winchester  measure,  eight  gallons 
to  the  bushel  ;  the  defendants  would  have  their  corn  in  Newcastle  market 
measure,  which  was  bigger  than  the  other  by  two  and  a  half  pecks  in 
every  bushel  of  oats  and  barley,  and  one  peck  in  every  bushel  of  wheat, 

hay  from  Flatworth  or  the  closscs  of  Preston  Brok  close  or  Tynemouth  park,  and  the  coales  to  ser\e  the 
howse.  besides  ijs.  vj./.  for  ther  daye  work.  Some  easement  of  this  sersice  ther  was  in  the  tmie  that  my 
lord  of  Nortlunnbreland  kept  his  drawj^lit,  that  the  tennants  were  not  altogether  charged  so  wholy,  but 
after  Richard  Dawson  occupved  the  fourih  pait  of  the  demayne  that  his  lordship  h.ad  in  occupation,  then 
his  lordship  chari,'ed  the  tc'nnaiUs  as  befor  with  the  service  aforsaid.'  1575.  Dehiv.al  MSS.  in  the 
possession  of  the' .Newcastle  Society  of  Antiquaries.  '  Kept  his  drawghf  =  'had  his  team  of  plough- 
oxen  ;  had  the  demesnes  in  his  own  hand.' 
'  Ctil.  Border  Pupcrs,  vol.  i.  p.  22. 


232 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


'and  by  reason  of  this  exaccion,  the  spoyles  they  susteyned  by  night-rodes, 
and  the  great  dearth  in  the  countrey '  they  were  so  impoverished  that 
they  could  not  do  her  majesty  their  due  service.' 

In  a  letter  written  to  the  earl  of  Northumberland  on  October  31st, 
1595,   Delaval  informed  his  master 

That  the  tennants  of  half-come  yesterday  served  proces  uppon  me,  and  this  day  they  brought  to  the 
castle  everye  man  towe  bushells  of  come,  offring  to  delyver  it  by  a  bushell  brought  by  them  conteyning 
as  they  said  Wynchestcr  measure.  My  brother  Raphe,  being  ther  ready  to  receive  ther  come  by  the 
accustomed  measure  due  to  your  lordshipp,  they  would  delyver  none  but  with  that  measure  they  brought 
with  them  ;  which  bushell  my  brother  Raphe  required  miglit  remayne  ther  in  the  castle  untill  it  were 
knowen  to  be  the  true  half-come  bushell  ther,  the  which  they  utterly  denied  to  levc  behynde  them.  But 
my  brother  Raphe,  thinking  it  fytt  to  kepe  the  bushell  wherwith  they  offred  to  delyver  ther  corne,  being 
not  half  so  much  in  quantatie  as  your  lordship's  antient  bushel,  they  snatching  the  bushell  from  my 
brother  Raphe  in  forceable  manner  to  go  awaie  withall,  he  in  truth  gave  one  of  them  being  most  busy  a 
bob  of  the  lypps  till  he  bled,  for  that  they  most  bytterly  exclamed  you  beggcred  them  and  that  they  were 
the  quen's  tennants  and  ought  you  no  senice.  The  rest,  being  about  xvj  or  xx  persones,  all  bent  them- 
selves to  carry  away  the  busshell,  but  my  brother  Raphe  kept  the  bushell  contrarie  ther  niynds,  and 
remaynes  in  the  castle  till  further  order  be  taken  in  that  matter.'^ 

The  tenants  followed  tip  their  action  by  petitioning  the  earl  of  Hunting- 
don, lord  liLUtciiant  for  the  north.  Bennet  Watson  and  Thomas  Otway,  on 
behalf  of  seven  townships  to  the  number  of  eight  hundred  persons  in  Tvne- 
mouthshire,  set  out  their  case,  adding  : 

I'.y  reason  of  sundrie  cominge  in  sithence  the  dissolucion  under  her  majestie,  the  measure  is  so 
niuche  encroched  upon  as  it  is  nowe  come  to  duble  the  measurs,  so  as  by  enforcinge  that  measure 
your  suppliants  ar  become  so  poore  as  where  a  great  parte  of  the  countrie's  strengthe  consisted  in 
the  said  towneships,  nowe  they  ar  not  able  with  horse,  furniture  and  geare  to  serve  as  there 
ancestors  have  done,  as  it  appeared  upon  the  late  muster,  but  ar  extreeme  poore,  not  able  to  releve 
themselves  and  there  families,  whereupon  there  humble  sute  is  nowe  in  tryall  before  the  lord  treasurer 
and  barons  of  the  exchequer.^ 

A  commission  to  hear  the  case  was  directed,  on  June  25th,  1596,  to 
Robert  Delaval  of  Seatou  Delaval,  Thomas  Hilton  of  Hilton,  Thomas 
Bradford  of  Bradford,  and  John  Featherstonhaugh  of  Stanhope,  and 
lengthy  depositions  were  taken  before  them. 

Depositions  taken  in  the  church  of  .St.  Nicholas  at  Newcastle,  on  behalf  of  plaintiffs,  before  the  said 
commissioners,  on  'I'uesday,  August  24th,  38  Eliz.  (1596). 

Robert  Baylif  of  East  Chirton,  yeoman,  aged  80,  deposes  : 

I.  That  he  knows  the  parties,  and  the  seven  towns  within  the  manor  of  Tynemouth,  namely,  Chirton, 
Preston,  Whitley,  Monkseaton,  Earsdon,  Murton  and  Backworth.  2.  The  said  towns  'stande  on  the 
seacoste  and  are  subjecte  to  forren  invasion  and  rodcs,  and  are  bounde  to  serve  bothe  by  lande  and  sea 
when  they  shalbe  charged  by  hir  m.ajestie  or  hir  officers.'     3.  In  the  times  before  the  dissolution  of  the 

'  Exchequer  Decrees  and  Orders,  vol.  23,  fol.  179.  -  IJuke  of  Northumberland's  M.SS. 

'  Marquis  of  Walerford's  MSS. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  233 

monastery  there  was  great  plenty  of  corn  and  scarcity  of  money  :  hence  rents  were  partially  paid  in 
corn.  5.  There  was  a  measure  kept  in  the  priors'  time  for  rent-corn,  which  was  less  than  the  Newcastle 
measure  by  a  ^reat  deal.  13.  The  value  of  the  corn  now  paid  for  every  tenement  amounts  to  nearly  half 
the  value  of  the  tenement  ;  the  tenants  are  hardly  able  to  make  husbandry  and  do  her  majesty's  service 
with  the  other  moiety  and  to  maintain  their  families. 

Robert  Helme  of  Tynemouth,  yeoman,  aged  64,  deposes  : 

3.  That  in  the  priors'  time  the  tenants  did  sue  to  deliver  corn  for  half  their  rent,  to  wit,  after  the  rate 
of  I2d.  for  a  bowl  of  bigg  and  6d.  for  a  bowl  of  oats  :  therefore  for  a  40s.  farmhold  they  paid  16  bowls 
of  bigg,  8  bowls  of  oats,  and  20s.  in  money.  4.  He  has  seen  an  account  of  the  time  of  a  survey  taken 
after  the  dissolution,  showing  that  the  tenants  paid  half  their  rent  in  corn.  In  those  days  it  was  easier 
to  them  so,  bigg  being  then  3s.  a  quarter  and  oats  2s.  a  quarter.  7.  King  Henry  VlII.'s  receiver 
accepted  the  rent- corn  in  money,  sometimes  at  one  rate,  sometimes  another,  as  the  market  ruled. 
9.  Wheat  is  now  i6s.  a  bowl,  bigg  los.,  oats  los.,  and  so  to  pay  the  same  amount  of  rent-corn  as  in 
the  priors'  time  doth  now  amount  to  much  more  than  then  ;  thus  in  Backworth,  which  delivereth  lo  bowls 
of  wheat  (/5  at  least),  besides  the  20s.  paid  in  money,  for  a  40s.  farmhold;  Earsdon,  Monkseaton, 
Whitley  and  Preston  deliver  16  bowls  of  bigg  and  8  bowls  of  oats  (^8  at  least),  over  the  20s.  paid  in 
money  ;  and  every  farmhold  in  East  Chirlon  delivereth  12  bowls  of  bigg  and  12  bowls  of  oats  (^8  los.), 
besides  i8s.  in  money  ;  every  farmhold  in  Murton  payeth  16  bowls  of  oats  for  8s.  rent,  which  is  £6  12s. 
at  least  above  what  they  paid  in  the  priors'  time,  besides  22s.  in  money.  11.  This  examinate  hath 
received  the  said  rent-corn  for  thirteen  years,  and  since  Thomas  Dacham  and  others  of  the  earl  of 
Northumberland's  officers  received  it  for  eighteen  years,  by  the  same  measure  which  the  defendant 
now  claimeth.  12.  He  hath  seen  an  order  from  the  Exchequer,  dated  June  27th,  1556,  on  behalf  of 
Bannester.  15.  Some  part  of  the  said  hall-corn  has  always  remained  unpaid,  except  the  very  first  year 
that  he  was  receiving.  16.  The  said  rent-corn  now  amounts  yearly  to  /^loo  above  the  rent  reserved  to 
her  majesty.  19.  At  Newcastle  all  kind  of  grain  is  straiked  ;  at  Tynemouth  they  heap  bigg  and  oats 
and  straik  wheat  for  the  hall-corn. 

Richard  Cutter  of  Earsdon,  yeoman,  aged  80,  deposes  : 

I.  That  there  are  about  ei.uhty  householders  in  the  seven  towns.  2.  The  most  inland  of  the  seven  is 
within  four  miles  of  the  sea  :  the  inhabitants  are  charged  with  much  service  upon  the  borders,  and  have 
to  supply  men  and  furniture.  4.  In  Prior  Blakeney's  time  he  sold  oats  by  the  market  ineasure,  which 
was  much  greater  than  the  hall-corn  measure,  at  lod.  a  bowl,  wheat  at  2s.  a  bowl  ;  the  com  at  that  time 
was  of  no  more  value  than  half  the  rent.  6.  In  the  priors'  time  there  dwelt  in  Backworth,  where  ever)' 
tenant  pays  10  bowls  of  wheat,  one  Raphe  Wheldon  and  one  Thomas  Bowmaker,  who  came  and  told 
the  prior  they  had  no  corn  to  bring  :  who  allowed  each  to  bring  10  capons  instead.  The  change  from 
rent  in  money  to  rent  in  kind  was  originally  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  tenants,  not  for  the  profit  of  the 
priors.  '  Hath  harde  his  ancestors  saie  that  money  was  so  scante  then  that  coyned  leather  wente 
bargaininge  betwene  man  and  man.'  7.  For  two  years  after  the  dissolution  King  Henry  accepted  the 
rent  in  money  only.  8.  Bannester,  farmer  of  the  manor  and  of  the  seven  towns  in  Queen  Marj-'s  time, 
insisted  on  having  half  the  rent  in  corn,  for  his  own  benefit,  because  the  price  had  gone  up.  Mr. 
Rookbye,  Mr.  Bellasis  of  Henknowle,  and  their  assigns,  to  wit,  Mr.  Farewell  and  John  Payne,  his 
servant,  received  the  said  rent  in  money.  10.  Of  late  the  defendants  demanded  the  rent-corn  by  the 
Newcastle  measure,  which  is  greater  than  the  Winchester  measure  by  half  in  half,  and  two  gallons 
more  in  the  bushel.  The  Newcastle  measure  hath  been  very  often  increased  within  his  remembrance. 
II.  It  is  forty  years  since  Bannester  enhanced  the  rent  by  the  measure  by  which  the  defendant  now 
claimeth.  David  Wynyarde,  the  cooper  who  made  the  measure,  dwelt  at  the  corner  of  the  Sandhill 
in  Newcastle.  Before  that,  there  was  an  old  measure  at  Tynemouth  called  the  hall-corn  measure,  less 
than  the  Newcastle  measure  by  half  in  half:  whereupon  the  neighbours  finding  fault  were  sued  to 
answer  in  the  E.xchequer  at  London,  and  divers  of  them  went  to  London,  of  whom  this  deponent  was 
one.  12.  There  was  a  suit  in  the  Exchequer  in  the  time  of  Philip  and  Mary,  between  Bannester  and 
the  tenants  of  the  seven  towns  for  the  rent-corn  according  to  a  new  exacted  measure.  Of  the  two 
neighbours  who  should  have  gone  to  prosecute,  one  fell  sick,  and  the  other  not  appearing,  Banister 

Vol,  VIIL  30 


234  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

procured  an  order  that  the  said  hall-corn  should  [not  ?]  be  paid  by  the  old  measure.  13.  In  some  years, 
when  the  seed-corn  is  sown  and  the  hall-corn  is  paid,  the  rest  of  the  corn  growing  upon  the  tenement 
will  not  find  the  house.  14.  The  tenants  are  so  impoverished  that  they  cannot  do  service  upon  the 
borders  with  horse  and  man  as  they  were  wont,  by  reason  of  payment  of  liall-corn,  stealing,  and  these 
unseasonable  times.  15.  'The  payinge  of  the  hall-corne  rente  and  the  exaction  of  the  oulde  measure  to 
the  newe  greater  measure  is  the  speciall  cause  of  their  impoverishinge.'  17.  My  lord  of  Northumber- 
land's officers  were  wont  to  let  the  tenants  have  their  corn  for  £^  for  the  rent-corn  of  every  tenant  which 
paid  hall-corn  for  20s.  rent,  rather  than  sell  it  to  strangers.  Defendants  have  declined  to  let  the  tenants 
have  any  part  of  their  corn  except  on  payment  of  market  price.  18.  Defendant  demanded,  for  the  rent 
of  a  40s.  tenement,  half  of  which  was  to  be  paid  in  corn,  ^12,  but  was  content  to  take  ^10,  to  wit,  of 
Edmunde  Meelbankc,  John  Smith,  Thomas  Owlwaie,  Robert  Hall,  Robert  Dowe  and  George  Errington, 
and  drove  their  distresses  for  the  same.  The  tenants  offered  him  £^  for  each  40s.  tenement  for  the  last 
year's  corn,  or  the  corn  after  the  old  measure. 

Benedict  Watson  of  Earsdon,  yeoman,  aged  70,  deposes  : 

g.  That  wheat  is  now  worth  l6s.  a  bowl,  bigg  los.,  and  oats  7s.  or  8s.  11.  Some  of  the  tenants 
have  paid  for  thirty  years  by  the  measure  by  which  defendants  now  claim  :  some  have  never  paid  corn 
at  all,  but  always  money.  The  old  measure  kept  at  Tynemouth  and  called  the  hall-corn  measure  was 
committed  to  one  William  Hodshon  of  Whitley  to  keep. 

Thomas  Dacham  of  Gateshead,  county  Durham,  gentleman,  aged  60,  deposes  : 

I.  That  in  the  seven  towns  there  are  forty-seven  farmers  or  tenants,  besides  cottagers.  2.  If  the 
captain  of  Tynemouth  castle  go  to  serve  on  the  borders,  then  the  tenants  have  to  serve  for  fourteen  days 
at  their  own  charges.  13.  He  holds  a  tenement  in  Rackworth  for  which  he  pays  10  bowls  of  wheat 
(£3  ^^-  S"^)  '"■■  hall-corn,  and  21s.  in  money  ;  proffering  to  let  it  at  'a  racked  rente  was  offered  onelye 
fortie  shillinges  for  the  same  and  discharge  the  saide  hall-corne  rente  and  money  due  to  the  lorde  oute 
of  the  said  tenemente.'  16.  He  computes  yearly  value  of  hall-corn  now  as  ^120  over  reserved  rent. 
17.  My  lord's  officers  let  them  pay  in  money  or  kind  as  they  chose. 

Oswald  Ogle  of  Shilvington,  gentleman,  aged  82,  examined  September  i6th,  deposes  : 

3.  That  in  Prior  Gardner's  time,  the  second  prior  before  the  dissolution,  the  tenants  of  the  seven 
towns  paid  hall-corn  for  half  their  rent  by  the  London  bushel,  eight  gallons  to  the  bushel.  4.  .At  that 
time  wheat  was  i2d.  the  bushel,  bigg  6d.,  oats  3d.  5.  'Att  that  tyme  their  was  a  brassen  bushell 
containing  London  measure  kepte  in  the  said  prior's  storehowse  at  Tynemouth  for  the  said  hall-corne.' 
He  was  servant  to  the  said  Prior  Gardner  for  eight  years  before  his  death.  9.  A  bushel  of  wheat  is  now 
worth  8s.,  bigg  6s.,  oats  4s. 

Edward  Dinnande  of  Newcastle,  yeoman,  aged  100,  deposes  : 

3.  That  he  was  servant  to  Prior  Gardner  when  the  tenants  asked  him  to  be  allowed  to  pay  their  rent 
in  corn:  the  prior  did  not  wish  it  and  would  rather  have  had  the  same  in  money,  saying,  'you  will 
repente  it  another  dale  ;'  but  yielded  as  to  half  the  rent.  This  deponent  was  servant  to  Mr.  Anthony 
Mitforde,  constable  of  Tynemouth,  and  received  weekly  of  the  '  bowsser ' '  of  the  said  house  a  bowl  of 
oats  by  the  hall-corn  (or  London)  measure  for  the  said  Anthony  Mitforde's  horses.  9.  Wheat  is  now 
20s.  a  bowl,  then  I2d.  ;  bigg  now  13s.  4d.,  then  8d.  or  gd.  ;  o.ats  now  los.,  then  4d. 

William  Cutter  of  Newcastle,  cooper,  aged  67,  deposes  : 

10.  That  the  Newcastle  bushel  for  hard  corn  (wheat,  rye  and  peas)  contains  12  gallons,  the  London 
or  Winchester  bushel  8  gallons  ;  Newcastle  water  measure  contains  1 1  gallons.  Newcastle  market 
measure  for  bigg  and  oats  contains  18  gallons  the  bushel  ;  and  the  oatmeal  measure  at  Newcastle  16 
gallons  the  bushel.    Within  his  remembrance  the  market  measure  of  Newcastle  hath  been  twice  changed. 

Depositions  on  behalf  of  defendant  taken  at  St.  Nicholas's,  Newcastle,  Tuesday,  August  24th,  38 
Eliz.  (1596). 

Robert  Helme  deposes  : 

2.  That  the  queen  is  seised  in  her  demesne  as  of  fee  of  the  manor  of  Tynemouth,  and  of  five  tene- 
ments in  Preston,  five  in  East  Chirton,  five  in  Whitley,  ten  in  Monkseaton,  four  in  Murton,  eight  in 

'  '  Powsser '  =  burser. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  235 

Earsdon,  and  ten  in  Backworth,  and  of  the  parcel  of  ground  adjoining  to  Preston  called  Welflatt ;  all 
customary  lands  of  Tynmouth  ;  except  Welflatt  as  to  which  he  is  uncertain.  4.  Two  bushels  of  com 
make  a  'howle,'  four  bowls  a  quarter,  four  quarters  a  chalder.  5.  The  queen,  in  the  23rd  year  of  her 
reign,  leased  the  tenements  in  the  seven  towns  to  Sir  Henry  Percy,  then  earl  of  Northumberland,  and 
the  now  earl  rightfully  holds  them.  6.  Thomas  Deckam,  Edward  Scott,  and  Richard  Rawe  have  for 
twenty  years  received  the  rent-corn  for  Sir  Henry  Percy.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  monastery,  'one 
Medcalfe  that  had  but  one  hand '  received  it  for  the  use  of  Banister  and  Bowser,  farmers  there.  The 
said  corn  was  paid  to  the  prior  before.  8.  There  are  two  measures  in  Tynemouth  castle  sealed 
with  the  seal  of  the  town  of  Newcastle.  Thirty-two  years  ago,  by  command  of  Sir  Henry  Percy, 
this  examinate  fetched  the  same  from  Newcastle  from  David  Winyarde,  cooper,  who  kept  them  in 
Banister's  and  Bowser's  times  :  one  is  the  boll  for  hard  corn  to  be  straiked,  the  other  for  bigg  and  oats 
upheaped.  10.  Being  both  straiked,  the  two  measures  hold  the  same,  within  less  than  a  pint.  1 1.  They 
are'muche  lesse  then  the  land  measures  or  cawsey  measures  of  Newcastle,' agreeing  with  the  water 
measure  at  Newcastle.  13.  These  measures  are  greater  than  two  bushels  of  the  statute  measure  called 
Winchester  or  London  measure  by  seven  gallons  and  one  quart  in  each  bowl.  14.  Newcastle  is  the 
nearest  market  town,  and  the  tenants  buy  and  sell  among  themselves  by  the  Newcastle  land  measure. 
15.  At  St.  Martin's  last  past  a  boll  or  two  bushels  of  wheat  was  sold  in  Newcastle  market  for  14s.,  bigg 
los.,  oats  7s. 

William  Darneton  of  North  Shields,  yeoman,  aged  57,  deposes  : 

8.  That  in  Bowser's  time  Uavid  Winyard  kept  the  said  two  measures,  but  had  to  bring  them  yearly 
at  Martinmas  to  Tynemouth  castle  for  measuring  the  hall-corn. 

Robert  Dowe,  examined  September  i6ih,  1596,  deposes  : 

7.  That  when  they  paid  money  instead  of  corn,  the  tenants  of  Preston,  Whitley,  Monkseaton,  and 
Earsdon  paid  £^  yearly,  those  of  East  Chirton  ^4  los.,  those  of  Murton  40s. 

Michaell  Hutton  of  Newcastle,  cooper,  aged  42,  deposes  : 

This  day  he  saw  an  old  measure,  which  Ralph  Delavale,  gent.,  Edmund  Mylbanck,  John  Smythe 
and  John  Hall,  customary  tenants  in  Tynemouthshire,  called  the  hall  or  half-corn  bowl  or  measure  of 
Tynemouth,  sealed  with  the  seal  of  Newcastle,  and  marked  with  David  Winyarde's  mark,  this  deponent's 
master's  master.  This  deponent  measured  it  with  the  brasen  gallon  of  Newcastle,  and  it  contained 
twenty-two  of  the  said  gallons,  straiked,  which  is  equal  with  Newcastle  market  measure  upon  the  water. 
He  has  also  seen  the  other  hall-corn  bowl,  which  is  of  like  measure.' 

The  plaintiffs  were  considered  to  have  established  the  truth  of  their 
bill.  It  was  therefore  ordered,  on  April  14th,  1597,  that  the  tenants  of  the 
seven  towns  should  deliver  their  hall-corn  by  the  Winchester  or  London 
measure,  containing  eight  gallons  to  the  bushel.^ 

The  depositions  leave  no  doubt  that  hall-corn  was  a  commutation  for 
half  of  the  money-rent  of  the  holding,  made  by  agreement  between  Prior 
Gardiner  (1528- 1536)  and  his  tenants,  and  that  the  change  was  made  in 
consequence  of  the  scarcity  of  coin  of  the  realm.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
practice  of  paying  part  of  the  rent  in  corn  was  one  for  which  precedent 
existed  in  much  earlier  times,  as  is  shown  by  the  custumal  ot  1295.  The 
new  corn-rent  took  on  the  character  of  the  old.  Just  as  the  bishop  of 
Durham's   tenants  of   Heighington    paid    their  corn   '  by  the   hall-measure ' 

'  Exchequer  Depositions,  Mich.  38-39  Eliz.  No.  28,  Northumberland. 
'  Decrees  and  Orders,  vol.  23,  fol.  179. 


236  TYNEMOUTH    TARISH. 

in  1 183,'  so  in  the  sixteenth  century  the  men  of  Tynemouthshire  meted 
out  their  produce  bv  a  '  hall-corn  measure,'  kept  in  the  lord's  store-house  ; 
and  at  Amble,  another  of  the  manors  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  the 
copyholders  came  yearly  with  their  corn,  almost  within  living  memory,  to 
the  ruined  hall,  and  there  poured  it  out  in  the  presence  of  the  officers 
of  the  lord  of  the  manor.' 

Since  Prior  Gardiner's  time  money  had  become  cheaper.  The  debase- 
ment of  the  coinage  caused  a  general  rise  in  prices  which  was  not  checked 
by  Queen  Elizabeth's  efforts  to  improve  the  standard.  This  alone  would 
not  have  seriously  affected  the  tenants  of  Tynemouthshire.  The  rise  in  the 
price  of  corn  had  not,  however,  been  equalled  by  the  rise  in  wages  and 
the  cost  of  living.  Moreover,  a  fixed  payment  in  corn  proved  especially 
burdensome  after  a  poor  harvest,  and  left  the  farmer  with  proportionately 
less  grain  to  sell  in  the  market,  so  that  he  was  deprived  of  the  advantages 
which  high  prices  would  otherwise  have  afforded.  The  steady  rise  had 
been  suddenly  accelerated  by  a  succession  of  bad  harvests,  and  the  year 
1596  was  one  of  serious  famine.  In  little  more  than  half  a  century  wheat 
had  risen  from  eight  to  seventy-six  shillings  a  quarter,  barley  from  three 
or  four  shillings  to  forty  or  forty-eight  shillings,  and  oats  from  two  shiUings 
to  two  pounds. 

The  payment  of  hall-corn  long  continued  to  be  a  source  of  discontent 
among  the  tenantry.  Ralph  Gardner  of  Chirton  characteristically  met  a 
demand  for  rent  in  1651  by  answering  plainly  that  'he  would  not  pay  one 
corn  nor  anything  else.'  ^  It  is  now  no  longer  paid  in  kind,  and  the  rents 
are  calculated  on  the  average  price  of  the  corn  or  grain  obtained  in 
Newcastle  market  on  the  Saturday  previous  to  and  the  Saturday  next  after 
November  30th,  that  being  St.  Andrew's  Day,  when  such  payment  accrued. 

Not  long  after  the  hall -corn  measure  had  been  settled,  the  tenants 
were  engaged  in  a  new  struggle  over  the  form  of  their  tenure.  As  stated 
above,  the  farming  class  in  Tynemouthshire  at  the  dissolution  consisted  of 
tenants  in  husbandry,  holding  at  the  will  of  the  lord.  Though  possessed 
of  customs,  their  condition  was  in  most  respects  similar  to  that  of  other 
customary  tenants  in  Northumberland,  border-service  forming  the  character- 
istic feature  of  their  tenure.     '  The  customary  tenants  upon  the  borders  of 

'  'Ad  mensuram  aulae.'     Boldon  Book,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  25,  p.  20. 

-  Vol.  V.  of  this  work,  p.  278.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  237 

Scotland,'  Coke  wrote,  '  who  have  the  name  of  tenants,  were  meer  tenants 
at  will  ;  and  though  they  keep  the  customes  inviolated,  yet  the  lord  might, 
sans  co)i/ro//,  eject  them.' ' 

Custom,  however,  was  a  more  potent  factor  on  the  estates  of  an 
ecclesiastical  corporation  than  within  the  manor  of  a  lay  lord.  The  earliest 
extant  copies  (1575  and  later  years)  admit  the  tenant  'according  to  the 
custom  of  husbandry  of  the  manor,'  the  liabendmn  being  to  him  and  to 
his  heirs  (or  assigns)  or,  in  rare  cases,  for  life  only.  Lord  Ellenborough, 
commenting  upon  the  phrase  in  the  case  of  Brown  v.  Rawlins,  expressed 
his  opinion  :  '  The  words  accordino^  to  the  custom  of  hushandi\  of  the 
manor  may  have  different  interpretations.  They  may,  though  not  properly 
for  the  present  purpose,  refer  to  a  known  course  of  husbandry  in  the  manor, 
regulating  the  culture  of  the  tenants'  estates,  or  they  may  mean  that  the 
tenants  hold  as  husbandmen  of  the  lord,  in  like  manner  as  the  villeins  of 
the  lord  formerly  were  employed  in  the  culture  of  the  lord's  lands,  and 
as  distinguished  from  an  holding  bv  military  service  properlv  so  called, 
etc.,  etc.'' 

That  the  custom  of  husbandry  was  no  novelty  is  shown  by  a  letter 
written  in  1605  to  the  earl  of  Northumberland  by  Robert  Helme,  one  of 
his  officers.  'Therwas,'  Helme  wrote,  'in  the  late  pryor's  tyme  emongest 
the  tennants  of  the  pryor  an  old  and  auntyent  custom  called  in  the  copy 
secundum  consuctudinem  Jiusbandriac,  which  custom  was  to  the  man  onlv 
and  not  to  the  woman,  but  only  at  will.'  ^  George  Whitehead,  another  of 
the  earl's  officers,  also  upheld  the  view  that  females  were  altogether 
excluded  from  the  inheritance,  and  traced  back  the  custom  to  the  four- 
teenth century,  asserting  that  it  '  haythe  for  thre  hundred  yeares  continewed 
only  to  heires  male.'  *' 

Though  there  is  no  authoritative  presentment  of  the  customs  of  the 
manor  in  the  sixteenth  century,  the  law  of  descent  is  set  out  in  a  bill  in 
Chancery  dated  April  28th,  1596.  The  suit  related  to  lands  in  Elswick, 
parcel  of  the  manor  of  Tynemouth  ;  and  the  plaintiff's  assertions  were  not 
traversed  so  far  as  they  related  to  manorial  custom.     These  were  : 

'  Compute  Copyholder,  sect.  32. 

•  Brown  v.  Rawlins  :  7  East,  at  p.  433.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Ibid.  The  obvious  reason  for  the  exclusion  of  females  is  given  in  the  case  of  \'cwton  v.  Shafto 
(l  Siderfin,  at  pp.  267-268).  '  Si  tiel  general  custonie  ne  serra  allow,  uncore  serra  bone  ley  ratione  loci 
car  tiel  mannor  est  bordering  sur  Scotland,  et  les  escotes  en  temps  pass  ont  usualment  invade  le  terre  ; 
et  par  cela  serra  s.ife  pur  seigneurs  de  provide  eux-mesme  de  tiels  tenants  qui  poent  eux  aid  et  defend, 
scilicet  homes  et  nemy  femes  ;  et  cela  tend  al  safety  dc  tout  ceo  roialme.' 


238  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

It  hath  been  accustomed  that  such  person  so  admitted  tenant  shall  have  only  estate  therein  for  life  ; 
and  at  his  death  the  tenant-right  therein  falleth  to  his  son  if  he  leave  a  son,  or  to  his  next  heir,  provided 
such  heir  or  one  in  his  name  come  in  at  the  first  or  second  manor  court  holden  after  the  death  of  the 
said  tenant  to  demand  the  same,  and  be  admitted  tenant  thereof  for  life  ;  and  if  such  person  do  not 
so  come,  then  he  loseth  his  tenant-right,  and  the  queen's  officer  may  of  his  free  will  grant  the  premises 
to  any  other  person  for  life,  and  such  grant  hath  always  been  reputed  lawful  according  to  the  custom  of 
the  manor.' 

So  far  as  evidence  is  forthcoming,  it  appears  that  copyholds  in  Tyne- 
mouthshire  were  for  life,  with  a  tenant-right  of  renewal  to  the  heirs  male. 
'  But  to  support  such  a  custom,'  to  quote  the  leading  authority  upon  copy- 
holds, '  the  tenant  must  prove  a  constant  usage  of  renewal  upon  payment  of 
a  fi.xed  fine.'  *  The  tenants  asserted  the  certainty  of  their  fines  ;  the  earl 
denied  it,  and  endeavoured  to  induce  the  tenants,  not  only  in  Tynemouth- 
shire  but  on  all  other  his  copyhold  estates,  to  exchange  their  copies  for 
leases  of  twenty-one  years.'  The  policy  is  apparent  from  the  letters  of 
the  earl's  officers  during  the  first  ten  years  of  King  James's  reign  ;  for 
instance  Robert  Delaval  informed  the  earl  on  June   13th,    1609  : 

It  hath  put  the  fermours  of  tlie  sayd  tennements  in  such  feare,  I  acquanteinge  them  withall  with  the 
laett  order  in  Chansarye  sensured  against  the  ladye  of  Cumberland's  tennents,  that  noe  coppye  houlder 
lyable  to  a  fine  at  the  death  of  lord  and  tennent  can  have  any  state  of  inheritance  at  all.  And  therfor 
all  there  humble  sutts  are  your  lordship  wylbe  pleased  to  grante  them  leases  for  xxj  yeares,  and  they  wyll 
paye  in  lew  of  there  fyne  duble  rent  for  everye  farme.  Some  moe  coppye  houlders  I  have  gotton  to  be 
wyllinge  to  take  leases,  which  by  a  note  hearen  inclosed  your  lordship  maye  understand,  humbly  intreat- 
ing  your  lordship  wylbe  pleased  to  send  them  all  leases,  which  I  doubt  not  but  wylbe  a  good  begineinge 
to  make  all  your  land  in  this  countrye  that's  in  coppye  and  tennent-right  leassers.^ 

In  the  same  year  Robert  Anderson,  Peter  Riddell,  Robert  Shaftoe, 
Henry  Bowes,  Anthony  Errington,  Thomas  Dectham,  and  other  of  the 
king's  customary  and  copyhold  tenants  within  the  manor  of  Tynemouth 
exhibited  a  petition  to  the  king,  in  which  they  affirmed  that  they  were 
copyholders  of  inheritance  within  the  said  manor,  and  that  they  had  been 
severally  seised  of  several  estates  of  inheritance  according  to  the  custom 
of  the   manor  ;    that   there  were    certain   ancient  customs  for  the  payment 

'  Chancery  Proceedings,  Eliz.  Ff.  i,  No.  46,  m.  1. 

'"'  Elton,  Law  of  Copyholds,  p.  43. 

'  The  fate  of  the  Northumbrian  customary  tenants  stands  in  curious  contrast  with  the  history  of  the 
peasant  class  in  the  rest  of  England.  Their  tenure  was  not  consolidated  as  copyhold  of  inheritance, 
although  at  the  start  it  was  more  advantageous  than  the  ordinary  villain  tenure  which  developed  into 
copyhold.  Compare  .Savine  in  Political  Science  Quarterly,  1905,  and  the  instances  given  in  this  work, 
vol.  i.  pp.  314-316,  and  vol.  ii.  pp.  334-336,  427-428,  432-434.  Welsh  tenant-right  followed  a  similar 
course.  The  reason  of  the  deviation  seems  to  have  been  that  the  interests  of  the  lords  were  exceptionally 
favoured  in  the  marches.     E.x  in/.  Professor  V'inogradofT. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIRE.  23q 

of  fines  for  admittance  to  customary  lands  held  by  copy  of  court  roll 
secundum  consuctudinciii  /nishdiu/n'ac  of  his  majesty's  manor  of  Tynemouth, 
namely,  that  every  tenant,  holding  by  copy  of  court  roll  lands  in  the  town- 
ships of  Monkseaton,  Preston,  Backworth,  East  Chirton,  Whitley,  Murton 
and  Earsdon,  paid  on  every  admittance,  if  upon  descent,  £2,  and,  upon 
alienation,  ^4  for  a  fine  ;  and  that  every  tenant  holding  by  copy  of  court 
roll  lands  in  the  townships  of  Elswick,  Benwell,  South  Dissington,  Wylam, 
Hauxley,  and  Middle  Chirton,  paid  on  admittance,  if  upon  descent,  one 
year's  rent,  and,  if  otherwise,  two  years'  rent  ;  and  so  in  the  case  of  the 
township  of  Amble. 

The  petitioners  were  summoned  before  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  and 
there  confessed  that  there  had  lately  been  differences  in  the  forms  of 
surrenders  and  the  assessing  of  fines.  The  ancient  court  rolls,  and  other 
evidences  for  proof  of  the  estates  of  inheritance  and  of  the  certainty  of 
the  fines,  had  been  lost  and  were  nowhere  to  be  found.  They  therefore 
craved  to  receive  confirmation  of  their  estate  and  of  their  customs.  Upon 
the  examination  of  copies  of  court  rolls  and  other  evidences  it  appeared 
to  the  court  that  the  copyholders  were  copyholders  of  inheritance.  It  was 
therefore  decreed,  on  April  26th,  16 10,  'that  the  said  copyholders  are  and 
always  have  been  copyholders  of  inheritance,  and  so  from  henceforth  shall 
be,'  that  the  continuance  of  their  ancient  rights  and  customs  was  just,  and 
that  the  forms  of  surrenders  and  admittances  should  be  such  as  were 
commonly  used  before  the  twentieth  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  The 
petitioners,  on  their  part,  agreed  to  pay  the  sum  of  £7?)^  13s.  4d.  into 
the  king's  receipt.' 

In  a  letter  written  about  the  year  16 15,  Whitehead  reported  to  the 
earl  'that  heare  ar  letters  coomed  downe  by  the  kinge's  auditor  to  sell 
all  the  coppyehould  estates  in  Tynemouthshire  to  the  tennantes  in  fee 
farme,  and  to  dissolve  the  kepinge  of  courtes  ther.'  This,  however,  was 
not  done,  the  freehold  remaining  vested  in  the  Crown  until  1633.  On 
May  1 6th  in  that  year  the  seven  copyhold  townships,  together  with  the 
township  of  Middle  Chirton,  the  fee  farm  rent  of  Seghill,  and  land  in 
Seghill  and  Hartley,  were  granted  to  William  Scriven  and  Philip  Eden, 
to  hold  in  free  socage,  subject  to  the  yearly  rent  of  ^126  13s.  4d.     Scriven 

'  L.r.R.  Maiwranda  Rolls,  N'o.  142.  The  decree  secured  validity  from  .A.ct  of  Parliament,  7  Jac.  I. 
cap.  21  (an  Act  for  confirmation  of  decrees  hereafter  to  be  made  in  the  Exchequer  Chamber  and  Duchy 
Court,  concerning  customary  or  copyhold  lands  and  tenements\  for  which  see  Statutes  of  the  Realm, 
vol.  iv.  pp.  iiSo-iiSi,  and  received  special  confirmation  by  letters  patent  dated  May  ist,  1610, 


240  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

and  Eden,  on  August  2nd  following,  conveyed  their  estate  to  Henry  Taylor 
and  Thomas  Cartwright,  who  made  a  similar  conveyance  on  March  i6th, 
1640,  to  Algernon,  tenth  earl  of  Northumberland.  The  same  earl  had 
alreadv  acquired  the  town  of  North  Shields  in  1635,  and  the  lordship  of 
Tynemouth  in  1637.  These  several  estates  have  descended  to  the  present 
duke  of  Northumberland.' 

The  property  which  then  passed  from  the  Crown  to  the  Percy  family 
comprised  that  portion  of  the  manor  of  Tynemouth  known  as  the  '  inshire,' 
The  various  townships  forming  the  '  outshire '  were  also  sold  off  during 
the  reign  of  James  I.  and  the  early  years  of  his  successor.  From  that 
time  their  dependence  upon  the  manor  court  of  Tynemouth  became  merely 
nominal.  Within  the  inshire  there  was  a  distinction  between  the  freehold 
and  the  copyhold  townships,  or,  as  they  were  usually  termed,  the  town  and 
the  country.  The  town  included  Tynemouth,  with  its  offshoot  of  Culler- 
coats,  and  North  Shields  ;  the  country  was  made  up  of  the  seven  copyhold 
townships. 

From  the   following  extracts  from  the  earlier  court  rolls,  some   idea 

may  be  had  of  the  working  of  the  manorial  court.     The  earliest  complete 

roll  is  undated  but  may  be  assigned  to  the  year  1620.     A  consecutive  series 

does  not  commence  until  1650,  and  admission  books  and  surrender  books 

begin  in   1681. 

Extracts  from  Tynemouth  Manorial  Court  Rolls. 
October,   1562.     Nomina  juratorum. 
Robert  Bartram,  gent.  Arthur  Lee.  Christopher  Barker. 

Henr>'  Anderson,  gent.  Thos.  Thomson.  Mark  Cometh. 

George  Wilkinson.  \Vm.  Browne.  Robert  Denand. 

Robert  Pattison.  John  Mould.  Thos.  Spearman. 

John  Read.  Cuthbert  Blithman.  Thos.  Winsoppe. 

Anthony  Errington.  Thos.  Otway.  George  Denand. 

Nicholas  Ritson.  Jo.  Hills.  Wm.  Raye. 

Thos.  Bitleston.  Thos.  Doves  (sic).  John  Matlyne. 

Thos.  Errington.  Nicholas  Pearson.  Thos.  Mills. 

October,  1609.  Fines  imposed  on  the  tenants  dwelling  outside  Westgate  for  non-appearance,  on  all 
the  tenants  in  Benwell  for  overloading  the  common,  and  on  the  tenants  of  Fenham  for  destroying  hedges 
and  ditches  of  the  tenants  of  Benwell.' 

April,  1610.  Richard  Fenwick,  bailiff,  ordered  to  levy  39s.  of  Thomas  Humble  for  diverting  the 
course  of  Stanley  bum  to  the  hurt  of  the  tenants  of  Wylam." 

Circa  1620.  Names  of  the  two  constables  and  two  ale-tasters  of  Tynemouth,  and  of  the  four 
constables  and  two  ale-tasters  of  Shields.  Names  of  the  Jury  of  the  inshire,  of  the  jury  of  Tynemouth 
and  Shields,  and  of  the  jury  of  the  outshire.  Surrenders  made  of  lands  in  Benwell  and  Amble.  Officers 
appointed  for  Benwell,  Elswick,  Westgate  and  Cowpen. 

'  Puke  of  Northumberland's  MSB.  '  Court  Rolls,  P.R.O.  J«|.  '  Ibid, 


TYNEMOUTHSHFRE.  24 1 

April,  1623.  Mr,  Anthony  Swinburne  presenled  for  building  bouses  in  the  king's  street,  and 
working  of  slate  or  (lay-stone  in  the  king's  highway,  and  sinking  of  pits  to  the  hurt  of  the  same  way 
and  hindrance  of  the  way  of  the  king's  subjects. 

April,  1649.  Sir  Nicholas  Tempest,  Lady  Melton,  Mr.  Ralph  Gardner,  and  Mr.  George  Milbume 
presented  for  noi  making  a  free  passage  for  the  water  that  comes  from  ihe  coal  pits,  to  the  annoyance  of 
the  highway  to  Newcastle. 

October,  1651.  Names  of  the  jury  for  the  country,  and  of  the  jury  for  the  town  and  manor  of 
Tynemouth.  The  town  of  North  .Shields  presented  for  the  want  of  a  pair  of  stocks,  to  the  neglect 
of  the  execution  of  justice.  John  Nicholson  and  others  presented  for  building  and  erecting  houses  on 
the  common  of  Tynemouth,  without  the  approbation  of  the  lord  of  the  manor  or  of  the  inhabitants  or 
tenants  of  the  same.  Elizabeth  Kenwick  and  others  presented  for  not  keeping  gates  in  their  hedges 
where  they  have  been  accustomed,  to  the  great  damage  of  the  tenants,  who  have  no  liberty  of  grassing 
their  geese  in  the  common  lanes. 

April,  1652.  James  Rainsey  presented  for  keeping,  and  hunting  with,  a  greyhound  contrary  to 
the  statute. 

October,  1652.  William  Peterson  of  the  North  Shields  presented  for  being  drunk  upon  the  Lord's 
Day,  and  for  swearing  and  cursing  fearfully  upon  the  same  day.  Gawen  Forster  presented  for  building 
up  the  common  passage  to  the  ferry  boat  in  the  North  Shields.  Thomas  Hall  presented  for  ploughing 
his  high  close  without  lease  or  satisfaction. 

Apiil,  1653.  Richard  Saborne  presents  the  inhabitants  of  Monkseaton  for  not  repairing  the  roadway 
to  Newcastle,  and  for  drawing  it  so  narrow  and  strait  that  carls  and  wains  cannot  pass  along  it,  to  the 
damage  of  the  neighbouring  tosvns. 

October,  1653.  Backworth  ;  the  condition  amongst  our  neighbours  is  that  every  beast  that  is  put 
in  our  stint  is  4d.  a  beast.  The  township  of  Murton  presents  Ralph  Wilson  for  the  bad  grinding 
of  their  corn. 

October,  1654.     The  tenants  of  Cowpen  and  Elswick  presented  for  making  default. 

October,  1655.  Robert  Clark  presented  for  keeping  his  geese  in  liackworth  pasture  and  living  m 
Earsdon. 

April,  1656.     The  town  of  Tynemouth,  for  want  of  a  common  pinfold,  is  amerced. 

April,  1659.  It  is  found  that  there  are  no  butts  either  in  Shields  or  Tynemouth  ;  that  the  highway 
belwi.M  Tynemouth  and  Shields  is  not  repaired,  and  likewise  the  common  lonings  are  fallen  in  by  means 
of  the  coal  pits. 

October,  1659.  A  presentment  against  Stephen  Bowes  for  suing  out  of  my  lord's  court  to  the 
county  court. 

October,  1662.  Thomas  Barker,  for  refusing  to  be  sworn  as  constable,  is  therefore  amerced 
three  pounds. 

October,  1663.  The  jury  present  that  the  farmers  and  inhabitants  of  East  Chirton  ought  to  keep  up 
a  gate  in  the  place  called  the  lUaw  Pit  between  East  Chirton,  for  the  preservation  of  the  pasture  of 
Preston  and  the  corn  of  Chirton,  but  they  have  not  done  so. 

April,  1668.  On  an  inquiry  whether  the  town  of  Whitley  ought  to  pay  a  horse's  grass  yearly  to 
Mardon  Mill,  it  is  found  that  there  is  no  horse's  grass  in  the  town-fields  of  Whitley  belonging  10 
Mardon  Mill. 

March   loth,   16S5/6.     Nomina  juratorum. 
Thos.  Ottway,  gen.  Christopher  Barker.  John  Mills. 

Henry  .Archliokl.  Anthony  Hyndmarsh.  Thos.  Hall. 

Henry  Barker.  John  Rolherford.  Mark  Corneath. 

Win.  Reay.  George  Rutter.  Luke  Winshopp. 

Edw.  Spearman.  Robert  Dining.  Jeremiah  Lowe. 

The  said  jury  being  charged  to  nquire  what  the  particular  customes  belonging  to  the  manner  of 
Tynemouth  arc,  and  what  dutyes,  rents  and  services  are  or  ought  to  be  paid  to  the  lord  of  the  manner 
of  Tynemouth  for  their  coppyhold  farmes  in  the  severall  touns  within  the  mannor  of  Tynemouth. 

Vol.  VHI.  3« 


242  TYNEMOITTH    PARISH. 

Imprimis.  Wee  finde  that  all  the  coppyhold  estates  within  the  niannor  of  Tyneinouth  are  coppyhold 
estates  of  inheritance  according  to  the  custome  of  the  niannor  ;  and  if  any  coppyholder  dye  seized  of  any 
coppyhold  estate,  having  a  wife,  that  she  shall  enjoy  such  coppyhold  estate  diueing  her  widdowhood 
only,  by  vertue  of  her  husband's  coppy,  without  paying  any  fine  to  the  lord  on  taking  any  admittance. 

And  thai  after  the  death  or  marriage  of  the  widow,  the  said  coppyhold  estate  shall  descend  and 
come  to  the  eldest  sonn  of  the  said  coppyholder,  and  to  take  a  coppy  thereof  att  the  next  court  held  for 
the  said  mannor  ;  upon  such  admittance  by  descent  to  pay  to  the  lord  40s.  for  a  whole  farnie,  twenty 
shillings  for  a  halfe  farme,  and  tenn  shillings  for  a  quarter  of  a  farme.  If  he  dye  without  issue,  the  second 
sonn  to  take  a  coppy,  and  pay  such  line  as  before  mentioned,  and  so  from  sonn  to  sonn.  And  for  lack 
of  sonns,  to  the  eldest  daughter  of  such  coppyholder  for  life  only,  paying  four  jiounds  for  a  fine  of  a 
whole  farme,  and  so  proportionably  ;  and  soe  to  descend  and  come  to  the  next  heire  male  in  succession. 

Wee  finde  that  upon  any  voluntary  surrender  or  alienation  of  any  coppyhold  farme  and  admission 
thereupon,  there  is  due  to  the  lord  for  a  fine  four  pounds  upon  such  surrender,  and  soe  in  proportion  for  a 
quarter  or  halfe  a  farme. 

Wee  finde  that  if  any  coppyholder  surrender  a  close  or  any  parcell  of  ground  belonging  to  his  coppy- 
hold estate,  though  it  do  not  amount  to  a  quarter  of  a  farme,  yet  by  the  custome  of  the  mannor,  he  shall 
pay  to  the  lord  for  a  full  quarter  for  a  fine  and  one  shilling  increased  rent.  And  if  the  surrender  com- 
priseth  more  than  a  quarter,  then  he  shall  pay  for  his  fine  for  halfe  a  farme.  And  if  the  surrender 
amounts  to  above  halfe  a  farme,  he  shall  pay  for  a  fine  for  a  whole  farme. 

And  if  any  coppyholder  surrender  any  cottage  or  other  house,  part  and  parcell  of  his  customary 
tenement,  lie  shall  pay  to  the  lord  yearely  one  shilling  increased  rent  over  and  above  his  rent  for  the 
tenement,  and  a  fine  to  the  lord  as  much  as  though  it  were  a  full  quarter  of  a  farme.  But  if  the  surrender 
be  only  a  niorlgage,  and  the  same  be  surrendered  back  againe  to  the  mortgagor  or  his  heircs,  then  the 
said  increased  rent  to  cease,  because  the  full  rent  of  the  farme  is  preserved  to  the  lord,  and  the  lord 
can  have  no  prejudice  thereby. 

Wee  finde  that  by  the  custome  of  the  mannor,  if  any  cop|)yholder  surrender  upon  mortgage  part  or 
parcell  of  his  farme,  that  the  same  ought  to  be  specified,  and  endorsed  by  a  memorandum  under  or  upon 
the  back  of  the  surrender  expressing  the  condition  upon  which  the  same  is  surrendered. 

Wee  finde  that  all  surrenders  passed  of  coppyhold  estates  ought  out  of  court  to  be  passed  before 
and  in  the  presence  of  two  of  the  homagers  or  customary  tenants  of  the  said  mannor. 

Wee  finde  that  the  coppyholders  by  the  custome  of  the  mannor  may  lett  to  farme  their  coppyhold 
lands  to  any  tenant  by  indenture  of  lease  for  three  yeares  without  lycense  ;  and  if  for  tl-.e  terme  of  twenty 
or  one  and  twenty  yeares,  then  such  coppyholder  ought  to  have  lycence  from  the  lord's  steward  paying 
his  fee,  without  paying  any  fine  to  the  lord  for  the  same. 

Wee  finde  that  all  surrenders  of  coppyhold  farmes  ought  to  be  presented  att  the  next  court  after  the 
making  thereof,  otherwise  such  surrender  is  void  according  to  the  custome  of  the  mannor.' 

The  most  striking  of  the  manorial  customs,  here  recited,  is  the  provision 
that,  in  default  of  male  issue,  a  copyholder's  eldest  daughter  shall  have 
a  life  interest  in  her  father's  tenement.  This  was  extended,  by  a  decision 
in  the  case  of  Neivton  v.  S/iafto,  to  include  the  eldest  surviving  daughter.' 
The  custom  was  apparently  of  recent  origin,  forming  no  part  of  the  ancient 
custom  of  husbandry,  which  '  was  to  the  man  only  and  never  to  the  woman.' 

Fines  are  reckoned  at  so  much  a  '  farm.'  '  Farms  '  also  formerly  served 
as  units  for  the  assessment  of  poor  rate  and  church  rate.  The  meaning 
of  the  term  and  its  relation  to  the  ancient  husbandland  has  been  a  matter 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  •  1  Siderfin,  at  p.  267. 


TYNEMOUTHSHIKK.  243 

of  controversy.  A  Chancery  suit  {^Attonicx-Gcneral  v.  Trevelyaii),  insti- 
tuted in  1710,  was  revived  in  1832  by  Mr.  William  Woodman,  as  solicitor 
for  the  master  of  the  Morpeth  Grammar  School,  and  copious  evidence 
was  collected  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  term  '  farm  '  in  Netherwitton  and 
other  townships  in  Northumberland.  The  theory  advanced  by  the  plaintiffs 
was  that  a  farm  was  '  an  aliquot  portion  of  the  value  of  an  entire  township.' 
It  may  be  safely  admitted  that,  while  the  suit  has  led  to  a  more  thorough 
examination  of  the  history  of  agricultural  holdings,  the  proposition  then 
advanced  was  untenable  and  failed  to  account  for  the  facts  adduced  to 
support  it. 

The  evidence  in  the  Netherwitton  case  formed  the  foundation  of  papers 
bv  the  late  Bishop  Creighton  in  the  Archceolo^ical  [ounial  (1S84)'  and 
by  Mr.  F.  W.  Dendy  in  Arc/iaco/of^ia  Acliana  (1892).'^  A  paper  read  in 
1894  by  the  present  duke  of  Northumberland  before  the  Newcastle  Society 
of  Antiquaries'  brought  the  evidence  of  si.xteenth  and  seventeenth  century 
surveys  to  bear  upon  the  question,  whether  the  farms  which  formed  the 
basis  of  rating  in  the  eighteenth  century  were  identical  with  the  uncieiit 
husbandlands.  The  conclusions  there  set  forth  were  based  on  a  study  of 
townships  in  the  parishes  of  Warkworth  and  Lesbury,  but  are  equally 
api^licable  to  Tynemouthshire  and  may  be  accepted  with  little  modification. 

When  we  reflect  how  often  the  nuniljer  of  husbandlands  is  the  same  as  tlial  of  the  more  modern 
farms  ;  how  in  many  cases  there  are  indications  pointing  to  a  relation  between  them,  though  at  tliis 
stage  of  the  enquiry  not  a  very  explicable  one,  it  appears  highly  probable  that  they  were  identical.  But 
if  the  ancient  farms  be  the  same  as  the  husbandlands,  nothing  can  be  more  certain  than  that  they  were 
not  aliquot  parts  of  the  whole  township,  of  which  they  covered  but  a  portion.  They  did  not  even  include 
in  many  cases  the  whole  of  the  land  under  cultivation,  for  in  addition  to  them  there  were  frequently 
freeholds,  leaseholds,  cottage  lands,  etc.  Nor  were  they  equal  inter  si-,  at  anyrate  in  the  sixteenth 
century,  for  they  diftered  in  .icreaye,  in  rental,  in  the  number  of  cottages  held  with  ihcm,  in  the  amount 
of  multure  paid  to  the  mill  ;  in  short,  in  every  particular  incident  to  an  agricultural  holding. 

At  the  date,  probably  very  remote,  when  the  plan  of  rating  by  farms  was  inaugurated,  whatever  the 
nature,  variety  or  complexity  of  the  tenures  under  which  the  land  was  held  might  be,  a  sharp  line  was 
drawn  between  that  portion  of  the  township  which  was  composed  of  demesne  land,  and  that  portion 
which  was  not.     The  latter  alone  was  rateable. 

Originally  that  portion  of  a  township  which  was  not  demesne,  that  is  to  say,  which  did  not  form  a 
part  of  what  has  been  sometimes  described  as  the  home  farm  of  the  lord,  was  divided  into  husbandlands 
of  equal  area,  paying  an  equal  '  ferme.'  Within  this  rateable  area  there  might  or  might  not  be  a  certain 
number  of '  cotingers  and  cotterels,'  holding  directly  of  the  lord.  Whether  they  were  rated  or  not  we 
cannot  tell.      The  main  part  of  the  burden  indubitably  fell  on  the  husbandlands. 

In  course  of  years  parts  of  the  demesnes  were  granted  to  freeholders  or  leaseholders,  but  these 
having  once  been  demesne,  remained  exempt  from  local  taxation.     Similarly,  as  time  went  on,  some  of 

'  Arcliteological  Juiinuil,  vol.  xlii.  '  Arih.  Act.  2nd  series,  vol.  xvi.  '  Ihid.  vol.  xvii. 


2  11  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH, 

the  land  wliicli  was  not  demesne  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  lord  by  escheat,  forfeiture,  etc.,  and  might  be 
-■ranted  by  him  to  freeholders  or  leaseholders,  but,  havini,'  Ijeen  part  of  the  rateable  area,  it  continued 
to  be  subject  to  that  liability. 

Probably,  from  the  very  commencement  of  this  plan  of  ratinjj,  the  husbandlands  had  constantly 
tended  to  become  more  and  more  unequal,  and  thus  to  deviate  from  the  theory  of  their  existence.  From 
time  to  time  some  of  the  more  enterprising  of  the  inhabitants  would  break  up  small  portions  of  the  moor, 
with  or  without  the  consent  of  the  authorities.  They  annexed,  more  or  less  intentionally,  portions  of  the 
demesne  to  their  holdings,'  and  again  exchanged  these  strips  with  those  of  other  tenants,  so  that  there 
was  a  constant  accretion  on  the  part  of  some,  and  an  increasing  discrepancy  between  the  size  of  the 
various  farms. 

By  the  commencement  of  the  sixteenth  century  the  meaning  of  the  word  'farm'  had  undeigone  an 
important  modification.  It  had  ceased  to  be  applied  to  the  payment  incident  to  the  holding,  and  had 
become  applicable  to  the  holding  itself. 

At  length  the  day  arrived  when  there  was  a  very  general  conversion  of  copyholds  into  leaseholds." 
The  process  was  not  popular,  but  the  practical  change  which  it  introduced  into  the  economy  of  the 
manor  may  be  easily  overrated.  Numbers  of  the  old  tenants  and  their  descendants  c<nitinncd  for  very 
many  years  to  occupy  the  same  holdings  after  they  had  accepted  leases.  The  tenants  who  already  had 
land  in  the  township  were  very  ready  to  take  up  any  farms  that  might  fall  vacant.  This  tendency  had 
shown  itself  freely  long  before  the  extinction  of  the  copyholds  and  it  gradually  led  to  a  larger  number  of 
farms  being  held  together  than  before. 

But  now  a  much  more  important  and  radical  change  took  place,  namely,  the  abolition  of  the 
common  fields,  and  the  inauguration  of  the  modern  system  of  several  husbandry.^  Let  us  suppose  a 
township  consisting  partly  of  leasehold  farms,  partly  of  demesne  lands,  partly  of  cottage  holdings, 
and  partly  of  common  or  waste.  The  leasehold  farms  were  practically  the  old  husbandlands.  The 
demesnes  had  become  almost  entirely  merged  in  them.  When  the  copyholds  had  finally  disappeared 
there  was  no  object  in  keeping  up  the  distinction  between  the  demesnes  and  the  husbandlands,  and, 
as  the  same  individuals  held  both,  all  trace  of  the  former  tended  rapidly  to  disappear.  But  the  land  of 
which  the  husbandlands  originally  consisted,  as  well  as  large  portions  of  that  which  had  been  demesne, 
lay  scattered  over  the  whole  township.  A  held  200  acres  in  5^  farms,  B  120  acres  in  3!  farms,  C  120 
acres  in  34  farms,  and  so  on. 

The  first  difficulty  that  would  arise  would  be  found  in  the  varying  character  of  the  land  of  the 
district.  The  120  acres  which  B  would  receive  in  severalty  might  be  the  worst  land  in  the  township, 
while  the  same  amount  allotted  to  C  might  be  the  best.  The  arbitrator  would  therefore  be  obliged 
in  fairness  to  add  a  few  acres  to  B  or  to  deduct  a  few  from  C.  Thus  there  would  be  a  further  inroad 
into  the  small  amount  of  equality  which  may  still  have  existed  between  the  farms. 

Either  now  or  at  a  later  date  the  common  would  be  divided.'     How  was  the  arbitrator  to  allot  the 

'  The  extinction  of  the  lord's  rights  over  particular  portions  of  the  township  is  probably  due  quite  as 
much  to  actual  agreement  as  it  is  to  gradual  encroachment  on  the  part  of  the  tenants.  Communal 
action  on  the  part  of  the  township  in  leasing  the  demesne,  the  lord's  pasture  and  the  garth  of  the 
manorial  hall,  should  not  be  overlooked.  Partition  of  the  demesne  among  the  customary  tenants  of  the 
township  probably  took  place  in  many  townships  during  the  late  fourteenth  or  fifteenth  centuries,  though 
direct  evidence  of  the  fact  is  rare.  'It  is  to  be  noted,'  says  a  survey  of  Long  Houghton  taken  in  1567, 
'that  before  the  partition  of  this  towne,  every  tennant  had  besyd  his  husband-lande  certayne  parte  of  the 
demayne  lands.  Every  husband-lande  was  at  the  yearly  rent  of  xxij" ;  the  rent  that  any  tenant  paid 
more  was  for  the  parcell  of  demayne  lande  laid  to  his  tenement  which  was  vij'  by  yeare.'  See  vol.  ii.  of 
this  work,  p.  370. 

■  This  took  effect  in  the  townships  of  Tynemouih  and  North  .Shields.  Copyhold  survived  in  the 
seven  towns  of  Tynemouthshire,  but  not  without  a  struggle. 

'  The  north  and  south  fields  of  Tynemouth,  two-thirds  of  Preston,  and  the  whole  of  the  common 
fields  of  Earsdon  were  enclosed  in  1649.     Six-tenths  of  Backworth  township  was  enclosed  in  1654. 

'  Shire  Moor  was  divided  among  the  freeholders  and  copyholders  of  Tyneitiouthshire  in  178S.  Most 
of  the  commons  lying  within  the  various  townships  had  been  enclosed  much  earlier,  though  Whitley 
links  still  remain  unenclosed.     (leorge  Whitehead,  in  or  about  the  year  1613,  advised  the  ninth  earl  of 


TYNFMOUTHSHIRE.  245 

common  ?  A  with  his  five  and  a  half  farms  of  200  acres  would  have  as  much  land  as  he  could  con- 
veniently mana<;e,  while  1!  and  C  on  the  contrary  might  be  glad  to  take  a  little  more.  And  thus  the 
actual  extent  of  a  holding  would,  after  the  division,  bear  no  relation  whatever  to  the  number  of 'farms' 
at  which  it  was  assessed.  This  method  of  allotment  would  go  to  increase  the  size  of  the  holdings 
in  proportion  to  the  ability  of  the  tenant  to  cultivate  it,  not  with  relation  to  the  number  of  'farms' 
lie  liekl,  and  thus  gradually  the  'farms'  would  extend,  in  some  cases,  over  the  whole  township.  In 
such  instances  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  rating  the  township  by  farms,  but  it  was  a  different 
matter  where  there  were  cottage  holdings  and  leaseholds  not  liable  under  the  ancient  system  to  a 
rate.  .Sometimes  also  there  were  small  parts  of  the  demesnes  which  had  not  been  merged  in  the 
(arms.  One  of  these  was  the  lord's  mill.  If  these  hitherto  unrated  portions  of  the  township  were  few, 
it  seems  that  they  were  ignored,  upon  the  principle  '  de  minimis  non  curat  lex.'  Hut  where  they 
collccli\cly  embraced  a  considerable  area,  it  would  be  felt  to  be  unfair  that  they  shouUl  contribute 
nothing  to  the  rate.  The  course  pursued  in  these  cases  was  probably  different  in  different  places,  and 
at  different  times  in  the  same  place.  At  Longhoughton  it  is  said  that  four,  and  at  Kennington  three 
cottages  were  accounted  equal  to  one  farm. 

So  far  as  the  data  at  present  in  our  possession  go,  they  seem  to  point  to  the  following  conclusions  : 
First,  that  the  farms  which  formed  the  basis  of  assessment  at  the  end  of  the  last  and  the  commencement 
of  the  present  century  are  the  descendants  and  representatives  of  the  ancient  husbandlands  ;  secondly, 
that  it  is  highly  probable,  if  not  certain,  that  originally  these  husbandlands  were,  generally  speaking, 
of  equal  value  within  the  limits  of  the  same  township  ;  thirdly,  that  they  constantly  tended  to  lose  this 
equality,  and  that  in  the  sixteenth  century,  if  not  long  before,  their  inequality  had  become  very  marked  ; 
fourthly,  that,  notwithstanding,  they  continued  to  be  regarded  as  equal  bases  of  assessment  ;  fifthly,  that 
they  were  never  conterminous  with  the  township,  save  in  cases  in  which  the  lord  of  the  manor  was  the 
sole  proprietor,  and  the  husbandlands  contained  the  only  cultivated  land  within  it.  In  this  event  they 
would  indeed  cover  the  whole  area  after  the  common  had  been  divided,  but  even  then  the  proportion  of 
common  added  to  each  holding  depended  on  other  considerations  than  those  of  mere  equality  of  value. ' 

A  '  farm  '  is  not  and  never  has  been  an  aliquot  part  of  the  value  of 
the  whole  township.  At  most  it  is  an  aliquot  part  of  the  rateable  value.'- 
The  farm,  which  was  taken  as  a  convenient  unit  for  assessment  of  church- 
rates    in    nearly    a    hundred    townships    in    the    county,'    originated    in    the 

Northumberland  :  '  That  your  lordship  take  soonie  course  that  all  your  commons  that  ar  already 
surveiglied  be,  with  wliat  convenient  speade  to  your  lordship's  best  lykinge,  lett  by  lease  in  parcells  as 
may  be  best  improved,  the  tenants  havinge  sufficient  left.  My  reasone  is,  the  nature  of  the  people  is 
that,  yf  any  busiues  be  deferd,  they  thinke  it  is  prolonged  onely  bycause  your  lordship  cannot  doe  ii,  and 
soe  growe  headestronge.  In  all  ihesse  affaires  1  shall  upon  u)y  credit  provide  your  lordship's  best 
profitt  and  take  leasses  at  reasonable  rates,  and  inclosse  and  sufficiently  fence  and  hedge  them,  which 
after  the  first  lease  will  much  advance  your  lordship's  revenewcs,  havinge  made  choyse  of  good 
tennantes  that  ar  good  husbandes  and  men  able  to  bestowe  chardge  of  the  enclosure  oi"  the  same  ; 
which  course  must  be  especially  observed  in  all  your  demises,— the  choyse  of  sufficient  men  to  be  your 
lordship's  tennantes.'     Duke  of  Northumberland's  .\1SS. 

'  ."Vbridged  from  Karl  I'ercy's  paper  on  the  'Ancient  Farms  of  Northumberland,'  Anii.  Ail.  2nd 
series,  vol.  xvii.  pp.  22-35. 

■  Professor  V'inogradoff  has  pointed  out  that  the  Early  English  township  may  best  be  regarded  as  a 
community  of  shareholders,  its  members  holding  equal  shares  known  as  husbandlands,  virgates, 
bovates,  etc.  The  shareholders  were  'in  scot  and  lot,'  and  the  taxes  or  tribute  imposed  upon  the 
township  were  equally  partitioned  among  them.  On  llie  other  hand  manorial  development  brought 
w  ith  it  the  formation  of  '  inland  '  or  demesne,  which  was  omitted  from  the  system  of  taxation.  Demesne- 
land  was  outside  the  gflilnhU  area,  anti  stood  superior  to  the  dependent  holdings.  See  The  Growth  0/  the 
Miiiior,  book  ii.  chapters  3,  4,  6.     This  finds  its  counterpart  in  the  medieval  rating-system. 

'  See  appendix  .A  to  Mr.  F.  W.  Dendy's  paper  on  the  '.Ancient  Farms  of  Northumberland,'  in  Arch. 
Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xvi.  pp.  152-154. 


246  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

luisbaiullaiul  or  two-bovatc  holdiiii;  ol  arable  in  the  common  liclcls  heUl 
bv  customary  services.  Later  accretions  gathered  round  it  ;  tiiere  was  a 
tendency  for  farnis  to  increase  in  unequal  proportions  ;  l)ut  the  intention 
of  equality  remained. 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  church-rate,  the  farm  system  would  have  long 
ago  disappeared  and  left  little  trace  behind  it.  Farms  survived  as  fiscal 
units  after  they  had  ceased  to  exist  as  separate  agricultural  holdings,  for 
the  church-rate  stereotyped  the  economic  system  of  the  period  when  it  was 
lirst  imposed.  No  definite  date  can  be  fi.\ed  for  the  introduction  of  the 
rating  system.  The  earliest  known  reference  in  English  history  to  what 
was  afterwards  known  as  the  church-rate  occurs  in  the  year-book  of  the 
forty-fourth  year  of  Edward  III.,  when  it  is  mentioned  as  a  custom  in  a 
single  parish.'  Probably  it  became  general  before  the  close  of  the  fifteenth 
century.  The  '  farms '  of  the  churchwardens'  books  in  Tynemouth  parish 
correspond  with  the  husbandry  holdings  of  1538  but  not  with  those  of  1377. 

With  the  abolition  of  church-rates  there  was  no  longer  any  need,  in 
the  majority  of  cases,  to  preserve  the  fiction  of  equal  holdings.  Copyhold, 
however,  engenders  conservatism,  and  in  the  manor  court  of  Tynemouth 
the  land  included  in  any  surrender  or  admittance  is  always  stated  to  consist 
of  so  many  farms  or  fractional  parts  of  a  farm.  Fines,  shire-rents,  hall-corn 
rents,  and  boon-day  rents  are  calculated  upon  the  same  principle. 

'  Gneist,  History  of  the  Eiij^lish  Constitution,  vol.  ii.  p.  200. 


TYNEMOUTH     TOWNSHIP.  247 


THE    BOROUGH    OF   TYNEMOUTH. 

The  townships  of  Tyiiemouth,  North  Shields,  Chirton,  Preston,  and 
Cullercoats  were,  by  the  Reform  Act  of  1832,  constituted  a  parliamentary 
borough  under  the  name  of  the  Borough  of  Tynemouth  ;  and  by  an  order 
in  council  issued  on  August  6th,  1849,  and  coniirmed  by  the  statute  13  and 
14  Victoria,  chapter  43,  they  were  incorporated  under  the  same  name  as 
a  borough  for  municipal  purposes.  Before  dealing  with  the  history  of  the 
modern  municipalitv,  some  account  may  be  given  of  the  five  distinct  town- 
ships included  within  it. 

TYNEMOUTH  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Tynemouth  is  bounded  by  the  sea  upon  the  east 
and  by  the  river  Tyne  upon  the  south.  Its  northern  limit  is  the  dry 
water-course  of  the  Marden  burn  ;  while  on  the  west  it  runs  up  to  Preston, 
Chirton,  and  North  Shields.  It  has  an  acreage  of  1,347  acres.'  The  popu- 
lation is  rapidly  increasing,  and  in  igoi  numbered  24,881.''  This  is  mainly 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  greater  part  of  the  modern  town  of  North  Shields 
lies  within  the  limits  of  Tynemouth  township. 

Until  1690  Cullercoats  formed  part  of  Tynemouth,  and  in  earlier 
times  the  township  even  included  North  Shields,  that  town  being  built 
upon  the  prior's  demesne.  On  the  other  hand  it  has  swallowed  up  the  tiny 
township  of  Milneton,  of  which  the  insignificance  may  be  gauged  by  the 
entry  against  it  of  4d.  for  cornage,  the  average  assessment  of  the  neighbour- 
ing townships  being  ten  times  that  amount.^  Milneton  lay  near  North 
Shields,    and    perhaps    took    its    name    from    Tynemouth    windnnll    on    the 

'  The  titlic-comimitation  map  of  1S43  specifies  the  acreage  of  the  township  as  follows  : 

a.        r.     p. 

.\ral)ie       7S5  2  9 

Meadow  and  pasture     ...         ...         161  I  II 

Woodland            '  -  ° 

Huildinys,  lanes,  chiin  hyaid,  etc.       ...         ...         ...  120  3  38 

Kocks  and  sand  to  low-water  mark    ...  S3  3  26 

Roads,  wagyon-ways  and  waste          ...         ...         ■•■  66  I  14 

Total         i,;i9     2   "8 

-The  Census  Returns  are:    iSoi,  3,856;    iSii,   5,834;    1821,  9,454;    'Sj",  10,182;    1S41.  11,854; 
1851,  14,650;  1861,  16,560;   1S71,  19,326;  1881.22.548;  1891,23,678;  1901,24,881. 

"  Tynemouth  ChurtuUiry,  fol.  67. 


248  TYNEMOIITH    BOROUGH. 

eastern  bank  of  the  Spital  dene.'  A  steep,  wooded  slope  led  down  from 
the  mill  to  the  Pow  burn,  and  eastward  the  mill  field  e.xtended  as  far  as 
the  village  of  Tynemouth.  Hugh  de  Milneton  did  fealty  to  the  abbot  of 
St.  Alban's  for  this  holding  in  1264,  as  did  his  son,  William  de  Milneton, 
in  1 29 1.  In  1306  the  owner  of  Milneton  was  excused  payment  of  relief 
on  the  score  of  poverty.'  The  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth  acquired 
two  messuages  and  eighteen  acres  here  in  1325,'  and  more  land  in  1348. 
In  1377  they  were  in  receipt  of  4s.  yearly  as  rent  of  assize  out  of  Milneton, 
and  of  14s.  yearly  rent  from  lands  in  the  prior's  hand.^ 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  Tynemouth  formed  part  of  the  original 
endowment  of  Mowbray's  monastery.  It  was  mainly  an  agricultural  settle- 
ment, though,  even  in  the  twelfth  century,  fishing  played  an  important 
part  in  the  life  of  the  villagers.  The  population,  English  in  the  main, 
had  a  large  leavening  of  Danes.  Peculiarly  Danish  names,  such  as  Orm, 
testified  to  the  origin  of  those  who  bore  them.*  Orm  was  a  poor  villager 
whose  onlv  daughter  was  a  paralytic,  and  lav  all  night  in  prayer  before 
St.  Oswin's  tomb,  until,  in  the  early  morning  hours,  while  the  bretliren 
were  chanting  matins,  she  felt  life  come  back  to  her  crippled  limbs,  and, 
rising,  she  walked,  and  laid  her  crutch  as  a  thank-offering  upon  the  altar.'' 

There  is  an  early  rental  of  the  township,  assignable  to  the  close  of 
the  twelfth  or  the  commencement  of  the  thirteenth  centurv.'  Amongst 
purely  Teutonic  names,  such  as  Milo,  Edulph,  Algar,  Wlryk,  Archil, 
and    Edrike,"  are   found   names  that   are  evidently  of  Scandinavian  origin  ; 

'  The  mill  was  burned  down  in  1S05,  and  in  1S37  a  mariners'  asylum  was  erected  on  its  site  by  the 
Master  Mariners'  Association,  a  society  founded  in  North  Shields  in  1829  for  the  purpose  of  supporting 
aged,  infirm,  or  decayed  master  mariners  of  the  port  of  Newcastle.  The  organization  has  since  l^een 
reconstituted  as  the  Tyne  Mariners'  Institute.  The  name  of  Mil!  field  is  still  applied  to  the  land  between 
the  Spital  dene  and  Tynemouth  village. 

••  SI.  Albans  Register,  fols.  62  b,  in  b,  153  b,  164. 

'Tynemouth  Chiirtiiliiiy,  fols.  86  b  to  87.     The  deeds  there  set  out  are  : 

(i.)  Grant  from  Robert  de  Middelton,  chaplain,  to  Robert  Carter  of  Earsdon,  of  all  his  land  and  his 
two  tofts  in  Milneton,  'juxta  les  Sheles.'  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  de  Hacworlh,  Johanne  de  Plescies, 
Henrico  Faucus,  Roberto  de  Rihille,  Johanne  de  Morion,  Alano  de  Castro,  Henrico  de  Harden,  tunc 
senescallo  de  Tynem',  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  December  23rd,  1319. 

(ii.)  Grant  of  the  premises  from  Robert  Carter  to  Thomas  de  Raynton.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  de 
Hacworth,  Johanne  de  Plescies,  Henrico  Faukes,  Roberto  de  Ryhill,  Johanne  de  Morton,  .Alano  de 
Castro,  Thoma  de  Hidewyn,  Roberto  Sauvage  de  Tynemouth,  et  aliis.  Dated  at  Tynemouth.  August 
1 2th,  1324.^ 

(iii.)  Grant  of  these  and  other  lands  from  Thomas  de  Raynton  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tyne- 
mouth.    Dated  August  5th,  1325.     See  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  138. 

*  Ibid.  fols.  51  b  and  58  b.  *  Old  Danish,  Orm  ;  old  Norse,  Ormr.  '  Vita  Osjcini,  cap.  x.xxiii 

'  Tynemouth  Chartiilary,  fols.  I  b  to  2. 

'  The  names  Edulph,  .Algar,  and  Wlryk  represent  the  commoner  forms,  Eadwulf,  yElfgar,  and 
Wulfric. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP.  249 

such  are  Svan,  Hcdne,  Mother,  and  perhaps  Heftin."  Thirteen  persons 
are  entered  as  paying  rent  for  holdings  of  a  toft  and  two  bovates  apiece, 
the  annual  sum  paid  varying  from  two  to  three  shillings,  probably  according 
to  the  size  of  the  toft.  There  is  one  holding  of  a  single  bovate,  one 
of  twelve  acres,  one  of  eight  acres,  three  of  four  acres  each,  and  one  of 
three  acres.  The  majority  of  the  inhabitants  hold  single  tofts  with  no 
land  in  the  common  fields.  A  few  rents  are  partly  paid  in  corn.  Sixty- 
six  names  in  all  are  recorded,  the  total  of  the  rent  being  £^  6s.  4d.  and 
ten  '  cendra '  of  barlev-malt.  Milo,  whose  name  heads  the  list,  had,  besides 
his  two  bovates,  half  an  acre  of  land  on  the  road  to  Whitley  and  the  land 
formerly  held  by  the  porter  of  Tynemouth.  He  may  be  identified  with 
the  Milo,  son  of  Hubert,  who  attests  several  charters  of  the  period,  and 
with  the  father  of  Simon,  son  of  Milo,  whose  claim  to  two  monk's  corrodies 
from  the  priory  led  to  Prior  Gubiun's  resignation. - 

In  an  account  of  homages  and  fealties  rendered  to  Abbot  Norton  in 
1264,  it  is  recorded  that  there  were  fifteen  chief  tenants,  whose  names  are 
given.^  A  similar  entrv  for  1291  again  gives  fifteen  names,  some  of  which 
are  identical  with  those  in  the  earlier  list.^  Light  is  thrown  on  the  char- 
acter of  this  group  bv  a  memorandum  drawn  up  by  Thomas  de  Rainton, 
who  was  seneschal  about  the  year   1325  : 

In  the  town  of  Tynemouth  there  were  some  fifteen  tenants,  of  whom  some  held  twenty-four  acres, 
some  twenty-six,  some  thirty.  Wilham,  son  of  Alan,  held  one  land  by  doing  at  the  prior's  maintenance 
one  bon-er,  and  one  bon-harowe  without  food,  and  one  in-lad  (namely,  three  thraves  of  wheat,  four 
thraves  of  barley,  and  four  thraves  of  barley)  without  food  ;  and  by  doing  one  Neusum-lad,  and  then 
he  shall  have  food  ;  and  by  doing  three  boon-works  in  autumn,  namely  two,  and  a  third  which  is  called 
the  great  boon-work,  at  the  prior's  maintenance.  And  four  sworn  men  of  Tynemouth  shall  be  reapers 
at  the  great  boon-work.  And  each  of  the  aforesaid  fifteen  tenants  does  and  shall  do  the  same  services 
as  the  aforesaid  William,  son  of  Alan,  used  and  ought  to  do.* 

'  Svaii:  old  Danish,  Svai :  old  Norwegian,  Svaiiit.  Hcdnc :  old  Danish,  Hithin  :  o\A  Norwegian, 
Hedhiiui.  Hother,  used  as  a  proper  name,  is  exclusively  Danish,  and  in  old  Danish  is  written  Hoihtr  and 
Hvthir.     Hijtin  is  perhaps  Hcjnc,  a  name  exclusively  old  Danish. 

-■  See  p.  70.  In  12 13,  Ralph,  son  of  Ralph,  paid  a  mark  for  having  an  assize  in  the  king's  court 
between  himself  and  Simon,  son  of  Milo  of  Tynemouth,  defendant,  for  two  carucates  m  '  Elfinton'  and 
forty  acres  in  Tynemouth.     Fine  Rolls,  1 5  John,  m.  7. 


Willelmus  Hendele,  ct  Robertus  Poyen. 

'  Ibid  fol.  153  b.  This  list  gives  the  following  names  :  Willelmus  filius  Alani.  Petnis  hiius  Radulfi, 
lohannes  filius  Richardi  Bercar',  Robertus  del  breuhos,  Robertus  filius  Haldewini,  Oallridus  films 
Hcnrici,  Radulfus  filius  C.ilberti,  Petrus  de  Bakworth,  Willelmus  filius  Alexandri,  Johannes  de  Kedinges, 
Galfridus  de  molendino,  Adam  de  coquina,  Willelmus  filius  Rogeri  de  Wittone,  Ihomas  films  l.ermani, 
at  Alanus  de  Hertlawe.  »  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  71  b. 


Vol.  VIII. 


250  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

These  services  are  borne  out  by  a  fuller  custunial  of  the  township, 
known  only  from  fourteenth-century  transcripts,  but  probably  drawn  up 
about  the  vear  1200.'  A  distinction  is  there  drawn  between  (i)  the 
holders  of  lands  who  do  boon-ere  and  boon-harrow,  (2)  the  holders  of 
lands  and  tofts  who  also  do  three  boon-works  and  the  great  auth-rep,  (3) 
the  fifteen  tenants  who  perform  the  additional  services  of  in-lade  and 
Neusum-lade."  'Selfodes'  do  three  boon-works  in  the  autumn.  The  men 
of  Tynemouth  are  keepers  of  the  prior's  prisons  and  pay  £8  for  every 
escape.  The  fifteen  tenants  pay  40s.  as  abbot's-welcome  on  the  first  visit 
made  to  Tynemouth  by  a  new  abbot  of  St.  Alban's. 

Rights  of  common  are  set  out  in  detail.  After  the  harvest  is  over,  the 
fifteen  tenants  have  common  of  pasture  in  the  town  fields  for  all  their  live 
stock  except  swine.  On  the  other  hand  the  Midhope  and  the  Howes  form 
a  pasture  held  in  severalty  by  the  prior  as  lord  of  the  manor,  and  here  the 
prior  has  e.xclusive  grazing  rights,  as  well  as  on  all  the  balks  in  the  open 
fields.  He  may  also,  at  will,  enclose  a  portion  of  the  land  lying  tempor- 
arily fallow,  and  depasture  his  cattle  there,  though  the  communal  rights 
of  the  townsmen  are  recognised  by  permission  afforded  to  them  of  turning 
into  this  enclosure  the  plough-oxen  with  which  they  do  the  boon-ere  or 
tillage  of  the  lord's  demesne.  Cottagers  have  no  pastoral  rights  within 
the  township  ;  they  must  go  with  their  beasts  to  the  shire  moor. 

There  is  no  trace  of  any  base  service  except  the  payment  of  merchet 
and  layrewite,  and  in  the  north  that  custom  was  never  a  mark  of  unfree 
status.  The  fifteen  possess  all  the  characteristics  of  customary  freeholders. 
When  a  tenant  dies,  the  next  heir  of  the  blood  succeeds  upon  paving 
double  the  first  year's  rent.  They  may  alienate  their  holdings  in  whole 
or  in  part,  subject  to  the  pavment  of  a  fine  in  court.  Thev  do  fealty  and 
suit  of  court  from   three   weeks    to    three   weeks.     Other   customs   include 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  i,  51b,  .ind  58b;  printed  by  liiand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  594.  The 
custunial  is  repeated  on  fol.  71  b,  with  verbal  differences.  Neusum-lade,  or  the  carting  of  two  loads 
from  Seaton  Delaval,  is  there  described  as  a  service  to  which  all  the  fifteen  tenants  were  liable, 
'  preter  terrain  Ulryg  et  Roberti  filii  Wolrik,  qui  duo  carriabunt  unam  carectatam.'  Robert,  son 
of  Wlryk,  reappears  in  the  early  rental  already  quoted  as  tenant  of  a  single  bovate,  a  fact  that 
accounts  for  his  performing  only  half  the  carriage-service  incumbent  on  the  two-bovate  holdings. 
Ulryg's  land  is  not  mentioned  there  probably  because  it  was  then  in  the  prior's  hand  ;  but  the 
specification  of  only  fourteen  in  place  of  fifteen  tenements  leads  to  the  surmise  that  Ulryg's  land 
was  the  fifteenth.  Thus  the  institution  of  fifteen  chief  tenants  is  carried  back  into  the  twelfth 
century,  and  the  custunial  is  found  to  synchronise  with  the  rental,  though  allowance  must  be  made 
for  insertion  into  the  custumal  of  later  additions,  such  as  the  note  of  Philip  of  Marsden's  e.\emption 
from  merchet. 

-  See  above,  p.  224,  for  an  explanation  of  these  terms. 


tYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


251 


the  payment  of  multure  at  the  thirteenth  dish,  the  prohibition  against 
carting  the  harvest  until  the  prior  has  begun  to  cart,  and  the  payment  of 
eight  shillings  as  amend  for  bloodshed. 

Regulations  are  given  for  the  holding  of  assize  of  bread  and  ale. 
Toll  is  mentioned  as  being  paid  on  strong  ale  and  small  beer  before  the 
liquor  was  exposed  for  sale.  In  the  fourteeenth  century  the  toll  on  ale 
{tolnetiim  cervisic)  for  the  township  was  usually  farmed  out  at  a  yearly 
rent  of  15s.  to  20s.,'  and  after  the  suppression  of  the  monastery  the  Crown 
continued  to  receive  annually  the  sum  of  26s.  8d.  from  the  tenants  as  the 
farm  of  this  assize.'' 

A  survey  made  in  1292  shows  that  the  yearly  money-rent  due  from 
Tynemouth  amounted  to  £s  os.  lod.,  and  that  nine  quarters  of  barley- 
malt  were  paid  in,  and  valued  at  2s.  6d.  each.  The  demesne  consisted 
of  four  carucates  of  arable,  the  annual  net  return  from  a  carucate  being 
£\  7s.  The  pasture-land  was  stocked  with  14  cows  and  124  sheep,  and 
a  yearly .  profit  of  lod.  was  made  from  each  cow,  and  of  4d.  from  each 
sheep.  Coal  mines  brought  by  estimation  £2>  ^s.  4d.  ;  the  perquisites  of 
the  court  amounted  to  £1  8s.  There  w^ere  six  mills,  valued,  by  general 
estimation,  at  four  marcs  each  per  annum.    The  total  yield  was  £1^  13s.  jd.' 

Two  years  later  the  demesnes  were  measured.  Those  of  Tynemouth 
and  of  Preston  appear  to  have  lain  in  common.  Their  extent  is  given  as 
533  acres  10  perches,  which  corresponds  roughly  with  the  estimate  of  four 
carucates  in  Tynemouth  and  two  carucates  in  Preston.  The  demesnes 
are  specified  as  follows^ 


a. 

r. 

p- 

a. 

r. 

p. 

The  close  on  the  south  side  of  the 

The  Flores 

15 

0 

20 

town  of  Tynemouth      

9 

0 

0 

Stanylawe     

30 

2 

0 

Gilberdesacies           

13 

I 

0 

Wytleygate              

22 

-> 

0 

The   buttes    on    the    nonh    side   of 

Belhow  flat 

27 

0 

20 

(iilbcrdesacres 

II 

0 

0 

North-wel  flat          

5' 

2 

30 

The  mill  field             

jO 

2 

0 

Est-den-side            

23 

0 

0 

The  close  called  the  lirokes 

6 

■> 

20 

West-den-side          

24 

3 

20 

The  same       

15 

3 

0 

Tunstal  dyke           

24 

2 

30 

Aver-acres      

47 

2 

0 

Buttes  near  the  park 

4 

-» 

10 

On   the  north   side  of  the   town  of 

Crumbe  flat 

21 

I 

0 

Tynemouth         

32 

0 

20 

Ploumen  landes       

8 

3 

0 

Merden  flat 

14 

I 

0 

Wei  flat         

35 

2 

30 

The  Brokes  near  Merden 

28 

I 

0 

Burdestan  flat          

34 

0 

0 

<  Tynemouth  Chartuhny,  fols.  i6l,  165,  169b,  172,  176  b.  '  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol  i.  p.  220. 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  591,  citing  Tynemouth  Chartutary,  fol.  54.       '  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  4. 


252  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

The  subsidy-roll  of  1296  gives  the    follo\vin<;  names  of  residents  who 
then  paid  subsidy : 

Tynemouth  Subsidy  Roll. 


£ 

s. 

d. 

s. 

d. 

Sumnia  bonorun 

Kicardi  de  pistrina    ... 

1 

6 

a 

imde    regi 

4 

3 

>» 

Galfridi  dc  bracina    ... 

I 

13 

10 

3 

I 

»» 

Roberli  Scot 

I 

19 

10 

3 

7i 

»j 

Willelmi  de  Wylom   ... 

I 

14 

9 

3 

2 

i» 

Johannis  de  Reding  ... 

1 

S 

4 

2 

7 

»» 

Robert!  Turnur 

1 

I 

4 

I 

Hi 

») 

I'liilippi  de  Meiston  ... 

I 

13 

9 

3 

of 

ji 

Juliana  Tieuelove 

0 

>5 

s 

I 

5 

ff 

Rogcri  Biun 

I 

6 

2 

2 

4i 

»» 

Tunnok  I5oyt 

0 

16 

6 

I 

6 

>i 

Ade  Burward 

I 

I 

II 

2 

0 

» 

Willelmi  Dabbei- 

0 

15 

3 

I 

4l 

» 

Nicholi  del  Hay 

0 

II 

10 

I 

I 

>» 

Willelmi  Rakedul       ... 

0 

14 

5 

I 

3i 

» 

Petri  de  llakeworth    ... 

I 

2 

6 

2 

oi 

Probatur.     Siinima  liujus  ville,  ^19  2s.  gd. ;  unde  regi,  £1  14s.  ghd.' 

By  an  inquisition  taken  in  1275,  it  was  found  that  the  prior  had  lately 
begun  to  hold  markets  at  Tynemouth  on  Sundays.'^  This  encroachment 
on  the  royal  rights  formed  one  of  the  charges  brought  against  Prior  Walden 
in  1290;  and  it  was  then  urged  in  addition  that  he  held  assize  of  bread 
and  ale  without  warrant,  and  that  in  the  year  1279  he  had  built  four 
common  bake-houses  at  Tynemouth.  These  bake-houses  were  farmed  by 
William  Savage,  William  Barbitonsor,  Robert  de  Bruerne,  and  Alan  le 
Taliour,  common  bakers,  at  a  yearly  rent  of  eight  marks.  The  tenants 
came  there  to  bake  their  bread,  paying  furnage  for  the  use  of  the  ovens  ; 
and  there  the  prior  brought  his  own  flour  to  be  baked  into  loaves  which 
were  then  taken  down  to  the  shore  at  Shields  and  sold  to  the  sailors  and 
merchants  who  put  in  at  that  port.  Newcastle  merchants,  hitherto  secure 
m  their  monopoly  of  victualling  and  provisioning  foreign  vessels,  found  in 
the  priory  a  dangerous  rival. 

Walden  denied  holding  a  regular  market.  He  had  a  tumbrel  by  grant 
from  Richard  I.,  and  this  implied  the  assize  of  bread  and  ale.  He  admitted 
having  bakers,  brewers,  and  fishermen  in  his  employ.  The  presence  of 
stalls,  booths,  and  shambles  testified  to  the  sale  of  meat  and  drink,  and  men 
met  and  chaffered  on  Sundays  in  St.  Oswin's  church.     But  he  argued  that 

'  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  Northumberland,  JJA  "  Rotuli  Hundrcdonim,  Record  Com.  vol.  ii.  p.  i8. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP.  253 

there  was  no  fixed  market-day  ;  he  took  no  market-tolls  ;  and  he  pointed, 
as  justification  for  his  own  practice,  to  the  informal  retail  trade  carried  on 
in  every  country  village.  His  plea  was  not  held  good.  For  taking  furnage 
and  amends  for  bread  and  ale  he  was  fined  five  marks,  and  all  signs  of  a 
market  were  ordered  to  be  removed.' 

In  1304  the  monks  took  advantage  of  a  visit  paid  to  them  by  Edward  I. 
and  his  queen  to  petition  for  a  grant  of  an  annual  fair.  Queen  Margaret 
used  her  influence  with  her  husband,  who  on  September  17th  accorded 
licence  to  hold  a  fair  at  Tynemouth  every  year  upon  the  eve  of  St.  Oswin's 
Day,  and  the  fortnight  following.  A  protest  from  the  burgesses  of  New- 
castle followed  upon  this  act,  with  the  result  that  the  charter  was  recalled 
in  deference  to  their  wishes.' 

William  Savage,  who  was  one  of  Prior  Walden's  four  bakers  in  1298, 
was  the  founder  of  a  mercantile  family  of  some  note.  Robert  Savage, 
whose  name  occurs  on  several  occasions  in  the  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  was 
a  householder  in  Tynemouth  in  1336.^  A  second  William  Savage,  settled 
in  York  as  a  merchant,  was  admitted  as  a  freeman  of  that  city  in  1336/7, 
and  filled  the  post  of  bailiff  in  1356.^  In  1366  he  successfully  claimed  a 
toft  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  Tynemouth  as  nephew  and  heir  of  William 
Gaclut,  whose  property  had  been  seized  for  supposed  adherence  to  the  king 
of  France.*  He  became  mayor  of  York  in  1369,  and  died  during  his  year 
of  office,  having  by  will  devised  all  his  lands  and  tenements  in  York,  upon 
the  death  of  his  wife  Constance,  to  his  nephew  Robert  Savage  and  his 
heirs,  and,  for  default  of  heirs,  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth." 
Robert  Savage  the  younger  was  a  merchant  like  his  uncle.  He  was 
admitted  as  a  freeman  of  York  in  1364,  became  chamberlain  in  1370,  and 
was  thrice  mayor  (1384,  1391,  1392).'  His  son,  William  Savage,  succeeded 
on  his  father's  death  to  lands  in  Tynemouth,  Preston,  and  East  Chirton, 
of  which  he   enfeoffed   William    de   Mitford  and  William   de   Haliwell  by 

'  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  No.  Ixxxviii-xc. 

-  Ibid.  No.  ciii-cv  ;  Memoranda  de  Parliamento,  1303,  Rolls  Series,  pp.  96-97  ;  Inq.  ad  quod  damnum, 
33  Edw.  I.  File  55,  No.  i. 

'  Tynemouth  Chnrtulary,{o\s.  14,  13,  18. 

*  Freemen  of  York,  Surt.  See.  No.  96,  p.  31  ;  Drake,  Eboracum,  ed.  17SS,  vol.  ii.  pp.  118-119. 

^  Coram  Rege  Rolls,  No.  424,  m.  24.  '  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  218. 

'  Freemen  of  York,  pp.  59,  67,  80,  89,  90.  The  will  of  Robert  Savage  of  York,  merchant,  dated 
August  1st,  1391,  and  proved  March  21st,  1398/9,  is  printed  in  Testamenta  Ebor.ucnsia,  Surt.  Soc. 
vol.  i.  p.   157- 


254  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

deed  dated  January  8th,  1 399/1 400.'  Another  Robert  Savage  was  a  tenant 
and  baker  in  North  Shields  in  1447."  The  Savages  continued  to  reside 
at  York  into  the  sixteenth  century,  and  on  several  occasions  held  civic 
offices.     Archbishop  Savage  came  of  a  different  stock. 

In  spite  of  its  struggles  with  Newcastle,  Tynemouth  must  have  benefited 
by  the  increased  commercial  prosperity  of  its  rival.  The  Newcastle  trade 
brought  many  merchants  and  skilled  artizans  to  the  sea-board  town,  A 
family  of  Goldsmiths  living  in  Tynemouth  probably  practised  the  art  that 
named  them.  In  1333  a  commission  of  oyer  and  terminer  was  issued  upon 
the  complaint  of  Robert  Jouyn,  Robert  de  Chastelon,  and  their  fellows, 
merchants  of  Montivilliers  in  Normandy,  that  certain  merchants  of  Hull, 
Raven-ness,  Lynn,  and  Yarmouth,  had  entered  their  ship,  the  Saint  Martin, 
when  stranded  near  Tynemouth,  assaulted  the  mariners  and  carried  away 
the  cargo. ^  Wrecks  were  frequent  on  the  shoals  of  the  un-buoyed  and  un- 
charted Tyne.  Where  there  were  survivors,  the  prior  bought  up  the 
wreck,*  and,  where  there  were  none,  he  seized  it  as  lord  of  the  manor. 

The  destruction  of  Hexham  priory  by  the  Scots  in  1296  came  as  the 
first  intimation  of  the  storm  that  threatened  every  quarter  of  the  county, 
and  drove  the  inhabitants  of  Tynemouth  to  take  shelter  within  the  newly 
fortified  castle.^  In  131 5  a  Scottish  army  advanced  to  the  very  walls  of  the 
priory,  destroying  the  prior's  coal-workings  at  Harden  and  maliciously 
setting  fire  to  Sir  Walter  de  Selby's  house  in  Tynemouth."  A  year  or  two 
later,  Gilbert  de  Middleton  occupied  the  town,  and  kept  the  monks  closely 
besieged.'  Evidence  of  these  attacks  is  to  be  found  in  a  survey  of  Tyne- 
mouth taken  in    1336.* 

'  Assize  Rolls,  P.R.O.  No.  1517,  111,  40  d.  In  1407-1408  William  de  ll.-iliwell  and  Aynes  liis  wife  sold 
their  land  in  Tynemouth,  Preston,  East  and  Middle  Chirton,  and  Milneton,  to  Robert  Hornsee  of  North 
Shields  for  100  marks.  Fed  0/  Fines,  9  Henry  IV.  No.  5.  It  comprised  seven  messuages  and  forty 
acres,  an  estimate  which  helps  to  identify  it  with  the  lands  held  at  the  dissolution  by  the  Uacres  of 
Gilsland,  and  subsequently  by  the  Howards  of  Carlisle. 

■-•  Brand,  Netvcastk,  vol.  ii.  p.  572.  '  Cal.  Pat.  Rolls,  1330-1334,  p.  445. 

'  The  Tynemouth  Chartulary  (fol.  163)  contains  three  such  agreements  drawn  up  on  March  27th,  1332, 
between  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  and  the  masters  of  wrecked  vessels.  A  single  example  suffices  to  show 
their  nature  :  Pateat  univcrsis  i)er  presentes  quod  ego,  Petrus  Grif  de  Whitsand,  nauta  et  dominus  cujus- 
dam  navis  de  Whitsand  vocate  navis  sancti  Johannis,  fracte  tempestate  maris  in  niari  apud  Tynemuth, 
die  veneris  proximo  post  festum  annunciacionis  beate  Marie,  anno  regni  Edwardi  tercii  sexto,  pro 
quadam  sunima  pecuniae  mihi  pre  manibus  soluta,  vendidi  priori  et  conventui  de  Tynemuth  omnimodum 
maeremium  proveniens  de  predicta  navi,  cum  anchoris,  velo,  et  omnibus  cordibus  et  omnibus  aliis  uten- 
sihbus,  appendiciis,  et  omnibus  aliis  rebus  quocumque  nomine  nominantur  [?],  mihi  et  predicte  navi 
pertinentibus  seu  inde  aliquo  modo  provenientibus,  ad  quorumcumque  manus  devenerint  et  ubicumque 
invenianlur,  etc.  Quibus  sigillum  meum  est  appositum,  cum  sigillo  Willelmi  Hering,  Johannis  de  Grete- 
vill,  et  Johannis  de  .■\inewyk,  burgensis  ville  Novi  Castri  super  Tynam.  Datum  apud  Tynemuth,  die  et 
anno  supradictis.  s  gee  above,  p.  83.      «  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  168,  12  ;  see  also  above,  p.  86. 

'  See  above,  p.  87.  "  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  1 1-24. 


TYNEMOUTH  TOWNSHIP.  255 

The  town  then  consisted  of  four  long  streets  running  east  and  west, 
carried  at  one  end  up  to  the  priory  gate.  There  were  117  houses  in  the 
town,  having  most  of  them  plots  of  land  attached.  On  the  north  side  was 
the  vicarage,  in  which  John  of  Tynemouth  may,  a  few  years  previously, 
have  projected  or  composed  his  Golden  History  and  his  collection  of  the 
lives  of  English  saints.  The  total  rental  of  the  town  was  /'6  9s.  lod. 
The  majority  of  the  houses  were  hereditable  and  capable  of  alienation,  but 
some  were  the  freehold  of  the  prior  and  convent,  by  whom  they  were 
leased  for  life  or  for  a  term  of  years.  As  the  survey  is  too  long  for 
quotation,  a  few  extracts  from  it  must  suffice  to  show  its  character : 

Farms,  rents,  customs  and  services  of  the  house  of  Tynemouth,  written  in  the  month  of  .March, 
A.D.  1336. 

In  the  first  place  there  is  a  plot  (placea)  of  waste  ground  next  to  the  gate  of  Tynemouth  priory,  on 
the  south  side.  When  it  was  built  upon,  it  used  to  pay  is.  Sd.  per  annum  ;  but,  when  the  houses  built 
upon  this  plot  had  been  pulled  down  by  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  and,  as  need  was,  demolished,  that 
the  shavaldores  and  other  barons  in  time  of  war  and  shavaldry  might  not  be  received  and  hidden 
in  the  said  houses,  to  the  destruction  and  capture  of  Tynemouth  priory,  then  Robert  de  Slikbome 
surrendered  this  plot  to  the  said  prior  ;  but  up  to  now  it  lies  waste  in  the  prior's  hand  and  pays 
nothing.  Memorandum  that  the  aforesaid  houses  were  built  on  different  plots,  namely,  on  a  plot 
which   Nicholas  del   Hay  once  held,  and  on  another  plot  which  Alice  de  Thorkelawe  once  held. 

*  *  *  * 

Item,  William  Alcok  had  a  plot,  and  Geoffrey  Alcok  had  another  plot,  which  they  sold  to  Richard 
Strangale,  who  built  a  house  upon  them,  paying  is.  6d.  rent.  But  when  the  house  had  been  pulled 
down  by  the  prior,  like  Robert  de  Slikborn's  houses,  Richard  surrendered  the  said  plot  to  the  prior 
for  a  sum  of  money  in  which  he  was  bound  to  the  prior.  William  .-Mcok  had  nine  acres  of  land 
in  Tynemouth  field,  of  which  the  almoner  bought  four,  and  he  now  holds  them  and  pays  Sd.  rent  ; 
and  the  remainder  are  in  the  hands  of  divers  tenants,  who  pay  lod.  rent  for  them.     This  is  one  of 

the  lands  of  the  fifteen. 

*  *  *  * 

Item,  there  is  another  plot,  on  which  was  a  house  burned  by  the  Scots.  Sir  Waller  de  Selby 
now  holds  it.     It  used  to  pay  is.  rent. 

Item,  there  is  standing  a  messuage  which  belonged  to  Robert  de  Whiteley,  and  he  gave  it  to 
Nicholas  le  Granger  and  to  Alice  his  wife,  in  perpetuity.  .Afterwards  John  Defte  acquired  it  from 
them  and  paid   is.  rent.     .Afterwards  the  said  John  gave  it  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  in  perpetuity. 

*  «  «  • 

Item,  John  de  Tewyng  holds  for  a  term  of  years  a  messuage  which  belonged  to  John  Shephird, 
and  now  it  belongs  to  Emma  Shephird,  sister  of  the  said  John  Shephird,  whom  John  Fesefoul  of 
Wylam,  the  prior's  serf,  married.     [  ]  acres  of  land  in  Tynemouth  field  belong  to  it  and  are  in 

the  hands  of  diverse  tenants.     It  is  one  of  the  lands  of  the  fifteen. 

*  •  •  • 

John  de  Stiford,  who  married  Agnes,  daughter  of  Laurence  le  Lader,  holds  and  has  a  third  part 
of  a  tenement  formerly  belonging  to  Gilbert  Baldwyne.  He  pays  id.  rent  and  2d.  for  a  third  part  of 
a  croft-land  let  to  Robert  de   Hertlawe  for  life  while  he  was  still  alive. 

Item,  Simon  Mazon  holds  two  parts  of  the  last-mentioned  messuage,  and  pays  3s.  4d.  rent  for 
these  two  parts  and  for  land  in  Tynemouth  field  in  the  hands  of  diverse  tenants  ;  and,  as  the  land 
is  in  the  hands  of  diverse  tenants,  Roger  le  ToUere,  who  is  one  of  these  tenants,  is  assigned  by  the 
other  tenants  to  collect  and  levy  the  said  sum  and  to  pay  it  to  the  prior's  bailiff. 


256  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Item,  the  said  Simon  holds  a  piece  of  the  prior's  croft  on  the  south  side  of  the  town  of  Tynemoiith, 
which  Richard,  prior  of  Tynemoiith,  leased  to  Robert  de  Hertlawe  without  writing  and  without  enroUe- 
ment,  for  the  term  of  the  said  Robert's  hfe,  at  4d.  per  annum.  Though  Robert  is  now  dead,  the  prior 
allows  the  said  Simon  to  hold  the  plot  at  the  aforesaid  rent. 

*  •  «  * 

Item,  John,  son  of  John  dc  Horsloy,  who  married  a  daughter  of  William  Russel  of  Dissington, 
and  Richard  le  Myrie,  who  married  his  otlier  daughter,  hold  a  toft  upon  which  they  intended  to 
build,  paying  id.  rent ;   but  it  now  lies  waste. 

*  *  *  « 

Item,  Ranulph  le  Taillour  holds  a  messuage  with  land  in  the  field  which  belonged  to  Geofl'rey 
Dabbere,  and  pays  3s.  rent.  Ranulph  gives  yearly,  on  St.  Michael's  Day,  fd.  for  '  Hertnes-penies' ; 
and  he  is  one  of  the  fifteen,  and  pays  2d.  for  having  ingress  and  egress  to  and  from  his  grange  at 
the  head  of  the  town  of  Tynemouth  on  the  south. 

*  •  *  * 

Item,  William,  son  of  Robert,  son  of  William,  holds  by  inheritance  a  messuage  with  land  in  the  field, 

and  pays  4d.  rent. 

*  •  *  • 

Item,  from  the  house  which,  with  land  in  the  field,  belonged  to  William  le  Sclatere,  2s.  2d.  The 
said  William  conferred  this  house  on  the  prior  and  convent  to  the  use  of  the  chapel  of  St.  Mary. 

*  *  *  * 

Here  ends  the  South-Rawe  and  the  Cauce  begins. 

*  *  «  * 

Here  ends  the  Cauce,  and  the  South  Middle  Rawe  begins  at  the  west  end  of  the  town  of  Tynemouth. 

There  is  a  plot  in  the  prior's  hand  which  Roger  Gray  once  held  ;  it  was  once  built  upon  and  used  to 
pay  IS.  rent.  Item,  there  is  another  plot  in  the  prior's  hand,  which  Nicholas  the  goldsmith  once  held, 
and  it  used  to  pay  is.  rent.  Item,  there  is  another  plot  in  the  prior's  hand  which  Gilbert  Rape  once  held  ; 
it  used  to  pay  2s.  3d.  and  now  is  let  out  at  the  prior's  will  for  6d.  rent. 

Item,  William,  son  of  Roger  Mazon,  holds  a  plot,  which  William  de  Bebeset  once  held.  Walter 
Mazon  bought  the  plot  from  the  daughter  and  heir  of  William  de  Bebeset.     It  pays  2d.  rent. 

John  de  Slikborn,  who  inarried  the  daughter  of  Ralph  le  Barkere,  the  prior's  serf,  holds  a  messuage 
and  an  acre  of  land  in  Tynemouth  field  on  the  south  side  of  the  town  of  Preston,  both  once  held  by  the 
said  Ralph  ;  he  pays  3s.  rent. 

Item,  Alice  de  Whitelcy  holds  of  the  prior  for  a  term  of  years  a  messuage  which  belonged  to  Walter 
Crok.  Upon  Walter  Crok's  death,  his  son  and  heir  surrendered  this  tenement  to  the  prior.  It  used  to 
pay  3s.  rent  and  two  days'  work  in  the  autumn. 

*  *  #  * 

Item,  John,  son  of  John  de  Horton,  holds  a  messuage  and  land  in  Tynemouth  field  which  formerly 
belonged  to  John  de  Redyng,  and  pays  2s.  8d.  rent.  He  is  one  of  the  fifteen.  William  Bacon,  who 
married  Maud,  daughter  and  heir  of  John  de  Redyng,  holds  a  third  part  of  the  said  messuage  and 
land  ;   and  they  two  pay  Jd.  at  Michaelmas  for  '  Hertnes-penyes.' 

«  •  *  • 

Item,  there  is  a  plot  in  the  prior's  hand  which  belonged  to  Robert  de  Slikborn.  This  Robert 
surrendered  it  to  the  prior.  It  used  to  pay  yd.  rent.  The  prior  assigned  it  to  the  new  chapel  of 
St.  Mary,  reserving  to  himself  the  rent  of  yd. 

*  *  *  * 

Item,  Christiana,  widow  of  William  de  Neuborn  holds  a  messuage  which  her  husband  once  held, 
and  pays  a  third  of  the  rent  to  the  refectorar,  and  6d.  as  new  rent  to  the  prior.  It  is  not  known  whether 
it  was  leased  for  a  life-term,  therefore  let  inquiry  be  made. 

*  *  •  * 

Matilda,  widow  of  John  Litel,  holds  a  messuage  leased  to  her  for  the  term  of  her  life,  and  pays  6d. 
rent ;  but  Prior  Richard  de  Tewyng  has  remitted  her  the  rent  so  long  as  he  shall  have  the  care  of  the 
monastery. 


TYNF.MOUTH    TOWNSHir. 


257 


Heie  ends  the  South  Midel  Rawe,  and  the  North  Midel  Rawe  begins. 

Simon  Sutor  held  a  messuage  next  to  the  gate  of  Tynemouth  priory,  on  the  north  side,  which  used 
to  pay  twelve  horse-shoes  and  nails  for  the  same.  It  has  now  been  wholly  pulled  down  and  can  never 
be  rebuilt,  because  of  the  new  part  of  the  priory. 

*  *  *  • 

Gilbert  de  Whiteley  holds  a  messuage  which  he  bought  from  John  Stobbard.  It  once  belonged  to 
William  de  Chirtone.  He  pays  nothing  to  the  prior  except  [  ]  days'  work  in  autumn,  because  William, 
son  of  Robert  son  of  William,  pays  8s.  4d.  rent  for  that  tenement  and  for  otliers  which  he  holds  in 
Tynemouth. 

*  *  *  » 

Roger  Walys  holds  a  messuage  of  the  prior  for  a  term  of  years,  and  pays  2s.  6d.  rent.  The  lane  on 
the  west  side  of  this  messuage  is  the  prior's  severalty,  and  none  but  the  prior  and  his  successors  have 
right  of  way. 

*  *  »  « 

The  warden  of  the  chapel  of  the  blessed  Mary  holds  a  messuage  which  Roger  Tumour  once  held, 

and  pays  6d.  rent. 

*  *  *  * 

Here  ends  the  North  Midel  Rawe,  and  the  North  Rawe  begins. 

*  *  •  * 

William  de  Copon,  the  prior's  chief  carter,  holds  a  cottage  which  William  de  Stiklawe  once  held, 

and  pays  6d.  rent. 

*  *  •  * 

John  Clerk  of  Slides  holds  a  plot  upon  which  part  of  the  vicarage  has  been  built,  and  pays  4d.  rent. 

*  #  *  * 

In  this  survey  the  fifteen  tenants  are  again  prominent.  Before  the 
close  of  the  century  one  of  their  lands  had  been  acquired  by  the  chamber- 
lain. Four  had  fallen  out  of  the  economic  system,  being  two  of  tluin 
farmed  out  for  three  quarters  of  barley-malt  yearly,  and  two  for  si.\  bowls 
of  barley-malt.'  Ten  holdings  were  left,  and  it  was  at  ten  'farms'  that 
the  township  came  to  be  assessed  for  church  rates. 

From  time  to  time  the  prior  and  convent  added  new  lands  to  their 
demesne.  Besides  land  of  unspecified  amount  acquired  in  1345,  1348,  1354, 
1380,  and  1392,  they  had  royal  licence  to  receive  the  following  parcels 
of  property  in  the  course  of  the  fourteenth  century  : 

Kxtent  of  Property.  Grantor.  Date. 

4  acres  William,  son  of  .Man  le  Machun 1307 

I   acre  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  Adam  le  Vacher        ...         ...  „ 

I  acre  ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  William  de  Kenneslawe      ...         „ 

1  messuage     ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  John  Deste     ...         ...         ...         1337 

3  tofts  and   14  acres  ...         ...         ...         ...  John  de  Whetclcy  and  .-Man  Whitheved  ...  1360- 

2  tofts  and   10  acres  ."Man  Whitheved        „     ' 

I   messuage,  i  acre,  and  a  yearly  rent  of  3s.  from  Thomas  de  Walton  and  .Man  Whitheved  1392 

a  tenement 

'  Tyneinouih  Chartulnry,  fol.  71  b. 

-  Ibid.  fol.  1 10  b.  Deed  dated  at  Tynemouth,  June  loth,  1360.  Hiis  testibus,  Willehno  de  la  \'ale, 
Gilberto  de  Whitley,  Roberto  de  Tewing,  Johannc  de  Murton,  .\dam  Fauconer,  Willehno  del  Kylne, 
Roberto  tuib,  Johaiine  Clerk,  Johanne  de  Thorntcin,  Wdlelmo  de  Heppescotes,  et  aliis. 

'  Ibid.  fol.  1 1 1  b.  Deed  dated  at  Tynemouth,  June  3id,  1360,  in  the  presence  of  the  same  set  of 
witnesses  (except  Fauconer). 

Vol.  VIII.  33 


258  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

There  were  several  small  freeholds  in  the  township,  owing  fee  farm 
rents  to  the  prior  but  subject  to  no  customary  service.  One  of  these  was 
the  property  of  the  Savages,  to  whom  allusion  has  been  made  above.  Two 
series  of  charters  illustrate  the  descent  of  other  estates.'  Gilbert  Wilkinson, 
son  of  William  Robinson  of  Tynemouth,  who  held  one  of  these  freeholds 
in  the  second  part  of  the  fourteenth  century,  was  chaplain  of  the  Greystoke 
chantry  in  the  priory  church."  His  sister  Agnes  married  William  de  Hepes- 
cotes  of  Hepscot  near  Morpeth.'  He  entailed  his  property  upon  a  nephew, 
Gilbert  Webster,''  who  in  1413  parted  with  it  to  Robert  de  Harbottle  of 
Preston.'  A  younger  branch  of  the  Harbottle  family  appears  to  have 
settled  at  Tynemouth  and  to  have  held  land  here  until  the  year  1579." 
The   second  series  relate    to    land    in    Tynemouth,   Preston,  and   East   and 

'  See  Appendix  II.  '  See  p.  85,  note  i. 

^  Hec  indentura  testatur  quod  Gilbertus  de  Tineimith  capellanus  concessit  at  ad  feodi  firniain 
dimisit  Agneti  relicte  Willelmi  de  Episcotys  sorori  sue  unam  partem  tenementi  sui  in  villa  de  Tinemulh 
ex  parte  australi  dicte  ville,  in  latitudine  inter  tenementum  Willelmi  de  Seton  ex  parte  occidentali  et 
tenementum  Koberti  Savage  ex  parte  orientali,  scilicet  aulam  cum  selario  et  solario  ex  parte  occidentali 
dicte  aule,  duo  selaria  ex  parte  orientali  dicte  aule,  et  ununi  gardinum  modicum  intra  aulam  et  grangium, 
cum  una  domo  pistri[n]e  et  brascine,  cum  libero  introitu  et  exitu  dicto  Gilberto  capellano  ad  alias  domus 
suas  congruis  temporibus  pro  suo  com[m]odo  faciendo  in  aliis  partibus  dicti  tenementi  sui,  habendam  et 
tenendam,  etc.,  usque  ad  terminum  vite  dicte  Agnetis,  reddendo  inde  annuatim  pro  primis  tresdecim 
annis  unam  rosam  in  festo  nativitatis  sancti  Johannis  Baptiste  si  petatur,  et  post  tresdecim  annos,  etc., 
reddet  decem  solidos  argenti  ad  duos  anni  terminos,  etc.     Hiis  testibus,  Alano  Whitcheved  perpetuo 

vicario  de  Tencmuth,  Roberto  de  Fenrother,  Willelmo  de  Chevington,  Willelmo ,  Roberto  de 

Bynham,  Willelmo  del   Kylne,  et  aliis.     Data  apud  villam  de  Tinemuth  in  festo  pentecoste  A.D.  1 381. 
Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Hec  carta  indentata  testatur  quod  Willelmus  de  Heppiscotes  dedit,  etc.,  Gilberto  de  Tynemouth 
omnia  terras  et  tenementa  sua,  etc.,  que  idem  Willelmus  nuper  habuit  ex  dono  et  feofamento  predicti 
Gilberti  in  villis  et  territoriis  de  Tynemuth  et  Preston,  habenda  et  tenenda,  etc.,  predicto  Gilberto  ad 
totam  vitam  ipsius  Gilberti,  etc.,  ita  quod  post  monem  predicti  Gilberti  omnia  predicta  terre  et  tenementa, 
etc.,  integre  remaneant  Agncti  sorori  ejusdem  Gilberti  tenenda  sibi  et  heredibus  de  corpore  suo,  etc.,  et 
si  contingat  quod  predicta  .Agnes  obierit  sine  heiede,  etc.,  quod  tunc  omnia  terre  et  tenementa,  etc., 
remaneant  Gilberto  filio  Petri  Webster  et  heredibus,  etc.,  et  si  contingat  quod  predictus  Gilbertus  obierit 
sine  herede,  etc.,  tunc  omnia  terre  et  tenementa,  etc.,  remaneant  heredibus  Gilberti  de  Tynemuth,  etc. 
Hiis  testibus  Johanne  de  Murton,  Willelmo  de  Kylne,  Roberto  Gubbe,  Willelmo  liacon,  Johanne  Clerk, 
Johanne  de  Preston,  Roberto  Maymond,  Johanne  de  Thornton,  et  aliis.  Datum  apud  Tynemoutli  die 
dominice  proximo  ante  festum  Sancti  Georgii,  A.D.  1363.  Seal  :  an  old  man  in  dress  of  the  period :  in 
front  of  him  a  shield  charj^cd  with  a  chevron  engrailed,  two  crescents  in  chief.    S.  will.  DE  HEPPISCOTIS.    Ibid. 

*  November  20th,  1413.  Gilbert  de  Tynemouth,  alius  Gilbert,  son  of  Peter  Webster,  gives  power  of 
attorney  to  John  Wilkynson  and  William  Davy  of  Tynemouth  to  give  seisin  to  Robert  de  Harbotell  of  all 
his  lands  and  tenements  in  Tynemouth  and  Preston.     Dodsworth  MSS.  vol.  xxxii.  fol.  123. 

'  In  '477  John  Harbottle  of  Tynemouth  sold  a  house  in  Framvvellgate,  in  the  city  of  Durham  {Arch. 
Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  ii.  p.  31).  He  is  perhaps  to  be  identified  with  John  Harbottle  of  Swarland,  who 
appears  in  1466  as  a  trustee  for  his  kinsman,  Bertram  Harbottle  of  Preston.  Compare  the  charters 
dated  respectively  January  20th,  1465/6,  and  June  1st,  1478,  given  in  Hist.  MSS.  Cum.  nth  report, 
appendix,  pt.  vii.  p.  73.  He  died  August  27th,  1485,  seised  of  the  manor  of  Bekley  Hall  and  other  lands 
in  the  county  of  Durham.  John  Harbottle,  aged  eighteen  years,  was  found  his  son  and  heir.  Deputy 
Keeper's  Reports,  vol.  xliv.  p.  413.  On  November  2nd,  1492,  John  Harbottle,  junior,  released  to 
Sir  Ralph  Harbottle  of  Preston  all  interest,  under  a  settlement  made  in  1466,  to  lands  in  Yorkshire, 
Nottmghamshire,  and  Suffolk,  late  the  inheritance  of  Bertram  Harbottle.  Dodsworth  MSS.  vol.  xxxix. 
fol.  108.  He  died  circa  1524  (inquisition  taken  October  17th,  1524),  leaving  a  son  and  heir,  John 
Harbottle,  aged  thirty.  Deputy  Keeper's  Reports,  vol.  xliv.  p.  420.  For  further  information  as  to  cadets 
of  the  Harbottle  family,  see  vol.  li.  of  this  work,  pp.  324-326,  and  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  p.  223. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP.  259 

Middle  Chirton  held  by  John  de  Tewing  (i 333-1 350.  and  afterwards  by 
John  Horsley  of  Shields.  John  Horsley  of  Kichinond,  goldsmith,  son  of 
the  latter,  and  his  kinsman  Thomas  Horsley  of  Benwell,'  conveved  their 
land  in  1426  to  John  Cartington.  A  deed  dated  December  i6th,  1445, 
records  a  grant  made  by  Cartington  of  a  yearly  rent  of  6d.  for  the  main- 
tenance of  a  light  before  the  high  altar  of  the  priorv  church."  His  estates 
descended  to  the  Radcliffes  of  Dilston. 

The  Spital  demesne  was  attached  to  the  little-known  hospital  of  St. 
Leonard.  Allusion  is  made  in  an  assize-roll  of  1293  to  the  bridge  by 
St.  Leonard's  hospital,  a  precursor  of  the  modern  Spital  dene  bridge. 
There  was  at  that  time  no  other  passage  across  the  Pow  burn,  for  the 
present  Tynemouth  road  to  Newcastle  stopped  short  at  Tynemouth  mill, 
turning  south  from  that  point  down  the  eastern  side  of  the  dene.''  On  the 
farther  side  of  the  bridge,  between  two  branches  of  the  burn,  the  foundations 
of  a  medieval  building  were  discovered  in  1885,  though  the  excavations 
were  not  carried  far  enough  to  disclose  its  plan.  The  building  appears  to 
have  been  of  a  considerable  size.  Its  chambers  were  paved  with  stone, 
and  the  few  mouldings  that  remained  were  of  an  Early  English  character. 
Some  fragments  of  flowing  window-tracery,  the  base  of  a  cross,  and  the 
matrix  of  a  brass,  were  also  found  on  the  spot. 

The  matrix  is  a  plain  limestone  slab,  measuring  5  feet  9  inches  in 
length   by   2  feet   7    inches   in    breadth.*     It    has   contained   the   brass  of  a 

'  In  1432/3  Thomas  Horsley  of  Benwell  had  pardon  of  outlawry  from  the  bishop  of  Durham. 
Deputy  Keeper's  Reports,  vol.  .\xxiv.  p.  137. 

■  Omnibus  Christi  fidelibus  ad  quos  presens  scriptum  indentatum  per\enerit,  Johannes  Cartyngton 
de  Cartyngton  salutem  in  domino.  Noveritis  me,  prcfatum  Johannem,  dedisse,  etc.,  Ueo  et  ecclesie 
sancti  (Jswini  de  Tynemouth  ac  sacriste  ejusdem  ecclesie  pro  tempore  existenti,  in  purani  et  perpetuam 
elemosinam,  pro  salute  aninie  mee  et  animarum  antecessorum  et  successorum  meorum,  ad  susten- 
tacionem  luminaris  coram  summo  altari  ejusdem  ecclesie  circa  corpus  Christi  ibidem  ardentis,  quendam 
annualem  redditum  sex  denariorum  argenti,  percipienduni  et  habendum  annuatim  de  tenemento  meo 
cum  suis  pertinenciis,  modo  in  tenura  Emmotc  liadby,  situato  in  le  Middelrawe  ville  de  Tynemouth, 
ad  finem  orientalem  ejusdem  Middelrawe,  videlicet  propinquiorem  caslro  de  Tynemouth,  prefato  sacriste 
pro  tempore  existenti  impcrpetuum,  ad  terminos  I'entecoste  et  sancti  .Martini  in  yeme  equis  porcionibus, 
etc.  Hiis  testibus,  Henrico  (iray,  ballivo  libertalis  de  Tynemouth,  Henrico  Lancastre,  constabul.irio 
castri  de  Tynemouth,  Johanne  Robynson,  Willehiio  Peresson,  Willelnio  White,  et  aliis.  Datum  apud 
Tynemouth  predictum,  sextodecimo  die  Decembris,  anno  regni  regis  Henrici  sexti  vicesinio  sexto. 
Greenwich  Hospital  Deeds,  Bundle  100,  Tynemouth,  No.  2. 

^  John  Archer,  the  elder,  of  North  Shields,  by  will  dated  December  2nd,  1562,  left  40s.  for  the 
reparation  of  the  church  and  the  Pow  bridge  ;  Canon  Raines  collections  from  Durham  I'robate  Registry. 
.At  quarter  sessions  held  at  Michaelmas,  17 18,  it  was  ordered  that  the  bridge  called  the  -Spittle  bridge, 
leading  from  Tynemouth  to  Klatworth  in  the  parish  of  Tynemouth,  should  be  repaired  by  the  said 
parish.  Sessions  Order  Books,  vol.  v.  p.  444.  Evidence  of  the  track  down  from  the  mill  to  the  river  at 
Low  Lights  is  to  be  found  in  a  charter  dated  July  isl,  1331,  by  which  John  de  Horion  granted  10  the 
prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth  a  right-of-way  over  his  land  'que  jacet  in  longitudine  in  le  Pol-side, 
ex  parte  orientali  del  Spitel-den.'     Tynemouth  Chartulory,  fol.  91  ;  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  143. 

'  This  matrix  is  figured  in  Arch.  A  el.  2nd  series,  vol.  xxv.  p.  131. 


26o  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

lavnian  and  liis  wife,  connected  by  an  inscription-fillet.  Below  the  two 
principal  figures  are  live  smaller  indents  for  the  brasses  of  their  daughter 
and  four  sons.  The  male  figures  stood  on  mounds,  and  seem  to  have  worn 
long  tunics  with  loose  sleeves.  The  lady  and  her  daughter  had  similar 
costumes  ;  their  hair  is  curled  at  the  side,  and  each  of  them  had  a  head- 
dress covered  by  a  kerchief.  A  date  between  1400  and  1420  may  be 
assigned  for  the  execution  of  the  work.  Though  the  slab  is  not  in  sitii^ 
there  can  be  no  dcnibt  that  interments  were  made  upon  the  spot.  Two 
stone  coffins  were  unearthed  in  the  course  of  the  excavations.  In  the 
si.xteenth  century  the  priory  church  and  the  Spital  appear  to  have  been 
alternative  burial-grounds,  for,  in  1603,  William  Milbank  of  North  Shields 
left  his  body  to  be  buried  at  either  of  these  two  places  at  the  discretion 
of  his  executors.'  Many  persons  were  buried  here  during  the  Civil  War, 
when  access  to  the  parish  church  was  restricted.  The  latest  date  of  an 
interment  at  the  Spital  is  January  6th,    1707/8.^ 

The  endowment  of  the  hospital  was  small.  It  contributed  6s.  8d.  to 
the  subsidy  of  a  fifteenth  imposed  in  13 14.'  In  a  terrier  of  1649  the  extent 
of  the  hospital  demesne  is  given  as  13  acres,  3  roods,  5  perches,  lying  in 
forty-six  rigs  and  various  corners  of  land  in  Tynemouth  and  Preston,  as 
well  as  certain  lands  in  Chirton.^  There  is  no  record  of  the  character  of 
this  foundation.  Probably  it  was  dependent  upon  the  priory,  though  certain 
facts  suggest  a  connection  with  the  Benedictine  nunnery  of  St.  Bartholomew 
in  Newcastle.  Prior  Germanus  {circa  1141)  granted  to  the  nuns  of  St. 
Bartholomew  an  annual  dole  of  eight  quarters  of  wheat  out  of  his  granarv;^ 
the  prioress  of  St.  Bartholomew  held  or  claimed  to  hold  propertv  in 
Tynemouth  in  1293  and  again  in  1326/7  ;'^  and  a  contemporary  list  of 
monasteries  suppressed  in  1536,  as  having  incomes  under  ^200  per  annum, 
contains  the  name  of  the  nuns  of  Tynemouth.' 

During  the  fourteenth  century  the  town  increased  in  size  and  import- 
ance, and    on   several   occasions   furnished   its  contingent   of  vessels   to   the 

'  R.Tine,  Test.  Ebor. 

-  See  also  Mr.  H.  .\.  Adamson's  account  of  the  hospital  in  Proc.  Soc.  Ant.  NcK'custU,  2nd  series, 
vol.  iii.  p.  35-36. 

'  Reg.  Pill.  Dun.  Rolls  .Series,  vol.  i.  p.  499.  '  Arch.  Ad.  2nd  series,  vol.  xii.  pp.  173-174. 

'  Augmentation  Office,  Cartac  Antiquae,  B.  Si  ;  Br.and,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  82. 

'  Assize  Roll,  21  Edw.  I. ;  Pat.  Rolls,  20  Edw.  II.  m.  29  d. 

■  Letters  and  Papers,  Henry  VIII.  vol.  x.  p.  516. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


261 


royal  navy  during  the  Scottish  wars.  Though  never  formally  constituted 
a  borough  it  acquired  something  of  a  corporate  character.  A  royal  writ, 
requiring  the  favourable  treatment  of  Flemings,  was  addressed  on  April 
15th,  1325,  to  the  bailiffs  and  communitas  of  the  town;'  and  on  December 
13th,  1326,  the  bailiffs  were  commanded  to  send  three  or  four  men  to  an 
informal  parliament  at  Norwich,  to  treat  of  aff"airs  concerning  the  naval 
defence  of  the  realm.^  The  prior's  rental  nearly  doubled,  amounting  in 
1377  to  £<^  I2S.  4|d.  ;•''  but  twelve  years  later  the  town  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  a  Scottish  invasion,^  a  disaster  from  which  it  failed  to  recover. 

On  January  12th,  1539,  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth  sur- 
rendered their  monastery  and  all  their  possessions  to  the  Crown.  The 
site  of  the  monastery  and  various  lands  and  revenues  formerly  belonging 
to  it  were  leased  on  March  9th  following  for  twenty-one  years  to  Sir 
Thomas  Hilton.     The  demesne  or  home  farm  passed  under  this  grant,  and 


is  described  as  containing 


Rent. 


Description. 

Character. 

Acreage. 

i 

s. 

d. 

New  Close  or  Broke  Close 

...     pasture    ... 

•••      30 

'3 

4 

Preston  Park          

...     meadow  ... 

•-       15      

I 

'3 

4 

New  Park 

...     pasture    ... 

•■•      30      

T 

'3 

4 

Heugh  Close           

...     pasture    ... 

•■•       4     

o 

lO 

o 

Land  in  the  common  fields 

...     arable 

...     2S6 

4 

'5 

4 

Land  in  West  Spytell  Uean 

...     arable 

...     20   selions   and  6  , 

butts    ... 

o 

2 

1 

Land  in  the  Lord's  NLirsh 

...     pasture    ... 

...     6  acres        ...          ' 

The  Spytel  House 

— 

■••     4       

The  Spytel  Close 

...     arable 

o 

ID 

o 

Land  in  the  fields  there    ... 

...     arable 

...     4       ' 

Pinfold  Garth         

pasture    ... 

-> 

o 

4 

o 

Hilton  also  received  the  '  day's  work  in  harvest '  due  from  the  tenants 
and  inhabitants  of  the  town,  a  coal  mine  in  Tynemouth  worth  /.  2  6s.  8d. 
a  year,  and  the  windmill  called  Tynemouth  mill  and  the  water-mill  called 
Harden  mill,  both  in  the  tenure  of  Robert  Dove  and  John  Dove  and 
paying  ^^9  os.  8d.  rent  yearlv.' 

In  the  first  account  of  the  township  presented  after  the  suppression, 
covering  the  year  Michaelmas  1538  to  Michaelmas  1539,  Hilton  accounted 
for  rent  paid  for  the  lands  demised  to  him,  and  also  for  rents  of  free  tenants 
and  tenants  in  husbandry  and  rents  for  herbage. 

'  Cal.  Close  Rolls,  1323-1327,  p.  367. 

■  Rutiili  Scotiae,  vol.  i.  p.  475.    Writs  were  also  sent,  on  this  occasion,  to  Newbiggin  and  to  .\lnniouth. 

'  Tynemouth  Chtirtutiiry,  (oh.  51  band  58  b.     '  See  above,  p.  98.     *  Gibson,  r^'iK-Mnmr/i,  vol.  i.  pp.  216-217. 


262 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Rental  ok  Tvnkmouth,  1539. 

Free  rents.  The  heirs  of  Volensbyc  and  Henry  Madeson, /i  us.  ijd.  .Sir  Cuthbert  RattlifT,  knight, 
7s.  3Jd.  The  heirs  of  Christopher  Hell,  los.  104'd.  Sir  Thomas  Dacres,  kniyht,  lord  Dacres  of  C.illis- 
land,  9s.  lod.  The  heirs  of  Christopher  Welden,  2s.  Christopher  Mitforlh,  3s.  Thomas  Sheldon,  is. 
The  heirs  of  Midelton,  is.  3d.'  The  wardens  of  the  parish  church,  is.  Thomas  Watson,  3d.  Thomas 
Wydall,  8d.     Sir  Wigiott  Harbottell,  8s.  lod.     Thomas  Smith,  8d.     Total,  .£3  17s.  lod. 

Rents  of  farms  of  husliandry  and  cottages.  Edmund  Richardson,  £z  13s.  4d.  John  Sainebraine, 
£2  l6s.  8d.  William  llucheson,  £2  6s.  Sd.  Robert  Johnson  and  Thomas  .Michellson,  £2  13s.  4d. 
Robert  Doewaye,  £2  13s.  4d.      Thomas  Pate,  £\   los.     Thomas  Hall,  £\  2s.     Thomas  Dunne,   13s. 

Fulk  Acone,  13s.  4d.      John  Otway,  Ss Wydewe,  13s.  4d.     Anthony  Mitfurth,  13s.  4d.     John 

Tailour,  5s.  Robert  Shelton  for  a  cottage,  6s.  8d.  Margaret  Pate,  los.  Robert  Dove  for  a  garden,  6d. 
Fifteen  cottages,  ^^4.  Rent  for  Stonylawes  and  the  Towne  Merche,  paid  by  all  the  tenants,  £2  2%. 
Total,  £2b  OS.  6d. 

Rents  of  herbages."  Over  Spittell  Deane,  13s.  4d.  The  West  Lonynge,  is.  4d.  South 
Lonyngc,  8d.  Stobbe  Close,  2s.  Parke  Dike,  6d.  Dunstane  Garth,  is.  Well  Bancke,  is.  Nether 
Spittell  Deane,  l6s.  4d.  Spittell  Closse  Corner,  6s.  Sd.  Akehope  Hewgh,  3s.  4d.  Charte  Dick,  is. 
Skater  Deane,'  is.  4d.  Spittell  Brugge,  is.  5d.  A  parcel  of  land  on  the  left  side  of  the  Spittell,  is. 
A  parcell  of  land  in  North  Well,  is.  A  parcel  of  land  called  Nether  Marden,  in  the  tenure  of  Robert 
Shelton,  2s.     A  parcel  of  land  called  Upper  Marden,  2s.     Total,  £2  15s.  iid. 

Fines  on  assize  of  bread  and  ale,  due  from  the  tenants  of  the  town  by  ancient  custom  on  Christmas 
I^3y,  ^i  6s.  8d.  Pannage  or  take  of  swine  received  yearly  from  the  tenants  of  husbandry  in  the  town, 
namely  4d.  from  every  tenant,  payable  at  Martinmas,  3s.  4d. 

Sum  total,  ^34  4s.  3d.'' 

Further  particulars  regarding  the  various  freeholds  are  given  in  a  survey 
taken  in   1608.' 


TvNEMOUTH  Freeholds,  1608. 

Tenant.  Former  tenant.  Holding. 

Peter  Dclavale  ...       Sheldon Lands     

„  ...  Thomas  Smith  ...  „ 

„  ...  —  I  cottage  and  3  riggs  ... 

„  ...  —  2  tenements 


Rent.  Pannage.  Hall-corn. 

£     s.      d.  s.     d.  s.      d. 

...010  —  — 

...008  —  — 

...008  —  — 

nil  —  — 


William,  Lord  How-       (Lord     Dacre     of       i  messuage,  6  cottages,  and  40       099         04 
ard  Gilsland)  acres  in  the  fields,  and    i 

cottage    and    12    acres    in 
Preston 

Robert  Dowe'         ...       Christopher  Met-       i  cottage  and  2  acres 030  - 

forde 


'  This  land  was  formerly  the  property  of  Sir  Allan  de  Heton  of  Lowick,  who  died  in  1388,  and  passed 
to  the  Middleton  family  through  the  marriage  of  Margaret,  daughter  and  coheir  of  Sir  Henry  de  Heton, 
to  Thomas  Middleton  of  Silksworth  in  the  county  of  Durham.  See  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  .\xv. 
pp.  69,  77. 

-  The  herbages  are  also  described  as  '  land-ends  '  or  '  quillets '  of  demesne,  of  which  the  herbage  or 
eatage  was  farmed  by  all  the  tenants  of  the  township  acting  in  common. 

'  Skatter  or  Sl.atcr  Dean  is  identified  in  some  surveys  with  the  Dagger  Letch,  properly  Dacre's 
Letch,  a  runner  which  followed  the  course  of  Bedford  Street,  and  fell  into  the  Tyne  near  the  present 
Low  Dock  in  North  Shields. 

■•Gibson,  Tynemoiith,  vol.  i.  pp.  218-220;  Rcntiils  and  Surveys,  Augmentation  Office,  bundle  121, 
Northumberland,  30-31  Henry  VII L 

'  Land  Revenue,  Mtscell.  Books,  vol.  223,  fols.  281-282. 

»  Acquired  by  feet  of  fine,  Mich.  36  Eliz.  (1594}  from  Henry  Mitford  and  Barbara  his  wife. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


263 


TYNEMOUTH  FREEHOLDS,  1608  (continued). 


Tenant. 
Robert  Dowe  ' 

The  churchwardens 
Robert     Hehne     and 

Robert  Dowe " 
Peter  Delavale,  John 

Bowe,  and  James 

Robinson 
Roger  Morton 
Robert  Spereman  and 

Thomas  Otway 


Thomas  Otway 

Robert       Dowe      of 

Whitley 
Peter    Delavale    and 

Robert  Helme 


Former  tenant. 

Holdin;;. 

C 

Rent 
s. 

d. 

Pannage, 
s.      d. 

Halt-corn 
■  .    d. 

Ratcliffe 

t    messuage,    2    cottages,    34 
acres 

0 

10 

0 

0      4 

1     4 

(Churchwardens) 

I  cottage  and  garth 

0 

I 

0 

-- 

Ralph    Harbottle, 

I  messuage  and  18  acres 

0 

8 

10 

0      4 

— 

knt. 

(Heirs  of  Volens- 

I  messuage  and  9  cottages  in 

I 

II 

n 

0      4 

5    0 

bye  and  Henry 

Tynemouth,     Monkscaton 

Madeson) 

and  Murton 

(Thomas  Watson) 

I  waste  burgage  and  2  acres... 

0 

0 

3 

— 

— 

Bell         

I  messuage  and  6  cottages  in 

0 

10 

.oi 

0      2 

— 

Tynemouth,  1  cottage  in 
Preston,  and  32  acres  in 
the  fields  of  Tynemouth 
and  Preston 


Edward       Robin-        I  cottage  and  3  acres 

son' 
Symon  Welden . 


(Thomas  Wydall) 
Matthew  Welden 


2  cottages  and  i  acre 
2  cottages 


2  tenements  and  4  acres         ...      o     ;     o  —  — 

The  heirs  of  \'olensbye  hold  certain  lands  and  pay  yearly  1  quarter  of  malt,  rated  at  8s.  The  heirs 
of  Cuthbert  Ratclifife  hold  certain  lands,  and  pay  yearly  I  ounce  of  malt,  rated  at   is.      Sum  total, 

£5  IS.  2id. 

On  August  2nd,  1610,  Tynemouth  and  Marden  mills  were  granted  to 
Edward  Ferrers  and  Francis  Phillips  of  London,  to  hold  of  the  Crown 
in  free  socage  ■*  All  the  copyhold  lands  in  Tynemouth,  excepting  two 
tenements  formerly  in  the  tenure  of  Fulk  Aeon  and  ot  James  Uoune,  were 
similarly  granted  on  March  13th,  1623/4,  to  Henry,  ninth  earl  of  North- 
umberland.* Finally,  on  December  8th,  1631,  the  manor  and  town  of 
Tynemouth,  the  two  tenements  previously  excepted,  and  all  the  lands  and 

'  On  February  14th,  1559/60,  George  Radclitile  of  Dilston,  knight,  in  return  for  a  payment  of /|o, 
conveyed  to  Christopher  Mitford,  merchant  and  alderman  of  Newcastle,  his  tenement  and  cottage  in 
Tynemouth,  subject  to  a  perpetual  rent-charge  of  26s.  Sd.  Gnaiwicli  Hospital  Dciiis,  Bundle  100,  M, 
No.  I.  The  same  tenement  was  confirmed  by  Francis  RadclifTe  and  Edward,  his  son,  on  November  20th, 
1614,  to  Ralph  Dowe  of  Tjnemouth.     Ibid.  Nos.  2  and  3. 

-■  Acquired  by  feet  of  fine,  Mich.  21  Eliz.  (1579)  from  John  Harbottle. 

'  By  indenture  dated  June  12th,  1570,  Richard  Ruthall,  heir  and  representative  of  Thomas  Middlcton, 
granted  to  Edward  Robinson,  to  hold  at  the  will  of  the  lord  for  21  years  at  the  yearly  rent  of  5s.,  one 
cottage,  a  garth  containing  half  an  acre,  and  5  acres  of  arable  held  in  3  distinct  strips  in  the  north 
field  of  Tynemouth.  Robinson  was  also  to  have  common  of  pasture  in  the  common  fields  for  all  his 
beasts  without  stint  after  harvest  was  over.     Marquis  of  Waterford's  MSS. 

*  Piit.  Rolls,  4  Jas.  I.  The  two  mills  were  purchased  on  July  iSlh,  1659,  by  .Algernon,  tenth  earl  of 
Northumberland,  from  Catherine,  Lady  X'anlore,  alias  Pelhani.  Duke  of  Northumberland's  .M.S.S.  .-\ 
fee  farm  rent  of  £g  os.  8d.  reserved  upon  them  is  payable  to  the  Colston  almshouses  in  Bristol. 

'Pat.  Rolls,  21  Jas.  I.  pt.  5. 


264  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

rights  in  Tynemouth  leased  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton  in  1539  (reserving  the 
site  of  the  monastery)  were,  in  consideration  01^13,545  15s.  lod.  paid  into 
the  Exchequer  bv  Sir  William  Russel,  granted  to  William  Collins  and 
Edward  Fenn  of  London,  to  hold  in  free  socage  at  a  yearly  rent  of 
^45  14s.  7|d.'  Collins  and  Fenn,  on  the  21st  of  the  same  month,  conveyed 
their  estate  to  Henrv  Taylor  and  John  Melton,  who,  on  April  30th,  1637, 
transferred  it  to  Algernon,  tenth  earl  of  Northumberland."  In  this  way  all 
the  demesne  and  copyhold  land  within  the  township  became  vested  in  the 
Percy  family. 

Various  attempts,  not  at  first  successful,  were  made  to  induce  the 
tenants  to  come  to  an  agreement  for  the  division  of  the  common  fields. 
Whitehead  informed  the  earl  on  December   loth,    1602  : 

I  doe  presume  to  send  iinto  your  lordship  hereinclosed  an  agrement  of  the  tennants  and  frehoulders 
of  Tynemouth  under  ther  hands  for  the  division  of  Tynemouth,'  wherby  your  lordship  may  se  in  what 
forwardnes  it  was  brought  and  siidaynely  quasht,  by  what  meanes  I  knowe  not.  But  nowe  agayne  I 
have  revived  it  and  have  all  ther  consents  save  one  or  two  trooblesome  fellowes  that  ar  unwilling, 
because  they  make  a  pray  of  the  grasse  of  your  lordship's  demaynes,  which  is  and  wilbe  a  cause  of 
your  lordship's  disprofit  and  decay  of  the  rent  that  noHe  is  payed  for  the  demaynes.  The  reason  is 
that  all  ther  winter  grasse  which  should  releive  ther  goods  in  winter  befor  the  fyne  of  .September 
is  by  the  tennants  eaten  upe.' 

On  April  i8th,  1631,  the  freeholders  and  the  earl  came  to  terms  for 
the  appointment  of  two  surveyors  to  measure  out  and  divide  the  lands  of 
both  parties.  The  copyholders  were  persuaded  to  surrender  their  copies 
in  e.xchange  for  leases  of  seven  years  at  an  advanced  rent,  to  be  renewed 
so  as  to  make  up  the  term  to  twenty-one  years,  if  they  should,  within  the 
term  then  granted,  come  to  an  agreement  and  enclose.  A  terrier  was 
prepared  in  1649,  and  lands  were  allotted  to  the  several  tenants  in 
proportion  to  their  original  holdings,  in  spite  of  the  protest  of  certain 
freeholders,  who  feared  that  any  change  meant  increased  poverty,  stating 
that  '  about  7  years  since,  their  houses  have  bene  pulled  downe  to  their 
severall  damages  of  ^500  a  yeare,  the  burthen  of  cess  and  billet  soe  greate 
as  noe  man  hath  for  that  tyme  made  anything  of  all  his  estate.''  The  terrier 
is  valuable  in  setting  out  the  various  holdings  with  some  detail,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  following  abstract^  : 


't5 


'  Pat.  Rolls,  7  Chas.  I.  pt.  15.  -  Land  Revenue  Enrolments,  vol.  202,  fol.  I29d. 

^  Agreement  dated  .-Xpril  5th,  159S.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  » Ibid. 

'  The  terrier  has  been  printed  in  full,  with  explanatory  notes,  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson,  in  Arch.  Ael. 
2nd  series,  vol.  xii.  pp.  172-190. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


265 


Tenant. 
Lord  Howard     ... 

Robert  Otway 

Robert  Spearman 
John  Carruth  '    ... 

William  CoUinson " 

Robert  Dove      

John  Morton  of  Tynemouth    ... 
John  Morton  of  Willington 
George  Robinson  and  John  Bowes 


Freeholds,  1649. 

Number  of  strips. 

157  rigs,  I  headland,  7  butts,  and  1 

dale  of  meadow 

19  rigs  and  I  butt        

2ii  rigs 

59  rigs,  2  butts,  li  headlands,  and  a 

meadow  spot 
21  rigs,  2  butts,  and  2  headlands     ... 
88  rigs,  2  butts,  3  headlands,  and  i 

butt  of  meadow 

8  rigs     

3  rigs     

108  rigs,  2  butts,  and  4  headlands   ... 


Acreage. 

Area  allotted. 

a.      r. 

p- 

a. 

r.    p. 

48      2 

29 

50 

0     0 

6     1 

9 

6 

2      9 

6    2 

20 

6 

2    10 

20    2 

36 

20 

2   36 

8    2 

27 

8 

2    27 

28    2 

II 

29 

2    II 

4     3 

30 

4 

3  30 

I     0 

32 

I 

0  32 

33     1 

13 

33 

'   '3 

Leaseholds,  1649. 


Tenant. 

John  Bowe 
Katherine  Ogle 
Robert  Spearman 
John  Morton    ... 
Gilbert  Otway... 
Lieut.  (John)  Dove 
Robert  Otway ... 
William  Collinson 
John  Carruth   ... 
John  Morton    ... 
Richard  Pryor... 
John  Sutton 
Robert  Rotherford 


Holding. 

I  j  farms 
I  farm 

I  farm 
I  farm 
I  farm 
I  tenement 
Farm  lands 
I  markland 
I  markland 
I  markland 
Farm  lands 
Farm  lands 
Farm  lands 


Area  allotted, 
a.      r.    p. 

70      1    28 

40      I       I 

40 

40 

40 

12 

9 

7 
7 
7 


j' 

32 

32 

32 

35 

24 

28 


Tenant  in  1538.' 

Edmund  Richardson  and  Thomas  Pate. 

John  Sainebrain. 

William  Hutcheson. 

Robert  Johnson  and  Thomas  Michellson. 

Robert  Doeway. 

Thomas  Hall. 

John  Otway. 

Fulk  .-Vcon. 


Prior  to  the  division,  the  arable  lands  of  the  township  had  lain  in  three 
large  fields.  It  seems  that  the  middle  field  had  already  been  allotted  to 
the  earl  of  Northumberland,  farmer  of  the  demesne,  in  lieu  of  the  286 
acres  of  unenclosed  demesne  land.  The  north  field,  totalling  258  acres, 
and  the  south  field  having  an  area  of  188  acres,  were  now  divided 
among  the  freeholders  and  leaseholders.  With  certain  exceptions,  the 
whole    of  the    south    field,   south    of  the    Spital    dene    road,    went    to    the 

'  John  Carruth  purchased  these  hinds,  August  20th,  1652,  from  George  Gray  of  Newcastle,  master 
and  mariner,  husband  of  Phillis,  who  was  daughter  and  sole  heiress  of  John  Delaval  and  granddaughter 
of  Peter  Delaval.     See  the  pedigree  of  Delaval  of  Tynemouth,  p.  171. 

■  These  lands  represent  the  moiety  of  Haibottle's  lands  held  in  160S  by  Robert  Helme.  They  were 
sold,  circa  1652,  to  Captain  William  Collinson,  an  officer  stationed  at  Tynemouth  castle.  Tynemouth 
Court  Rolls.  Collinson  also  bought  .A.ydon  castle.  See  pedigree  of  Collinson  of  .\ydon  castle  in  vol.  vi. 
of  this  work,  p.  136. 

'  Taken  from  counterparts  of  leases  in  the  possession  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland. 


Vol.  VIIL 


34 


266  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

freeholders,  and  the  whole  of  the  north  field,  north  of  Kennersdean,  was 
assigned  to  the  other  tenants.'  The  practice  of  granting  twenty-one-year 
leases  was  continued  until  1755,  and  was  then  abandoned  in  favour  of 
shorter  terms." 

A  comparison  of  the  terrier  of  1649  with  the  ministers'  accounts  of  1539 
shows  that  the  ten  farms,  at  which  the  township  was  assessed  for  pannage  and 
for  church  rate,  had  diminished  in  number  to  five  and  three-quarters,  that 
their  average  size  was  40  acres  i  rood  i  perch,  and  that  the  usual  rent  was 
four  marks  {£2  13s.  4d.).  Besides  the  complete  farms,  there  were  other 
farm-lands  of  varying  extent  and  three  'mark-lands'  or  quarters  of  a  farm, 
paying  a  mark  rent  yearly. 

The  later  historv  of  the  township  is  largely  connected  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  freeholds  in  the  south  field. 

The  fifty  acres  allotted  to  Lord  Howard  in  1649  remained  in  possession 
of  his  family  luitii  1796,  when  Frederick,  iifth  earl  of  Carlisle,  by  indenture 
dated  August  30th,  1796,  sold  his  lands  in  Tynemouth  to  John  Wright  of 
North  Shields.  The  latter  made  his  will  on  June  30th,  1806,  leaving  his 
freehold  property  to  be  divided  equally  between  his  two  sons,  William 
Wright  of  North  Shields,  and  John  Bowes  Wright  of  Lincoln's  Inn.  John 
Wright  and  his  two  sons  laid  out  Northumberland  Square  and  Howard 
Street  upon  this  estate,  which  extended  from  Norfolk  Street  on  the  east 
to  Newcastle  Street  and  Little  Bedford  Street,  the  township  boundaries, 
upon  the  west.'  Coal  was  worked  upon  the  Howard  property  as  late  as 
the  eighteenth  century,  and  there  was  a  shaft  at  the  top  of  the  Shields 
bank,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Howard  Street.'  A  building  on  this  site 
was  afterwards  used  for  the  detention  of  prisoners  taken  during  the  French 
wars,  and  was  replaced  by  the  North  Shields  theatre,  opened  in  1789  and 
destroyed  by  fire  in  December,   185 1.' 

'  Spearman  had  a  freehold  assigned  to  him  in  the  Brocks  which  his  son,  Robert  Spearman  of 
Durham,  sold,  together  with  copyhold  land  in  Chirton,  to  Henry  Walker  of  Whitby.  The  lands  assigned 
to  Robert  Otway  were  in  the  north  field,  and  were  termed  Otway's  Holes.  His  grandson,  John  Dove  of 
the  Low  Lights,  left  the  estate,  by  will  dated  June  28th,  1704,  to  his  sister,  Susanna  Walker,  for  whom 
see  the  account  of  Dove's  freehold.     Durham  Probate  Registry. 

»  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  ^  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections. 

'  In  1757  Sir  Ralph  Milbanke,  bart.,  and  others  petitioned  Hugh,  earl  of  Northumberland,  for 
licence  for  a  waggon-way  to  the  Tyne,  from  North  Shields  colliery  on  the  earl  of  Carlisle's  lands.     Ibid. 

„,  'The  theatre  was  rebuilt  in  1852,  and  in  1876  it  was  converted  into  an  assetnbly-room  and  shops. 
Ihe  hrst  theatre  m  North  Shields  stood  on  the  Ropery  Banks. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


267 


MITCALFE    OF    TYNEMOUTH-HOUSE    AND     NORTH     SHIELDS. 

William  MitCALKE  of  North  Shields,  buried  in  Tynemouth  church,  I2lh  February,  1628,9  (")• 
William  Mitcalfe,  senior,  of  North  Shields,  buried  nth  March,  1694/5  (a).  = 


William  Mitcalfe  of  North  Shields,  baptised  7th  August,  1650  (a)  ;  buried  ist  October,  1734  («). 

I 


John  Mitcalfe  of  Tyne-  =  Dorothy    Reed, 
mouth,    baptised    Ist  married     15th 


September,  1684  («)  ; 
died  24th  January, 
1765,    aged    81     (fl) 

co- 


July,  1707  (rt); 
died  gth  Janu- 
ary, 1 762, aged 
77  (0- 


William  =  Dorothy 
Mitcalfe.   I    P'orster. 


Henry   Mitcalfe  of  North  Shields,' =  Barbara      

baptised  29th  April.  1702  (fl);  died  died  24th  Ue- 

9th  October,  176S  (£);  will  diited  cember,  1761, 

20th    March,    1767;    proved    at  aged  63  (c). 

Durham  {6).  ^ 

Mitcalfe  of  Murton-house. 


I  I 

John,   bapt.  William    Mitcalfe  = 

4th   .Aug.,  of  Tynemouih, 

1 7 1 8  (n)  ;  baptised        6th 

buried  7lh  March,     1720/I 

February,  («)  ;    died    3rd 

I723;4(«).  Nov.,  iSo6,aged 
86  (^)  (0  W. 


Susanna,   daughter  John,      bap-  Henrj-  Mitcalfe  of  Preston,  =  Dorothy  .Anderson, 

of Brodrick,  tised  1724  baptised   I3ih    December,  married      30lh 

married  i6thjanu-  (n),  buried  1726(a);    died  5th  Dec,  July,    1765    (a); 

ar>',      1746     (/5);  1727  («).  1802,    aged    77    (fl)    (f).  died    25th   Apnl, 

died  5th  January,  Other  issue.  s.p.;       will     dated     16th  1795.     aged     79 

1764,  aged  38  (rt)  December,   1801  ;   proved  (.")  (c). 

(c).  29th  December,  1802  (J). 


I 
Lockwood,  bap- 
tised 7th 
October,  1746 
(a)  ;  buried 
25th  Novem- 
ber, 1747  (a). 


I 
John    Mitcalfe,  : 
baptised   15th 
March,  1747/8 
(«)  ;   died  5th 
October,  1779 


.Mary  .Atkin- 
son, married 
17th  l-'eb., 
1772  (rt)  ; 
died  15th 
June.  1789, 
aged  54  (c). 


William      Mitcalfe     of      Dockwray  =  .Margaret,    widow    of    John 
Square,    North    Shields,    baptised  Kelso,     and     daughter     of 

ijlh  Januaiy,  1751  (n)  ;  purchased 
Tynemouth-house ;  died  1 3th 
June,  1S27,  aged  77  («)  (<r)  (/)  ; 
will  dated  19th  December,  1821  ; 
proved  2Cth  July,  1827  (</). 


Stephen  Wright  of  Dock' 
wray  Square,  married  I2ih 
.\ugust.  1776  («)  (,i)  ;  died 
30th  Noveml>er,  182S,  aged 
77  («)  (0  (/)• 


Lockwood,  born  l8th  May,  1753  (/<)  ;  buried  28th  M.ay,  1753  (a). 
Henry,  born  Ist  May,  1760  ;  died  young  (i). 
Elisha,  born  l6th  March,  1763  ;  died  young  (i'). 


.Anne,  baptised  31st  July,  1749  (a)  ;  died  young  (<). 

Dorothy,    baptised    21st    June,     1756;     married, 

January,  1779,  Shallett  Dale  of  Newcastle. 


William,  baptised  5th 
Feb.,  1 78 1  (a)  ; 
died  young  (/')• 


Mary  Anne,  dau.  of 
J.  B.  Plowman 
of  Wimbledon, 
married  loth 
June,  1816  (rf). 


:  William    Mitcalfe    of   Tynemouth-house,    bom    3rd  =  Marj-,   daughter   of 
.March,  1787  (/)  ;   baptised  23id  September,  1788  '^  '-^ 

(a) ;  of  the  Coal  Exchange,  London  ;  died  8lh 
.April,  1S63  (a')  ;  will  dated  loth  September,  1861  ; 
proved  20th  Alay,  1863  (rf). 


Dowson  (</), 
2nd  wife. 


Henry  Mitcalfe  of  Whil- 
ley-house,  born  28th 
November,  1788  (a)  ; 
baptised  30lh  Novem- 
ber, 1788  (a);  .M.P. 
for  Tynemouth,  1841- 
1847  ;  died  4th  June, 
1853,  aged  64  (/). 


Thcodosia,  daughter 
of  Edward  Drury, 
nvirricd  4th  Feb- 
ruary, 181 3  ;  died 
at  Little  .Anglesea, 
Hants,  31st  July, 
1848,      aged      59 


John, baptised  I2th 
.\ug.,  1790  (a)  ; 
died  22nd  Feb., 
1 80S,  aged  1 8(c). 

Thomas,  baptised 
23rd  October, 
1792  (a);  died 
young  (*). 


I 


Henry  Theodosius     Margaret,  married  her  cousin,  Henry  Percy  Mitcalfe. 

.Mitcalfe,       died     Anne   Emma,  married   27lh   February,  1840,  John 

.May,  1856,  aged         Fenwick  of  Preston. 

-,5  (<•)  (/).  Isabella    Catherine,    married    Major-General   John 

Edward.  Henry  Francklyn.  C.B. 

Theodosia,  died  unmarried  (/)  Ijth  December,  18S2. 


Susanna,     baptised     25th     March,    1778     (a)  ; 

married    2isl    .April,    1S03,    Cuthbert    Smith 

Fenwick  (a). 
Margaret,  baptised  5th  July.  1781   (a);  mamed 

I4"lh  November,  iSoi,  William  Redhc;id  (,a)  of 

Newcastle. 
Anne,  baptised  :8th  July.  17S2  (a)  ;^  married  30th 

March,  1S24,  Edward  Jackson  of  Gateshead  (a). 
Dorothy,  baptised  28th  April.  17S4  (a)  ;  m-arried 

1st  September,  1807,  James  Methold  Goble  (a) 

of  Brighton. 
Isabella.' baptised    :3rd    September,   178S   (a); 

married  7lh  .March.  1S09,  John  D.ale  (a). 
J.ane,  b;\ptised  25lh  January,   1795  (a);  mamed 

7th   April,   18:5,    Daniel   Edward  Stephens  of 

North  Shields  (a). 


268 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Mary  Anne,  dau. 
of  JohnRell:imy 
Plowman  of 
Wimbledon, 
born  loth  No- 
vember, 1793; 
mar.  at  Wim- 
bledon, loth 
June,  1816. 


=William    Mitcalfe  of  Tynemouth-house,  born  3rd  March,   17S7   (li)  ;    baptised   23rd  =  Mary  Dowson 


September,  1788  (a)  ;  of  the  Coal  Exchange,  London  ;   died  Slh  April,  1863   (rf)  ; 
will  dated  loth  September,  1861  ;  proved  20th  May,  1863  (d). 


(^d),    second 

wife. 


I      I     I      I 
r)alr)rmple  Mitcalfe,  born  1834,  died  1863. 
Chirles  Lockwood  Mitcalfe,  born  1838,  died  1867. 
Mowbray  Mitcalfe,  born  1842. 
Ralph  Dowson  Mitcalfe,  bom  1843. 


Sophia  Amelia,  married,  first, 
George  Manley,  and  secondly, 
Edward  Klein. 

Constance,  married  J.  R.  Upton. 


William  Brod.=  Emily,  dau. 
rick  .Mitcalfe  of     John 

of    London,  Jobling. 

born     1817; 
died  s.p. 


I 
John  Bellamy 
Mitcalfe, 
born  1820 ; 
died  s.p. 


I  I 

Henry     Percy  =  Margaret,  dau.  of  Stephen  ; 

Mitcalfe,  born  Henry    Mitcalfe  Wright 

1823  ;      died  of       Whitley-  Mitcalfe, 

9th    Novem-         house,  died  19th  b.  1826. 
ber,  1891.               July  1900. 


:  Jane 
Phillips. 


Mary  Anne, 
married  Spur- 
geon  Green. 


Henry  Percy  Mitcalfe. 


I 
Frederick  .Mitcalfe. 


I 
Leonard  Mitcalfe. 


Blanche,  died 


in  infancy 


Winifred. 


(0 


Tytti-tnouth  Rfghtgr. 

Genealogical  table  of  the  Mitcalfe  family,  compiled  by 
Mr.  John  B.  Dale  in  1875,  from  information  communi- 
cated by  Mr.  H.  \.  Adamson. 

Monumental  Inscriptions,  Tynemouth  Priory. 


{d)  Documents  with  .Mr.  H.  \.  .^damson. 
{/)    Matthew  Forster's  Obituary, 
(y)  Monumental       Inscriptions,       Christ 
Church,  Tynemouth. 


*  Henry  .Mitcalfe  (l)  of  North  Shields,  by  Barbara,  his  wife,  had  issue,  with  other  children,  Henry  Mitcalfe  (2) 
of  Murton-house,  baptised  19th  May,  1729  ;  married  22nd  March,  1755,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Isaac  Bell  of  ,\orth  Shields, 
by  whom  he  had  issue  Henry  Mitcalfe  (3)  of  Murton-house,  attorney-at-law.  Henry  .Mitcalfe  (3),  baptised  20th  June,  1758, 
married,  first,  at  Bishopwearmouth,  Sth  March,  1790,  .Anne  Bird,  and  secondly,  at  Bath,  4th  June,  1S02,  Eliza,  widow  of 
Colonel  de  la  Beche  of  Halse-hall,  in  Jamaica.  He  resided,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  at  Clifton  and  at  Bath.  Henry 
.Mitcalfe  (3),  by  his  first  marriage,  had  a  son,  Henry  Bird  Mitcalfe  (who  died  unmarried  in  his  father's  lifetime),  and 
a  daughter,  .Anne  Bird  Mitcalfe,  who  became  her  father's  sole  heiress,  and  was  married  at  Clifton,  13th  June,  1808,  to 
Levi  Ames  of  Rodney-place,  Clifton. 

Robert  .Mitcalfe,  a  cadet  of  this  family,  died  in  1812  at  the  age  of  56,  leaving  issue,  by  Catherine  Stanley,  his  wife 
(whom  he  married  in  1780),  a  son,  Robert  Stanley  Mitcalfe,  born  in  1786,  the  father  of  the  present  Mr.  John  Stanley 
Mitcalfe  of  Tynemouth. 

CoUinson's  land  lay  to  the  east  of  the  Howard  estate.  Henry  Collinson 
of  Aydon  castle,  son  and  heir  of  Captain  William  Collinson,  sold  his  estate 
to  Ambrose  Hambleton  of  Tynemouth.  Hambleton  left  two  daughters 
and  coheirs  :  Hannah,  wife  of  William  Williams  of  North  Shields,  and 
Sarah,  who  married  John  Atkinson.'  About  the  year  1714,  Atkinson's  share 
was  purchased  by  Edward  Stewart  of  North  Shields,  and  the  land  was  then 
divided,  Stewart  taking  the  eastern  moiety  and  Williams  the  western. 
There  were  roperies  or  '  rope-walks '  on  both  properties,  extending  from 
the  Tynemouth  road  to  the  bank  head.  Williams'  land  afterwards  came  to 
the  Stephenson  family,-  and  at  a  later  date   became   the  property  of  the 


'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

^  John  Stephenson  of  Earsdon  and  North  Shields,  rope-maker,  son  of  Robert  Stephenson  of  North 
Shields,  rope-maker,  married  Elizabeth  Hall,  by  whom  he  left  issue  John  Stephenson  the  younger,  and 
Elizabeth,  who  married  James  Perrin  of  Newcastle.  He  died  September  l6th,  1752,  having  by  his  will, 
dated  November  22nd,  1751,  devised  his  freehold  property  in  North  Shields  to  his  daughter.  His  son, 
John  Stephenson  of  Uockwray  Square,  married  Maiy,  daughter  of  Francis  Gowland  of  Scarborough,  but 
left  no  surviving  male  issue.  He  died  July  12th,  1801.  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections,  and  monu- 
mental inscription  at  Christ  Church. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


269 


Mitcalfes  of  Tynemouth  house.  The  Stewart  estate  came,  in  1768,  into  the 
hands  of  William  Linskill,  afterwards  of  Tynemouth  lodge.  Stephenson 
Street  and  Linskill  Street  perpetuate  the  names  of  these  former  owners.' 
Proceeding  eastward,  John  Carruth's  freehold  is  reached.  Carruth  sold 
his  land  on  October  ist,  1667,  to  Edward  Toll  of  North  Shields,  formerly 
captain-lieutenant  in  Sir  Arthur  Hesilrige's  regiment. 

I.  Edward  Toll,  purchased  lands  in  Cowpen,  October  ist,  1679,  from  Cuthbert  Turner  of  the 
Middle  Temple.  He  was  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Christ  Church,  January  ist,  1680/1,  having  by  will 
devised  his  lands  in  Tynemouth,  known  as  the  High  Lighthouse  Closes,  to  Edward  Toll,  his  son  and 
heir.  By  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Knowles,  he  left  issue:  (i)  Edward  Toll,  above  mentioned,  who  died 
without  issue  ;  (2)  Thomas  Toll  (II.). 

II.  Thomas  Toll,  of  North  Shields,  draper  and  mercer,  by  his  will,  dated  May  2nd,  1704,  devised 
the  High  Lighthouse  Closes  and  his  lands  at  Cowpen  to  Edward  Toll,  his  son  and  heir.  He  married 
Ursula  Airey,  by  whom,  amongst  many  other  children,  he  had  two  sons:  (l)  Edward  Toll,  who  died 
without  issue  in  May,  1713  ;  (2)  Thomas  Toll  (III.). 

III.  Thomas  Toll  of  London,  master  and  mariner,  and  subsequently  of  Wolviston  in  the  county 
of  Durham,  by  his  will,  April  i6th,  1744,  left  his  Tynemouth  property  to  his  sister,  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Josias  Dockwray  of  Wolviston  and  North  -Shields." 

'  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections. 

-  Based  on  the  duke  of  Northumberland's  M.S.S.,  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections,  and  wills  in  the 

Durham  Probate  Registry. 

DOCKWRAY     OF    TYNEMOUTH,     ETC. 

Stephen  Dock\vr.a.V,  minister  of  St.  .Andrew's,  Newcastle,  1647-1660  ;  buried  there  Illh  .August,  1660  (_e). 


Thomas  Dockwray,  D.D.,  vicar  of  New- 
burn,  1663-1663  ;  vicar  of  Whitburn, 
1667  -  1672  ;  vicar  of  Tynemouth, 
1668-1672;  chaplain  to  the  earl  of 
Sandwich,  with  whom  he  was  slain  in 
a  naval  engagement  against  the 
Dutch,  28th  May,  1672  (/(). 


Katharine,  Josias  Dockwray  (yf),  of  Christ's  ; 

dau.ofThos.  Coll.,    Camb.  ;     M.A.    1665; 

Naylor  vicar  LL.D.    1673    («)  ;    curate  of 

of  Newcastle  Lanchester,      co.       Durham, 

(/),  married  165. .-1668;  vicar  of  Newburn, 

31st       May,  166S-1683 ;    will   dated   nth 

1669  (/).  October,     1681    (/) ;    buried 
July,  1683  (0). 

i 


Mary,  dau.  of  Samuel 
Sanderson  of  Hedley- 
hope,  CO.  Durham, 
mar.  at  Lanchester, 
23rd  Novemljer,  1658 
(i),  named  in  her  hus- 
band's will  (/). 


Josias  Dockwray,  baptised  19th  July,  1670  (i),  of  Corpus  Christi  College, 
Oxon.  ;  matriculated  26th  March,  1686,  aged  i;  ;  B..A.,  1690; 
M..A.,  1693  ;  rector  of  St.  F.bbe's,  Oxford,  1695,  and  of  Duntsbournc 
Knights,  CO.  Gloucester,  1696  (c). 


Arabella,  baptised  7th  March, 
1671/2  (a),  buried  in  the  chancel 
of  Christ  Church,  Tynemouth, 
28th  .April,  1672  C<i). 


. 


Thomas  Clarveato  Dockwray  of  (Queen's  College,  Oxon.,  matriculated  23rd  November,  1733,  aged  24  ;  B.A.,  1737  (<•)• 


Stephen  Dockwray,  of  Sidney-Sussex  ^  Jane  Lawson, 
College,  Cambridge:  B.A.  166S  ;  married  nth 
M..A.  1672  («)  ;  vicar  of  Tyne-  '•  August,  1674 
mouth.  1673-16S1,  died  20th  buried  :  («),  buried  in 
22nd  September,  1681,  in  the  '.  the  chancel  of 
chancel  of  Christ  Church,  Tyne-  ChristChurch 
mouth  (a)  (/;)  ;  administration  of  Tynemouth, 
his  personal  estate,  20th  Septeni-  loth  Decem- 
ber, 1681  (sic),  granted  to  his  her,  1694  (a), 
widow  (^). 


Thomas    Dockwray    of    St.  =  Elizabeth  Love, 


John's  College,  Cambridge, 
matriculated  14th  April. 
1673,  aged  16  (_d)  ;  B.A., 
1676  ;  .M.A.  COxon.). 
1680  (c)  ;  vicar  of  Tyne- 
mouth, 16S1-1725  ;  also 
perpetual  curate  of  Walls- 
end  ;  buried  24th  February, 
1724/5  (.")■ 


married  4th 
June.  1689 
(a),  buried  6th 
May.  1728 
(a). 


Abigail,  married 
Richard  Wake 
of  Whitburn ; 
named  in  the 
will  of  her  uncle 
Josias;  buried 
1 5th  .April,  1 684 
(A). 

Barbiira,  bur.  24th 
.March,  1662(0). 


270 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


TlKim;is  Dockwray,  baptised  14th  .\pril,  1676  («), 
buried  in  ihe  chancel  of  Christ  Church,  Tyne- 
mouth,  l6th  April,  1676  («). 


Barbara,  baptised  1st  December,  1681  (a),  daughter  and 
heir  ;  married  Thomas  Davison  and  was  living  in  pos- 
session of  a  tenement  at  North  Shields  in  1707  (m). 


[Mary  Grey,  =  Thomas  Dockwray,  baptised  1st  April,  1690  («)  ;  =  Mary  Maynard, 


bond  of  mar- 
riage, 5th 
May,  1729.] 


of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge  ;  matriculated 
23rd  May,  1706,  aged  16  (</)  :  B.A.,  1709  ;  M.A., 
'713  (")  ;  lecturer  of  St.  Nicholas',  Newcastle, 
1724-1752  ;  perpetual  curate  of  VVallsend,  17...- 
1760;  died  15th  May,  1760,  aged  70;  Monu- 
mental Inscription,  St.  Nicholas' (<)  ;  will  dated 
nth  .May,  1759;  proved  1760  (/). 


bond  of    mat 
23rd    October, 
1732  ;  married 
26th    October, 
1732  (■/)• 


Mary,  baptised  ist  May,  1734  (/)  i  'J'^''  "''  h^i"  father's  lifetime. 


I      I      I 
Stephen,    baptised    9th    .\ugust, 

1692  (n)  ;  buried  24th  January, 

1692/3  la). 
John,     baptised     nth     January, 

1693/4  (a)  ;   buried  iSth  April, 

1696  (a). 
Francis    [a   son],   baptised    21st 

January,    1695/6    (a) ;    buried 

I4tli  December,  i6g6  (a). 


Josias  Dockwray  of 
Wolviston,  CO.  Dur- 
ham, baptised  26th 
.August,  1697  (a)  ; 
afterwards  of  North 
Shields  salt  offices ; 
buried,  3rd  Novem- 
ber, 1745  (a). 


Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  Toll  of 
North  Shields,  and  sister  and  devisee 
of  Thomas  Toll  of  the  same  place  ; 
bond  of  marriage,  22nd  September, 
1724;  was  living  a  widow  at  New- 
castle, 27th  October,  1756  (^)  ;  named 
in  her  son's  will  (/)  ;  buried  29th 
I'ebruary,  1792,  aged  98  (a). 


I      I      I      I 
Elizabeth,  baptised    14th  April,   1691   (a)  ;    married  l8th 

September,  1723,  lieutenant  John   Pedie  (a)  ;  died  s.f. 

before  nth  May,  1759  (/). 
.Martha,  bapi.  13th  Dec,  ifigS  (a) ;  bur.  14th  Feb.,  l688/9(a). 
Barbara,  baptised   2nd   February,    1699/1700  (a)  ;    buried 

9th  of  the  same  month  (,«). 
Frances,  baptised  8th  .May,  1701   (a);  buried   i6th  July, 

1701  (a). 


I 
Thomas  Dockwray,  son  and  heir  (g).  ■■ 
of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge; 
matriculated  30th  .April,  1 744,  aged 
18  ((/);  B.A.,  1747;  .M.A.,  1751  ; 
D.D.,  1766  (n)  ;  lecturer  of  St. 
Nicholas',  Newcastle,  1753-1783  ; 
vicar  of  Stanifordham,  1 761  until 
his  death,  14th  Dec,  1783  (()  ; 
will  dated  i8th  June,  1782  (/). 


Hannah,  daughter  of 
Robert  Ellison  of 
Otterburn,  married, 
12th  February,  1757 
(/")  ;  she  married, 
secondly,  13th  Dec, 
1787,  John  Barker, 
D.D.  (/),  of  Christ 
College,  Cambridge. 


(a)  Tynemouth  Registers. 

(b)  Whitburn  Registers. 

(c)  Foster,  Alumni  Oxonienses. 

{d")  Scott,  .Aiitnissions  to  St.  Johns  College ^  Camhritige. 
(.)    VVelford,  Men  of  Mark. 
(y)  Registers  of  St.  John's^  Ne^vcastle. 
(,?)  Schedule  of  deeds  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  H.  ,-\. 
Adamson. 


M    I    I    I    I 

Josias,  baptised  23rd  .April,  1734  (a). 

Margaret,  baptised  gth  May,  1727  (a). 

Elizabeth,  bapt.  1st  July,  1729  (a)  ;  mar.  circa  1754,  William 

Harbottle  of  Newcastle  ;   named  in  her  brother's  will. 
.Mary,  baptised  23rd  February,  1730;'!  (a)  ;  married  William 

Charlton  of  Newcastle  ;  named  in  her  brother's  will. 
Ursula,  baptised  21st  November,  1732  (a). 
Martha,  living  unmarried  at  the  dale  of  her  brother's  will  ; 

will  dated  22nd  May,  1799  (,?). 

(//)    Monumental  Inscription,  Christ  Church,  Tynemoulh. 

(/)    Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  i.  pp.  286,  31;. 

(/■)    Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  pp.  316,  343. 

(/)    Durham  Probate  Registry  . 

(wi)  The  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

(«)    Luard,  Graduatt  Cantahrigienses. 

io)    Newburn  Registers. 

(fi)  Cal.  State  Papers  Domestic,  1672,  p.  223. 


Evidences  to   Dockwk.w  Pedigree. 

December  17th,  1666.  The  king  to  the  University  of  Cambridge.  Requires  them  to  admit  Thomas  Dockwray, 
vicar  of  Newburne,  Northumberland,  to  the  degree  of  Doctor  in  Divinity,  without  the  customary  exercises,  in  reward  of 
faithful  service  as  chaplain  in  the  fleet,  for  which  some  ecclesiastical  preferment  is  to  be  bestowed  on  him.  Cal.  State 
Papers  Domestic,  1666-1667,  p.  351. 

June  15th,  1668.  The  king  to  the  bishop  of  Durham.  Dr.  Thomas  Triplett,  who  has  for  many  years  been 
legally  possessed  of  the  rectory  of  Whitburn,  in  his  diocese,  has  lately  been  dispossessed  by  Dr.  Dockwray,  on  pretence 
of  Triplett  not  subscribing  to  the  declaration  enjoined  by  the  late  Act  of  Uniformity,  and  of  Dockwray  having 
obtained  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  us.  We  never  wished  our  letter  to  prejudice  a  person  so  deserving  as 
Dr.  Triplett,  and  wish  him  to  be  restored  to  the  rectory,  and  not  henceforth  disquieted.  We  hope  to  have  no  further 
cause  to  resent  the  usage  of  a  person  most  particularly  recommended.     Ibid.  1667-1668,  p.  439. 

June  3rd,  1672.  Col.  Edward  Villiers  to  Williamson.  I  have  written  to  Lord  Arlington  on  behalf  of  the  bearer. 
Dr.  Dockwray 's  son,  whom  I  found  here  supplying  his  father's  place.  It  would  be  a  great  charily  to  procure  him  to 
succeed  his  father  in  the  parsonage  of  Whitburn,  having  a  brother  and  two  sisters  to  provide  for,  and  it  would  much 
conduce  to  the  service  to  have  it  known  that  such  care  was  taken  for  orphans  whose  fathers  died  so  honourably  in  the 
king's  service.  I  have  a  particular  obligation  to  promote  it  all  I  can,  for  I  was  the  means  of  his  father  being  with 
the  earl  of  Sandwich.  The  duke  had  taken  him  into  his  ship,  had  he  not  before  been  engaged,  so  well  this  good  doctor 
was  known  in  former  engagements  at  sea.     Ii,id.  1672,  p.  143.     See  also  pp.  215,  223,  408  and  612. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP.  27 1 

Thomas  Dockwray,  vicar  of  Stamfordham,  the  eventual  owner  of  this 
property,  may  be  rej^arded  as  in  some  respects  the  founder  of  the  modern 
town  of  North  Shields.  The  old  town  had  hardly  extended  beyond  the 
narrow  and  crowded  Low  Street  at  the  river  side,  when  Dr.  Dockwray 
commenced  buildinsr  squares  and  streets  upon  his  land  at  the  top  of  the 
bank.  Dockwray  Square  was  begun  in  1763,  Toll  Square  soon  followed, 
and,  after  his  death,  his  representatives,  upon  September  2nd,  1784,  conveyed 
the  whole  of  the  Toll  inheritance  to  trustees  upon  trust  to  sell  the  same 
for  building  purposes.'  Their  example  was  quickly  followed  by  the  other 
freeholders,  with  the  result  that  nearly  the  whole  of  what  was  once  the 
south  field  of  Tvnemouth  township  has  been  swallowed  up  in  North  Shields. 

The  land  east  of  Carruth's  freehold,  as  far  as  the  Pow  burn,  was 
allotted  in  1649  to  Robert  Dove  of  Tynemouth.  His  son,  also  named 
Robert,  married  Anne,  daughter  of  Robert  Otway  of  Preston,  by  whom  he 
had  a  son,  Robert  Dove  of  the  Low  Lights.  This  last-named  Robert  Dove, 
by  will  dated  December  21st,  1704,  devised  his  two  messuages  called  the 
Pow  bank,  and  the  parcel  of  land  called  the  Dean,  to  his  sister,  Susanna 
Walker.-  For  more  than  a  centurv  the  estate  remained  in  the  Walker 
family,  who  built  Walker  Place  and  other  streets  upon  it.  A  portion  of  it 
was  eventually  sold  to  the  Tynemouth  Corporation  by  John  Kerrich  of 
Geldestone  Hall  in  Suffolk  (son  of  John  Kerrich  of  Harleston  by  Elizabeth, 
daughter  and  heir  of  John  Walker  of  Wallsend'),  and  now  forms  part  of  the 
Northumberland  Park.'  The  southern  end  of  the  dean,  known  as  the  Low 
Lights,  was  once  a  level  flat  of  swampy  ground  called  'salt-grass,'  covered 
at  high  spring-tides,  though  now  reclaimed  and  busy  with  factories  and 
warehouses.  Thither  came  in  1766  a  quaker,  John  Richardson,  a  member 
of  a  Whitbv  family,  and  set  up  a  tan-yard,  draining  the  soil  and  raising  it." 
Another  family  of  quakers,  the  Tyzacks,"  descendants  of  huguenots  in-  Lor- 
raine, who  had  established  glass-works  at  Gateshead  and  Newcastle,  also 
came  to  the  Low  Lights,  and  there  started  an  iron  foundry  on  land  acquired 

'  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections.  ^'"'Z- 

'John  Walker  of  Dockwray  Square  and  Wallsend,  who  died  in  January,  1S22,  by  his  will,  dated 
May  l6th,  1S18,  devised  his  estate  at  the  Low  Lights  to  his  son,  John  Walker,  for  life,  with  reversion  10 
testator's  grandson,  John  Kerrich.     John  Walker  the  younger  died  unmarried,  .August  25th,  1S33.     Ihid. 

'  The  park  was  formed  in  1885,  land  being  made  over  to  the  corporation  for  the  purpose  by  the 
duke  of  Northumberland. 

*  Boyce,  Annals  of  a  Quaker  Family  :  The  Richardsons  of  CUveland,  p.  66. 

•  An  account  of  this  family  is  given  by  Grazebrook,  Families  of  Henzey,  Tytlery  and  Tyzack. 


27i 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


in  1632  by  George  Milbourne  of  Chirton.'  Prosperous  shipowners  built 
their  residences  there,  and  several  of  these  large  brick  houses,  with  their 
wide  fore-courts,  still  remain. 


LINSKILL     OF     TYNEMOUTH     LODGE. 


Wtl.I.IAM    LiNSKII.L   of 
Chirton,  20th  April 
proved  1783  {d). 


Whitby,  N.R.Y.,  and  of  North  Shields,  died  at 
1783,  aged  57  {6);    will  dated  24th  April,  1779; 


Jane,  daughter  and  heiress  of  Anthony 
Pearson  of  North  Shields,  married 
13th  October,  1754  (")• 


Robert  l.inskill  of  Whitby, 
son  and  heir,  born  gth 
June,  1757  (/) ;  named 
in  the  will  of  his  maternal 
grandfather  ;  administra- 
tion of  his  personal  estate, 
29th  September,  1790  (</). 


I     I     I 
Anthony,     born      15th 

November,  1758  (/). 
John,  born  2 1st  Aug., 

1760  (/). 
Anthony,      born     29th 

July,  1 761  (/). 


William   Linskill  of  North   Shields,  =  Elizabeth    IVlary,    dau.   of 


born  i8th  October,  1766  (/) ; 
built  Tynemouth  Lodge  circa 
1790;  high  sheriff  of  Northumber- 
land, 1806  ;  died  at  Humberstone, 
Leicestershire,  I3lh  May,  1845  ; 
buried  at  Ruddington,  Notts. 


Ralph  William  Grey  of 
Backworth,  married  at 
Earsdon,  1st  August, 
1805  ;  died  21st  Sept., 
1 84 1  (e)  ;  buried  at 
Ruddington  (c). 


Abigail,  born  14th  September,  1755  (/)  ;   died  in  infancy. 

Margaret,  born  15th  August,  1756  (/)  ;  married  7th  September,  1784, 

John  Blackburn  (/),'and  died  1818.  ■ 
Jane,  born  25th  October,  1759  (/)  ;  married  26th  November,  1784, 

Henry  Coward  of  Preston  (/). 
Hannah,  born  30th  July,  1762  (/). 


I      I      I 

Abigail,  born  21st  June,  1764  (/). 

Esther,  born  13th  October,  1767  (/). 

Maria  Antonia,  born  7th  January,  1 77 1  (X)  i 
married  26th  November,  1795,  John  Man- 
sell,  captain  3rd  Dragoon  Guards,  and 
died  25th  January,  1843  {/). 


William  Linskill  of  Tynemouth 
Lodge,  born  28th  .'\ugust,  1807 
(/)  ;  entered  2Sth  Foot  ;  captain 
5lh  Dragoon  Guards  (ir)  ;  three 
times  Mayor  of  Tynemouth  ;  pur- 
chased and  sold  .\Iorwick  ;  died 
I7lh  March,  igoi  ;  buried  at 
Cambridge  (c). 


Frances  A.  C.  .^nnesley, 
daughter  of  Arthur, 
Viscount  Valentia,  mar- 
ried at  Bletchington, 
Oxon.,  17th  October, 
1853  ;  died  at  Cam- 
bridge, 13th  May,  1904. 


I  I      I      I      I 

John      Anthony  Elizabeth,    born     27th      March,     1808 

Pearson  Luis-  (/)  ;  buried  at  West  Linton  (c). 

kill,  born  28th  Mary  Jane,  born  25th  April,  1810  (/). 

July,      18  I  2  Frances  Sarah,   born  17th  May,   1811 

(/);     buried  (/). 

at  Beaudeserl,  Charlotte  Antonia,  born  19th  October, 

Warwickshire  1813    (/)  ;    died    1885;    buried    at 

(c).  Weymouth  (c). 


William  Thomas  Linskill  of  St.  Andrews,  N.B.,  born  at  Tynemouth  =  Jessie  Monro,  daughter  of  James  Stewart,  married  at 
Lodge,  25th  June,  1855.  I       Edinburgh,  7th  March,  1881  (c). 


Violet  Frances,  born  30th 
December,  1881  (/). 


Mary  Seton,  bom  loth  March,  1883  ;  died  5th 
September  of  same  year  {/). 


Nora  Douglas,  born  6th 
November,  1886  (<:). 


(rt)    Tynemouth  Registers, 

(f))    Monumental  Inscription,  Tynemouth 

Priory. 
(0    Ex  mf.  Mr.  W.  T.  Linskill. 


{d)  Raine,  7Vt/.  Ebor. 
(J)    Matthew  Forster's  obituary. 
{/')  Ex  family  bibles  and  communicated  by  Mr. 
H.  A.  Adamson. 


To  the  north  of  Dove's  freehold,  on  the  other  side  of  the  Tynemouth 
road,  thirty-three  acres  were  allotted  to  Gerrard  Robinson  and  John  Bowes. 
This  land  was  purchased  from  their  representatives  by  James  Stewart,  son 
of  Edward  Stewart  mentioned  above.  James  Stewart  died  childless.  Bv 
his  will.  May  31st,  1743,  he  left  his  lands  in  North  Shields,  Tynemouth, 
the  parish  of  Ponteland,  Tweedmouth   and   Spittle,   and  Callerton,  to  his 

'  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


273 


CLARK    OF    BLYTH.   CHOPPINGTON,    NORTH    SHIELDS,   AND    BELFOKD. 


John  Clark  of  Long  Houghton.  = 


William  Clark  of  Long  Houghton,  baptised  20ih  June,  1711  (a)  ;  died  '797. 

aged  86  {b). 


:  Ann  died  May,  1742, 

aged  30  {b). 


-   Other 


John  Clark  of  Blyth,  afterwards  of  Bebside, 
born  at  Long  Houghton  (/})  ;  voted  at 
the  election  of  knights  of  the  shire  in  1774 
for  a  freehold  at  Hlylh  (^)  ;  owner  of  a 
moiety  of  Long  Houghton  tithes ;  pur- 
chased Choppington  in  1803  ;  died  29th 
May.  1809.  aged  73  (i)  (c)  ;  will  dated  1st 
September,  1804  (rf). 


Elizabeth  Fair- 
lam,  daughter 
of  George  Mar- 
shall of  Blyth, 
mar.  iSth  -May, 
1773(f);  died  at 
Newcastle,  Feb- 
ruary, 1825. 


William  Clark  of  Dockwray : 
Square,  North  Shields  (/),  a 
native  of  Long  Houghton ; 
voted  at  the  election  of  knights 
of  the  shire  in  1774  for  a  free- 
hold at  North  Shields  (jp)  ;  died 
l6th    August,    18 10,  aged   69 


Elizabeth  Thomp- 
son, mar.  20th 
Dec.  1758  (A); 
died    9th     Oct., 

I788.ai.'cd40r<'").  I 


Othe 


I      I      I      I      I     I 
John  Clark,  baptised  30th  June,  1774  (c)  ;  of  Little  Tower 

Street,  London. 
William  Clark,  bapti.^ed  I3ih  October,  1777  (c)  ;  buried  i6th 

November,  1798  (c). 
Robert  Clark,  baptised  gth  January.  1781  (c)  ;  of  St.  Mary- 

at-Hill,  London,  and  of  Choppington. 
George  Clark,  baptised   29th  April,  1783  (c) ;    of  London 

and  of  Sheepwash. 
Charles   Taylor  Clark,   baptised   22nd  July,    1785   (c) ;   of 

Cowpen  Ouay,  shipbuilder. 
Selby  Clark,  baptised  20th  October,  1786  (<)  ;  named  in  his 

father's  will. 


.       I     I     I      I     I      I     I 

Jane,  baptised  20lh  October,  1775  (')  I  married,  4th  .April, 
'799.  John  North  of  London  (rf)  (»"). 

Elizabeth,  baptised  1st  November,  1778  (<r)  ;  died  unmar- 
ried ;  buried  I7ih  May,  1S04  (c). 

Ann,  baptised  8th  November,  1779  (c)  ;  died  at  Bebside ; 
buried  3rd  October,  1806  (c). 

Harriet,  baptised  15th  .April,  1784  (c) ;  named  in  her 
father's  will  (rf). 

Maria,  baptised  i8th  September,  1788  (/). 

Sophia  Isabella,  baptised  iSth  September,  1788  (»). 

.Maria  Isabella,  baptised  Illh  August,  1799  (')  I  married 
Joseph  Ferguson  of  Carlisle. 


.1 


.•\nne,  dau.  of  James  Hut- ^  William  Clark  of  Tynemouth,  ==  Mary,  daughter  of  = 
-       -  -  ...  William       Brown 

of  Long  Benton, 
married  14th  Feb- 
ruary, 1S05  (J~)  ; 
died  19th  January, 
1 8 14,  aged  40  (if), 
second  wife. 


chinson  of  Tynemouth  (y), 
married  23rd  Se])t.,  1793 
(A);  died 23rd Sept.,  1802, 
aged  32  {e),  first  wife. 


afterwards  of  Long  Benton, 
purchased  Belford  in  iSlI  ; 
high  sheriff  of  Northumber- 
land, 1820;  died  loth  June, 
1837,  aged  72  (r). 


I      I      I 
Anne  Elizabeth,  died  26th  December,  1847  (<•). 
Mary  Elizabeth,  mar.  Wm.  Clark  King,  clerk  in  orders  (^f). 
Elizabeth  Sarah  (/). 


:  Margaret,  widow 
of  Thomas  Bell 
of  .Alnwick  and 
Shortridge.  and 
daughter  of 
George  Selby 
of  Twizel.  third 
wife. 


Samuel  Clark,  died 
unmarried  in 
l.ondcn,  Aug.. 
1792,    aged     21 

if)- 
Lydia,         married 
loth  June,  1795, 
John   Wright  of 
Wallscnd  \K). 


William  Brown  Clark  of  ■■ 
Belford,  born  12th  Nov., 
1807  ;  of  University  Col- 
lege, Oxon. ;  matriculated 
15th  June,  '825,  at;ed  17  ; 
B.A.,  1S29;  M.A.",  1S32  ; 
admitted  to  Gr.ay's  Inn, 
1st  May,  'S26  ;  died  gth 
November,  1840. 


Eleanor,  dau.  of 
Addison  F'enwick 
of  Bishopwear- 
mouth,  mar.  I  Itli 
June.  1833  ;  she 
mar.,  2nd,  at  St. 
James's,  London, 
March,  1S47,  Sir 
Edw.  Bracken- 
bury,  bart. 


John  Dixon  Clark,  bom 
loth  January,  :8l2  ;  of 
University  College,  Oxon. ; 
matric.  30th  June,  1829, 
agedi7;B.A.,i833;M..\., 
1S36  ;  clerk  in  orders ; 
succeeded  to  Belford  on 
the  death  of  his  brother  ; 
died  s.p.m.  'st  Sept.,  1S70. 


Anne,  dau.  of 
Addison  Fen- 
wick,  married 
8th  June. 
1843  ;  died  at 
Bishopwear- 
mouth,  Sept., 
1847,  aged 
53. 


Jane  Margaret,  mar.  2nd 
July,  1833,  William 
.Atkinson  (/),  clerk  in 
orders,  incimtbent  of 
Gateshe-ad  I"cll  ;  suc- 
ceeded her  brother  and 
assumed  the  additional 
name  of  Clark  ;  died 
1S7S.  I 


Emily  Anne,  married  Francis  Swan,  clerk  in  orders,  rector  of  Aswardby,  co.  Lincoln. 
Julia  Mary,  married  20th  August,  1863,  George  .\L  Murray,  clerk  in  orders,  vicar  of 
Shrivenham,  Berks. 


Ann  Elizabeth,  married  2lst  June, 
1864,  John  V.  D.  Butler,  afterwards 
earl  of  Lanesborough. 


(a)  Long  Houghton  Registers. 

(/;)  Monumental  Inscription,  Long  Houghton. 

(c)  Earsdon  Registers. 

(</)  .Abstract  of  Title  to  Choppington. 

('■)  Monumental  Inscription,  Tj'nemouth  Priorj-. 


(/)  Bell  Collection.  Tortfolio  369. 

(,e)  Poll  Books. 

(It)    TyiiemoHth  Registers. 

(/)    Norton  Registers. 


Vol.  VIII. 


35 


274  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

nephews,  Edward  Clarke  and  James  Stewart  Clarke,  subject  to  their  taking 
the  name  of  Stewart.  They  sold  their  Tynemouth  property  in  1763  and 
1767  to  Anthony  Pearson,  a  rope-maker  in  North  Shields,  who,  on  Feb- 
ruary 26th,  1768,  devised  all  his  real  estate,  including  freehold  property  in 
Whitbv,  to  his  son-in-law,  William  Linskill.  Mr.  Linskill  built  Tvnemouth 
lodge  upon  this  land  about  the  year  1790.'  The  house  has  since  been 
demolished,  and  its  grounds  are  covered  with  new  streets.  Linskill  Terrace 
(formerly  Squire's  Walk),  Washington  Terrace,  and  the  Tynemouth  road, 
mark  the  boundaries  of  this  property. 

Beyond  the  Pow  burn,  and  between  it  and  the  deep  cut  called  the 
Howlings,  where  the  priors  of  Tynemouth  had  once  their  fish-ponds,  lands 
were  assigned  to  John  Morton  of  Tynemouth"  and  to  John  Morton  of 
Willington,  partly  as  freehold,  partly  as  copyhold.  The  whole  is  now  the 
property  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland  and  of  various  owners.  On  the 
clilT  here,  above  the  Mussel  scarp,  barracks  for  four  hundred  men  were 
erected  in  1758  by  the  board  of  ordnance.  These  buildings,  known  as 
Percy  Square,  ceased  to  be  used  as  barracks  upon  the  conclusion  of  the 
Napoleonic  wars.'  Many  of  the  picturesque  cottages  forming  the  square 
have  been  carried  away  by  landslips  in  the  boulder  clay  of  the  cliffs. 

Clifford's  Fort  and  the  Lighthouses. 

In  the  year  1536,  on  September  21st,  King  Henry  VIIL  gave  licence 
to  Richard  Grey  and  other  masters  and  mariners  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  to 
found  a  fraternity  or  guild  of  sailors  and  other  persons  in  honour  of  the 
Holy  Trinity.  The  guild  was  to  have  a  master  and  four  wardens,  who,  with 
their  brethren  and  sisters,  might  make  laws  for  the  navigation  of  the  port 
of  Tynemouth,  for  the  preservation  of  order  among  masters,  pilots,  governors 
of  ships,  and  mariners,  and  for  the  maintenance  and  continuance  of  the 
port.  They  were  empowered  to  build  and  embattle  two  stone  towers,  the 
one  on  the  north  side  of  Shields,  at  the  entry  of  the  port,  and  the  other 
upon  a  hill  there.     The  towers  were  to  be  adapted  for  '  signals,  metes,  and 

'  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections. 

-  John  Morton  of  Tynemouth  was  son  of  Roger  Morton  of  Tvnemouth  by  Bridget,  daughter  of 
Ralpli  Holme  of  Monkwearmouth.     Leighton,  Family  of  Goodchild  of  Pallion  Hall,  p.  31. 

An  Act  of  Parliament  to  enable  his  majesty  to  grant  the  inheritance  of  certain  lands,  tenements, 
etc.,  m  North  Scotland  Yard,  in  exchange  for  the  inheritance  of  certain  buildings,  barracks,  etc.,  con- 
tiguous to  Tynemouth  castle,  belonging  to  the  duke  of  Northumberland,  and  also  to  empower  the  said 
duke  to  make  out  exchange  ;  25  Geo.  III.     The  exchange  was  never  carried  into  effect. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP.  275 

bounds,'  for  the  safe  and  sure  keeping  of  the  town  and  fort,  and  for  burning 
lights  perpetually  through  the  night;  and  all  vessels  coining  into  port  were 
to  pay  fourpence  if  foreign,  and  twopence  if  English,  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  towers,  port  and  light.  A  few  days  later,  on  October  5th,  the  Trinity 
House  of  Newcastle  received  the  charter  of  its  foundation.' 

Three  years  elapsed  before  the  building  of  the  towers  was  taken  in 
hand.  The  low  light  was  the  first  to  be  set  up,  a  site  being  found  for  it 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Pow  burn,  on  the  left  bank  of  that  stream.  Here,  at 
the  point  called  '  the  Narrows,'  the  Tyne  is  not  more  than  a  hundred  and 
twenty  yards  broad,  but  immediately  to  the  east  its  two  shores  diverge,  and, 
as  the  towers  were  intended  for  defence  as  much  as  for  illumination,  there 
was  wisdom  in  choosing  a  point  where  a  fort  could,  even  more  effectively 
than  Tynemouth  castle,  command  the  entrance  to  the  river.  The  erection 
of  the  low  light  and  the  purchase  of  a  house  at  Shields  cost  £8  5s.  gd. 
The  second  tower,  known  as  the  high  light,  was  built  at  the  top  of  the  bank 
on  the  other  side  of  the  burn,  and   both  were  completed  in    1540.* 

A  single  tallow  candle  was  kept  burning  in  each  tower  from  quarter 
and  half-quarter  flood  to  half  ebb,  the  lights  being  in  the  charge  of  an 
attendant  who  received  a  yearly  wage  of  twenty  shillings.'  In  1606  the 
Trinity  House  had  a  new  charter  given  to  it  containing  a  clause  for  the 
raising  of  lightage  to  fourpence  for  English,  and  to  a  shilling  for  foreign 
vessels.*  This  was  again  increased,  by  order  of  council,  October  9th,  16 13, 
to  the  sums  of  sixpence  and  is.  4d.  respectively,  upon  the  erection  of  two 
new  turrets  on  the  summits  of  the  lighthouses,  each  turret  to  contain  two 
candles."  There  was  a  constant  e.xpense  involved  in  keeping  the  lights  in 
repair,  and  in  1658/g  the  old  stone  towers  appear  to  have  been  taken  down 
and  rebuilt  in  timber."  Combined  forts  and  lighthouses  were  coming  to  be 
out  of  date.  It  was  advantageous  to  have  moveable  structures  which  might 
also  serve  as  sea-marks,  and  as  the  shoals  in  the  river  were  frequently 
shifting,  the  lights  were  as  often  moved  from  place  to  place.  An  advert- 
isement was  issued  on  October  26th,  1667,  to  masters  and  seamen  trading  to 

'  Letters  and  Papers,  Henry  \'lll.  vol.  xi.  p.  376.     Welford,  Neuxastk  and  Gateshead,  vol  ii.  pp.  151- 154. 

-  Ibid.  pp.  197,  201.     Trinity  House  MSS.  Books  of  Payment. 

'  Welford,  Nezi'castle  and  Gateshead,  pp.  211,  251. 

'  Ibid.  vol.  iii.  p.  174.     Brand,  Xenxastle,  vol.  ii.  pp.  696-702. 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  326.  Welford,  Xewcastle  and  Gateshead,  vol.  iii.  p.  199.  The  toll  levied 
on  English  vessels  was  increased  by  a  subsequent  charter  (July  26th,  16S7)  to  eiyhtpence.  Brand,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  709-717-  «  Trinity  House  MSS.  Books  of  Payments. 


276 


TYNEMOUTH  BOROUGH. 


Newcastle,  informing  them  that  the  upper  lighthouse  had  been  removed 
more  northward,  and  now  directed  to  the  best  channel  into  the  port ;  also 
that  there  was  a  point  of  sand  striking  over  from  the  Herd  within  the  bar, 
directly  northward,  almost  to  the  place  called  the  Black  Middings,  whereof 
they  were  desired  to  take  care.'  Sands  shifted  so  quickly  that  in  the 
following  April  it  was  again  found  necessary  to  move  the  house." 

It  was  on  a  spit  of  sand  close  to 
the  low  lighthouse  that  the  marquis 
of  Newcastle  erected,  in  1642,  one 
of  the  two  blockhouses  that  were  to 
guard  '  the  Narrows.' '  The  capture 
of  this  fort  two  years  later  by  the 
Scots  has  been  described  above,  as 
well  as  the  building  of  Clifford's 
fort  near  the  same  spot  in  1672.  The 
low  light  was  included  within  the 
circuit  of  the  new  fort,  of  which 
some  walls  remain,  though  its  keep 
has  been  demolished.''  Drawings 
made  of  the  fort  soon  after  its 
construction  show  the  keep  as  a 
three-storey  building  with  a  central 
turret.  It  was  fortified  with  thirty 
culverins  and  ten  demi-culverins, ° 
on  the  east  and  south  sides,  trained 
so  as  to  command  the  river,  and  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  the 
governor  of  Tynemouth  castle.  At 
the  present  time  it  is  garrisoned  by  a  company  of  volunteer  submarine 
engineers. 

'  Cat.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1667,  p.  547.  -'  Trinity  House  MSS.  Order  Books. 

'  Its  foundations  were  laid  bare  and  washed  away  by  a  heavy  sea  in  October,  i8ii.  There  was  also 
'a  fort  raised  between  the  Uplight  and  the  town,'  which  was  destroyed  by  Sir  Thomas  Riddell  in 
January-,  1643/4.  Duke  of  Portlamfs  MSS.  Hist.  MSS.  Com.  vol.  i.  p.  167.  Compare  Various  Collections, 
Hist.  MSS.  Com.  vol.  ii.  p.  258. 

'  See  above,  pp.  187,  200,  and  Cat.  State  Papers  Domestic,  1671-1672,  pp.  399,  439. 

'Brit.  Mus.  King's  Library,  xxxiii.  23  g,  reproduced  on  p.  201  of  this  volume.  These  drawings  are 
by  Sir  Martin  Beckmann,  chief  engineer  of  Charles  II.,  who  appears  to  have  designed  the  work 
See  also  plate  in  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  36. 

'  Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  ii.  Biog.  Div.;   Wayfarings  of  Ralph  Thoreshy,  16S1,  p.  16. 


■f.. 
Corner  Turret  in  Clifford's  Kort. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP. 


277 


In  1686  the  Trinity  House  of  Newcastle  petitioned  for  an  increase  of 
the  duties  imposed  on  vessels  entering  the  Tyne.  Both  lighthouses  were 
inefficiently  lighted  and  required  to  be  rebuilt.  It  was  stated  that  the  high 
light  was  too  low  and  had  become  ruinous,  and  that  the  low  light  had  been 
rendered  inefficient  by  its  want  of  elevation  and  in  consequence  of  the 
obstruction  caused  by  the 
garrison  buildings  lately 
erected.  '  The  light  at 
Tinmouth,'  according  to 
this  petition,  '  receives  for 
its  mainteynance  for  every 
English  ship  I2d.,  and  for 
every  forraigner  3s.,  where- 
as their  are  two  lights  at 
Sheilds,  which,  although 
butt  candle-lights,  yett  each 
light  consists  of  two  candles 
in  the  pound  ;  each  of  which 
lights  is  as  chargeable  to 
mainteyne  as  that  of  Tin- 
mouth,  although  it  bee  a 
fire  light ;  and  two  men  are 
alwaies  imployed  to  looke  \ 
after  those  lights  at  Sheilds, 
who,  besides  their  candles, 
fireing  and  house  free,  re- 
ceive thirty  pound  per 
annum  sallery  from  the 
Trinity      House.''       New 

lighthouses    were     erected  ^-^^  y^^^  Low  Light. 

in  1727,  and  these  are  still 

standing.  Tallow  candles  were  still  in  use,  but  three  were  now  burnt 
in  each  tower  in  place  of  two."  Copper  reflectors  were  introduced  in 
1736,  and  oil  lamps  were  ordered  to  be  substituted  for  candles  at  the 
end    of    1773.-'      Lightage   dues  were   remodelled    in    iSoi,   and   graduated 

'  Trinity  House  MSS.  ■  Ibid.  '  Mackenzie,  Hist.  ScucaslU;  p.  684. 


278  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

according  to  the  register  tonnage  of  the  vessel.'  In  their  turn  the  light- 
houses of  1727  were  superseded  by  other  lights  built  in  1806- 1808  under 
powers  granted  to  the  Trinity  House  of  Newcastle,  by  Act  of  Parliament.- 
The  old  lighthouses  were  subsequently  converted  into  almshouses,  the 
lantern-turret  being  removed  from  the  old  low  light  to  make  way  for  an 
additional  storey.  Additional  almshouses  were  built  in  1887  adjoining  to 
the  old  high  light  in  Beacon  Street.' 

NOTE    ON    ROMAN    ARMOUR    FOUND    ON    TYNEMOUTH     BAR. 

By  F.  Haverfield. 

Two  interesting  pieces  of  Roman  armour  have  been  found  in  the  Tyne  :  the  boss  and  ornament 
from  a  shield,  and  the  cheek-piece  from  a  hehnet.  They  are  said  to  have  been  dredged  up  at  or  near 
the  bar  across  the  mouth  of  the  river,  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  and  they  appear  to  have  been 
discovered  together,  or  at  least  in  proximity.  But  the  actual  circumstances  of  the  discovery  have 
not  been  recorded,  nor  did  even  the  name  of  the  finder  transpire  at  the  time.  The  shield-boss  was 
bought  by  Canon  Greenwell  and,  after  long  forming  part  of  his  collection,  was  recently  acquired  by  the 
British  Museum.  The  cheek-piece  came  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Stephens  of  North  Shields,  and  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  his  son,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Stephens  of  Horsley  in  Redesdale. 

(1)  The  shield-boss  is  a  metal  plate,  rectangular  in  shape,  loj  inches  in  width  and  ii|  inches 
in  height,  and  slightly  curved,  so  as  to  fit  on  to  one  of  those  oblong  shields,  curved  to  cover  the 
body,  which  may  be  seen  figured,  for  example,  on  the  column  of  Trajan.  It  occupied  the  centre  of  such 
a  shield,  and  was  attached  by  eight  nails,  the  holes  for  which  are  visible  on  its  edges.  The  material 
is  bronze,  and  that  part  of  the  surface  which  forms  the  background  of  the  ornamentation  appears  to  have 
been  silvered  (not  tinned  as  is  stated  in  the  Lapidarium,  p.  58).  The  silver  is  now  blackened,  and  has 
sometimes  been  taken  erroneously  for  nidlo.'  Probably  the  ornamentation  was  made  by  first  silvering 
the  whole,  then  punching  the  outline  in  small  holes  in  the  silver,  and  finally  scratching  oft"  the  silver 
within  the  outline. 

The  ornament  consists  of  a  raised  central  boss  and  eight  small  flat  compartments  round  it.  The 
boss  is  adorned  with  the  figure  of  an  eagle  with  outspread  wings,  holding  in  its  beak  a  twig  with  leaves. 
The  ^iiius  of  the  tree  is  undislinguishable  on  the  actual  bronze,  but  analogies,  such  as  the  eagle  on 
the  tombstone  of  Cn.  Musius  at  Mainz,  suggest  that  it  is  meant  for  oak,  rather  than  for  olive  as  Dr.  Bruce 
suggested.  A  similar  shield-boss,  found  near  Mainz,  shows  an  eagle  holding  in  its  beak  a  wreath  or 
garland.  On  either  side  of  the  raised  boss  a  flat  compartment  contains  a  legionary  standard  of  the 
ordinary  type,  having  a  point  to  fix  it  in  the  earth,  five  of  the  usual  disks  or  phalerac,  a  cross-piece  with 
ribands  dependent  from  it,  and  on  the  top  an  upright  hand.      Over  one  of  the  standards  are  dotted  the 

'  The  rates  were  fixed  at  2s.  for  every  loaden  foreign  ship,  ild.  for  every  British  ship  of  less  than 
100  tons  burden,  is.  id.  for  British  ships  above  100  and  not  exceeding  200  tons,  is.  3d.  for  British  ships 
above  200  and  not  exceeding  300  tons,  and  is.  5d.  for  every  British  ship  above  300  tons  burden. 
'An  Act  for  extending  and  enlarging  the  powers,  and  increasing  the  rates  and  duties  of  the  corporation 
of  the  Trinity  House  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne.'     41  Geo.  III.  cap.  Ixxxvi. 

''  'An  Act  to  enable  the  master,  pilots  and  seamen  of  the  Trinity  House  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  10 
erect  two  new  lighthouses  at  Nortli  Shields,  at  or  near  the  port  of  Newcastle,  and  to  raise  a  fund  for 
defraying  the  charge  thereof.'     45  George  111.  cap.  Ixv. 

'■'  For  further  information  respecting  the  lighthouses  at  North  Shields  and  Tynemouth  see  Hesleton, 
Charitable  Establishments  for  Merchant  Seamen  (manuscript  in  the  library  of  the  Literary  and  Philosophical 
Society,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne).  Mr.  Hesleton  computes  the  number  of  ships  that  paid  lightage  to  the 
North  Shields  lights  to  be  as  follows  :  in  1539,  847  ;  in  1650,  3,125  ;  in  1700,  3,182  ;  in  1750,  2,897  ;  in 
1780,  4,249  ;  in  1800,  7,865  ;  in  1818,  11,165.  Lightage  and  other  dues  payable  to  the  Trinity  House  of 
Newcastle  were  abolislied  in  1862  by  the  Harbour  and  Passing  Tolls  Act,  24  &  25  Vict.  cap.  47. 

'  Information  from  the  Anglo-Roman  department,  British  Museum. 


TYNEMOUTH    TOWNSHIP.  279 

letters  LEG  viu  and  over  the  other  avg — tegio  viii  Augusta.  It  seems  prob.ible— though  it  has  not, 
I  think,  been  noticed — that  the  eagle  and  two  signa  form  a  group,  exactly  like  the  groups  consisting 
in  each  case  of  an  eagle  flanked  by  two  signa,  which  occur  regularly  on  Roman  monuments  and 
coins.'  Below  the  central  boss  is  a  flat  compartment  containing  the  figure  of  a  bull,  with  a  half-moon 
and  four  stars  above  him.  The  bull  is  the  emblem  of  the  Legio  V'lII  Augusta,  as  Dr.  Bruce  first 
suggested  and  as  the  coins  of  (iallienus  and  Carausius  amply  prove.  Prof.  A.  von  Domaszewski  has 
pointed  out  that  it  received  this  emblem  from  Julius  Caesar,  and  for  a  definite  reason.  The  deity  of  the 
Julian  house  was  Venus  genetrix,  and  the  part  of  the  year  over  which  she  presided  was  that  which  fell 
under  the  zodiacal  sign  of  the  bull.     What  the  moon  and  stars  denote  I  am  not  sure. 

The  five  other  compartments  of  this  ornament  contain  male  human  figures.  Along  the  top  are 
three.  On  the  left  is  a  nude  dancer,  or  the  like,  with  a  scarf  hanging  behind  him  from  his  arms,  and  a 
festoon  or  scarf  held  over  his  head  somewhat  as  if  it  were  being  used  for  a  skipping-rope.  His  attitude 
is  that  of  a  man  springing  backwards  in  some  game  or  dance.  In  the  centre  is  a  nude  figure,  also 
springing  backwards,  with  a  similar  scarf  over  the  arms,  but  equipped  with  a  helmet,  a  shield  and 
a  spear.  In  the  right-hand  corner  is  a  winged  nude  figure  in  a  similar  attitude  of  springing  backwards, 
again  with  a  scarf  over  the  arms  and  holding  in  his  right  hand  what  looks  like  a  scythe  or  sickle. 
At  the  bottom  of  the  shield  are  two  erect  standing  figures.  That  on  the  left  is  winged  and  undraped  ;  a 
scarf  hangs  over  the  arms  ;  in  the  right  hand  is  a  bunch  of  fruits  (?)  and  in  the  left  a  fruit  basket 
or  bucket  (?).  That  on  the  right  is  clad  in  a  tunic  and  has  a  scarf  over  the  arms  and  a  scarf  or  festoon 
over  the  head,  somewhat  like  its  diagonal  vis-ii-vis. 

It  is  not  quite  clear  whether  these  five  figures  possess  any  special  significance,  or  are  merely 
conventional  decoration.  The  centre-piece  at  the  top  may  be  intended  for  Mars,  though  the  scarf  is 
somewhat  strange  in  this  connection.  The  other  four  were  explained  by  Dr.  Bruce  and  Prof.  Hiibner 
as  the  four  Seasons.  According  to  this  view  Spring,  in  the  top  left-hand  corner,  is  a  youth  vainly 
pulling  his  clothes  around  him  in  windy  March  weather."  Summer  is  an  unclad  husbandman  with  a 
scythe.  Autumn  holds  fruits  and  a  basket,  and  Winter  is  wrapped  in  fur,  while  his  scarf  is  blown  about 
by  the  wind.  This  explanation  is  in  part,  at  least,  correct.  The  figures  identified  as  Summer,  Autumn 
and  Winter  agree  with  figures  of  those  Seasons  in  other  works  of  ancient  art,  and  Spnng  is  not 
unsuitable  to  the  same  idea.  But  figures  resembling  the  four  Seasons  are  so  frequently  used  as  a  mere 
decoration  of  corners,  that  we  may  wonder  whether  real  meaning  attaches  to  them  in  this  case.  No 
connexion  is  apparent  between  a  soldier's  shield  and  the  four  Seasons.  It  would  be  fanciful  to  argue 
that  a  soldier's  business  goes  on  in  all  months  equally.  Indeed,  under  the  conditions  of  ancient  warfare, 
it  tended  not  to  do  so.  Probably,  therefore,  the  decorator  of  the  shield  merely  chose  four  corner-pieces 
suitable  to  his  design  without  thinking  of  their  special  significance.  What  he  meant  by  the  pieces  of 
drapery  (?)  which  hang  from  the  top  of  each  compartment,  like  curtains  in  a  room  or  stage,  is  not  clear. 
But  it  is  never  safe  to  press  the  details  of  conventional  ornament. 

The  shield  also  bears  two  inscriptions,  the  letters  of  which  are  made  with  dots  punched  through  the 
silver  covering  of  the  surface.  One  of  these,  LEG  vill  avg,  has  been  already  noted.  The  other  fills 
the  edge  near  the  lower  left-hand  corner  and  reads  O  IVL  .M\.^GN'I  IVNI  DVBIT.vii,  that  is,  ccnturia  lul{i) 
Magiii,  Iiini  Diibitati.  In  other  words,  the  shield  belonged  to  lunius  Dubitatus.  a  soldier  in  the  centur)- 
of  lulius  Magnus  and  the  Eighth  Legion  Augusta.  The  insertion  of  an  extra  element  in  the  M  of 
Magiii  is,  of  course,  a  mere  slip  of  the  man  who  punched  it  on.  Similar  inscriptions,  recording  the 
ownership  of  armour,  are  not  uncommon  among  Roman  remains. 

The  Eighth  Legion  was  never  quartered  in  Britain.  But  it  contributed  a  detachment  or  vexillalio 
for  temporary  service  in  the  island  on  one  occasion,  and  probably  did  so  on  another.  It  is  possible, 
though  not  certain,  that  some  of  its  men  were  included  in  the  army  of  the  Claudian  invasion  in  .VD.  43. 
It  is  certain,  as  an   inscription  of  Ferenlinum  tells  us,  that  vfxillatioiies,  a  thousand  strong,  of  the 

■  .A..  V.  Domaszewski,  Fahiun  im  rumischen  Heen  (Wien,  1885),  p.  4",  Figs.  20,  34  foil.  ;  Arch.  Epigr. 
Mitt.  vol.  XV.  p.  192,  Fig.  3. 

-Dr.  Bruce  puts  in  a  snake  at  his  feet,  'to  indicate  the  renewal  of  vital  energy  in  the  lower 
creatures.'  This  is  improbable  as  symbolism,  and  I  cannot  see  the  snake  on  the  original. 
Lindenschmidt  seems  not  to  believe  in  the  four  Seasons  at  all. 


28o  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Legions  VII  Gemina,  VIII  Augusta  and  XXII.  Primigenia,  joined  in  an  cxpcdilh  Brittinitica  about  the 
time  of  Hadrian.'  The  date  of  the  expedition  is  not  given.  Hut  it  would  appear  to  have  taken  place 
a  few  years  after  the  death  of  Trajan,  in  .\.U.  117,  and  it  may  be  reasonably  identified  with  the  visit  of 
Hadrian  to  Britain  in  or  alrout  .\.v.  122,  and  the  erection  of  the  Wall  of  Hadrian  from  Tync  to  Sohvay. 
The  vexillation  was  doubtless  here  only  for  a  brief  period,  and  it  has  therefore  left  very  scanty  traces  of 
itself.  One  such  trace  is  our  shield.  It  is  not  possible  to  connect  this  with  the  Claudian  invasion.  No 
Roman  soldier  could  have  penetrated  so  far  north  as  the  Tyne  in  a.d.  43.  On  the  other  hand  the  Tyne 
was  the  centre  of  Hadrian's  activity.  It  may  be  added,  as  a  straw  indicating  the  wind  of  probabilities, 
that  the  description  of  the  owner  of  the  shield  Ijy  his  noinen  and  cof^iioiiicii,  without  h'lfi  pnunonuii,  suits 
far  better  with  the  time  of  Hadrian  than  with  that  of  Claudius. 

It  is  not  unlikely— though  it  cannot  of  course  be  proved — that  the  owner  of  the  armour  was  wrecked 
on  the  Tyne  bar.  We  possess  some  little  evidence  that  Roman  troops  sometimes  sailed  from  the  Rhine 
to  the  Tyne  instead  of  landing  in  south  Britain  and  marching  inland."  Such  a  voyage  had  its  special 
perils,  and  the  entrance  to  the  Tyne  may  well  count  as  one  of  them.  It  may  be,  as  Canon  Greenwell 
has  suggested,  that  the  rest  of  the  equipment  of  lunius  Dubitatus  is  still  lying  in  the  mud  of  the  river 
bed  near  -Shields. 

(2)  The  other  piece  of  armour  found  in  the  river  demands  less  comment.  It  is  the  left  cheek-piece 
of  a  helmet,  7j  inches  high  by  4|  inches  wide,  decorated,  as  such  pieces  often  were,  with  a  design  made 
by  lines  of  small  punched  dots.  This  design  shows  one  of  the  Dioscuri  (Castor  or  Pollux  1,  holding  a 
spear  in  his  left  hand  and  the  bridle  of  his  horse  in  his  right.  Below  and  above  is  some  conventional 
geometrical  ornament.     The  other  of  the  pair  was  doubtless  figured  on  the  right  cheek-piece.' 


CULLERCOATS    TOWNSHIP. 

The  north-east  corner  of  what  was  formerly  Tynemouth  township  now 
constitutes  a  separate  poor-law  township  and  forms  the  village  of  Culler- 
coats.  It  lies  by  the  seashore  on  the  south  side  of  the  Marden  burn,'  is 
bounded  by  John  Street  on  the  west,  comprises  an  area  of  fifteen  acres, 
and  in  1901  had  a  population  of  1,743.^  Coal  was  worked  here  in  13 15, 
when  the  workings  were  destroyed  in  a  Scottish  invasion.^  Though  the 
water-mill  of  Marden  is  not  mentioned  by  name  before  the  suppression  of 
the  monastery,  it  was  probably  one  of  the  six  mills  belonging  to  Tynemouth 
in  1292,"  and  may  be  identified  with  the  water-mill  existing  in  1483,  when 
Richard  III.  gave  ;£,  100  to  Prior  Boston  as  provision  for  its  maintenance." 
In  1538  Marden  mill  was  in  the  occupation  of  Robert  Dove  and  John 
Dove,  and  formed  part  of  the  prior's  demesne.'*     Receivers'  accounts  show 

'  Corpus  Inscr.  Lat.  x.  5,829,  Dessau  2,727.  "  Arch.  Ael.  second  series,  vol.  xxv.  p.  143. 

'  The  shield-boss  has  been  published  and  figured  in  the  Lapidarium  Septentrionalc,  p.  58,  No.  106, 
and  in  Lindenschmidl, /l//tv<yn(wif>-  unscrer  hcidnnchen  Vorzeit  (Mainz,  18S1),  vol.  iii.  pt.  iv.  Plate  III. 
The  cheek-piece  was  exhibited  to  the  Newcastle  Society  of  Antiquaries  in  li?,^  {Proceedings,  second  series, 
vol.  i.  pp.  340-341),  and  has  been  kindly  lent  by  its  present  owner  for  the  purpose  of  this  description. 

'  The  course  of  the  Marden  burn  can  still  be  traced  in  the  depression  running  up  by  Eskdale  Terrace. 

'Population  statistics  for  the  township  are:  1801,  452;  1811,  454;  1821,  536;  1831,  542;  1841, 
738;  1851,695;  1861,866;  1871,  1,398;   1881,  1,365;  1891,  1,620;  1901,  1,743. 

'  Tynemouth  Chariulary,  fol.  168.  '  See  above,  page  251. 

'  See  above,  page  106.  '  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  jjp.  217-218. 


PLATE  XVI. 


Boss  OF   Roman   Shield   found  in   the  Tyne. 


CULLERCOATS   TOWNSHIP.  28  I 

that  it  was  being  rebuilt  in  1598- 1599.  Trees  were  felled  and  squared  in 
Hedley  wood,  and  carted  thence  to  Blaydon  staith,  after  long  delay  'for 
that  the  frehoulders  of  Proddoo  refused  to  lede  the  same  which  fell  for 
ther  partes  to  lede  by  the  baylif  s  order  and  th'other  tennants.'  The  timber 
was  wrecked  in  the  river  and  had  to  be  weighed  up  again.  The  cost  of 
building  was  £1"]   17s.,  besides  £(i  for  a  pair  of  millstones.* 

Amongst  the  parcels  of  demesne  of  which  the  tenants  of  Tynemouth 
had  the  herbage  in  1539  were  two  closes  called  Nether  Marden  and  Upper 
Harden."  A  close  containing  two  acres  of  pasture,  called  Culvercoats 
close,  is  mentioned  in  a  survey  taken  about  1600  as  being  part  of  the 
demesne.'  The  dovecote  from  which  the  name  was  derived  may  have 
stood  near,  and  been  built  in  connection  with,  the  mill.  Arnold's  close 
alias  Marden  close,  also  known  as  Culler  Corners,  was  held  in  1606  by 
Ralph  Delaval  of  Tynemouth.  Ralph  Delaval  conveyed  it  in  that  year  to 
his  brother  Peter  Delaval,  whose  son,  John  Delaval,  sold  it  as  freehold  in 
1 61 8  to  Thomas  Wrangham."  The  latter  disposed  of  his  estate  in  1621 
to  Thomas  Dove  of  Whitley.'  John  Dove  of  Whitley,  son  and  heir  of 
Thomas  Dove,  joined  the  Society  of  Friends,  and,  with  his  brother  William, 
was  imprisoned  at  Tynemouth  castle  for  attending  a  quakers'  meeting  in 
1 66 1.  In  the  following  year  he  enclosed  a  piece  of  land  at  the  north  end 
of  John  Street  (formerly  called  Back  Lane)  as  a  private  burying-ground, 
and  interments  took  place  here  until  1818.'  He  became  partner  in  1676 
with  John  Carr  of  Newcastle,  John  Rogers  of  Denton,  Henry  Hudson  of 
Newbiggin,  and  others,  in  Whitley  colliery.  By  way  of  providing  for  the 
exportation  of  coals  won  at  Whitley  a  pier  was  erected  at  CuUercoats  in 
1677,  and  was  constructed   at  the  joint  expense  of  Lady  Elizabeth   Percy 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  That  the  mill  was  at  the  mouth  of  the  burn,  and  not  near 
Marden  farm,  appears  from  Thomas  Dove's  lease  in  1644  of  land  in  Arnold's  close  (novv  (.ullercoats) 
boundered  by  Marden  mill  on  the  north  and  by  the  sea  on  the  north-east,  romhnson,  Hisloncal  .\oUs 
on  CuUercoats,  etc.,  p.  5. 

-  See  above,  page  262. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.     Early  seventeenth  century  surN-ey  of  Tynemouthshire. 

'  Dr.  Simpson's  deeds,  from  Mr.  H.  A.  .\damson's  collection.  Arnold's  close  is  defined  in  the  deed 
of  1621  as  'late  the  inheritance  of  one  Maddison  and  Follensby,  situate  and  being  within  the  tield 
and  liberty  of  Tynemouth,  boundering  on  the  town  moor  on  the  west,  and  upon  a  beck  or  river  called 
Marden  on  the  north,  and  the  sea  banks  towards  the  east,  and  upon  a  gutter  or  running  swirl  towards 
the  south-east.' 

>  Accounts  of  the  Dove  familv  have  been  given  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Tomlinson,  CulUrcoats,  pp.  4:13-  and 
39-40,  and  by  Mr.  Maberly  Phill'ips,  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xvi.  pp.  2S1-294.  For  a  pedigree  ot 
the  family  see  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  .xix.  p.  125. 

"With  regard  to  the  bur>ing-ground  see  Maberly:.Phillips,  'Forgotten  Hur>ing  Grounds  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,'  Arch.  Act.  2nd  series,  vol.  .\vi.  pp.  275-2S1. 

Vol.  VIII.  ■^^ 


282 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


and  of  the  lessees  of  Whitley  colliery,  the  total  cost  being  ^3,013.  Upon 
a  petition  presented  in  the  same  year  by  Lady  Elizabeth  Percy  to  the  lord 
treasurer,  Cullercoats  was  made  a  member  of  the  port  of  Newcastle,  and, 
like  Seaton  Sluice,  was  put  under  the  charge  of  a  custom-house  officer 
resident  at  Blyth.  Salt  pans  were  started  at  Cullercoats  in  connection  with 
Whitley  colliery.     Coal  was  also  worked  upon  the  estate.^ 

In  1682  Thomas  Dove  of  Whitley,  son  and  heir  of  John  Dove  above 
mentioned,   built   himself  a  dwelling-house   in    Cullercoats,   which    is   still 


it-V' 


,vly: 


m 


'  "L, 


'il< 


lAl 


y{x.^ 


'^M^j' 


i^-'y.'^&:''!> 


■/:^:: 


'■'■'ly- . 


I'l '''i 


M' 


liJlM 


im 


I'-^S 


Sparrow  Hall. 


Standing  and  is  known  as  Sparrow  hall.  His  son,  John  Dove  of  Wapping, 
sold  it  in  1706  to  his  kinsman,  Zephaniah  Haddock."  Eleanor  Dove,  only 
daughter  of  John  Dove  the  younger,  by  his  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  Enoch 
Hudson  of  Brunton,  inherited  her  father's  property  at  Cullercoats,  and,  on 
August  5th,  1742,  married  Curwen  Huddleston,  incumbent  of  St.  Nicholas', 
Whitehaven,  and  of  Clifton  in  Westmorland.'  Their  representatives  still 
own  property  in  Cullercoats. 

'  Tomlinson,  Cullercoats,  pp.  6-9.  -  Ibiit  pp.  g,  13. 

'  The  Rev.  Curwen  Huddleston  was  second  son  of  Wilfrid  Huddleston  of  Hutton  John,  for  whose 
ancestry  see  Miscellanea  Genealogica  et  Heraldica,  new  series,  vol.  ii.  p.  40S. 


CULLERCOATS    TOWNSHIP. 


283 


In  consequence  of  its  growing  population,  Cullercoats  was  separated 
from  Tynemouth  by  an  order  made  in  quarter  sessions  on  July  6th,  1690, 
and  created  a  distinct  township.'  The  coal  and  salt  trade  flourished. 
Besides  two  salt  pans  erected  near  the  pier  by  Thomas  Fearon  of  South 
Shields  in  1677,  there  were  seventeen  pans  in  the  hands  of  John  Rogers 
and  partners,-  namely,  seven  on  the  north  side  of  the  bay  and  ten  on  the 
south  side,  on  the  point  then  called  'Coning  Garth,'  above  Smuggler's  Cove. 
In  the  year  1708  these  pans  produced  2,180  tons  and  yielded  a  clear  profit 
of  £53^-^     Warburton    estimated    that    the   harbour,  piers  and  salt  works 


^■'v^-;/.v«l&;;'«*''^:^^^ 


■     -'  'V( 

Cullercoats  Harbour. 


would  bring  in  ;^i,700  per  annum. ^  This  commercial  prosperity  did  not, 
however,  last  for  long.  About  the  year  17 10  the  outworks  of  the  pier  were 
carried  away  by  a  heavy  sea.  Whitley  colliery  ceased  working  in  1724, 
and  Cullercoats  colliery  was  laid  in  on  June  4th  of  the  preceding  year. 
The  salt  trade  did  not  survive  the  loss  of  the  local  supply  of  '  pan  '  coal 
on  which  it  was  dependent.     In    1724  only  756  tons  of  salt  were  cleared 

'  '  Ordered  that  whereas  the  towne  of  CuUercoates  is  growne  numerous  and  populous,  and  but 
about  a  mile  distance  from  Tynemouth,  and  many  houses  new  built  there,  it  is  ordered  that  it  be  made  a 
distinct  constabulary  of  itselfe  ;  that  William  Richardson  be  svvorne  petty  constable  there.  -And  it  is 
further  ordered  that  Mr.  John  Mills,  high  constable,  doe  order  and  settle  their  proportions  of  assessments 
and  rates  of  Cullercoats  and  Tynemouth,  and  what  in  particular  shall  be  paid  by  Tynmouth  and  what 
by  CuUercoates.     St:ssioiis  Order  Books,  vol.  ii. 

■  John  Rogers,  son  of  John  Rogers  the  elder,  by  will  dated  September  20th,  1711,  devised  to  his 
mother,  Elizabeth  Rogers,  for  life,  with  other  properties,  his  collieries  and  salt  pans  at  Cullercoats, 
Monkseaton,  Whitley,  and  Hartley,  with  remainder  to  Colonel  Nathaniel  Blakiston.  .An  account  of  the 
Rogers  family  has  been  given  by  Mr.  W.  W.  Tomlinson,  Denton  Hall  and  its  Associations. 

'  Purvis  papers  in  the  custody  of  Messrs.  Griffith. 

'  Warburton,  Magna  Britannia  ;  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


284  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

coastwise,  and  668  tons  in  the  following  year.  In  1726  the  export  trade 
ceased  altogether,  six  of  the  pans  being  sold  to  Richard  Ridley  and  Com- 
pany for  ;^456  and  transferred  to  Blyth.' 

After  salt  had  ceased  to  be  manufactured  at  Cullercoats,  the  village 
developed  into  a  fishing  station,  and  was  described  in  1749  as  'the  best 
fish-market  in  the  north  of  England.'^  The  pier,  after  long  lying  in  ruins, 
was  rebuilt  in  1848.  Herring  fishing  has  now  left  the  village,  but  white 
fishing  is  carried  on  during  the  winter,  and  many  cobles  are  employed  for 
catching  salmon  during  the  summer  months. 


NORTH  SHIELDS  TOWNSHIP. 

North  Shields  township  is  a  narrow  strip  of  land  along  the  northern 
bank  of  the  Tyne.  Its  boundary  commences  about  half  a  mile  up  the 
river  from  Tynemouth,  to  the  south  of  the  bridge  crossing  the  Pow  burn 
at  the  Low  Lights,  and  proceeds  along  the  north  side  of  the  Low  Light 
Stairs  and  along  what  was  called  in  the  eighteenth  centurv  '  Shields  Bank 
Head '  to  a  point  opposite  the  foot  of  Stephenson  Street.  It  then 
intersects  some  of  the  houses  on  the  south  side  of  Tyne  Street  and  crosses 
the  Library  Flags  at  the  foot  of  Howard  Street,  whence  it  proceeds  in  a 
north-westerly  direction  to  the  Magnesia  Bank  ;  thence  northward  to 
Union  Street  and  westward  to  the  Church  Stairs  and  Causey  Bank.  There 
it  traverses  Wooden  Bridge  Bank  and  so  goes  along  the  Ropery  Banks 
(crossing  the  bridge  over  the  Borough  Road)  as  far  as  Collingwood  Street. 
Running  up  and  across  that  street  it  reaches  Mount  Pleasant,  and,  crossing 
Burdon  Main  Row,  continues  along  the  north  side  of  North  Street,  Milburn 
Place,  to  the  west  end  of  the  street.  At  that  point  it  turns  south-west 
by  Dock  (or  West)  Street,  and  intersects  the  Ballast  Hill  on  the  south 
side,  to  the  west  of  Smith's  Dock,  whence  it  goes  in  a  southerly  direction 
to  the  river  Tyne.  Its  area  is  103  acres,  but  this  includes  seventy  acres  of 
water,  the  southern  boundary  being  taken  to  be  a  line  equidistant  from 
the  Northumberland  and  Durham  shores  of  the  Tyne. 

'All  over  the  wastes  (as  they  call  them),'  says  Camden,  writing  of  the 
condition  of  the  south-west  of  the  countv  in  Elizabeth's  time,  'as  well  as 

'  Tomlinson,  Cullci-coats,  pp.  13-16.  ■  Ibid.  p.  17,  citing  Newcastle  Journal,  October  7th,  1749. 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP.  285 

in  Gillesland,  you  would  think  you  see  the  ancient  Noinades  ;  a  martial  sort 
of  people  that  from  April  to  August  lie  in  little  hutts  (which  they  call 
shcals  and  shea  lings)  here  and  there  among  their  several  flocks."  As  far 
back  as  the  seventh  century  of  the  Christian  era  there  were  to  be  found  in 
Northumberland  these  thatched  and  turf-built  huts,  tenanted  by  shepherds 
during  the  summer  months  and  left  deserted  in  the  winter  time.^ 

Into  the  Tyne  on  the  north  side,  at  the  point  where  the  banks  begin 
to  trend  away  north  and  south  and  the  river  finds  a  broader  channel,  there 
flows  a  little  stream  called  the  Pow  burn,  which  now  finds  a  vent  through 
a  conduit  into  the  river,  but  was  once  an  important  tributary,  called  '  Pwl,' 
the  stream  or  water.  Here  there  were  three  fishers'  huts  or  shiels.^  At 
the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century  no  one  knew  how  long  they  had  stood 
there.  The  fishermen  of  Tynemouth  had  always  made  use  of  them  and  put 
out  and  in  at  this  point.  There  was  a  wharf  here.  In  September,  18 19, 
in  digging  to  make  gas  tanks  at  the  Low  Lights  in  the  Pow  dean,  the 
workmen  came,  at  a  distance  of  twelve  feet  six  inches  from  the  surface, 
on  a  framing  of  large  oaken  beams,  as  black  as  ebony,  pinned  together 
with  wooden  trenails,  the  whole  forming  a  pier  to  which  vessels  drawing 
nine  or  ten  feet  of  water  had  come.  Large  oak  trees  were  also  found 
embedded  in  the  mud,  hollowed  out  as  if  to  convey  water. ^ 

In  or  about  the  year  1225  Prior  Germanus  began  to  build  at  the  Sheels, 
or,  as  the  name  is  now  written.  Shields.  The  land  was  the  prior's  demesne 
and  was  then  within  the  township  of  Tynemouth.  A  permanent  population 
of  fishermen  was  settled  here,  who,  in  return  for  the  privilege  of  having 
boats  of  their  own,  were  bound  to  provide  fish  for  the  monastery.  Seven 
houses  were  built  between  the  Pow  burn  and  a  'sikket'  to  the  west,  in 
which  one  may  recognize  the  now  dry  Dogger  letch.  Beyond  the  sikket 
there  were  twenty  more  houses.  All  were  built  close  down  to  the  shore, 
and  a  few  must  have  been  raised  on  piles,  for  they  extended  six  to  sixteen 
feet  within  high-water  mark.  Every  house  had  a  quay  attached.  Some 
had   two  quavs.      Mills  were  built  there,  and  the  place  developed  into  a 

'  Gough,  Camden,  ed.  1772,  p.  1079-  '  Bede,  Vita  Cuthbcrti,  cap.  5.     See  also  vol.  iv.  of  this 

work,  p.  30. 

"  'To  many  of  the  fisheries  on  the  Tweed  is  attached  a  building  called  a  shid  or  shuUt,  in  which  the 
fishermen  at  certain  seasons  keep  their  nets,  etc.,  and  use  as  a  dwellnig,  Arch.  Ad.  Ist  series,  vol.  w. 

P-  303- 

'Newcastle  Coiirant,  October  2nd,  1819.  Gentleman's  Magazine,  vol.  I.\x.xix.  pt.  n.  pp.  341-342. 
The  pavement  of  an  ancient  roadway  was  discovered  near  the  same  place  in  September,  ii>4«>,  at  tne 
depth  of  si.\  feet  below  the  surface.     Latimer,  Local  Recoids,  p.  220. 


286  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

small  port.  Vessels  put  in  and  were  laden  with  coal  at  the  pier  at  the 
Pow  burn  mouth.  Dressed  hides  were  sent  out  from  a  tannery  at  Preston. 
An  import  trade  of  fish,  wine  and  wool  came  into  existence.  The  number 
of  merchantmen  who  used  the  port  caused  a  retail  trade  to  be  started  for 
supplying  their  needs. 

The  new  settlement  aroused  the  jealousy  of  the  merchants  of  New- 
castle. About  the  year  1267,  a  large  number  of  Newcastle  burgesses,  led 
by  their  mayor,  Nicholas  Scot,  armed  themselves  and  descended  on  the 
village.  Thev  beat  and  maltreated  the  monks  and  servants  of  the  priory  on 
whom  they  could  lay  their  hands  ;  they  set  fire  to  the  mills  and  houses, 
and  carried  off  a  vessel  loaded  with  coal  which  they  found  lying  there.  The 
affair  was  notorious.  To  preserve  the  dignity  of  the  order,  the  abbot  of 
Waltham,  as  conservator  of  the  privileges  of  Saint  Alban's,  wrote  insisting 
that  satisfaction  should  be  made,  or,  failing  satisfaction,  that  these  'Satan's 
satellites  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne'  should  appear  before  him.'  At  the 
assizes  of  1269  the  prior  brought  a  writ  against  149  persons  for  the  recovery 
of  damages  estimated  at  ^300,  but,  as  he  did  not  appear  and  so  suffered 
the  case  to  drop,  parties  must  already  have  come  to  an  arrangement."  New 
houses  were  built  on  the  east  of  the  Pow  burn  where  the  Low  Light  and 
Clifford's  fort  now  stand;  thirty-two  had  been  erected  before  1280  and 
si.xteen  more  in  the  course  of  the  next  ten  years.  In  1292  a  hundred  houses 
existed,  at  Shields. 

The  growth  of  the  mercantile  port  and  the  loss  of  royal  tolls  consequent 
upon  the  decrease  of  Newcastle  trade  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  the 
king  in  1275.'     Fifteen  years,  however,  were  suffered  to  elapse  before  any 

'  Abbas  sancte  crucis  de  Waltham,  conservator  privilegiorum  monasterii  sancti  Albani  et  ejusdem 
cellarum,  etc.,  discrete  viro  magistro  Roberto  de  Dryfteld,  rectori  ecclesie  de  Poiiteland  et  vicario  de  Neu- 
burn,  salutem  in  domino,  etc.  Quoniam  Sathane  satellites  de  Novo  Castro  super  Tynani,  prout  in  quadam 
ccdula  huic  litterc  appensa  quorundam  nomina  duximus  nominanda,  in  quosdam  monachos  de  Tynem' 
et  scrvientes  eorundem,  Uei  timore  postposito,  manus  violentas  injecerunt,  eosdem  verberando  aliasque 
male  tractando,  et  domos  eorundem  infra  libertatem  sancti  Oswyni  combusserunt,  necnon  et  plura  bona 
eorundem  maliciose  asportaverunt,  in  ma.vimum  dicti  monasterii  prejudicium  et  libertatis  ecclesiastice 
conceptuni  ac  scandalum  plurimorum,  quod  ita  manifestum  est  in  partibus  Northumbriae  quod  nulla 
tergiversacione  potest  celari  ;  vobis  in  virtute  obediencie  firmiter  injungendo  mandamus  sub  pena 
canonice  districlionis  quatinus  dictos  malefactores  moneatis  et  efficaciter  inducatis  quod  sine  mora  de 
prefata  yiolencia  injiiriis  et  spoliacionibus  uno  et  dampnis  actenus  illatis  tam  publiciter  et  notorie  dictis 
monachis  plenarie  satisfaciant.  Alioquin  si  monuitis  vestris,  quod  absit,  parere  neglexerint,  eosdem 
omnes  et  singulos,  prout  nomina  eorundem  in  cedula  du.xerimus  redigenda,  peremptorie  citatis  quod 
coinpareant  coram  nobis  vel  commissariis  nostris  in  conventuali  ecclesia  nostra  de  Waltham  pro.ximo  die 
juridico  post  festum  s.  Jacobi  Apostoli,  abbati  de  sancto  Albano  et  priori  suo  de  Tynem'  et  ejusdem  loci 
conventui  super  sibi  obiciendis  responsuros,  etc.    Datum  apud  Waltham.    Tyncmouth  Chartulary,  fol.  1 16  b. 

'  Northumberland  Assize  Rolls,  Surt.  See.  No.  88,  p.  162. 

'  Roiuli  Hundredoruiii,  Record  Commission,  vol.  ii.  p.  18. 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP.  287 

Steps  were  taken.  In  1290  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  was  summoned  to 
appear  in  parliament  to  answer  the  king  and  the  burgesses  of  Newcastle. 
The  charges  against  the  prior  were  that  he  had  made  a  new  town  at  Shields 
and  had  fishers,  bakers,  and  brewers  living  there,  from  whom  he  received 
an  annual  rent  of  thirty-six  marks  and  upwards,  and  took  '  furnage  '  and 
'  forstall '  which  were  rightfully  the  king's,  with  a  consequent  loss  to  the 
royal  treasury  of  thirty  pounds  yearly  ;  that  he  took  tolls  and  prises  in 
kind  of  the  wine,  herring,  and  haddock  brought  into  port,  which  prises 
ought  to  be  taken  at  Newcastle  by  the  king's  oflScers ;  that  he  had  bakers 
at  Tynemouth,  who  sold  bread  at  Shields  to  the  sailors  and  others  who 
put  in  there,  whereas  these  ought  to  have  gone  to  Newcastle  to  buv  their 
victuals  ;  and  that  sailors  were  allowed  to  put  in  to  the  new  port  for  the 
purpose  of  selling  their  merchandise  and  cargoes,  with  the  result  that  the 
market  dues  went  to  the  prior  instead  of  to  the  king.  The  prior,  while 
denying  that  he  had  any  market  or  bakery  at  Shields,  admitted  the  sub- 
stantial truth  of  the  other  statements,  but  proceeded  to  justify  them  bv  the 
practice  of  his  predecessors  and  the  charter  granted  to  the  monasters'  bv 
Richard  I.  ;  this  charter  being  antecedent  to  the  granting  of  similar  and 
conflicting  privileges  to  the  burgesses  of  Newcastle  by  King  John.  In 
dealing  with  the  landing  and  selling  of  fish  without  payment  of  toll,  he 
drew  a  distinction  between  strangers,  who  did,  or  at  least  ought  to,  pav 
toll  and  custom  to  the  king  for  fish  sold  or  taken  on  board,'  and  the  fishers 
of  his  own  demesne.  These  latter  were  employed  for  provisioning  the 
monastery  ;  thev,  therefore,  were  privileged  by  Stephen's  charter,  which 
allowed  the  monks  to  buy  freely,  that  is,  free  from  the  payment  of  any 
custom,  whatever  was  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  their  house.  He 
took  exception  to  the  form  of  the  proceedings,  which  was  a  series  of 
criminal  charges  ;  the  subject-matter  in  dispute  was,  according  to  him,  his 
free  tenement,  for  which  he  was  not  bound  to  make  answer  except  under 
the  king's  writ. 

This  ground  of  defence  was  unfortunate.  The  king's  attorney  replied 
that  the  prior's  demesne  did  not  extend  to  the  middle  of  the  stream  as  he 
claimed,  but  only  to  high-water  mark,  and  that,  consequently,  some  of  the 
houses  in  Shields  were  on  the  king's  land.      It  was  also  pointed  out   that 

'  On  October  nth,  1485,  the  king  granted  for  life  to  Edward  Vavasour  the  office  of 'prayser;  offish 
at  Newbiggin  and  Tynemouth.    ^taterials  illustrative  of  the  Reign  of  Henry  Vll.  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  p.  S2. 


288  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

the  prior  had  himself  admitted  the  port  of  Tyne  to  be  the  king's,  and  that, 
therefore,  he  could  have  no  liberties  therein.  The  prior's  defence  with 
regard  to  his  own  fishermen  was  inconclusive,  since  sixteen  large  fishing 
boats  could  not  be  supposed  to  be  required  for  the  provision  of  as  many 
monks  with  fish.  His  real  object  was  trade,  and  not  simply  to  provide  for 
home  consumption.  An  account  was  given  by  the  prosecution  of  how 
vessels,  large  and  small,  a  hundred  or  even  two  hundred  at  a  time  would 
come  in  to  Shields  ;  how  the  prior  and  his  men  came  down  to  the  port  with 
horses  and  mules  and  made  their  purchases,  and  then  the  ships  and  boats 
went  on  their  way  to  Newcastle,  half  empty,  or  else  with  a  cargo  made  up 
from  the  remainders  of  several  vessels  which  had  disposed  of  the  greater 
part  of  their  freight.  The  victualling  trade  at  Shields  was  said  to  be  so 
thriving  that  many  bakers  and  brewers  had  left  Newcastle  and  settled  there 
and  at  Tynemouth,  to  the  damage  both  of  the  king  and  of  Newcastle. 

A  judgment  was  delivered  in  the  king's  favour.  Owners  of  vessels 
were  forbidden  in  future  to  unload  or  to  take  in  cargoes  at  Shields,  or  to 
sell  their  merchandise  in  that  town.  No  provisions  were  to  be  sold  there 
to  merchantmen.  All  wharves  which  extended  below  high-water  mark 
were  ordered  to  be  removed.  So  ended  the  first  attempt  made  by  Tyne- 
mouth priory  to  establish  a  trading  community  on  the  Tyne.' 

Shields  continued  to  exist  as  a  small  township.  The  subsidy  roll  of 
1296  gives  the  names  of  its  principal  inhabitants:' 

Shields  Subsidy  Roll,  1296. 

£      s.      d.  s.      d. 


Siimma  bonnium  Roljerti  Suynuynd 

0 

15 

0 

unde  rcgi 

1 

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.Summa  hujus  ville,  ^iS  is.  8d.  ;  unde  domino  rcgi,  £1   12s.  loid. 

'  The  proceedings  are  printed  in  Kotiili  I'aiiiamentdrii,  vol.  i.  p.  26,  and   lirand,  NcK'castlc,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  557  d  scq. 

■  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  1  j"^,  24  Edw.  I. 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP.  289 

Shields  began  to  revive  in  the  hitter  part  of  the  fourteenth  century. 
The  town  had  its  own  bailiffs  in  1364.'  In  1376,  the  priory  was  receiving 
from  the  township  an  annual  rent  of  £()  7s.  6d.-  It  began  to  be  called 
North  Shields  to  distinguish  it  from  the  prior  of  Durham's  town  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river.  Its  second  development  dates  from  about  1390. 
Some  four  acres  of  land  below  high-water  mark  were  reclaimed  and 
covered  with  two  hundred  houses — inns  and  stables,  wine  taverns,  butchers' 
stalls,  shambles,  shops,  '  herynghowses '  and  '  fishe-howses.'  A  new  market 
was  started.  An  assize  of  bread  and  wine  and  ale  was  kept.  The  prior 
made  himself  thirteen  bake-houses,  where  a  thousand  quarters  of  corn 
were  yearly  baked  into  bread  ;  and  brew-houses,  at  which  he  found  a 
vent,  every  year,  for  two  thousand  quarters  of  his  barley-malt.  He  claimed 
and  took  wreck  of  the  sea,  flotsam  and  jetsam,  and  deodands  found  upon 
the  water.  Twenty  years  later,  as  trade  increased,  he  commenced  build- 
ing staiths  along  the  shore,  where  ships  could  lie  to  and  load  at  all 
stages  of  the  tide.^ 

The  merchants  of  Newcastle  were  ever  ready  to  defend  their  extensive 
privileges.  In  1401,  a  commission  was  appointed  to  enquire  into  the 
report  that  divers  men  of  Northumberland  and  Durham  had  loaded  and 
unloaded  vessels  with  merchandise  on  either  side  of  the  river  Tyne  ; 
had  taken  prises,  toll,  custom,  and  wreck  of  the  sea  ;  and  had  bought 
and  sold  in  places  unaccustomed  in  times  past,  built  on  either  side  ot  the 
river  within  '  flood-mark,'  all  within  the  liberty  and  port  of  Newcastle.^ 
In  141 7,  complaints  were  exhibited  against  the  prior  of  Tynemouth  for 
making  new  weirs  in  the  river.^ 

Nevertheless  the  monks,  undeterred,  went  on  with  their  commercial 
undertakings.  About  the  year  1433  they  bought  a  vessel  of  their  own,  and 
then  another,  and  briskly  carried  on  an  export  trade  in  fish  and  salt  and 
coal.  They  were  fishmongers  on  a  large  scale,  salting  and  smoking  herring, 
dealing  in  cod  and  ling  caught  in  the  seas  about  the  Shetlands,  and  in 
salmon  taken  close  at  hand  in  the  three  long  weirs  or  'salmon-yares '  that 
stretched  across  the  Tyne  towards  Jarrow,  and  almost  barred  the  way  to 
Newcastle."     By  letters  patent,  dated  July  loth,  1446,  Henry  VI.  granted 

'  Rymer,  Foedera,  Record  Commission,  vol.  iii.  pars  2,  p.  728. 

-  Tynemouth  Chartidary,  fol.  51b.  '  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  pp.  569-574. 

*  Crt/.  Put.  Rolls,  1399-1401,  p.  461. 

'  Brand,  Nemastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  15,  note,  citing  Murray  MS.  '  Ibiti.  pp.  569-574- 

Vol.  \'II1.  37 


290 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


to  Prior  Langton  tlie  custom  and  toll  received  for  grain,  salt,  salt-iish, 
leather,  merchandise,  and  coal  loaded  ami  unloaded  by  him  and  his  tenants 
within  the  port  of  Tyne,  as  well  as  all  Hnes  and  amercements  of  tenants 
and  farmers  within  the  lordship  of  Tynemouth  and  at  Shields  for  bread 
baked,  ale  brewed,  and  victuals  sold  to  mariners  within  the  liberty  and 
jurisdiction  of  the  town  of  Newcastle.'  This  measure  called  forth  an  angry 
protest  from  Newcastle.  An  inquisition  was  held  on  January  4th  following 
to  enquire  into  encroachments  made  on  the  privileges  of  the  municipality, 
and  provides  an  interesting  record  of  the  state  of  trade  at  Shields.  The 
jurors  computed  that  fourteen  staiths  had  been  erected  between  1386  and 
1429,  varying  in  size  from  twenty  by  fifteen  to  si.xty  by  forty  feet,  having 
most  of  them  'mussel-scalps'-  annexed  to  them,  and  in  some  cases,  curing- 
houses  and  stables.  There  were  twenty  cobles  in  the  towm  and  seven 
larger  craft  owned  by  four  shipowners.'  A  staith,  coble  and  baking-house 
appear  to  have  been  owned  by  each  of  the  principal  tenants,  amongst  whom 
is  one  with  the  Teutonic  name  of  Herman  Duchman.^ 

Prior  Langton  was  allowed  to  retain  the  privileges  granted  to  him  for 
some  years  longer.  They  were  recalled  under  an  Act  of  resumption  passed 
in  1450.'  Twelve  years  later,  Edward  IV.  conferred  upon  the  priory  the 
right  of  baking  and  brewing  at  Shields,  and  of  selling  victuals  to  mariners 
who  put  in  at  that  port.  By  the  same  charter  the  prior  and  convent  were 
permitted  to  import  victuals  for  their  own  use  and  the  preservation  of  their 
castle,  free  of  all  toll  and  unmolested  by  the  Newcastle  merchants,  as 
well  as  to  export,  within  the  port  of  Tyne,  coal,  salt,  and  other  merchandise, 
reserving  to  the  king  his  customs  upon  wool,  leather  and  hides." 

The  strife  with  Newcastle  increased  in  bitterness.  About  the  year 
1 5 10,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  Newcastle  addressed  a 
petition  to  the  king,  stating  that  Prior  Stonewell  '  hath  subtilly  and 
forcibly  accroched  to  hym  great  quantyte  of  grounde  within  the  porta 
and  haven,  and  theruppon  hathe  rered  and  made  diverse  and  many  wharffes, 

'  Foreign  Accounts,  33  Henry  VI.  m.  II. 

■'Unani  statham  longitudinis  60  pedum  et  latitudinis  40  pedum,  et  desuper  statham  illam  unam 
domum  vocatam  herynghowse,  unum  stabulum  equinum,  et  unam  scalpam  pro  musculis,  jam  in  tenura 
Ricardi  Gaddon.'     Brand,  ibid.  p.  572. 

"The  inquisition  distinguishes  between  the  cymba  (coble)  and  the  larger   navis,  which  may  be 
identified  with  the  'crare'  or  'crayer'  employed  in  deep-sea  fishing. 
*  Brand,  he.  cit. 
»  Foreign  Accounts,  quoted  above.     Rotuli  Pnrlinmcntarii,  vol.  v.  pp.  183-199.  "  See  page  104. 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP.  29 1 

stathes  and  keyes,  and  uppon  them  made  many  howsses,  salt-pannes, 
milnes,  and  other  buyldynges  ;  and  them  so  made  ryottoiisly  with  great 
compeny  forcibly  kepeth  and  useth  to  his  propre  use.  The  said  ungraciouse 
priour,'  they  continue,  '  dayly  chargeth  and  dischargeth  shippes  and 
other  vesselse  at  Sbelez  and  Tynemovvthe  with  diverse  merchandyses,  and 
ther  maketh  oon  new  porte  and  haven.  Also  the  seyd  priour  dayly  inaketh 
fysch-garthes  and  weeres  for  takyng  of  salmons  in  the  seid  haven  between 
the  seid  town  of  Newcastell  and  the  see,  and  yerly  remeved  them  from 
place  to  place  att  his  pleasure.'     Acts  of  violence  took  place  on  both  sides. 

Fyve  hundreth  persons  and  above,  riottously  and  forcibly  armed  in  hernays  as  thowgh  it  hadd  ben 
in  tyme  of  werre,  with  speres,  gleyves,  bowes  and  arrowes,  by  the  exhortacion,  comaundement,  and  labour 
of  the  seid  priour,  assembled  togyther  att  Tynemowthe  aforeseid  ;  and  with  them  in  compeny  great 
nombre  of  th'enhabitauntes  of  Tyndale  and  Reddesdale,  to  whom,  as  is  supposed  and  openly  spokyn 
in  the  contrees  there,  the  seid  ryott  and  unlawfull  assemble  was  comytted.  The  seid  priour  gave  wages 
vj'  by  the  day  to  th'entent  that  the  seid  mysdemeaned  persons  by  his  comaundement  shuld  have 
murdred  the  meyer,  aldermen,  and  other  th'enhabitauntes  of  your  seid  town,  and  to  have  takyn,  drowned, 
and  distroyed  ther  shippes,  beyng  in  the  porte  of  the  same.  And  so  they  hadd  drowned  the  best 
shipp  belongyng  to  the  seid  town,  if  they  hadd  nott  well  defended  and  it  rescowed  ;  and  so  in  hemays, 
riottously  ageyn  your  lawes  and  peas  assembled,  dayly  roode  abowt  your  seid  town  of  Newcastell 
by  the  space  of  vj  dayes,  and  tooke  many  of  th'enhabitauntes  of  the  same  town,  and  them  imprisoned 
att  Tynemouth  ;  and,  as  is  opynly  seid  by  suche  as  wer  of  the  seid  rioltouse  compenye,  the  seid 
priour  said,  thowgh  they  kylled  oon  hundreth  of  the  caytyffes  dwellyng  in  Newcastell,  he  shuld  be 

ther   warraunt Also   th'enhabitauntes  of  your  seid   town,   durynge   the   tyme   of  the   seid 

unlawfull  and  riottous  assemble,  durst  nott  for  drede  of  ther  lyves  goo  to  ther  shippes  att  Sheeles  or 
otherwise  abowt  ther  besynesses,  butt  kept  them  close  within  the  walles  of  your  seid  town,  as  thowgh 
they  hadd  ben  asseged  with  enemyes.  And  of  suretie,  most  graciouse  sovereign  lorde,  suche  a  great 
gadderyng  and  unlawfull  assemble  of  people  so  long  conlynewed  together  in  tyme  of  peas  hath  nott  ben 
seen  in  thoose  parties  of  many  yeres  past,  nor  to  so  perillouse  example  of  other  offendours  in  tyme 
comyng.' 

Finally    the    questions    in    dispute    were    referred    to    arbitrators,   who, 
upon   March   23rd,    151 1/2,  gave  their  decision: 

23rd  March,  3  Hen.  Slh.  A  copy  of  an  awaid  of  the  bishops  of  Norwich  and  Coventry  and  Sergeant 
Elliott  between  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynmouth  and  major  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  concerning 
diverse  libertys  and  franchises,  etc.,  in  the  river  of  Tyne  and  in  the  town  of  Tinemouth  and  North  Shields. 

Firste,  we  awarde  ordeyne  and  deame,  that  the  saide  maior,  sheref  and  commonalty,  sufTre  the  saide 
prioure  and  convente  to  have  thaire  werres  or  yares  standinge  in  the  porte  of  the  watere  of  Tyne  as 
longe  as  oder  werres  standinge  in  the  same  porte  belwene  the  saide  townes  of  Newcastle  and 
Tynemouthe,  in  the  same  side  of  the  saide  porte  be  suffrede  to  stande. 

Item,  we  awarde  that  the  saide  maior,  etc.,  suffre  the  saide  prioure  and  convente  ihaire  ser\aunts  in 
eveoe  parte  of  the  saide  porte  [to  buy]  even-thing  for  his  owne  use  or  howseholde  withoute  license  of 
the  saide  maior,  etc.,  and  withoute  anye  duetie  or  custume  therfore  to  be  paied  to  the  saide  maiour, 
etc.,  by  the  saide  priour  or  convente  or  by  anye  of  thaym  or  by  the  sellers  therof  to  thayme  for  the  same. 

'  Slur  Chamber  Proceedings,  Henry  Nil  I.  Bundle  20,  No.  2. 


2g2  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Ilem,  we  awaidc  that  the  saide  maior,  etc.,  suffie  the  saide  priomc,  etc.,  to  charge  and  discharge 
within  the  saide  porte  all  suche  thing  as  they  bye  too  thaire  own  or  sell  of  thaire  owne  marchaundiss 
in  any  place  within  this  realnic  of  F,ngland,  without  anything  paying  to  the  saide  maior,  etc. 

Item,  we  awarde  th.it  the  saide  maior,  etc.,  sutifre  the  saide  jirioiire,  etc.,  to  passe  with  thaire  shippcs 
and  boots  to  any  parte  of  this  realnic  of  England,  Wales  and  Ireland,  oiitc  of  ihc  saide  haven  with  thaire 
owne  sake,  fishe,  heringe  and  oder  marchandisses  of  thaire  owne,  withoute  bringinge  it  to  the  saide  towne 
of  Newcastle,  and  withoute  payinge  anye  tolls  or  custumes  for  it  to  the  saide  niaiourc,  etc.,  and  that  the 
prioure  nor  his  successors  colloure'  any  marchands  or  other  thinge  of  any  oder  personne  to  passe 
withoute  payinge  of  thaire  toll  and  custume  due  to  the  saide  maior,  etc. 

Item,  we  awarde  that  the  saide  maior,  etc.,  sufTre  the  commcn  bakehowscs  and  brewehowses  now 
being  in  ']"ynemoiithe  and  Noithe  .Shelcs  to  be  occupiede  in  like  forme  as  tbeye  have  bene  xx  ycre  nexte 
before  the  date  nowe,  and  that  non  other  furnage  be  takyn  of  the  said  bakehowses  than  have  bene  takyn 
bye  the  said  tyme,  and  that  the  prioure  and  convente  have  the  correxion  of  the  assise  of  brede  and  alle 
of  the  same. 

Item,  we  awarde  that  at  such  tymc  after  this,  whan  any  vessaile  cumylhe  into  the  saide  porte  with 
whete  or  other  vitaille  in  tyme  of  starving,  as  when  a  busshell  of  whete  is  at  the  price  of  xx''  or  more, 
that  than  the  saide  prioure  shal  bye  thcrof  but  a  reasonable  quantitie  for  the  relefe  of  his  saide 
monasteiye,  levinge  to  the  saide  maire  and  communaltie  and  to  the  inhabilaunts  of  the  conlreye  there 
aboute  a  reasonable  parte  thereof  to  the  relefe  of  thayine,  and  than  the  saide  prioure  to  certifie  the  saide 
maior  what  quantitie  the  saide  prioure  have  boughte  therof. 

(Clause  to  the  effect  that  the  two  parties  shall  enter  into  mutual  obligations.) " 

Too  much  was  conceded  to  Tyneniouth  monastery  to  content  the 
burgesses  of  Newcastle.  They  aimed  at  having  a  legal  recognition  of 
their  exclusive  right  to  trade  in  the  port  of  the  Tyne.  This,  with  an 
important  exception,  they  obtained  by  the  insertion  of  the  following 
clause  into  'An  Acte  concerning  Newcastell-upon-Tine,  and  the  porte 
and  haven  therunto  belonging,''  passed  by  the  parliament  of  1530: 

In  consideracion  whereof  it  may  please  your  highnesse  of  your  moste  abundaunt  grace,  with  the 
assent  of  your  lordes  spirituall  and  teitiporall,  and  the  commons  in  this  present  parliament  assembled, 
and  by  the  auctoritie  of  the  same,  to  enacte,  ordeine,  and  establisshe,  that  from  hensefoorth  any  marchant 
or  marchantes,  or  any  other  person  or  persons,  shall  not  ship,  lode,  or  unlode,  charge  or  discharge  any 
maner  of  goodes,  wares,  or  marchandises  to  be  solde  here  within  this  your  realme  or  elswhere,  in,  to,  or 
from  any  ship  or  shippes,  or  other  vessels,  in  or  at  any  place  or  places  within  the  said  port,  river  and 
haven,  betwene  the  said  place  called  the  Sparhauke,'  and  the  said  place  called  Hedwinstremes,  but 
onely  at  the  said  towne  of  Newcastell,  and  no  where  els,  upon  peine  of  forfaiture  of  all  suche 
goodes,  wares,  and  marchaundises  to  the  king,  our  said  soveraigne  lorde,  and  to  his  heires,  kinges 
of  England Provided    alway   that   this   act   be   not   prejudicial   or   hurteful    to   any   person   or 

'  To  colour  strangers'  goods  =  to  enter  a  foreign  merchant's  goods  at  the  custom-house  under  a 
a  freeman's  name,  for  the  purpose  of  evading  additional  duties.  Murray,  New  English  Dictionary, 
vol.  ii.  p.  638. 

-'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

■'  21  Henry  \'I1I.  cap  i8.      Stiitiites  of  the  Realm,  vol.  iii.  pp.  302-303. 

'  The  Sparhawk  or  Sparrowhawk  has,  like  Tynemouth  bar,  disappeared  before  the  improveinents 
of  the  Tyne  Commissioners.  lirand  describes  it  as  a  sand,  at  a  depth  of  four  feet  below  the  surface 
of  the  sea  at  low  tide,  lying  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  Spanish  battery.  It  was  nearly  of  the 
shape  of  a  crescent,  of  which  one  point  was  directed  towards  Prior's  Haven,  and  the  other  towards  the 
bar.     Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  16,  note  (;«)• 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP.  293 

peisons,  beinge  the  kinges  subjectes,  for  bicng,  shipping,  lodinge  or  unloding  of  any  salte  or  fishe 
within  the  said  river  and  porta,  or  to  any  of  them,  or  any  other  person  or  persons,  repayring  to  the 
saide  porte  with  shippes  and  marchandises,  for  seUing  or  bieng  of  any  wares  or  marchandises, 
nedefull  for  the  vitellyng  and  amending  of  their  sayde  shippes,  at  the  time  of  their  there  being 
within  the  saide  porte  :  this  acte  or  any  thing  comprised  in  the  same  noihwithstandynge. 

By  this  Act  the  fishing  and  victualling  trades  and  manufacture  of  salt 
received  special  protection.  On  the  other  hand  the  burgesses  of  Newcastle 
won  their  object  in  checking  the  further  commercial  development  of  the 
twin  towns  of  North  and  South  Shields  ;  for  the  blow  was  aimed  at  the 
prior  of  Durham  as  much  as  against  the  prior  of  Tynemoiith,  and  the  feuds 
of  the  one  monastery  with  Newcastle  had  their  counterpart  in  the  history 
of  the  other.  For  more  than  two  centuries  industry  in  the  two  towns  of 
Shields  was  confined  within  the  narrow  limits  imposed  by  the  Act  of  1530. 

At  the  dissolution  the  total  rental  of  North  Shields  was  £\^  3s.  8d.' 
It  contained  only  '  small  fisher  cotages,  and  befor  the  suppressione  never 
in  copye,  but  in  the  prior's  hande  in  demeisne.'  In  a  letter  written  to 
Henry,  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland,  Robert  Helme  has  described  the 
tenure  by  which  they  were  held. 

Consider  the  Sheilds  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tinemoulh  was  deniayne,  and  no  howses  iher  but 
such  as  they  buylded  and  upheld  before  the  dissolucion  of  the  priory  of  ther  onely  proper  coasts 
and  charges  ;  and  so  from  tyme  to  tyme  did  keape  the  same  in  good  and  sufficient  reparacions,  and 
never  no  copy  used  ther  of  any  house,  but  leased  by  convent  seale  ;  and  then  the  rent  was,  or  ought 
to  have  bene,  xvij"  x'  by  year.  .  .  .  Wherupon  your  lordship's  late  father  had  forth  of  the  exchequer  a 
comission  to  him  and  others  to  lett  by  lease  or  copy  at  their  pleasors  ;  and  by  vertue  therof  your 
lordship's  sayd  late  father  lett  copyes  by  court  rool,  which  were  the  first  copyes  that  ever  were  in  the 
Shields." 

From  that  time  the  rents  rapidly  diminished.  Houses  fell  into  utter 
ruin  and  decay,  and  new  tenants  could  hardly  be  found.  A  commission, 
appointed  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  this  decline,  gave  a  sketch  in 
its  report,  January  7th,  1564/5,  of  the  condition  of  the  town  and  the 
best  course  that  might  be  taken  in  dealing  with  the  tenants  : 

The  said  towne  of  Northe  Sheales  bene  lille  howses  builded  under  the  watter  banke,  and  have  nether 
groundes  belonginge  unto  them  nor  yet  anye  row-me  on  the  backsids  to  make  onyegardines  Or  orchardes, 
but  onlye  howses  for  fishermen,  and  on  the  fore  partes  litle  kyes  and  shores  maid  before  everye  howse 
for  ther  cobles  and  ther  geare  to  ly  at  and  to  drye  ther  fishe  and  geare  upon,  so  that,  yf  it  be  not  for 
suche  poore  fishermen,  the  nomber  wherof  is  nowe  muche  decayed  and  like  rather  to  minishe  then 
increase,  by  reason  the  fishe  is  nothinge  so  plentifull  in  that  costc  as  it  hathe  bene,  ther  will  not  howse 
ther  be  nihe  biled  oneless  it  shalbe  one  or  two  that  may  be  maintened  for  vittillinge  howses,  and  so  the 
hole  rentes  shalbe  without  some  regardes  therto  had  for  th'amendment  therof  in  perrill  to  decaye  in 
shorte  processe  of  tyme. 

'  Gibson,  Tyiu-mouth,  vol.  i.  p.  223.  '  Uuke  of  Northumberland's  iMSS. 


294  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Morover  the  howses  beinge  builde,  they  wer  ahvaies  both  Ijuilded  and  repaired  by  tlie  monastery 
and  at  ther  chearges  ;  therfor  the  rentes  beinge  the  greater,  the  removinge  of  the  tenants  from  the  same 
(which  happenethe  muche  amongste  fishermen  ther  not  to  inhabite  longe  in  one  place),  was  no  decaye  of 
the  rente  ;  and  nowe,  because  the  chearge  of  the  reparacions  are  not  allowede  unto  them,  yt  is  the  cause 
of  the  decaye  ;  and  yf  the  yearelye  reparacions  shalbe  allowed,  it  wilbe  for  the  most  parte  of  yeares 
amouente  to  more,  or  at  enye  tyme  as  muche  as  the  rentes. 

For  thes  causes  it  was  thought  beste  that  the  said  howses  or  as  manye  could  so  be  lett  to  suche 
fishermen  as  are  given  to  inhabite  ther,  and  for  a  reasonable  rente  much  lesse  then  before,  so  that  the 
tennants  should  be  chargeable  with  the  buildinges  and  reparacions  and  that  they  shoulde  have  by  copye 
or  otherwise  assurance  therof  for  the  said  rents  to  them  and  to  ther  heires  for  ever,  which  wilbe  nieanes 
that  these  rentes  shall  to  contenewe,  and  the  howses  better  repaired  and  builded,  and  the  meane  to  trayne 
fishermen  to  inhabite  ther,  which  of  necessitye  must  be  done  in  that  sorte  or  ells  the  rente  shall  not 
without  allowance  of  yearlye  reparacions  stand  and  contyenewe.' 

The  recoiiimendations  of  the  commission  were  adopted.  Tenements 
were  henceforward  let  by  copy  of  court  roll,  and  these  grants,  it  is  said,  'were 
the  first  copyes  that  ever  were  in  the  Sheilds.'"  They  continued  to  be 
granted  for  forty  years,  until  the  year  1604,  when  vShields  was  visited  by 
plague.  Several  houses  then  fell  vacant.  They  were  seized  by  the  lord's 
officers  for  want  of  heirs  male,  but  the  copyholders  advanced  a  rival  claim, 
and  a  letter  written  by  George  Whitehead  to  the  ninth  earl  of  Northumber- 
land, upon  March  28th,  1604,  gives  the  first  tidings  of  the  coming  struggle: 

Here  is  diverse  deade  in  .Sheales  in  the  plague,  and  by  that  meanes  soome  houses  ar  fallen  into 
your  lordship's  handes  for  want  of  heyres  male,  according  to  the  auncient  custome  of  the  mannor,  which 
houses  I  have  seized  for  your  lordship's  use  ;  notwithestanding  Peter  Delavall  and  his  brother  Raphe 
Uelavall  ar  buyinge  women's  tytles  already  to  defraude  your  lordship  of  your  right." 

'Of  layte,'  wrote  William  Wycliffe  in  a  later  letter,  'the  tenants, 
refusing  the  auntient  custome  of  all  other  the  tenements  within  the  shire,  will 
have  a  custome  of  ther  own  making,  and  women  to  be  heires,  which  in 
common  honor  is  absurd,  beside  custom,  unles  they  will  mayntayne 
navigacion  by  soome,  which  was  the  cheife  ground  of  establishing  the 
Sheels  for  a  fishe  towne.'''  The  custom  to  which  the  tenants  of  Shields 
laid  claim,  namely,  the  right  of  the  daughter  to  succeed  to  her  father's  copy, 
was  one  subsequently  recognised  for  the  whole  manor,  but  does  not  appear 
to  have  accorded  with  the  ancient  custom  of  husbandry.  There  was  pre- 
cedent, however,  for  either  contention.  'Many  examples,'  Robert  Helme 
informed  the  earl,  'that  women  have  therby  enjoyed  the  custom  as  well  as 
men,  I  could  sett  downe  ;  and  even  now  of  late  dayes,  in  your  lordship's 
tyme,  women  have  bene  found  to  have  the  custom  and  have  so  enjoyed  yt.''* 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  "  IbiJ.  '  Ibid.  '  Ibid.  '  Ibid. 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP.  295 

On  the  other  hand  it  was  argued  that  copies  granted  to  women  as  heirs 
were  obtained  by  bribery,  and  could  not  invalidate  the  other  custom. 
George  Whitehead  put  forward  this  view  in  a  letter  to  the  earl  : 

It  may  be  in  ther  petitione  to  your  lordship  they  will  alledge  that  your  lordship  hayth  sigened  with 
your  hand  sundrye  copyes  and  receaved  fynes  for  women's  titles,  and  therfor  not  fit  your  lordship 
should  nowe  make  questione  for  answere.  The  fault  was  the  cornipt  dealinge  of  your  officers,  and  never 
till  nowe  made  knowen  to  your  lordsliip,  soe  as  yowre  lordship  coulde  not  befor  this  tynie  see  thosse 
abuses  reformed,  for  it  is  most  strandge  that  ther  should  be  in  one  manner  two  severall  customes,  and  all 
thos  copyes  granted  by  vertue  of  the  commissione  rune  in  thes  very  wordes,  secundum  consuetudinem 
manerii,  which  custome  haythe  for  thre  hundred  yeares  continewed  onely  to  heires  male.' 

The  case  was  brought  before  the  Council  of  the  North  sitting  at  York. 
'  Ralph  Delavall  of  Sheels  thought  lately,'  Whitehead  wrote  on  Januan,' 
5th,  1606/7,  'to  have  had  a  judiciall  hearing  at  York  for  certayne  houses  in 
Sheels,  wherof  I  did  prevent  him,  and  sent  Robert  Helme  and  Roger 
Morton  to  Yorke  as  witnesses,  wher  our  cause  was  proved  so  just  as  we  had 
possessions  and  charges  awarded  against  the  plaintiffe.''  Whitehead  felt 
naturally  piqued  at  the  support  given  by  Ralph  Delaval  and  his  brother 
Peter  Delaval  to  'these  broken  titles.'  'The  suyte  at  Yorke,'  he  told  the 
earl,  '  coste  vour  lordship  x''  at  the  least,  and  for  myself  I  had  two  horses 
that  cost  me  xviij''  eyther  poysoned  or  bewiched  to  deathe  in  followinge  that 
suyte  for  thesse  tytles  they  have  set  afoote,  for  which  they  give  the  poore 
people,  as  I  am  enformed,  nothinge  but  small  potts  of  ale  and  goose  pyes, 
Ralph  Delavall  beinge  an  alehouse  keper  without  anv  other  trade  to  live.'^ 

His  success  at  York  encouraged  Whitehead  to  attack  the  whole  system 
of  copyhold  tenure  in  North  Shields,  as  is  seen  from  another  of  his  letters, 
written  on  March  23rd,  1606/7,  in  which  he  states:  'I  have  had  opinione 
of  the  best  councell  this  place  will  afforde,  who  doe  assure  me  the 
commissione  by  which  they  hould  ther  copyes  can  erect  no  custome.'^ 
He  pressed  his  advantage  and  carried  war  into  the  enemy's  camp,  with 
the  result  that  the  principal  tenants  in  Shields  laid  their  case  before  the 
earl  of  Northumberland  in  the  following  petition  : 

Humbly  complayninge  shewethe  unto  your  good  lordshipp  your  daylye  orators,  all  his  majestie's 
tenants,  the  inhabitaunts  of  the  North  Sheeles,  that  wheras  in  the  vij"'  yeare  of  quene  Elizabethe's 
raigne,  etc.,  etc.  Tyll  nowe  of  late  sundrye  verie  pore  wemen,  after  the  decease  of  ther  kynffolkc  and 
parents  in  the  last  great  plage  at  Sheeles,  being  founde  by  the  homage  to  be  next  heires  to  sundrye 
cottages  ther  wherof  ther  parents  and  auncestours  dyed  seized  by  coppye  of  court  role  as  aforesaid,  and 
craving  ther  admitlaunce  therunto,  are  not  onelye  denyed  therof  by  Mr.  William  Wicliff,  your  lordship's 
under-stewarde  here,  but  ther  cottages  and  rentes  seized  uppon  and  disposed  by  your  said  under-stewerde 

'  Duke  of  Xorthumlierland's  MSS.  -'  Ihul.  '  Ibid.  '  Ibid. 


296  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

to  Mr.  t'.eorge  Whilheicie,  his  biolher-in-lawe,  by  coppye  of  court  role  as  vacantes,  objecting  that  wee 
are  but  tennants  at  will  and  no  copyhouldcrs.  .And  thernppon  haith  not  onelye  disinherited  ihre  verie 
pore  wyddovves,  Ann  Liidgate,  Elizabeth  liowes,  antl  Margaret  Robeson,  and  graunted  ther  estates  of 
ther  cottages  to  the  said  George  Whitheide,  but  allso  they  tow  joyne  together  pretendinge  and  pressinge 
the  overthrowe  of  the  customarye  estate  of  all  the  pore  fishermen,  beinge  by  ther  coppies  tyed  to  repaire 
ther  bare  cott.ages,  to  yeelde  ther  rents,  fynes  and  services,  and  to  kepe  a  fisherman  in  everie  cottage,  by 
whose  fyshinge  trade  your  lordshipp  reapeth  a  great  deale  more  yearely  benefitt  then  his  niajestie  by  his 
yearly  rentes  ther.  The  overthiowe  of  the  tennants'  said  customarye  estates  woulde,  assure  youre  good 
lordshipp,  not  onelye  greatlye  decaye  the  fishinge  trade  here,  to  your  lordshipp's  great  losse,  but  allso 
greatlye  impoverish  and  bannish  fishermen  from  this  place,  whose  customarye  es'ates  uppon  the  con- 
sideracions  aforesaid  were  founded  by  your  good  lordship's  late  father  and  contynued  by  yourselfe  above 
xl  yeares.  The  which  customarye  estate  we  most  humblye  beseche  your  good  lordship  we  maye 
contynue  with  your  favorable  permission  and  honorable  countenance  to  us  and  our  heires  generall  in 
suche  sorte  as  wee  and  our  predecessors  have  done,  and  by  the  custome  of  the  said  mannor  wee  ought 
to  doo  by  our  coppies  from  your  good  lordship's  father  and  yourselfe,  unto  whome  we  have  contynuallye 
payed  our  fynes,  which  haith  bene  and  wilbe  more  beneficiall  unto  your  good  lordshipp  then  if  wee  were 
leassers  unto  his  majestie,  as  sum  ther  be  here  leassers,  vvherby  no  profitt  at  all  cometh  to  your  lordshipp 
as  doth  by  our  fynes  after  chaunge  of  everie  tenante,  which  contynually  befalleth  either  by  death  or 
saile.  And  allso  that  suche  coppies  as  your  lordshipp  farthe  graunted  to  Mr.  George  Whitheide  of  the 
foresaid  pore  wyddowes  cottages  may  be  recalled  and  the  wyddowes  therunto  admitted. 

Signed  :     Raphe  Delaval.  Henrye  Hclme.  John  Patteson.  An  Lydgath. 

Peter  Delaval.  Thomas  Harker.         A.  Dobson.  Elizabeth  15owes. 

James  Rawlinge.        Steven  Patteson.         Robt.  Dowe.' 

Apparently  the  earl  refused  to  disown  his  officer,  and  there  was  a 
renewal  of  proceedings  before  the  Council  of  the  North.  In  their  instruc- 
tions to  counsel  the  tenants  of  Shields  described  their  '  litle  dovett"  or 
thatched  cottages  under  the  sea  banckes  nere  the  river  of  Tyne,  havinge 
neither  lande,  meadowe,  pasture,  nor  stedinge  for  anye  kynde  of  cattle 
apperteyning  to  anye  of  them,  saveinge  onelye  litle  stone  keyes  or  whartfes 
before  ther  fronts  nere  the  sayd  ryver  to  drye  ther  ffishinge  lynes  uppon.' 
They  narrated  the  establishment  of  copyhold  tenure  in  1565,  and  then 
laid  their  charges  against  Whitehead  and  Wycliffe.  '  The  said  George 
Whitheade  and  his  brother-in-lawe,  William  Wicliff,  deputie  stewarde 
unto  the  said  earle,  denye  all  his  majestie's  pore  tennants  of  a  lease  of 
all  ther  cottages,  to  th'ende  to  overthrowe  ther  said  custome,  to  the  utter 
undowing  of  his  majestie's  pore  cottegers  and  ther  wifes  and  children, 
and  to  the  overthrowe  of  the  trade  of  ffyshing  in  that  place  of  Tynemouth 
haven,  wherby  his  lordship  gaynethe  one  hundred  markes  yearlye  for 
the  tythe  fyshe  he  receiveth  of  his  majestie's  pore  tennants  ther,  beside 
ther  ffynes  from  age  to  age  wher  his  majestie's  rents  ther  is.'^ 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Divot,  a  sod,  piece  of  turf,  especially  a  thin,  flat,  oblong  turf  used  for  covering  cottages.      Divot- 
house  or  hut,  a  house  or  hut  covered  with  turf.     Wright,  English  Dialect  Dictionary,  vol.  ii.  p.  94. 
'  Duke  of  iXorthumberland's  MSS, 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP. 


297 


The  vice-president  and  council  at  York  referred  the  matter  to  be 
tried  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  in  regard  that  it  concerned  tlie  king's 
inheritance,  whereupon  the  inhabitants  of  Shields  petitioned  the  earl  of 
Dorset,  as  lord  high  treasurer,  'in  respecte  of  their  povertie,  being  not 
able  to  endure  the  charge  of  lavve  to  trie  their  custome '  that  he  would 
be  pleased  to  continue  their  copyhold  estates  in  such  sort  as  thev  had 
had  them  heretofore.'  Dorset  referred  them  to  the  Court  of  Exchequer, 
but,  as  a  new  trial  meant  heavy  legal  charges,  Ralph  Delaval  took  the 
first  step  of  petitioning  the  king,  who  'red  his  petitione  himselfe,  and 
presently  called  my  lord  of  Dunbare,  and  asked  him  vf  he  knewe  Northe 
Shells,  and  gave  him  the  petitione,  sayinge,  "  Looke  how  my  poore  tennantes 
ar  abosed  by  my  lord  of  Northumberland  and  his  officers.  He  sure  you 
take  this  matter  to  hearinge,  and  call  my  lord  of  Northumberland  his 
officers  befor  you."'^ 

In  the  following  summer,  on  July  iith,  1608,  a  commission  was 
issued  out  of  the  Court  of  Exchequer  to  take  a  survey  of  Tynemouth- 
shire,  and  to  enquire  by  what  tenure  the  tenants  held  of  the  king. 
Haggatt  and  Ward,  the  commissioners,  sat  at  Tynemouth  during  September. 
After  taking  evidence  with  regard  to  North  Shields,  they  reported  : 
'  Seeing  their  copies  have  no  better  foundation,  nor  are  above  thirty 
years'  standing  or  thereabouts,  and  that  it  is  manifest  upon  record  they  were 
tenants  at  the  will  of  the  lord  before  the  granting  of  tlie  said  copies,  we 
are  of  opinion  and  do  perceive  that  they  may  easily  be  reduced  to 
lessors,  so  as  they  be  favorablv  regarded  in  their  fine.'' 

Thus  the  copyhold  tenure,  which  the  tenants  of  North  Shields  had 
for  a  brief  period  enjoyed,  was  transferred  into  leasehold.  The  change 
was  bound  to  affect  the  character  of  the  population,  as  Whitehead  pointed 
out  to  the  earl  of  Northumberland  a  year  later  : 

The  tennants  of  Slieeles  ar  lykewise  made  upe  to  leasse  the  whole  towne.  Yf  ther  be  not  soonie 
course  taken  in  that  leasse.  your  fishinge  will  be  utterly  decayed,  for  the  best  parte  of  the  towne  ar 
victuallers  and  tiplers  wher  they  had  wonte  of  very  late  tyme  to  be  all  fishermen  ;  and  what  course  ther 
is  to  be  taken  I  cannot  thinke,  unles  my  lorde  treasorer  were  moved  of  the  decay  bothe  of  men  for  the 
navy  in  time  of  service,  as  allsoe  the  decaye  of  his  majesty's  tythe  ther  ;  and  that  his  lordship  woulde 
tye  every  house  in  the  towne  to  maynteyne  a  fisherman  as  formerly  they  were  bounde  by  ther  copyes." 

The  svstem  of  leaseholds  established  in  160S,  did  not  long  continue. 
Until   that   time,    and   for  a   few   years  longer,   the  whole  of  the  township 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  /'"<'• 

'  Land  Revenue  Surveys,  miscell.  books,  vol.  223,  fol.  326.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  M.SS. 

Vol.  VIII.  38 


298 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


remained  crown  property'  ;  but,  on  March  13th,  1623/4,  a  grant  was  made 
to  Henry,  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland,  of  two  salt  pans  at  the  Pow 
pans,  the  salt  pans  called  Stodwede's  pans,  and  other  pieces  of  land.'' 
On  August  26th,  1624,  twenty-four  cottages,  and  the  ferry  over  the 
Tyne  were  granted,  at  the  requisition  of  John,  earl  of  Holderness, 
to  Edward  Ramsav  of  Hethersett  in  Norfolk  and  to  Robert  Ramsey 
of  London,^  to  whom,  on  May  21st  following,  five  more  cottages  were 
conveyed,  together  with  the  salmon  fishery  from  Howden  head  to  the 
point  where  the  Tyne  falls  into  the  sea.'  Four  salt  pans,  various  parcels 
of  land  at  the  Pow  pans  at  the  east  end  of  the  town,  and  between 
Dortwick  and  Coble  dean  at  the  west  end,  and  the  profits  arising  from  the 
anchorage  of  all  vessels  coming  into  the  river  of  Tyne  at  North  Shields,** 

'  Exceptin;;- a  cottage  and  some  waste  ground  at  the  west  end  of  Shields,  granted  on  June  nth, 
1600,  to  Benjamin  Harris  and  Robert  Morgan,  and  conveyed  by  them  to  Wilham  Milbanke  of  North 
Shields. 

■  Patent  Kails,  21  James  I.  pt.  5. 

"  Land  Revenue  Enrolments,  vol.  200,  fol.  192,  and  vol.  201,  fol.  321.  For  the  Ramseys,  see  Mr.  J.  C. 
Hodgson  on  'The  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth  Century  Owners  of  Bewick'  in  Arch.  Ael.  3rd  series, 
vol.  ii.  The  house  property  acquired  by  Ramsey  and  Ramsey  was  sold  by  them  on  November  4th, 
1624,  to  Anthony  Uphill  of  London,  who  on  May  13th,  1631,  resold  to  Sir  Alexander  Davison  of 
Newcastle.     Lund  Revenue  Enrolments,  vol.  202,  fol.  166.     For  Davison  see  Welford,  Men  of  Mark. 

'  Robert  Ramsey  conveyed  his  salmon  fishery,  on  February  15th,  1637,  to  George  Milbourne,  then 
described  as  of  South  Shields,  and  to  William  Milbourne  of  Newcastle.  Their  representatives,  Mary 
Roddam  and  Winifred  Roddam,  conveyetl  the  fishery,  inter  alia,  on  August  1st,  1729,  to  Robert  Loads- 
man,  who,  on  January  i6th,  1730,  sold  the  same  to  James  Stewart  of  North  Shields  for  £-,.  On  .May 
2nd,  1759,  the  heirs  of  James  Stewart  sold  to  Hugh,  duke  of  Northumberland.  The  fishery  was  known 
as  the  Low  Lights  fishery.  The  usual  mode  of  catching  salmon  was  by  sweep  nets  and  stake  nets. 
.Sweep  nets  were  nets  to  the  two  ends  of  which  ropes  were  attached.  One  of  these  ends  was  taken  out 
in  a  boat,  which  was  then  rowed  round  in  a  half  circle  and  brought  again  to  land.  Both  ends  of 
the  net  were  then  gradually  drawn  towards  and  on  to  the  shore,  and  thus  any  fish  were  landed  that 
might  be  caught  within  the  sweep.  Nets  could  be  drawn  ashore  at  the  Black  Middens,  the  .Mussel 
scalp,  Coble  dean.  White  Hill  point,  and  Howden.  Stake  nets  were  nets  attached  and  fastened  to 
stakes  driven  into  the  bed  and  soil  of  the  river.  They  were  used  at  the  Low  Lights  down  to  about  the 
year  1833,  when  their  use  was  discontinued.  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  The  salmon  fishery 
was  profitable  before  the  deepening  of  the  river  by  the  Tyne  Commissioners.  Warburton,  writing 
about  1720,  speaks  of  the  incomparable  salmon  which  North  Shields  supplies  to  most  parts  of 
Europe.  Ibid.  As  late  as  1775  no  less  than  265  salmon  were  caught  at  one  draught  at  the  Low 
Lights.     Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  33. 

*  Anchorage  is  a  toll  paid  upon  every  ship  coming  to  anchor  between  the  Trior's  stone  (near  the 
mouth  of  the  Tyne)  and  Howden  pans,  and  is  associated  with  groundage,  a  toll  paid  upon  every  ship  laid 
on  shore  within  the  said  limits.  The  payments  date  from  the  sixteentli  century  or  earlier.  Sir  Henry 
Percy  stated  in  a  letter  written  to  Cecil  on  January  27th,  1566/7,  touching  the  grievances  alleged  by  the 
mayor  of  Newcastle  and  others,  that  he  and  his  servants  took  of  every  stranger's  ship  a  shilling  as  a  new 
exaction.  'There  is  no  general  custom  taken,  but  such  as  touch  or  lie  upon  the  shore  a  time  pay  th.at 
money  to  the  officers  there  as  groundage.'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  Addenda,  1566-1579,  p.  26. 
Anchorage  and  groundage  used  to  be  collected  by  the  bailiff  of  North  Shields,  whose  ofiice,  as  described 
in  1633,  was  'to  areast  all  actions  of  dept  under  30s.  and  not  above,  to  sease  upon  all  wrackes  coming 
in  within  the  towne,  all  fellons'  goodes,  all  wafes,  straies  and  deodantes  and  whatsoever  else,  and  be 
accomptable  for  the  same  to  his  lordship's  prime  receavor.'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  A 
manuscript  among  the  Delaval  papers,  in  the  possession  of  the  Newcastle  Society  of  Antiquaries, 
states,  under  the  date  1575  :  'The  Ijailey  of  the  North  Shields,  by  vertue  of  his  office  apperteyning  to 
the  castle,  was  to  bourd  every  ship  comyng  in  at  the  haven  there,  and  did  take  up  for  the  furnytur  of 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP.  299 

were,  by  letters  patent  dated  December  Sth,  1631,  granted  to  William 
Collins  and  to  Edward  Fenn.'  The  salt  pans,  anchorage  dues,  and  other 
of  the  premises  conveyed  to  Collins  and  Fenn  were  acquired  in  1632 
and  in   1635  by  Algernon,  tenth  earl  of  Northumberland." 

The  development  of  the  salt  trade  and  extension  of  coal  mining  in  the 
neighbouring  townships  brought  new  families  to  reside  in  Shields,  and  trade 
grew,  especially  the  victualling  industry.  Alehouses  became  numerous. 
Brewing,  though  apparently  sanctioned  by  the  Act  of  1530,  was  regarded 
by  the  Newcastle  Company  of  Brewers  as  an  infringement  of  the  monopoly 
claimed  by  them  within  the  part.  In  1627  the  niavur  and  burgesses  pro- 
secuted one  Humphrey  Johnson  for  keeping  a  brew-house  in  North  Shields, 
and  obtained  an  order  that  the  brew-house  should  be  suppressed.'  In  a 
petition  presented  to  the  king  in  1634  they  set  forth  their  suits  for  mainten- 
ance of  their  corporate  privileges  against  the  inhabitants  of  North  and  South 
Shields,  and  prayed  him  to  cause  a  general  restraint  and  inhibition  to  be 
made,  that  no  baker,  brewer,  victualler  or  smith,  or  other  person  using  any 
trade,  should  exercise  the  same  in  any  part  of  the  port  or  its  precincts,  but 

her  majestie's  castle,  whatsoever  she  had  in  loding,  a  parcell  of  everything  for  the  service  of  the  castle 
at  the  quen's  majestie's  price  ;  and  to  the  bailey  only  of  every  such  ship,  being  a  stranger,  his  fee  is 
for  groundage  xij'  and  aunkeradge  xij'',  notwithstanding  the  order  taken  between  his  lordship  and  the 
town  of  Newcastle,  which  is  but  upon  pleasor  only,  or  so  long  as  yt  shall  pleas  the  captain  there  for 
the  time  being.'  In  1679  the  fees  were  stated  to  be  a  penny  tor  anchorage  or  groundage  of  every  ship 
belonging  to  any  of  the  Cinque  ports,  six  pence  for  anchorage  and  a  shilling  for  groundage  of  every 
English  ship  not  belonging  to  the  Cinque  ports,  and  a  shilling  for  anchorage  and  two  shillings  for 
groundage  of  every  foreign  ship.  Brit.  Mus.  Additwiud  MSS.  24,815,  fol.  240.  The  number  of  foreign 
vessels  that  paid  anchorage  or  groundage  in  the  year  Michaelmas,  164S,  to  Michaelmas,  1649,  was  123. 
Uuke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  .  . 

The  right  of  boarding  and  searching  vessels,  alluded  to  above  as  belonging  to  the  bailiff  of  North 
Shields,  was  claimed  and  exercised  within  that  portion  of  the  river  which  lies  between  Howden  burn 
and  the  sea.  A  letter  directed  by  the  lords  of  the  privy  council  on  June  4th,  1597,  to  the  bishop  of 
Durham  and  to  Lord  Eure  alludes  to  inconveniences  which  have  arisen  by  'the  discontynuance  of 
an  auncient  order  which  hath  bin  observed  in  former  times,  that  all  shippes  of  her  majesty's  domymons 
cominge  on  the  sea  by  the  said  castle  [of  Tynemouth]  should  vailc  their  topsaile  as  a  token  of  their 
dutie  and  alleageance  to  her  majestic,  and  that  all  shippes  of  forraine  countries  should,  at  their 
passage  that  waye,  comme  to  anchor  and  send  a-shoare  to  the  bailiffes  of  the  Sheeles  the  merchaunt, 
master,  lactour,  or  other  officer  of  the  shipp,  to  the  end  notice  might  be  taken  of  the  purpose  of 
their  voyadge  and  of  other  circumstances.'  Ads  0/  the  Privy  Council,  1597,  p.  170.  1  he  custom  was 
controverted  by  the  officers  of  the  custom  house  of  Newcastle  in  a  petition  addressed  two  years  later 
to  the  chancellor  and  barons  of  the  Exchequer,  in  which  they  stated  :  'The  earls  officers  dayly  lake 
upon  them  to  bord  and  search  all  the  ships  of  strangers  and  others  passing  m  and  out  of  those  ports, 
and  take  bribes  of  them  to  suffer  them  to  pass  quietly.  They  have  thereby  much  discouraged  all 
merchants  from  trafficking  with  her  majesty's  ports  there.'  Brit.  Mus.  Ailiiiliomil  M^i>.  ^4,i>lS< 
fol.  226.  Conflicting  evidence  wiih  regard  to  the  time  during  which  the  right  «>  search  had  been 
exercised  by  the  earl  of  Northumberland's  officers  was  taken  in  a  suit  brought  before  the  Court  ot 
Exchequer  in  1602  by  Henry  Sanderson  and  others  against  William  Wyclifle  and  Oeoige  Whitehead. 
Exiluquer  Dcpuutions,   Mich.  44-45   Eliz.   No.   13,  and   Hilary,  45  Eliz.   No.   19. 

'  PiitciU  Rolls,  7  Charles  I.  pt.  15.  •  Laiul  Revenue  Enrolments,  vol.  202,  fols.  114,  12/  d. 

^  Exchequer  Decrees  anil  Orders,  series  iv.  vol.  iii.  fol.  300. 


-^oo  TyKemouth  borough. 

only  at  tlie  town  of  Newcastle.'  They  were  not  strong  enough  to  attack  the 
salt  trade,  though  they  could  handicap  it  by  compelling  vessels  bringing 
material  for  the  salt  pans  at  Shields  to  come  up  the  river  to  Newcastle  to 
unload.  The  salt-makers  were  secure  in  a  monoply  of  their  own.  On 
December  2^rd,  1634,  a  combination  of  Shields  salt-makers  was  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  the  Society  of  Salt-makers  at  the  North  and  South 
Shields.  The  new  society  was  empowered  to  erect  salt  works  on  the  sea- 
coast,  and  in  the  Tvne  and  the  Wear.  No  new  salt  works  might  be  erected 
on  the  coast  between  Berwick  and  Southampton.  The  company  agreed  to 
sell  their  salt  at  rates  not  exceeding  £t^  per  wey  for  home  use,  and  sos.  per 
wey  for  fishing  vovages.  A  payment  was  made  to  the  king,  in  return  for 
this  monopoly,  of  los.  per  wey  of  fine  salt,  and  of  3s.  4d.  per  wey  of  fishing 
salt."  The  greater  number  of  pans  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  river, 
but  in  16^8  there  were  thirty  salt  pans  in  Tynemouth  parish.'^  Brine  was 
collected  in  cisterns  and  pumped  thence  into  shallow  iron  pans,  where  it  was 
boiled  until  salt  crystals  had  begun  to  form.  So  much  of  the  water  as  had 
not  evaporated  was  then  drained  ofi,  and  the  salt  was  ready  for  use.^ 

As  new  collieries  were  opened  up  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Shields,  the 
prerogatives  of  the  Hostmen's  Company  of  Newcastle  grew  more  irksome. 
That  company  had  the  exclusive  vending  of  coals,  and  no  coal  might  be 
shipped  for  exportation  except  at  Newcastle.*  Not  only  were  trading 
vessels  of  larger  tonnage  than  formerly,  but,  since  the  corporation  of 
Newcastle  had  become  conservators  of  the  Tyne  in  1613,  the  bed  of  that 
river  had  been  allowed  to  silt  up,  and  both  these  circumstances  rendered 
navigation  increasingly  dangerous.  Masters  of  vessels  were  obliged  to  seek 
Newcastle  in  order  to  load  or  unload,  to  cast  ballast,  or  to  undergo  repairs, 
for  no  persons  were  allowed  to  build  or  repair  ships  within  the  port  unless 

'  Cal.  State  Papers,  Domestic,  1634-1635,  p.  100. 

•  For  the  history  of  the  salt  trade  in  North  and  .South  Shields,  see  G.  B.  Hodgson,  Boyough  0/  South 
Shields.  An  account  of  the  salt  works  of  Durham  and  Northumberland,  composed  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II.,  has  been  printed  from  Lansdowne  MSS.  258,  by  Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  iii.  as  a 
separate  tract. 

'  Tynemouth  Vestry  Books. 

'  Detailed  descriptions  of  the  salt  pans  at  Shields  and  the  method  of  manufacture  have  been  given 
by  Sir  William  Brereton  in  1635  (Richardson,  Reprints,  vol.  vii.  'Notes  of  a  journey  thioujjh  Durham  and 
Northumberland'),  and  by  Lord  Harley  in  1725  {Duke  of  Portland's  MSS.  vol.  vi.  p.  105  ;  Hist.  MSS. 
Com.).  See  also  an  article  on  'The  Art  of  Making  Salt'  in  the  Northumberland  and  Newcastle  Magazine, 
181S,  pp.  280-281,  311-312,  342-343. 

"  Newcastle  Hostmen's  Company,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  105,  passim.  For  orders  prohibiting  the  shipping  of 
coals  at  Shields  upon  pain  of  seizure,  see  pp.  74-76  and  90. 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP.  30I 

they  were  free  of  the  Newcastle  company  of  shipwrights  or  paid  a  yearlv 
contribution  for  licence  to  work  within  the  liberties.'  If  carpenters  were 
not  freemen  of  Newcastle,  then  they  plied  their  trade  at  their  peril,  as  did 
Thomas  Cliffe  of  North  Shields,  who,  in  the  month  of  April,  1646,  got  a 
ship  off  the  rocks  under  Tynemouth  castle  ;  whereupon  two  sergeants  and 
several  free  carpenters  came  down  from  Newcastle,  hailed  the  unfortunate 
shipwright  to  prison,  and  beat  his  wife  to  death.  The  mayor  and  burgesses 
of  Newcastle  further  sued  ClifFe  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer,  but,  failing  to 
make  good  their  case,  were  ordered  to  pay  costs.  ^ 

In  1650  the  masters  of  vessels  trading  to  the  Tyne  for  coals  gave  vent 
to  their  grievances  in  a  petition  to  the  council  of  state.  Their  complaints 
were  referred  to  the  council  of  trade,  by  whom,  after  long  debates,  the 
action  of  the  Newcastle  citizens  was  pronounced  prejudicial  to  trade  and 
navigation,  but  the  report  was  allowed  to  lie  dormant.'  Hostilities  broke 
out  again  before  long.  Ralph  Gardner  of  Chirton  was  cast  into  prison  at 
Newcastle  in  1652  for  refusing  to  close  his  brewery  at  North  Shields.  He 
escaped  from  his  confinement,  but  a  warrant  again  went  out  for  his  arrest 
for  default  of  payment  of  ;^'900  for  fines.  While  sitting  in  his  cottage  in 
Chirton  he  found  himself  surrounded  by  men  with  swords  drawn  and  pistols 
cocked.  He  offered  resistance;  'much  blood  was  spilt';  and  the  Tyne 
seamen,  hurrying  to  his  rescue,  drove  back  to  Newcastle  the  wounded  and 
discomfited  officers  of  the  law.^  Gardner,  however,  did  not  long  remain  at 
liberty,  and  he  was  again  in  gaol  when,  on  September  29th,  1653,  he 
petitioned  parliament,  desiring  that  the  report  of  the  council  of  trade  should 
be  called  for  and  reviewed. 

Gardner's  petition,  like  that  of  1650,  demanded  the  abolition  of  re- 
strictions upon  trade  in  the  port  of  Tyne.  It  also  included  a  request  that 
North  Shields  might  be  made  a  market  town,  and  proposed  the  transference 
of  the  conservancy  from  the  corporation  of  Newcastle  to  a  representative 

'  Some  of  the  free  shipwrights  were,  however,  resident  at  Shields.  On  January  24ih,  1649/50, 
Edward  Smith  of  Gateshead,  master  and  mariner,  deposed  that  for  fifty  years  past  there  had  been 
certain  vessels  called  'Shetland  barques,'  which,  being  little  ships  and  bringing  in  fish  which  was  usually 
dried  at  Shields,  did  seldom  or  never  come  up  to  Newcastle;  that  complaint  was  made  that  for  their 
repair  ship  carpenters  were  wanted  at  Shields,  whereupon  some  liad  been  sent  from  Newcastle  to  reside 
there.     Exclicqucr  Depositions,  Hilary,  1649/50,  No.  i.  m.  3  d. 

-  For  further  particulars  of  Cliffe's  case,  see  Gardner,  Eiiglmid's  Gr'uvanc£,  chapters  26,  31,  11,  34, 
36;  Richardson's  Reprints,  vol.  vi.  'The  humble  petition  and  appeal  of  Thomas  Cliffe';  Exchequer 
Depositions,  Hilary,  1649/50,  No.  I,  and  Exchequer  Decrees  ami  Orders,  series  iii.  vol.  xx.\iii.  fol.  173. 

^  Hostmen's  Company,  p.  92.     Gardner,  England's  Grievance,  chapter  25. 
Gardner,  England's  Gricvame,  chapter  yj. 


302  TYNEMOIJTH    IJOROUGH. 

body  elected  (ui  liuc}  The  matter  was  referred  to  the  council  of  trade,  to 
whom  Gardner  exhibited  his  charges  against  the  corporation."  In  vigorous 
ungrammatical  style  he  propounded  the  need  of  giving  Shields  a  market : 

The  maior  and  burgesses  do  all  iiigross  all  commodities  and  provisions  into  their  own  hands  which 
comes  in  by  sea,  and  setts  their  own  rates  thereon,  compelling  all  people  to  their  markets,  the  poor 
salt-makers  and  colliers  often  not  having  above  i8d.  to  receive  of  their  wages  at  the  week's  end,  to 
releive  themselves,  wife  and  six  or  seven  children,  pays  4d.  out  of  it  by  going  and  coming  by  water, 
besides  a  day's  labour  lost,  often  the  river  frozen,  no  boat  can  pass,  snow  so  deep,  coale  pitts  open, 
having  died  att  Shields  for  want  of  food,  besides  many  drowned  in  stormy  weather  in  the  river  in  coming 
from  their  markets,  and  that  by  their  hording  upp  corn  in  their  corn  lofts  for  to  make  it  dear,  and  kept  it 
till  it  was  so  dear  that  the  poor  could  not  buy  it,  but  were  forced  to  eat  dead  horses,  doggs  and  calls,' 
and  the  other  sort  in  the  county  of  Northumberland  exposed  to  let  their  beasts  blood  to  make  cakes  to 
eat,  which  beasts,  being  over  blooded,  dyed  in  the  spring,  and  yett  corn  kept  so  long  in  Newcastle  that 
it  moulded  and  rotted,'  and  many  hundred  bowlcs  thrown  then  into  the  river,  not  tollerating  a  markett 
at  Shields  for  the  releif  of  Tinmouth  garrison,  the  fleets  of  shipps,  the  concourse  of  people  and  in- 
habitants, which  are  thousands,  nor  baking  nor  brewing,  but  have  ruinated  men  at  law  for  the  same 
by  their  great  purse,  which  is  too  great  for  any  to  contest  with,  and  which  is  a  great  crying  oppression 
and  hinderance  to  trade. 

The  conclusion  is  best  given  in  Gardner's  own  words.  '  All  which 
said  charge  was  proved  upon  oath,  before  the  council,  at  Whitehall, 
1650,  and  the  committee  for  trade  and  corporations,  at  Whitehall,  in 
November,  1653.  And  order  was  given,  that  Mr.  Thomas  Skinner,  be 
desired  to  draw  up  an  Act,  for  a  free  trade  in  that  port  and  river  of 
Tyne,  to  present  to  the  parliament.'  The  proposed  'Act  for  a  free  trade 
in  the  river  of  Tyne,  for  coals,  salt,  etc.,'  was  accordingly  drafted.  It 
provided  for  the  creation  of  a  new  conservancy  board,  the  erection  of 
ballast  shores  and  holding  of  a  market  at  Shields,  and  the  abolition  of 
the  monopoly  enjoyed  by  the  free  shipwrights,  pilots  of  the  Trinity 
House,  bakers  and  brewers,  and  hostmen  of  Newcastle.*  By  skilful  delays 
the  corporation  postponed  the  conclusion  of  the  investigation  which 
threatened  to  go  against  it.  December  13th  was  fixed  for  the  final  hearing 
of  both  parties.  On  December  12th,  Parliament  was  dissolved  and 
Gardner's  legislative  projects  were  baffled. 

'  Und.  chapter  27  ;  Richardson,  Rtpriiits,  vol.  iii.  'The  Conservatorship  of  the  River  Tyne,'  pp.  24-2S. 
The  tract  here  quoted,  printed  from  a  manuscript  account  of  the  proceedings  before  the  council  of 
trade,  includes  the  answer  of  the  mayor  and  burgesses  of  Newcastle  to  Gardner's  petition  and  to  the 
charges  exhibited  by  him  ;  and  the  other  documents  connected  with  the  case  are  given  in  a  more 
accurate  form  than  in  Clardners  own  version.  England's  Grievance  gives  many  depositions  taken  before 
the  council  of  trade,  but  mingles  with  them  the  evidence  given  in  Clift'e's  trial. 

=  Printed  in  England's  Grievance,  chapter  28,  and  Conservatorship  of  the  River  Tyne,  pp.  28-32. 

Many  country  people  were  necessitated  to  eat  dogs  and  cats,  and  to  kill  their  poor  little  coal- 
horses  for  food,'  says  Gardner. 

'  Gardner  adds,  'The  very  swine  could  not  eat  it.'  *  England's  Grievance,  chapter  54. 


NORTH    SHIEI.nS    TOWNSHIP. 


303 


'The  honourable  committee,'  says  Gardner,  'met  in  Whitehall,  and 
drew  up  another  report,  and  signed  the  same,  against  the  corporation  of 
Newcastle,  and  would  have  presented  the  same  to  his  highnesse,  the  Lord 
Protector.  But  I  conceived  to  give  a  narrative  was  better."  .  .  .  'The  thing  I 
aim  at  is  a  right  understanding  between  the  free  and  unfree  men  of  England  ; 
a  perfect  love,  every  one  injoying  their  own,  and  to  be  governed  under  our 
known  and  wholesome  laws,  as  also  an  obedience  thereunto  ;  and  not  by  a 
hidden  prerogative,  a//'as  charters."'   He  continued,  with  disjointed  eloquence  : 

The  mayor,  aldermen,  and  recorder,  with  the  burgesses,  and  others,  against  the  freeborn  of  England, 
which  prohibited  all  trade,  from  the  9th  day  of  January,  1642,  to  the  14th  of  November,  1644,  in  that 
port  ;  which  caused  coals  to  be  four  pound  the  chaldron,  and  salt  four  pound  the  weigh  ;  the  poor 
inhabitants  forced  to  flie  the  country,  others  to  quarter  all  armies  upon  free  quarter  ;  heavy  taxes  to  them 
all,  both  English,  Scots,  and  garisons  ;  plundered  of  all  they  had  ;  land  lying  waste ;  coal-pits  drowned  ; 
salt  works  broken  down  ;  hay  and  corn  burnt ;  town  pulled  down  ;  men's  wives  carried  away  by  the 
unsatiable  Scots,  and  abused  ;  all  being  occasioned  by  that  corporation's  disaflfeclion  ;  and  yet  to 
tyrannize  as  is  hereafter  mentioned  ;  I  appeal  to  God  and  the  world.' 

Gardner  did  not  abandon  hope  of  procuring  a  market  for  North 
Shields.  In  a  letter  written  on  February  21st,  1654/5,  to  one  of  the  earl 
of  Northumberland's  officers,  he  stated  :  '  I  am  bringing  an  ai/  quod  danuium 
in  the  earle's  name  for  a  markett  at  Sheilds,  and  to  have  the  toules  and 
other  profitts  thereby  accruing,  that  towne  beinge  part  member  to  the 
mannor  of  Tynemouth,  which  I  doubt  not  but  effect  notwithstanding  the 
greatest  of  Newcastle  opposition.'*  A  petition  addressed  to  the  Protector 
in   1654  shows  his  handiwork. 

To  his  highnes  the  Lord  Protector  of  the  Commonwealth  of  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland.  The 
humble  peticion  of  the  inhabitants  of  North  Sheilds  and  parts  adjacent  in  the  county  of  Northumberland 
and  the  gentry. 

Sheweth  that  for  want  of  a  markett  in  the  towne  of  North  Shields  in  the  county  of  Northiimberl.and, 
being  a  place  of  great  trade  for  coles,  salt,  and  grindestones,  wherein  and  the  parts  adjacent  are  thousands 
of  familyes  besides  thousands  of  seamen  and  passengers  daily  resorting  thither,  as  also  your  garrison  of 
Tynemouth  castle,  all  which  are  much  necessitated  and  prejudiced  and  a  great  hindrance  of  trade  and 
navigation,  there  not  being  any  market  in  that  county  nearer  then  twelve  myles. 

That  in  tyme  of  deepe  snowes,  the  cole-pitts  always  lying  open,  the  people  dare  not  atlventure  by 
land  in  the  winter  season  to  Newcastle  markett,  which  is  six  myles  distant  from  Sheildes  (it  being  a 
towne  and  county  of  itselfe),  in  extremity  of  weather  many  boates  are  cast  away  and  many  people  are 
drowned  in  goeing  to  and  from  that  markett  at  Newcastle,  the  river  also  in  the  winter  season  being  .also 
frozen,  so  that  the  poorer  sort  are  exposed  to  great  want  and  misery. 

Your  peticioners  therefore  humbly  prayes  your  Highnes  will  be  plased  to  graunt  a  markett  to  be 
kept  on  Mondays  and  Thursdayes  in  the  said  towne  in  every  weeke  in  the  earle  of  Northumberland's 
name,  by  reason  hee  is  lord  of  tlie  mannor  of  the  said  Tynemouth.' 

'  Enghuui's  Grievance,  chapter  28. 

■  The  bibliography  oi Enghuui's  Grievance  is  the  subject  of  a  paper  in  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  .\iii. 
by  the  late  Mr.  C.  J.  Spence. 

"  Englivhi's  Grieviince,  preface.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  IbiJ. 


304 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


The  struggle  between  the  Newcastle  hostmen  and  the  coalowners 
not  of  their  company  went  on  ft)r  several  years.  Ships  were  laden  at 
Shields  in  spite  of  the  bylaws  of  Newcastle  companies,  and  an  attempt 
made  by  the  hostmen  to  check  the  practice  by  charging  for  lighter-hire 
was  quashed  by  the  Protector  and  his  council.  Kalph  Gardner  again 
directed  his  complaints  against  the  hostmen,  and,  but  for  the  Restoration, 
it  seems  likely  that  they  would  have  come  to  terms.'  After  the  Restoration, 
Newcastle     returned     to     the     attack.       On     May     20th,     1661,     William 


Old  Ohavs  fn  1876. 


Collingwood  of  North  Shields  was  called  before  the  conservancy  court 
and  presented  for  setting  forth  his  quav  at  North  Shields  about  seven 
yards  into  the  river.  Threatened  with  the  destruction  of  their  wharves 
and  of  the  houses  built  on  them,  the  townsmen  of  Shields  petitioned  the 
earl  of  Northumberland  to  take  up  their  cause  : 

To  ye  right  honorable  ye  carle  of  Northumberland,  the  humble  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  North 
Sheilds,  part  of  your  honor's  mannor  of  Tynemouth. 

'  Ilostmeii's  Company,  pp.  110-112,  114,  117. 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP. 


305 


Humbly  sheweth  that  ye  toune  of  Newcastle  upon  Tyne  hath,  under  ye  pretence  of  preservation  of 
the  river  of  Tyne,  taken  upon  them  to  impose  great  mulcts  and  fines  upon  your  peticioners  because  they 
will  not  pull  downe  and  demolish  their  keyes  and  houses  thereupon  erected,  which  is  noe  way  prejudicial! 
but  of  much  advantage  to  the  navigablenese  of  the  said  river. 

And  that,  except  some  speedy  remedy  be  found  out  for  your  peticioners'  reliefe  in  this  particular, 
your  poore  peticioners  will  be  constrained  to  suffer  themselves  to  be  ruin'd,  or  otherwise  to  disowne  your 
lordshippe  and  owne  the  interest  of  the  said  towne,  who  is  willing  upon  a  very  small  acknowledgement 
too  free  and  remitt  ye  said  fines  and  impositions.' 

In  spite  of  the  con- 
tinued efforts  of  the  mayor 
and  burgesses  of  New- 
castle, who  succeeded  in 
1672  in  suppressing  John 
Overing's  brewery  at  North 
Shields,  *  the  town  grew 
rapidly.  '  They  are  build- 
ing daily,'  said  a  letter- 
writer  in  1658.'  The 
hearth-ta.x  returns  of  1664 
show  a  hundred  and  eighty 
householders.  Ten  years 
later  the  number  had  risen 
to  three  hundred  and  five.* 
Many  of  the  older  build- 
ings in  the  town  date  from 
this  period  ;  on  the  lintel 
of  one  of  the  dwellings  still 
remaining  on  the  Wooden 
Dolly  quay  is  the  inscrip- 
tion 16  I'^A  74,  :^"d  in  houses 
which  have  vanished  be- 
fore modern  improve- 
ments, coats  of  arms  with- 
out,  and   tile   and   carving 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland'  MSS. 

'  Excluqucr  Depositions,  Mich.  24  Chas.  II.  No.  3;  ;  Decrees  a>id  Orders,  series  iv.  vol.  xi.  fol.  2SS. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  The  principal  residents  in  1664  were  :  Katharine  Gardner  (wife  of  R.alph  (Gardner  of  Chirton),  John 
Blakeston,  Edward  Carr,  James  Denton,  William  Colling«ood,  hdward  loll,  Jeremiah  Lo«,  and  .Mr. 
Ashburnham. 


The  Woohe.n  Dollv  Vv.w,  issg 


Vol.  \'111. 


39 


3o6  TYNEMOUTH    ROROUOH. 

within,  testified  to  former  opulence.  Like  many  other  riverside  towns 
North  Shields  consisted  of  one  long  narrow  thoroughfare,  extending  from 
the  Low  Lights  to  the  Bull  Ring,  and  known  in  later  times  as  the  Low 
Town  Street.  The  greater  part  of  the  street  was  from  nine  to  eleven  feet 
wide,  but,  at  a  few  points,  and  for  short  distances,  there  were  expansions 
that  increased  the  width  from  sixteen  to  twenty-five  feet.  The  '  little 
dovett  and  thatched  cottages  '  made  way  for  lofty  houses,  solidly  built  of 
brick  or  stone,  with  rounded  gables  and  red-tiled  roofs.  On  the  river  side, 
short  lanes  and  quays  led  direct  to  the  water  edge  ;  on  the  other  side 
steep  flights  of  stairs  gave  access  to  what  was  known  as  the  Bank  Head 
at  about  seventy  feet  higher  level.  There  were  no  houses  on  the  higher 
plateau.  What  are  now  the  busiest  parts  of  Shields  were  overgrown  with 
whin  and  provided  a  scanty  pasture  for  cattle.  Houses  were  packed  tightly 
together.  They  crowded  round  little  courts  leading  off  the  street,  extended 
out  on  quays  resting  on  piles  driven  into  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  jostled 
one  another  up  the  hill. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  town  there  were  several  salt  pans  held  by 
the  earl  of  Northumberland  and  the  Milbourne  family.  A  bridge  crossed 
the  Pow  burn  at  this  point  and  gave  access  to  the  main  thoroughfare.' 
The  street  was  intersected,  about  midway,  by  a  piece  of  swampy  ground, 
known  as  the  Dogger  letch.  Across  it,  connecting  the  present  Liddell  and 
Clive  Streets,  ran  a  wooden  bridge,  and  near  to  it  stood  the  toll-gate  house, 
demolished  by  the  Tynemouth  corporation  in  1857  for  street  improvement. 
A  causeway,  commonly  called  the  Half  Moon,  led  up  from  the  wooden 
bridge  to  the  Bank  Head,  and  continued,  as  Church  Way,  to  the  parish 
church.  Farther  along,  a  way  led  down  to  the  ferry-boat  landing.'' 
Beyond  that  again  was  the  Bull  Ring,  where  bulls  were  baited.'  A 
lane,  starting  from  this  point,  connected  the  town  with  the  Newcastle 
road.  At  the  west  end  of  the  town  came  more  salt  pans  at  a  place 
called  Dortwick,  whence  sands  stretched  out  across  the  Tyne. 

'  In  1648  the  Trinity  House  of  Newcastle  gave  ten  shillings  towards  building  a  bridge  over  the 
runner  at  the  Low  Lights.  Mackenzie,  Neuraslle,  p.  6S3,  citing  Trinity  House  M.SS.  .'\t  Christmas, 
1701,  several  of  the  inhabitants  of  Tynemouth  parish  having  refused  to  pay  their  shares  for  the  mainten- 
ance and  repair  of  the  bridge  at  Pow  panns,  and  the  highway  between  Hillymill  and  Shields,  it  is 
ordered  that  the  fines  be  levied  and  paid  to  the  surveyor  of  the  highways.  Sessions  Order  Books, 
vol.  iv.  p.  20. 

'At  quarter  sessions  held  at  Christmas,  1724,  the  following  order  was  made  :  'The  way  in  North 
Shields  leading  to  the  church  (a  conduit  or  current  being  stopt,  the  water  overruns  the  streats,  by  which 
the  streats  are  very  much  abused)  to  be  repaired  by  the  town  of  North  Shields.  The  way  to  the  ferry- 
boat landing  at  North  Shields,  in  the  parish  of  Tinmouth,  so  bad  that  a  horse  going  to  the  boat  is  in 
danger  of  having  his  legs  broke.'     Ibid.  vol.  vi.  p.  357. 

'  A  large  flat  stone,  containing  an  iron  bolt  and  ring,  was  turned  up  here  in  June,  1S20, 


NORTH    SHIELDS    TOWNSHIP.  307 

North  Shields  was  not  a  healthy  town.  Plague  was  a  constant 
visitant.^  Refuse  accumulated  in  the  streets,  and  ways  were  foul.  Most 
of  the  scavenging  was  done  by  pigs.  Dense  clouds  of  steam,  ascending 
from  the  salt  pans,  wrapped  the  place  in  a  white  mantle.' 

The  town  was  under  the  joint  control  of  manorial  officers  chosen  in 
the  court  leet  and  of  a  select  vestry  known  as  the  four-and-twenly.  The 
following  bylaws  exemplify  their  jurisdiction  : 

April  15th,  1639.  It  is  agreed  by  the  minister  and  four-and-lwenty  that  the  first  Sunday  of  every 
month  shall  be  a  collection  in  the  church  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  the  parish  of  Tynetnoulh,  and 
likewise  the  money  collected  at  every  communion  throughout  the  year  shall  be  put  in  the  church  box 
and  recorded  in  writing  ;  the  said  moneys  collected  and  distributed  to  the  poor  at  Christmas  and  Easter 
time,  and  account  to  be  made  every  Easter  to  the  four-and-twenty.     Tynemouth  Vestry  Books. 

April  19th,  1647.  Agreed  that  profaners  of  the  Lord's  Day,  or  being  absent  from  the  church 
drinking  in  time  of  preaching,  being  drunken  and  swearing,  to  be  severely  punished  according  to  the 
penalty  laid  on  by  the  minister  and  churchwardens,  acquainting  the  four-and-twenty  with  it.  Diligent 
search  to  be  made  every  Lord's  Day,  before  and  after  noon,  by  the  churchwardens,  their  assistants,  and 
the  assistance  of  all  the  petty  constables,  for  the  observing  and  keeping  of  the  Sabbath.     Ibid. 

October  15th,  1694.  Whereas  complaint  hath  been  made  from  court  to  court  of  the  great  newsances 
and  trespasses  committed  or  done  by  the  keeping  of  swine  unbowed  and  unringed  in  North  Sheilds,  and 
notwithstanding  the  several  amerciaments  made  of  those  that  were  presented  at  the  several  past  courts, 
there  is  no  amendment,  but  dayly  greater  numbers  are  kept  therein,  and  by  reason  of  the  narrowness  of 
the  streets,  and  the  town  of  late  grown  so  populous  that  the  keeping  of  swine  in  the  said  town  is  very 
infectious  and  nautious  (especially  in  the  summer  time),  insomuch  that  we  do  order  that  from  and  after 
the  17th  day  of  October  untill  the  next  court  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever  shall  permit  or  suffer  any 
swine  to  go  abroad  in  the  streets  or  keep  them  in  any  place  which  shall  or  may  annoy  any  of  the 
inhabitants  or  be  a  publick  newsance  to  the  said  town  upon  pain  of  xxxix'  xj''  upon  every  one  that  shall 
be  found  to  keep  the  same.     Tynemouth  Court  Rolls. 

As  early  as  1620,  Shields  appears  to  have  been  divided  into  four  wards, 
each  represented  by  a  petty  constable,  who  was  also  surveyor  of  highways. 
A  hi^^h  constable  acted  for  the  whole  town.  The  town  was  represented  by 
a  special  jury  in  the  manor  court  and  had  two  bread-weighers  and  ale- 
tasters.     The  supervision  of  the  salt  measures  also  came  within  the  manorial 

jurisdiction.' 

Churchwardens  and  overseers  of  the  poor  were  elected  at  the  vestry 
meetincrs.  These  officers  joined  with  the  constables  in  policing  and  super- 
visino-  the  sanitary  condition  of  the  town,  but  their  chief  task  was  the 
administration  of  the  poor  law. 

■  Plaaue  was  at  Tynemouth  and  Shields  in  1346/7  {Miiiislfrs'  Accounls);  in  1583  (Cal  Border  Papers, 
vol  i  p  114};  in  1604  (Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.);  \n  ib^^^  (Court  of  High  Commisswnat  Durham, 
Surt.  Soc.  No.  34,  p.  171)  ;  and  again  in  1666  (Tynanouth  Register,  ed.  Couchman,  vol.  1.  p.  255). 

■  Life  of  Mannaduke  R.mdon  of  York,  Camden  Soc.  1S63,  p.  143  ;  l^^'n'c'  l^ef^e,  Tour  through  the 
whole  Island  of  Great  Britain,  1727,  vol.  iii.  p.  193. 

"  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


-^OS  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

North  Shields  was  the  poorest  part  of  the  parish,  and  this  fact  caused 
the  other  townships  within  the  parish  to  feel  that  they  were  unduly 
burdened.  With  a  view  of  remedying  this  inconvenience,  it  was  ordered  by 
the  justices  of  the  peace  at  Christmas,  17 13,  'that  the  severall  villages  in 
Tineniouth  parish  doe  from  henceforth  maintain  and  take  care  of  the  poor 
in  each  village,  but  that  all  the  poor  that  are  now  charged  upon  the  parish 
be  taken  care  of  as  they  formerly  have  been,  and  for  the  future  noe  village 
to  be  chargeable,  but,  as  before-mentioned,  each  village  for  their  own  poor.'' 
The  consequence  of  this  order  was  to  overburden  the  town  of  North 
Shields,  the  overseers  of  the  poor  for  that  township  stating,  in  a  petition 
presented  to  quarter  sessions  in  January,  17 16/7,  that  there  were  more 
orders  granted  by  the  magistrates  against  them  by  _£  6  5s.  a  quarter,  than  if 
the  whole  cess  was  well  paid,  and  that  'till  of  late  they  had  the  help  of 
Chirton,  Preston,  Tynemouth,  and  Cullercoats,  and  now  the  town  of  North 
Shields  decays  and  the  poor  increases.'  '■' 

By  turning  back  a  few  years  in  the  history  of  Shields  it  may  be  possible 
to  detect  the  causes  that  led  to  the  impoverishment  of  the  town  at  the 
commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The  hostmen  of  Newcastle  had 
renewed  their  ancient  quarrel.  In  1684  complaints  were  made  of  the  great 
damage  sustained  by  that  company  by  the  loading  of  ships  at  the  Low 
Lights.'  Orders  were  made  by  the  same  society  in  1691  for  the  seizure 
of  all  coal  shipped  at  Shields  by  other  than  freemen.^  They  were  lighting 
against  the  natural  tendency  of  trade  to  drift  down  to  the  harbour  towns. 
As  Roger  North  observed  about  this  time,  '  Ever  since  ships  have  been 
built  larger,  partly  for  better  roads,  and  partly  for  better  pilotage,  the  port 
towns  have  crept  nearer  the  main  ;  as  they  say  would  happen  upon  the 
Tyne,  and  Shields  would  become  the  port  town,  if  Newcastle  had  not  a 
privilege  that  no  common  baker  or  brewer  should  set  up  between  them 
and  the  sea.'  *  The  common  council  of  Newcastle,  in  alarm,  referred  to 
a  committee,  in  the  year  1690,  the  consideration  of  what  means  were 
necessary  to  be  used  '  for  preventing  the  great  growth  of  trade  at  Shields.'  '^ 

'  Sessions  Order  Books,  vol.  v.  p.  173. 

'  Sessions  Papers,  Christmas,  1716/7.  The  method  of  poor  law  administration  inaugurated  in  17/3 
continued  until  the  formation  of  Tynemouth  union  in  1836.  A  select  vestry  for  the  concerns  of  the  poor 
in  North  Shields  township  was  appointed  on  November  4lh,  1S24,  under  the  powers  of  the  Poor  Law  Act 
of  1 81 9. 

'  Hostmen's  Books,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  105,  p.  142.  '  Ibiil.  p.  148. 

'  North,  Life  0/  Lord  Keeper  Guildford,  p.  121. 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  28,  note,  citing  Common  Council  Books,  September  30th,  1690. 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP. 


309 


Large  fleets  of  colliers  rode  daily  all  along  the  northern  shore  by  the 
Low  Lights.  Proposals  made  in  1699  for  building  a  quay  at  that  point 
met  with  strenuous  resistance  from  the  Newcastle  Trinity  House,'  but 
appear  to  have  been  eventually  carried,  for  staiths  existed  in  1714  not  only 
at  the  Low  Lights  but  near  the  ferry-boat  landing  and  at  the  west  end 
of  the  town  (the  Long  Staith).^  A  little  later,  Warburton  described  North 
Shields  as  '  a  large,  well  built  and  populous  seaport  town,  situated  at  the 
very  confluence  of  the  river  Tine  with  the  sea,  where  there  is  a  haven 
sufficient  to  contain  a  thousand  sail  of  ships  of  the  largest  burden.     It   is 


The  River  Side  near  the  Low  Lights,  iS-:. 

the  harbour  for  Newcastle,  drives  a  great  trade  in  salt  made  of  sea  water, 
and  in  fish,  which  are  here  cured  to  admiration,  particularly  the  incom- 
parable salmon,  which  they  supply  to  most  parts  of  Europe.'^ 

The  salt  trade  had,  however,  already  begun  to  decline,  as  may  be  seen 
from  the  following  petition  presented  to  quarter  sessions  : 

To  the  honourable  the  knights,  citizens  and  burgesses  in  parliament  assembled,  the  humble  petition 
of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county  of  Northumberland  at  the  quarter  sessions  for  the  said  county 
held  by  adjournment  at  the  castle  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  the  2ist  day  of  March,  1701,  humbly 
sheweth  that  great  numbers  of  poor  people  who  have  been  employed  in  the  salt  works  at  North  Shields, 

'  Richardson,  Reprints,  '  Conservatorship  of  the  river  Tyne,'  p.  92  (from  Trinity  House  papers). 
-■  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  Ibid. 


310  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Cullcrcoats,  and  other  places  in  the  county,  by  the  decay  of  the  salt  trade  arc  sett  on  begginy  and 
become  burthensome  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  county.  Your  petitioners  therefore  humbly  pray  that 
this  honourable  house  will  be  pleased  to  take  the  same  into  consideration  and  do  therein  as  in  their 
great  judgments  shall  be  thought  meet ;  and  your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  etc. 
Given  under  the  seal  of  the  sessions  at  the  sessions  aforesaid.' 

Gradually  this  industry  became  obsolete.  A  survey  taken  in  1707 
shows  ten  salt  pans  in  the  hands  of  the  Milbourne  family,  while  seven  were 
owned  by  John  Airey,  two  by  Michael  Coatsworth,  three  by  Luke  Killing- 
worth's  heirs,  two  by  Mark  Ogle,  one  by  Sarah  Chayter,  and  two  by  the 
heirs  of  William  CoUinson,  making  twenty-seven  in  all.  At  the  same  time 
the  Pow  pans,  formerly  granted  to  Sir  John  Melton  and  Ralph  Reed  for 
twenty-one  years  from  1631,  lay  waste,  being  long  since  decayed.^  Si.xty 
years  later  all  the  salt  pans  upon  the  duke  of  Northumberland's  property  in 
North  Shields  had  been  taken  down  and  houses  built  upon  them.'  A  single 
salt  manufactory  existed  till  recently  at  the  Low  Lights. 

The  decay  of  the  salt  industry  undoubtedly  inflicted  temporary  hardship 
upon  the  poorer  classes,  upon  whose  unskilled  labour  it  largely  depended.* 
Its  place  was  soon  taken,  however,  by  the  shipping  industry,  to  which  great 
impetus  was  given  by  the  wars  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Numerous 
masters  and  mariners  came  from  Whitby  and  Ipswich  to  settle  in  North 
Shields.  Shipbuilding  commenced  with  the  formation  of  a  graving  dock 
in  1752  by  Mr.  Edward  Collingwood  near  the  Bull  King.'  It  is  said 
thai  during  the  American  war  as  many  as  thirty  ships  were  turned  out 
amiually  from  the  various  shipbuilding  yards  in  the  town,  several  frigates 
and  gun-brigs  being  built  for  the  government. °  In  1778  a  society,  named 
the  Union  Society,  was  founded  in  North  Shields  for  the  insurance  of 
vessels  belonging  to  the  port  of  Tyne,'  and  several  other  ship  insurance 
associations  and  benefit  societies  were  formed  subsequently."*  Various  trades 
subservient  to  the  shipping  industry  found  a  footing  in  the  town,  chief 
among  them  being  rope  making  and  iron  founding. 

'  Sessions  Order  Books,  vol.  i.  -■  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  ''  Ibid. 

'  This  is  pointed  out  in  a  narrative  of  the  salt  trade  drawn  up  about  1605  :  '  It  is  to  be  noted  that  in 
the  countyes  of  Durham  and  Northumberland  ther  bee  no  great  trades  as  clothing  and  such  like  used, 
by  which  the  poorer  sort  are  sett  on  worke  and  releived  from  begery,  saving  only  the  trades  of  colyery 
and  salting.'     Ibid. 

'  This  dock  was  for  many  years  owned  by  the  Laing  family,  by  whom  it  was  sold  in  18S3  to  Mr. 
H.  S.  Edwards  of  Corbridge. 

«  Mackenzie,  NorlhumbcrUmd,  ist  edition,  vol.  ii.  p.  552.  '  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  36,  note. 

"Amongst  other  benefit  societies  the  'Good  Intent'  was  established  in  1799,  and  the  'Seamen's 
Loyal  Standard  .Association,'  for  the  mutual  relief  of  s.ailors  belonging  to  North  Shields,  in  1829.  In 
1827  there  were  thirteen  local  insurance  clubs  in  North  Shields. 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP.  3II 

Communication  with  Newcastle  was  improved.  The  old  road  had 
become  almost  impassable  in  the  winter  season,  and  the  surveyors  of  the 
highways  proved  quite  unequal  to  the  task  of  keeping  it  in  repair.  The 
first  of  a  series  of  turnpike  Acts,  passed  in  1749,  entrusted  the  upkeep  of 
the  road  to  a  body  of  trustees,  and  provided  for  the  erection  of  gates, 
turnpikes  and  tollhouses.^ 

During  the  second  half  of  the  eighteenth  century  the  town  began  to 
expand  northwards,  and  the  freeholds  lying  between  the  Tynemouth  road 
and  the  Bank  Head  were  covered  with  streets  and  buildings.  When  the 
common  fields  of  Tynemouth  township  were  divided  in  1649,  the  larger 
portion  of  the  south  field  had  been  divided  into  narrow  strips  running 
north  and  south  and  allotted  to  the  several  freeholders.  This  circumstance 
has  left  its  mark  upon  the  configuration  of  the  town,  for  the  main  streets 
followed  the  same  direction  as  the  properties  on  which  thev  had  been  built, 
and  access  from  east  to  west  long  remained  difficult. 

Public  buildings  and  public  institutions  followed  one  another  rapidlv 
as  the  town  increased  in  size.  On  January  ist,  1777,  a  portion  of  the 
Brocks  pasture  near  Christ-church  was  leased  by  the  duke  of  Northumber- 
land to  Henry  Hudson  and  others  as  a  site  for  a  poorhouse.*  An  Act  of 
Parliament  passed  in  1786  incorporated  six  brewers  of  North  Shields  under 
the  name  of  '  the  company  of  the  proprietors  of  the  North  Shields  water- 
works.'^  The  town,  which  had  been  formerly  dependent  upon  Marden 
well  and  upon  a  spring  in  the  Whitley  limestone  quarries,  now  obtained 
a  good  supplv  of  fresh  water,  reservoirs  being  constructed  at  Waterville  in 
Coach  Lane,  at  the  Ridges  farm  in  Flatworth,  and  at  the  Brock  farm  in 
Tynemouth  township.  In  1792  a  house  of  correction  was  built  on  the 
Tynemouth  road.  A  dispensary  was  founded  in  1802  in  Church  Street. 
Upon  May  23rd,  1803,  Shields  was  accorded  the  long-contested  right  to 
a  market,  and  in  1806  a  market-place  was  formed  on  the  New  Quay,  where 
weekly  markets  were  held,  as  well  as  fairs  in  April  and  November.'' 

'  An  Act  of  Parliament  for  repairing  the  road  from  North  Shields,  in  the  county  of  Xorlliumberland, 
to  the  town  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  ;  22  Geo.  II.  cap.  ix.  There  were  two  toll  gates  at  Percy  .Main,  one 
at  Chirton,  one  at  South  Preston  and  one  opposite  to  the  Master  Mariners'  Asylum.  The  last  of  the 
road  trusts  expired  in  18S6. 

■  Duke  of  Northumberland's  .MSS.  The  land  was  purchased  by  the  guardians  of  the  Tynemouth 
Union  in  1870,  and  in  1884  the  workhouse  was  considerably  enlarged. 

=  An  Act  for  supplying  North  .Shields  and  the  shipping  resorting  thereto  with  water;  26  Geo.  III. 
cap.  ex.;  Statutes  at  Large,  vol.  xxxv.  p.  932. 

'  A  new  market-place  between  Saville  and  Tyne  Streets  was  opened  in  1SS7, 


312  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Shipping  increased  its  proportions,  and  ontgrew  the  restrictions  imposed 
npon  it  by  the  corporation  of  Newcastle.  Trade  was  carried  on  with  the 
East  Indies,  North  America,  and  the  Baltic  ;  and,  after  the  Baltic  ports 
were  shnt,  about  two  hundred  vessels  sailed  annually  to  British  America.' 
In  1788,  the  shipowners  of  North  Shields  entered  into  conflict  with  the 
hostmen's  company  by  introducing  a  Bill  into  Parliament  for  providing  a 
public  office  in  Shields  to  register  the  arrivals  and  ascertain  the  returns  of 
ships  laden  with  coal."  The  measure  was  rejected,  but  the  enforcement  of 
a  voyage  up  the  Tyne  on  all  vessels  wishing  to  trade  with  Shields  was 
becoming  impossible.  Joseph  Scott,  a  whariinger  in  North  Shields,  estab- 
lished regular  traders  in  1808  for  the  conveyance  of  goods  direct  to  the 
harbour  town.^  The  Newcastle  custom-house  had  a  branch  office  in  the 
market-place,  and  a  watch-house  near  Cliff'ord's  fort,  but  it  was  a  standing 
grievance  that  there  was  still  no  separate  custom-house  for  North  Shields. 
Vigorous  eff"orts  to  obtain  one  were  made  in  1816,  and,  though  they  failed, 
it  was  determined  bv  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  that  masters  of  colliers 
might  be  permitted  to  sign  the  coast-bond  at  North  Shields. 

A  subscription  library  and  town  clock  were  built  in  1807  at  the  foot 
of  Howard  Street.  Except  for  some  slight  provision  for  the  instruction  of 
the  poor  children  of  the  parish,^  education  had  been  hitherto  neglected, 
but,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  jubilee  of  George  III.,  subscriptions  were 
raised  for  a  British  school,  for  which  a  site  was  found  near  Christ-church, 
part  of  the  building  being  used  as  a  school  of  industry  for  girls. ^  In  18 19 
Mr.  Thomas  Kettlewell  founded  a  charitv  school  in  George  Street,  a  clause 
in  the  deed  of  trust  providing  that  a  lame  person,  if  duly  qualified,  should 
be  appointed  schoolmaster."     In    the    same    year    the    first    banking  under- 

'  Mackenzie,  Northumberland,  first  edition,  vol.  ii.  p.  552. 

■  Hostmen's  Books,  pp.  216-217.  ''  Mackenzie,  he.  cil. 

'  A  parish  school  existed  from  the  time  of  the  Commonwealth,  when  (in  1652/3)  ^10  out  of  Allcnton 
tithes  were  assigned  to  it  by  the  Commissioners  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.  Lambeth  MSS.  No. 
1,006,  fol.  424,  ex  inf.  A.  F.  Leach.  In  1655  Cabriel  Coiilson,  the  parish  clerk,  was  chosen  school- 
master for  the  poor  children  of  the  parish.  Tynemouth  Vestry  Books.  John  Spearman  of  Thornley, 
about  the  year  1703,  bequeathed  ^20  to  the  vicar  and  churchwardens  on  trust  to  apply  the  interest  to 
the  education  of  poor  boys  in  the  parish.  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  i.  p.  96.  The  parish  schoolhouse  was 
let  in  1783  to  the  Rev.  Air.  Ireland,  on  condition  that  he  should  teach  four  poor  children.  Tynemouth 
Vestry  Books.  On  April  20th,  1785,  permission  was  given  by  the  Tynemouth  Vestry  to  James  Storey 
of  the  Low  Lights  to  erect  a  pew  in  the  parish  church  on  condition  that  he  and  his  heirs  should  yearly 
pay  to  the  curate  of  the  parish  thirty  shillings  towards  the  education  of  four  poor  children  of  the 
parish.     Ibid. 

'  An  account  of  the  Jubilee  School  is  given  by  G.  H.  Haswell,  The  Maister,  a  Century  of  Tynesidc 
Life.  In  1880  it  was  handed  over  to  the  School  Boartl  for  the  borough,  and  an  infant  school  has  been 
added  to  it. 

'  Kettlewell's  school  was  transferred  to  the  local  educational  authority  in  1905. 


NORTH    SHIELDS   TOWNSHIP. 


313 


taking  in  the  town  was  started  by  Robert  Spence  and  others.  It  continued 
under  the  name  of  the  North  and  South  Shields  Rank  until  1836,  when  the 
business  was  transferred  to  the  Newcastle,  Shields,  and  Sunderland  Joint 
Stock  Bank.'  A  Scientific  and  Mechanical  Institute  was  formed  in  1825, 
and  was  re-organised  eight  years  later  as  the  Mechanics'  and  Tradesmen's 
Library,  with  rooms  in  Tyne  Street. 

Industry  centred  round  the  Low  Lights.     A  waggonway  was  constructed 
connecting  the   Cullercoats  Main  Colliery  and  Whitley  limestone  quarries 


The  Low  and  High  Lights. 

with  the  Tyne  at  this  point,  and  much  coal  and  lime  was  shipped  at  staiths 
erected  on  the  foreshore.  In  1848  the  colliery  was  laid  in,  and  the  staiths 
were  shortly  afterwards  removed."  Gas  works  were  established  near  the 
same   place    in    1820   by  the    newly-formed   North   Shields  Gas  Company. 

'  Maberley  Phillips,  History  of  Batiks  and  Banking,  pp.  221-225. 

-  See  p.  27.     A  good  view  of  the  lime  staiths  is  given  in  T.  Sutherhind's  engraving  of  a  sketch  by 
T.  M.  Richardson.     See  also  views  of  the  foreshore  in  Carmichael,  Pictures  of  Tynesidc. 


Vol..  VIII. 


40 


314 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Three  years  later  the  Union  Quay  was  built,  connecting  the  Low  Street 
with  the  ancient  bridge  over  the  Pow  burn.  The  increase  of  the  fishing 
industry  caused  a  fish  market  to  be  built  in  the  market  place  in  1820.  A 
new  graving  dock,  now  the  property  of  the  Shields  Engineering  Company, 
was  formed  about  the  same  time  by  Mr.  Thomas  Metcalfe  in  Liddell  Street. 

Resular  communication  with  Newcastle  bv  river  commenced  with 
the  organization  of  a  steam-packet  service  in  18 14.'  Coaches  covered 
the  distance  by  road,  starting  from  the  Bull  Ring  at  North  Shields,  and 
proceeding  up  Coach  Lane  to  the  Tynemouth  road."  In  1798  proposals 
were  made  for  improving  communication  between  North  and  South 
Shields  bv  means  of  a  tunnel  under  the  river,  and  a  subscription  was 
started  with  that  object.^  Passage  across  the  river  was  hitherto  only 
practicable  by  means  of  ferry  boats  belonging  to  the  Dean  and  Chapter 
of  Durham.''  Plans  were  submitted  in  1825  for  the  construction  of  a 
suspension  bridge,  but  the  scheme  was  allowed  to  drop.^ 

By  this  time  North  Shields  had  extended  far  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
original  township.  The  joint  rule  of  the  vestry  and  the  court  leet  had 
become  antiquated,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to  define  afresh  the  bound- 
aries of  the  town  and  to  establish  some  sort  of  municipal  government.  An 
Act  of  Parliament  passed  in  1828''  defined  the  boundaries  as  follows: 

To  the  east,  a  line  drawn  in  a  south-east  direction  from  the  correction  house  to  the  river  Tyne  :  to 
the  north,  the  turnpike  road  from  the  said  correction  house  to  the  south-west  corner  of  the  churchyard ; 
from  thence  the  west  wall  of  the  said  churchyard  to  the  north-west  corner  thereof;  and  from  thence 
a  line  drawn  in  a  north-north-west  direction  to  the  lane  or  road  called  Hawkey's  Lane,  leading  from 
the  Newcastle  turnpike  to  the  village  of  Preston  :  to  the  west,  a  line  drawn  from  the  termination  of 
the  said  northern  boundary  in  Hawkey's  Lane  to  the  end  of  the  road  leading  from  the  Newcastle 
turnpike  to  the  town  of  North  Shields  ;   and  from  thence  the  said  lane  or  road  leading  therefrom  to 

'  '  Before  steamboats  became  so  numerous  upon  the  Tyne,  there  were  several  covered  passage 
boats,  called  comfortables,  which  went  every  tide  to  and  from  North  Shields.  Some  of  these  sailing 
boats  still  remain.'     Mackenzie,  Neii-castle,  1827,  p.  722. 

-'  Mackenzie,  Northumberland,  ist  edition,  vol.  ii.  p.  538.  In  1827  there  were  ten  coaches  and 
twenty-eight  gigs,  whereas  'about  forty  years  before  only  one  old  crazy  gig  was  employed  upon 
the  road.'     ^L^ckenzie,  NcivcastU;  1827,  p.  722.  »  Monthly  Magar.im;  vol.  v.  p.  149. 

'  Depositions  were  taken  in  161 1  with  regard  to  the  tenure  by  which  the  ferry  was  held  ;  Exchiquev 
Depositions,  9  Jas.  L  Hilary,  No.  20  ;  and  again  in  1619.  Ibid.  17  Jas.  L  Mich.,  No.  11.  A  ferry  was 
granted  by  the  Crown  inter  alia  to  Edward  Ramsey  and  Robert  Ramsey  in  1624.  In  1717  an  order 
was  made  by  the  Master  of  the  Rolls  that  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of  Durham  should  enjoy  this  ferry, 
paying  to  the  duke  and  duchess  of  Somerset  and  to  their  heirs  the  yearly  and  accustomed  rent  of  6s.  8d. 
Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  The  ancient  ferry  rights  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  were  bought  up 
by  the  Tyne  Commissioners  under  the  Tyne  Improveinent  Act  of  1865. 

'  Hodgson,  Borough  0/  South  Shields,  pp.  141-143.  Proc.  Soc.  Antiq.  Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  ix. 
pp.  24-25. 

'  An  Act  for  paving,  lighting,  watching,  cleansing,  regulating  and  improving  the  town  of  Noftl) 
Shields,  in  the  county  of  Northumberland  ;  9  Geo.  IV.  cap.  xx.wii. 


CHIRTON   TOWNSHIP.  315 

the  town  of  North  Shields  as  far  and  unto  the  south  end  of  the  Quakers'  burial  ground  on  the  west 
side  of  the  said  lane  ;  and  from  thence  a  line  drawn  straight  therefrom  to  the  north-west  corner  of 
Milburn  Place  ;  and  from  thence  following  the  boundary  between  the  townships  of  North  Shields 
and  Chirton  to  the  river  :  to  the  south  the  river  Tyne  :  provided  always  that  nothing  in  this  Act 
contained  shall  extend  or  be  taken  or  construed  to  alter  or  in  any  manner  affect  the  present  boundaries 
or  limits  of  the  parish  of  Tynemouth,  or  any  of  the  townships  contained  therein,  otherwise  than  for 
the  purposes  of  this  Act,  but  that  in  all  other  respects  and  for  all  other  purposes  whatsoever  the  present 
boundaries  and  limits  of  the  said  parish  and  the  several  townships  contained  therein  shall  continue 
and  be  the  same  as  they  respectively  were  at  and  immediately  before  the  passing  of  this  Act. 

Under  this  Act  commissioners  were  appointed  who  comprised  :  (i) 
all  justices  of  the  peace  residing  within  the  limits  of  the  Act,  (2)  the 
churchwardens  of  the  parish,  (3)  the  steward  and  bailiff  of  the  manor, 
(4)  householders  or  occupiers  of  lands,  etc.,  within  the  limits  of  the  Act 
of  the  annual  value  of  £^0,  or  having  real  or  personal  property  amounting 
to  ;^2,ooo.  Various  powers  were  conferred  upon  the  commissioners,  in- 
cluding the  appointment  of  watchmen,  who  were  to  have  the  full  power 
and  authority  of  constables.  North  Shields  was  divided  into  four  wards 
and  Tynemouth  into  two,  a  watchman  being  appointed  for  each  ward. 
Before  tracing  the  further  development  of  local  government,  some  account 
must  be  given  of  Chirton  and  Preston  townships,  which  came  to  be  included 
within  the  municipal  area.' 

CHIRTON  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  Chirton  is  bounded  by  Preston  and  Tynemouth 
townships  upon  the  east,  by  Shields  Bank-head  and  the  river  Tyne  upon 
the  south,  and  by  the  Howden  burn  on  the  west.  Northward  it  stretched 
up  to  Shire  Moor,  the  boundary  in  this  direction  before  the  enclosure  of 
the  moor  being  an  irregular  line  drawn  from  Moor  Houses  to  INIurton  Row. 
A  considerable  portion  of  the  moor  is  now  included  within  its  limits,  in- 
creasing its  acreage  from   1,820  to  2,576  acres.' 

A  deed  of  the  year  1320  bears  witness  to  the  gradual  process  by  which 
the  southern  edges  of  the  moor  were  brought  into  cultivation.  Henry 
Faukes  of  Backworth  quit-claimed  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth 
all  right  to  si.xty  acres  of  Rodestane  moor,  on  the  west  side  of  Preston, 

'The  following  are  the  census  returns  for  North  Shields  township:  iSoi,  7,^80;  iSii,  7,699; 
1821,8,205;  1831,6,744;  1841,7,509;  1851,8,882;  1861,9,595;  1871,8,619;  1881,7.250;  1891,6,046; 
1901,  5,737- 

-  Of  these  2,576  acres  81  acres  are  inland  water,  116  acres  are  tidal  water,  and  4  acres  are  lore- 
shore.  The  census  returns  for  the  township  are  :  1801,  1,152  ;  18",  3,116  ;  1821,  4,35' ;'*3'.  4.9/j, 
1841,4,360;  1851,3,960;  1861,5,544;   1871,8,005;  1881,11,248;  1891,13,066;  1901,  15,668. 


3l6  TYNEMOUTH  BOROUGrf. 

The  boundaries  of  this  piece  of  land  are  described  as  being  the  way  leading 
from  '  Billing  '  mill  to  Murton,  the  North  Street  leading  from  Tynemouth 
to  Rodestane  gallows,  the  furlong  in  Preston  called  vSpittal  Hat,  and  the 
furlong  in  East  Chirton  called  Black  Chesters.  Full  liberty  was  accorded 
to  the  prior  and  convent  to  bring  this  land  under  cultivation.'  Anotlier 
proof  of  the  gradual  extension  northward  of  Chirton  township  is  afforded 
by  the  fact  that  the  moor  retained  its  name  of  Billy  Mill  moor  long  after 
that  mill  had  fallen  outside  its  limits. 

The  name  of  Black  Chesters  does  not,  as  has  been  supposed,  necessarily 
imply  Roman  occupation.  Chesters  was  a  name  applied  generally  to  earth- 
works of  an  early  date  ;  a  place  on  the  boundary  of  Tynemouth  and 
Killingworth  moors  was  termed  Green  Chesters,  though  it  has  never  been 
suspected  to  be  Roman  ;  and  no  further  inference  can  be  drawn  from  such 
place-names  than  that  they  mark  pre-Conquest  and  possibly  prehistoric 
settlements.  Black  Chesters  has  been  variously  located.  The  deed  quoted 
above  demands  a  site  immediately  north  or  west  of  Preston  colliery,  the  land 
there  conveyed  practically  coinciding  with  Billy  Mill  farm.  No  traces  of 
it  can  now  be  discovered,  though  they  are  said  to  have  been  distinguishable 
early  in  the  nineteenth   century.^ 

Other  evidences  of  early  occupation  are  not  wanting.  A  stone  cist 
was  unearthed  in  1790  in  Billy  Mill  quarry,'  and  another  in  Crawley  close, 
to  the  east  of  Chirton  village.*  In  1892  a  bronze  fibula,  5I  inches  long, 
with  a  square  head  2-  inches  across  and  a  hatchet-shaped  foot,  was  dis- 
covered at  Whitehill  point. ^ 

'  This  deed  is  incorrectly  printed  from  the  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  80  b,  in  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol. 
ii.  p.  91.  The  portion  of  it  bearing  on  the  topic  under  discussion  is  as  follows  :  '  Remitto  insuper  pro  me 
et  heredibus  meis  ac  quietuin  clamo  dictis  priori  et  conventui  omne  jus  si  quid  habui  in  quadam  parte 
more  de  Rodestane-more  ex  occidentali  parte  de  Preston,  que  quidem  pars  continet  in  se  sexaginta 
acras,  et  extendit  se  in  longitudine  de  via  que  ducit  a  niolendino  de  Billing  versus  Moreton  usque  ad 
culturam  que  vocatur  Spitel-flat  in  campo  de  Preston,  in  latitudine  de  ilia  cultura  que  vocatur  Blake- 
chestres  m  canipo  de  Est  Chirton  usque  ad  North-strete  que  ducit  de  Tynem'  versus  furcas  de 
Rodestane  ;  quam  quidem  partem  more  Nicholaus  f\aukes,  pater  mens,  priori  et  conventui  de  Tynem' 
et  eorum  successoribus  concessit,  remisit,  et  imperpetuum  omnino  quietum  clamavit  ;  ita  quod  nee  ego, 
predictus  Henricus,  neque  heredes  mei,  nee  aliquis  nomine  nostro,  aliquam  communiam  seu  aliquid 
ahud  juris  in  predicta  parte  more  de  cetero  exigere  poterimus  vendicare  ;  set  bene  liceat  dictis  priori  et 
conventui  eorum  siiccessoribus  predictam  partem  more  in  culturam  redigere  et  inde  commodum  suum 
omni  modo  quo  eis  placuerit  facere  imperpetuum  absque  contradictione  mei  seu  heredum  meorum.' 
[July  29th,  1320.] 

=  A  laureated  head  and  part  of  the  shoulder  of  a  large  mailed  figure  are  entered  in  the  catalogue 
of  Roman  stones  at  the  Blackgate  museum,  Newcastle,  as  having  being  found  at  Black  Chesters. 
Arch.  A  el  2nd  series,  vol.  1.  pp.  237,  242.  Upon  supposed  earthworks  at  Chirton  and  coins  found 
there,  see  Arch.  Ael.  ist  series,  vol.  i.  p.  235. 

'  Mackenzie,  Norlhumbertand,  2nd  edition,  vol.  ii.  p.  460. 

'  Newcastle  Courant,  November  7th,  1818  ;  Richardson,  Table  Book,  Hist.  Div.  vol.  iii.  p.  192. 

'  Proc.  Sac.  Antiq.  Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  v.  p.  236,  and  illustration  on  p.  238. 


chirTon  township.  317 

Before  the  formation  of  the  Albert  Edward  dock  there  was  a  natural 
landing-place  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Tyne,  a  little  above  North  Shields. 
It  was  formed  by  the  confluence  of  two  streams.  The  Red  burn,'  flowing 
down  from  the  north-west  through  Coble  dene,  is  the  larger  of  the  two, 
and  divides  Chirton  township  into  two  distinct  areas.  The  second  stream 
flows  more  nearly  north  and  south,  down  Chirton  dene.  Proceeding  up 
it,  along  haunted'  Silky's  lane,  East  Chirton  village  is  reached  at  the 
junction  of  this  lane  and  of  the  Newcastle  and  Tynemouth  road.  The 
stream  turns  east  at  this  point,  and  then  north,  forming  the  boundary 
between  Chirton  and  Preston  townships.  Silky's  lane  continues  north- 
ward as  Billy  Mill  lane,  past  Billy  Mill  to  Moor  Houses,  where  stood  the 
prior  of  Tynemouth's  gallows,^  and  where  it  was  joined  by  the  medieval 
road  from  Tynemouth  to  Morpeth,  known  as  North  Street. 

As  the  term  '  chesters '  is  not  confined  simply  to  Roman  encampments, 
so  a  'street'  might  be  other  than  a  paved  road,  but  at  least  it  denotes  a 
well  defined  track.  The  deed  of  1320,  quoted  above,  shows  that  the  North 
Street  turned  north  at  Moor  Houses,  and  passed  through  Murton.  It  must 
have  crossed  the  Seaton  burn  at  Holywell,  for  Edward  I.  passed  through 
that  village  in  1304,  on  his  way  from  Horton  to  Tynemouth."  This  line 
from  Murton  to  Holywell  carries  it  through  Earsdon,  and  an  allusion  to 
a  route  from  Earsdon  to  Holywell  may  be  found  in  the  mention,  in  i2o8, 
of  a  field  or  furlong  in  Holywell  called  Erdesdunes-wei.'  A  deed  drawn 
up  in  1326  furnishes  positive  evidence  for  the  e.xistence  of  a  road  from 
Holywell  across  Seaton  Delaval  moor  to  Stickley.  Thence,  as  appears 
from  the  itinerary  of  Edward  I.,  it  continued  to  Horton,  and  after  crossing 
the  Blyth,  probably  at  Humford  mill,  reached  Bedlington.'^ 

When  the  monks  of  St.  Cuthbert  fled  from  Durham  with  the  body  of 
their  patron  saint  before  the  coming  of  William  the  Conqueror  in  1069, 
they  rested  the  first  night  at  Jarrow  and  the  second  at  Bedlington,' 
and  so  probably  passed  along  this  road.  Edward  I.  followed  the  same 
route   upon    three    occasions    on    his   way   to    or   from    Tynemouth    priory. 

'  Called  Reed's  burn  in  a  plan  of  1769  ;  Watson  Papers,  North  of. England  Institute  of  Mining  and 
Mechanical  Engineers. 

'"  Mackenzie,  Northumberland,  2nd  edition,  vol.  ii.  p.  456. 

'  Moor  Houses  is  identified  with  Callow  Houses  in  Tynemouth  Parish  Registers,  ed.  Coachman, 
vol.  i.  p.  1 16.  '  Cough,  Itinerary  of  Edward  I.  vol.  ii.  p.  24<- 

'  Feet  0/ Fines,  John,  Northumberland,  No.  13.  '  Itinerary  0/ Edward  I.  vol.  ii.  pp.  100,  20:,  241. 

'  Symeon  of  Durham,  Historia  Regiim,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  189. 


3l8  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

His  use  of  the  road  gives  interest  to  an  agreement  drawn  up  in  the  reign 
of  his  successor  between  Prior  Richard  de  Tewing  and  Sir  Robert  de  la 
Val.  This  is  dated  May  4th,  1326,  and  recites  that  Sir  Robert  de  hi  Val 
was  in  arrears  for  the  rent  of  the  multure  of  the  prior's  tenants  in  South 
Dissington.  He  had  also  failed  to  keep  up  a  road  which  had  existed  from 
time  immemorial  over  his  moor  between  Holywell  and  Stickley,  and  had 
allowed  it  to  become  so  deep  and  muddy  that  carts  could  not  go  along  it. 
He  undertook  to  repair  the  road  at  his  own  cost  upon  being  remitted  his 
arrears.' 

The  evidence  of  these  scattered  entries  points  to  the  villages  of  Chirton, 
Murtoii,  Earsdon  and  Holywell  being  early  settlements  along  a  road  which 
had  probably  before  the  Conquest  become  a  frequented  route  from  north- 
eastern Durham  into  Northumberland.  Chirton  threw  off  two  colonies, 
and  the  three  hamlets  were  distinguished  as  East,  Middle,  and  West 
Chirton.  The  two  former  were,  between  the  years  1093  and  11 16,  granted 
to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth."  West  Chirton  and  Flatworth, 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Red  burn,  continued  for  a  century  and  a  half  to 
form  part  of  the  barony  of  Hadston. 

A  story  is  told  in  the  Life  of  St.  Oswiii  of  the  pious  discrimination 
exercised  by  a   flock  of  geese  owned    by  a    Chirton  '  bond.'     Their  owner 

'  Ista  incientura  testatur  quod,  turn  quedam  controversia  mota  fuisset  inter  priorem  de  Tynemuth  ex 
una  parte  ct  doininum  Robertum  de  la  Val,  niilitem,  ex  altera,  de  eo  quod  predictus  prior  petivit  de 
predicto  domino  Roberto  octo  libras  et  sexdecint  solidos  que  ei  aretro  fuerunt,  de  quodam  annuo 
redditu  sexdecim  solidoruni  (|ue  ei  debet  pro  multura  tenentium  predicti  prioris  de  South  Uiscinton,  et 
etiam  de  co  quod  dictus  doniinus  Robertus  ccpit  carcctani  predicti  prioris  in  quadani  via  que  ducit  de 
Haliwell  usque  Sticlawe  per  medium  more  predicti  domini  Roberti,  et  ubi  dictus  dominus  Robertus 
dicit  quod  nulla  debet  esse  via  pro  carris  ncc  carecta  alicujus  nee  esse  consuevit,  tandem  inter  eos 
controversia  predicta  conquievit  in  liunc  modum  ;  videlicet,  pro  co  quod  recta  via,  in  qua  dictus  dominus 
Robertus  dicit  quod  carri  et  carcctc  dc  jure  ire  debent  per  medium  more  predicte  et  a  tempore  cujus 
non  extat  memoria  ire  consueverunt  inter  Haliwell  et  Sticlawe,  ita  existit  temporibus  modernis  profunda 
et  lutosa  quod  carri  et  carecte  in  instante  ire  non  possunt  ibidem,  predictus  prior  remisit  predicto 
domino  Roberto  omnia  arreragia  predicta.  Pro  qua  quidem  remissione  predictus  dominus  Robertus 
concessit  pro  se  et  heredibus  suis  quod  ipse  et  heredes  sui  rectam  viam,  in  qua  carri  et  carecte  ire 
debent  et  temporibus  retroactis  ire  consueverunt  de  Haliwell  usque  Sticlawe  per  medium  more  sue 
predicte,  congrue  et  sufficienter  sumptibus  suis  propriis  emendare  facient,  ita  quod  carri  et  carecte 
ipsius  prioris  et  successorum  suorum  congrue  et  sufficienter  absque  impediniento  preterire  possint,  et 
quod  interim,  quousque  predicta  via  sic  emendetur,  predictus  prior  et  successores  sui  habeant  viam 
sufficicntem  et  congruam  juxta  predictam  viam  per  quam  ire  solebant  per  medium  predicte  more  cum 
carris  et  carectis  suis  omni  tempore  anni  de  predicta  villa  de  Haliwell  usque  Sticlawe,  ad  majus 
aisiamentum  ipsius  prioris  et  successorum  suorum,  et  ad  minus  dampnum  ipsius  Roberti  et  bereduni 
suorum,  quo  ibidem  transire  poterint  sine  impediniento  predicti  domini  Roberti  vel  heredum  suorum. 
In  cujus,  etc.  Datum  apud  Novum  Castrum  supra  Tynam,  die  dominica  proxima  post  festum 
ascensionis  domini,  A.D.  1326.     Tynemouth  Chartidary,  fol.  89. 

-  Henry  I.'s  charter,  by  which  he  confirmed  the  two  Chirtons  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth, 
is  probably  to  be  dated  between  llo5  and  11 16.  See  above,  p.  55  (13).  Matthew  Paris  states  that  the 
grant  was  made  in  the  time  of  Richard,  abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  1093-1119.  Gesta  Abbaium,  Rolls  Series, 
vol.  i.  p.  68. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP.  3I9 

Stacked  his  corn  after  harvest,  and  leaving  the  tenth  stook  on  the  ground 
as  St.  Oswin's  tithe,  he  carted  the  remainder  home.'  His  wife  drove  her 
geese  into  the  field,  and  tossed  them  one  of  the  saint's  sheaves  ;  but  they 
waddled  away,  so  she  took  up  the  sheaf  and  cooped  the  geese  up  with  it, 
resolved  that  they  should  have  that  or  nothing.  Her  curiosity  •  excited 
her  presently  to  open  the  door  of  the  pen.  The  geese  took  their  heads 
out  from  under  their  wings,  and  raced  towards  her  with  expectant  cackles  ; 
but  not  a  grain  of  the  saint's  corn  had  they  touched.'  The  tale  of  how 
the  daughter  of  Roger  of  Middle  Chirton  was  cured  of  a  bloody  flux  is 
of  a  less  miraculous  character.^ 

East  Chirton. 

According  to  the  survey  of  1292,  the  sum  of  lis.  lod.  was  received 
from  East  Chirton  in  money-rents,  in  addition  to  forty  quarters  of  barley- 
malt,  valued  at  2s.  6d.  the  quarter.^  The  tallage  roll  of  1294  gives  the 
following  names  of  tenants  : 

East  Chirton  Tallage  Roll,  1294. 

s.        d.  s.        d. 


De  Roberto  tie  Chirton    ...         ...         ...  — 

De  Willelmo  Belle            13    4 

De  Willelmo  Champeneys          12     o 

De  Willelmo  Graye  cum  sociis,  tenenti- 

bus  terre  Huironis  Dene      — 


De  Willelmo  filio  Ranulplii  ...         ...  12  o 

De  Ricardo  longo             ...  ...         ...  3  4 

De  Roberto  filio  Willelmi  i  o 

De  Rogero  filio  Ranulphi  ...         ...  3  o 

De  Roberto  filio  Johannis  ...         ...  2  o 

De  Radulpho  filio  Willelmi  ...         ...  9  o 

-Summa,  £1  15s.  Sd.'' 

All  these  tenants,  except  Robert  de  Chirton  and  William  Gray,  who 
pay  no  tallage,  reappear  in  the  custumal  as  bonds,  doing  the  same  services 
and  having  the  same  customs  as  those  of  Preston.''  Each  bond  held  thirty- 
six  acres  ;  but  as  the  whole  customary  lands  of  the  township  measured 
299  acres,  rent  was  paid  for  the  eleven  acres  surplusage."  There  were  four 
minor  holdings  ;  Robert  Burdon  had  a  house,  and  paid  6d.  rent ;  William 
Barker,  Robert  Sis,  and  Ralph,  son  of  William,  each  held  four  acres,  for 
which  they  paid  gd.  apiece.  Robert  de  Chirton  and  Hugh  the  pounder, 
who  may  be  identified  with  Hugh  Dene,  reappear  as  customary  freeholders 
paying  rad-mal.     The  hitter's  services  are  thus  set  forth  : 

'  Cum  per  metas  modicas,  ut  moris  est  nietentibus,  fruges  suas  collegisset  in  agro,  decimam  metam 
sancto  Oswino  consignavit  in  decimam,  eo  quod  terra  sua  ad  sancti  dommiuni  pertmeret,  et  partein 
bladi  reliquam,  quae  eum  contingebat,  domum  cum  carro  studiosus  agricola  deducebat.  \  tta  Oswini, 
Surt.  Soc.  No.  8,  cap.  xli.  -  /(,,,/.  '  Ibid.  cap.  .vxxvi.  '  Tyncmuuth  Chartulary,  fol.  55. 

'  §t,Atban's  Regisky,  fol.  109  b.         '  For  these  see  above,  p.  223.         "  Tymmouth  Chartulary,  fol.  7  b. 


320 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Hugh  Punder  holds  forty-five  acres  and  pays  yearly  5s.  2cl.,  and  5s.  for  rade-male,  and  three  '  tawes ' 
of  barley-malt  and  three  'tawes'  of  oats.  He  shall  do  one  'boen-ere'  at  the  prior's  maintenance,  and 
'  bon-harrowe '  without  food.  He  shall,  together  with  Robert  de  Chirton,  who  is  associated  with  him, 
do  one  Neusum-lade  at  the  prior's  maintenance.  He  shall  do  three  days'  work  in  the  autumn,  as  does 
William  Drymouth.  Together  with  Robert  de  Chirton,  who  is  associated  with  him,  he  pays  Cjd.  and 
gives  ijd.  for  milne-silver. 

Robert  de  Chirton  also  held  forty-five  acres,  for  which  he  paid  2s.  6d. 
yearly  rent.  He  did  in-lade  in  the  field  of  Tynemouth  without  food,  and 
gave  i|d.  for  milne-silver  at  the  feast  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  The 
other  services  imposed  upon  him  were  similar  to  those  rendered  by  Hugh 
the  pounder.' 

Six  of  the  eight  bonds  paid  subsidy  in  1296.  William  Gray  and  Robert 
de  Chirton  appear  in  that  roll  among  the  jurors  of  the  liberty. 


East  Chirton  Suhsidy 

Roll,  i 

I    s.   d. 

296. 

s. 

d. 

Summa  bonoruni 

Willelmi  Champenays 

2   17    0 

unde 

domino 

regi 

5 

3 

Willelmi  Bel          

2     8     4 

4 

4l 

Radulphi  filii  Willelmi 

I    14     4 

3 

'i 

Willelmi  filii  Ranulphi 

2    4    s 

4 

of 

Roger!  filii  Ranulphi 

I      III 

2 

0 

Roberti  filii  Johannis 

1      I     0 

I 

II 

Summa  hujus  ville,  ^11  8s.  id.  ;  unde  domino  regi,  ^i  os.  8|d.' 

Various  pieces  of  land  in  East  Chirton  were  acquired  by  the  prior 
and  convent  as  demesne  in  1348,  1354,  and  1380.'  Only  twenty-five  acres 
out  of  the  ninety  acres  mentioned  above  remained  in  the  hands  of  free  men 
in  1377.  The  owners  had  compounded  with  the  prior  at  5d.  an  acre,  as 
an  equivalent  for  all  services  except  carting  of  millstones  and  tallage. 
Eight  acres  lately  acquired  by  the  convent  brought  in  6s.  8d.  rent.  The 
land  which  Walter  de  Hesilden  held  for  the  term  of  his  life  was  in  the 
lord's  hand  and  not  yet  let  out.  There  were  still  eight  bondage  holdings, 
but  four  were  waste  and  were  leased  for  a  payment  of  barley-malt  and 
oats;  the  remainder  paid  a  money-rent  collectively  of  15s.  3d.'' 

At  the  time  of  the  suppression  of  the  monasteries  there  were  five  tene- 
ments in  East  Chirton.  Each  customary  tenant  paid  £\  17s.  4d.  as  money- 
rent,  4d.  for  pannage,  and  is.  for  the  tithe  of  hay,  as  well  as  three  quarters 
of  barley  and  three  quarters  of  oats.  There  was  a  payment  of  is.  4d.  made 
by  the  whole  township  for  a  garden.*     A  survey  of  1606  specifies  the  extent 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  39.  ^  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  ifS.  '  See  above,  pp.  115,  116. 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  52  b  and  60.  ^  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  221, 


CHIRTON   TOWNSHIP. 


321 


of  each  holding  as  a  house  with  barn  and  garth,  forty-five  acres  of  arable, 
two  acres  of  meadow,  fourteen  acres  of  pasture,  and  common  on  Billy  Mill 
moor.  The  five  tenants  were  Rowland  Marshall,  Robert  Andrew,  William 
Bailiff,  Thomas  Coward  and  Mark  Milbanke.' 

'  Land  Revenue,  Miscell.  Hooks,  vol.  223,  fols.  299-300. 

REED     OF    CHIRTON. 

Reed.  = 


I 
Ralph   Reed    of   Chirton,   together  with   George  : 
Milbourne  of  Chirton   purchased   land    at   the 
Pow  Burn,  and  the  coal  mines  in  Monkseaton 
and  Chirton,  in  1633  (i)  ;  buried  gth  October, 
1636  (a)  ;  will  dated  l8th  June,  1636  {d). 


:  Phillis  [daughter  of  Stephen  Kitchin  of  Jar- 
row*],  to  whom  her  husband  gave  his  lands 
in  East  and  Middle  Chirton  for  life  (</)  ; 
remarried  before  igih  November,  1646,  William 
Chapman  of  South  Shields  (</). 


Roger  Reed,  nam- 
ed  in  the  will 
of  his  brother 
Ralph  (r/). 


I  I 

Edward  Reed,     Ralph  Reed  of  Chirton,  baptised  ; 

bapt.      nth        6thjuly,i6i7(«)  ;  ofSt.  John's 

February,        College,  Cambridge  ;  matricu- 

1615/6  (rt)  ;        lated  nth  July,  1633,  aged  17  ; 

buried    28th        to  whom   his    father   gave   his 

May,     1616        lands  in  East  and  Middle  Chir- 

(^a").  ton,   subject    to   his    mother's 

life  interest,  his  salt  pans,  his 

coal  pits  in   Preston,  Chirton, 

Monkseaton,    and    Billymoor 

( d")  ;    buried    in    the   chancel 

of   St.    Oswin's,     Tynemouth, 

24th    November,     1646    (a)  ; 

will    dated     19th    November, 

1646  (</). 


Catherine,  daughter  of  John 
Salkeld  of  Rock  (c) ;  to 
whom  her  husband  gave  his 
farms  and  freeholds  in  East 
Chirton  for  her  widowhood 
((/) ;  she  remarried,  gth 
September,  1648,  Ralph 
Gardner  of  Chirton  (/) 
(«),  the  River  Reformer,-)- 
and  as  Catherine  Gardner 
exhibited  an  account  of  her 
first  husband's  personal  es- 
tate in  1649  ((/),  and  paid 
hearth  ta.x  for  a  house  in 
North  Shields  in  1663. 


I     I     I     I 


Edward,  baptised  3rd  December,  1619 
(«)  ;  apparently  dead  before  i8th  June, 
1636  (</). 

George,  baptised  1st  May,  1622  (a)  ;  an. 
parently dead  before  i8th  June,  1636  (</). 

Thomas,  baptised  9lh  July,  1626  {a)\ 
buried  15th  July  same  year  (a). 

Roger,!  baptised  14th  Feb.,  1629/30  («)  ; 
to  whom  his  father  gave  the  manor  of 
Whitchester  (</)  ;  mar.  Margaret,  dau. 
of  Robert  Conyers  of  Bowlby  (<). 

Jane,  baptised  9th  July,  1626  (a)  ;  named 
in  her  father's  will  (;/)  ;  married  7th 
January,  163940,  Gilbert  Errington 
(a)  of  West  Denton  (c). 


I     I 

Ralph,  buried 
13th  March, 
1638/9  (a), 
in  Tynemouth 
chancel. 

Nicholas,  bap- 
tised 26th  De- 
cember, 163S 
(a)  ;  buried 
22nd  January, 
1638/9  (a),  in 
Tynemouth 
chancel. 


Ralph  Reed  of  Chirton,  baptised  15th  July,  1640  : 
(a)  ;  found  heir  to  his  father's  lands,  April,  i6;o 
(/5)  ;  admitted  to  Gray's  Inn,  31st  May,  1656  ; 
rated  for  lands  in  East  Chirton  in  1663,  and  sur- 
rendered same,  April,  1672,  to  the  use  of  Sir  Thomas 
Liddell  (^)  ;  was  of  the  parish  of  St.  Margaret's, 
Westminster,  20th  May,  1673,  when  he  mortgaged 
his  salt  pans  at  North  Shields  to  Ralph  Milbourne, 
of  the  parish  of  St.  Clement  Danes,  gentleman  (c)  ; 
described  as  of  Newcastle  in  a  release  dated  7th 
December,  1676  (f)  ;  buried  at  St.  John's,  New- 
castle, 13th  December,  1676  (^).§ 


I 
Ralph  Reed,  baptised  3rd  September,  1659  (a). 


.Ill 

Ann Francis,   baptised   2nd   December, 

living     at  164I   (a)  ;    to  whom   his  father 

Newcastle  gave   his    s;»lt    pans   at    North 

a    widow.  Shields  ('/)  ;    died   2nd   April, 

14th  Feb.,  1675  (a). 

1677/8  (^).  Ludovick,  baptised  23rd  Septem- 
ber, 1645  (a)  ;  named  in  his 
father's  will  (d') ;  but  led  1st 
Februar)',  1646/7  (a). 
Barbara,  baptised  20th  June,  1644 
(a);  married  gth  .August,  1669, 
Captain  Jo.  Tong  (a),  and  2nd, 
at  All  Saints',  Newcastle,  loth 
October,  1675,  John  Cluitcrbuck 
of  Newcastle. 


•  1640,  iSth  July.  Edward  Kitchin,  brother  of  Mistress  Reede  of  Chirton,  buried.  Tynemouth  Register.  Compare 
Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  p.  2g. 

t   1648,  9  Sept.     Rad.  Gardiner  gen.  et  Catherina  Reed  de  Chirton  vid.     Earsdon  Register  of  Murriages. 

\  Roger  Reed  of  North  Shields  compoimded  for  his  delinquency  in  1649  (Welford,  Royalist  Composition  Papers'). 
On  15th  June,  1652,  he  sold  his  burgage  and  two  salt  pans  in  North  Shields  to  William  Collinson  {Tynemouth  Court  Rolls'). 

§  Administration  of  the  goods  of  Ralph  Reed  of  the  chapelry  of  St.  John,  Newcastle,  was  granted  in  1677,  but  the 
document  is  missing  from  the  bundle  for  that  year  remaining  in  the  Probate  Registry  at  Durham.  The  inventory  of 
his  goods,  appraised  loth  August,  1677,  only  amounted  to  .^40. 

(a)  Tvnenwulh  Register.  (<■)    Abstract  of  title  to  salt  pans  at  North 

(b)  Tynemouth  Court  Rolls  and  Duke  of  Northumberland's  Shields.     Bell  Collection. 

MSS.  (/)  Earsdon  Reguters. 

(ir)    Welford,  Royalist  Composition  Papers,  Surt.  Soc.  (^)  St.  John's  Register,  Newcastle. 

(d)  Durham  Probate  Registry.  (>4)    Dugdale,  Visitation  0/ Yorishtre. 


Vol,  VIII, 


4> 


22  2  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Marshall's  and  Bailiff's  farms  came,  before  1650,  into  the  hands  of  Ralph 
Reed,  a  colliery-owner  and  salt-manufacturer.  His  son,  Ralph  Reed  the 
younger,  appears  to  have  sold  his  property  at  Chirton  in  1672  to  John 
Clarke,  an  agent  of  Joscelin,  eleventh  earl  of  Northumberland.  Clarke 
obtained  permission  from  the  earl's  widow  to  dismantle  Warkworth  castle, 
and  with  its  spoils  he  built  Chirton  hall  on  the  west  side  of  Silky's  lane, 
a  road  running  down  from  the  village  towards  the  river.'  After  Clarke's 
death,  on  May  6th,  1675,  his  widow  married  Philip  Bickerstaffe,  member 
of  parliament  for  Berwick  in  1686,  and  for  Northumberland  in  1688  and 
1694.-  Mr.  Bickerstaffe  surrendered  his  copyhold  lands  in  Chirton  on 
August  1st,  1699,  to  Sir  William  Blackett,'  who  concluded  a  sale  of 
Chirton  hall  to  Archibald,  first  duke  of  Argyll.  The  duke  was  a  great 
lover  of  horse-racing,  and  kept  a  large  stud  at  Chirton,  where  he  died  on 
September  28th,   1703.'' 

A  year  before  his  death  Argyll  made  over  his  English  estates,  including 
Chirton,  to  Mr.  Boutflower  of  Apperley,  in  trust  for  Mrs.  Allison.  The 
duke's  relatives  put  in  a  claim  to  the  property.  The  full  purchase-money 
for  Chirton  had,  however,  never  been  paid,  and  Sir  William  Blackett 
concluded  a  bargain  with  Mrs.  Allison  to  enable  her  to  dispose  of  the  estate. 
She  sold  Chirton  to  Mr.  Robert  Lawson  of  Cramlington,  receiving  £  1,200 
for  her  interest  in  those  lands,  while  the  rest  of  the  money  went  to  pay 
off  Sir  William  Blackett.' 

Under  the    provisions   of  the   will   of  Hilton    Lawson,^  son  of  Robert 

'  See  vol.  V.  of  this  work,  p.  75. 

•  1676,  October  24th.  Capt.  Phillip  Bickerstaffe  and  Maddam  Jane  Clarke  married  ;  Tynemoidh 
Registers.  1  Tynemouth  Court  Rolls. 

'  Duke  of  Portland's  MSS.  vol.  iv.  p.  70 ;  Hist.  MSS.  Com.    See  also  Dictionary  of  National  Biography. 

'  Argyle  Papers,  Edinburgh,  1834,  pp.  92,  121. 

'  Will  of  Hilton  Lawson  of  Chirton,  dated  April  14th,  1748,  proved  March  25th,  1768  :  To  my  wife, 
Winifred  Lawson,  for  her  life,  an  annuity  of  ^100  payable  out  of  my  copyhold  lands  at  Chirton,  and  the 
use  of  my  capital  mansion  at  Chirton.  To  my  god-dauyhtcr,  Winifred  CoUingwood,  £100.  The  residue 
of  my  freehold  and  copyhold  estates  at  Cramlington,  Chirton  and  Preston,  to  my  brother,  John  Lawson 
of  Barton,  co.  Beds.,  esq.,  for  life,  .'^fter  his  decease  to  John  Lawson  the  younger,  eldest  son  of  the  said 
John  Lawson,  for  life.  Remainder  to  the  heirs  of  the  said  John  Lawson  the  younger  in  tail  male.  And 
for  default  of  such  issue,  to  the  Rev.  Wilfrid  Lawson,  vicar  of  Warkworth,  for  life,  with  remainder  to  his 
heirs  in  tail  male.  And  for  default  of  such  issue,  to  Mansfield  Cardonnel,  esq.,  commissioner  of  the 
customs  at  Edinburgh,  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  upon  condition  that  they  shall  take  and  use 
the  surname  of  Lawson.     My  wife  sole  executrix. 

Hilton  Lawson  died  at  Chirton  on  December  15th,  1767  {Newcastle  Coiirant,  December  19th,  1767). 
John  Lawson  the  elder  having  died  in  his  brother's  lifetime,  John  Lawson  the  younger  inherited  under 
the  provisions  of  the  will.  Wilfrid  Lawson  died  without  issue,  November  27th,  1777  (see  vol.  v.  of  this 
work,  p.  187).  Mansfeldt  Cardonnel  died  November  22nd,  17S0.  Upon  the  death  of  John  Lawson  the 
younger  without  issue  in  October,  1791,  Adam  Cardonnel  inherited  the  property  as  eldest  son  and  heir 
of  Mansfeldt  Cardonnel.  Bell  Collection  at  Alnwick  castle,  No.  352.  For  Mansfeldt  Cardonnel  see 
Alexander  Carlyle,  Autobiography,  pp.  218-219.  A  biography  of  his  son,  Adam  Cardonnel,  is  given  in 
the  Dictionary  of  National  Biography,  vol.  ix.  pp.  41-42. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP. 


323 


Lawson  mentioned  above,  and  high  sheriff  for  the  county  in  1761,  Cram- 
lington  and  the  Chirton  farms  came,  in  1791,  to  Adam  Cardonnel,  who 
assumed  the  name  of  de  Cardonnel-Lawson.  Upon  the  opening  of  the 
Burdon  Main  colliery  on  the  estate  in  181 1,  Mr.  Lawson  pulled  down 
Chirton  hall,  and  went  to  reside  at  Cramlington.     Only  the  gate  posts  and 


CARDONNEL-LAWSON     OF    CHIRTON     AND     CRAMLINGTON. 


Mansfeldt  Cardonnel,*  some  time  of  North  Shields,  =  Anne,    daughter    of   Thomas    Hilton    of    Low    Ford,    near 
afterwards   of   Musselburgh,  N.B.,   and  a  commissioner  Sunderland,  second  son  of  Henry  Hilton,  a   baron  of  the 

bishopric;  baptised  jth  June,  1 70S  ;  bond  of  marriage,  20th 
August,  1726;  married  at  Tynemouth,  8th  September,  1726 
(a)  ;  died  23rd  July,  1786  (i). 


of  customs  in  Scotland,  an  appointment  he  held  for 
thirty-six  years  ;  died  12th  November,  1780  (^),  aged 
83  years  (c). 


I 
Adam  Cardonnel,+  a  medical  practitioner  at  Edinburgh,  after- 
wards called  Adam  Mansfeldt  de  Cardonnel-Lawson  ;  suc- 
ceeded to  estates  at  Chirton  and  Cramlington  in  1791,  under 
the  provisions  of  the  will  of  his  kinsman,  Hilton  Lawson  of 
Chirton  ;  Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Antiquaries  of  Scotland, 
1780,  and  a  curator  of  that  society,  1782-17S4  ;  high  sheriff 
of  Northumberland,  1796;  buried  at  Cramlington,  14th 
June,  1820,  aged  73  (rf)  ;  will  dated  22nd  May,  1819  ;  proved 
at  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  2 1st  November, 
1820,  and  at  Durham,  13th  July,  1822  (c). 


'Ill,  .       .  .^^ 

Mary,  daugh-  James  Cardonnel,  baptised  lOlh  Decem- 

ler  of  James  ber,  1727  (a);  buried  at  St.  Nicholas', 

Kidd,  agene-  Newcastle,  Ijih  .August,  1735. 

ral      in      the  Daniel  Cardonnel,  baptised  2 1st  Janu- 

army     (<•),  ary,    1733/4   (")  J    buried    four   days 

named  in  her  later  («). 

husband's  Mary   Margaret,  baptised  7th  October, 

will;    died  I730(«)- 

25th       May,  Ann,     buried     2Sth     December,    1735 

1830  CO-  (")• 


Adam    Mansfeldt    de    Cardonnel-Lawson    of=p.. 
Chirton   and  Cramlington,  an  officer  in  the 
2 1  St   Light  Dragoons  ;   married,  first,  circa 

June,  1802,  Lucy,  daughter  of Weston, 

prebendary  of   Durham   (/),   and   second, 

:  died  at  Acton-house,  21st  November, 

1838,  aged  58  ;  buried  at  Felton. 


.Alexander  Hilton  Anne  Lindsay  de  Cardonnel,  married  at  Walcote, 

de    Cardonnel  Bath,  14th  September,  1S13,  Magnus  Morton 

(/),      baptised  Kelly  (j?)  ;  named  in  her  father's  will. 

27th  February,  Hannah  Mary  de  Cardonnel,  married  at  Chclten- 

1794       (a);  ham,    19th    February,    1824,   Joseph    Hdward 

named   in    his  Greaves,  who  afterwards  assumed  the  name  of 

father's  will.  Elmsall  C^)  ;  named  in  her  father's  will. 


I 


Janies  Hilton  de  Cardonnel-Lawson  of  3rd  or  Prince  of  Wales  Dragoon  Guards,  =  Caroline  Russell,  daughter  of  Lieut.-Col. 
born  20th  March,  1827  ;  was  stationed  at  Pontefract,  20ih  March,  1S48,  when  Wilford;_remarned,  I2th  January,  1873, 

he  attained  the  age  of  2i  ;  after\vards  resided  at  Hilton  Lodge,  Tynemouth.  Henry  Warren. 

*  Mansfeldt  Cardonnel  was  a  kinsman  of  Adam  Cardonnel,  secretary  of  the  great  duke  of  Marlborough,  whose  will, 
dated  29th  October,  1718,  was  proved  at  London  in  the  following  year.  It  is  stated  m  the  Scot.  Mag.  for  .November  17*0, 
of  Mansfeldt  Cardonnel,  that  by  his  mother  he  was  grandson  of  the  duke  of  Monmouth,  and  not  a  distant  relation  ol  Ulner 
Cromwell.  His  father,  James  Cardonnel,  was  secretary  to  the  duke  of  Schomberg,  who  was  killed  at  the  Uittle  01  in.. 
Boyne.     Notes  and  Queries,  series  ii.  vol.  x.  p.  239. 

+  Adam  de  Cardonnel  was  author  of  Numisma/a  Sco/me,  or  a  Series  of  the  Scottish  Coinage  from  the  Keign  of  William  the 
Lion  to  the  Union.     Edinburgh,  17S6.     Also  of  Picturesque  Antiquities  of  Scotland,  London,  1793. 

(<0    Tvnenioulh  Registers.  (0  Bell  Collection,  No.  352. 

{b)    iVlusgrave  Obituary,  FLul.  Soc.  vol.  xliv.  (/)  Gentlemans  Magazine,  1S02,  p.  684. 

(c)    Notes  and  Queries,  series  ii.  vol.  x.  p.  239.  (^)  JUd.  1813,  pt.  ii.  p.  394- 

id)  D,ctw,iary~of  National  Biography.  ih)  Hunter,  familiae  Mniorum  Gentium,  vol.  .1.  p.  / 18. 

some  of  the  outbuildings  of  the  old  house  remain.  Warburton  described 
it,  a  century  earlier,  as  built  of  fine  freestone  and  brick,  having  a  good 
garden  on  the  south  front.  Mr.  Lawson's  son,  James  Hilton  de  Cardonnel- 
Lawson,  sold  the  greater  part  of  his  Chirton  property,  amounting  to  293 
acres,  and  it  was  purchased  in  1865  by  Mr.  Trevelyan,  now  Sir  George  Otto 


324 


tYNEMOdTH    BOROUGri. 


Trevelyan  of  Wallington.  Four  years  later  it  was  sold  in  lots,  the  duke 
of  Northumberland  being  the  principal  purchaser.  The  estate  included 
the  Meadow  Well  and  Chirton  Dene  farms.  The  eastern  portion  is  now 
covered  with  streets,  and  the  southern  part  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Tyne 
Commissioners  and  used  for  storage  purposes.  Chirton  Hill  Lane  farm, 
on  which  Preston  colliery  stands,  is  still  in  the  hands  of  the  Lawson  family. 


MILBOURNE  AND  BUTLER  OF  CHIRTON. 

Geokge  Mii.hoiikne  purchased  lands  in  the  parish  of  Tyiiemouih  from  John  Erringtoii  and  : 
Richard  Lambert  amj  1616  (c). 


Ann      =  George  Milbourne  of  Chirton,  to  whom  circa  1619  his  father  conveyed  = 

first    wife,   |  the  lands  pmchased  from  Errington  and  Lambert  (c)  ;  admitted  to 

bur.     28th  lands  in  Chirton,  22nd  October,  1631,  on  the  surrender  of  Henry 

December,  Andrew  (c)  ;  purchased  lands  at  Pow  Panns  in  1632,  and  a  salt  pan 

1640  («).  near  that  place  in  1635  ;  together  with  William  Milbourne  of  New- 

i  castle  purchased  a  salmon  fishery  at  the  Low  Lights  in  1637,  then 

1  described  as  of  South  Shields  (c)  ;  buried  7th  ALirch,  1650/51  {a). 


-  Jane,  dau.  of  Michael 
Mitford  of  Seghill, 
married  at  Earsdon 
gth  March,  1642/3 ; 
she  married,  2nd, 
1st  Jan.,  1651/2, 
Ralph  I'enwick  (a). 


John  Mill 


ilbourne 
brother  of 
George  Mil- 
bourne of 
Chirton,  bur. 
I  gth  Decem- 
ber, 1640  (11). 


1 
William  Milbourne  of  Chirton,  baptised  13th  August, 
1644  (rt)  ;  apprenticed  15th  .\ugust,  1660,  to  John 
Butler  of  Newcastle,  mercer  ;  admitted  free  of  Mer- 
chants' Company,  26th  October,  1 670  (/)  ;  to  whom 
his  brother  George  gave  an  annuity  payable  out  of 
his  freehold  lands  (d)  ;  buried  in  the  chancel  of 
Christ  Church,  Tynemouth,  28th  Oct,  1675  {a). 


Ralph  Milbourne  of; 
Chirton,  ba])tised  13th 
Aug.,  1646  ((0  ;  died 
22nd  INLiy,  16S9,  aged 
43  W  (")  ;  will  dated 
8th  November,  1686  ; 
proved  1689  ((/). 


Winifred,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Richardson 
of  Clement's  Inn, 
London  (/4)  ;  she  re- 
built Chirton-house 
in  1693  ;  buried  2nd 
.\pril,  1720  (a). 


II 
Barbara,  baptised 

2  I  St    March, 

1647/8  («). 
Sarah,      baptised 

I  ith  December, 

1649  («). 


Winifred  Milbourne,  daughter  and  heir,  married  4th  July,  =  John    Roddam   of   Roddam   and    Little    Houghton,    died   at 
1698  (rt)  ;  buried  29th  December,  1722  (a).  I       Chirton  ;  buried  1st  October,  1702  («). 


III. 
Winifred,  baptised  27th  September,  1699  (a)  ;  buried  two  days  later  («). 

Mary,  baptised  loth  December,  1700  (a)  ;  married  Edward  Collingwood  of  Byker. 

Winifred,  baptised   19th  .August,  1702  (a)  ;  married  14th  July,  1737/8,  Hilton   Lawson  (a),  and  died  his  widow 

at  Chirton,  15th  February,  1790. 


George  Milbourne  of  Chirton,*  son  and  heir  (c)  [baptised  3rd 
December,  1637  (a)]  ;  was  admitted  to  his  father's  lands, 
14th  October,  1651,  then  aged  13  (c)  ;  was  rated  for  lands 
at  Chirton,  Murton  and  North  Shields  in  1663  ;  died  loth, 
buried  in  the  choir  of  Christ  Church,  13th  .March,  1671/2 
(o)  ;  will  dated  20th  January,  167 1/2  ;  proved  1672  (</). 


Isabella  Milbourne  (Oi  sister  of  = 
the  whole  blood  and  heir  of 
George  .Milbourne ;  second 
wife  of  John  Butler  (^)  ;  [bap- 
tised ;7th  October,  1639  (a)] ; 
partytodeed  5th  March,  1672. 


;  John  Hutler  of  Newcastle 
(^),  merchant  atlventurer, 
was  46  years  of  age  when 
he  entered  his  pedigree 
at  the  visiuuion,  24th 
.August,  1 565  (e). 


,         I     1  I 

William   Butler,  was  5  years  of  age  George   Butler,  = 

in  l665  (c)  ;  joined  his  parents  in  baptised   loth 

surrenders  of  lands  at  Chirton  in  Dec,     1667 

1683  (c).  (a)  ;  dead  be- 

Ralph  Butler,  was  aged  l  year  and  fore  5th  June, 

10  months,  24th  .\ugust,  i566  (e).  1696. 


Ann     :      she     remarried 

Thomas  Sharper  of  North 
Shields  ;  articles  before  mar- 
riage, 5th  June,  1696  ;  living 
a  widow  for  the  second  time, 
22nd  March,  17 14. 


24th 


■|    I    ! 

Catherine,      born      before 
.August,  1666  {e). 

Milbournella,  baptised  23rd  No- 
vember, 1675  (a)  ;  buried  6th 
December  same  year  (a). 

Isabella,  bapt.  19th  Dec,  167S  (a). 


*  There  was  a  contemporary  George    Milbmn   at  Chirton,  who,   in   one  entry  in  the    Tynnmndh  Ret;ister  is 
described  as  a  herd. 


(a)    Tynonoulh  Registers. 

(i)    Monumental  Inscription,  Christ  Church,  Tynemouth. 

(<-)    Tynemoiilh  Court  Rolls  and  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


((!')  Durham  Proliate  Registry, 

{/)     Dugdale,  Visitation  of  Nortkumlterlanti^  l665. 

(_/")  Newcastle  Merchant  Adventurers,  Dendy. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP.  325 

Ballast  hills,  over  a  hundred  feet  in  height,  form  a  conspicuous  feature 
on  what  was  once  the  Lavvson  property.  The  ground  on  which  they  stand, 
south-west  of  Milburn  Place,  was  leased  to  Messrs.  Smith,  dock-owners, 
who  obtained  permission  from  the  corporation  of  Newcastle  in  1825  to 
make  a  ballast  depot  there.  The  heaps  grew  rapidly  for  a  time,  gravel 
being  delivered  out  of  vessels  by  cranes  and  conveyed  on  tramways  to  the 
top  of  the  heap  ;  but  gravel  has  now  been  almost  entirely  superseded  by 
water  ballast,  and  the  ballast  heaps  are  being  gradually  demolished.  A 
time-gun,  placed  upon  one  of  them  in  1863,  was  fired  daily  at  i  p.m. 
by  a  current  from  Greenwich  observatory,  but  the  practice  has  been 
discontinued. 

Andrew's  farm  was  acquired  in  1631  by  George  Milbourne.  He,  like 
his  neighbour,  Ralph  Reed,  was  actively  engaged  in  the  coal  and  salt 
industries.  His  younger  son  and  eventual  heir,  Ralph  Milbourne,  died  in 
1689,  leaving  his  property  at  Chirton  to  his  widow,  Winifred  Milbourne, 
who,  in  1693,  rebuilt  Chirton  house  on  the  east  side  of  Silky's  lane.  Their 
only  daughter  and  heir,  Winifred,  married  John  Roddam  of  Roddam,  by 
whom  she  had  two  surviving  daughters,  Mary  and  Winifred.  They  married 
respectively  Edward  Collingwood  of  Byker,  and  Hilton  Lawson  of  Chirton. 
The  bulk  of  the  Milbourne  inheritance,  including  Chirton  house,  was 
assigned  to  the  elder  daughter,  and  thus  came  into  the  hands  of  the 
Collingwood  family. 

Edward  Collingwood,  the  husband  of  Mary  Roddam,  was  son  and  heir 
of  Edward  Collingwood  of  Byker  and  Dissington.  He  was  for  many  years 
recorder  of  Newcastle,  and  was  mayor  of  that  town  in  1740.  On  his  doatii, 
in  1783,  he  was  succeeded  in  his  estates  by  his  son,  Edward  Collingwood 
the  younger.  The  latter  by  his  will,  dated  June  26th,  1805,  devised  his 
property  at  Dissington  and  Shipley  to  his  niece,  Mary  Winifred  (daughter 
of  Thomas  Babington  Pulleine  of  Carlton,  and  wife  of  Walter  Spencer 
Stanhope  of  Cannon  hall  in  Yorkshire),  in  trust  for  her  third  son,  Edward 
Stanhope,  who  assumed  the  name  of  Collingwood,  and  from  whom  are  de- 
scended the  Collingwoods  of  Dissington.  Under  another  clause  of  the  will 
Chirton  devolved,  upon  Mr.  Edward  Collingwood's  death,  to  his  kinsman, 
Cuthbert,  Lord  Collingwood.  Though  naval  commands  prevented  Lord 
Collingwood  from  ever  visiting  Chirton,  his  letters  show  that  he  took  a 
keen  interest  in  his  new  property,  and  his  wife  and  daughters  resided  there 


326  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

until  his  death  in  18 10.  As  he  died  without  male  issue,  Chirton  passed, 
under  the  provisions  of  Mr.  Edward  CoUingwood's  will,  to  Lord  Colling- 
wood's  brother,  John  Collingwood,  ancestor  of  the  Collingwoods  of  Lilburn 
tower,  the  present  owners.'  Chirton  house  was  sold  in  1876,  and  in  1899  it 
was  pulled  down  to  make  way  for  co-operative  stores.  The  estate  includes 
Chirton  and  Billy  Mill  farms,  with  an  acreage  of  127  acres,  besides  lands 
in  Morton,  Preston  and  North  Shields. 

Coward's  farm  was  acquired,  about  the  year  1620,  by  Thomas  Spear- 
man, second  son  of  Robert  Spearman  of  Preston.  His  grandson,  Robert 
Spearman  of  Durham,  ancestor  of  the  Spearmans  of  Old  Acres  in  that 
county,"  surrendered  his  Chirton  property  on  September  21st,  1724,  to 
Henry  Walker  of  Whitby,  master  and  mariner,  brother  of  John  Walker  of 
the  Low  Lights.  Mr.  Walker  also  purchased  property  in  Preston  and  Tyne- 
mouth  from  the  Spearman  family.  He  left  three  daughters  and  co-heirs, 
namely,  (i)  Esther,  wife  of  Richard  Ellison  of  Thorn  in  Yorkshire,  (2) 
Rachel,  wife  of  John  Yeoman  of  Whitby,  (3)  Mary,  wife  of  Matthew 
Waters  of  Wallsend.  A  portion  of  the  Chirton  property  was  purchased 
in  1794  by  Mr.  Cardonnel-Lawson.  The  remainder  passed  by  descent  to 
the  Yeoman,  Sibthorpe  and  Rudyerd  families.  It  included  the  district 
between  the  Coach  Lane  and  Little  Bedford  Street  in  North  Shields,  and 
is  now  covered  with  streets.  Hawkey's  farm  has  been  sold  to  the  Tyne- 
mouth  Corporation  by  the  representatives  of  Richard  Rudyerd  of  Whitby, 
who  married  Anne,  daughter  of  John  Yeoman  mentioned  above. ^ 

Mark  Milbanke,  the  owner  of  the  remaining  farm  in  East  Chirton,  had 
inherited  land  in  Chirton  and  North  Shields  from  his  grandfather,  Edmund 
Milbanke.  He  was  high  sheriff  of  Newcastle  in  1638,  and  was  mayor  of 
that  town  in  1658,  and  again  in  1672.  His  son  and  namesake  was  created 
a  baronet  in  1661,  and  from  him  are  descended  the  Milbankes  of  Halnaby 
in  Yorkshire,'  and  of  Thorpe  Perrow  in  the  same  county.  The  following 
wills  illustrate  the  connection  of  its  earlier  members  with  this  district. 

'  On  the  general  descent  of  the  Collingwood  family,  see  an  article  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Hodgson  on  'The 
Ancestry  of  Admiral  Lord  Collingwood'  in  Arch.  Act.  3rd  series,  vol.  ii.  Biographies  of  Lord  Colling- 
wood and  of  Edward  Collingwood,  recorder  of  Newcastle,  may  be  foimd  in  Mr.  Welford's  Mai  of  Mark. 
The  standard  authority  for  the  life  of  Lord  Collingwood  is  the  I'uhlic  ami  Private  Corrapondeiicc  of  Vice- 
Admiral  Lord  Collingwood,  edited  by  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  G.  L.  Newenham,  who  took  the  additional  name 
of  Collingwood.  See  also  Dictionary  of  National  Biography.  A  monument  to  Lord  Collingwood  was 
erected  in  1845  an^l  stands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tyne,  near  the  Spanish  battery. 

"  For  a  pedigree  of  Spearman  of  Old  Acres,  see  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  i.  p.  96. 

"  Abstract  of  title  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Ryott. 

'  For  a  pedigree  of  this  family  see  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  i.  p.  274. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP.  327 

September  21st,  1596.  Will  of  Edmond  Milbancks  of  the  parishe  of  Tynetnouth,  sick  in  bodie  ;  to  be 
buried  in  the  chancell  of  St.  Oswold's  [sic]  cliurch  at  Tynemouth,  so  neare  my  late  wife  Joan  Milbancke 
as  possible  may  be.  To  my  wife  that  now  is,  Christobell  Milbancke,  one  half  quarter  of  the  'Jonas'  and 
;^2o  ;  to  my  eldest  sonn,  William  Milbancke,  my  howse,  my  pann  and  farmehold  of  Chirton  ;  to  my 
second  sonne,  John  Milbancke,  my  howse  in  Pilgrim  strette  in  Newcastle,  in  the  occupation  of  Stephen 
Resley,  my  lease  of  a  malt-howse  which  I  have  of  Ralph  Rawe,  the  lease  of  two  chambers  that  I  have  of 
Edward  Hall  that  standeth  by  the  Key-side,  and  the  eighth  part  of  the  underwood  of  Chopwell,  which 
is  myne  own,  and  ^20  ;  to  my  third  sonne,  Robert  Milbancke,  my  land  att  Leades,  accordinge  to  his 
mother's  will,  and  one  howse  in  the  Viccar  Layne,  and  one  close  in  the  Hoanes  (?;,  both  in  the 
occupation  of  my  brother-in-law,  James  Dickson,  one  half  quarter  of  the  barke  'Sallamon,'  and  /[lo;  to 
my  fourth  sonne,  Edmond  Milbancke,  my  land  in  Willington,  and  a  close  in  Merchut,  called  Askue,  and 
20  marks,  half  a  dussen  silver  sponnes,  my  lesser  silver  peace,  and  my  greate  Bible  ;  to  my  fift  and 
youngest  sonne,  Richard  Milbancke,  his  owne  salt-pan  which  he  holdeth  of  the  quene  by  copie,  the 
third  parte  of  my  keale  that  I  liolde  partnarshipp  with  Mr.  Heiirie  Anderson,  one  quarter  of  the  barke 
'  Sallamon,'  and  one  quarter  of  the  '  Elsabeth,'  and  ^20,  and  my  sonne  William  Milbancke  to  have  the 
tuition  of  him,  and  putt  him  to  schoole,  etc.,  till  he  shall  come  to  lawfull  yeares  of  aigue  [sic].  Urj'an 
Walker  of  Willington  to  be  tutor  of  my  son  Edmond.  My  sonne  Richard,  so  soone  as  he  can  writte,  rede, 
cipher,  and  caste  accompte,  to  be  putt  to  an  occupation  or  some  good  science.  To  John  Milbancke,  my 
best  silver  pece;  to  Edmond  Milbancke  and  Richard  Milbancke,  one  quarter  of  the  '  Sallamon '  to  be 
sould  to  William  Milbancke.  The  twelve  yeares  which  I  have  of  Robert  Midfortli  in  a  cole-pitt  in 
Kenton  moore,  which  began  the  20th  of  March  last  past,  and  a  lease  for  eight  years  of  one  quarter  of  a 
cole-pitt  in  Kenton  pasture,  to  be  sould  and  divided  among  my  children,  and  20  marks  to  my  daughter 
Elinor  ;  to  my  brother,  Bryan  Milbancke,  30  shillings ;  to  my  brothers,  Richard  Milbancke  and 
Nicholas  Milbancke,  20  shillings  ;  to  my  brother,  Lancelot  Milbancke,  10  shillings  ;  to  my  sonne, 
Edmond  Milbancke,  10  shillings.     My  sons,  William  Milbancke  and  John  Milbancke,  e.xecutors. 

Inventory,  December  ist.  Goods,  sheep,  horses,  etc.,  ^93  2s.  6d.  Goods  at  North  Shields  ;  one 
salt  pan,  ^26;  half  and  half  a  quarter  of  a  fisher  named  the  '  Salamon,' ;C75 ;'  half  of  another  fisher, 
named  the  '  Elizabeth,'  ^36  ;  3,000  of  salt  fish,  praised  five  score,  40s.  ;  20  tenns  of  coals,  ^35  ;  the 
third  part  of  a  keel  often  chalders,  ^8  ;  two  silver  pieces  and  si.x  silver  spoons,  £i  10s.     Sum,  /301. 

He  owes,  for  beer,  ^29  los.  9d.  ;  for  salt  fish  drying,  3s.  8d.  ;  two  years'  arrerages,  15s.  2d.  ;  for 
winning  the  corn  in  harvest,  £^  ;  grassing  of  seven  beasts,  46s. 

July  3rd,  1603.  Will  of  William  Mealbanks  of  Tinemouth  Sheeles,  yeoman,  to  be  buried  in  my 
parishe  churche  of  Sancte  Oswin  in  Tinemouth,  or  in  the  yarde  of  the  Spittle  nere  Tinemouth.  To 
Grace  Mealbanks  my  wyef  and  Marke  Mealbanks  my  sonne,  for  his  noneadge,  my  tenement,  etc.,  in 
East  Chirton;  to  my  sonne  Mark  Mealbanks  my  howse  in  Tinemouth  Sheeles  wherin  I  nowe  dwell,  and 
the  saltpanne  with  the  howse  and  scyte  of  the  same,  builded  in  and  upon  the  kaye  of  my  said  dwelling 
howse,  with  all  other  sumps,  staythes,  etc.  ;  my  wife  to  bring  up  my  said  sonne  ;  to  my  brother  John 
Mealbanks  all  my  parte  and  portion  of  my  lands  in  Leads  in  Yorkshier,  and  the  custody  of  my  brother 
Richard  Mealbanks,  with  his  portion  amounting  to  ^^So,  and  one  quarter  of  the  good  shipp  called  the 
'  Elizabeth  '  of  the  Sheeles,  given  and  left  unto  him  by  my  father's  last  will,  and  in  my  custody  till  he  be  21  ; 
to  my  mother  Christobell  Mealbanks,  my  fatt  kowe  in  Brearden  and  2o"''  share  fishe,  and  she  to  pay  for 
the  grasse  of  the  said  kowe  ;  to  Margaret  Bell  a  fatt  kowe  in  Flatworth  ;  to  my  wyef  and  my  sonne  Mark 
Mealbanks  my  8th  part  or  i  quarter  of  the  good  shipp  '  Elizabeth  '  with  ankers,  cables,  tacklinge,  boats, 
etc. ;  to  my  brother  Edmond  Mealbanks  £s  ;  to  my  brother  Richard  Mealbanks  my  wissell  with  £4; 
to  my  syster  Elyonor  50  share  fyshe  ;  to  Robert  Peresone  one  angell  in  gold  ;  to  Christopher  Pereson 
one  branded  ridged  qwhye  which  goyth  in  Est  Chirton  ;  remainder  to  my  wyef  and  son  Mark,  and 
they  my  executors.  My  brothers  John  and  Edmond  Mealbanks  super\'isors.  Witnesses,  Marke  Norton, 
John  and  Edmund  Milbancks. 

'  About  the  year  1595  Richard  Holdsworth,  vicar  of  Newcastle,  brought  a  suit  in  the  spiritual  court 
against  Ralph  Cock  and  Edmund  Milbanke  for  tithe  of  ling  or  salt  fish  caught  'm  quodam  loco  vocato 
Shetland  aliisque  partibus  longe  ab  hoc  regno  .A.ngliae  distantibus  versus  septentnonem  m  the 
'Salamon'  of  Newcastle.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


328 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Inventor)'  praised  November  loth,  1603,  by  Raphe  Delavale,  Marke  Norton,  gents.,  Nicholas 
Atkinson,  master  and  maryner,  and  Robert  Mylls,  yeoman.  Goods  at  East  Chirton,  ^59  17s.  2d.;  at 
Preston,  £3  i6s.  5d.  ;  at  Tinemouth  Sheeles,  a  half  quarter  of  the  '  Elizabeth,'  ;Cio  ;  800  costingdale  with 
900  share  fyshe,  at  £3  the  100,  ;^40  ;  4  drynking  towells,  4s.  ;  2  drynking  clothes,  2S.  ;  100  old  salt  fishe, 
33s.  4d. ;  one  rbalder  boate,  40s.;  one  sake  panne,  ^20;  salt  remayning  in  the  gardens,  40s.; 
th'apparrell  of  the  deade,  los. ;  2  old  alnieryes  with  one  buttery  of  fyerdale,  i6s. ;  one  broken  silver  peice 
with  4  spooncs,  26s.  ;  one  whistell  of  silver,  3s.  4d.  ;  one  muskett  with  a  callyver  and  furnyture,  6s.  8d.  ; 
for  beare  for  the  first  viadge,  £s  los. ;  in  beare  for  the  second  viadgc,  ^4  l6s.  ;  for  cleashing  his  bowses, 
£i;  for  coales  for  the  howse  and  salt  panne,  £6  15s.  ;  East  Chirton  rents,  25s.     .Suninia,  ^202  i6s.  7d.' 

The  Milbanke  farm  in  East  Chirton  formed  part  of  the  Balkwell  estate 
sold  in    1805  bv  Sir  Ralph  Milbanke,  the  si.xth  baronet. 

In  the  north  of  the  township,  near  the  edge  of  Shire  Moor,  stands 
Billy  mill,  to  which  allusion  is  made  as  Billing's  mill  in  the  grant  made 
by  Henry  Faukes  to  Tynernouth  priory  in  1320.  It  stood  upon  demesne 
land  belonging  to  the  prior  and  convent,  was  granted,  as  part  of 
Tynernouth  demesne,  on  December  8th,  1631,  to  William  Collins  and 
Edward  Fenn,  and  was  subsequently  conveyed  to  Algernon,  tenth  earl  of 
Northumberland.'  In  the  years  1597- 1599  Billy  mill  was  being  rebuilt, 
as  appears  from  the  following  extracts  from  contemporary  accounts.' 

£  s.  d. 
August  20th,  1597.     Payed  for  the  charge  of  Robert  Singleton,  miller,  and  Robert  Helme, 

for  going  with  the  mill-wreights  thre  dayes  in  Hedley  and  Proddowe  woods  to  choose 

X.X  tymber  trees  for  Billy  mill        ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         •••         080 

Payed  for  the  charges  of  Robert  Helme  and  Rowlande  Younger  with  ther  horses  vj  dayes  at 

severall  tymes  in  going  to  presse  the  horssing  and  conveying  the  tymber  from  Hedley 

wood  to  the  river  syde         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ■•■         •■■         o   13     o 

P.ayed  for  drincke  bestowed  on  the  tcnnants  in  Hedley  and  other  places  for  helping  to  horse 

the  stob  '  on  the  carridge    ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         034 

Payed  to  Robert  Hallsey,  bayliff,  for  his  travaile  in  gatheringe  and  pressinge  the  tennants 

together  for  horsing  and  conveying  the  same  tymber  at  several  meltings,  the  tennants 

being  verie  unwilling  therunto      ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         0100 

For  a   paire  of  mill  stones  for  Billye  myll  and  the  carridge  therof  from  ISarnacastle  to  the 

Sheles  by  land  and  water   ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  •-.         6158 

June,  1599.     Payed  to  John  Soulbye  of  Bleadon,  Mr.  Tempesse's  man,  for  freight  of  .\x  trees 

for  Billy  millne  and  vij  pece  of  tymber  for  Mardon  myllne  from  Stella  to  the  Sheeles  ...  3  14  4 
Payed  for  thre  fir  masts  xviij  yeards  long  apece,  for  to  make  a  fearne'  to  hoyste  the  millne 

stobb  anender  and  the  rest  of  the  tymber  theron        ...         ...         100 

Bestowed  in  drincke  on  the  tennants  of  Tynemoulhshier  for  helpinge  to  horse  the  tymber  on 

carriage  at  Sheeles  to  be  conveyed  to  Billy  myllne       ...  ...         ...         •■•         030 

For  vj  fyr  buntyns''  to  be  sawen  in  barrs  for  the  wynde  mill  wa]ds,  at  \}s.  a  pece       ...         ...         0120 

'  Raine,  Test.  Ebor.  -  Gibson,  Tynernouth,  vol.  i.  pp.  217,  244. 

'  Uuke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Stob  =  the  central  post  upon  which  the  superstructure  revolves. 

'  Fearn  or  fern  =  a  windlass. 

'  Buntyn  or  bunting  =  a  great  squared  beam  ;  see  Wright,  English  Dialect  Dictionary,  vol.  i   p.  448. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP, 


329 


Payed  to  towe  laborers  fower  dayes  apece  in  rydding  the  grounde  fytt  for  laying  the  cross- 
trees  wherin  to  sett  the  mill  stobb  080 

September  12th.      Payed  for  drinck  bestowed  on  the  tennants  and  niill-wreights  at  the 

hoysting  the  mill  stobb  and  all  th'other  tymber  theron  030 

Payed  Richard  Rea,  William  Browne,  and  John  Athyr  of  Newcastle,  myll-wreights,  for 
building  Bylly  niillne  and  felling  and  sqiiaringe  the  tymber,  and  finishing  all  the  same 
myll's  tymber-worke,  ready  and  fytt  to  grynde  corne 23     o     o 

Ralph  Gardner  of  Chirton  seriously  endangered  the  mill  in  1658  by 
quarrying  away  the  ground  round  it.  A  letter  of  the  time  states  :  '  Mr. 
Gardner  hath  broken  aquarrie 
on  ye  west  side  of  Billy  milne 
close  by  ye  milne,  so  that 
ye  milne  shall  now  have  noe 
constant  winde,  but  every 
great  winde  shall  be  in  danger 
not  only  to  tear  all  her  savles, 
but  also  to  blow  her  of  ye 
stob  into  some  of  ye  quarries.' ' 
A  survey  of  1722,  however, 
shows  the  mill  still  standing 
on  its  stob.'  It  was  burnt 
down  shortly  afterwards,  but 
about  1760  was  rebuilt  of 
stone.'  Since  that  time  it 
has  fallen  again  into  ruins,  for 
the  milling  industry,  so  far  as 
it  depends  on  wind  for  its  "^r.^^^ 
motive  power,  has  become 
extinct. 


-^t^-^M 


Billy  Mill. 


Middle  Chirton  or  Balkwell. 

In  the  year  1292  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth  were  in  receipt 
of  £\  8s.  4d.  and  fifty-two  quarters  of  barley-malt  yearly  from  Middle 
Chirton,  the  money  value  of  the  malt-rent  being  ^"6  los.'  The  tallage 
roll  of  1294  gives  the  names  of  fourteen  tenants,  of  whom  one,  Roger  Grey, 
was  exempt  from  tallage. 

''Ibid.  'Ibid.  '  Tynemouth  Cli(irtul(iry,{ol.  S^. 


'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 
Vol,  \-11I. 


42 


330  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


MlDDLK   CHIRTON   TALLAGE   ROLL,    1294, 
s.      d. 


De  Ranulpho  de  Middel  Chyrton          ...  13  4 

De  Roberto  filio  Ranulphi          11  o 

De  Henrico  [filio]  Wyot  ...       nichil  quia  pauper 

De  Ranulpho  filio  Willelmi         ...         ...  8  o 

De  Gilberto  filio  Miloth 10  o 

De  Rogero  filio  Willelmi             ...         ...  8  o 

De  Synione  filio  Radulplii          ...         ...  5  o 


s.     d. 
De  Roberto  filio  Margaretae      ...         ...     12     o 

De  Galfrido  filio  Willelmi  6    o 

De  IMilot  Belle      12     o 

De  Willelmo  Drymoth     ...         ...         ...       i     o 

De  Gilberto  Ayr 2     o 

De  Willelmo  Hardewey  ...       nichil  quia  pauper 
De  Rogero  Grey  pro  terra  Rogeri  clerici         — 


.Summa,  ^4  12s.  4d.  [sic].' 

The  bondage  lands  of  Middle  Chirton  were  measured  in  1295,  and 
found  to  contain  four  hundred  acres.  They  were  cultivated  by  eleven 
bonds,  each  holding  thirty-six  acres,  and  this  left  four  acres'  surplusage,  for 
which  rent  was  paid.'  The  names  of  the  bonds  are  those  of  the  ten  first 
given  in  the  tallage  roll,  with  the  addition  of  Ralph,  son  of  Christiana,  while 
Ranulph  of  Middle  Chirton  has  been  succeeded  by  his  son  Ralph.  They 
had  the  same  services  and  customs  as  the  bonds  of  Preston,  though  each 
bond  paid  an  additional  '  kenning ' '  of  'stac-malt,'  and  one  'kenning'  of 
'  stac-ates  '  of  ancient  measure.  The  township  also  paid  yearly  five  shillings 
for  'billing-male,'  a  payment  probably  made  in  composition  for  services 
to  Billy  mill. 

There  were  besides  four  free  holdings,  including  108  acres,  held  by 
a  tenure  analogous  to  that  of  East  Chirton,  the  distinctive  features  being 
the  yearly  payment  of  five  shillings  from  each  holding  as  'rad-mal.'  The 
services  are  briefly  as  follow  : 

(i)  Roger,  son  of  Ralph  de  Wylam,  holds  one  messuage  and  thirty-four  acres.  He  pays  5s.  rent 
and  6|d.  as  cornage.  He  does  boon-ere  and  boon-harrow  and  two  days'  work  in  autumn.  He  attends 
the  great  'auth-rep'  with  his  whole  household,  except  the  housewife,  but  does  not  provide  '  kakes.'  He 
gives  merchet.  (2)  John  Ayr  and  Thomas  Faccale  hold  thirty-si.\  acres.  They  pay  Ss.  rent  and  5s. 
'rad-mal.'  They  do  boon-ere,  boon-harrow,  in-lade,  Neusom-lade,  and  nine  'auth-reps.'  (3)  William 
Drymouth  holds  twenty  acres.  He  pays  2s.  rent  and  5s.  'rad-mal.'  He  does  boon-ere,  boon-harrow,  and 
two  days'  work  in  autumn  with  two  men.  He  shall  be  reeve  at  the  great  boon- work  and  shall  have  one 
monk's  loaf  and  one  gruel  loaf  for  himself  and  one  mess-mate.  (4)  Roger  Gray  holds  eighteen  acres 
and  pays  5s.  for  'rad-mal.'  He  performs  the  same  services  as  Drymouth  does,  but  works  for  three  days 
in  autumn.     He  pays  6d.  for  land  reclaimed  (frissura)  in  the  common  moor.' 

The  names  of  all  the  bonds  except  Henry,  son  of  Wyot,  and  Symon, 
son  of  Ralph,  reappear  upon  the  subsidy  roll  of  1296.  Roger  Grey  is 
entered  under  Whitley  township. 

'  St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  109  b.  -  Tynemotith  Chartulary,  fol.  7  b. 

'  The  term  '  kenning '  is  used  in  northern  dialects  for  a  dry  measure  containing  half  a  bushel, 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  38-30. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP. 
Middle  Chirton  Subsidy  Roll,  1296. 

£    s.     d.  s.     d. 

Summa  bonorum  Milonis  liell     i   13    6     unde   regi     3    o4 

Galfridi  filii  Willelmi  ...         i    14  10  „  32 


3i^ 


2  9j 

3  o 

4  'i 
3    9l 

2  II 

3  lo] 
3     51 


„  Robert!  filii  Marjorie             ...  i    10  10 

„  Radulphi  filii  Christiane        ...  i   12  10 

„  Rogeri  filii  Willelmi 254 

,,  Gilberti  filii  Milonis   ...         ...  220 

„  Radulphi  filii  Willelmi          ...  1    12     o 

„  Roberti  filii  Kanulphi            ...  224 

„  Ranulplii  ...  1    17   10 

Summa  hujus  ville,  £i()  us.  6d.  ;  unde  domino  regi,  ^i  los.  ij[d.' 

Faccale's  land  was  afterwards  acquired  by  Sir  Adam  de  Benton."  The 
prior  and  convent  had  licence  to  acquire  a  toft  and  six  acres  and  one  rood 
of  land  in  Middle  Chirton  from  Simon  del  Vikers  in  1360,  as  well  as  land 
of  unspecified  amount  in  1345  and  1380.'  In  1377  the  rents  from  free 
men  there  had  diminished  to  5s.  5fd.  per  annum,  and  tenements  and  land 
lately  acquired  by  the  monastery  were  being  leased  at  a  yearly  rent  of 
£  2  5s.  5|d.  The  bondage  system  had  ceased  to  e.xist.  Five  bondage 
holdings  were  without  tenants,  and  were  farmed  out  in  return  for  a  payment 
of  barley-malt.  John  de  Wylam,  probably  a  descendant  of  Roger  de 
Wylam,  w-ho  was  a  free  tenant  in  1295,  had  lately  taken  a  lease  of  the 
remaining  bondage  holdings,  for  which  he  paid  /  i    12s.  gfd.  yearly.^ 

At  the  dissolution  there  were  three  customary  tenants,  each  having 
one  tenement,  forty  acres  of  arable,  two  acres  of  meadow,  twelve  acres 
of  pasture,  pasture  for  six  o.xen  in  the  ox  pasture,  and  for  six  cattle,  forty 
sheep  and  two  horses  in  the  common  pasture.  Two-thirds  of  the  township 
appears  to  have  been  common  pasture  or  waste.  Each  tenant  paid 
£2  4s.  5d.  as  rent  for  his  holding,  is.  for  the  farm  of  the  hay  tithe,  and 
4d.  for  pannage  of  swine.  The  whole  township  paid  2s.  for  the  farm  of 
a  cottage.^  The  money-rent  was  exceptionally  high,  but  on  the  other  hand 
no  hall-corn  was  paid.  A  possible  explanation  for  this  fact  is  to  be  found  in 
the  statement  that  the  Ridges,  a  farm  in  Flatworth,  south  of  Middle  Chirton, 
'  was  understood  to  have  been  a  large  enclosure  in  which  the  tenants  in 
Flatworth  and  West  Chirton  held  parcels  by  rig  and  rein,  or  in  ridges  of 
ground,  and  that  the  owner  of  Middle  Chirton  gave  up  the  ridges  or  parcels 
of  ground  belonging  to  him  in  lieu  of  the  lord's  claim  for  hall  or  half-corn." 

'  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  ^'{-.  "  Tyiicmoutli  Cliartulnry,  fol.  67.  '  See  above,  pp.  1 15,  1 16. 

*  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  52  b  and  60.  '  Gibson,  Tyncmouth,  vol.  i.  p.  221. 

'  Bell  Collection,  No.  436  a. 


332  tyNemouth  borough. 

There  were  other  ways  in  which  Middle  Chirton  stood  distinct 
from  the  neighbouring  townships.  It  was  not  comprised  in  the  various 
leases  made  to  the  persons  who  farmed  the  lordship  of  Tynemouthshire. 
Its  tenants  refused  allegiance  to  the  manorial  court.  They  were  said  to 
hold  not  by  custom  of  husbandry/  though  in  1609  they  joined  in  obtaining 
a  recognition  of  their  right  to  be  considered  copyholders  of  inheritance. 
Their  fines,  however,  were  those  paid  by  the  townships  of  the  out-shire, 
amongst  which  Middle  Chirton  appears  to  have  been  classed,  all  the  other 
copyhold  townships  in  Tynemouth  parish  being  reckoned  members  of  the 
in-shire."  Notwithstanding,  Middle  Chirton  was  included  in  the  grant  of 
Tynemouthshire  made  to  William  Scriven  and  William  Eden  in  1633,  and 
thus  became  definitely  a  part  of  the  manor  of  Tynemouth. 

Before  the  year  1604  all  the  three  tenements  had  come  into  one  man's 
hands.'  They  became  the  property  of  the  Reeds  of  East  Chirton.  Ralph 
Reed,  the  second  of  that  name,  mortgaged  his  farms  and  certain  collieries 
about  the  year  1641  to  his  neighbour,  George  Milbourne,  as  security  for 
debts  amounting  to  more  than  ^1,300.  Milbourne  assigned  his  mortgage 
to  Reed's  father-in-law,  John  Salkeld  of  Rock.  In  1646  Ralph  Reed  died 
in  prison,  where  he  had  been  confined  for  espousing  the  royalist  cause. 
His  widow  married  Ralph  Gardner,  the  young  and  enterprising  son  of 
Devereux  Gardner,  writing-master  of  the  grammar  school  of  Newcastle.* 
Gardner  quietly  enjoyed  the  estate  in  right  of  his  wife  until  the  year  1650, 
when  it  was  sequestered  on  the  ground  of  its  former  owner's  delinquency. 
In  spite  of  his  and  John  Salkeld's  protests,  the  Chirton  lands  were  included 
in  the  third  Act  for  Sale  of  1652.  The  sale  was  stayed  upon  application 
made  by  Ralph  Reed,  son  and  heir  of  Ralph  Reed  the  elder,  and  on 
March  2nd,  1653,  the  county  committee  requested  that  the  estate  should 
be  withdrawn  from  sale  and  no  further  proceedings  allowed   against  it.^ 

The  property  at  this  time  stood  on  the  court  rolls  in  the  name  of 
John  Salkeld.      He  surrendered  it,  on  October   iith,    1652,   to  his  second 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  ;  early  seventeenth  century  survey  of  Tynemouthshire. 

=  See  .ibove,  page  239.  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Ralph  Gardner  was  baptised  at  St.  John's,  Newcastle,  August  29th,  1625.  He  was  entered  at 
Barnard's  Inn,  and  subsequently,  on  January  29th,  1654/5,  at  Gray's  Inn.  He  married  Catherine, 
widow  of  Ralph  Kced,  at  Earsdon,  September  9th,  1648,  and  had  issue  by  her.  In  1659  he  removed 
from  Chirton  to  London.  The  time  and  place  of  his  death  arc  uncertain.  A  biography  of  him  is  to  be 
found  in  Welford,  Men  oj  Mark.     See  also  above,  pp.  301-304. 

*  Welford,  Royalist  Compositions,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  in,  pp.  316-317. 


CHIRTON   TOWNSHIP. 


333 


son,  William  Salkeld.'  William  Salkeld,  who  received  knighthood  at  the 
Restoration,  married  Frances,  daughter  of  Sir  Francis  Fernham  of  Kent, 
and  widow  of  Sir  Robert  Wildgose  of  Sussex.  He  had  issue  by  her  one 
daughter  and  heir,  '  married  to  a  notorious  counterfeiter  of  hands  and  very 
poor.'^  Sir  William  Salkeld,  or  his  representatives,  sold  Middle  Chirton  to 
Mark  Milbanke,  mayor  of  Newcastle,  and  it  continued  to  be  owned  by  the 
Milbanke  family  until  1805,  when  the  Balkwell  estate,  consisting  of  lands 
in  East  and  Middle  Chirton  and  Shire  Moor,  and  comprising  544  acres,  was 
sold  in  four  lots.  The  purchasers  were  Ralph  Crawford  of  Hartley 
(Balkwell  farm),  John  Watson  of  Willington  Quay  (West  Chirton  farm), 
Thomas  Wright  of  Whitley  Park  and  Stephen  Wright  of  Dockwray  Square 
(Chirton  Hill  farm),  and  Richard  Cowell  of  Long  Benton  (North  Balkwell 
farm).  The  present  respective  owners  are  the  devisees  of  John  Crawford  of 
Cambois,  the  representatives  of  John  Hedley  of  Newcastle,  the  representa- 
tives of  Thomas  Bell  Barker  of  Westoe,  and  the  duke  of  Northumberland.' 

'  Tyncinoulh  Court  Rolls.     See  vol.  ii.  of  this  work,  pp.  140-141,  for  a  pedigree  of  Salkeld  of  Rock. 
■  Le  Neve,  Knights,  Harl.  Soc.  No.  8,  p.  72.  ^  Documents  in  the  custody  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Kyotl. 

CRAWFORD    OF    SE.VrON    DELAVAL,    H.A.RTLEY,   AND   OF   BALKWELL. 


[\Villi.\m]  Ck.wvford. 


George  Crawford  of  Burradon  = 
in  Coquetdale. 


William  Crawford  of  Coldmartin,  and  of-North  iMiddleton,  voted  for  Coldmanin  at  the 
election  of  knights  of  the  shire  in  1748  ;  will  dated  3rd  October,  1759  (<■).  4, 


I 
William  Crawford  of  Seaton : 
Delaval,  born  at  Burradon, 
1 2th  March,  1744  (0  ;  died 
27th  .May,  1812,  aged  68 
(3)  ((6)  ;  will  dated  5th  Decem- 
ber, 1809  ;  proved  at  the  Pre- 
rogative Court  of  Canterbury, 
nth  July,  1812  (^). 


Elizabeth  Grey, 
married  20th 
May,  1773 
(«)  ;  died 
31st  Decem- 
ber, 'IS32, 
aged  85  (^). 


George  Crawford 
of  Netherton  in 
Coquetdale,  born 
at   Burradon    1st 

July,  1747  W; 
died  26th  March, 
1834,     aged     87 


Ralph  Crawford  of  Monk-  =  Mary     Duxfield. 

....... —    I  ..f   tj_-.i...  .  •    1 


sealon,  and  of  Hartley, 
born  at  Burradon,  2Ist 
.\ugust,  1750  (c)  ;  died 
17th  January,  iSi8,aged 
68  (li);  will  dated  30th 
.■\ugust,  1817;  proved 
l6th  May,  1818  {e). 


married  31 51 
December,  17S9 
(u)  ;  died  15th 
June,  lSoS,aged 
44  (")  (<). 


I  I 

George,    baptised  Ralph    Crawford    of    Balkwell    and 

31st  December,  Hartley,  baptised  27th  December, 

1790(a);   died  1796  («)  ;  died   19th  .April,  1821, 

unmarried  23rd  aged  24  (/i)  ;   will  dated  2Ist  June, 

January,     1813  1S20 ;    proved    at    Durham,  26th 

(a)  (J>).  May,  1821  (/). 


Mary,  daughter  of 
Matthew  Wilson 
of  Blyth,  married 
1817  (a);  died 
27th  April,  1854, 
aged  57  (li). 


William  and 
Joseph,  died 
in  infancy. 


i     I 

.\nne,  bapt.  nth  .Aug., 
1 793  (,/)  ;  died  2nd 
.May,  1S09  (rt)  (((). 

Jane.  bapt.  30th  Oct., 
l8o3(<i) ;  mar.  John 
.Moor  of  .Morpeth 
High  House.     4, 


Ralph  Crawford  of  Balkwell  and  of  Horns  Castle,  bom  27th  August, 
1 8 18  (<r)  ;  died  at  Newburn  31st  December,  1904.  | 


Mary,  born  1st  J.anuary,  1820(f);  wife  of 
John  George  .■\rkless  of  Blyth. 


334 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


I     I 


I 


died       loth 

July.     1855, 

aged  59  (h). 


George  Crawford  of  Briardon,  baptised  23rd  October,   1774   («)  ;    died  unmarried  Ralph     Crawford  =  Frances  Nixon, 

291I1  Sejitembcr,  183S,  aged  64  (Ji)  ;  will  dated  July,  1S36  (/).  of  Seaton  Dela- 

Thoinas  Crawfortl  of  Briardon,  baj^lised  2nd   February,  1777  C'^)  ;  died  unmarried,  val,   bapl.   22nd 

23nd  January,  1832,  aged  55  (/))  ;   administration  of  his  personal  estate  grained  February,    1784 

out  of  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canterbury,  27th  February,  1832,  and  at  Durham,  («)  ;   died  22nd 

20lh  February  of  same  year  (<).  June,  1869,  aged 

William  Crawfoid  of  Whitley  Lodge,  baptised  1st  August,  1779  («)  ;  married  85  (li)  ;  will 
Dorothy  bj'  whom  he  had  no  issue  ;  died  2nd  November,  1848,  aged  69  (/i)  ;  dated  I3lh  No- 
will  dated  26lh  October,  184S  ;  proved  at  Durham,  15th  February,  1849,  and  at  vember,  1867  ; 
the  Prerogati\e  Court  of  Canterbury,  24th  February  of  same  year  (e).  proved  1869. 


John    Cniwford   of    Balkwell   and   of  ^  Anne,  daughter  of  William 


Seaton  Delaval,  born  20th  December, 
1790;  baptised  27th  February,  1791 
(«)  ;  died  l6th  February,  1847  (/;)  ; 
will  dated  24th  December,  1846  (<■). 


Robson  of  Hartley,  mar- 
ried 28th  Se]>tember, 
1 817  (e);  died  8th  Octo- 
ber, 1844,  aged  49  (i). 


I     I 
Jane,  baptised  27th  January,  1782   (a)  ;    married 

John   Grey  of  Hartley,  and  died  8th  December, 

1S63,  aged  SI  (//). 
Elizabeth,  baptised  13th  April,  1788  {a)  ;  died  30th 

August,  1806  (a)  (h). 


I     I     I 
William  Robson  Crawford  of  Balkwell,  and  of  Cambois,  born  5th  April, 

1825  (c)  ;  died  unmarried,  gth  September,  1S59  (/<)  ;  will  dated  27th 

July,  1S59;  proved  at  Newcastle,  29th  September,  1859  (/). 
John,  born  1S27,  died  182S. 
John  Crawford  of  Balkwell,  and  of  Cambois,  born  28th  June,   1830; 

died  unmarried,  8th  December,  1863  (b)  ;  will  dated  iSlh  January, 

1S62  ;  proved  at  Newcastle,  4th  June,  1864  (e). 


I     I     I.    I     I 
Elizabeth,    wife    of     Thomas     Freeman    of 

Benton.  <!/ 
Mary,    wife    of    Aaron     Adshead    of    Bed- 

lington.  i/ 
Anne,  wife  of  Patrick  Freeman  of  Cambois.  4/ 
Jane,  wife  of  Richard  Hodgson  of  Cowpen.  \1/ 
Dorothy,  wife  of  J.  Reinhard. 


William  Crawford  of  Seaton 
Delaval,  died  unmarried, 
15  th  April,  1S69,  aged  46 
(1^)  ;  will  dated  24th  Klarch, 
I  S6g  ;  proved  same  year. 

Ralph,  died  3rd  September, 
1843,  aged  18  (/,). 


George  Crawford  of  ■■ 
Gloster  Lodge,  born 
1st  May,  1830  (rt)  ; 
died  6th  September, 
1867,  aged  37  ((4)  ; 
will  proved  25th 
October,  1867. 


I  III 

Anne  Lambert,       Thomas,  Elizabeth  Anne,  died  26th  Sept., 

married  14th         died     24th  1843,  aged  21  (i). 

Nov.,    i860 ;         September,  Anne  Elizabeth,  married  David 

died      22nd         1855,  aged  Thomas  Jones,  clerk  in  orders, 

July,        1897          20  (J>).  and   chaplain   at    Blyth  ;    died 

.aged  72  (/;).  .(./.  igth  Feb.,  1886,  aged  58  (<i). 

Frances,  died    24th   September, 
1859.  aged  27  (^). 


Ralph  Crawford  of  Morpeth,  born 
26th  December,  1861  («). 


Frances  Anne,  born 
1863  ;  died  1879. 


I 
Anne. 


Mary  Isabella,  born 
1866  ;  died  1867. 


(«)    Earsdon  Registers. 

(Ji)    Monumental  Inscriptions,  Earsdon. 

(<■)    Ahmntoit  Registers. 


{li)  Monumental  Inscription,  Alwinton. 
{/)    Family  papers  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  J.  C.  Hodgson. 


West  Chirton  and  Flatworth. 


Though  the  hamlet  of  West  Chirton  has  disappeared  without  leaving 
a  trace  of  its  position,  the  site  of  Flatworth,  or,  as  it  was  anciently  termed, 
Flatford,  is  still  marked  by  Flatworth  mill.  The  mill  stands  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  Red  burn,  at  the  mouth  of  Coble  dene,  past  which  the 
Tyne  once  ran  in  shallows  over  the  Dortwick  sands.  Flatworth  and  West 
Chirton  together  formed  part  of  the  Wirecester  barony  of  Hadston,  created 
by  Henry  I.,'  and  continued  to  be  held  of  the  Crown  by  military  service 


'  TtUa  de  Nevill  in  Arch.  Ad.  2nd   series,  vol.   xxv.    pp, 
Hadston  barony,  see  vol.  iv.  of  this  work,  p.  272,  and  vol.  v.  pp.  406-412 


163,   166.     For  a  fuller  account  of  the 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP.  335 

until  1 158.  In  that  year  Henry  II.,  upon  resuming  possession  of  the 
Northumbrian  earldom,  directed  Ralph  de  Wirecestre,  lord  of  Hadston,  to 
confer  Flatworth  in  free  alms  upon  the  monks  of  Tynemouth.'  The  burden 
of  military  service  to  which  it  had  formerly  been  subject,  amounting  to  the 
eighth  part  of  a  knight's  fee,  thereupon  reverted  to  the  Hadston  demesnes. 
In  the  year  1166  Ralph  de  Wirecester  informed  his  sovereign  that 
Jordan  Heron  held  lands  of  him  by  new  feoffment  in  return  for  the  service 
of  a  quarter  of  a  knight's  fee."  The  lands  in  question  may  be  identified 
with  West  Chirton.  Jordan  Heron  appears,  from  his  presence  as  a  witness 
to  many  palatinate  charters,  to  have  been  a  chief  tenant  of  the  bishop  of 
Durham.  He  also  held  lands  in  1166  from  Gilbert  Hansard,  who  in  his 
turn  held  of  the  bishop  of  Durham  a  knight's  fee  in  Yorkshire.'  Though 
connected  with  Dolphin,  son  of  Uctred,  progenitor  of  the  Nevilles  of  Raby, 
Hansard  was  not,  as  he  has  been  represented,  a  member  of  that  family, 
and  the  relationship  was   probably  that  shown  below.'' 

Dolphin  filz   Uctred  (^Feodarium,  p.  140)  ;  had  grant  of 
Staindropshire  in  11 31  (Jbid.  p.  56). 

! 

Gilbert  Hansard  (I.)  held  lands  in  Alver-  =  ^  Meldred    fuz    Dolphin 

stonshire  in  1166  (Zifcr  A'lf^r).  I  I      (/vof/ar/M/n,  p.  140). 


I  III 

Gilbert   Hansard    (II.),   son  of  Gilbert  Hansard,  Robert   filz   Meldred   (j'vo-      Gilbert    fitz    Mel-      Other 

'frater   Roberti   filii   Meldredi   \Feoilariutn,   p.  </a;/n«/,  p.  53) ;  paid  relief         dred  (/Yix/ar/wm,      issue. 

114);  paid  relief  in  1 196  {^Pipf  Rolls).  in  1 196  (^Pipe  Rolls).  p.  53). 

I  I 

I  I 

John  Hansard,  married  .Matilda,  niece  of  Robert  de  Mowbray  {Excerpta  e  Rot.  Fin.  vol.  i.         Geoffrey  de  Neville,  a  quo 
p.  251)  ;  died  in  Gascony  in  1254  (Mat.  Paris,  Chronica  Majora,  vol.  v.  p.  427).  Neville  of  Raby. 

'  Henricus,  rex  Anglie,  etc.,  justiciaiiis,  vicecomitibus  et  ministris,  et  omnibus  fidelibus  suis  de 
Northumberland,  sulutem.  .Sciatis  me  concessisse  et  confirmasse  Deo  et  ecclesie  sancte  Marie  et  sancti 
Oswini  de  Tynemutha,  et  monachis  ibidem  Deo  servientibus,  donationem  de  Flatford,  quam  R.  de 
Wirecestr'  eis  racionabiliter  fecit.  Quare  volo  et  firmiter  precipio  quod  predicti  monachi  teneant  eandem 
terram  bene  et  in  pace  et  libere  et  quiete  et  honoritice  et  integre,  in  viis  et  in  planis  et  pascuis  et  aquis  et 
piscariis  et  in  molendinis,  cum  omnibus  libertatibus  et  omnibus  rebus  ad  eam  pcrtinentibus,  sicut  pre- 
nominatus  R.  vel  antecessores  sui  eam  unquam  melius  et  liberius  et  honorabilius  tenuerunt,  et  sicut 
carta  sua  quam  inde  habeant  eis  testalur.  Teste  VVarino  filio  Ceraldi  comitis,  et  Willelmo  filio  Johannis, 
apud  Wynton.     See  above,  page  62,  note  i  (7). 

-  Red  Book  0/  the  Exchequer,  Rolls  Series,  p.  440.  The  service  is  equivalent  with  that  rendered  by 
John  Hansard  for  West  Chirton  circa  1240  ;  Testa  de  Nevill,  Record  Com.  pp.  381,  389:  Hodgson, 
Northumberland,  part  iii.  vol.  i.  pp.  203,  205. 

'  Red  Book  0/  the  Exchequer,  p.  416.  '  Gilebertus  Hansard  [tenet]  unum  niilitem,  nona  parte  minus, 
quam  Jordanus  Hairun  tenet.'  The  lands  held  by  Gilbert  Hansard  in  1166  may  be  identified  with 
Landmouth,  Hornby  and  High  Worsall.     See  Kirkby's  Inquest,  Surt.  Soc.  Xo.  49,  pp.  100,  103. 

*  Compare  Mr.  Horace  Round  on  'The  Ancestry  of  the  Nevilles'  in  Feudal  England,  pp.  4S8-490. 
Surtees'  assumption  (Durham,  \ol.  iv.  p.  157)  that  Gilbert  H.ansard  was  son  of  Meldred  fitz  Dolphm 
is  inadmissible.  He  was  more  probably  brother  of  the  half-blood  to  Robert  fitz  Meldred,  and,  though 
they  were  charged  for  relief  in  the  same  year,  that  is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  the  king's 
officers  made  use  of  their  opportunity,  during  the  vacancy  of  the  see  of  Durham  on  Pudse/s  death,  to 
collect  all  outstanding  fines  and  debts.     Pipe  Rolls,  ed.  Hodgson,  p.  56. 


336  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Ralph  de  Wirecester  died  between  the  years  11 72  and  1184.'  Jordan 
Heron  married  the  heiress  to  the  barony,  and  became  guardian  of  his  wife's 
lands.  He  conferred  West  Chirton  upon  his  former  lord,  Gilbert  Hansard, 
whose  son  and  heir,  Gilbert  Hansard  (H.),  became  his  ward.  Dying  about 
the  year  1191,  he  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  Ralph  Heron, ^  on  whose 
death,  in  or  about  1196,  Jordan  Heron  (H.),  younger  son  of  Jordan 
Heron  (I.),  came  into  the  inheritance.'  Jordan  Heron  (II.)  was  sued  in 
1202  by  Gilbert  Hansard  (II.)  for  refusing  to  receive  his  homage  for  the 
vill  of  Chirton.  His  defence  was  that  Chirton  was  his  mother's  and  not 
his  father's  inheritance,  and  that  Jordan  Heron  (I.)  had  no  authority  to 
enfeoff  Hansard  with  his  wife's  estates.''  It  was  agreed  that  Heron  should 
receive  the  proffered  homage,  saving  his  right.  In  1221  the  same  parties 
came  to  an  agreement  with  regard  to  three  carucates  of  land  in  Chirton.'^ 

Tynemouth  monastery  appears  to  have  obtained  an  interest  in  these 
lands  before  1225,  when  its  prior  sued  John  Hansard  on  a  plea  of  warranty 
of  charter."  In  1256  the  prior  and  convent  acquired  the  manor  of  West 
Chirton  in  free  alms  from  William  Heron,  sheriff  of  Northumberland,  son 
and  heir  of  Jordan  Heron  (II.).  An  entry  in  the  St.  Alhatis  Register 
shows  that  four  marks  were  paid  to  William  Heron  and  five  pounds  to 
Sir  Gilbert  Hansard  (HI.)  in  consideration  of  the  transfer.'  Prior  Dunham 
on  his  part  received  William  Heron  and  his  heirs  into  all  the  benefits  and 
prayers  which  from  thenceforth  should  be  made  in  his  church  for  ever.*  The 
engagement  was  perhaps  onerous,  for  Matthew  Paris  observes  upon  Heron's 
death,  which  occurred  two  years  later,  '  He  ground  down  the  poor  and 
oppressed  the  monks.  His  thirst  for  riches  was  immense,  and  now  he  has 
gone   to  thirst  in  hell.'  ^ 

Having  obtained  possession  of  West  Chirton,  the  prior  and  convent 
proceeded  to  evict  several  of  the  original  tenants.  Between  the  years 
1280  and  1293,  various  suits  were  brought  against  the  priory  for  recovery 

'  Pipe  Rolls,  pp.  20,        .  -  Ibiii.  p.  51. 

"  Ibid.  p.  57.     For  a  proof  of  the  descent,  see  Feodarium,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  58,  pp.  124,  168. 

■•  Jurdanus  dicit  quod  non  debet  capere  homagium  ejus  de  terra  ilia,  quia  fuit  hereditas  matris  sue  et 
non  patris  sui  ;  et  si  pater  ejus  illam  dedit  patri  ejusdem  Gilbert!,  injuste  illam  dedit,  quia  non  debuit  nee 
potuit,  desicut  non  fuit  nisi  custos  hereditatis  matris  sue.  Abhreviatio  Placitorum,  Record  Com.  p.  39  ; 
Hodgson,  Northumberland,  part  iii.  vol.  ii.  p.  338. 

'  Curia  Regis  Rolls,  4  Hen.  III.  Mich,  and  5  Hen.  III.  Hilary  and  Easter.  *  Ibid.  No.  88. 

'  See  above,  p.  76,  note  i.  »  Three  Northumbrian  Assi::e  Rolls,  .Surt.  Soc.  No.  88,  p.  410. 

'  Chronica  Majora,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  v.  p.  663. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP. 


337 


of  lands  in  West  Chirton.  Henry  Clere  claimed  twenty-four  acres  ;  Ralph, 
son  of  William,  claimed  sixteen  ;  and  William  Cokeman  twenty -five. 
Henry,  son  of  Adam,  brought  a  suit  for  a  toft  and  forty-eight  acres  in 
Flatworth.  So  did  Roger,  son  of  Ralph  de  Wylam,  claiming  to  inherit  from 
his  grandmother,  Alice,  daughter  of  Questric  de  Flatford.  In  1293  Hugh 
Burdon  attempted  to  recover  the  manor  of  West  Chirton.  He  asserted 
that  his  great-grandfather,  Roger,  had  been  seised  of  the  manor  in  the  time 
of  Richard  I.,  but,  like  the  others,  failed  to  prove  his  case.' 

In  1292  the  prior  and  convent  was  in  receipt  of  /"lo  yearly  rent  from 
West  Chirton.  Their  manor  of  Flatworth  had  a  carucate  of  arable  land 
attached  to  it  as  demesne,  which  gave  no  return.  They  made,  however, 
an  annual  profit  of  thirteen  shillings  from  the  hundred  and  four  sheep  kept 
on  the  pasture.-     A  survey  taken  in  1295  sets  out  the  demesne  as  follows  : 

In  Wet-acres 

In  the  same      

In  Slure-leyes  ...         

In  the  same      ...         

In  the  same,  lying  fallow- 
In  Huyos-hupp  

In  Me  side'  on  the  east  of  the  hall 

In  Holletche-flat         

In  the  same,  lying  fallow 

There  were  387  acres  in  West  Chirton,  an  acreage  roughly  corres- 
ponding to  the  three  carucates  mentioned  in  1221.  This  hind  was  cultivated 
by  fifteen  bonds,  each  holding  twenty -five  acres.  Six  of  the  additional 
twelve  acres  were  farmed  out  to  five  of  the  bonds,  and  six  to  the  remaining 
ten  bonds.' 

Fourteen  tenants  paid  tallage  in   1294.* 


a. 

r.     p. 

a. 

r.    p. 

..    16 

2      0 

In  Clovengare 

..      10 

0  20 

..    10 

I      0 

In  Middel-flat 

5 

1      0 

...     3 

2    30 

In  the  same      

4 

1    20 

...       6 

0     0 

In  Bone-flat     

■•       9 

0  20 

...     16 

0      0 

In  Tepe            

1 1 

3    0 

...       4 

3  20 

On  the  east  of  the  grange     ... 

1 

2    0 

...     16 

I     0 

In  the  Reie-flat           

■•     '9 

0    0 

4 

3  20 

In  the  Shel-feld          

••     -i 

0    0 

-> 

2  30 

De  Willelnio  filio  Nicholai 
De  Gilberto  filio  Serlonis 
De  Willelmo  Pointel 


West  Chirton  Tall.voe  Rolt.,  1294. 

J 

s.     d. 
13     4 

De  Alano  filio  Robert!     

S. 

...     13 

4 

3     0 

De  Gilberto  filio  Galfridi  Belle  ... 

1 

6 

6    0 

De  Henrico  filio  Radulphi 

5 

0 

6    0 

De  Henrico  .Sparu            

5 

0 

3     4 

De  Roberto  filio  Margarete 

13 

4 

3     4 

De  Roberto  Caldewell     

I 

0 

10    0 

De  Roberto  Messore        

...     13 

4 

Summa,  £4  2s.  2d.  [sic]. 


'  The  various  suits  are  set  out  in  the  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  192-193.  203,  204,  205. 

=  Ibid.  fols.  54  b,  55.  '  Ibid.  fols.  4  b  and  7  b.  '  St.  Alb.m's  Register,  fol.  109. 

Vol.  vm,  •♦^ 


338 


TYNEMOUTH  BOROUGH. 


The  names  of  the  four  tenants  first  upon  the  list  are  supplied  by  the 
custuinal  of  the  township.  They  were  Derlyng,  Henry  Drury,  Richard, 
son  of  Matilda,  and  Henry,  son  of  Robert.  A  very  similar  list  is  given  in 
the  subsidy  roll  of  1296. 


West  Chirton  Subsidy 

Roll, 

1296. 

i 

s. 

d. 

S. 

d. 

Summa  bonoium  Gilberli  filii  Serlonis    ... 

I 

3 

10 

unde   regi 

2 

2 

)) 

VValteri  Pyntel 

I 

18 

0 

») 

3 

5^ 

)» 

Alani  filii  Roberti 

0 

'3 

7 

»» 

I 

2| 

»> 

Henrici  filii  Radulphi 

I 

3 

3 

)) 

2 

li 

}) 

Henrici  filii  Edmundi 

0 

•5 

4 

» 

I 

4i 

« 

Roberti  filii  Maryarete 

I 

16 

0 

)» 

3 

3i 

f) 

Roberti  de  Caldewell  ... 

0 

14 

6* 

»i 

I 

3l 

It 

Henrici  filii  Gilberti 

0 

19 

7 

ii 

I 

9i 

» 

Ricardi  filii  Matildis     ... 

I 

6 

-> 

i» 

2 

4i 

»» 

Willelmi  filii  Roberti    ... 

I 

5 

4 

»i 

2 

31 

jj 

Willelmi  filii  Nicholai 

0 

13 

4 

») 

I 

2i 

V 

Roberti  filii  Johannis 

I 

16 

6 

Ji 

3 

3I 

Summa 

hujus  ville,  /14  Ss.  sid.  ;  unde  domino  i 

egi 

Zi 

5s.  iiW.' 

These  were  the  customs  and  services  of  the  tenants  of  West  Chirton  : 

Each  tenant  holds  twenty-four  acres,  and  pays  yearly  one  mark  to  the  chamberlain  of  Tynemouth. 
He  shall  do  one  'boon-ere'  with  food,  and  'boon-harrow'  without  food.  He  shall  find  one  man  for  the 
prior's  great  boon-work  in  the  autumn.  If  required  to  cart  tithe-corn  to  his  house,  he  shall  have  his 
meal ;  that  is  to  say,  every  two  tenants  shall  have  fifteen  'swayn-laves,'  and  seven  and  a  half  jugs  of  ale, 
and  six  herrings.  If  he  does  not  cart  tithe-corn,  he  shall  go  to  the  harvest  with  the  servants  of  the  free 
men.  The  reeve  shall  attend  the  great  boon-work  in  person,  and  shall  have  food,  .^t  the  carting  of 
the  tithe-corn  he  shall  have  one  monk's  loaf  and  a  dish  (of  meat)  and  a  jug  of  good  ale. 

The  whole  township  pays  the  prior  half  a  mark  for  fourteen  acres  in  Flatford,  3s.  4d.  on  St. 
Barnabas'  Day  for  castle-ward  (and  the  reeve  who  brings  that  rent  shall  have  his  food),  3s.  at  Martinmas 
and  Whitsuntide  for  fine  of  court,  is.  3d.  at  Michaelmas  for  cornage,  one  mark  every  seven  years 
at  Easter  and  at  Christmas,  and  [    ]  for  twelve  acres  increment." 

The  bonds  of  West  Chirton  occupied  a  superior  position  to  their 
neighbours  in  East  and  Middle  Chirton.  They  were  free  from  week- 
work  and  from  payments  in  kind,  and  had  very  light  labour- services, 
their  position  comparing  favourably  in  this  respect  with  that  of  cus- 
tomary freeholders  elsewhere.  Yet  the  three  Chirtons  were  kindred 
communities,  and  so  wide  a  difference  between  their  customs  can  only 
be  due  to  the  different  influences  to  which  they  were  subjected  in  the 
impressionable  age  of  the  twelfth  and  first  half  of  the  thirteenth  century, 


'  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  ^K 


•  Tyncmoutli  Chartulury,  fols.  39  b  to  40. 


CHIRTON   TOWNSHIP.  339 

when  East  and  Middle  Chirton  belonged  to  the  prior  and  convent  of 
Tynemouth,  and  West  Chirton  formed  part  of  the  Hadston  barony. 
A  neighbouring  monastery  proved  a  harder  taskmaster  than  an  absentee 
lay  lord.' 

Communal  action  on  the  part  of  the  tenants,  noticeable  in  the  custumal, 
is  further  instanced  by  a  joint  lease  taken  in  1328  of  the  fishery  of  Sand- 
yare  in  the  Tyne.'  The  survey  of  1377  gives  the  additional  information 
that  the  payment  of  a  mark  made  every  seven  years  was  for  chevage  or 
'  hede-penys."  Fifteen  marks  continued  to  be  paid  to  the  chamberlain, 
and  various  small  sums,  amounting  in  all  to  i6s.  lod.,  went  to  the  prior. 
'  There  is  no  freehold  in  the  vill,'  the  surveyor  notes,  '  but  the  whole  is 
demesne,  leased  at  the  will  of  the  lord.'^ 

A  manorial  hall,  grange  and  mill  formed  the  nucleus  of  Flatworth 
demesne,^  to  which  the  fishery  of  Depe-yare  formed  an  appendage.      The 

'  If  further  proof  were  needed  that  the  sums  paid  for  castle  ward,  fine  of  court,  and  comage  were 
chargeable  upon  West  Chirton  before  William  Heron  conveyed  it  to  Tynemouth  priory,  it  is  to  be 
found  in  his  quit-claim,  to  which  allusion  is  made  in  an  agreement  between  Gilbert  Heron  and 
Mary,  widow  of  William  Heron,  dated  March  25th,  1299:  'Et  etiam  eadem  perdonat  ad  acquietan- 
dum  priorem  de  Tynemuth  et  Adam  de  Benton  de  iiijs.  et  quadrante  pro  warda  castri,  et  de  fine 
curiae  per  annum  duobus  solidis  et  septem  denariis,  et  de  duobus  solidis  et  uno  denario  de  cornagio, 
pro  tenementis  quae  idem  prior  et  Adam  tenent  in  Flatsworth,  Chirton,  et  Benton.'  Lansdounc  MSS. 
vol.  326,  fol.  45. 

"  Memorandum  quod  frater  Ricardus,  prior  de  Tynemuth,  dimisit  tenentibus  suis  de  West  Chirton 
piscariam  in  aqua  de  Tyne  vocatam  Sand-yare,  a  festo  sancti  Martini  in  yeme,  a.d.  1337.  usque  ad  finem 
trium  annorum,  etc.,  reddendo  inde  per  annum  dicto  priori  viginti  solidos  ad  festa  annunciacionis  beate 
Marie  et  sancti  Petri  ad  vincula  perequales  porciones.     Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  173. 

'  Head-pennies  formed  the  subject  of  the  following  petition  presented  to  parliament  in  1444 : 
Please  it  to  the  full  wise  and  discrete  communes  of  yis  present  parlement  to  considre,  yat  where  the 
kynge's  poure  communes,  and  his  true  liegemen  of  his  countee  of  Northumberland,  longe  tyme  hath 
ben  oppressed  and  over-charged  by  sherytTs  of  the  saide  countee  for  the  tyme  beyng  arrezyng  and 
makyng  levee  of  theire  goodes  and  catalles,  to  the  somme  of  Ix''  and  more,  called  Hede-penys,  twyes  in 
vii  yere  ;  that  is  to  sey,  every  thirde  yere  and  every  forthe  yere,  to  theire  owen  propre  availle,  withoute 
ony  accompt  profite  or  avayll  unto  oure  soveraigne  lorde  the  kyng,  and  withoute  ony  lawful!  cause  or 
grounde,  but  of  theire  grcte  extortion  ;  ye  which  causeth  divers  men  for  to  l.iboure  and  spctide  grete 
godes  to  be  sheryff  when  the  seid  ycrcs  comes,  to  the  more  and  gretter  oppression  of  the  seidc  poure 
commimes.  Wherfore  please  it  to  your  right  wise  discretions  to  considre  yat  oure  saide  soverayn  lorde 
hath  none  availl  of  the  same  Hede-penes  ;  and  how  the  seide  shire  of  Northumberland  is  marchyng  to 
the  Scottes,  the  kynge's  encmyes.  and  with  thaim  the  seid  liegemen  ben  dailly  troubled  and  deseased, 
wherthurgh  they  are  contynuelly  enpovered  ;  and  ycreupon  to  pray  oure  saide  soveraigne  lord  the  kyng, 
yat  he  by  y'assent  of  his  lordes  spirituell  and  tempore!!  in  this  present  parlement  assemblid,  and  by 
auctorite  of  the  same  parlement,  to  ordeine  and  graunte  that  the  said  colect  of  the  saide  Hede-penes 
may  be  utterly  put  awaye  for  evermore,  notwiihstondyng  ony  use  or  custume  into  the  contrare,  under 
peine  of  c''  to  be  paide  that  one  half  ycreof  to  the  kyng,  and  that  other  half  yerof  to  the  partie  that  sueth 
the  forfaiture  agenst  the  shcrryff.  this  ordenaunce  to  beginne  at  the  fest  of  the  Nativite  of  Seint  John 
Baptiste,  that  shall  be  in  tlie  yere  of  our  Lord  MCCCCXLVI.  Rotuli  Purliamcntarii,  vol.  v.  pp.  107-108. 
This  petition  was  embodied  in  the  statute  23  Henry  \T.  cap.  7,  sect.  6. 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  52  and  59  b. 

'  The  townships  of  East  Chirton,  Preston,  Wliitley,  Monkscaton,  Backworth,  and  Elswick  were 
chargeable  for  the  timber  of  Flatworth  mill,  and,  together  with  Middle  Chirton  and  Uissington,  paid  a 
yearly  rent  to  it  (miln-silver}.     Ibid.  fol.  67. 


340 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


fishery  was  farmed  out  on  short  terms  of  three  or  six  years,'  but  the 
demesne  land,  of  which  no  lease  is  recorded,  appears  to  have  been  kept 
in  the  prior's  hand. 

At  some  date  between  1377  and  1538  the  tenants  of  West  Chirton 
were  evicted,  and  their  lands  annexed  to  Flatworth.  The  tillage  was 
converted  into  cattle  pasture,  and  two  large  closes  were  formed,  namely, 
Howden  close  (200  acres),  and  the  pasture  lying  on  the  moor  (100  acres). 
Flatworth,  in  1538,   included  the   '  Rigg  '   meadow  of  sixty  acres,   and  the 


Coble  Dene. 


Fence  close  and  Marte  close,  each  containing  eighty  acres  of  arable.  The 
whole  was  leased  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton  and  afterwards  attached  to  the  cap- 
taincy of  Tynemouth  castle.^  A  memorandum,  drawn  up  in  1559,  states  that 
Flatworth  closes  '  may  continually  well  keep  two  thousand  sheep,  besides  as 

'  Presens  indentuia  testatur  quod  dominus  Ricardus,  prior  de  Tyneniuth,  concessit  et  ad  firmam 
dimisit  Johanni  filio  Johannis  Scot  de  Novo  Castro  super  Tynaiii,  Rogero  Mathewson,  et  Roberto  Fader 
de  Pipewelf^ate  juxta  Catcsheved,  totam  illam  piscariam  que  vocatur  le  Depe,  juxta  Flatford,  a  festo 
purificationis  beate  Marie  virjjinis,  A. I).  1328,  usque  ad  teniiinum  sex  annoruni  pro.xiine  sequentium 
plenarie  complelorum,  reddendo  inde  annuatim  dicto  domino  priori  et  successoribus  suis  viginti  sex 
solidos  et  octo  dcnarios,  et  duos  salmones  in  quadragesima,  etc.  Datum  apiid  Tynemuth,  die  et  anno 
supradictis.  Et  sciendum  quod  solveliantur  pro  ingressu  ])re  manibus  quadraginta  solidi,  preter  annuam 
firmam  quadraginta  solidorum  predictam.     Ibid.  fol.  159  b.     Cp.  fols.  162  b,  170  b,  173. 

■  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  216. 


CHIRTON    TOWNSHIP.  34 1 

many  beeves  and  muttons  as  a  baron  can  conveniently  spend  in  a  year  on 
his  house,  and  may  very  well  also  keep  ten  geldings  and  sixty  milch  kine.'' 

The  salt-pans  in  the  lands  and  wastes  between  Dortwick  and  Coble 
dene  were  conveyed  by  the  Crown  on  October  7th,  16 10,  to  George  Salter, 
and  in  1631  a  similar  grant  of  the  granges  and  closes  of  West  Chirton  and 
Flatworth,  and  the  coal  mines  in  Flatworth  fields,  was  made  to  William 
Collins  and  Edward  Fenn,  from  whom  the  property  passed  to  Algernon, 
tenth  earl  of  Northumberland.^  The  demesnes  have  continued  in  the 
possession  of  the  Percy  family,  by  whom  they  were  leased  for  terms  of 
twenty-one  years^  until  1756,  when  they  were  divided  up  into  nine  separate 
farms.  A  survey,  taken  in  1655,  shows  that  Flatworth  then  contained  466 
acres  of  pasture  and  404  acres  of  meadow  and  arable  land.'* 

The  industrial  exploitation  of  this  district  dates  from  1 799,  when  Percy 
Main  colliery  was  won.^  Waggonways,  run  down  to  Whitehill  Point  and 
Hayhole,  opened  up  a  large  colliery  area."  The  modern  village  of  Percy 
Main  was  built,  and  the  old  names  of  Flatworth  and  West  Chirton  became 
almost  forgotten.  The  river  front  was  further  utilised  by  the  formation 
of  docks.  In  1857,  the  Northumberland  docks  were  opened,  having  been 
constructed  by  the  Tyne  Commissioners  under  powers  conferred  on  them 
by  the  Tyne  Improvement  Act  of  1852.  As  far  back  as  1798,  schemes  had 
been  brought  forward  for  making  a  dock  at  Coble  dene.'  This  project, 
several  times  unsuccessfully  renewed,  was  finally  sanctioned  by  the  Tyne 
Improvement  Act  of  1877,  and  executed  in  1884,  the  new  works  being 
opened  bv  the  present  king  and  named  the  Albert  Edward  dock." 

.    '  Ciil.  state  Papers,  Foreign,  1559-1560,  p.  279.  ■  Gibson,  Tynemuuth,  vol.  i.  pp.  241,  243. 

Among  the  lessees  of  Fl.itworth  dcsmesnes  in  the  seventeenth  century  was  Sir  Nicholas  Tempest, 
who  appears  to  have  made  Flatworth  his  residence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  family  of  Tempest  of 
Thornley  in  the  county  of  Durliani,  and  was  sherirt' of  Newcastle  in  1620.  Dying  in  1656,  he  was  buried 
in  -St.  Nicholas',  Newcastle,  on  .September  i6ih  of  that  year.  His  son,  Richard  Tempest,  who  was 
admitted  free  of  the  Merchant  Company  of  Newcastle,  on  July  4th,  1667,  died  on  August  15th,  1671 
(Uendy,  Merchant  Adventurers,  vol.  ii.  p.  2S1),  having  by  a  nuncupative  will  appointed  William  Carr,  son 
of  William  Carr,  late  mayor  of  Newcastle,  his  sole  leg.atee  (Surtces,  Durham,  vol.  ii.  p.  275).  In  170S 
Robert  .\llgood  took  a  lease  of  the  demesnes,  and  renewed  the  s.ame  in  1729  ^Uuke  of  Northumber- 
land's MSS.).  In  the  Neurastle  Courant,  February  20tli,  1714,  occurs  the  advertisement  :  "To  let.  Low 
Flatworth  and  brick-kilns  and  lime-kilns.  .Apply  to  Robert  .JLllgood,  esq.,  of  Low  Flatworth,  near 
Howden  Pans.'  '  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  See  above,  pp.  22,  25-26. 

»A  waggonway  h.-id  been  laid  from  Sliire  Moor  colliery  to  Whitehill  Point  in  1764,  and  branches 
connecting  it  with  Percy  Main  and  liackworth  collieries  were  formed  respectively  in  1799  and  iSlS. 
In  1825/6  the  Cramlington  railway  was  laid  to  Hayhole. 

■  In  1733  Thomas  IJurdon  took  a  lease  of  Coble  dene  for  twenty-one  years  'with  an  intent  of 
inclosing  it  by  a  wall  from  the  river,  in  order  to  h.ive  made  a  ballast  key  ;  but,  as  the  coriioration 
of  Newcastle  claim  the  sole  right  as  conservators  of  the  river  to  have  the  carrying  and  layinj;  all  ballast, 
he  was  never  able  to  inclose  it.'     Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

"  The  history  of  the  formation  of  these  docks  is  detailed   by  Guthrie,   The  River  Tyne,  and   by 
Johnson,  Tlie  Making  0/  the  River  Tyne. 


342 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


PRESTON  TOWNSHIP. 


Preston  is  a  township  of  646  acres  lying  between  Tyneniouth  on  the 
east  and  Chirton  on  the  west.  Albion  Street  forms  its  southern  boundary. 
On  the  north-west  it  ran  up  into  Shire  Moor,  ninety- four  acres  being 
anne.xed  to  the  township  upon  the  enclosure  of  the  moor  in  1788.  Rake 
Lane  on  the  north,  and  Marden  burn  on  the  north-east,  divide  Preston 
from  Monkseaton  township.      The  population  in    1901   totalled  3,337.' 

Preston,  which  was  confirmed  by  Henry  I.  to  the  prior  and  convent 
of  Tynemouth  not  later  than  11 16,-'  formed  a  separate  manor,  though  its 
two  carucates  of  demesne  were  worked  in  common  with  the  demesne  land 
in  Tynemouth.  In  1292  these  were  computed  to  be  each  worth  £\  7s. 
yearly.  The  convent  was  also  in  receipt  of  a  money  rent  of  £\  4s.  3d. 
and  of  37I  quarters  of  barley-malt,  priced  at  2s.  6d.  the  quarter.'  The  frag- 
mentary tallage  roll  for   1294  is  as  follows: 

Preston  Tallage  Roll,  1294. 

s.      d.  i       s.      d. 

De  Johannc  niolendinario       

Uc  (iilbcrto  Ayr  

De  Koberto  Scorht 

De  Koberto  Silvermoth  

De  Willelmo  Gray  cum  soc[iis,  lenenti- 

bus  liberje  terre       ...  De  Willelmo  Averai  070 

De  Matilda  de  Morton  ...  De  Henrico  longo     100 

De  Willelmo  Rikelot ...  [Del  Emma  vidua o  16     o 

De  Willelmo  Chirton,  totario 
De  Serlone  de  eadem  ... 

The  bondage  land  of  Preston  was  measured  in  1294,  and  found  to 
contain  279  acres.  It  was  divided  into  seven  full  holdings  of  thirty-six 
acres  each,  and  one  half  holding  of  eighteen  acres,  leaving  a  surplusage 
of  nine  acres,  for  which  rent  was  paid.^  Fuller  information  is  given  in 
the  custumal.  The  services  of  the  bonds  are  identical  with  those  of  East 
and    Middle    Chirton  ;    they    are    set    out    in    great    detail,    and    have    been 

'Population  statistics  are:    1801,  431;   181 1,  445;   1821,  627;    1831,  765;   1841,  giy  ;    1851,  983; 
1861,1,456;  1871,1,593;   1881,1,707;  1891,2,178;  1901,  3>337- 

-■  See  above,  page  55  (13).  '  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  54.  '  St.  Alban's  Kegiitfy,  fol.  109b. 

'  Tynemouth  ChariuUiry,  fol.  7  b. 


1 1     0 

De  Rogero  filio  [Juliane]     

5    0 

De  Roberto  Chirton  pro  terra  [sua 

0    8 

in  pas]tura  de  Preston 

De    Roberto     Bateman    pro    libera 

terra  at  aliis  ...             

De  Willelmo  Averai             

De  Henrico  longo     

[De]  Emma  vidua 

De    Adam    Silvermoth     pro    tercia 

fyn 

Summa 

£ 

5 

5S.     2d.' 

PRESTON   TOWNSHIP.  343 

already  quoted  at  length  in  the  account  of  Tynemouthshire.'  The  half- 
holding  was  worked  by  Robert  Bateman,  who  also  held  free  land.  These 
eight  bonds  reappear  in  the  subsidy-roll  of  1296. 


Preston  Subsidy 

Roi.l., 

1296. 

£ 

s. 

a. 

S. 

d. 

a  bonoium  Robert!  Bateman 

2 

3 

6 

und 

e 

regi 

3 

iiA 

„               Willelmi  filii  Averiay  ... 

I 

15 

0 

3 

4 

„                 Henrici  Long 

2 

12 

10 

4 

9l 

„               Willelmi  Punder 

-> 

II 

4 

4 

8 

„               Johannis  molendinarii 

I 

10 

2 

2 

9 

„                 Matildis  de  Morton      ... 

I 

'9 

5 

3 

7 

„               Willelmi  Rikelot 

I 

10 

8 

2 

9j 

„               Willelmi  filii  Johannis 

I 

16 

0 

3 

3i 

Sumnia  hujus  ville,  £is  iSs.  iid.  ;  unde  dom 

ino 

regi,  £i 

1  9s. 

s 

There  were  five  freeholders,  namely,  (i)  Gilbert  Air,  holding  thirty 
acres,  rent  4s. ;  (2)  Roger  Nades,  holding  eighteen  acres,  rent  3s. ;  (3)  Robert 
de  Chirton  (also  a  freeholder  in  East  Chirton),  holding  eighteen  acres, 
rent  3s.  ;  (4)  Roger,  son  of  Juliana,  holding  twenty  acres,  rent  4s. ;  (5) 
Robert  Bateman,  holding  fifteen  acres,  rent  5s.  4d.  Each  held  a  toft  in 
addition  to  their  land  in  the  fields.  Their  services  may  be  summarised 
as  follow : 

Each  freeholder  pays  a  money-rent  for  his  holding,  and  also  half  a  quarter  of  barley-malt  and  half  a 
quarter  of  oats.  He  pays  lid.  for  milne-silver  and  9jd.  for  abbot-scot.  He  does  one  day's  boon-ere 
and  one  day's  boon-harrow,  and  has  food  for  his  plough  but  not  for  his  harrow.  Every  week  in  the 
autumn,  from  the  time  when  they  begin  to  reap  until  the  time  when  they  finish,  he  works  for  two  days  and 
employs  a  man  to  work  with  him,  and  he  shall  have  food  and  '  binding-bund.'  If  the  weather  prevents 
him  from  performing  his  work  for  the  space  of  one  week,  it  is  not  carried  over  to  the  next.  He  shall 
cart  his  '  in-lade '  in  the  field  of  Tynemouth  once  in  the  autumn  without  receiving  food  or  sheaf,  and 
shall  cart  one  load  from  Neusum  (namely,  three  thraves  of  wheat,  or  four  thraves  of  barley,  or  five 
thraves  of  oats),  and  shall  have  food  and  one  sheaf.  He  gives  merchet  and  leyr-wite  for  his  daughters. 
He  does  suit  to  the  prior's  '  hall,'  does  suit  to  the  prior's  mill  at  the  thirteenth  dish,  carts  millstones  from 
Slaley,  and  herds  beasts  that  are  taken  by  way  of  distraint,  for  which  last  service  he  shall  have  food.' 

Robert  Silvermouth,  who  held  a  toft  and  si.\  acres  at  a  shilling  rent, 
and  Roger  Belle,  who  held  a  toft  and  sixteen  acres,  rent  is.  4d.,  seem  to 
be  classed  in  this  custumal  as  '  selfodes.'  Their  only  services  were  three 
days'  work  in  the  autumn  and  three  suits  yearly  to  the  prior's  free  court. 
The  list  of  tenants  ends  with  the  names  of  nine  cottagers  :  William 
Patadoille,  holding  five  acres,  rent  lod. ;  Ralph  Thirnyn,  holding  one  acre 

'  See  above,  page  223.  '  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  ^^. 

'  Robert  Bateman  renders  double  the  usual  quantity  of  corn-rent,  and  reaps  every  week  in  th? 
autumn  for  four  days  instead  of  two. 


344 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


and  a  half,  rent  is.  4d. ;  Roger  Scot  and  Roger  Boyt,  holding  one  acre  each, 
rent  4d.  each;  Nicholas  de  la  Haye,  holding  one  acre,  rent  i^d. ;  Bolt's 
daughters,  holding  two-thirds  of  an  acre,  rent  3d.  ;  Robert  Short,  holding 
a  half-acre,  rent  3|d.  ;  Alan  de  Boldon  and  Robert,  son  of  William,  son 
of  Gilbert,  holding  a  half-acre  each,  rent  2d.  each.' 

In  this  way  the  total  of  413!  acres  is  reached,  held  as  arable  or  meadow 
by  tenants  of  varying  status,  and,  as  there  were  roughly  two  carucates  of 
demesne  in  addition,  it  follows  that  the  whole  township  was  under  corn 
or  hay  cultivation.  There  was  no  need  for  a  common  pasture  ;  that  could 
be  found  upon  the  neighbouring  moor. 

In  Preston,  as  in  the  other  townships,  the  priors  of  Tynemouth  carried 
out  a  piecemeal  purchase  of  the  freehold  land.'  The  survey  of  1377  notes 
that  a  twelftli  of  the  land  let  out  at  the  lord's  will  was  once  free.  There 
were  still  eight  bonds,  paying  a  total  rent  of  £\  i8s.  i^d.,  while  17s.  7d. 
was  received  from  free  men  and  cottagers.^  During  the  fifteenth  century, 
the  quantity  of  land  held  in  tenant-right  remained  fairly  constant.  On  the 
other  hand  nearly  two  hundred  acres  of  original  demesne  and  of  subsequently 
acquired  freehold  were  converted  into  pasture.  It  appears  probable  that  a 
delimitation  of  the  township  took  place,  the  tenants  receiving  an  allotment 
of  strips  in  the  North  and  West  fields,  while  the  South  field  was  turned  into 
pasture  and  equal  grazing  rights  over  it  were  assigned  by  the  prior  and 
convent  to  the  customary  tenants.  The  demesne  farm  was  abandoned  ;  the 
garth  of  the  manor-house  at  the  east  end  of  the  village  was  leased  to  the 
tenants,  and  its  origin  was  so  completely  forgotten  that  it  came  to  be  a 
disputed  point  whether  the  hall -garth  lay  in  Tynemouth  or  in  Preston 
township.'* 

By  the  year  1538  the  number  of  tenants  at  will  had  declined  from  eight 
to  five.  Each  tenant  held  forty-five  acres  of  arable,  one  acre  of  meadow, 
and  pasture  for  six  oxen  in  the  ox  pasture,  and  for  six  cattle,  twenty  sheep 
and  two  horses  in  the  common  pasture.  The  rent  paid  for  a  husbandry 
holding  was  £  i  6s.  8d.  in  money,  four  quarters  of  barley  and  two  quarters 
of  oats,  8d.  for  the  tithe  of  hay,  and  4d.  for  pannage.  Two  cottages  and 
an  acre  of  land  were  farmed  separately  for  21s.  rent.       Rents  of  13s.  4d. 

'  Tynemouth  Chartidary,  fols.  36  b  to  38.  -'  See  above,  pages  1 15-1 17. 

'  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fols.  52  b  and  60. 

*  See  a  case   heard   in   the   Court  of  Exchequer  in   1591    with  regard   to  this  point;   Exchtipier 
Repositions,  Mich.  33-34  Ehz.  No,  20, 


22 

o  31 

8 

3     o 

39 

>     3 

265 

o    o 

335 

o  34 

PRESTON   TOWNSHIP.  3415 

and  four  quarters  of  wlieat  respectively  were  paid  by  the  five  husbandry 
tenants  in  common  for  the  herbage  of  the  pasture  called  the  Hall  garth 
and   of  lliirty-five   acres   of  arable   called  the  Well   flat.' 

The  common  field  svstem  lasted  in  Preston  until  1649.  I"  ^^at  year 
the  meadow  and  arable  lands  within  the  township  were  enclosed.  They 
totalled  337  acres  31  perches,  and  included  the  North  field  (ieS3a.  2r.), 
the  West  field  (137a.  ir.),  and  the  Miller's  leazes  (r6a.  ir.  3ip.).'  A 
terrier  was  compiled/^  and  the  lands  in  question  were  found  to  contain  : 

a.      r.      p. 

Ri^'s  belonging  to  Tynemoiitli  but  lying  in  Preston  fields,  loa.  or.  4p.  ;  ditto  belonging  to 
Monkseaton,  8a.  3r.  5p.  ;  part  of  Robert  Otway's  Tynemouth  farm  lying  in  Preston, 
3a.  ir.  23p.  ;  total 

Highways 

Robert  .Spearman's  freehold,  10a.  3r.  I  p.  ;  Mr.  George  Milbourne's  freehold,  9a.  3r.  gp.  ;  Mr. 
Ralph  Grey's  freehold,  3a.  2r.  lyp.  ;  Robert  Otway's  freehold,  15a.  or.  i6p.  :  total 

Five  farms  containing  53  acres  each,  namely,  Michael  Spearman,  one  farm  ;  Mr.  Ralph 
Grey,  one  farm  ;  Robert  Otway,  three  farms  ;  total 

.Sum  total 

Two  acres  were,  so  to  speak,  lost  in  the  division.  After  making  the 
necessary  abatements  and  allotment  of  lands  to  freeholders,  the  remaining 
265  acres  were  divided  into  five  farms  of  equal  value,  for  which  lots  were 
cast  by  the  copyhold  tenants.  The  normal  acreage  of  a  farm  was  taken 
at  fiftv-three  acres,  but  in  each  case  certain  additions  or  deductions  were 
made  by  reason  of  their  several  qualities  and  conveniences.  Thus  Robert 
Otway  took  the  East,  Middle  and  West  farms  (153a.  or.  31  p.)  ;  Michael 
Spearman  received  the  Marsh  farm  (56a.  ir.  4p.),  and  Mr.  Ralph  Grey 
took  the  farm  next  the  Rake  (55a.  2r.  5p.).  The  o.\  pasture  and 
common  pasture  probably  remained  unenclosed  for  another  half-century. 
All  these  farms  are  now  the  property  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland. 
Preston  Grange  farm,  which  may  be  identified  with  the  Marsh  farm,  was 
sold  in  1808  by  Ralph  Spearman  of  Eachwick  to  John  Burrell  of  Witton 
Gilbert,  in  the  county  of  Durham,  who  resold  in  1844  to  Richard  Fenwick. 
It  was  purchased  from  Mr.  Fenwick  by  the  duke  of  Northumberland  in 
1852.  The  Rake  House  farm  was  purchased  in  1822  upon  the  sale  of  the 
Backworth  estate.  Preston  farm  and  White  House  farm  represent  the  land 
allotted  in  1649  to  Robert  Otway. 

'  Ministers'  Accounts  of  1538.  printed  in  Gibson,  Tyncmoiilli,  vol.  i.  p.  220.  Supplementary  details 
are  given  in  a  survey  of  1608  ;  Lund  RiVt-niit-  Surveys,  miscell.  books,  vol.  223,  fols.  295-298. 

-  The  meadow  close,  known  as  the  Miller's  le.azes,  now  forms  part  of  Billy  Mill  farm,  and  is  owned 
by  the  Collingwood  family.  '  Printed  in  Arch.  Ael.  2nd  series,  vol.  xii.  pp.  172-190. 

Vol.  VIII,  44 


346 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Otway  of  Preston. 

I.  Thomas  Otway  of  Preston,  married,  November  l8th,  1610,  Elizabeth  Mills  ;  will  dated 
November  17th,  1634  :  died  seised  of  a  tenement  in  Preston  and  a  tenement  in  Rackworth  ;  buried  in 
Tynemouth  parish  church,  [December]  6th,  1634.  He  had  issue  (i)  Robert,  died  in  infancy;  (2)  Robert 
(II.)  ;  (3)  Thomas  Otway  of  the  .Sandgate,  Newcastle,  ship  carpenter,  baptised  .September  14th,  1617  ; 
and  had  two  sons,  Gilbert  and  Roger  (IV.)  ;  (4)  John  Otway  of  the  Sandgate,  Newcastle,  master  and 
mariner,  baptised  March  26th,  1627  [buried  at  Newcastle,  May  21st,  169S],  left  issue  a  son,  John  Otway, 
who  died  in  the  West  Indies,  April,  1705,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth  Reed,  who  was  living  a  widow, 
January  iSth,  1706/7  ;  (5)  Gilbert  Otway  of  Newcastle,  merchant,  baptised  May  31st,  1631  ;  apprenticed 
December  ist,  1647,  to  Samuel  Cock  of  Newcastle,  boothman  ;  admitted  free  of  the  Merchants' 
Company,  September  ist,  1656;  died  May  27th,  1681,  leaving  issue  a  son,  John  Otway,  who  was 
admitted  free  of  the  Merchants'  Company  by  patrimony,  March  21st,  1678,  and  died  without  issue  circa 
1697  :  (6-9)  four  daughters. 

II.  Robert  Otway  of  Preston,  baptised  May  14th,  161 5  ;  was  admitted  to  his  father's  lands  in 
Preston  and  Backworth,  April  3rd,  1635  ;  buried  in  Tynemouth  church,  March  3rd,  1666/7.  He  was 
three  times  married,  but  had  issue  only  by  his  first  wife,  namely,  two  sons,  Thomas  (HI.)  and  Matthew 
who  died  without  issue,  and  five  daughters. 

III.  Thomas  Otway  of  Preston,  baptised  August  23rd,  1644  ;  was  admitted  to  his  father's  lands  in 
Preston,  April  8th,  1667  ;  married  March  17th,  1679/80,  Susanna,  daughter  of  Edward  Toll  of  North 
Shields.  She  married,  secondly,  John  Snowden,  and  died  in  1699.  Thomas  Otway  made  his  will.  May 
22nd,  1696,  and  died  without  issue,  being  buried  November  29th,  1696.     He  was  succeeded  by  his  cousin. 

IV.  Roger  Otway  of  Preston,  son  of  Thomas  Otway  of  the  .Sandgate,  married  Barbara,  widow  of 
John  CoUingwood  ;  will  dated  January  iSth,  1702/3,  proved  1704.  He  left  an  only  daughter,  but  had  no 
heirs  male.' 

'  Based  on  the  duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.,  Tynemouth  Re^isto's,  wills  in  the  Durham  Probate 
Registry,  and  Dendy,  Merchant  Adventurers. 


SPEARMAN     OF     PRESTON. 

Arms  :  Azure,  a  chevron  ermine  between  three  broken  spears  erect  or,  headed  argent.     Granted  to  Ralph  Spearman 
of  Eachwick  ;  cf.  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  i.  p.  94. 

Thomas  Spearman,  a  juror  at  Tynemouth  Manor  Court,  October,  1 561  (((). 
George  Spearman,  a  copyholder  in  North  Shields  circa  1565  (i). 


Robert  Spearman,  in  1608,  held  lands  in  Preston  by  copy  of  court  roll  ^ 
dated  October,  1601,  and  a  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (/). 


:  [Alice,  daughter  of  John  Brown  (.^),  '  lieutenant- 
governor  of  Tynemouth  castle.'] 


Margaret,  widow  of =  Michael    Spearman    of    Preston,   to    whom  =  Alice    [daughter    of  Thomas    Horner   of   the 

"   "        "  "  '  -       .  .      -  Glass-houses,    Newcastle,    and    widow    of] 

Morton,  married  I4ih  December,  1649  (a)  ; 
had  lands  in  Tynemouth  by  grant  from  her 
father,  6lh  January,  1662  ;  buried  in  Tyne- 
mouth church,  1 8th  March,  1665/6  (n). 


Mills  of  Monkseaton, 
and  daughter  of  John 
Fenwick  of  Morpeth 
(^);  buried  19th  June, 
1649  («) 


Robert  Potts,  circa  1622,  surrendered  lands 
there  (/;)  ;  rated  for  the  same  in  1663  ;  buried 
13th  December,  1679  (a);  administration  of 
his  personal  estate,  Ist  May,  1691,  committed 
to  Anne,  his  third  wife  and  his  widow  (/). 


Thomas  Spearman  of  Preston  («),  admit-  =  Margaret,     daughter 


led  to  lands  in  East  Chirton,  circa 
1622,  on  surrender  of  Bertram  Mitford 
(Ji)  \  died  before  .April,  1 649  (/<) ;  [buried 
15th  December,  1631  (")]. 


of  John  Atkinson  of 
Cleadon  (^),  mar- 
ried 1 6th  Novem- 
ber, 1620  (a). 


[.Agnes,  married  Thomas  Otway  of  Preston  (j?).] 
[Jane,  baptised  12th  December,  1600;    married 

Middleton  of  North  Shields  (^).] 

[Isabel,  baptised  2nd  December,  1607  ;  married 

John  Butler  of  Chirton  f^).] 


Robert  Spearman,  son  and  heir,  baptised  7th  October,   1621  (a)  ;  admitted  to  his  father's  lands  in  East  Other 

Chirton  and  Preston,  April,  1649  (b).    \  issue. 

From  whom  Spearman  of  Thomley,  co.  Durham. 


PRESTON    TOWNSHIP. 


347 


Edward  Spearman  of  Preston,  bap-  =  Anne,  daughter 


tised  6th  April,  1629  (a)  ;  admitted 
to  his  father's  lands,  4lh  April,  1680 
(/')  ;  buried  26th  December,  1690 
(rt)  ;  administration  of  his  personal 
estate,  28th  Kebrimry,  i6gi/2,  com- 
mitted to  Anne,  his  widow  (/"). 


of  James  Per- 
kins, married 
4lh  May,  1663 
(«)  (/5)  ;  buried 
25th  July, 
1695  («). 


I      I      I      I      I 
Robert,  baptised  13th  Nov.,  1636  (a). 
Ralph,  baptised  1 2th  August,  1638  (a). 
Michael,  baptised  3rd  Nov.,  1642  («). 
John,  baptised  l6th  .May,  1644  (a). 
John  Spearman  of  .Newcastle,  attorney, 

baptised  28th  January,  1646/7  (a)  ; 

died  1686  S.6.  (^). 


I     I 

Elizabeth,  baptised  2tst 
.August,  1631  (a);  mar- 
ried John  Hall  (^). 

Grace,  baptised  20lh  .\pril, 
1634  (a)  ;  married  Ralph 
Billington  of  Birtley,  co. 
Durham  {g). 


I     1     I     I     I     I     1 
Michael,    baptised    22nd    December, 

1663  (a). 
Robert,     baptised       29th       January, 

1666,7    (a)  ;     buried    l6th    March, 

1674/5  («)• 
Edward,  baptised  8th  July,  1669  (a)  ; 

buried  19th  .March,  1686/7  (")• 
Delaval,  baptised  ilth  .March,  1672/3 

(a)  ;  lieutenant  R..\.  ;  killed  at  La 

Hogue,  19th  May,  1692  {g). 
John,  baptised  2nd  .May,    1676  (a)  ; 

buried  30th  May,  1677  (n). 
Edward,     baptised     3rd      February, 

167980  (a). 
John  Spearman  of  Preston,  baptised 

gth    January,    1682/3    (a)  ;    buried 

2nd  September,  1702  (a)  ;  will  dated 

9th  .August,  1702  (a). 


Philip  Spearman  of  Pres- : 
ton,  afterwards  of  Birt- 
ley, CO.  Durham,  bap- 
tised 31st  March,  1685 
(a);  apprenticed  I2th 
August,  1701,  to  John 
Grey  of  Newcastle,  bar- 
ber surgeon  ;  as  eldest 
surviving  son,  was  ad- 
mitted to  his  father's 
lands,  l6th  .April,  1706 
(i)  ;  surrendered  lands 
at  Preston  in  17 15  and 
1 7 16  to  the  use  ol  various 
individuals(^);  buriedat 
Chester-le-Street,  .April, 
17 iS  (^) ;  will  dated 
26th  March,  1718  (J"). 


I     I     I     I      I     I     L   I 
Jane,  daugli-      Thomas,  baptised  7th  Septemljer,   1686 
ter  of  James         (a);  buried  iSth  .November,  1687  fa). 
Burfield     of      George,  b-apiised   24th   January,    1687/8 
Wallsend,         (a)  ;  died  at  Preston  ;  buried  in  Christ 
bondof  mar-         Church, Tynemouth, 2nd  July,  1714(a). 
riage,     25th      [.\nne,  born  at  Monkseaton ;    baptised 
Aug.,  1703;         8th  May,  1665  (a)]. 
married26th      .Margaret,  baptised  24th  January,  1670/I 
Aug.,    1703         (a);   [buried  under  the  name  of  Maiy, 
(</);     died         6th  June,  1673  (a)  ]. 
circa  1 746.       Elizabeth,  baptised  22nd  September,  1674 
(a)  ;  buried  7th  June,  167;  (a). 
Margaret,  baptised  26th  February,  1677/8 
(a)  ;    married,  28th   .November,    1695, 
Thomas  Fenwick  (a)  {g). 
.Anne,  baptised  3rd  .May,  1681  (a). 
Dorothy,  baptised  22n(J  January,  1683  4 
(a)  ;  buried  17th  February,  1694/3  (a). 


111., 
Edward,  baptised 

yth    October, 

1704(a);  buried 

20th  November, 

1705(a). 

James,    died    s.p. 

John,     died     s.p. 
ig)- 


Eleanor,  daugh- : 
ter  of  Edward 
Anderson     of 
Newcastle 

is)- 


I 
George  Spearman  of 
Preston  and,  jure  ux- 
oris,  of  Eachwick, 
burn  lOlh  June, 
'71°  (.f);  buried  4th 
November,  1753  ('); 
will  dated  1 6th  Oc- 
tober, 1753 ;  proved 
1758  (/)• 


Elizabeth,  widow  of  William 
Potter  of  Hawkwell,  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  Bell  of 
Eachwick,  and  sister  and 
co-heir  of  Edward  Bell  of 
the  same  place  (c)  (jf) ; 
married  October,  1748  ;  died 
14th  April,  1792,  aged  69 
(0- 


Jaques  Spearman,  clerk  in 
orders,  of  Peterhousc,  Cam- 
bridge ig);  B..A.,  1734; 
died  s./>.,  1745  (<e)- 

Anne,  married  James  Walker 
of  Newcastle  (,e) ;  an 
executrix  of  her  brother's 
will  (/)  ;  died  at  Each- 
wick, 24th  .May,  1778. 


Edward  Spearman  of  Preston,  son  and  heir,  died  I"eb- 

ruary,  1762:  buried  at  Ileddon-on-tlie-Wall  i g}. 
John,  named  in  his  father's  will  (/)  ;  died  s./>.  (^). 
Matthew,     named     in     his    father's    will    (y)  ;      died 

George,  named  in  his  fathers  will  (/)  ;  died  s.t>.  {g). 


Ralph  Spearman  of  Eachwick,  born  4th 
September,  1749  (O ;  named  in  his 
father's  will  (/)  ;  held  lands  at  Preston 
in  1790  (li)  ;  died  unmarried,  13th  July, 
1823,  aged  74;  buried  at  Heddon-on- 
the-\Va"ll  (c). 


I 


Mary, 
heir, 
.\lay, 
died 


sister 
born 

«75'    -  .  . 

unmarried. 
;6th  Feb.,  1827, 
aged  76  (•■). 


and 
iSth 

(O; 


(a)    Tytifmoulh  Registers. 

(^)    Tynemoulh  Court  Roll  ^nA  duke  of  Northumber- 
land's MSS. 
(c)    Arch.  Ael.  vol.  xi.  p.  267. 
(</)  Bolam  Register. 


(c)    St.  John's  Register,  .Newcastle. 
(_/)  Durham  Prolate  Registry, 
(g")  Surtees,  Durhitm,  vol.  i.  p.  94. 
(h)    South  Shields  Register. 
(/)    Land  Revenue  Survey,  1608. 


By  indenture,  dated  September  2nd,  1714,  the  heirs  of  Thomas  Otway 
conveyed  their  lands  in  Preston  to  John  Johnson  of  Bebside,  high  sheriff 
of  Northumberhmd  in  the  following  year,  who  was  succeeded  in  his  Preston 
property  by  his  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Fielding  of  Bebside. 
Charles  and  Mary  Fielding  sold  their  land  in  1758  to  Samuel  Lacy'  of 
North  Shields,  master  and  mariner.     His  grandson,  Samuel  Lacy  of  Kirk- 

'  See  Proc.  Soc.  Antiq.  Newcastle,  2nci  series,  vol.  ix.  p.  219,  for  an  account  of  the  L.icy  family. 


348 


TYNEMOtJTH    BOROUGH. 


Oswald  in  Cumberland,  sold  Preston  farm  (eighty  acres)  to  John  Scott 
in  1805,  and  White  House  farm  (123  acres)  to  Sir  David  Smith,  bart., 
in  1809.  In  1821,  Sir  David  Smith  resold  to  the  duke  of  Northumberland. 
In  1817,  Preston  farm  was  purchased  from  John  Scott  by  Thomas  Fenwick, 
whose  representatives  sold  it  to  Mr.  William  Davison  of  North  Shields 
in  1872,  and  in  1894  it  was  purchased  from  the  executors  of  Mr.  John 
Thomas  Davison  by  the  duke  of  Northumberland. 

The  chief  of  the  numerous  small  properties,  into  which  the  southern 
portion  of  the  township  was  formerly  divided,  comprised  lands  purchased 
in  18 14  by  John  Fenwick  of  Milburn  Place,  North  Shields.  Mr.  Fenwick's 
residence  of  Campville  was  built  on  part  of  this  property.  It  is  known 
as  the  Fenwick  Park  Estate,  and  has  been  laid  out  for  building  sites. 
A  namesake,  John  Fenwick  of  Dockwray  Square,  North  Shields,  bought 
lands  in  Preston  in  1818  from  Ralph  William  Grey  of  Backworth.  This 
property  includes  the  house  known  as  Preston  villa  and  grounds.  A  portion 
of  it  was  sold  in  1857  to  the  Tynemouth  Corporation  for  the  purpose  of 
making  the  Preston  cemetery. 


FENWICK    OF    PRESTON    AND    NORTH    SHIELDS. 

John  Fenwick  of  Tynemouth.  =  Sarah  Atkins,  married  1st  January,  1722  («)  ;  died  14th  May,  1795,  ■'g'^J  95  i^)- 


Milburn  Place,  Xorth    f     ders,married 


Thomas     Fenwick      of  =  Anne    Saun-         John       Fenwick  ==  Mary     Smith, 

married  29th 
January,  1 765 
(a)  ;  died 
31st  March, 
1830,  as;ed87 

(0- 


Shields,  baptised  13th 
April,  1724  (a)  ;  died 
25th  November,  1796, 
aged  73  (a)  (6)  ;  will 
dated  17  th  October, 
1796  ;  proved  at  Dur- 
ham, 4th  January, 
1797. 


5th  Decem- 
ber, 1767 
(a)  ;  died 
13th  Decem- 
ber, 1821, 
aged  90  (/5). 


of  Dockwray 
Square,  after- 
wards of  Pres- 
ton, executor 
of  the  will  of 
his  brother 
Thomas  ;  died 
3rd  June,  1822, 
aged  89  (rt)  CO-  ^ 


I      I      I      I      I      I      I 
Jane,  baptised   15th  August,   1726  (a); 

married,  1754,  F-dward  Hutchinson. 
Eleanor,  baptised   loth  November,  1728 

(a). 
Sarah,  baptised  8th  December,  1729  (a). 
Ann,  baptised  9th  October,  1732  (a). 
Eleanor,  baptised   2Sth  Jan.,  1737/8  (a)- 
Ann,  baptised  26lh  August,  174I  (a). 
Mary,    baptised    27th    January,     1743/4 

(a). 


Sarah  Jackson,  died  6th  =  Thomas  Fenwick  of  Milburn  Place,  North  Shields,  afterwards  of  =  Jane  Bell,  died 


September,  1805,  aged 
32  (i)- 


South  Preston,  bapt.  4th  Jan.,  1 77 1  (a")  ;  named  in  his  uncle's 
will ;  died  May,  i860,  aged  89  ;  will  dated  I3lh  Sept.,  1845. 


August,  1864, 
aged  72. 


i                                          '  I 

Thomas,  died  in  infancy  (//)  ;  Margaret,  baptised  4th  April,  1804  ; 

buried     20th     September,  married  3rd  March,   1827,  James 

1802  (a).  Eddowes  of  South  Shields. 


I 


John  William  Fenwick  of  North  : 
Shields  and  of  Preston,  bom 
1818. 


:  Isabella  Dale, 
married  1 8th 
October,  1853. 


Frederick  Bell  Fenwick. 
John  William  Fenwick. 


Thomas  Fenwick. 
Francis  Fenwick. 


Henry  Fenwick. 
Percy  Fenwick. 


I     I 
Isabel. 
Kate  Forster. 


John  Fenwick  of  Campvill  and  North  Shields,  bapt.  =  Elizabeth  Frank,  married  17th 
13th  September,  1773  (a);  named  in  his  father's  I  September,  1801  (a);  died  l8th 
will ;  died  4th  May,  1850  (a),  aged  76.  May,  1846,  aged  66  (i). 


.Mice,  baptised  15th  Novem- 
ber, 1768  (a)  ;  buried  7th 
November,  1769  (a). 


Pt?ESTON   TOWNSHIP. 
A 


349 


I    I 

Thomas,  bom  1804  ;  died  1807. 
Thomas,  born  agih  September, 
1819. 


John  Fenwick  of  London  and  of  Wimble-  =  Mary,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Fenwick  of 
don;  born  1812  ;    an  Elder  Brother  of  North  Shields,  married  27th  December, 


the  Trinity  House. 


1838. 


II! 

Anne,  born  24th  June,  1802  ;  married  2nd  June, 

1832,  Joseph  Lacy. 
Sarah,   born    2nd    March,    1804  ;    married,    1838, 

Joseph  Pollard  of  Newcastle. 
Elizabeth,  born   24lh  .April,   1806;     married  30th 

September,  1826,  John  C.  Stephenson. 


I     II     I     I 
Jane,  bom  7th  .April,  1810  ;  married  5th  April,  1851,  Joseph  Philipson. 
Emma,  baptised  2nd  May,  I.S17  ;  buried  1822. 
Clara,  baptised  2nd  May,   1S17  ;    married,  28th  .\pril,  1842,  Thomas 

Wallis. 
Alice,  baptised  4th  April,  1823  ;  married  26th  .August,  1845,  S.  J.  Dale. 
Ellen,  bom  20th  February,  1826. 


John  Fenwick  of  Dockwray  Square,  North  Shields,  afterwards  of  Preston,  a  younger  son  =  Mary  Sm.ith,  married  29th  Janu 
of  John  Fenwick  of  Tj-nemouth  by  Sarah  Atkins,  his  wife  ;  died  3rd  June,  :822,  aged 
89  (f)  ;  will  dated  2nd  May,  1816  ;  proved  at  Durham,  8th  July,  1822. 


ary,      1 765     (fl)  ;       died 
March,  1830,  aged  87  (c). 


3ISI 


John,      bap-  Cuthbert  Smith   Fenwick  of  Dockwray  =  Susanna,   daughter   of  William 

tised    1768  Square,  North  Shields,  afterwards  of          Mitcalfe,    married 

(n)  ;     died  Newcastle,  died  2nd  September,  1853,           1803;    died    31st 

1769(a).  aged  84  (0-                                                        aged  61  (0- 


I     I 


2 1st  .April, 
July,    1839, 


(«); 


John,    baptised     1775 

buried  1779  (a). 
Thomas,  baptised  1777  (a)  ; 

buried  1779  (a). 


I      I      I  I          . 
John  I-enwick,  baptised  25th  March,  1804  («).  Henry    1' en- 
William     Mitcalfe    Fenwick,    baptised     l6th  wick,  mar- 
November,  180S  ;   died  unmarried,  aged  32,  ried       S. 
4th  February,  1840  (c).  Hilton. 
Richard    Fenwick,    baptised    3rd    April,   181 1 
(a)  ;  died  1st  November,  1828  (a)  (c). 


I     I     I 


Margiiret,    baptised     l6th     November,     1805 ;     married 

Collingwood  Jackson. 
Mary,  baptised  1808  ;  died  in  infancy  (c). 
Susanna,     baptised     I2th     April,     1814  ;      marned     34th 

November,  1S47.  John  LiddcU  of  Benwcll. 
Marian,  married  Thomas  Harrison  of  Liverpool. 


I 


Richard  Fenwick  of  Dockwray  Square,  North  Shields,  baptised  20th  = 
September,  1779  (a)  ;  buried  22nd  May,  1867,  aged  88  (a). 


:  Amelia,    daughter   of  Samuel    Hurry,  married   9th 
December,  1826  (a)  ;  died  30th  September,  1887. 


I 


John  Richard  Fenwick  of  London,  solicitor,  =  M.  L.  C. 
born  l6th  October,  1827  ;  Inpiised  25th  |  Durant. 
June,  1S29  ;  died  14th  November,  1873.     -i, 


George      Fenwick,  =  Jane,  daughter  of  Michael  Mary,  bom 

bapt.  25th  March,    |      Robson  of  West  Chirton,  22nd  F'eb., 

1829  (a);    died  -i,     married  22nd  July,  1856  1832. 
20lh-July,  1892.              (a). 


Jane  Hop-  : 
per,  mar- 
ried 25th 
July,  I  Si  5 
(a)  ;  2nd 
wife. 


John  F'enwick  of  Dockwray  =  Maiy     .Anne     Eagleston, 


Square,  North  Shields, 
afterwards  of  Preston, 
baptised  I7tli  May,  1780 
(a);  died  I7lh  July, 
1851,  aged  74  (c). 


native  of  .America,  married 
161I1  July,  1S09,  at  Lunes- 
burg,  Nova  Scotia  ;  died 
nth  January,  1S12,  aged 
21  (a)  (c)  ;  first  wife. 


John  Fenwick  of  Preston  =  Anne    Emma,    dau.    of 


solicitor,  born  I7lh 
Nov.,  1809  ;  died  31st 
March,  1899. 


Henry  Mitcalfe,  mar 
ried  1840,  died  24th 
June,  1890. 


Charles  Morris,  died 
in  infancy,  9th 
.April,      1813     (a) 


III  ,.        ., 

John  Mowbray  Fenwick. 

Henry  Eagleston  Fenwick. 

George  Townsend  Fenwick. 


II 
Charles  Morris  1-enwick. 
Herbert  Fenwick. 


Jane,  baptised  3rd   .March,  1 767  (a);  married 

loth  .April,  1794,  James  Lyon  (.a). 
Sarah,  baptised  2nd  .May,   1771   (a);  married 

Henry    Shadforth,    then     of     Spiul-house, 

Tynemouth. 
Mary,   hiptised  27th  July,   1773  (a);    buried 

29th  July,  1779  (")• 
.Mary,  baptised  21st  .August,  17S2  (a)  ;  married 

1st  July,  1S09,  F^manuel  Walmslcy  (aV 
Eliza,  baptised  27th  July,    17S5  (a);  married 

29th    September,  1 80S,  Thomas   T.iylor   of 

Whitehill-point. 

III. 
Emma  Theodosia. 

Catherine  .Anne. 

Helen  Marion. 


(a)   Tynemoulk  Rtgisltr.  (b)  .Monumental  Inscription.  Tynemouth  Priory, 

(c)  .Monumental  Inscription,  Christ  Church,  Tynemouth. 

The  name  of  Chirton   Barracks  was  at  one  time  given   to  a  block  of 
houses  in  South  Preston  taken  on  lease  by  the  government  in  1811-1813  to 


35^  TVNEMOUTH  BOROUGH. 

provide  extra  accommodation  for  troops.  The  block  includes  South  Preston 
lodge  and  the  adjoining  houses  and  is  now  owned  by  the  representatives 
of  Mr.  Charles  J.  Spence. 

Spence  of  South  Preston. 

I.  Robert  .Spence,  son  of  Robert  .Spence  by  Sarah  his  wife,  born  at  Whaiteniill  house,  Yorkshire, 
February  loth,  17S4  ;  lieutenant  R.N.,  and  afterwards  of  North  Shields,  banker  and  draper;  married 
Auyiist  29th,  1810,  Mary,  daughter  of  Robert  Foster  of  Hebbletliwaite  hall,  Yorkshire  (who  died 
October  6th,  1846),  and  had,  besides  fourteen  daughters,  four  sons,  namely  :  (i)  Robert  Spence  (II.); 

(2)  John  Foster  Spence,  born  November  8th,  181S  ;  resided  at  Chirton  cottage;  alderman  and  four 
times  mayor  of  Tynemouth  ;  married,  September  28th,  1843,  Elizabeth,  daughter  df  Thomas  Corder  of 
Wedford  hall,  Chelmsford,  by  whom  he  had  issue  four  sons  and  two  daughters  ;  died  July  2nd,   1901  ; 

(3)  Jose])h  Spence,  born  1S19  ;  twice  mayor  of  Tynemouth;  married,  in  1845,  Caroline,  (laughter  of 
Joseph  Shewell  of  Colchester,  by  whom  he  left  issue,  and  died  December  17th,  18S9  ;  (4)  Thomas  Spence, 
born  1821,  died  March  24th,  1839,  unmarried.     Mr.  Spence  died  August  17th,  1845. 

II.  Robert  Spence  of  North  Shields  and  of  Newcastle,  banker,  born  December  12th,  1817  ; 
married,  June  2nd,  1842,  Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hagen,  by  whom  he  had  issue  four  sons  and 
one  daughter,  Sarah,  wife  of  Francis  Thompson.  He  died  in  1890,  le.aving  an  only  surviving  son, 
Charles  James  Spence. 

III.  Charles  James  Spence,  of  South  Preston  and  of  Newcastle,  banker,  born  November  20th, 
1S48  ;  married,  firstly,  Alice  Clibborn,  by  whom  he  had  issue  three  sons,  namely,  Robert  Spence  and 
Philip  Spence,  who  survived  him,  and  Gilbert  Spence,  who  died  s.p.,  and  a  daughter,  Sarah.  He 
married,  secondly,  Alice  M.  G.  Weiss,  and  died  October  8th,  1905.' 

MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  BOROUGH. 

The  North  Shields  Improvement  Act  of  1828  invested  that  town  with 
a  semi -municipal  character.  The  old  township  limits  were  abandoned 
for  boundaries  more  nearly  corresponding  with  the  urban  area  ;  and  the 
functions  of  the  vestry  and  the  court-leet,  so  far  as  they  related  to  the 
administration  of  the  town,  were  transferred  to  a  newly-constituted  body 
of  Improvement  Commissioners." 

T/ic  I\u'li(uiicntai\  Boroiig/i.  Earl  Grey's  scheme  of  parliamentary 
reform  included  the  creation  of  several  new  boroughs,  of  which  Tynemouth 
was  one.  Commissioners  appointed  to  report  upon  the  subject  recom- 
mended, in  October,  1831,  that  the  new  electoral  district  should  comprise 
the  townships  of  North  Shields,  Tynemouth,  Chirton,  Preston  and  Culler- 
coats.     They  stated  in  their  report  : 

The  condition  of  the  town  of  North  Shields  is  certainly  prosperous;  it  is  progressively  increasing  in 
importance,  and  the  port  was  described  as  the  second  in  this  kingdom  for  tonnage  registered  as 
belonging  to  the  port.  The  manufactories  in  this  town  are  merely  of  those  articles  which  are  required 
by  the  shipbuilder.     Much  building  is  in  progress,  and  many  improvements  have  been  both  commenced 

'  Ex  inf.  Mr.  Percy  Corder  and  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson.  A  biographical  notice  of  Mr.  C.  J.  Spence  is 
given  in  Arch.  Acl.  3rd  series,  vol.  ii. 

■  See  above,  pp.  314-315. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY   OF   THE    BOROUGH.  35 1 

and  agreed  upon  :  new  roads  are  to  be  made  through  the  parish  towards  the  west  and  north-west,  and  a 
railroad  is  to  connect  this  town  and  Newcastle,  which  will  pass  througli  the  township  of  Chirton. 
The  town  is  chiefly  extending  itself  on  the  west  and  north-west  into  Chirton  and  Preston  townships, 
and  in  the  direction  of  the  town  of  Tyneinouth.  There  is  little  doubt  but  that  in  a  few  years  the  village 
of  Chirton  will  be  nearly  united  to  the  town  of  North  Shields  in  a  continuous  street,  and  that  a  great 
portion  of  the  township  of  Preston  will  be  occupied  by  that  town.  Already  several  buildings  of  a 
superior  class  have  been  erected  in  that  township  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood,  and  the  whole  of  a 
small  part  of  that  of  Tynemouth,  which  juts  out  in  the  form  of  a  peninsula  on  the  south-west  adjoining 
both  Preslon  and  Chirton,  is  cither  covered  with  new  buildings  or  marked  out  as  their  future  site. 

The  report  continues  : 

CuUercoats  township  appears  to  contain  some  good  houses,  and,  in  consec|uence  of  its  small  extent, 
these  can  contribute  to  the  constituency  without  the  inconvenience  commonly  attended  on  the  annexation 
of  an  entire  township.  I5y  the  .addition  of  these  three  townships  the  two  towns  of  North  Shields  and 
Tynemouth  will  be  distant,  respectively,  .about  a  mile  from  the  nearest  point  of  the  new  boundary  ;  which 
seems  to  give  sufficient  scope  for  the  prob.able  increase  of  the  fonner.  The  latter  is  a  small  sea-bathing 
place,  the  increase  or  decrease  of  which  must  always  greatly  depend  on  the  e,\tent  of  the  growth  of  its 
more  important  neighbour.  The  population  of  Chirton  township  has  increased  506.  that  of  I'reston  144, 
and  that  of  CuUercoats  47,  within  the  last  ten  years.' 

The   Reform    Act    of    1832    constituted   Tyneinouth    a    parliamentary 

borough,   of  which   the   boundaries   were   defined    in   accordance    with    the 

commissioners'  report.'^ 

Members  of  P.xri.iament  for  the  Borough  since  1832. 

George  Frederick  Young          ...  1832  to  1837                  Richard  Hodgson           1861  to  1865 

Sir  Charles  Edward  Grey,  knight  1838  to  1841                   George  Otto  Trevelyan 1865  to  1S68 

Henry  Mitcalfe 1841101847                  Thomas  Eustace  Smith 1868101885 

Ralph  William  Grey      1847  to  1852                  Richard  Sims  Uonkin 1885  to  1900 

Hugh  Taylor       1852  Frederick  Leverton  Harris       ...  1900101906 

Willi,am  Schaw  Lindsay            ...  1854101859                  Herbert  Craig       1906 

Hugh  Taylor       1859101861 

The  Poor  Law  Union.  In  1836,  Tynemouth  was  made  the  centre  of  a 
union  formed  under  the  provisions  of  the  Poor  Law  Amendment  Act  of 
1836.  The  Tvnemouth  Union  included  the  eight  townships  of  Tynemouth 
parish,  the  eight  townships  of  Earsdon  chapelry,  and  eight  others,  namely, 
Cowpen,  Bebside,  East  Hartford,  West  Hartford,  Cramlington,  Horton, 
Long  Benton,  and  Wallsend.  Five  other  poor-law  townships  have  since 
been  added,  namely,  Camperdown,  Walker,  Willington,  Willington  Quay, 
and  Weetslade.  A  guardians'  hall  was  erected  on  land  purchased  in 
Howard  and  Saville  Streets,  North  Shields.  The  offices  of  the  Union  have 
since  been  transferred  to  the  buildings  of  the  North  Shields  Club  in  North- 
umberland Square. 

'  Parliamentary  Representation,  Boundar>'  Reports  and  Plans,  vol.  iv.  pp.  177-178. 
-■  2  Will.  IV.  cap.  45,  sect.  4  ;  2  and  3  Will.  IV.  cap.  64,  Schedule  O  (26). 


352 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Municipal  Incorporation.  A  petition  for  the  incorporation  of  the 
borough  was  presented  in  1841.  Though  the  Privy  Council  upon  that 
occasion  refused  its  assent,  the  application  was  renewed,  and,  after  enquiry, 
a  charter  of  incorporation  was  granted  by  an  order  in  council  dated  August 
6th,  1849,  and  confirmed  by  Act  of  Parliament  in  the  following  year.^  The 
municipal  and  parliamentary  boundaries  were  made  co-extensive  ;  a  council 
was  constituted  consisting  of  a  mayor,  six  aldermen  and  eighteen  coun- 
cillors ;  and  the  borough  was  divided  into  the  Tynemonth,  North  Shields, 
and  Percy  wards,  with  six  councillors  for  each  ward.  The  new  council  took 
over  the  town  hall  in  Saville  Street,  which  had  been  erected  by  the  Im- 
provement Commissioners  in  1845,  from  designs  by  Mr.  John  Dobson.  On 
March  26th,  1850,  a  separate  commission  of  the  police  was  granted  to  the 
borough.  In  1904,  Tynemouth  was  made  a  county  borough,  and  the  council 
was  increased  from  twenty-four  to  thirty-six  members,  namely,  nine  alder- 
men and  twenty-seven  councillors.  The  borough  was  at  the  same  time 
re-divided  into  nine  wards,  namely,  (i)  Percy,  (2)  Linskill,  (3)  Dockwray, 
(4)  Central,  (5)  Rudyerd,  (6)  Trinity,  (7)  Milbourn,  (8)  Preston,  and  (9) 
CoUingwood  wards.^ 


List  of  Mayors  of  Tynemouth. 


1S49 

1851. 

1852. 

1853. 

1854. 

1855. 

1856. 

1857. 

1858 

i860. 

1861. 

1862. 

1S63. 

1864. 

1865. 

1866. 

1867- 

1869. 

1870. 

1871- 

1873- 


-9. 


50.     William  Linskill. 

Alexander  liartlenian. 

Solomon  Mease. 

Matthew  Poppclwell. 

John  Walker  Mayson. 

William  Linskill. 

William  Walker. 

Robert  Pow. 
Edward  Potter. 

Solomon  Mease. 

John  Foster  Spence. 

John  Fawcus. 

Joseph  Spence. 

George  Jobling. 

Joseph  Green. 

John  Hedley. 
.     Edward  Shotton. 

Joseph  Spence. 

George  Bell. 
.     Charles  Alexander  Adanison. 

Robert  Watson  Surtees. 


1S74.     Henry  Edward  Pyle  Adanison. 

1875.  William  .■\ubone  Potter. 

1876.  Joseph  Green. 

1877.  Edward  Shotton. 
1878-9.     Charles  Tully. 

1880.  Joseph  Baker. 

1881.  John  Spence. 
1882-3.     John  Hedley. 

1884.     Robert  Morrison  Tate. 
1885-6.     Joseph  Elliott. 
1887.     George  Dodds. 
i88S-g.     Ralph  Collins. 
1890.     Augustus  Whitehorn. 
lSgi-3.     John  Foster  Spence. 
1894-5.     George  Armstrong. 
1896.     Thomas  Thompson  Bolton. 
1897-8.     Richard  Irvin. 
1899.     Jonathan  Eskdale. 
1900-1.     Jacob  Daglish. 
1902.     James  Dunsmure  Gillespie. 
1903-6.     John  Philip  Spencer. 


13  and  14  Vict.  cap.  42 


"  4  Edw.  VH.  cap.  cvii. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    BOROUGH. 


353 


The  Port  of  North  Shields.  A  decision  of  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury 
in  1833  empowered  the  custom-house  officers  at  North  Shields  to  clear, 
without  reference  to  Newcastle,  coastwise  vessels  loading  below  Hebburn 
Point.  The  long  struggle  between  Newcastle  and  Shields  was  brought  to 
a  close  in  1848,  when,  on  March  30th,  Shields  harbour  was  constituted  an 
independent  customs  port  under  the  title  of  the  port  of  Shields,  the  boundary 
of  the  ports  of  Shields  and  Newcastle  being  defined  by  a  straight  line 
drawn  from  the  east  end  of  Whitehill  Point  sands  to  the  east  end  of  Jarrow 
quay.     The  custom  house  was  fixed  at  North  Shields.     In  1850  the  port  was 


Shields  Harbour. 


given  a  local  marine  board  under  the  provisions  of  the  Mercantile  Marine 
Act.  The  harbour  was  again  divided  in  1865  ;  North  Shields  and  South 
Shields  were  then  created  separate  ports,  bounded  by  the  mid-channel  of 
the  river,  and  marine  boards  were  given  to  each  of  the  two  boroughs. 
Blyth  was  included  in  the  port  of  North  Shields  until  the  year  1897,  when 
it  was  constituted  a  separate  customs  port. 

The  River  Tyne  Coinmission.  Down  to  the  year  1850  the  conser- 
vancy of  the  river  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  corporation  of  Newcastle  ; 
but  by  the  River  Tyne  Improvement  Act,  which  passed  into  law  on  July 


Vol.  \111. 


45 


354  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

15th,  1850,  the  corporation  was  deprived  of  its  charge,  and  the  management 
of  the  river  was  vested  in  a  commission  of  fourteen,  to  which  Tynemouth 
contributed  three  members.'  The  establishment  of  the  commission  in- 
augurated an  era  of  river  improvement.  In  1854,  the  commissioners  began 
the  construction  of  piers  at  the  entrance  of  the  river.  Dredgiug  operations 
commenced  in  1861  and  have  since  been  carried  on  without  intermission. 
Tynemouth  bar  was  removed,  as  were  the  sands  at  Dortwick  and  Whitehill 
Point,  and  the  narrow  passage  past  the  Low  Lights  was  widened  and 
deepened.  The  formation  of  the  Northumberland  docks  at  Hayhole,  near 
Flatworth,  begun  in  1852  and  completed  on  October  22nd,  1857,  gave  the 
river  for  the  first  time  a  public  dock.'  Similar  works  were  projected  at  the 
Low  Lights.  The  necessary  powers  were  obtained  in  1861,'  and  the 
foundation  stone  was  laid  three  vears  later,  but  financial  and  other  objections 
led  to  the  abandonment  of  the  scheme.  In  its  place  the  Albert  Edward 
dock  was  formed  at  Coble  dene  and  opened  in  1884.  It  has  an  enclosed 
water  space  of  twenty-four  acres  as  compared  with  an  area  of  fifty-five 
acres  included  within  the  Northumberland  docks. 

Ferry-boat  Service.  The  North  and  South  Shields  Ferry  Company 
was  formed  in  1829  to  provide  for  better  communication  between  the  two 
harbour  towns  ;  ^  and  in  the  following  year  steamboats  commenced  running 
between  the  New  Quay  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  Dean  Street, 
near  the  market-place,  in  South  Shields.  A  rival  undertaking,  known  as 
the  Tyne  Direct  Ferry  Companv,  was  started  in  1848,  but  was  immediately 
acquired  by  the  Shields  Ferry  Company.'  Both  services  were  continued 
under  its  management,  and  in  1856  a  third  ferry  was  opened,  running 
between  Whitehill  Point  and  Penny  Pie  Stairs  on  the  opposite  shore.  In 
1863  the  three  ferries  were  transferred  to  the  Tyne  Commissioners  under 
the  Tyne  Improvement  Act  of  1861.°  The  steamers  of  the  Tyne  General 
Ferry  Companv,  formed  in  i860,  run  in  the  summer  months  between  the 
Tynemouth  and  South  Shields  piers.  Those  of  the  Shields  Steam  Shipping 
Company,  created  in  1866  for  the  carriage  of  goods  from  the  Tyne  to 
London,   used   to   start   from   Shepherd's    Quay   in   North   Shields,    but   the 

'  13  and  14  \'ict.  cap.  Ixiii. 

"Powers  were  conferred  on  the  commissioners  to  construct  this  dock  by  statute   15  and   16  \'ict. 
cap.  c.\. 

'  24  and  25  Vict.  cap.  .\ci.  *  10  Geo.  IV.  cap.  xcviii.  '  11  and  12  \'ict.  cap.  xlv. 

"  25  and  26  Vict.  cap.  Ixxvi. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    nOROl'GH.  355 

enterprise  proved  unsuccessful,  and  the  company  was  wound  up  in  1875. 
Proposals  for  the  erection  of  a  high-level  bridge  between  North  and  South 
Shields  have  more  than  once  been  made,  but  have  never  been  put  into 
execution.  The  Tyne  Commissioners  were  authorised  in  1902  to  construct 
new  landing  stages,  and  in  other  ways  to  improve  the  ferry-boat  service  ; ' 
and  in  the  same  year  a  company  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the 
North  and  South  Shields  Electric  Railway  Company,  and  powers  given  to 
it  to  carry  an  electric  railway  through  a  tunnel  under  the  Tyne,  from 
Bedford  Street  to  Mile  End  Road.^ 

Railways.  In  December,  1830,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  take 
steps  for  the  establishment  of  railway  communication  between  Newcastle 
and  North  Shields,  and  this  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Newcastle  and 
North  Shields  Railway  Company  in  1835/  A  railway  from  the  Manors 
in  Newcastle  to  a  station  in  Nile  Street,  North  Shields,  was  formally 
opened  on  June  19th,  1839,  and  extended  in  1847  to  Oxford  Street  in 
Tynemouth  village."  The  Newcastle  and  North  Shields  Company  had 
amalgamated  in  1845  with  the  Newcastle  and  Berwick  Railway  Company,' 
and  in  1854  the  line  was  included  within  the  North  Eastern  Railway 
svstem.'  A  new  railway,  from  Blyth  to  Percy  Main  on  the  Newcastle  and 
North  Shields  line,  was  opened  in  1847.  It  continued  in  private  hands 
until  the  incorporation  of  the  Blyth  and  Tyne  Railway  Company  in  1852.' 
In  1 86 1,  the  same  company  opened  a  branch  from  the  Dairy  House,  near 
Seaton  Delaval,  along  the  old  Whitley  waggonway,  to  a  point  near  the 
Master  Mariners'  Asylum  on  the  Tynemouth  road."  In  1865,  a  connexion 
was  made  with  Tynemouth.  The  North  Eastern  Railway  Company  acquired 
this  branch  in  August,  1874,  and  in  18S2  made  the  present  line  from  Tyne- 
mouth, through  Cullercoats  ami  Whitley,  to  Monkseaton. 

Education.  A  school  board  was  constituted  in  1871,  and  assumed 
control  of  the  Jubilee  School  in  Albion  Road.  Five  council  schools  have 
been  founded  since  that  date.  Under  the  Education  Act  ot  1902  the 
board  was  superseded  by  a  committee  of  the  town  council,  to  which  ten 
denominational  schools  wore  transferred  on  September  30th,  1903.  1  he 
following  list  gives  particulars  as  to  the  public  elementary  schools  at 
present  existing  within  the  borough. 

'  2  Edw.  \I  I.  cap.  xNxiii.  "  2  Edw.  VII.  cap.  clxxviii.  '  6  and  7  Will.  \\.  cap.  Ixxvi. 

•  8  and  9  Vict.  cap.  xlvii.  '  S  and  9  Vict.  cap.  clxiii.  '  17  and  iS  \i.  1   .:.,,.  ccxi. 

'  15  and  16  Vict.  cap.  cxxii.  '  17  and  iS  Vict.  cap.  Ixxix. 


356 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


Name. 

Foundation. 

Denomination. 

Jubilee 

i8og 

British     

Kettlewell's 

...     1825     ... 

11 

St.  Ciithbcrt's    ... 

IS40 

Roman  Catholic 

Howard  Street  ... 

...     1843     ... 

Scotch  Church  ... 

Trinity 

1845 

Church  of  England 

St.  Joseph's 

1857 

Roman  Catholic 

Priory      

1868 

Church  of  England 

Percy  (St.  John's) 

1869 

n 

St.  Peter's 

1870-71   ... 

j» 

Christ  Church    ... 

...     1872     ... 

» 

Preston 

...     IS72     .. 

i» 

Western 

1872 

Council 

Chirton   ... 

1873 

)i 

Eastern 

1875 

„ 

Percy  Main 

1894 

i» 

Queen  Victoria ... 

1897     •• 

„ 

Accommodation. 

1,104 
269 

595 
469 

332 
216 
449 
394 
288 
845 
72 
1,429 

374 
1,100 

756 

804 

Public  Institutions.  The  Subscription  Library,  formed  in  1S07,  came 
to  an  end  in  1835,  its  place  being  taken  bv  the  Tynemouth  Literary  and 
Philosophical  Society.  In  1S69  it  was  resolved  to  adopt  the  Free  Libraries 
Act.  A  free  library  was  formed  in  the  building  of  the  Tradesmen's  and 
Mechanics'  Institute  in  Howard  Street  (established  in  1833),  and  the 
Literary  and  Philosophical  Society  was  merged  in  it.  The  library  lias  a 
museum  attached  to  it.' 

Amongst  the  charitable  institutions  in  the  town  are  the  Master 
Mariners'  Asylum  on  the  Tynemouth  road,  erected  in  1837  for  the  purpose 
of  supporting  infirm  and  decayed  master  mariners  of  the  port ;  the  Sailors' 
Home,  built  on  the  New  Quay  in  1856  by  Algernon,  fourth  duke  of  North- 
umberland, and  endowed  by  public  subscription  ;  the  Wellesley  Training 
Ship,  started  in  1868  with  a  view  to  training  homeless  and  destitute  boys  for 
a  seafaring  life  ;  and  the  Victoria  Jubilee  Infirmary  for  the  reception  of 
accident  cases. 

A  native  of  North  Shields,  William  Wouldhave,  has  a  claim  to  be 
considered  the  inventor  of  the  lifeboat.  His  more  successful  rival  of  the 
opposite  borough,  Henry  Greathead,  whose  model  was  accepted  in  1789, 
built  the  first  lifeboat  used  at  North  Shields.  Lifeboat  stations  were  made 
at  the  Low  Lights,  the  Spanish  battery,  and  Cullercoats.  In  1840  the 
management  of  the  North  and  South  Shields  boats  was  consolidated  in  the 
Tyne  Lifeboat  Institution.     The  National  Lifeboat  Institution  has  charge  of 


'  The  thirty-second  report  of  the  Public  Library  Committee  contains  a  useful  bibliography  of  local 
books,  and  a  historical  sketch  of  Shields  and  Tynemouth  literature  by  the  late  Mr.  C.  J.  Spence. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROt'GH. 


357 


the  boats  placed  at  Cullercoats,  Tynemouth  haven,  and  the  Black  Middens. 
In  consequence  of  the  wreck  of  the  '  Stanley '  on  the  Black  Middens  in 
1864,  the  Tynemouth  Volunteer  Life  Brigade  was  formed  through  the 
exertions  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Forster  Spence,  as  a  means  of  supplying 
the  coast-guard  with  disciplined  assistance  in  the  working  of  their  life- 
saving  appliances.  The  institution  so  formed  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in 
the  kingdom. 


The  Wei.leslev  Tkai.sinc.  Shii'. 


Christ  Chlrch. 

During  the  disturbed  times  of  the  Civil  War,  the  parishioners  of  Tyne- 
mouth were  prevented  from  attending  their  parish  church  in  the  castle, 
which  began  to  Ml  into  ruin.  An  entry  in  the  parish  vestry  book  states 
that  on  July  29th,  1645,  it  was  agreed  that  a  cessment  should  be  laid  on 
the   whole   parish  'for  prosecuting  of  the  busines  concerneing  a  place  for 


358  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

preaching  and  house  and  maintenance  for  our  minister  to  be  given  to  him 
by  reason  of  his  greatt  distress  at  this  time.'  A  malting  kiln  at  Chirton  was 
subsequently  rented  of  Ralph  Gardner  at  £S  a  year,  and  services  were  held 
in  it.'  Naturallv  a  more  suitable  edifice  was  desired.  The  Commonwealth 
commissioners  for  church  livings  reported  (June  ist,  1652)  'that  the  parish 
church  of  Tynemouth  is  quite  ruined  ;  that  the  town  of  North  Shields  being 
a  populous  place  of  itself,  it  is  fit  that  a  parish  church  be  built  there,  and 
the  town[ships]  of  Tynemouth,  Preston,  East  and  Middle  Chirton,  Whitley 
and  Morton  annexed  to  it.' "  In  conformity  with  this  recommendation  the 
parishioners  addressed  the  following  petition  two  years  later  to  the  earl 
of  Northumberland  : 

To  the  right  honorable  the  earle  of  Northumberland.  The  humble  pelicon  of  the  parrishioners  of 
Tinmouth  in  the  countic  of  Northumberland,  July,  1654. 

Humbly  sheweth  that  the  petitioners  to  there  great  grifes  have  for  theis  12  or  13  yeares  past  bin 
deprived  of  hearing  God's  holy  word  in  their  usuall  church,  it  being  within  the  castle,  which  is  garrisoned 
soe  that  mania  tymes  they  have  bin  forced  to  heare  the  same  in  the  open  feilds.  That  your  petitioners, 
not  haveing  anie  hopes  of  the  use  of  their  church  againe  and  well  knowing  your  honor's  piety  and  zeale 
to  soe  good  a  work,  are  emboldened  to  become  most  humble  suitors,  beseeching  your  honor  to  be  pleased 
to  graunt  unto  them  a  proporcion  of  ground  to  build  them  a  church  on,  also  for  a  burling  place,  and  they 
humbly  conceive  if  it  be  with  your  honor's  pleasure  that  a  corner  of  a  close  there  called  Brocke  close  by 
the  highway  wilbe  most  convenient  for  that  purpose. 

[Endorsed.]  His  lordship  is  pleased  a  parcell  of  ground  be  sett  out  where  it  may  be  most  con- 
venient.    Aug.  5th,  1654.' 

The  earl  thereupon  gave  them  a  piece  of  land  in  the  demesne  called 
Brock  close,  at  the  south  end  of  the  road  leading  from  Preston,  abutting 
on  the  highway  from  Tynemouth  to  Newcastle. 

At  the  quarter  sessions  held  at  Morpeth,  April  2ist,  1658,  a  petition 
of  the  parishioners  of  Tynemouth  was  presented,  showing  '  the  great  want 
of  a  church  there,  whereby  not  only  the  parishioners  but  many  others, 
both  the  masters  of  shipps,  straingers,  and  other  travellers  and  passengers, 
resorting  thither,  cannot  have  any  publique  and  convenient  place  for  the 
service  and  worshipp  of  God,  the  former  church  being  made  use  of  for 
the  garison  of  Tynmouth  castle,  soe  that  some  thousands  of  people  ar  left 
destitute  of  the  word  and  meanes  of  salvation,  to  the  great  dishonour  of 
God  and  encouragement  of  many  loose  and  ignorant  people  in  prophaneing 
of  the  sabboth  and  liveing  in  a  luid  life  and  conversation.'  '  It  was  ordered 
that  an  assessment  of  two  shillings  in  the  pound  should  be  levied  throughout 
the  county  for  building  a  church. 

'  Tynemouth  Vestry  Books.  '  Arch.  Ael.  ist  series,  vol.  iii'.  p.  9. 

"  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  Tynemouth  Vestry  Books. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    BOROIT.H.  359 

The  building  was  immediately  commenced.  In  April,  1663,  it  was 
arranged  to  treat  with  Robert  Trollop  for  carrying  on  and  finishing  the  new 
church,  and  raising  a  roof  of  English  tiles,  ceiling  the  inside  and  plastering 
the  walls  on  the  inside.'     The  church  was  consecrated  on  Julv  5th,  1668. ■ 

The  bishop  of  Durham,  being  at  Newcastle  on  his  visitation,  went  to  Tynemouth,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  Dr.  Basire,  archdeacon  of  Northumberland,  and  half  a  dozen  more  of  the  clergy,  consecrated 
a  new  church  erected  there  upon  a  piece  of  ground  given  by  the  earl  of  Northumberland.  Mr.  Clarke, 
the  earl's  officer,  delivered  up  possession  of  the  edifice  and  land  in  the  name  of  his  master  to  the  bishop, 
who  dedicated  it  Christ  Church,  and  at  the  offering  gave  ;£;  towards  the  better  beautifying  and  adorning 
the  church.  Dr.  Dockwray  held  the  first  ser\'ice.  Dr.  Basire  and  Wrench,  a  prebendary  of  Durham, 
the  second.     Mr.  Davenport,  the  bishop's  chaplain,  preached  the  consecration  sermon.' 

This  church  was  a  cruciform  building,  measuring  71^  feet  from  east 
to  west,  and  the  same  from  north  to  south,  the  limbs  of  the  cross  being 
twenty-four  feet  in  breadth.^  Doors  in  the  north,  south  and  west  walls 
gave  access  to  two  long  passages  running  through  the  middle  of  the 
building  and  crossing  one  another  at  right  angles.  The  font,  clerk's  desk, 
reading  desk,  parson's  pew  and  pulpit  were  all  in  the  south-west  quarter 
of  the  church.  The  communion  table  was  apparently  portable,  and  when 
in  use  was  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  building.  Large  pews,  allotted  to 
the  principal  parishioners  and  their  servants,  were  erected  in  all  parts  of 
the  church,  even  at  the  east  end,  where  were  the  pews  of  the  duke  of 
Somerset,  Sir  Ralph  Delaval,  and  the  officers  of  Tynemouth  castle.' 

Not  long  after  its  construction  the  church  was  found  to  be  too  small, 
and  during  the  eighteenth  century  various  structural  changes  were  made 
in  order  to  provide  additional  accommodation.  In  1786  money  obtained 
by  the  sale  of  pews  by  public  auction"  was  applied  to  building  a  steeple 
and  purchasing  six  bells.  The  first  set  of  bells  was  lost  at  sea  on  its  passage 
from  London,  but  a  second  set  was  presented  to  the  church  by  James  Storey 
of  Storey's  hall,  Low  Lights.       Four  other  bells  have  since  been  added.' 

'  Tynemouth  Vestry  Books. 

-  July  5th,  1668.  The  new  church  was  consecrated  by  the  Right  Reverend  father  in  God,  John, 
Lord  Bishop  of  Durham,  and  named  Christ's  Church.     Ibid. 

'  Cal.  State  Papers  Domestic,  1667- 1668,  p.  427  ;  cp.  ibid.  p.  476.  The  service  used  upon  this  occasion 
is  printed  in  the  Correspondence  of  Bishop  Cosiii,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  55,  pp.  175-190. 

'  Brand,  Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  119,  quoting  Dr.  Ellison's  MSS. 

'  Plan  in  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  possession. 

'  Down  to  1859  the  pews  in  this  church  were  regarded  as  personal  property,  .and  were  transferred 
from  vendor  to  purchaser  like  shares  in  a  company.  The  market  value  of  a  pew  in  1764  ranged  from 
£6  to  ^71  los.,  according  to  its  position.  'To  be  sold  at  Mr.  KcHs,  the  sign  of  the  Beehive  in  North 
Shields,  to  the  highest  bidders,  the  scats  or  pews,  separately  as  they  are  numbered,  in  the  newly  erected 
addition  to  the  parish  church  of  Tynemouth.'     Newcastle  Courant,  October  6th,  1764. 

"  On  the  church  bells  see  Proc.  Soc.  Antiq.  Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  iii.  pp.  21-22. 


360  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

In  1792  the  church  was  practically  rebuilt.  The  roof,  which  had 
decayed,  was  taken  down  ;  the  walls  were  heightened  ;  some  of  the  galleries 
were  removed  ;  the  pulpit  and  reading  desk  were  placed  in  a  more  con- 
venient situation  (a  'three-decker'  of  the  usual  type  being  brought  into  the 
church),  and  an  organ  was  purchased  and  placed  in  the  west  gallery.'  The 
present  chancel  and  organ-chamber  were  erected  in  1869,  when  the  church 
was  reseated. 

The  affairs  of  the  parish  were  conducted  by  the  minister,  the  four 
churchwardens  and  the  select  vestry  or  four-and-twenty.  Until  1840,  and 
for  at  least  two  centuries  before  that  date,  it  was  customary  to  elect  two 
churchwardens  for  '  the  country '  and  two  for  Shields.  The  four-and- 
twenty,  together  with  the  minister,  imposed  church  rates,  elected  the 
churchwardens  and  examined  their  accounts,  and  took  an  important  part  in 
local  administration. 

Christ  Church  remained  the  only  Church  of  England  place  of  worship 
in  the  parish  until  1836,  when  the  chapel  of  ease  of  Holy  Trinity  was  built 
in  Coach  Lane  at  the  west  end  of  North  Shields  (consecrated  October  21st, 
1836).  A  few  years  later  the  chapel  of  ease  of  Holy  Saviour  was  built 
at  Tynemouth,  at  the  intersection  of  the  Manor  Road  and  the  North  Road 
(consecrated  August  nth,  1841).  Messrs.  Green  of  Newcastle  were 
architects  for  both  structures.  The  old  parish  remained  undivided  until 
i860,  since  which  year  the  following  seven  ecclesiastical  districts  or  parishes 
have  been  carved  out  of  it  : 


1S60.     Percy,  Tynemouth  (St.  John). 
i860.     Low  Town,  Tynemouth  (St.  Peter). 
i860.     Cullercoats,  Tynemouth  (St.  Paul's, 
Whitley). 


1861.  The  Priory,  Tynemouth  (Holy  Saviour). 

1861.  Western  Town,  Tynemouth  (Holy  Trinity). 

1880.  St.  George's,  Cullercoats. 

1885.  St.  Augustine's  (Washington  Terrace). 


The  sacramental  plate  of  Christ  Church  includes  a  large  silver  flagon 
given  by  John  Spearman  of  Durham  in  1703  ;  three  silver  patens,  the  gifts 
respectively  of  William  Raper,  keeper  of  the  stores  of  Tynemouth  castle 
(1728),  of  Mrs.  Naters  of  Tynemouth  (1818),  and  of  William  Mitcalfe  of 
Tynemouth  house  (1825)  ;  and  a  double  set  of  silver  communion  plate, 
given  by  the  members  of  the  family  of  the  late  Canon  Brutton." 

'  The  organ  is  traditionally  stated  to  have  been  bought  by  the  churchwardens  from  the  proprietors 
of  Vauxhall  Gardens,  and  is  perhaps  to  be  identified  with  the  organ  built  for  Westmmster  Abbey  m  1660, 
and  removed  thence  to  Yau.xhall  Gardens  seventy  years  later.  The  common  supposition  that  Father 
Smith  built  the  Westminster  organ  is  open  to  doubt.     See  Musical  Times,  vol.  xlvi.  pp.  518-519. 

=  A  full  account  of  the  church  plate  is  given  in  Proc.  Soc.  Antiq.  Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  iii. 
pp.  19-21. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  36 1 

The  ordination  of  the  vicarage  is  dated  1250,  the  endowment  being 
then  fixed  at  £2(1^  13s.  4d.'  In  Pope  Innocent's  taxation  of  1264,  how- 
ever, the  vicarage  was  assessed  at  ^10  only,"  and  in  that  of  Pope  Nicholas, 
taken  in  1292,  at  £(d  is.  2d.'  In  1295  the  vicarage  was  estimated  to  be 
worth  ;^30.'  In  1535  it  was  returned  as  worth  ;^24  19s.  4d.  After  the 
suppression  of  the  religious  houses  a  pension  of  ;^30  to  the  vicar  was 
charged  upon  the  rectory,  but  of  this  sum  £^,  13s.  4d.  was  due  to  the 
curate  of  Earsdon.  The  vicar's  stipend  was  temporarily  increased  under  the 
Commonwealth  to  £^1 .  Archdeacon  Sharpe,  about  the  year  1725,  valued 
the  vicarage  at  ^- 100.  In  1825  the  actual  receipt  was  ;^  280  ;  and  at  the 
present  date  the  gross  income  is  about    /416  and  the  net  income  ;^353. 

Monumental  Inscriptions,  Christ  Church. 

In  memory  of  Charles  Charleton,  M.D.,  member  of  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians.  Edinburgh, 
second  son  of  the  late  Reverend  Charles  Charleton,  A.M.,  vicar  of  this  parish,  who  died  on  the  26th 
day  of  December,  1827,  tenninaliny  a  short  but  eminently  useful  life  at  the  age  of  23  years. 

Sacred  to  the  reverend  memory  of  John  CoUingwood  of  Chirton  house  in  this  parish,  esq.,  who  died 
January  7th,  1841,  aged  90  years.     Also  of  Sarah,  wife  of  the  above,  who  died  July,  1824. 

In  memory  of  William  Conyers  and  Mary,  the  daughter  and  son  of  Nicholas  Conyers  of  Scarbrough, 
gentleman.  Also  of  Ann,  daughter  of  the  above-named  Nicholas  Conyers,  who  dyed  the  14th  of  March, 
1733,  aged  66  years.     Arms  :  a  niautuh  demised  by  a  bend  :  crest  :  a  bulPs  head  erased. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Anne,  wife  of  Henry  Coward  of  Preston,  near  North  Shields,  who  departed 
this  life,  May,  1834,  aged  74  years.  Also  the  above  Henry  Coward,  esq.,  who  departed  this  life  July  7th, 
1836,  aged  73  years.  Also  .Margaret  Antonia  Linskill,  eldest  daughter  of  the  above,  died  May  2nd, 
1843,  aged  55  years. 

The  burial  place  of  John  Cruddas  of  North  Shields,  common  brewer.  EleanorCruddas,wife  of  the  above, 
died  March  4th,  1S30,  aged  85  years.     The  above  John  Cruddas  died  November  25th,  1831,  aged  Si  years. 

In  hope  of  a  blessed  resurrection,  here  lies  deposited  ye  remains  of  Mr.  John  Dale,  master  and 
mariner,  late  of  Robin  Hood's  Bay.     He  departed  this  life,  December  the  26th,  1744,  aged  49  years. 

Here  lyeth  interred  the  body  of  Stephen  Dockwray,  M.A.,  late  vicar  of  this  church,  sone  and  suc- 
cesour  of  the  Reverend  Thomas  Dockwray,  D.D.,  who  was  chaplaine  to  and  slaine  with  the  Right 
Honourable  the  earl  of  Sandwich  in  that  great  engagement  with  ye  Dutch,  May  28th,  1672.  The  said 
Stephen  depaited  this  life  September  20th,  1681,  and  Thomas,  his  son,  Aprill  ye  13th,  1676.' 

In  memory  of  Richard  Dockwray  of  North  Shields,  mariner,  who  departed  this  life  November  2nd, 
1802,  aged  58  years.  Elizabeth  Dockwray,  wife  of  the  above,  died  J.inuary  22nd,  1835.  aged  98  years. 
Anne  Dockwray,  daughter  of  the  above,  died  November  21st,  1848,  aged  74  years. 

The  buriall  place  of  Christopher  Erington,  senior.  Here  lieth  ye  body  of  7  of  his  children,  vizt, 
2  Margarets,  2  Johns,  2  Barbaras,  and  Christopher.  Also  here  lieth  ye  body  of  Christopher  Erington  of 
North  Shields,  marriner  ;  he  departed  the  14th  of  August,  1722.  aged  36.  Elizabeth,  his  daughter, 
ye  wife  of  George  Howett,  departed  this  life  the  29th  day  of  October,  1732.  aged  21  years.  Arms: 
ErringiON,  impaling  a  chevron  between  three  stags'  heads  erased:  crest  :  <i  boars  head  erased. 

'  See  above,  p.  125,  note.  "  Hodgson,  Northumberland,  pt.  ii.  vol.  iii.  p.  424- 

'  Taxatio  Ecclesiastica,  Record  Com.  p.  316;  Hodgson,  Northumberland,  pt.  iii.  vol.  i.  P-  349.  To 
this  entry  the  note  is  added  :  '  Memorandum  de  dubio  ta.xationis  vicariae  de  1  ynemue,  ct  est  dubium  de 
pane  et  cerevisia  ct  prebendis  receptis  per  manus  prioris  et  convcntus  ejusdem  loci  in  specialibus 
prenotatis  et  per  eosdem  dimissis.' 

'  See  above,  p.  1 26. 

'  This  incription  was  discovered  under  the  floor  of  the  south  transept  in  i  S69,and  was  again  covered  over. 

Vol.  VI II.  '♦^ 


362  TYNEMOUTH    ROROUGH. 

In  memory  of  Peregrine  Henzell,  esq.,  of  Whitley,  who  died  the  iQtli  of  July,  1824,  aged  78  years. 

Here  lyeth  interred  the  body  of  Edward  Hodgson  of  North  Shields,  cordwainer,  one  of  the  first 
founders  of  this  church,  who  was  buryed  the  3rd  of  November,  anno  1690.  And  Anne  Hodgson,  his 
wife,  buryed  the  7th  day  of  March,  1689.  Here  lyeth  also  the  body  of  Mr.  William  Richardson,  who 
departed  this  life  the  6th  day  of  July,  1710,  aged  about  59  years. 

Hie  jacet  Radulphus  Milbourn  de  East  Chirton  armiger  qui  obiit  vicesimo  secundo  die  Mali  1689  et 
aetatis  suae  43.  Uxorem  du.xit  Winifrcdam  unicam  filiam  et  prolem  Thomae  Richardson  de  Clements 
Inn  in  parochia  St.  Clements  Danes  in  comitatu  Midlesex  generosi.  Reliquit  unicam  filiam  Winifrid 
nominatam  superstitcm  hoc  anno  salutis  MDCXCIII.  Posuit  hoc  monumentum  maestissima  conjux 
supradicta  Winifrida  Milbourn.     Obiit 1720. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  John  Stephenson,  esq.,  of  North  Shields,  who  departed  this  life  September 
i6th,  1752,  aged  66  years.  And  also  his  son,  John  Stephenson,  esq.,  who  died  July  12th,  1801,  aged  74 
years.  Here  also  lies  interred  Elizabeth  Stephenson,  wife  of  the  above  and  mother  of  the  late  John 
Stephenson,  who  died  May  9th,  1746,  aged  45  years. 

Here  lieth  the  body  of  Mary  Stephenson,  relict  of  John  Stephenson,  jun.,  esq.,  who  studied  to  excel 
in  every  Christian  virtue.  How  far  she  succeeded,  those,  who  knew  her,  best  can  tell.  She  died 
October  i8th,  1803,  aged  75  years. 

Ann,  wife  of  Joseph  Straker,  died  August  30th,  1S54,  aged  74  years.  Henry,  their  son,  was  lost 
overboard  from  the  '  Richard  and  Ann,'  April  21st,  1S27,  aged  17  years.  Joseph  Straker,  J. P.,  departed 
this  life  October  13th,  1867,  aged  83  years. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Thomas  Wright,  esq.,  of  Whitley  park  in  this  parish,  who  died  the  i8th  of 
March,  1840. 

\'ICARS  OF  TVNEMOUTH. 

1083.     Elwald  or  Alwald,  'qui  et  canonicus  Dunelmensis  ecclesiae  fuerat'  (.Symeon  of  Durham,  Hisl. 

Regum,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  ii.  p.  260),  attested  a  charter  of  Bishop  St.  Carileph,  April  27th,  1085. 
II....     Osbern,  '  vicarius  de  Tinemuth,'  afterwards  chaplain  of  Horton  {Vita  Oswiin,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  8, 

cap.  xviii.). 
1200  (circa).     Stephen,  attested   grant   of  Milo   de   Whittonstall    to  the  hospital  of  St.    Mary   at    the 

Westgate,  Newcastle  (Hist,  of  Northumberl.ind,  vol.  vi.  p.  185). 
1250.     Peter  (St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  128). 

12....     Henry  Gategang  (Tyncmoutlt  Cliartulary,  fol.  116),  [rector  of  Embleton  circa  1245-1270]. 
1 291.     William  de  Dunham  [Coram  Rege  Rolls,  No.  128  ;  Rot.  Pat.  19  Edw.  I.  m.  9),  died  September 

25th,  1295  (St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  129 b). 
1308  (circa).     John  de  Barneburgh,  presented  April  24th  (St.  Alban's  Register,   fol.  213);  also  vicar  of 

Norton  (Reg.  Pat.  Dun.  vol.  ii.  p.  844),  and  vicar  of  Lesbury  in  1306  (ibid.  vol.  i.  p.  529). 
1311.     John  de  Howick,  admitted  March  30th,  131 1  (York  Register,  Greenfield,  pars  i.  fol.  199). 
1325.     John  de  Howarth,  was  vicar  March  19th,  1324/5,  when  he  conveyed  lands  in  Backworth,  Murton 

and  Whitley  ;  resigned  or  dead  before  August  5th,  1325  (Tynemouth  Cliartulary,  fols.  86,  87). 
1344.     Roger  de  Selby,  was  cited  to  appear  at  Durham  to  show  by  what  title  he  held  the  vicarage 

{Durham  Register,  Bury,  fol.  10). 
1350.     John  de  Weteley,  admitted  November  22nd,   1350  (Durham  Register,  Hatfield,  fol.   i) ;    living 

Deceinber  5th,  1363  (Water/ord  Charters,  No.  l5). 
1380.     Alan  Whitheved  (Cat,  Pat.  Rolls,  1377-1381,  p.  623);  living  September  12th,  1392  (ibid.  1391-1396, 

P-  154)- 
1466.     William  Merrynian  (Arch.  Acl.  ist  series,  vol.  iii.  p.  80). 
1492.     John  Hebborne,  LL.B.,  had  papal  licence  to  hold  plurality  of  benefices,  June  loth,  1492  (Durham 

Register,  Fox,  fol.  36  b)  ;  received  monition  from  the  bishop  of  Durham  to  reside,  November 

4th,    1499  (ibid.  fol.   28);  presented   for  non-residence  in    1501  (Ecclesiastical  Proceedings, 

Bishop  Barnes,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  22,  p.  xx). 
1526  (circa).     Edward  Felde,  S.T.P.,  on  December  2nd,  1531,  was  presented  to  the  rectory  of  Whalton, 

which  he  resigned  in  1533  (Durham  Register,  Tunstall,  fol.  8  b). 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  363 

1533-  William  Hobson,  M.A.,  upon  resignation  of  Felde,  instituted  July  10th  (Durham  Register, 
Tunstall,  fol.  13).  On  December  loth,  1536,  Thomas,  prior,  and  the  convent  of  Tynemoulh 
granted  the  next  advowson  and  presentation  of  Tynemouth  to  Thomas  Grey,  Thomas 
Lawson,  William  Selby  and  John  Selby,  if  the  church  should  fall  vacant  by  resignation  or 
otherwise  during  the  natural  life  of  Oliver  Selby,  clerk  (ibid.). 

1540.  Oliver  Selby,  after  the  death  of  Hobson,  admitted  September  15th  (Durham  Register,  Tunstall, 
fol.  29) ;  also  chaplain  of  IJranxlon  (g). 

1578.  John  Knightley,  after  the  dealh  of  Selby,  admitted  June  26th,  1578  (/)  (Durham  Register,  Uames, 
fol.  3  b). 

1588.  Gilbert  Spence,  after  the  death  of  Knightley,  admitted  September  2nd,  15S8  (/) ;  of  St.  Edmund 
Hall,  Oxen.  ;  matriculated  April  3rd,  1584,  aged  32  (c). 

1607.  William  Robinson,  after  the  death  of  Spence,'  admitted  December  3rd,  1607  (/) ;  of  St.  John's 
College,  Camb.  ;  I5.A.  1615  ;  iM.A.  1618  ;  incorporated  with  Oxford  1621  (c) ;  buried 
February  13th,  1622/3  (")• 

1623.  John  Heslop,  after  the  death  of  Robinson,  instituted  August  Sih  (b)  (Durham  Register,  Neile  and 
Cosin,  fol.  56);  of  St.  Edmund  Hall,  Oxon.  ;  matriculated  October  I3lh,  1620,  aged  19; 
K.A.,  1620  (c) ;  buried  August  2nd,  1637  (a). 

1637.  James  Hume,  after  the  dealh  of  Heslop,  instituted  January  1  ith,  1637/8  (b) ;  sequestered  (Walker, 
Sufferings,  vol.  ii.  p.  272). 

1651 Dersley.     In  1651  the  four  and  twenty,  taking  into  consideration  the  great  pains  taken  by 

Mr.  Dersley,  then  minister,  for  their  souls'  comfort,  in  ministering  the  Gospel, '  for  the  futher 
doth  engage  ourselfes  to  allow  him  a  yearly  stipend  dureinge  pleasur  ;  doth  lay  on  the  lands 
six  shillings  8d.  per  farme,  and  so  the  colleryes,  mills,  tylhes,  personal!  estates,  and  panns, 
and  all  other  profits  whatever  within  our  parish  and  ye  tow  n  of  Sheeles,  what  every  one  shall 
subscribe  towards  his  stipend,  beginging  from  his  deputation,  and  if  any  doe  refuse  to 
subscribe,  then  the  twenty-four  hath  power  to  sese  the  said  partie  accordinge  to  there  profit, 
and  if  refractery  then  a  warrant  to  be  procured  from  a  justice  for  the  use  of  Mr.  Uoarsly, 
he  contynuing  his  paines  amongst  us'  (e). 

1652.  Francis  Gibson,  of  Queen's  College,  Oxon.,  matriculated  June  4th,  1641,  aged  17  ;  B.A.  1645  ; 
served  in  the  earl  of  Dover's  regiment  in  the  Civil  War(f) ;  appointed  by  the  Commissioners 
for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  February  5th,  1652.  'For  his  support  and  maintenance  it  is 
ordered  that  ye  crown  rents  out  of  Tynemouth  vicarege  being  per  annum  ^30,  out  of  the 
corn  tithes  and  petty  tithes  of  Walesend  per  annum  .^31,  the  remainder  of  Newcastle  tithes 
being  per  annum  ^16,  out  of  By  well  Andrew  and  Slaley  per  annum  ;^20,  be  vested  and 
settled  upon  the  said  Mr.  Gibson'  (e). 

1659.  Alexander  Gordon,  chosen  to  be  minister,  April  4th,  1659  (c) ;  was  ejected  in  1662  after  the  .Act 
of  Uniformity  (Calamy,  Continuation,  p.  6S5)  and  went  into  Scotland,  where  he  became 
minister  to  the  marquis  of  Argyle  at  Inverary,  and,  living  to  a  great  age,  died  in  1714 
(Wodrow,  History  of  the  Sufferings  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  vol.  i.  p.  318). 

'  '  Maye  yt  please  your  lordship  to  knowe  that  after  ye  deathe  of  Gilbert  Spence,  late  vic.irc  of 
Tyneniooth,  1  presumed  to  wryte  a  letter  to  your  lordship  in  the  behalfe  off  one  Wylliam  Robinson, 
that  your  lordship  woulde  be  pleased  to  bestowe  your  gift  thcroff  to  him.  The  man  hatlic  for  dyvers 
yeares  by  paste  taught  some  ofi  my  brethcrcn,  and  I  knowinge  his  carryadge  to  be  honest  and  his 
suffycyencye  suche  as  he  ys  able  to  serve  that  cure  better  then  heretofore  yt  hathe  beene,  beinge  a 
batchalour  otT  arte  and  a  preacher,  makes  me  the  more  desierous  to  have  him  placed  there. 

Synce  which  tyme  I  understand  your  honour  halhe  bestowed  your  gifte  therof  otV  one  Lawson, 
whose  insuftycencye  and  yll  condycion  hathe  so  longe  beene  knowen  to  my  lorde  of  Durham  that  he  wyll 
nott  admytt  ofl"  him.  My  humble  suite  to  your  lordship  ys  that  your  honour  would  be  plc.iscd  to 
bestowe  your  gift  theroff  oif  him  whome  1  formerly  recomended  by  my  letter  to  your  lordship  and  graunt 
your  honours  presentment  to  this  Robinson,  who  hathe  alredye  my  gift  thereoff  so  farr  as  ys  in  me, 
1  beinge  joynt  purchaser  off  ye  rectory  off  Tynemoothe  and  advowsonne  iherolV  frome  my  coosen  Peter 
Delavale,  otf  whome  your  lordship  purchased  ye  other  moyetie.' 

Letter  fiom  Sir  Ralph  Delaval  to  Henry,  ninth  earl  of  Northumberland,  dated  August  I2th,  1607. 
Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


564 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


1662.     Henry   Ashbumham,  admitted    October   29th,    1662   (/)  {Durham   Ri-gish-r,    Neile    and    Cosin, 

fol.   loi  b) ;  curate  at  St.  Andrew's,  Newcastle,  1667  ;  buried  in  St.  John's  church  in  that 

town.  May  28th,  1669  (Brand,  vol.  i.  p.  193). 
1668.     Thomas  Dockwray,  D.D.,  vicar  of  Newburn,  1652-1667,  and  of  Whitburn,  1667-1672,  also  chaplain 

to  the  earl  of  Sandwich,  and  fell  in  action  against  the  Dutch,  May  28lh,  1672.' 
1673.     Stephen  Dockwray,  M.A.,  son  of  the  above,  instituted  February  loth,  1672/3  (b) ;  of  Sidney-Sussex 

College,  Cambridge  ;  died  September  20th,  1681  (/j);  buried  in  the  chancel  of  Christ  Church  (/i). 
1682.     Thomas  Dockwray,  M.A.  brother  of  the  above,  instituted  February  22nd,  1681/2  (i),  or  March 

13th,  1681/2  (f) ;  of  St.  John's  College,  Camb.  ;  matriculated  .-Xpril  14th,  1673,  aged  16  (<f)  ; 

also  perpetual  curate  of  Wallsend  (g)  ;  buried  February  24th,  1724/5  (")• 
1736.     Charles  Ward  (c),  of  Lincoln  College,  0.\on. ;  matriculated  June  2Sth,  1733,  aged  18  ;  I5.A.  1737  ; 

M.A.  1740  (c) ;  vicar  of  Whittingham,  1763- 1773  ;  also  vicar  of  Chatton  and  of  Longhorsley  ; 

died  July  nth,  1785,  aged  77  ;  buried  at  Tynemouth  priory. 
1749.     Emanuel  Potter,  instituted  May  6th,  1749  ,b)  ;  inducted  June  Sth  (i) ;  of  Queen's  College,  0.\on.  ; 

matriculated  July  5th.  1733,  aged  18  (c)  ;  nominated  perpetual  curate  of  Wallsend,  1760  (g)  ; 

died  November  i8th,  1789;  buried  at  Cramlington. 
17S9.     Charles  Charleton,  instituted  November  27th,  1789  (6),  of  Lincoln  College,  O.xon.  ;  matriculated 

December  5th,  1780,  aged  19  ;  B..A.  17S4  ;  M.A.  1787  (c);  died  August  i8th,  1824,  aged  65  ; 

buried  at  Christ  Church  (/;). 
1825.     George  Di.xon,  M.A.,  after  the  death  of  Charlton,  inducted  February  26th,  1825  (t)  (/)  of  Catherine 

Hall,  Cambridge  ;  afterwards  vicar  of  Helmsley  in  Yorkshire. 
1830.     Christopher  Reed,  on  the  cession  of  Dixon,  instituted  July   igth,   1S30  (/),  of  Exeter  College, 

Oxon.  ;  matriculated  May  9th,  1815,  aged   17;  B.A.    1828;   M.A.   1829  (c)  ;  died  July  21st, 

1868;  buried  at  Christ  Church  (h). 
1868.     Thomas  Brutton,  inducted  December  8th,  1868  (e),  of  Pembroke  College,  Oxon.  ;  matriculated 

January  23rd,  1845,  aged   17;  B.A.  1S4S  ;  M.A.  1S51;  honorary  canon  of  Newcastle-upon- 
Tyne,  1885  ;  rural  dean,  1885  (c) ;  died  January  i6th,  1903  ;  buried  at  Christ  Church  (/;)■ 
1899.     Thomas  Emerson  Crawhall  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  on  the  cession  of  Brutton  ;  B.A.  1889; 

M.A.  1900  ;  rector  of  Newton  Hall,  1898  ;  honorary  canon  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  1906. 

(a)  Tynemouth  Registers.  (e)  Vestry  Minute  Books. 

(6)  Liber  Institutionum,  P.R.O.  (/)  Bishop's  Certificate,  P.R.O. 

(c)  Fosttr,  Alumni  Oxonienses.  (g)  Kandull,  State  of  the  CJiurchts. 

(d)  Admissions  to  St.  John  College,  Cambridge.  (/»)  Monumental  Inscriptions,  Christ  Church. 

Tynemouth  Registers. — Selected  Entries.  = 

1635,  June       16.     John  Hall  and  Luce  Delavale,  married. 

1636,  Nov.       27.     Humphray  Coward  and  Anne  Read,  married. 
1639/40,  Jan.     7.     Gilbert  Errington  and  Jaine  Read,  married. 

1651/2,  Jan.        I.     Mr.  Ralph  Fenwick  and  Jaine  Milbron,  wedow,  married. 
1662,  June       24.     Ralph  Killingworth  and  Mabell  Halton,  married. 

'  Mr.  Humphrey  Bell  (minister  of  Ponteland)  had  this  expression:  'What  comfort  should  I  now 
have  had,  had  I  conform'd  against  my  conscience,  as  (says  he)  I  doubt  Mr.  Dockwray  did?'  ;  meaning 
Mr.  Thomas  Dockwray,  afterwards  Dr.  Dockwray,  who  was  by  the  duke  of  York  preferr'd  to  be  chaplain 
to  the  earl  of  Sandwich,  who  (as  I  have  been  inform'd)  was  burnt  in  the  ship  in  which  the  earl  was  burnt. 
Calamy,  Ejected  Ministers,  vol.  ii.  p.  514. 

Archdeacon  Basire  noted.  May  4th,  1669,  that  Dr.  Dockwray  did  not  wear  a  surplice  when  he 
preached,  and  omitted  the  service  after  the  sermon.  In  167 1  he  was  pronounced  contumacious  and  as 
having  no  institution,  induction,  or  licence  for  Christ  Church,  and  as  neglecting  procurations.  Hunter 
MSS.  No.  137. 

"  The  registers,  edited  by  the  Rev.  R.  H.  Couchman,  are  in  course  of  publication.  Further  extracts 
from  them  are  given  by  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson  in  Arch.  Acl.  2nd  series,  vol.  xix.  pp.  197-216. 


MUNICIPAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    ROROUGH. 


365 


1663,  Oct.        15.     Henn-  Ashburnham,  vicar  of  Tynemouth,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Lambe,  married  in  Walsend 

church. 
John  Kellet  and  Jane  Carnabie,  married. 
Mr.  Ralph  Kellio  and  Anne  Stanton,  married. 
Mr.  Peter  Lorrence  and  Jane  Chester,  married. 
Mr.  Robert  White,  minister,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Atkinson,  both  of  Bowdon,  in  ye  county 

palatine  of  Durham,  married. 
Mr.  Thomas  Howard  and  Mrs.  Frances  Ogle,  married. 
Mr.  William  Whitehead  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Pattison,  married. 
Mr.  William  Collingwood  and  .Mrs.  Margaret  Clarke,  married. 
Mr.  Thomas  Arey  and  Mrs.  Dorothy  Sisterson,  married. 
Mr.  Jacob  Wilkinson  and  Mrs.  Barbara  Smith,  married. 
.Mr.  Robert  Durham  and  Mrs.  Mary  Murton,  married. 
Mr.  Richard  Bates  and  Mrs.  Margarett  Clarke,  married. 
Mr.  Ralph  Clarke  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Browne,  married. 
John  Roddam  of  Litle  Houghton,  esq.,  and  Maddam  Winnifrid  Milboume,  junior,  of 

Chirton,  married. 
Mr.  Joseph  Bonner,  vicar  of  Bowlum,  and  Mrs.  Isabell  Hickeringill,  married. 
Francis  Brownhill  and  Mrs.  Susannah  Roddam,  married. 
Mr.  Robert  Loadsman  and  Margaret  Stor)'  of  Shields,  married. 
Mr.  John  Severan,  Capt.  Leiuet",  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Bates,  married. 
Mr.  .Michael  Johnson  and  .Mrs.  Mary  Depommas. 
Mr.  Robert  Bugncl  and  .Mrs.  Anne  Storo,  married. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Kellio  and  Martha  Vasy,  married. 
Mr.  Robert  Clark  and  Mrs.  Dorothy  Vanholt  of  Newcastle,  married. 
tirey  Cooper,  esq.,  and  Mrs.  Margaret  Grey,  married. 
Mr.  George  Ward  of  Whitby  and  Mrs.  Mary  Errington,  married. 
1753/4,  Mar.  24.     Mr.  Henry  Ogle  of  Liverpool,  and  Mrs.  Jane  Ogle  of  Newcastle. 


1672,  May 

7- 

1675,  June 

27- 

1675,  Aug. 

3'- 

1678,  Dec. 

16. 

1 680/ 1,  Feb. 

'3- 

1684,  April 

6. 

1684,  July 

8. 

1686/7,  Feb. 

10. 

1686/7,  Feb. 

II. 

1694,  June 

10. 

1694,  Dec. 

19. 

1697,  April 

6. 

1698,  July 

4- 

1702,  April 

28 

1710/1,  Feb. 

4 

171 1,  Dec. 

-5 

17 12,  March 

31- 

1723,  Sept. 

5- 

1730,  Sept. 

29. 

1 731/2,  Jan. 

27- 

1752,  July 

25- 

1753,  Oct. 

-) 

1753/4,  Jd-n. 

31- 

Charities.' 

16....  Robert  Spearm.in  gave  a  cottage  and  close  for  the  schoolmaster;  also  ten  shillings  a  year 
out  of  a  house  in  Tynemouth  for  washing  surplices.' 

1650.  George  Milboume  of  Chirton  bequeathed  ten  shillings  yearly  to  the  poor  of  the  parish.  The 
yearly  sum  often  shillings  is  a  charge  on  the  Collingwood  property  at  Chirton,  and  is  distributed  by  the 
churchwardens  among  the  poor  of  the  township  of  Chirton. 

1654.  Gawen  Forster  bequeathed  the  sum  of  ten  shillings  yearly  to  the  poor  of  the  parish,  a  bene- 
faction now  lost. 

167 1.  George  Milboume  of  Chirton  bequeathed  four  pounds  a  year  to  the  native  poor  of  the 
parish,  to  be  distributed  on  the  day  of  his  burial.     This  bequest  does  not  appear  to  have  taken  eHect. 

1675.  William  Collinson  of  Tynemouth  gave  ten  shillings  yearly  to  the  poor  of  the  parish,  to  be  dis- 
tributed at  Easter.     This  has  also  ceased  to  be  paid. 

1678.  Sir  Mark  Milbank  of  Halnaby,  bart.,  gave  half  of  the  tithes  of  corn  and  grain  in  Tynemouth 
township  to  the  vicar  and  poor  of  the  said  parish,  namely,  two  pounds  per  annum  to  the  vicar,  and  the 
remainder  to  the  poor  ;  the  latter  portion  to  be  distributed  by  the  vicar  and  churchwardens  on  the 
first  Sunday  after  Lady-day  and  the  first  Sunday  after  Michaelmas. 

1703.  John  Spearman  of  Durham  bequeathed  to  the  vicar  and  churchwardens  of  Tynemouth 
'  ^20  towards  a  stocke  for  the  parish,  the  yearly  interest  to  be  applied  for  the  teaching  of  one  or  more 
poore  boy  or  boys  of  the  parish  by  birth  the  catechism  and  principles  of  the  protestant  religion  of  the 

'  Lists  of  Tynemouth  charities  are  given  in  the  Charity  Commissioners'  Tucniy-ihird  Report  (1830), 
pp.  438-443,  and  in  Parlinmcntary  Papers,  1895,  No.  147. 
'  Ralph  Spearman's  MSS. 


366 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


established  church,  and  in  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetick  and  navigation,  to  fitt  them  for  the  sea  or 
manuall  trades,  recommending  the  towns  of  East  Chirton,  I'rcston  and  Tynemouth,  where  my  paternal 
estate  is,  to  have  the  preference,  and  excepting  North  Shields.'  ' 

1703.  Eleanor  Wilson  of  North  Shields  bequeathed  ^25  tn  the  poor  of  tlie  parish,  the  interest  to  be 
distributed  by  the  churchwardens  every  Christmas  Day. 

1730.  William  Raper,  storekeeper  at  Tynemouth  castle  and  Clifford's  fort,  bequeathed  the 
interest  of  ^30  to  the  poor  of  the  parish.  This  sum  is  charged  on  a  house  in  the  Low  Street,  North 
Shields,  and  is  distributed  half-yearly,  on  February  2nd  and  August  2nd. 

176S.  Anthony  Pearson  of  North  Shields  bequeathed  to  the  vicar  and  churchwardens  the  interest 
of  ^50,  to  be  distributed  yearly  on  Christmas  Eve  to  six  poor  widows  of  seamen.'  The  bequest  appears 
never  to  have  taken  effect. 

1785.  James  Storey  of  the  Low  Lights  agreed,  in  return  for  permission  to  erect  a  pew  in  the  parish 
church,  that  the  sum  of  thirty  shillings  should  be  paid  yearly  by  him  and  his  heirs  to  the  curate  of  the 
parish,  towards  the  education  of  four  poor  children.  This  agreement  terminated  in  1792,  when  the 
church  was  re-seated. 

17SS.  Margaret  Richardson  of  West  Ham,  Middlesex,  bequeathed  to  the  Four-and-twenty  of  the 
parish  the  sum  of  .^466  13s.  4d.,  invested  in  East  India  annuities,  on  trust  to  distribute  the  interest 
among  the  poor  of  the  township  of  North  Shields  only.  The  dividends  on  the  stock  are  distributed  half- 
yearly,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  by  the  two  acting  churchwardens  for  the  townships  of  Tynemouth  and 
North  Shields. 

1790.     Winifred  Lawson  of  Chirton  bequeathed  the  interest  of /'loo  to  the  poor  of  the  parish. 

181 1.  George  Crawford  of  King's  Langley  bequeathed  the  interest  of  /700,  invested  in  three  per 
cent,  consols,  to  trustees,  for  the  poor  of  the  village  of  Tynemouth  only.  The  dividends  are  distributed 
about  Easter  by  the  vicar  and  churchwardens. 

1824.  Thomas  Kettlewell  of  North  Shields  bequeathed  four  annuities  of  two  guineas  each  to  the 
Bible  Society  for  Tynemouth  parish,  the  preacher  for  the  time  being  at  Howard  Street  Methodist  chapel, 
the  North  Shields  and  Tynemouth  Dispensary,  and  the  Indigent  Sick  Society  of  the  parish  of  Tyne- 
mouth. He  directed  his  trustees  to  support,  out  of  the  proceeds  of  his  estate,  one  or  more  schoolmasters 
for  instructing  children  in  a  charity-school  built  on  land  in  George  Street,  North  Shields,  on  land  given 
by  the  testator  for  that  purpose  in  1819.  The  trustees  were  to  employ  the  remainder  of  the  annual 
revenue  in  providing  books,  etc.,  in  clothing  the  children,  and  in  other  beneficial  purposes.  Orphans 
and  fatherless  children  were  to  have  the  preference  for  admission.  In  the  appointment  of  a  school- 
master, a  lame  person  was  to  be  preferred. 

1S27.  Charles  Charlcton,  M.D.,  of  North  Shields  devised  his  house  in  Dockwray  Square  and  other 
property,  subject  to  his  wife's  life-interest,  to  trustees  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  fever-house  to  be 
joined  to  the  Tynemouth  Dispensary.     The  bequest  was  contested  and  failed  to  take  eflTect. 

1859.  Robert  Pow  of  North  Shields  devised  ;£2,70O  on  trust,  as  to  two-thirds,  for  the  North  Shields 
Town  Mission  Society,  and,  as  to  one-third,  for  the  Missions  to  Seamen  Society.  The  fund  is  managed 
in  accordance  with  a  scheme  drawn  up  by  the  Charity  Commissioners  in  1879. 

1872.  Joseph  Elder  Heward  of  St.  George's  Place,  Hyde  Park,  devised  the  residue  of  his  estate, 
amounting  to  ^4,200,  to  the  mayor,  aldermen,  and  burgesses  of  the  borough  of  Tynemouth  ;  the  income 
to  be  applied  by  them  for  clothing,  educating,  and  bringing  up  poor  and  deserving  orphan  children  of 
sailors  belonging  to  the  borough.     This  sum  is  administered  by  a  committee  of  the  borough  council. 

1874.     J.  Aynsley  bequeathed  /50  to  be  invested  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  at  Monkseaton. 

1884.  Edward  Shotton  devised  the  interest  on  £ioo  to  the  Indigent  Sick  Society,  and  like  sums 
to  the  North  Shields  and  Tynemouth  Dispensary,  and  to  the  Tyne  Sailors'  Home. 

'  Surtees,  Durham,  vol.  i.  p.  96.  '  This  sum  was  laid  out  with  other  moneys  for  the  school,  viz., 
Spearman's  gift,  three  boys  from  Preston,  two  from  Chirton,  one  from  Tynemouth.  My  father  and  aunt 
Walker  always  named  boys.  It  was  lost  after  my  speaking  to  old  Collingwood.  He  said  our  family 
naming  was  not  of  right  but  from  respect  to  benefactors.'     Ralph  Spearman's  MSS. 

■  Mr.  H.  A.  Adamson's  collections. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  367 

Miscellanea. 

1505.  John  Hebborne,  vicar;  William  Bell,  chaplain.  The  parishioners  say  that  the  vicar  docs 
not  reside  in  his  benefice  as  he  is  bound  to  do,  and  they  say  that  matins  and  vespers  are  not  said  at 
fitting  and  usual  hours.  They  also  say  that  the  glass  windows  in  the  choir  are  broken,  and  it  is 
enjoined  on  the  impropriators  that  they  be  sufficiently  repaired  and  mended  before  the  feast  of  the 
Purification  next.     Ecclesiastical  Proceedings,  .Surt.  .Soc.  No.  22,  p.  xx. 

1535,  May  8th.  Charge  of  adultery  with  Sir  Phihp  Dacre,  knt.,  brought  against  Dorothy  Clapam 
of  the  parish  of  Tynemouth.  She  appeared  and  purged  herself  by  oath  ;  was  inhibited  from  consorting 
with  Sir  Philip  Dacre  in  future.     Ecclesiastical  Depositions,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  21,  p.  50. 

'535-  Tynemouth  vicarage  worth  yearly  £24  19s.  4d.  clear.  Valor  EccUsiasticus,  Record  Com- 
mission, vol.  V.  p.  327. 

1601,  October  13th.  Their  communion  book  is  torn  and  not  sufficient.  Visitation  Books,  Durham 
Episcopal  Registry. 

1603/4,  February  6th.  Office  against  Simon  Ward  and  Nicholas  Hunter  that  they  refused  to  pay 
their  wine  silver  ;  against  John  Scott  and  Barbara  his  wife  for  not  receiving  the  holy  communion  at 
Easier  last.     Ibid. 

1605,  June  8th.  Office  against  Ann,  wife  of  Simon  Ward,  for  scolding  in  the  church  in  the  time  of 
divine  service  on  the  Sabbath  day,  so  as  the  minister  could  not  read  the  service.     lOid. 

1607/8,  February  4th.  They  want  the  table  of  the  commandments,  a  register  book  in  parchment,  a 
chest  or  locker  with  three  locks.     Hid. 

1638.     Assessment  for  the  parish  :  £.     s.    d. 

Cessment  of  4s.  per  farm,  55  farms      ...         11     o    o 

Salt  pans,  30  at  4s.  600 

Taverns,  4  at  4s.  ...         ...         o  16    o 

Cobles,  10  at  2s 100 

Wherries,  20  at  2s.  200 

Alehouses,  100  at  2s.       ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         10    o    o 

Of  every  mill        040 

Deduct  for  the  outshire  farm,  for  each  one-third  part  of  their  cess,  being  18  farms,  for  a  whole  cess  24s. 
More  the  outshire  to  pay.     More  Flatworth  to  pay.     Tynemouth  Vestry  Books. 

1645.  It  is  ordered  that  the  burialls  shalbe  in  the  place  appointed  for  burying,  paying  the  minister 
his  dues,  and,  if  any  other  ground  be  broken  att  Spittle,  to  pay  to  John  Cramlington  for  every  buriall  out 
of  the  ordinary  place  6d.,  viz.,  the  church  yard.     Ibid. 

1658,  June  28th.  '  I  doe  ingage  to  give  teen  pounds  towards  ye  building  a  church  for  ye  parish  of 
Tynemouth.'     (Signed)  W.  Collinson.     Ibid. 

1658,  December  8th.  '  Whereas  Mr.  Frederick  Simpson,  preacher  of  Gods  word,  was  invited  from 
London  and  presented  by  Ralph  Gardner,  esq.,  to  be  minister  of  the  parish  of  Tynmouth  in  the  county 
of  Northumberland,  where  he  did  for  severall  Lord's  days  preach  wholsom  orthodox  devinitie,  but  for 
want  of  a  laudable  voyce  through  the  indisposition  of  his  body  they  are  deseirous  to  chose  another  ; 
wee  the  twenty  four  of  the  said  parish  doe,  in  the  behalf  of  ourselves  and  the  rest  of  the  parishioners, 
and  in  consideration  of  his  charges  in  his  jurneys  and  the  said  devine's  pains,  order  and  allow  him  the 
meanes  or  stipend  which  belonges  to  ye  said  parish  from  the  tyme  our  laite  minister,  Mr.  Gibson,  left  it, 
and  until  such  tyme  as  we  have  chosen  another  ;  also  wee  giving  him  all  harty  thanks  for  his  said  great 
paines.'     Ibid. 

1658/9,  January  3rd.  To  the  Commissioners  for  Propagating  the  Gospel.  'Wee  the  churchwardens 
of  the  parish  of  Tynmouth  do  humbly  present  the  bearer  Mr.  John  Page,  minister,  to  be  examined 
by  you  whether  he  is  fitt  to  receive  a  call  by  this  parish  to  be  their  minister,  he  having  spent  some  tyme 
and  paines,  and  is  genarly  liked  by  the  said  parish.'  Upon  examination  in  the  history  of  the  Bible  and 
other  things  relating  to  the  ministerial  functions,  the  said  Page  was  found  '  ver)-  wake  and  ignorant  and 
altogether  unfitt  to  preach  or  exercise  in  the  work  of  ye  ministry.'     Ibid. 

1658/9,  January  8th.  Received  for  the  distressed  protestants  in  Poland  and  twenty  familyes  banished 
out  of  Bohemia  the  sum  of  £2  14s.  3d. ;  paid  to  the  high  sheriff^,  Mr.  Edward  Fenwick,  for  there  use.    Ibid. 


368  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

1662,  October  24th.  'Whereas  in  these  late  times  ye  bookes,  vestments,  furniture  and  ornaments 
belonging  to  our  church  have  either  been  plundered,  purloyned,  imbezeled  or  made  away,  so  that  none 
of  them  of  any  consequence  are  remaining  to  be  found  for  ye  performance  of  devine  offices  there  ; ' 
a  rate  was  imposed  for  providing  the  articles  required.     Tyncmoiith  Vestry  Books. 

1667/8,  March.  It  was  ordered  that  each  farmer  and  copyholder  in  the  inshire  should  pay  5s.  the 
farm,  and  the  Shields  to  raise  as  much  as  the  county  amounted  unto,  for  the  building  of  a  pulpit  and 
glasing  the  windows.     IbiJ. 

1674.  The  names  of  the  Four-and-twcnty.  For  the  country,  .Sir  Ralph  Delavale,  Captain  Thos. 
Love,  Ralph  Rccd,  esq.,  Thos.  Otway,  Mich.  Spearman,  John  Butler,  Henry  Archbold,  \Vm.  Reay, 
Ro.  Rotherforth,  Robt.  Dove,  Edw.  Spearman,  Thos.  Hall  and  Jas.  Robinson.  For  the  Shields, 
Wm.  CoUinson,  esq.,  Jeremiah  Low,  Abraham  Readhead,  Edw.  Toll,  Edw.  Hodson,  Jas.  Killerby, 
Jo.  Hunter,  Jo.  Howlet,  Jo.  Clarke,  Robt.  Story,  Geo.  Bradley.     Ibid. 

16S2,  Easter  Tuesday.  Received  of  Gabriel  Coulson,  clerke,  one  silver  bowle  (or  chalice)  and  silver 
cover,  two  flaggons,  two  plates,  one  table-cloath  and  one  napkin,  all  of  them  belonging  to  the  communion 
table,  together  with  a  large  pewtaer  bason  belonging  to  the  same.     Ibid. 

1684,  December  18th.  Ordered  this  day  and  year  abovesaid  by  the  vicar  and  gentlemen  of  the 
four  and  twenty,  that  a  cess  of  is.  6d.  per  farme  in  the  inshire,  and  I2d.  per  farme  in  Tinmouth,  and  ye 
collyer)'es  mills  demaines  and  free  lands  in  Tinmouth  aforesaid  at  los.  per  pound,  according  to  a  schedule 
drawen  by  ye  four  and  twenty,  and  the  rectory  of  Tinemouth  ^1  10s.,  for  the  repaireing  of  the  chancell,  and 
2id.  in  ye  pound  in  North  Shields,  be  laid  on  and  forthwith  collected  for  the  repairing  of  the  church.    Ibid. 

1725  (circa).  Tynemouth  vicarage.  According  to  Dr.  Ellison's  paper  the  value  is  ^So,  but  according  to 
my  account  taken  in  the  visitation,  ^100.  The  vicar  hath  neither  glebe,  tithe,  nor  Easter  offerings,  but  the 
Crown  pays  him  a  pension  of  ^30  per  annum  (of  which  he  is  to  pay  his  curate  at  Earsdon  £4  13s.  4d.), 
and  40s.  per  annum  was  left  by  deed  by  Sir  Mark  Milbank  out  of  his  part  of  the  tithes  of  Tynemouth  town. 
The  duke  of  Somerset  pays  him  /^lo  per  annum,  but  that  is  gratuitous  and  may  be  withdrawn  at  pleasure. 
Books,  Foxe's  Martyrs,  three  volumes,  belonging  to  the  parish.     Archdeacon  Sliarpc's  Visitation. 

1736  {circa).  Vicarage  of  Tynemouth  in  sequestracion.  Resident  families,  800;  200  dissenters; 
two  meeting  houses,  one  Presbyterian,  one  Quaker  ;  value  of  living  about  ;f 200  ;  a  public  school ; 
Nathaniel  Tavenor  and  W.  Donkin,  masters  ;  catechism  with  Williams  ;  sacrament  once  a  month  ; 
100  come,  300  come  at  Easter  and  Whitsunday.     Bishop  Chandler's  Visitation. 

Churchwarden's  accounts.  1759,  to  putting  three  women  in  the  stocks,  4s.  6d.  ;'  1776,  to  cleaning 
the  Dogger  letch  and  conveying  the  rubbish  in  the  church  way,  14s.  4d.     Churchwardens'  Books. 

1775  {circa).  Tynemouth  vicarage.  Clear  yearly  value,  ;^4i  i8s.  o|d.  ;  yearly  tenths,  £2  9s.  1  i|d.  ; 
bishop's  procuration  money,  14s.  ;.  archdeacon's  procuration,  12s.  ;  real  value,  £()o.  Randall,  State  of 
the  Churches. 

1792,  July  28th.  'The  boundaries  of  the  parish  of  Tynemouth  were  perambulated  on  Wednesday 
last  by  the  vicar,  the  principal  gentlemen  and  churchwardens,  agreeable  to  the  instructions  of  the  bishop 
of  Durham.'     Newcastle  Chronicle. 

1795,  April  9th.  At  a  vestry  meeting  held  to  consider  the  most  effectual  means  of  raising  men  for 
the  navy,  agreeable  to  an  Act  of  Parliament  passed  March  5th,  1795,  it  was  agreed  that  the  overseers 
and  churchwardens  should  be  allowed  to  offer  a  bounty  of  thirty  guineas  for  every  recruit  to  be  raised 
for  the  township  of  Tynemouth.      ]'estry  Books. 

1823,  December  loth.  Mr.  Joel  \'entermann  was  appointed  town  cryer  or  bellman  ;  he  was  to  be 
provided  with  a  blue  coat,  red  cape,  and  three-cocked  hat  trimmed  with  lace.     Ibid. 

1827,  April  29th.  Tynemouth  vicarage.  Certain  payments,  Crown,  ^28;  Sir  Ralph  Milbank's 
legacy,  £■2;  other  moneys,  ^4;  claimable  fees,  ^180;  actual  receipt,  .£290.  Duty,  two  services  on 
Sunday,  and  sermon  in  the  morning  for  the  vicar,  but  the  lecturer  preaches  in  the  afternoon,  which  is 
his  whole  duty.     Archdeacon  Singleton's  Visitation." 

'  The  old  stocks  were  in  use  as  late  as  1820.  They  stood  at  the  foot  of  Preston  Road  until  18S1, 
when  they  were  removed  to  the  churchyard.  A  photograph  of  them  is  reproduced  in  Proc.  Soc.  Antiq. 
Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  x.  p.  298. 

-  Further  extracts  from  the  Tynemouth  Vestry  Books  are  given  by  Mr.  H.  A.  .Adamson  in  Arch.  Ael, 
2nd  series,  vol.  xi.x.  pp.  93-104. 


municipal  history  of  the  borough.  369 

The  Rectory  of  Tynemouth. 

Tynemouth  rectory  was  valued  in  Pope  Innocent's    Valor  of  1264  at 

£j2,   6s.  8d,'  and  in    Pope   Nicholas's  taxation   of   1291    at  £71    12s.    lod." 

This  represents  its  net  value.      A  more   detailed   account   sets   it  out   as 

follows  : 

c    5.    <i. 
'lithe  of  grain  of  Tyneinouth,  ^8  13s.  4d.;  of  Whitley,  £6  ;  of  Monkseafon,  £Z  13s.  41!.;  of 

Earsdon,  ^8  ;  of  Preston,  £1  6s.  8d.;  of  the  three  Chirtons,  £c)  :  of  Milneton  and  Shields, 

5s.;  of  the  two  Backworths,  £2  ;  of  Seghill,  £7  6s.  8d.;  of  Holywell,  £■,  13s.  4d.;   of 

Newsham,  ^2  13s.  4d.;  of  Seaton  Delaval,  ^12;  of  Hartley, /12.     Total'  87   1 1     8 

Tithe  from  the  mills,  ^3  6s.  8d.;   tithe  of  wool  and  lambs,  ^3  gs.;  tithe  of  geese  and  pigs, 

5s.  6d.;  tithe  of  hay  and  flax,  £2  ;  tithe  of  wax,  £2  ;  from  baptisms  and  churchings,  £1  ; 

from  mortuaries,  ^3  los.;  from  annual  offerings  ;^6  JOS.;  from  sundries,  ^2.     Total       ...       24     i     2 


Sum  total      ...         ...         ...     Ill    12   10 

Deductions.     For  alms,  ^30.     For  pittances  to  the  monks, /lo.' 

The    tithe    of    corn,    fleeces,    and    lambs    was    estimated    in     1340    at 
£-]b   i2s.    lod."     In   1538  the  total  yield  was  ^79  7s.  8d.,  namely: 

C      s.       d. 

Tithe  of  grain  of  Tynemouth,  £ft;  of  Whitley,  £2  10s.;  of  Monkscaton  and  Hartley,  ;^I2  ; 

of  Earsdon,   ^4;    of  Preston,  ^2   los.;    of  East  Chirton,  £2   los.;    of  Middle  Chirton, 

£2  13s.  4d.;  of  Backworth,  £^  ;  of  Seghill,  /4  ;  of  Holywell,  £^  6s.  Sd.;  of  Xewsham,  £\  ; 

of  Seaton  Delaval,  ^10  5s.;  ofMurton,  ^2;  of  Burradon,  ^i  6s.  8d.     Total        59     1     8 

Tithe  of  wool  and  lambs,  £^  6s.  8d.;  tithe  of  flax  and  hemp,  19s.  4d.;  tithe  of  fish,  ;£$  ;'  small 

tithes,  ^8  ;  altarage  or  Easter  offerings,  ^2.*     Total...         20    6    o 


Sum  total      79     7     8t 

''■'  Easter  offerings  were,  for  a  hen,  gd.;  for  smoke,  id. ;  for  sacrament  wine,  2d.  from  each  house;  for 
each  person  over  sixteen  years  of  age,  2d.     Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

\  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  pp.  230-231. 

'  Hodgson,  Northumberland,  pt.  ii.  vol.  iii.  p.  424. 

-  Taxatio  Ecclcsiastica,  Record  Com.,  p.  316  ;  Hodgson,  Northumberland,  pt.  iii.  vol.  i.  p.  349. 
'  Excepting  the  tithe  corn  of  Murton  and  Burradon,  which  formed  part  of  the  vicar's  endowment. 
'  St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  108  b,  and  Tynemouth  Chartulary,  fol.  56;    printed  by  Brand,  XeucastU, 
vol.  ii.  p.  593. 

'  Hodgson,  Northumberland,  pt.  iii.  vol.  iii.  p.  xxxvi. 

°  A  suit  between  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth  of  the  one  part  and  certain  of  the  parishioners 
of  Tynemouth  of  the  other  part  was  heard  in  1366  in  the  consistory  court  of  Durham.  The  claim  of  the 
prior  and  convent  w.is  there  recognised  to  the  tenth  fish,  great  or  tniall.  caught  in  salt  water  or  fresh,  in 
ship  or  boat,  by  the  parishioners  of  Tynemouth,  and  landed  by  them  at  North  Shields  or  sold  at  New- 
castle market  ;  as  well  as  to  the  tenth  penny  of  the  market  price  of  all  fish  caught  by  the  paiishioncrs  of 
Tynemouth  and  sold  by  them  elsewhere,  without  any  drawback  for  salting  or  other  charges.  The 
notarial  instrument  is  printed  from  the  register  of  the  prior  and  convent  of  Durham  [Ke^istrum 
Tertnim,  fol.  loS)  in  Hodgson,  Northumberland,  pt.  iii.  vol.  ii.  p.  112.  Special  regulations  had  to  be 
made  for  tithing  fish  caught  in  vessels  owneil  by  men  of  North  Shields  and  South  Shields  in  partnership, 
as  the  two  towns  lay  in  separate  parishes,  and  Jarrow  monastery  had  a  share  in  the  tithes.  These  were 
as  follows  : 

'  Modus  decimandi  hominum  de  South  Sheels  navigantium  in  batellis  de  la  North  Sheels.  Memo- 
randum quod  die  martis  proxima  post  festum  Sancti  Dunstani  episcopi  A.D.  1313  comparuit  personaliter 

Vol.  VI 11.  47 


370 


TYNEMOUTH  BOROUGH. 


The  corn  tithes  of  Cowpen  in  the  chapelry  of  Horton,  and  of  Elwick 
and  Owton  in  the  parish  of  Hart  in  Durham,  were  also  reckoned  to  be 
parcels  of  the  rectory,  and  brought  up  its  annual  value  to  ^96,  Upon  the 
suppression  of  Tynemouth  priory,  the  rectory  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Crown.  Separate  leases  were  made  of  the  corn  tithes  of  East  Chirton, 
Burradon,  Seaton  Delaval,  Cowpen,  Elwick  and  Owton,  as  well  as  of  the 
tithe  of  fish  for  Hartley  and  Blyth,  and  the  tithe  of  hay  was  farmed  to  the 
tenants  in  the  various  townships  of  the  parish.  The  residue  of  the  rectory 
was  leased  on  March  9th,  1538/9,  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton,'  and  continued, 
during  the  sixteenth  century,  to  form  part  of  the  maintenance  of  the 
captain  of  Tynemouth  castle.  The  tithe-barns  within  the  castle  were  kept 
in  good  repair,  and  thither  the  tenants  within  the  parish  carted  their  tithe 
corn  by  custom,  'without  any  consideration  saving  bread  and  drink.' ^ 

On  February  9th,  1588/9,  the  rectory  and  the  advowson  of  the  vicarage 
were  granted  by  the  Crown  to  Edmund  Downing  and  Charles  Dodding,  as 
trustees  for  sale,  to  be  held  in  common  socage,  rendering  yearly  £s  '5^- 
for  the  rectory  and  ^^30  as  the  stipend  of  the  vicar  of  Tynemouth.' 
Downing  and  Dodding  sold  the  same  on  June  28th  following,  for  £  1,050, 
to    Ralph   Delaval   and   Peter    Delaval    of  Tynemouth,'  who    subsequently 

in  ccclesia  beati  Johannis  de  Novocastro  Robertus  Gray  piscator  de  North  Sheds  coram  procuratore 
prions  et  conventus  de  Tinemouth,  etc.  Idem  Robertus  fatebatur  decimam  ciijuscumque  generis  piscium 
in  mari  captorum  cujushbet  navis  et  battelh  super  terram  dictorum  religiosorum  apud  North  .Slieils 
apphcantium,  praefatis  religiosis,  scilicet  priori  et  conventui  predictis  et  ecclesie  sue  de  Tinemouth,  fore 
et  esse  debitam  et  efficaciter  pcrtinere  ;  ita  videlicet  quod  si  aliqui  sint  piscatores  de  .South  Sheils,  de 
parochia  ecclesie  de  Jarrow,  in  hujusmodi  navi  sive  battello,  qui  lucri  et  damni  sunt  consortes  piscatorum 
de  North  Sheils,  pro  decima  duntaxat  portiones  eorum  contingenti  procurator  dictorum  religiosorum 
virorum  procuratori  magistri  ecclesie  de  Jarrow  predicta  de  pecunia  numerata  juridicaliter  respondcbit, 
cum  fuerit  competcnter  requisitus  ex  parte  magistri  antedicti.'     Uuke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

In  1538  a  salmon  fishery  in  the  Tyne  was  farmed  by  the  fishermen  of  North  Shields,  subject  to  the 
customary  p.ayment  of  one  salmon  out  of  every  twenty  to  the  bailiff  of  the  town.  Gibson,  Tynemouth, 
vol.  i.  p.  223.  This  was  subsequently  commuted  for  a  charge  of  ten  shillings  on  each  coble.  Duke  of 
Northumberland's  MSS.  Crown  leases  of  the  bailiwick  of  North  Shields  also  included  the  tithe  of  the 
great  fish  called  Shetland  lings  and  the  tithe  of  small  fish  caught  in  cobles. 

'  Ibid.  p.  217. 

"In  a  letter  written  in  1595  to  the  ninth  carl  of  Northumberland,  Peter  Delaval  describes  the 
manner  in  which  the  tithe  corn  was  collected  :  'Your  lordship's  collectors  of  the  tythes,  when  ihcy  were 
brought  into  the  castle,  being  entreated  by  the  tennants  to  allowe  them  sum  one  rigg  and  sum  tow  rigs 
of  corne,  being  lozen  corne  for  sedc  to  the  quantatie  of  .\  or  xx  threves,  as  it  pleased  the  collectors  to 
yeeld  them  more  or  lesse,  which  (for  the  better  furnishing  ther  grounds  with  good  sede,  for  the  avoyding 
your  lordship's  expence  in  hiring  laborers  to  Carrie  the  tythe  stooks  together  on  hcapes,  for  the  ease  of 
the  tennants'  cattle  in  taking  ther  tithes  npp  together  uppon  one  rigg  or  tow  rigs  rather  then  to  go  to 
everie  wikered  stook,  and  for  expedicion  in  leading  in  corne  of  all  hands)  they,  your  lordship's  collectors, 
yeeldcd  thcrunto,  allwayes  provided  that  they  might  choose  ther  tyth  together  of  one  rigg  or  more 
throughout  all  the  rest  of  ther  crops  after  the  same  quantitie  of  x  or  xx  threves  allowed  them  for  sede, 
being  of  like  bignes  of  sheif  that  ther  sede-corne  was  of  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  Lozen  corn 
perhaps  refers  to  corn  that  has  been  cut  but  not  bound.  Compare  Promptoritun  Parvulorum  :  Mosyn  or 
unbyndyn,  solve' 

'  Patent  Rolls,  30  Eliz.  pt.  15.  '  Harlcian  Charters,  Brit.  Mas.  79,  F.  17. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    BOROUGH.  37 1 

conveyed  one  moiety  to  their  kinsman,  Robert  Delaval  of  Seaton  Delaval.' 
The  other  moiety  was  made  over  on  June  23rd,  1602,  to  Henry,  ninth 
earl  of  Northumberland,  in  part  payment  of  Peter  Delaval's  debts.  The 
fee-farm  rent  of  _^  5  15s.,  reserved  to  the  Crown  upon  the  sale  of  the 
rectory,  was  sold  under  Act  of  Parliament  in  1650,  and  is  now  payable 
to  the  Company  of  Merchant  Venturers  of  Bristol,  for  the  maintenance 
of  a  hospital  and  almshouse  in  that  city. 

The  representatives  of  the  Percy  and  Delaval  families  continued  each 
to  hold  a  moiety  of  the  advowson,  and  made  alternate  presentations  to  the 
living,  until  the  year  1838,  when  Hugh,  third  duke  of  Northumberland, 
purchased  the  Delaval  moiety  from  Sir  Jacob  Astley,  bart.  The  duke  of 
Northumberland  is  the  principal  tithe-owner  in  the  parish,  having,  besides 
the  moiety  acquired  in  1602,  the  second  moiety  of  the  tithes  of  corn  in 
the  townships  of  Seghill,  Burradon,  Backworth,  Earsdon,  Whitley,  and 
Preston.  These  tithes  were  purchased  on  October  15th,  18 18,  from  Sir 
Ralph  Noel,  alias  Milbanke,  bart.,  heir  and  representative  of  Mark  Milbanke 
of  Newcastle,  to  whom  Sir  Ralph  Delaval  of  Seaton  Delaval,  bart.,  had 
made  conveyance  on  October  19th,  1676.  Sir  Mark  Milbanke  of  Halnaby, 
bart.,  devised  his  moiety  of  the  tithes  of  corn  and  grain  in  Tynemouth 
township  in  1678  to  the  vicar  and  the  poor  of  the  parish.  The  moieties  of 
the  corn  tithes  in  North  Shields,  Chirton,  Monkseaton,  and  Murton,  are  in 
the  hands  of  various  owners  ;  and  those  of  Holywell,  Hartley,  Seaton 
Delaval,  and  Newsham  have  been  merged  in  the  freeholds.  In  1838,  the 
tithe  payments  were  commuted  for  fixed  rent-charges.^ 

Non-Established  Churches. 

George  Fox,  the  founder  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  visited  Newcastle 
in  1653,  and  the  influence  of  his  teaching  was  felt  at  North  Shields,  since 
meetings  for  worship  were  shortlv  afterwards  held  by  his  followers  in  Isabel 
Larkin's  house  in  that  town.'  Four  years  later  Fox  was  again  at  Newcastle, 
and  thence  travelled  through  the  county,  having  meetings  and  visiting 
friends,    '  and    a  very    good   meeting,'  he   says  in    his    journal,  '  we   had    at 

'  This  moiely  was  confirmed  to  Sir  Robert  Delaval  by  letters  patent  dated  February  i6th,  1608/9,  in 
consideration  of  ^600  paid  by  him  to  Thomas,  earl  of  Suftblk. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  Compare  Steel,  Early  Friends  in  the  North,  London,  1905. 


1" 


372 


tynemouth  borough. 


Lieutenant  Dove's,  where  many  were  turned  to  the  Lord  and  His  teaching.'' 
/Vs   early   as   1661    a   graveyard    for    the    use    of   Friends    was    provided    at 
Cullercoats.-     On  June   6th  of  that  year,  at  a  meeting  at  Robert  Linton's 
at    Laygate,    South    Shields,    John  Dove    and  William    Dove   of  Whitley, 
yeomen,    Mary     Dove    of    the    same    place,    spinster,    George    Linton    and 
Lawrence  Haslam,  both  of  North  Shields,  and  others,  were  apprehended  by 
Major  Graham,  deputy-governor  of  Tynemouth    castle,  and   were   by  him 
cast    into    '  nastv    holes '    in    that    fortress,   where   they   lay    a   full    month.' 
Similarly  in  January,  1681,  Richard  Pindar  of  North  Shields,  was  presented 
at  quarter  sessions  for  having  a  meeting  of  quakers  there.^     In  1698  notice 
was  given  to  the  justices  of  the  peace  that  a  newly-erected  brick  building  at 
the    west  end  of  North  Shields  was  desired  to  be  licensed  for  a  place  of 
public  worship  by  the  people   called  quakers.^     This  meeting  house  stood 
at  the  Bull  Ring,  and  near  to  it,  in  Coach  Lane,  opposite  to  the  spot  where 
Trinity  church  now  stands,  a  piece  of  copyhold  land  was,  before  the  year 
1729,   purchased    from    Robert   Lawson   of  Chirton    and    converted    into    a 
quaker  burial  place.*     In  1800  a  new  meeting  house  was  built  in  Stephenson 
Street,  and  enlarged  in  1849  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  monthly 
meeting.     In  181 1  the  society  purchased  a  piece  of  ground  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street  for  a  burial  ground.     This,  together  with  the  old  graveyard 
near  the  Bull  Ring,  was  closed  by  order  in  council  under  the  Burial  Acts  of 
1 853- 1 854,  and  Friends  now  bury  in  the  public  cemetery,  in  a  portion  of 
ground  allotted  to  them  by  the  Town  Council.' 

After  the  passing  of  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  forty  ministers  in  North- 
umberland resigned  the  livings  to  which  they  had  been  appointed  during  the 
Commonwealth.  Among  them  were  Alexander  Gordon,  who  was  ejected 
from  the  parish  church  of  Tynemouth  and  retired  to  Scotland  ;  William 
Henderson,  who,  ejected  from  the  parochial  chapel  of  Earsdon,  became 
chaplain  to  Sir  Ralph  Delaval,  to  whom  he  dedicated  his  '  Discourse  against 

'  Fox,  Journal,  p.  281.  The  original  manuscript  of  the  journal  was  in  the  possession  of  the  late 
Mr.  Charles  James  Spence  of  South  Preston  lodge,  North  Shields,  who  would  have  contributed  to  this 
volume,  had  not  illness  prevented,  a  historical  account  of  the  Society  of  Friends  at  Cullercoats  and 
North  Shields. 

■  See  above,  p.  281.       '  Besse,  Collection  of  the  Sufferings  of  the  People  called  Quakers,  vol.  i.  pp.  i74-i75- 

'  Sessions  Order  Books,  vol.  i.       ^  Sessions  Papers,  1697,  Christmas,  No.  14.       '  Tynemouth  Court  Rolls. 

'An  Account  of  Charitable   Trusts  within  the  compass  of  the  Durham   Quarterly   Meeting.     Some 

extracts  from  the  register  of  burials  and  from  the  cash  books  of  the  society  may  be  found  in  a  paper  by 

Mr.  Mabcrly  Phillips  on  'Forgotten  Burying  Grounds  of  the  Society  of  Friends,'  Arch.  Acl.  2nd  series, 

vol.  xvi. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  373 

Conformity  ; '  and  the  learned  John  Lomax,  ejected  from  the  church  of 
Wooler,  who  thereupon  settled  in  North  Shields,  where  he  maintained 
himself  as  an  apothecary  and  physician.  These  three  men  may  be  regarded 
as  the  fathers  of  Protestant  Nonconformity  in  the  parish  of  Tynemouth. 

Lomax,'  who,  though  never  imprisoned,  'suffered  much  on  account  of 
his  nonconformity,'  and  '  was  often  obliged  to  flee  from  his  family  and 
wander  about  the  country  in  the  most  inclement  weather,'  on  November 
1 8th,  1672,  took  out  one  of  the  unconstitutional  licences,  granted  by 
Charles  II.  to  those  of  tender  conscience,  as  an  'Independent  teacher'  and 
preached  and  taught  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Isabel  Green  in  North  Shields, 
which  was  licensed  for  the  purpose.  May  13th,  1672.-  He  was  presented 
at  quarter  sessions,  January  iith,  1681/2,  for  keeping  a  conventicle  and 
preaching  publicly  contrary  to  the  statutes  in  that  case  provided.^ 

A  small  stone  structure,  afterwards  a  bake-house,  in  Thorntree  Lane, 
now  called  Magnesia  Bank,  was,  so  far  as  is  known,  the  first  building  set 
apart  as  a  chapel.  Traces  of  texts  of  scripture  which  had  been  painted 
on  the  walls  were  visible  as  late  as  1880.  A  larger  chapel,  near  the 
lower  end  of  the  town,  was  erected  in  the  early  years  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  but  the  church  was  weakened  and  ultimately  exhausted  by  a 
secession  which  took  place  in  1759  during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Joseph 
Wilkinson.  The  following  is  a  list  of  ministers  :  John  Lomax,  died  May 
25th,  1693;  John  Turnbull,  1693-1723  ;  James  Richardson;  Joseph-Wil- 
kinson; Isaac  Robinson,  died  August  23rd,  1782,  etc*  The  register  of 
births  and  baptisms,    1756- 181 2,  is  deposited  at  Somerset  House. 

The  members  of  Mr.  Wilkinson's  congregation  who  seceded  in  1759 
assembled  in  a  room  at  Wooden  Bridge  under  the  ministry  of  the  Rev. 
James  Rae.  They  afterwards  built  the  High  Meeting,  and  subsequently 
in  18 II  a  chapel  in  Howard  Street.  By  the  trust  deed  the  minister  must 
be  a  licenciate  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  ;  hence  the  building  is  called  the 

'For  an  account  of  John  Lomax  by  Mr.  Maberly  Phillips,  see  Arch.  Ael.  3rd  series,  vol.  ii. 
Cf.  Memoir  of  Ambrose  Barnes,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  50;  and  Calamy,  Continuation  of  the  Account  of  Ejected 
Ministers,  pp.  670-672. 

-For  list  of  licences  granted  for  Northumberland  and  Durham  see  Arch.  Ad.  2nd  series,  voL 
xiii.  p.  63. 

3  Sessions  Order  Books,  vol.  i.  Fifty  other  persons  were  presented  for  nonconformity  in  that  year  by 
the  churchwardens  of  Tynemouth.  Kcv.  John  Hodgson's  Collections,  from  a  volume  of  entries  of  present- 
ments at  Archdeacon  Turner's  visitation,  formerly  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  John  Bell. 

'The  register  of  burials  of  Tynemouth  parish  contains  the  following  entries:  1730,  April  20th. 
Mr.  William  Cowden,  dissenting  teacher,  Shields,  bur.  1733.  Sept.  24.  Mr  W  orth.ngton,  dissenlins 
teacher,  of  North  Shields,  bur. 


374  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Scotch  church.  A  schoolhouse  adjoining  the  chapel  was  built  in  1843. 
The  register  of  births  and  baptisms  from  1783  to  1837  is  deposited  at 
Somerset  House.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  ministers  :  James  Rae,' 
1759-1803;  Walter  Knox''  (previously  assistant  minister),  1803-1817; 
John  Cochrane,  1817-1823;  Charles  Thomson,  1823-1840;  Charles  F. 
Buchan,  D.D.,  1840-1843  ;  George  J.  C.  Duncan,  1844-185 1  ;  William 
Reive,  1852-1854  ;  Colin  A.  Mackenzie,  1854-1864;  John  Stewart,^  1866- 
1872  ;  and  the  Rev.  David  Tasker,  the  present  minister. 

St.  Andrew's  chapel,  in  Camden  Street,  was  erected  in  1818  by 
members  of  the  vScotch  Church  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  theological 
opinions  of  the  Rev.  John  Cochrane.  The  trust  deed  provides  that  the 
minister  may  be  either  a  Presbyterian,  as  was  the  first  minister,  the  Rev. 
John  Wilson,  or  an  Independent,  as  have  been  all  of  his  successors.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  ministers:  John  Wilson,  D.D.,  1818-1820;  W.  H. 
Stowell,  D.D.  (successively  of  Rotherham  and  Cheshunt  colleges),  1820- 
1834;  Archibald  Jack,  1834-1867  ;  J.  Christien,  1868-1871  ;  J.  W.  Ellis, 
1872-1878  ;  James  Webb,  1878-1887  ;  E.  R.  Palmer,  M.A.,  1888-1892  ; 
J.  E.  Brown,  B.A.,  Ph.D.,  1892- 1895;  W.  H.  Girling,  1896- 1898;  and 
the  present  minister,  the  Rev.  H.  S.  Savage.  The  register  of  births  and 
baptisms,  1817-1837,  is  deposited  at  Somerset  House. 

A  General  Associate  or  Anti-Burgher  church  was  formed  on  May  ist, 
1781,  by  a  few  residents  in  North  and  South  Shields  who  had  hitherto  been 
members  of  the  Blackett  Street  church  in  Newcastle.  A  house  in  Milburn 
Place,  a  theatre  in  the  market-place,  and  chapels  at  the  foot  of  Church  Way 
and  in  an  entry  oft  Green  Street  were  successively  used  as  meeting-houses 
by  the  congregation.  In  18 12  the  society  removed  to  a  chapel  on  the 
Ropery  Banks  w^iich  had  been  vacated  by  the  Scotch  Church,  and  in  1821 
another  move  was  made  to  a  building  in  Norfolk  Street,  previously  tenanted 
by  a  congregation  of  the  old  Northumbrian  Classes,  the  present  place  of 
worship  in  Northumberland  Square  being  built  in  1858.  The  Anti-Burghers 
and  other  small  bodies  coalesced  to  form  the  United  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  this  in  its  turn  united  with  the  English  Presbyterians  in  1876  to  form 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  England,  of  which  the  chapel  in  Northumberland 

'  Died  June  20th,  1803,  aged  78.     Monumental  Inscription,  Tynemouth  priory. 

-■  Died  January  13th,  1817,  aged  49.     Ibid. 

'  Cf.  The  History  of  the  English  Presbyterian  Church  in  North  Shieltis,  by  Revs.  Charles  Thomson 
and  Jolin  Stewart. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  375 

Square  is  a  local  representative.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  ministers  : 
George  More,  1781-1785;  Alexander  Armstrong,  1788-1810;  Thomas 
Gilmour,  1813-1841  ;  Thomas  Bowman,  1842- 1845  ;  Henry  Erskine  Fraser, 
M.A.,  1845-1856;  William  Salmond,  B.A.,  D.D.,  1858-1875  ;  James  Aitken, 
M.A.,  1877-1881  ;  William  T.  Bankhead,  1882-1890;  David  Christie,  M.A., 
1890-1897;  Andrew  Gillison,  iM.A.,  1897-1899  ;  and  William  Colville, 
M.A.,  the  present  minister. 

John  Wesley,  in  one  of  his  memorable  missionarv  tours,  visited 
North  Shields,  and  on  June  24th,  1759,  preached  to  an  assembly  the 
greater  part  of  whom  'seemed  to  hear  as  for  their  lives.'  He  visited  the 
place  again  on  June  25th,  1761,  and  May  15th,  1764,  on  the  latter 
occasion  preaching  '  to  a  very  large  yet  serious  congregation.  How  is 
the  scene  changed  since  my  brother  Charles  preached  here,  when  the 
people  were  ready  to  swallow  him  up  !  Oh,  what  has  God  wrought  on 
this  land  within  four  or  five  and  twenty  years  ! '  He  returned  to  the 
place  in  his  subsequent  tours  in  1766,  1780,  and  1788.  The  society, 
formed  as  a  result  of  these  efforts,  in  1808  built  a  chapel  in  Howard 
Street  which  seated  about  1,200  persons,  and  in  which  they  assembled 
until  1889,  when  they  removed  to  a  new  structure  in  Tynemouth  Road, 
built  and  presented  by  Mr.  Joseph  Robinson  of  North  Shields.  The 
congregation  also  possess  a  lecture  hall  and  schools.  A  register  of  births 
and  baptisms,  from    1800  to   1837,  is  deposited  at  Somerset  House. 

The  Wesleyan  Methodists  also  had  a  chapel  in  Percy  Street,  Tyne- 
mouth, which,  about  1870,  was  converted  into  a  schoolhouse  and  replaced 
by  a  larger  chapel  in  Front  Street.  The  .society  also  possesses  chapels 
at  the   Bull   Ring,   North  Shields,  at  Chirton  and  at  Whitley. 

A  disruption  in  the  Society  of  Methodists  in  1797,  headed  by  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Kilham,  led  to  the  formation  of  the  reformed  society  known  as 
the  Methodist  New  Connexion.  This  new  body  obtained  the  use  of  a 
chapel,  erected  in  Milburn  Place  in  1786,  originally  used  by  the  Methodists. 
Another  congregation  of  Methodists  of  the  New  Connexion,  formed  in 
1808,  assembled  in  a  building  in  Boll  Street,  at  the  foot  of  Church  Street, 
now  used  as  a  Roman  Catholic  school,  until  1S36,  when  Salem  chapel  was 
built  in  Linskill  Street. 

The  reformed  society,  known  as  Primitive  Methodists,'  formed  a  con- 

'  C/.  The  Origin  and  History  of  the  Primitive  Methodists,  by  the  Rev.  H.  B.  Kendall,  B.A. 


376  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH, 

gregation  in  1822  which  assembled  in  a  building  in  Union  Street  until  1861, 
when  a  new  chapel  was  erected  in  Saville  Street  West.  From  this  church 
missions  have  spread  over  all  the  mining  and  populous  districts  of  the 
county.  One  of  the  early  offshoots  was  the  Fisherman's  chapel  of 
Cullercoats,  rebuilt  in  1868,  and  now  used  as  a  school  and  lecture  hall, 
having  been  superseded  as  a  chapel  by  a  building  erected  in  1899.  The 
register  of  births  and  baptisms  of  the  Primitive  Methodists  from  1823  to 
1837  is  deposited  at  Somerset  House. 

The  United  Free  Methodists,  comprising  the  Wesleyan  Association, 
the  Protestant  Methodists,  and  the  Arminian  Methodists,  together  founded 
a  church  in  North  Shields  in  1850,  when  they  assembled  in  the  Temperance 
Hall,  Norfolk  Street,  until  1857,  when  they  erected  a  chapel  in  Howard 
Street.  Various  oifshoots  have  been  made.  A  mission,  begun  in  New 
Row  chapel,  led  to  the  building  of  Dene  Street  chapel  in  1871.  Other 
missions,  begun  at  Walker  Place  and  Blagdon's  Quay,  are  represented  by 
the  Hudson  Street  chapel. 

A  Roman  Catholic  mission  was  begun  on  July  15th,  1784,  by  the  Rev. 
James  Johnson  of  Pontop,  in  the  county  of  Durham,  who  said  mass  once  a 
month  in  a  hired  room  in  Milburn  Place.  On  October  5th,  1793, 
two  hundred  and  ninety-five  French  refugees  landed  at  North  Shields.  Two 
of  the  priests  who  accompanied  them  hired  a  room  in  Norfolk  Street 
wherein  to  officiate.  One  of  the  two,  the  Rev.  M.  Dubuisson,  remained 
until  1809,  when  he  returned  to  France.  For  the  needs  of  the  Roman 
Catholics  of  a  regiment  stationed  at  Tynemouth  castle,  a  building  in  Union 
Street  was  obtained  in  1809  and  served  from  Ushaw,  the  priest  coming  over 
every  week.  After  the  above-named  regiment  was  moved  on  from  Tyne- 
mouth, the  congregation  used  successively  rooms  in  Camden  Street,  West 
Percy  Street,  and  Bedford  Street,  served  by  the  greatly  respected  Rev. 
James  Worswick  of  Newcastle,  who  said  mass  every  third  Tuesday. 
Largely  through  his  influence  and  exertions  a  chapel  in  Bedford  Street, 
dedicated  to  St.  Cuthbert,  was  erected  in  182 1,  to  which  a  school  was 
added  in   1840.' 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  incumbents  :  Thomas  Gillow,  1 821-1857  ; 
John  William  Bewick,  afterwards  bishop  of  Hexham  and  Newcastle,  1857- 
1869;  William  Gillow,   1869-1873;    Robert  J.  Franklin,    1873-1878;  John 

'  C/.  History  of  St.  Cuthbert' s  Church,  North  Shields,  1902,  by  Rev.  J.  Stark- 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY   OF   THE    BOROUGH.  377 

Nolan,  1878-1884  ;  Denis  Ryan,  1884;  James  Stark,  1 884-1 903  ;  M.  J. 
Haggarty,  1903.  The  register  of  baptisms,  1821-1840,  is  deposited  at 
Somerset  House. 

A  mission  was  begun  at  Tynemouth  in  1870,  in  a  room  in  Front  Street, 
near  the  spot  where  the  present  chapel  was  erected  in  1890.  It  was  served 
by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Bewick  (1870- 1882),  who  was  succeeded  in  1882  by 
the  present  incumbent,  the  Rev.  G.  E.  Howe. 

A  Baptist  church  was  founded  in  1798  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Imeary, 
with  the  support  of  the  Tuthill  Stairs  Baptist  chapel  in  Newcastle,  meeting 
first  in  a  room  in  Walker  Place.  The  old  Assembly  Room  in  Stephenson 
Street  was  purchased  in  1799  '^"^  ^^'•^^  ^^^ed  as  a  chapel  until  the  present 
chapel  in  Howard  Street  was  erected  in  1846.'  A  mission  in  Milburn  Place 
was  begun  in  1882.  The  register  of  births  from  1799  to  1837  is  deposited 
at  Somerset  House.  The  following  is  a  list  of  ministers  :  Robert  Imeary,* 
1798-18 14;  James  Williamson,  18 16- 1838;  J.  D.  Carrick,  1 839-1 866  ;  J.  F. 
C.  Williams,  1866- 1869  ;  S.  Pipe,  1869- 1874  ;  W.  C.  H.  Anson,  1874- 1877  ; 
Robert  Herries,    1880-1892  ;  Charles  Stanley,    1892. 

A  congregation  of  Independents  existed  in  1835,  when  the  Bethel 
chapel  was  built  on  Ropery  Banks.  The  register  of  births  and  baptisms 
from  1835  to  1837  is  deposited  at  Somerset  House.  The  Stephenson  Street 
Congregational  or  Independent  chapel  was  founded  in  1870  by  a  body  of 
persons  of  strong  temperance  views,  who  had  been  gathered  together,  two 
years  before,  by  the  Rev.  John  Broadbent,  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  preacher. 

A  large  Independent  or  Congregational  chapel  was  erected  in  Front 
Street,  Tynemouth,  in  1868,  from  designs  by  Mr.  Thomas  Oliver.  The 
adjoining  lecture  room  and  Sunday  schools  were  built  in  1886.  The  church 
in  1875  began  a  mission  at  Low  Lights  which  was  removed  successively 
to  Pottery  Yard  in  1876,  and  to  Northumberland  Street  in  1902.  The 
following  have  been  ministers  of  this  congregation:  Alfred  Norris,  1869- 
1885  ;  M.  S.  Shaw,  M.A.,  LL.B.,  1887-1891,  and  the  present  minister,  the 
Rev.  Samuel   Pearson. 

A  Lutheran  church  for  the  Scandinavian  sailors  who  frequent  the  port 
of  North  Shields  stands  in  the  Borough  Road. 

'  Douglas,  North  of  England  Baptist  Churches,  pp.  238-239,  242. 

=  The  Rev.  Robert  Imeary,  Baptist  minister  of  the  gospel  in  Norlh  Shields,  died  April  4th,  1814; 
aged  45. 

Vol.  VIII.  '♦^ 


378  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

The  Jews,  formerly  more  numerous  than  they  are  at  present,  had  a 
synagogue  on  the  Bank-head  for  many  years,  together  with  a  small  burial 
ground  in  Billy  Mill  Lane,  now  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  although  one 
or  two  headstones  may  yet  be  found.  When  Preston  cemetery  was  opened 
in    1857,  a  parcel  of  ground  was  set  apart  for  burials  of  this  faith. 

The  Sea  Fisheries. 

Fishing  ranks  foremost  among  the  industries  of  the  Northumbrian  coast, 
the  principal  port  being  at  North  Shields.  That  town  owes  its  origin  to  the 
commercial  enterprise  of  the  priors  of  Tyneniouth  in  the  thirteenth  century. 
It  was  founded  as  a  fishing  community,  and  at  the  present  day  it  is  the  chief 
fish  market  in  the  county.  Other  religious  houses  were  equally  enterprising. 
The  monks  of  Fame  and  Holy  Island  invested  in  fishing  boats  and  engaged 
crews  ;  and  so  they  were  able  to  carry  on  a  small  trade  as  well  as  provide 
for  their  own  wants.  Cobles  were  in  use  both  for  net  and  line  fishing,  their 
average  price  in  the  fourteenth  century  being  £2  ;^  5s.  6d.  was  paid  for  a 
'great  line'  and  3s.  4d.  for  a  'small  line'  of  400  fathoms  in  length;  a  herring 
net  cost  what  was  then  the  large  sum  of  eighteen  shillings.  The  fish 
caught  were  very  much  the  same  as  those  of  the  present  day,  but  lampreys 
and  mullet  were  more  common,  smelts  and  sprats  were  to  be  found  in 
abundance  at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers,  garpike  were  taken  plentifully  near 
Budle,  and  many  fish  were  eaten  which  until  recently  were  considered 
worthless,  as  congers,  common  and  sand  eels,  coal-fish,  and  skate  ;  but  the 
modern  demand  is  so  great  that  most  of  these  are  again  finding  a  place  in 
the  markets.  Mussels,  cockles,  clams  and  whelks  were  constantly  eaten  ; 
high  prices  were  paid  for  porpoises  and  dolphins,  and  seals  were  taken  on 
the  Fames.' 

Fishing  was  bv  no  means  confined  to  the  inshore.  A  fleet  sailed  yearly 
into  the  North  Sea  and  penetrated  as  far  north  as  Iceland,  fishing  also  off" 
the   Shetlands  and  the  north  coast  of  Scotland.''     Cod   and   ling  were  the 

'  It  appears  from  a  letter  written  by  Sir  John  Delaval  in  1626  that  'four-men  cobles'  were  the 
largest  type  of  fishing  boat  then  employed  off  the  coast.  Each  man  worked  an  oar.  Cal.  State  Papers 
Domestic,  1625-1626,  p.  411. 

■  See  Durham  Account  Rolls,  Surt.  Soc.  Nos.  gg,  100,  103,  and  the  extracts  from  the  account  rolls  of 
Holy  Island  and  Fame  priories,  given  in  Raine,  North  Durham.  For  early  regulations  touching  the  seal 
fisheries  of  the  Fames,  see  North  Durham,  appendix,  No.  dccxv. 

"In  1528  North  Shields  sent  out  six  'crayers'  to  the  Iceland  fleet;  Letters  and  Papers,  Henry 
\'l  1 1.  vol.  iv.  p.  2223. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY   OF   THE    BOROUGH.  379 

principal  catches  and  were  salted  and  sold  at  Newcastle,  then,  and  until  the 
introduction  of  railways,  the  chief  fish  market  in  the  district.  Similarly, 
herrings  were  caught  off  the  coast  of  Norway.  On  the  east  coast  the 
native  fishermen  had  to  compete  with  the  Dutch  in  the  si.xteenth,  seven- 
teenth, and  eighteenth  centuries'  and  the  French  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  nineteenth. 

The  fish  were  sold  on  the  beach  or  on  the  quay,  or  were  conveyed 
to  Newcastle  by  road  or  boat.  Large  quantities  of  salmon  were  brought 
from  Berwick  on  horseback  to  Shields,  where  they  were  cured,  pickled,  and 
sent  up  to  London  in  kits  or  tubs.-  Lobsters  and  turbot  were  kept  alive  in 
'  bullies '  or  cavities  in  the  rocks,  pending  the  arrival  of  welled  smacks  to 
take  them  to  London  ;  and  the  rings  by  which  the  smacks  were  moored  are 
still  to  be  seen  at  Beadnell  and  at  other  harbours  along  the  coast.  Tyne- 
mouth  appears  to  have  supplied  the  London  market  even  in  monastic  times.' 

The  boats  used  for  the  herring  fishery  until  recent  years  were  undecked 
vessels  of  the  Scottish  or  yawl  type,  ranging  from  thirty-four  to  thirty-seven 
feet  in  length  and  costing  about  ^100  or  ^120,  e.vclusive  of  nets.     Each 
herring  boat  was  owned  by  one  fisherman  or  by  two  at  the  most,  and  its 
crew  consisted  of  four  men  and  a   boy  or,  in  some  cases,  five  men.     The 
owner  received  one  half  of  the  profits.     Half-shares  men,  who  each  got  two 
shillings  in  the  pound,  were  hired  during  the  herring  season  to  make  up  the 
crew,  some  being  labouring  men  from  the  neighbouring  country  districts  and 
from    Ireland,   and    others    fishermen   from    Lowestoft    and    Yarmouth.     At 
some  points  on  the  coast,  as   at    Alnmouth    and   Cullercoats,  large    cobles 
similar  to  the  salmon  cobles  of  the  present  day   were   used.     These   were 
generally  owned  by  two  men,  who  sometimes  engaged  a  third  hand  for  one- 
sixth  share.     A  boat  carried  from  twenty  to  thirty  nets.     The  market  price 
of  a  net  was  ;^3,  but  it  was  usually  home  manufactured,  the  women  spinning 
the  hempen  yarn,  while  every  child  over  twelve  years  old  was  e.xpected  to 
work  daily  during  the  winter  months  a  yard's  width  of  netting  the  full  depth 
of  the  net.     The   mesh   was   thirty-one   to   the   yard.     Hemp  had  this  ad- 
vantage   over   the    cotton    now    in   use,  that  it  was  more  durable    and  did 
less   damage   to  the   fish  ;  at   the   same   time   the   broad   mesh   allowed  the 
escape  of  the  smaller  herring  which  are  now  so  numerous.     Bladders  were 
used  instead  of  buoys  for  keeping  the  nets  afloat. 

'  Dendy,  Merchant  Adventurers,  vol.  i.  (Surt.  Soc.  No.  93)  p.  167. 

=  Defoe,  ToHr //iroH^A  Gri.M<  BnViii",  first  edilion,  vol.  iii.p.  193.       '  Gibson,  r)n«»iy«//.'  v,,1   ;   1.  :ii. 


380  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

Herrings  were  also  caught  with  the  jigger,  as  is  still  done  from  the  quay 
at  Calais.  The  jigger  consisted  of  a  heavy  sinker  through  which  some  five 
or  six  stout  wires  furnished  with  large  hooks  were  passed.  It  was  attached 
to  a  line  and  moved  up  and  down  in  the  water,  impaling  the  fish  with  which 
it  came  into  contact.  It  is  still  sometimes  used  when  the  nets  have  been 
launched.  A  modification  of  this  apparatus,  weighing  about  six  pounds,  has 
recently  come  into  use  for  catching  codling  at  North  Sunderland.  There 
the  hooks  are  attached  directly  to  the  lead  sinker,  which  is  fish-shaped. 

Fishing  was  chiefly  inshore,  Goswick  bay  and  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Longstone  being  favourite  grounds.  Attempts  were  made  at  various  times 
by  local  fishermen  to  extend  the  field  of  their  operations,  and  between  1840 
and  1850  fishermen  from  Berwick  were  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  Moray 
Firth,  where  they  were  engaged  to  fish  for  so  many  weeks  at  a  price 
averaging  ten  shillings  a  cran.  At  the  present  day  they  fish  off  the  Irish 
coasts  or  from  North  Shields  during  May  and  June,  before  the  regular 
Northumbrian  season  commences,  and  off  Yarmouth  during  October  and 
November  after  its  close.  At  Berwick,  where  most  of  the  catches  are 
made  from  twenty  to  forty  miles  out,  the  fishing  is  altogether  in  deep  sea. 

Large  decked  boats  costing  ^600  or  _£  700  each,  with  keels  from  forty- 
five  to  sixty  feet  in  length  and  drawing  six  to  eight  feet  of  water,  have  now 
superseded  the  old  herring  coble  and  are  manned  by  local  fishermen, 
half-shares  men  being  rarely  employed.  A  boat's  crew  numbers  six  or 
seven  men,  for  whom  cabin  accommodation  is  provided.  Largely  as  a 
result  of  the  increase  of  the  size  of  the  vessel  the  total  number  of  local 
boats  engaged  in  herring  fishing  has  diminished  ;  for  example,  in  half  a  century 
(1855-1905)  the  number  of  native  herring  boats  at  Berwick  and  Spittal 
has  fallen  from  sixty-four  to  nine,  and  at  North  Sunderland  from  fifty-two 
to  eight.  At  North  Shields  steam  trawlers  and  liners  are  converted  into 
drifters  during  the  herring  season.  Each  boat  carries  from  forty  to  seventy 
nets,  each  net  fifty  to  fifty-five  yards  long  and  eighteen-score  meshes  (six- 
teen yards)  deep.  These  are  of  cotton  and  are  machine-made.  Their  top 
line,  which  is  the  light  one,  is  fitted  with  corks,  and  at  each  end  of  the 
net  is  a  bow  or  buoy  line,  which  allows  the  net  to  sink  two  or  three 
fathoms.  The  bow  or  buoy  is  made  of  sheepskin  or  canvas.  A  messenger 
or  foot  rope  runs  along  the  entire  fleet  of  nets,  the  whole  forming  a  wall 
into  which    the  herring  fix  themselves. 


MUNICIPAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  381 

Large  numbers  of  stranger  vessels  come  to  the  harbours  on  the  coast 
during  the  herring  season.  Over  150  herring  boats  yearly,  from  the  Firth 
of  Forth,  Berwickshire  and  Cornwall,  make  North  Sunderland  a  base  for 
their  fishing  between  the  end  of  June  and  the  middle  of  September.  Steam 
drifters  and  sailing  boats  from  Lowestoft  and  Yarmouth  similarly  visit 
North  Shields.  At  Berwick,  a  maximum  was  reached  in  1866,  when  200 
herring  boats  came  there  from  other  ports  as  compared  with  a  muster  of 
fifty-one  in  1904.  In  fact,  the  fishing  has  suffered  a  decrease  at  all  points 
on  the  coast  except  at  North  Sunderland  and  North  Shields.  The  de- 
velopment of  North  Sunderland  is  largely  due  to  the  extension  of  its 
harbour  in  1866- 1869  by  Lord  Crewe's  trustees,^  the  formation  of  a  light 
railway  to  Chathill,  opened  in  1898,  and  the  growth  of  the  curing  industry. 
A  new  harbour  at  Craster  is  now  (1906)  in  course  of  formation. 

The  old  trade  of  curing  and  smoking  ungutted  herring  as  '  reds,'  which 
used  to  be  carried  on  at  Tweedmouth^  and  elsewhere,  has  almost  dis- 
appeared. Kippers  were  first  smoked  about  the  year  1S60,  and  are  now, 
together  with  bloaters  and  Findon  haddocks,  extensively  prepared.  Cured 
herrings  have  obtained  a  high  position  in  continental  markets  in  some 
measure  because  of  the  exertions  of  the  Scottish  Fisheries  Board,  instituted 
in  1808  as  the  Board  of  British  White  Herring  Fishery,  whose  jurisdiction 
with  regard  to  the  white  herring  cure  extends  along  the  Northumbrian 
coast.  Herring  are  gutted  and  packed  under  the  supervision  of  its  officers, 
and  the  barrels  branded  as  a  guarantee  of  quality,  the  charge  for  branding 
being  fourpence  per  barrel.  In  1769,  it  was  stated  that  herring  were  not 
taken  on  this  coast  in  sufficient  quantities  for  export,  but  to-day  12,000 
to  16,000  barrels  are  exported  yearly  from  North  Sunderland  to  Stettin, 
Konigsberg,  Dantzig,  and  other  Baltic  ports,  as  well  as  great  quantities  of 
kippers  and  fresh  and  sprinkled  herring  to  London  and  other  inland  markets. 
Cured  herring  are  also  exported  to  the  Continent  from   Berwick. 

Line  fishing  is  carried  on  by  means  of  cobles,  a  type  of  boat  character- 
istic of  the  coast  between  the  Humber  and  the  Tweed.  The  forward  part 
of  a  coble  is  keeled  and  draws  two  to  three  feet  of  water,  but  it  gradually 
becomes  flat-bottomed  towards  the  after-end,  where  it  draws  practically 
nothing,  so  that  it  is  admirably  adapted  for  beaching.      It  responds  well  to 

'  A  harbour  was  first  made  at  Seahouses  shortly  before   1791.      Before  that  time  the  only  haven 
was  a  narrow  channel  through  the  rocks. 

■  Fuller,  History  of  Bfruick-iipon-Tuad,  p.  425. 


382  TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 

the  oars  and  is  a  fast  sailer,  beinsj  noted  for  the  closeness  with  which  it 
can  be  brought  to  tlie  wind.  Its  rig  is  lug,  or  lug  and  foresail,  with 
sometimes  a  niizzen  ;  the  rudder  acts  as  a  keel  and  serves  to  stiffen  the 
boat.  Water-tight  compartments  or  '  air-boxes '  are  often  fitted  into  the 
bow  and  stern  of  the  coble  at  the  northern  fishing  villages,  and  are  valuable 
in  keeping  the  boat  afloat  in  a  rough  sea.  It  is  manned  by  three  or  four 
men,  each  with  lines.  The  crew  share  equally  in  the  profits,  each  finding 
his  proportion  of  the  gear.  Seven  small  lines  are  carried  per  boat,  and 
every  line  is  made  up  of  three  and  a  half  pieces,'  the  piece  being  seventy- 
five  fathoms  in  length.  There  are  about  five  hundred  hooks  to  a  line, 
but  they  vary  in  number,  forty-two  to  forty-seven  inches  apart,  with  a  three 
feet  seven  inches  snood. 

North  Shields,  Tweedmouth  and  Sunderland  used  to  be  noted  for  coble- 
building.  To-day  a  few  are  still  built  at  Shields,  but  most  at  Hartlepool 
and  Amble.  They  are  usually  reckoned  to  cost  £\  per  foot  of  the  ram 
or  keel  plank.  Larger  cobles  were  at  one  time  extensively  used  at  the 
southern  stations  for  herring  fishing,  but  have  now  given  place  to  the 
Scottish  type  of  herring  boat.  Small  keeled  boats  called  mules,  costing 
about  ;^45,  capable  of  carrying  twenty  nets  and  intended  to  be  worked 
by  four  men,  were  introduced  about  1860-1870,  and  used  both  for  ordinary 
and  for  herring  fishing,  but  never  became  popular. 

Fi-men  (five-men)  boats  were  employed  in  the  deep-sea  white  fishing,  and 
landed  at  Newcastle,  and  latterly  at  Shields,  their  catches  from  the  Dogger 
bank  and  other  distant  grounds.  They  were  from  fifty  to  seventy  feet  long  in 
the  keel,  and  had  a  square  overhanging  stern  and  about  eighteen  feet 
of  beam.  Their  rig  was  similar  to  that  of  the  large  cobles,  namely,  jib, 
main,  and  mizzen  sails  ;  and  they  carried  two  cobles  from  which  the  lines 
were  worked. 

Mussels  and,  to  some  e.xtent,  limpets  are  used  for  baiting  the  lines,  as 
being  adapted  to  the  hard  ground  on  which  modern  fishing  is  carried  on. 
Nereids  and  arenicola  (the  lug  worm)  are  also  in  use,  though  not  to  such 
an  extent  as  formerly,  for  the  catching  of  flat  fish  on  smooth  bottoms. 
Sand  eels  were  extensively  employed  for  bait,  but  have  been  replaced 
by  herrings.  Mussel  bait  was  obtained  at  the  mouths  of  the  Tweed,  Aln, 
Coquet,  and  Blyth,  and  on  Fenham  and  Warnham  flats.     Before  the  Tyne 

'  At  Newbiggin  and  one  or  two  other  places  eight  lines  of  four  pieces  each  are  carried. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    BOROUGH.  383 

was  deepened,  mussels  were  to  be  got  on  the  Mussel  Scalp  near  the  Black 
Middens.  Their  cultivation  has  been  attempted  in  Budle  bay,  where  beds 
were  laid  down  in  1890,  by  the  late  Mr.  A.  H.  Browne  of  Callaly  castle. 
In  1 896- 1 897  one  hundred,  and  in  1897- 1898  nearly  two  hundred  tons  of 
mussels  were  sold  from  these  beds,  but  since  then  they  have  not  done  so 
well.'  Northumberland  has  never  been  noted  for  mussel  bait,  and  it  is 
mainly  procured  from  the  Tees,  Boston,  Morecambe  bay,  Newhaven,  Port 
Glasgow,  from  different  places  in   Ireland,  and  from  Harlingen. 

Among  the  possessions  of  the  monks  at  Holy  Island  in  1394- 1395 
was  a  dredge  for  gathering  oysters  at  Fenham,  and  Wallis  (1769)  men- 
tions the  Fenham  oysters  'on  a  bank  belonging  to  the  Kight  Hon.  the 
earl  of  Tankerville.'  Oysters  are  still  kept  upon  the  scarp  by  the  earl  of 
Tankerville. 

On  November  7th,  1S77,  trawling  with  steam  tugs  was  commenced  at 
North  Shields.  These  tugs  were  provided  with  beam  trawls  of  about 
fifty-four  feet  beam.  About  five  of  them  still  continue  trawling  from 
Shields,  but  use  the  otter  trawls  introduced  in  October,  1895.  Every 
trawler  is  provided  with  two  otter  trawls,  which  cost  about  ;^50  each. 
Screw  trawlers  commenced  to  fish  in  1879  and  their  use  is  now  fairly 
general  at  North  Shields,  where  many  of  them  are  built.  They  are  made 
of  iron  or  steel,  are  100  to  120  feet  long,  have  a  twenty-feet  beam  and  are 
eleven  feet  deep;  and  cost  about  ^'1,000  per  twenty  feet  of  keel.  They 
steam  at  the  rate  of  nine  or  ten  knots.  A  second  type  of  steamer  used  at 
North  Shields  for  purposes  of  fishing  is  the  liner.  Boats  of  this  class  have 
usually  a  wooden  hull  ;  they  are  built  principally  at  Blyth  and  at  Scottish 
shipbuilding  ports,  and  cost  about  ;^'3,ooo.  They  are  eighty  to  a  hundred 
feet  long,  are  nineteen  feet  in  beam  and  have  a  depth  of  eight  feet.  They 
carry  a  fleet  of  twenty  to  forty  lines,  each  line  costing  £2.  These  great 
lines  (which  were  also  used  by  the  fi-men  boats  in  past  years)  consist  of  si.x 
pieces  of  seventy-five  fathoms  each,  with  hooks  at  four  fathoms'  intervals,  on 
six-feet  snoods.  The  crews  of  trawlers  and  liners  number  eight  or  ten,  and 
comprise  a  skipper,  mate,  engineer,  firemen,  fishermen  and  deck  hands. 
Fishing  is  done  bv  the  trawlers  on  the  North-east  bank,  Berwick  bank, 
Souter  bank,  and  on  the  Dogger  bank,  as  well  as  on  the  Great  Fisher 
bank,  off  the  Shetlands  and  Faroe  Islands,  and  on  other  distant  grounds  ; 
by  the  liners  on  local  grounds  and  off  the  north  and  west  coasts  of  Scotland. 

See  Reports,  Northumberland  Sea  Fisheries  Committee,  1898-1901. 


384 


TYNEMOUTH    BOROUGH. 


There  has  been  remarkable  progress  in  the  white  fishing  at  North 
Shields  since  the  introduction  of  trawlers,  as  is  shown  by  the  following 
figures  based  on  the  harbour  master's  returns.  The  total  yield  for  the  year 
ending  March  25th,  1876,  before  trawling  had  commenced,  was  only  372 
tons.  In  1880  it  had  risen  to  2,430,  and  in  1885  to  4,328,  where  it  tempor- 
arily remained  stationary,  being  4,272  in  1890.  The  introduction  of  the 
otter  trawl  in  1895  sent  it  up  to  8,832  ;  in  1900  it  had  risen  to  10,430,  and,  in 
1905,   12,485  tons  of  white  fish  were  landed  at  North  Shields.' 


North  Shields  Fish  Ouav. 


At  the  smaller  fishing  stations,  w^here  the  fishing  is  entirely  inshore, 
there  has  been  an  opposite  tendency.  During  the  eighteenth  and  the 
greater  part  of  the  nineteenth  centuries  white  fish  were  cheap  and  plentiful. 
'The  haddock,'  Wallis  wrote  in   1769,   'is    taken  in  such  abundance  as  to 

'  The  figures  for  herring  landed  at  North  Shields  during  the  same  period  show  far  less  variation. 
They  are:  1876,  3,000  tons;  1880,  5,548  tons;  1885,  8,119  tons;  1890,  7,674  tons;  1895,  5,857  tons; 
1900,  2,574  tons  ;  1905,  6,633  tons. 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    ROROUGH.  385 

furnish  all  tables  and  to  reward  the  toil  of  the  hardy  fishermen.'  An 
increased  impetus  was  given  to  trade  in  the  second  quarter  of  the  nine- 
teenth century  by  the  development  of  the  railwav  system.  The  Report  of 
the  Fisheries  Commissioners  for  1866  stated:  'It  is  clear  that  at  all  these 
fishing  villages  (CuUercoats,  Newbiggin,  North  Sunderland,  and  Holy  Island) 
there  has  within  the  last  twenty  years  been  a  constant  increase  in  the 
number  of  fishermen,  the  size  of  their  boats  and  the  quantity  of  nets  and 
other  gear.'  But  a  scarcity  of  fish  in  shallow  water  was  then  beginning  to 
be  noticed.  The  same  report  announces  :  '  It  is  only  within  the  last  seven 
years  that  [sailing]  trawlers  have  made  their  appearance  ;  they  come  from 
Scarborough  and  Hartlepool  in  considerable  numbers,  and  trawl  over  a 
range  of  smooth  ground  off  CuUercoats  and  Newbiggin,  about  five  or  si.x 
miles  in  breadth,  and  separated  from  the  shore  by  four  to  si.x  miles  of  rough 
ground  on  which  they  cannot  use  their  trawls.  They  do  not  go  so  far  north 
as  North  Sunderland  and  Holy  Island,  but  the  fishermen  of  these  places 
join  with  those  farther  south  in  complaining  against  them  and  attributing  to 
them  a  decrease  of  all  classes  of  lisli,  but  especially  haddocks,  on  the  ground 
that  they  disturb  the  spawning  ground  of  these  and  other  fish.'  The 
introduction  of  steam  trawling  at  North  Shields  and  corresponding  rise  of 
that  port  hastened  the  decline   of  the  inshore  fisheries. 

Consequent  upon  this  decline,  there  is  a  falling  off  in  the  number  of 
fishermen  at  the  smaller  stations,  and  the  younger  men  are  going  into  trades. 
Many  of  the  CuUercoats  fishermen  find  work  for  a  portion  of  the  year  as 
labourers  on  the  Tyne,  those  of  Newbiggin  get  occupation  in  the  neighbour- 
ing coal  pits,  and  the  fishermen  of  Boulmer,  Craster  and  Ncwton-by-the-Sea 
obtain  work  in  quarries.  The  fishing  industry  was  a  marked  feature  at 
Alnmouth  down  to  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  but  now  it  has 
almost  left  the  town. 

Cobles  are  also  employed  for  crab  and  lobster  fishing.  A  coble  worked 
by  two  men  used  to  carry  twenty-four  'trunks,'  which  were  iron  rings  or 
hoops,  each  supporting  a  piece  of  net  and  a  line  which  crossed  the  hoop, 
to  which  the  bait  was  attached.  The  trunk  was  lowered  from  the  coble 
and  hauled  up  frequently,  the  pressure  of  the  water  preventing  the  escape 
of  the  crabs  and  lobsters  which  had  been  attracted  by  the  bait.  In  this 
way,  it  is  stated,  about  the  year  1805,'  as  many  as  lifty-two  to  seventy-five 

'  Report  on  Crab  and  Lobster  Fisheries  of  England  and  Wales,  1S75. 
Vol.  VIII.  49 


386 


TYNEMOUTH  BOROUGH. 


lobsters  were  cauglit  in  a  night.  Pots  or  creels  are  now  used  instead  of 
trunks,  and  were  employed  at  Berwick  for  taking  lobsters  as  early  as  1799.' 
The  crab  pots  consist  of  a  wooden  base  and  a  wicker  frame-work  covered 
with  net,  in  which  the  openings  or  eyes  are  directly  or  obliquely  opposite 
to  one  another.  Fish  is  used  for  bait.  The  old  habit  of  lishing  with  separate 
pots,  placed  not  nearer  each  other  usually  than  eighteen  fathoms,  was  given 
up  about  1870  for  fleets  of  pots  only  ten  fathoms  apart.  One  hundred  to 
two  hundred  pots  per  boat  are  now  quite  common,  especially  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  district.  The  fishing  used  to  commence  about  February  or 
March  and  ended  in  May  or  June.  At  Craster  a  manorial  custom,  in 
operation  up  to  about  1870,  confined  it  to  March,  April  and  May. 
Autumn  crab-fishing  then  became  general  but  not  with  good  results. 

Hard  ground  is  most  extensive  in  the  northern  half  of  the  county, 
and  there  crabs  are  more  numerous,  but  lobsters  are  equally  numerous 
in  the  southern  half  of  the  district.  Wallis  in  1769  said  that  the  lobster 
'is  taken  in  such  plenty  that  the  annual  export  usually  amounts  from  ;^i,200 
to  ;£  1,500  of  those  that  are  taken  between  Newbiggin  and  Newton-by-the- 
Sea,  exclusive  of  such  as  are  taken  at  Holy  Island,  which  annually  amounts 
to  a  considerable  sum.'  This  district  may  have  become  contracted  on  its 
southern  margin  by  the  deposition  of  mud  at  the  mouths  of  the  Tyne  and 
the  Blyth.  This  branch  of  the  inshore  fisheries  is  becoming  more  important 
as  the  line  fishing  has  declined.  Serious  efforts  are  being  made  to  preserve 
and  encourage  it,  and  experiment  will  determine  upon  the  comparative 
merits  of  restriction  and  of  cultivation.^ 

For  the  taking  of  salmon  and  sea  trout,  the  stell  nets  formerly 
employed  at  the  mouths  of  rivers  have  been  replaced  by  stake  nets,  which 
are  now  in  use,  in  accordance  with  the  Scottish  system,  in  Goswick  bay. 
Elsewhere  along  the  coast  drift  nets  are  in  vogue,  and  this  kind  of  fishing 
has,  since  about  1870,  taken  the  place  at  Cullercoats  of  the  herring  fishery, 
which  has  become  extinct  there.  The  salmon  net  has  a  mesh  of  six  and 
a  half  inches,  is  150  yards  long  (but  when  in  use  100  yards),  and  fifty,  sixty, 
or  seventy  meshes  deep.  The  trout  net  has  a  mesh  of  three  and  three- 
quarter  to  five  inches,  is  120  yards  long  and  is  fifty  to  seventy  meshes  deep  ; 

'  Fuller,  History  of  Berwick-upon-Tweed,  p.  426. 

-  The  catches  of  crabs  and  lobsters  along  the  coast  (excluding  North  Shields)  were,  in  1895, 
crabs,  872,133,  lobsters,  40,621  ;  in  1900,  crabs,  1,452,975,  lobsters,  29,807  ;  in  1904,  crabs,  1,294,745, 
lobsters,  53,577- 


MUNICIPAL    HISTORY   OF   THE    HOROLGH.  387 

corks  buoy  up  its  top  side  and  leads  weigh  down  the  bottom  rope.  A  boat 
carries  three  nets,  and  these  are  launched  like  herring  nets,  the  last  net 
being  turned  round  so  as  to  form  a  loop  or  hook.  The  close  season  for  the 
Tweed  is  September  15th  to  February  ist,  for  the  Coquet  district  (Howick 
burn  to  Newbiggin  point)  September  15th  to  March  25th,  and  for  the 
Tyne  district  (Newbiggin  point  to  Souter  point),  September  1st  to 
February  ist.  Licences,  costing  ^5  per  boat,  are  obtained  from  the  Coquet 
and  Tyne  Sahnon  Conservancies,  which  have  the  regulation  of  the  drift 
net  fishing  within  their  respective  districts.  The  fishing  is  very  variable  in 
its  results.'  During  the  salmon  season  numerous  porpoises  or  '  dunters,' 
and,  occasionally,  other  cetacea  visit  the  coast. 

Mackerel  appear  off  the  coast  every  year  about  July,  August  and 
September  in  very  varying  numbers.  They  are  caught  in  trout  and  salmon 
nets  as  well  as  bv  the  spinner. 

The  turbot  has  almost  completely  disappeared  from  this  coast.  It 
used  to  be  caught  in  brat-nets,  240  yards  long  with  meshes  of  seven  inches 
from  knot  to  knot  and  seven  meshes  deep.  The  upper  edge  of  the  net  was 
buoyed  with  small  corks  and  the  lower  edge  was  weighted  with  small  stones 
at  intervals  of  nine  meshes.  Eight  nets  went  to  the  fleet."  Large  catches 
used  to  be  made  in  places  where  herring  were  spawning. 

The  Northumberland  Sea  Fisheries  Committee  was  formed  under  the 
provisions  of  the  Sea  Fisheries  Regulation  Act,  1888,  by  an  order  of  the 
Board  of  Trade  dated  March  20th,  1890.  The  general  powers  given  to  the 
committee  under  the  above  Act  are  :  (i)  to  make  by-laws  for  the  regulation 
of  the  sea  fisheries  ;  (2)  to  make  by-laws  imposing  penalties  for  breach  of 
by-laws;  (3)  to  appoint  fishery  officers  and  to  give  them  authority  to 
stop  and  search  any  vessel  or  vehicle  used  within  the  district  in  fishing  or  in 
conveying  either  fish  or  any  substance  the  deposit  or  discharge  of  which  is 
prohibited  or  regulated  by  any  by-law  ;  to  search  and  e.xamine  all  in- 
struments used  in  carrying  or  catching  fish  ;  to  seize  any  fish  or  instrument 
liable  to  be  forfeited  in  pursuance  of  any  such  by-laws  ;  to  enter  suspected 
places.  The  Act  also  provides  for  the  expenses  of  the  committee  being  paid 
by  the  County  Council. 

'  See  Mr.  lierrington's  Report  to  the  Board  of  Trade.  1S90,  and   Mr.  .Aaron  Watson's  Papers  on 

Fishery  Questions,  1890, 

■  At  Craster  ten  nets  were  emijloyed. 


388 


TYNEMOUTH  BOROUGH. 

Fishing  Boats,  Northumberland,  1905. 


Stations. 

Steam 
Trawlers. 

Steam 
Liners. 

Line,  Crab,  etc. 

Herring. 

Native. 

Strange. 

Cobles. 

Mules. 

Sail.           Steam. 

Sail. 

Steam. 

Berwick        

15 

8             - 

40 

3 

Spittal           

— 

— 

— 

8 

I              _       ,       _ 

Holy  Island              

— 

— 

I 

'3 

4             — 

— 

— 

Seahouses     ... 

— 

— 

15 

I 

9 

— 

80 

5 

Be.idnell       

— 

— 

14 

— 

9 

— 

20 

Ne\vton-by-the-Sea 

— 

— 

10 

— 

3 

— 

— 

— 

Craster         

— 

— 

12 

— 

9 

— 

20 

— 

Boulmer 

— 

— 

9 

— 

I 

— 

— 

— 

Alninoulh     

— 

— 

4 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Amble           

— 

— 

2 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Hauxley       

— 

— 

7 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Cresswell      

— 

— 

6 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Newbiggin-by-the-Sea 

— 

— 

13 

— 

II 

— 

— 

— 

Blyth            

— 

— 

6* 

— 

I 

— 

— 

— 

Seaton  Sluice          

— 

— 

4* 

— 

— 



— 

— 

St.  Mary's  Island 

— 

— 

2* 

— 

— 

— 

— . 

— 

Cullercoats 

— 

— 

35t 

— 

— 



— 

— 

North  Shields         

72 

27 

6 

— 

— 

— 

78 

44 

■■•  Salmon  fishing  in  summer  only. 

+  Salmon  fishing  in  summer,  but  including  fifteen  cobles  employed  at  line  fishing,  etc. 

The  herring  boats  from  other  ports  fishing  from  the  northern  stations  come  from  Cockenzie, 
Cellardyke,  Isle  of  Man,  St.  Ives,  Eyemouth. 

The  herring  boats  fishing  from  North  Shields  come  from  (sailers)  Eyemouth,  Buckhaven, 
Kirkcaldy,  Lowestoft,  Cellardyke  ;  (steam  drifters)  Yarmouth,  Lowestoft,  Hull. 

.A.  list  of  fishermen  in  Northumberland  (exclusive  of  Berwick),  taken  by  Sir  John  Delaval  on 
August  2Sth,  1636,  shows  what  changes  have  occurred  in  the  distribution  of  the  fishing  population 
in  the  course  of  three  centuries.  The  number  of  fishermen  residing  at  each  fisliing  station  was  then 
as  follows;  Spittal,  40;  Holy  Island,  27;  IJamburgh,  10;  Shoreston  and  North  Sunderland,  7; 
Beadnell.  14;  Embleton  and  Newton-by-the-Sea,  10;  Craster,  8;  Boulmer,  12;  Alnmouth,  19; 
Warkworth,  8;  Hauxley,  9;  Cresswell,  12;  Newbiggin-by-the-Sea,  16;  Blyth,  12;  Hartley,  iS  ; 
North  .Shields  and  Tynemouth,  62.  Harbours  then  only  existed  at  Holy  Island  and  at  Blyth. 
Stati  Papers,  Domestic,  Charles  I.  vol.  xxxiv.  42,  i.  A  certificate  returned  to  the  archbishop  of  York 
in  April,  1547,  gives  the  number  of  fishermen  in  the  county  as  192,  'whereof  many  be  .Scots.'  Brand, 
NiifcaslU,  vol.  ii.  p.  325,  note.  In  the  census  of  1901  the  number  of  persons  in  Northumberland  returned 
as  engaged  in  fishing  was  given  as  1,212. 

The  committee  have  passed  the  following  by-laws  for  the  regulation 
of  the  fisheries  of  the  district  :  (i)  by-law  prohibiting  trawling  within  the 
district  (April,  1891)  ;  (2)  by-laws  making  the  size  limit  for  lobsters  nine 
inches  instead  of  eight  inches  as  specified  by  the  Act  of  1877,  and  protecting 
the  berried  lobster  during  the  months  April  to  July  inclusive  (1899),  and, 
secondly,  prohibiting  the  removal  of  protected  shell  fish  from  the  district.' 

'  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Acts  under  which  powers  are  given  to  the  committee  and  under 
which  its  by-laws  are  made  and  enforced  : 

1S77.  Fisheries  (Oyster,  Crab,  and  Lobster)  .\ct,  1S77.  By  this  Act  regulations  were  made 
(i)  as  to  the  prohibition  of  taking  or  selling  oysters  between  certain  dates;   (2)  as  to  prohibition  of 


WHITLEY    TOWNSHIP.  389 

Marine  investigation  has  been  pursued  by  the  Berwickshire  Naturalists' 
Club,  the  Tyneside  Field  Club,  and  the  Newcastle  Natural  History  Society. 
Since  its  formation  the  Northumberland  Sea  Fisheries  Committee  has  caused 
enquiries  to  be  made  on  subjects  connected  with  the  regulation  of  the 
fisheries.'  Mr.  John  Dent,  county  alderman,  the  present  chairman  of  the 
committee,  commenced  a  series  of  trawling  experiments  in  1892,  and  in  1897 
built  a  marine  laboratory  at  CuUercoats,  of  which    Mr.  Meek   is  director. 

WHITLEY  TOWNSHIP. 

Whitley  township  stretches  along  the  sea  coast  northwards  from  the 
Marden  burn  to  the  southern  bank  of  Brier  dene,  and  marches  with  Monk- 
seaton  township  on  the  west.  It  includes  an  area  of  658  acres,  of  which  five 
acres  are  inland  water  and  117  acres  are  foreshore,"  and  in  1901  had  a 
population  of  6,753.' 

Whitley  and  Monkseaton  formed,  at  the  commencement  of  the  twelfth 
century,  part  of  GrafFard's  lordship,  of  which  the  seat  was  at  Seghill.  The 
three  manors  were  made  over  by  Henry  I.,  before  the  year  11 16,  to  Richard, 
abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  and  to  the  monks  of  Tvnemouth.^  Whitlev  was  either 
already  held  by  a  single  owner  in  sub-infeudation,  or  an  enfeolTment  was 
made  by  the  prior  and  convent  in  the  course  of  the  same  century.  The 
name  of  Ralph  de  Whitley  occurs  among  the  witnesses  to  certain  charters  of 

taking  or  selling  edible  ciabs  less  than  four  and  a  half  inches  across  the  back  ;  (3)  as  to  prohibition 
of  taking  or  selling  lobsters  under  eight  inches  in  length. 

The  Sea  Fisheries  Regulation  Act,   1S8S,  as  aljove. 

Sea  Fisheries  Regulation  .•\ct,   1891,  which  empowers  committees  to  make  by-laws. 

Sea  Fish  (Shell  Fish)  Regulation  Act,  1S94,  which  gave  powers  to  local  commiiiees  to  make 
by-laws  for  the  regulation  and  development  uf  fisheries  for  all  kinds  of  shell  fish,  also  to  slock  or 
restock  any  public  fishery  for  shell  fish,  and  for  that  purpose  to  incur  such  e.xpenses  as  may  be 
sanctioned  by  the  Board  of  Trade. 

Board  of  Agriculture  and  Fisheries  Act,  1903,  by  which  the  superintendence  of  ihc  fisheries 
was  transferred  from  the  Board  of  Trade  to  the  Board  of  Agriculture,  which  was  in  future  to  be 
called  the  Board  af  Agriculture  and  Fisheries. 

'  Papers  have  been  published  by  Dr.  (Jregg  Wilson  on  the  crab  and  lobster  fishing  of  the 
district,  by  Mr.  William  King  on  mussel  culture,  by  .Mr.  C.  Williams  on  the  hatcheries  :it  Uunbar, 
by  Alderman  J.  Dent  on  trawling  experiments,  and,  since  1S96,  annual  reports  on  scientific  investi- 
gations by  Mr.  A.  Meek. 

'  The  tithe  commutation  map  of  1S42  specifies  the  area  as  follows  :  arable,  253  acres  ;  meadow  and 
pasture,  186  acres,  2  roods;  Whitley  links,  44  acres;  limestone  quarry,  10  acres,  2  roods,  4  perches; 
buildings  and  waste  ground,  8  acres  3  roods. 

'  Census  returns  are  :  1801,251;  1811,375;  1821,554;  1831,632;  1841,749;  1851,43":  1S61  419; 
1S71,  731;  1S81,  1,350;  1891,  2,444;  1901.  'J.753-  Up  to  iSSi  inclusive  these  returns  include  the 
hamlets  of  Hotspur  I'lace  and  Whitley  Row  on  Sliire  Moor. 

'  See  above,  p.  55  (12). 


3gO  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

the  reigns  of  Richard  I.  and  John.  His  son  or  grandson  was  sued  by  the 
prior  of  Tynemouth  in  1225  for  the  customs  and  services  due  from  his 
free  tenement  in  Whitley. 

Several  of  the  services  were  identical  with  those  given  in  the  custumal 
of  1295,  ^s  prevailing  in  the  other  townships.  The  owner  of  Whitley 
did  one  boon-ere  with  his  own  plough  and  with  all  the  ploughs  of  his  vill. 
He  found  four  harrows  for  the  boon-harrow.  In  the  autumn  he  did  three 
auth-reps  with  eight  men,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  vill,  except  the 
house  wives,  joined  on  the  fourth  day  in  the  great  boon-work.  He  carted 
four  loads  of  corn  from  North  Seaton,  and  the  tithe  produce  of  Hertness 
to  Tynemouth  together  with  his  peers  at  his  own  maintenance,  or  paid 
Hertness-pennies  in  commutation  for  that  service.  He  gave  merchet  for  his 
daughters,  sued  at  the  prior's  court,  and  paid  aids  together  with  his  peers. 
He  also  gave  thirteen  pence  yearly  for  cornage  and  paid  an  annual  rent  of 
twenty  shillings. 

Besides  these  there  were  services  connected  with  the  priory  mills.  The 
lord  of  Whitley  and  his  men  did  suit  to  the  mills  and  gave  multure  at  the 
thirteenth  bushel.  He  was  bound  to  build,  roof  and  repair  the  si.\th  part 
of  the  two  mills  of  Tynemouth  ;  be  contributed  one-sixth  to  the  purchase 
and  carting  of  millstones  for  the  same,  carted  timber  to  the  mills  and 
found  two  men  to  fell  it  at  his  own  charges. 

The  most  distinctive  service  due  from  the  holding  was  that  to  which 
allusion  is  made  in  later  custumals  as  '  Conveys.'  This  involved  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  prior  and  his  household  by  the  lord  of  Whitley  in  his  own 
house  every  23rd  and  24th  of  December,  and  finding  his  guests  in  food 
and  drink,  lights,  hay  and  oats  for  the  horses,  and  in  all  other  necessaries. 

Ralph  de  Whitley  pleaded  a  demurrer.  The  prior  and  convent  had 
sued  him  for  services  due  from  a  free  tenement,  but  the  services  enumerated 
were  base.  Villein  services  could  not  be  chargeable  upon  freehold  land  ; 
and  the  judges  of  the  King's  Bench,  to  whom  drengage  and  its  paradoxical 
incidents  were  novelties,  accepted  the  logical  argument  of  the  defendant. 
The  claim  was  dismissed,  but  was  brought  up  again  in  the  course  of  the 
following  term,  with  slight  modifications,  and  the  addition  of  a  penny  half- 
penny to  the  sum  claimed  for  cornage.  Ralph  de  Whitley  again  pleaded 
that  he  held  no  land  in  villeinage  but  admitted  the  claim  to  twenty  shillings. 
Prior  Germanus  refused  to  be  led  into  a  discussion  on  land  tenure,  basing 


WHITLEY    TOWNSHIP.  39  I 

his  claim  on  the  fact  that  the  defendant,  his  father  and  grandfather,  had 
done  the  whole  of  the  services  mentioned,  from  the  days  of  Prior  Acharius 
down  to  the  preceding  Christmas.'  The  judges  of  the  King's  Bench  made 
over  the  conduct  of  the  case  to  the  justices  itinerant,  but  at  Easter,  1227, 
before  the  next  Northumbrian  assize,  Ralph  de  Whitley  came  into  the  Court 
of  King's  Bench,  and  acknowledged  that  he  was  bound  bv  all  the 
services  mentioned  in  the  prior's  claim.' 

A  petition  presented  to  the  king  by  John  de  Whitley  between  the 
years  1280  and  1282  states  that  the  petitioner  held  a  carucate  of  arable, 
eight  acres  of  meadow,  and  si.xty  acres  of  pasture  in  demesne,  while  234 
acres  of  arable  were  cultivated  by  bonds.  His  father,  Henry  de  Whitley, 
having  died  while  he  was  still  a  minor.  Prior  Adam  de  Tewing  had 
claimed  the  wardship  and  marriage  of  the  heir  in  right  of  his  church. 
His  lands  remained  in  the  prior's  hands  until  he  came  of  age  and  then 
he  was  not  permitted  to  have  seisin  of  the  same  until  he  had  paid  a  fine 
of  fourteen  marks,  amounting  to  two  years'  proceeds  of  the  manor.  The 
prior  had  moreover  hindered  the  petitioner  from  distraining  on  the  bonds 
of  his  demesne,  had  cited  him  to  appear  in  court  for  so  doing,  and  had 
mulcted  him  of  one  hundred  shillings,  besides  robbing  him  of  four  hundred 
cartloads  of  marie,   for  which  he  could  find  no  remedy.' 

'  Prior  de  Tinemue  petit  versus  Riuiulfuni  de  Witele  quod  facial  ei  consuetudines  et  recta  servicia 
que  ei  inde  facere  debet  de  libero  tenemento  suo  quod  de  eo  tciiel  in  Wyteleia,  ul  in  arreragiis  et  aliis,  unde 
idem  prior  dicit  quod  idem  Radulfus  tenet  de  eo  el  ecclesia  sua  de  Tinemue  villam  de  Wytel',  ct  debet  ei 
has  consuetudines  subscriptas,  scilicet  quolibet  anno,  quinto  et  sexto  die  Nalalis  Domini,  debet  idem  prior 
cum  tola  familia  sua  de  Tinemue  quam  secum  assumere  voluerit  venire  ad  domum  ipsius  Kadulli  in 
Wytel',  et  debet  idem  Radulfus  invenire  ei  per  illos  duos  dies  ad  totam  familiam  suam  rationabilitcr  ad 
manducandum  et  bibendum  et  candelam  et  fcnum  et  avenam  ad  equos  suos  et  onmia  alia  necessaria,  et 
preterea  arare  per  unum  diem  cum  omnibus  carucis  ville  sue,  et  cum  sua  propria,  ct  eodem  die  debet 
ipse  Radulfus  interesse  in  propria  persona  ad  cibum  ipsius  prioris  semel  in  die.  Et  debet  invenire  iiij 
hercuras  per  unum  diem  usque  ad  nonam  ad  cibum  ipsius  Radulti,  et,  cum  opus  fuerit,  debet  reparare 
sextam  partem  duorum  molendinorum  de  Tinemue  et  sextam  partem  molendinorum  illorum  facere  et 
cooperire,  et  sextam  partem  molarum  emere  et  cariare  ad  molendina  ilia,  el  maeremium  cariare  ad  eadem 
molendina  et  invenire  duos  homines  ad  secandum  illud  maeremium  ad  cibum  Radulti  propriuni  ;  et  in 
autumpno  facere  Ires  precarias  per  tres  dies,  quolibet  die  cum  oclo  hominibus  ad  cibum  prioris,  et 
iiij""  die  debent  omnes  homines  ville  ejusdem  venire  ad  precaria  preter  hospitissas  doniorum  ad  cibum 
prioris.  Et  debet  cariare  iiij  carettas  bladi  de  Nor-Setan  usque  Tinemue  ad  cibum  propriuni.  El  ipse 
et  homines  sui  debent  sequi  molendina  ipsius  prioris  et  ibi  molere  per  xiij  tolfatum.  Et  debet  cariare 
simul  cum  paribus  suis  decimas  de  Hertenes  usque  Tinemue  ad  cibum  proprium  vel  dcnarios  dare  pro 
cariagio.  Et  debet  merchetum  de  filiabus  suis.  Et  debet  sequi  curiam  ipsius  prioris  et  dare  auxUia 
cum  paribus  suis  quando  pares  sui  dant  auxilium.  Et  de  cornayio  quolibet  anno  xiiji/.,  et  preterea 
de  annuo  ledditu  xxs.     Curui  Ri-gis  Rolls,  Nos.  SS,  94.     .Maitland,  br.iclon's  Nolfbwk,  vol.  iii.  p.  53. 

■Patent  Rolls,  11  Henry  III.  m.  23.  Ciiiia  Regis  Rolls,  No.  97.  In  1226  the  sheriff  of  Northum- 
berland accounted  for  one  mark  from  Ralph  de  Witele  '  pro  falso  clameo  ;'  Hodyson,  .YorMumi^WjnJ, 
pt.  iii.  vol.  iii.  p.  145. 

'  A  nostre  seignour  le  roy  et  son  conseyl  se  pleynt  Johan  de  Wytele  ke  la  ou  memes  cesty  Johan 
tent  del  priour  de  Thvnemowe  un  mies  une  carue  de  lerre  en  demeyne,  e  xx'J  et  xiiij  acres  de  terre 
en  service  ke  les  bondes  memes  cely  Johan  de  ly  icnent,  e  viij  acres  de  pre,  e  Ix  acres  de  pasture 


392  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  storv  has  already  been  told  of  how,  on  October  29tli,  1290, 
John  de  Whitley  with  two  of  his  companions  broke  into  the  house  of 
Walter  fitz  Nicholas  in  Whitley,  and  carried  ofl"  certain  goods  which  he 
found  there  ;  of  his  trial  for  breach  of  the  peace  in  the  prior's  court,  and  of 
the  subsequent  delays  of  justice,  resulting  in  a  hearing  of  the  case  before 
Edward  I.  and  his  council  at  Norham,  and  the  forfeiture  of  the  prior's 
franchise.'  John  de  Whitley  was  doubtless  effecting  a  distraint,  and  the 
action  of  the  prior  and  convent  in  treating  this  as  a  case  of  burglary  may 
be  considered  either  as  a  wilful  misrepresentation  of  facts  or  as  a  just 
protection  of  the  lesser  tenants  in  a  dependent  manor. 

od  les  apurlenaunces  en  Wytele,  par  ceiteyn  service  annuel,  le  quel  service  ne  dune  niie  garde  ne 
mariayge  ;  la  seysit  le  priour  Adam,  predecessour  cesty  priour,  les  avaunt  diz  tenemenz  en  sa  mayn  apres 
la  niort  Henry  de  Wytelee,  pere  ly  avaunt  dit  Jnhan  ky  lieyr  il  est,  cum  chef  seignour  du  fee, 
apropriaunt  garde  des  avaunt  diz  tenemenz  e  mariayge  del  avaunt  dit  lieyr  a  ly  a  sa  eglyse  de 
Thynemowe,  ou  nulc  garde  ne  mariayge  apent,  ne  unkes  predecessour  ky  il  eut  seysi  ne  fu  de  garde  des 
avaunt  diz  tenemenz,  ne  de  mariayge  de  ancestre  ke  il  unkes  ust.  Morust  Adam.  Willam,  un  son 
successur,  ceo  tort  continua.  Morust  Willam  ;  apres  ky  mort,  Symun,  ke  ore  est,  les  avaunt  diz 
tenemenz  entra  cum  en  sa  garde,  e  les  avaunt  diz  tenemenz  tint  en  sa  inayn  tant  ke  le  avaunt  dit  Johan 
fu  passe  le  ayge  de  xxij  aunz.  E  puys  ke  kant  le  avaunt  dit  Johan  aveit  son  ayge  prove,  il  ne  poeyt  le 
entrc  aver  en  sa  terre,  eynz  ke  il  eut  paie  xiiij  mars  de  argent  al  avaunt  dit  priour  ke  ore  est  pur  relef,  ke 
est  la  value  de  sa  terre  de  deus  aunz.  E  tut  ust  il  ewe  la  garde  des  avaunt  diz  tenemenz  du  dreyt,  sicum 
ele  fu  tortenuse,  si  deveyt  il  aver  ewe  sa  terre  sanz  relef  e  sanz  fyn,  ou  riens  doner  du  son  ;  e  ceo  par  la 
graunt  chartre  nostre  seignour  le  roy,  ke  ceo  ad  graunte  e  comunie  de  son  seale. 

Wstre  ceo  se  pleynt  memes  cely  Johan,  ke  la  ou  il  destreynt  ses  vyleyns  purlur  ferme  ke  est  arere,  e 
pur  autres  services  ke  du  ly  sunt  de  eus,  cum  de  ses  vyleyns  en  park,  lur  avers  cum  ben  ly  list  a  fere, 
cum  de  ses  chatels  demeyn  ;  la  vent  memes  cesty  priour  e  delivre  les  avers  hors  de  sa  propre  faude, 
niaugre  son  par  sa  seignourie  ;  e  pur  la  poverte  I'evaunt  dit  Johan,  issi  ke  il  ne  poet  ses  vyleyns  pur  ly 
justicer,  ne  sa  ferme  de  eus  lever,  ne  prendre  ne  autres  services  kc  du  ly  sunt  de  eus  cum  de  ses  vyleyns, 
e  pur  ceo  ke  il  volt  ses  vileyns  justicer,  si  ly  ad  destreynt  I'evaunt  dit  priour  devenir  a  sa  curt,  ou  il  nul 
conseil  ne  poeit  aver  ne  trover  encuntre  le  priour,  nies  ilokes  fu  surpris  par  defaute  de  conseil,  e  fu  mis 
en  la  merci,  e  fu  leve  de  ly  pur  sa  seul  amerciement  cent  souz,  pur  queus  cent  souz  il  fist  meclief  de  x 
liverez  de  chateus.  E  estre  ceo,  la  ou  il  aveyt  graunte  a  un  moygne  de  la  meson,  daunz  Johan  de 
Ludeburn,  cent  charettes  de  marie  a  prende  de  la  demeyne  terre  memes  celuy  Johan  in  Wytelee,  a 
carier  sur  la  terre  I'evaunt  dit  priour  en  Thynemowe  pur  son  par,  la  prist  memes  cely  moygne  cccc 
carettes  de  niarle  hors  de  la  terre  le  avaunt  dit  Johan,  estre  ceo  ke  il  le  aveyt  done,  encuntre  son  gre  e 
sa  volunte.  E  son  scrjaunt,  ke  vout  aver  desturbe  le  avaunt  dit  moygne  de  plus  prendre  de  marie  ke 
graunte  ly,  fust  pris  par  coniaundement  le  seneschal  le  avaunt  dit  priour  e  mys  en  cept,  de  quel  trepas  le 
avaunt  dit  priour  fu  aresone  ke  il  feyst  les  amendes,  e  riens  ne  vout  fere,  ne  uncore  ore  ne  fest.  E  de 
ceus  torts  prie  le  avaunt  dit  Johan  remedie  pur  Ueu. 

Cestes  grevaunces  me  sunt  Htes  plus  apertement,  par  la  reson  de  la  fraunchise  de  retur  de  bref  ke  il 
unt  ;  ke  la  ou  jeo  le  avaunt  dit  Johan  par  la  sute  et  le  conseil  de  mes  amys  avey  purchacc  un  bref  de 
mort  d'ancestre  vers  Willam,  priour  de  la  avaunt  dite  meson  de  Thynemowe,  predecessour  le  priour 
ke  ore  est,  devaunt  sire  Johan  de  \'aus  e  ses  cumpaignouns  justices  dreyn  erranz  en  le  cunte  de 
Norhumbreland  ;  la  vynt  le  priour  e  demaunda  retur  par  le  graunte  ke  il  aveyt  de  nostre  seignour  le 
roy  de  cele  fraunchise,  c  le  aveyt.  E  par  agarde  de  justices  dona  jur  avaunt  dit  Johan  a  sure  son  bref; 
e  au  jour  kant  il  vint  ne  trova  nul  bref,  purceo  ke  par  le  avaunt  dit  Willam  priour  fu  besile.  E  purceo 
ne  osa  il  unkes  puys  bref  purchacer  ne  son  dreyt  sure  tant  cum  il  fu  dedeinz  ayge,  pur  dute  de 
autiele  malice.     E  prie  pur  Deu  ke  remedie  de  ceo  seit  fest. 

[Endorsed :  ]  A  nostre  seyngur  le  roy  pur  le  roy  mustre  Johan  de  Whyteleye  ke  le  priur  de 
Tynemuth  ad  fete  grant  deseritons  au  roy,  ausi  bien  en  ewe  cum  en  tere,  cum  de  wrek  de  mere  e  de 
vyles,  a  I'aniutainue  D.  mars  e  plus  en  sun  tens,  e  mut  deseritesuns  ad  fet  al  gent  du  pays  par  sa 
fraunchyse  ke  il  ad  de  vos  auncestres  et  de  vus,  sicum  il  dit.     Ancient  Petitions,  P.R.O.  No.  7,286. 

In  1292  John  de  Whitley  sued  Simon,  prior  of  Tynemouth,  because  the  prior  refused  to  give  an 
account  of  the  profits  of  the  manor  of  Whitley  during  tlie  time  tliat  he  had  the  wardship  of  the  same. 
De  Banco  Rolls,  No.  93. 

'  See  above,  pp.  216-218. 


WHITLEY   TOWNSHIP. 


393 


John   de   Whitley  was  one   of  the   twelve  jurors  in   the   court  of  the 

liberty.      His  goods  were  assessed    in    1296   at  £1    15s.  6d.,   on   which  he 

paid  6s.   lo^d.  as  subsidy.     The  other  tenants  in  the  township  are  grouped 

in  the  subsidy  roll  of  that  year  with  certain  of  the  tenants  of  East  Chirton. 

Est  Chirton  et  Wvtf.lev  Subsidy  Roll,  1296. 

C    s.      A.  s.        d. 

Summa  bonorum  Rogeri  Gray     2   13     3  uncle   regi  4   10 

„                  Willelmi  Brun  ...         ...         ...134  „  2     lA 

„                 Willelmi  de  Hrerden o  17     ij  „  i     6| 

„                 Radulphi  Averay         0193  „  19 

„                 Nicholai  de  Wytteley 474  „  7   iii 

„                 Agnetis  relicte             o  15     8i  „  i     5] 

„                 Gilberti  de  Wytteley 1     4   10  „  23 

„                 Alienore  relicte            o  19  10  „  i     9J 

Summa  hujus  ville,  £13  os.  Sd.;  unde  domino  regi,  ^i  3s.  Sid.' 

Prior  Walden  had  his  revenge  on  his  troublesome  vassal  in  1297. 
William  Wallace,  at  the  head  of  a  Scottish  army,  was  marching  down 
the  Tvne  valley  and  laving  the  countrv  waste.  John  de  Whitlev  hastened 
to  collect  all  his  muniments  and  household  stuff,  which  he  deposited  in 
a  house  close  to  the  priory  gates.  The  castle  was  strong  enough  to  resist 
the  invaders,  provided  no  cover  was  left  for  the  enemy  near  its  walls. 
Consequently,  on  November  23rd,  Prior  Walden  set  fire  to  the  house  in 
which  John  de  Whitley's  effects  were  stored,  without  troubling  to  remove 
its  contents. ■ 

Among  the  deeds  then  destroyed  was  a  bond  from  Henry  de 
Newenham,  whose  name  recurs  in  13 10  when  John  de  Whitley  conveyed 
to  him  the  manor  of  Whitley.  The  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  and  the  prior  of 
Tynemouth  put  in  their  claim  and  prevented  the  transfer  from  taking 
effect.'  There  were  also  burnt  in  the  fire  two  charters  of  enfeoffment 
of  the  manor.  A  detailed  statement  of  the  custom  called  'Conveys,'  drawn 
up  about  this  time,  was  perhaps  necessitated  by  their  loss. 

The  mode  of  doing  the  service  called  the  Conveyes  at  Whitley.  All  the  meii  of  Tynemouth  prior>-, 
all  the  horses  and  dogs  of  the  priory,  all  who  have  their  quarters  in  the  prior)-,  all  the  prior's  senjints  at 
Preston  manor,  and  the  serjeant,  'messor'  and  carter  of  Monkseaton  manor,  and  all  the  servants 
employed  in  barges  who  are  called  '  kelers,"  and  four  threshers,  and  a  man  and  woman  fanner,  shall 
come  once  a  year  at  Christmaslide  on  Holy  Innocents'  Day  to  a  place  in  Whitley  on  this  side  of 
the   vill.      And   there   the   lord   of  that   vill   shall   meet   them,  and  shall   receive   them   fittingly   and 

'  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  i;».  -  Coiam  Rege  Rolls,  No.  202.  '  Feet  of  Fines,  4  Edw.  II.  No.  12. 

*  '  The  keelmen  are  those  who  manage  the  lighters  which  they  cill  keels,  by  which  the  co.ils  are 
taken  from  the  steathes  or  wharfs,  and  carryed  on  board  the  ships  at  She.als  to  load  them  for  London.' 
Defoe,  Tour  through  Gretit  Britain,  1727,  vol.  iii.  p.  192. 

Vol.  VIII.  50 


394 


TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


honourably  ;  and  he  shall  llnil  them  in  all  necessaries  on  that  day  and  on  the  next,  for  two  days  and  two 
nights,  so  that  they  be  fittingly  entertained  and  fed.  All  the  serving  men  aforesaid  shall  be  served  with 
two  courses,  of  suitable  iiuantily  and  quality,  and  with  cheese  at  mid-day  ;  and  the  free  men  of  the 
household  similarly  with  two  courses  and  with  cheese  at  supper.  The  squires  and  those  of  their  degree 
shall  be  served  on  flesh-days  with  fowl  as  the  second  course  at  supper,  namely,  one  fowl  between  two  of 
them  ;  and  those  of  lesser  degree  shall  be  served  « ith  half  a  fowl  and  fresh  boiled  meat  as  the  second  course 
at  supper.  .\nd  all  the  ploughmen  and  those  of  like  degree  shall  be  served  with  common  meats 
and  with  cheese  at  supper,  always  provided  that  all,  whether  free  men  or  ploughmen,  have  good  beer 
and  fitting,  and  that  they  have  every  two  of  them  one  bed,  sufificient  and  suitable  to  their  stations.  Each 
of  the  horses  shall  have  good  forage  (except  the  prior's  horses,  which  used  to  be  served  with  hay,  or  with 
pease  in  place  of  hay,  and  were  taken  in  and  lodged  in  Whitley  manor).  Each  of  the  horses  shall  have 
half  a  bowl  of  good  oats.  Whatever  is  left  over  from  the  jirovisions  shall  be  carted  to  the  prior's  granarj- 
by  the  keeper  of  the  granary.' 

The  case  of  Walter  litz  Nicholas  was  not  the  only  instance  in  which 
the  lords  of  the  manor  of  Whitley  were  charged  with  breach  of  the  peace. 
On  July  7th,  1305,  John  de  Whitley  headed  an  attack  on  William  Baret 
of  Burradon,  kept  him  in  prison  at  Whitley  for  two  days,  and  despoiled 
him  of  robes,  furs,  gold  and  silver,  and  other  property  to  the  amount  of 
^100.  Whitley's  defence  on  this  occasion  was  that  he  had  arrested  Baret 
as  a  constable  and  keeper  of  the  king's  peace  for  having  assaulted  one 
Robert  Otvvay  at  Whitley  and  beaten  him  almost  to  death."  On  October 
1st,  1 318,  Gilbert,  son  of  John  de  Whitley,  with  other  companions,  broke 
into  the  house  of  Ranulph  le  taillour  at  Tynemouth,  drove  the  said  Ranulph 
to  take  refuge  in  the  priory,  and  blockaded  him  there.  The  same  Gilbert 
de  Whitley,  on  September  20th,  1324,  seized  on  Roger  Brown  of 
Tynemouth,  put  him  into  the  stocks  on  the  king's  highway  and  prevented 
his  friends  from  bringing  him  food  and  drink,  so  that  he  nearly  died  from 
starvation  and  e.xposure.^ 

Agnes,  the  widow  of  John  de  Whitley,  on  March  29th,  1321,  granted 
to  John  de  Houworth,  vicar  of  Tynemouth,  a  toft  and  a  plot  of  land  in 
Whitley,  containing  one  acre,  besides  common  of  pasture  appurtenant  to 
the  same.  This  and  other  properties  were  transferred  by  Houworth  in 
1325  to  Thomas  de  Raynton,  seneschal  of  the  liberty,  who  reconveyed 
the  same  to  the  prior  and  convent.^ 

'  Tynemouth  Chartuliiry,  fol.  68,  printed  by  Brand,  Neifcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  595. 

'  Coram  Rege  Rolls,  No.  183.  '  Ibid.  No.  258. 

^  The  deeds  are  set  out  in  the  Tynemouth  Chartxdary.  (l)  Grant  from  Agnes,  widow  of  John 
de  Whitley,  to  John  de  Houworth.  Dated  at  Whitley,  March  29th,  1321.  Hiis  testibus,  domino  Roberto 
de  la  Val,  domino  Adam  de  Benton,  domino  Wiilelmo  de  Swynburn,  militibus,  Roberto  de  Rihill, 
Simone  de  Welteden,  Roberto  de  ?laukewell,  Alano  de  Castro,  et  aliis  ;  fol.  84.  (2)  Confirmation 
by  Gilbert,  son  of  John  de  Whitley  ;  dated  at  Tynemouth,  March  30th,  1321.  Hiis  testibus,  domino 
Johanne  de  Fenwyk,  domino  Roberto  de  Fawedon,  militibus,  Roberto  de  Rihill,  Thonia  de  Hidewyn, 


WHITLEY   TOWNSHIP.  395 

Gilbert  de  Whitley  received  royal  licence  on  April  9th,  1345,  to 
crenellate  his  manor  house  at  Whitley.'  The  tower  recurs  in  the  list  of 
castles  and  fortalices  drawn  up  in  14 15,-  but  probably  soon  fell  into  disuse, 
as  there  is  no  mention  of  it  in  the  survey  of  1538,  and  no  tradition  survives 
as  to  its  site.  Gilbert  de  Whitley  was  an  e.xpert  military  architect,  holding 
the  office,  in  1356,  of  master  and  supervisor  of  the  king's  work  in  the 
castle  of  Newcastle.' 

A  survey  taken  in  1377  repeats  the  custumal  of  1225  with  little 
alteration.  The  sum  of  3s.  4d.  was  paid  yearly  as  abbot-scot ;  an  annual 
payment  of  five  marks  was  due  by  statute  merchant  ;  *  and  a  few  of 
the  services  had  been  commuted  for  money  payments,  notably  the  conveys. 
Two  pounds  was  paid  for  this,  and  no  more  '  because  of  the  poverty 
of  the  tenants.'  The  surveyor  notes  that  four,  si.x,  or  eight  marks  had 
previously  been  paid.  The  sum  due  for  Hertness-pennies,  which  was 
not  stated  in  the  earlier  custumal,  is  here  given  as  a  shilling.  Two  shillings 
was  paid  in  lieu  of  timber  for  Flatworth  mill,  and  five  pence  for  repairing 
the  mill  pond.'^ 

Rali'h  de  Whitlev  (a). 

I 

Ralph  de  Whitley  (a). 


•I  I 

Eustace  de  Whitley,  died  Henry  de  Whitley  (a),  did  homage  to  the  abbot  of  St.  .Mban's,  1264 

s./i.  (a).  (St.  Ailians  Register,  fol.  62). 


I 
John  de  Whitley  (a),  a  minor  at  his  father's  death  ;  died  before  1321  {b).  =  Agnes  (K). 


Gilbert  de  Whitley  {K). 

John  de  Whitley,  buried  at  St.  Albans  (c). 

Agnes,  married  William  Parker,  buried  at  St.  Albans  (c). 

(a)  Assize  Roil,  21  Edw.  I.         (/))  Tynemoulh  Chariiilary,  fol.  84.         (<r)  .Amundesham,  Annales,  vol.  i.  p.  442. 

John  de  Whitley,  the  ne.xt  in  succession  to  the  manor,  left  his  home 
for  St.   Albans,   and,  dying  there,  was  buried   in   the  abbey  church.      He 

Roberto  de  Seton  Wodehorn,  Roberto  de  Byker,  et  aliis  ;  fol.  84  b.  (3)  Quitclaim  from  the  same, 
attested  by  the  witnesses  to  the  first  deed  ;  dated  at  Tynemouth,  Rlarch  31st,  1321  ;  fol.  85.  (4)  Grant 
of  the  above  land  inter  alia  by  John  de  Hotnvorth,  vicar  of  Tynemouth,  to  Thomas  de  Raynton  ;  dated 
at  Tynemouth,  March  19th,  1324/5.  Hiis  testibus,  Henrico  Faukus,  johanne  de  Uacworth,  Alano  de 
Castro,  Galfrido  de  Morelon,  Johanne  de  Seton,  Roberto  Sauvaye,  ct  aliis  ;  fol.  86.  (5)  Grant  of  the 
premises  by  Thomas  de  Raynton  to  the  prior  and  convent  of  Tynemouth  ;  dated  .-Xujjust  1st,  1325  ;  fol. 
87.     See  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  \fo\.  i.  p.  138. 

'  Cal.  Patent  Rolls,  1343-1345,  p.  446.  "  Bates,  Border  IloUs,  p.  16. 

'  Arch.  All.  2nd  series,  vol.  iv.  p.  50.  '  '  Per  statutam  niercatoriam.' 

*  Tynemoulh  Chartulary,  fols.  51  b  and  58  b. 


396  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH". 

left  a  daughter,  Agnes,  who  was  married  to  William  Parker,  squire  to 
Abbot  de  la  Mare.'  A  certain  Percival  Symeon  had  also  an  interest  in  the 
manor  through  Johanna  his  wife.  She  enfeoffed  John  Roland,  clerk,  Alan 
Whvtheved,  clerk,  Adam  Fenrother,  clerk,  William  de  Chevyngton,  and 
William  de  Titlyngton,  of  the  third  part  of  one  messuage,  330  acres  of 
arable,  eight  acres  of  meadow,  and  eighteen  acres  of  pasture  in  Tynemouth 
and  Whitley,  to  hold  in  trust  for  herself  and  her  husband  during  her 
lifetime,  and  then  in  trust  for  William  Parker  and  William  Fymer 
and  William  Parker's  heirs.  In  1382  the  said  Percival  Symeon  and 
Johanna  his  wife  surrendered  their  interest  in  these  lands  to  Parker  and 
Fymer  in  consideration  of  a  hundred  marks."  In  1403  John  Olyver  of 
Rypton  and  Johanna  his  wife  sold  to  Thomas  Thornburgh,  William 
Parker,  and  William  Assh,  for  ;^ioo,  the  manor  of  Whitley,  a  messuage 
and  two  acres  in  Horsley  by  Felton,  and  a  messuage  in  Newcastle.' 

Through  the  agency  of  William  de  Whethamstede,  cellarer  of  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  the  manor  of  Whitley  was  acquired  from  Thornburgh,  Parker, 
and  Assh,  for  the  monastery  in  the  year  1404.^  The  services  due  from  it 
were  then  found  to  be  worth  £<^  6s.  g^d.  per  annum.  They  are  extended, 
but  furnish  no  new  details  beyond  the  fact  that  the  timber  for  the  prior's 
mills  was  felled  in  Wylam  wood,  from  which  four  loads  had  to  be  carted 
to  Newburn  or  two  to  Flatworth  mill.^ 

In  1538,  Whitley  township  was  cultivated  by  five  customary  tenants, 
each  holding  a  tenement,  with  forty  acres  of  arable,  two  acres  of  meadow, 
and  pasture  for  twelve  cattle  and  for  thirty  sheep  in  the  common  pasture. 
A  money  rent  of  £\  13s.  4d.  was  paid  for  each  tenement,  as  well  as  a 
corn  rent  of  four  quarters  of  barley  and  two  quarters  of  oats  ;  and  4d.  for 
pannage.  The  tenants  farmed  the  tithe  of  hay,  for  which  each  paid  6d. 
A  cottage  or  herd  house,  with  five  butts  of  arable  land,  called  Lady's  lands, 
was  in  the  tenure  of  all  the  tenants,  at  8s.  rent,  and  a  garden  was  farmed 
at  IS.  4d.'  The  last  two  holdings  may  be  respectively  identified  with 
the  cottage  and  three  roods  acquired  by  the  prior  and  convent  in  1325, 
and  with  the  hall  garth  of  the  former  lords  of  Whitley.      A  dovecote  on  the 

'  Amundesham,  AiiiuiUs  Muiuistirii  Saiicti  Atbani,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  p.  442. 

■Feet  0/ Fines,  5  Richard  II.  No.  11.  '  Ibid.  5  Henry  IV,  No.  1. 

'  See  above,  pages  100,  101  (note),  and  117. 

'  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  ii.  appendix,  No.  cxxxi. 

*  Ibid.  vol.  i.  p.  221  ;  .Ministers'  Accounts,  38  Henry  \11I.  and  i  Edward  I.  No.  5. 


WHITLEY   TOWNSHIP. 


397 


north  side  of  the  village  has  given  its  name  to  Dovecot  close,  and  is 
described  as  already  decayed  in  a  lease  of  1634.'  The  survey  shows  that 
there  were  200  acres  under  arable  cultivation,  and  ten  acres  of  meadow  land, 
and  consequently  the  common  or  waste  land  within  the  township  amounted 
to  more  than  300  acres.  The  carucate  of  arable  land,  held  by  the  lords 
of  Whitley  in  demesne,  had  evidently  been  allowed  to  go  out  of  cultivation. 
A  survey  taken  in  1608  gives  the  same  particulars  with  regard  to  the 
holdings,  with  the  substitution  of  forty-four  for  forty  acres  of  arable.  Each 
tenant  is  further  stated  to  have  pasture  for  two  horses  in  the  common  fields.* 
Enclosure  took  place  before  1674,  when  surrenders  were  taken  of  closes 
held  in  severalty.  The  lands  allotted  to  the  copyholders  in  virtue  of  their 
holdings  were  not  contiguous,  but  each  proprietor  received  three  or  four 
closes  in  different  parts  of  the  township.  Forty-four  acres  lying  ne.xt  to  the 
sea,  known  as  Whitley  links,  remain  unenclosed  to  the  present  day.  Here 
the  copyholders  had  eatage,  four  stints  being  allowed  to  each  copyhold 
farm.^  Thompson's  survey  of  the  manor,  taken  in  1757,  gives  the  following 
names  : 

Henry  Hudson,  esq.,  loo  acres  2  roods  ;  Thomas  Rutherford,  88  acres  i  rood  ;  John  Hall, 
82  acres  i  rood  ;  Ralph  Clarke,  98  acres  3  roods  ;  Sarah  Dove,  57  acres  3  roods  ;  Joseph  Sayburne, 
16  acres  2  roods  ;  Mrs.  Archbold,  24  acres  2  roods  ;  a  freehold  called  Lady-lands,  I  rood  30  poles  ; 
common  by  the  seashore,  44  acres  ;  town,  streets,  lanes,  etc.,  S  acres  3  roods.' 

Coal  mining  was  actively  carried  on  in  Whitley  between  the  years 
1673  and  17 15  by  John  Dove,  Henry  Hudson,  and  their  partners.  Hudson, 
who  had  served  under  Sir  Arthur  Heslerig  in  the  parliamentarian  army, 
deserves  to  be  remembered  for  his  story  of  how  Cromwell  at  Dunbar  'rid 
all  the  night  before  through  the  several  regiments  by  torchlight  upon  a 
little  Scots  nag,  biting  his  lip  till  the  blood  had  run  down  his  chin  without 
his  perceiving  it,  his  thoughts  being  busily  employed  to  be  ready  for  the 
action  now  at  hand.'=  Hudson  settled  at  Whitley,  and  there  gave  hospitable 
entertainment  to  persecuted  dissenters  in  Charles  H.'s  reign.  He  worked 
coal  in  Whitlev,  Preston,  and  IMonkseaton,  had  salt-pans  and  lead-mines  in 
each  of  tlie  three  northern  counties,  and  commenced  a  profitable  business 
in  1684  by  taking  a  lease  of  the  Whitley  limestone  quarries.  There  is  an 
outcrop  of  Magnesian  Limestone  in  the   field   called  Maudlin  pits,  on  the 

■  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  =  Land  Revenue  Office,  ^^iscdl.  Books,  vol.  2:3,  fol.  }is. 

''  Duke  of  Noilhumberland's  MSS.  '  /'"•'• 

>  Life  0/ Ambrose  Bunus,  Surt.  Soc.  No.  50,  pp.  iio-iii. 


398 


TVNEMOUTH    PARISH. 


north  side  of  Marden  burn  and  immediately  to  the  west  of  the  Tynemonth 
road.  The  stone  is  good  for  quarrying,  and  in  1754  it  was  calculated  that 
the  enterprise  brought  in  ^'208  yearly  clear  of  the  lord's  rent.  'There 
is,'  it  was  then  stated,  'an  engine  for  throwing  out  water,  and  four  extra- 
ordinary large  lime-kilns  constantly  employed,  besides  great  quantity  of 
stone  carried  from  the  pits  to  be  burnt  at  other  places.' ' 

HUDSON     OF     NEWBIGGEN     IN     NEWBURN.     AND     OF     WHITLEY. 


buried  in  : 

the  Sidgate 
burial  ground, 
NewcastleC/S). 


Hf.nKV   Hl'HSON  of  Newhiggen  in  Xewburn,  one  of  Cromwell's  Ironsides,  = 
look  a  lease  of  Billy  mill  and  Tynemoulh  mills  in  1679,  and  of  Whilley 
and  Monkseaton  quarries  in  1684  (^)  ;  buried  22nd  January,  1 704,  in  the 
Sidgate  burial  ground  (6')  ;  will  dated  22nd  November,  1700  («)  (Ji). 


,.  to  whom  her  hus- 
gave    his    mansion 


;  Jane  .. 
band 

house  atNewbiggen  for  her 
life  (rt). 


Enoch  Hudson  of  Brunton  in  Gosforth,  to 
whom  his  father  gave  Newbiggen  after  his 
widow's  death,  a  messuage  in  Newcastle,  a 
colliery  at  Monkseaton,  and  various  lands, 
salt  pans,  etc.,  in  the  counties  of  Northum- 
berland, Durham,  and  Cumberland  (a)  ; 
died  1 2th  September,  171 5  ;  buried  in  the 
Sidg-ate  burial  ground,  aged  56  (_/i)  {/)  ;  by 
his  will,  dated  27th  June,  1712,  he  gave 
Scott-house,  in  the  manor  of  Chester,  Co. 
Pa!.,  to  his  brother  Henry,  and  his  coal 
mines  and  other  property  to  be  divided 
amongst  his  four  daughters  («). 


Ruth,  dau. 
of  [William] 
Hutchinson, 
to  whom 
her  husband 
gave  a  house 
at  Brunton, 
held  by  lease 
of  Sir  Arthur 
Heslerigg 


I     I 
Other 

issue. 


Henry  Hudson  of  Whitley,  for  whom  : 
his  father  provided  in  his  lifetime, 
and  by  his  last  will  gave  a  ninth  part 
of  the  lead  mines  in  Rookhope  («)  ; 
apprenticed,  2nd  May,  1679,  to 
Benezer  Uurant  ;  admitted  to  the 
Newcastle  Merchants'  Company, 
2 1  St  June,  1689  (c)  ;  acquired  lands 
in  Whitley  c/zcrt  1690;  admitted  to 
lands  in  Monkseaton  on  surrender 
of  John  Rogers,  .April,  1690  (^)  ; 
died  17th  June,  1737,  aged  73  (d)  ; 
will  dated 1723  (a). 


Sarah,  dau. 
of  John 
Uove  (rt), 
died  3rd 
Septem- 
ber, 1737 
aged  59 
(,/);  will 
dated  ..  . 
1737  («)• 


Ruth,  daughter  and  co-heir,  wife  of  Reynold  Hall  of  Otterburn  ;  to  whom  her 
father  gave  a  house  in  the  Cloth  Market,  Newcastle  («)•     -i/ 

Sarah,  daughter  and  co-heir,  wife  of  William  Hicks  of  Whitehaven  ;  marriage 
settiemerit,  12th  .•\pril,  1728  (/). 

Mary,  daughter  and  co-heir,  wife,  first  of  John  Dove  of  Whitley  and  of  Wapping 
(c),  marriage  settlement,  13th  January,  1 7 10,  and  secondly  of  Rev.  R.  Gilpin  (J~). 

Hainiah.  daughter  and  co-heir,  wife  of  Robert  Ellison,  second  son  of  Nathaniel 
Ellison,  vicar  of  Newcastle  ;  bond  of  marriage,  19th  December,  1726  ;  she  died, 
5lh  June,  1772,  aged  72  (a),  and  was  buried  at  St.  Nicholas',  Newcastle  (/). 


Henry  Hudson  = 
of  Whitley- 
hall,  married 
his  first  cousin 
once  removed ; 
died  1 5th  May, 
1789.  aged  69 ; 
buried  at  Bath 
Abbey  (</). 


Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  Robert  EIHson 
by  Hannah  Hud 
son,  his  wife  ;  mar. 
at  Christ  Church, 
Tynemouth,  22nd 
.April,  1776;  died 
7th  October,  1815, 
aged  85  (0  id). 


(«)   Bell  Collection,  No.  361. 

(J>)    .Mr.  Maberly  Pliillips  on  'The  Quicks  Buring 

Plas,'  Arc/i.  Ael.  vol.  .\iii.  pp.  240-242. 
(c)    Arch.  Afl.  vol.  xvi.  pp.  286.2S7. 


((/)  Monumental  Inscription,  Tynemouth  Priory. 
(<)    Newcastle  Merchant  .Adventurers,  Dendy,  vol.  ii. 
\f)  Avthrose  Barnes,  Longstaffe,  p.  1 10. 
\g)  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


Henry  Hudson,  a  younger  son  of  Cromwell's  Ironside,  purchased  lands 
in  Whitley  about  the  year  1690,  from  his  brother-in-law,  Thomas  Dove 
of  Sparrow  hall.  His  son,  also  named  Henry  Hudson,  built  Whitley 
hall,  some  seventy  years  later,  on  the  south  side  of  the  village.  Dying  in 
1789,  he  left  his  property  to  his  widow,  who  bequeathed  it  in  1815  to 
her  niece,  Hannah  Ellison,  surviving  daughter  of  Henry  Ellison  of  Otter- 
burn  and  Whitehaven.  Whitley  hall  and  land  to  the  south  and  west  of 
it  was  sold  by  Miss  Ellison  in  181 7  to  the  duke  of  Northumberland.  She 
died   in    1837,    having   devised   the   remainder    of    the    Hudson    property, 


'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


WHITLEY    TOWNSHIP.  399 

comprising  Whitley  Village  farm,  to  her  great-nephews  and  great-nieces, 
the  grandchildren  of  William  Benson  of  Whitehaven  by  Anne  Ellison, 
his  wife.  This  property  was  sold  by  the  trustees  of  Miss  Ellison's  will  in 
1855  to  Mr.  William  Davison,  a  shipowner  in  North  Shields,  from  whom  it 
descended  to  his  son,  Mr.  John  Thomas  Davison.  It  is  now  built  over. 
The  third  Henry  Hudson  had,  in  1778,  sold  eleven  acres  of  land  in 
Whitley  quarry  to  Edward  Hall  of  Flatworth  for  the  purpose  of  erecting 
a  brewery  there.  Mr.  Hall  was  well  known  as  an  agriculturist  and  as  the 
breeder  of  a  fat  o.x  which  forms  the  subject  of  one  of  Bewick's  engravings. 
To  the  property  in  Whitley  which  he  had  inherited  from  his  nephew, 
William  Hall  of  Forth  house,  Newcastle,  he  added  at  various  times  by 
purchase  from  neighbouring  landowners,  and,  about  the  year  1789,  built 
Whitley  park  to  the  north-east  of  the  village.  He  died  in  1792,  when 
Whitley  park  and  grounds  were  sold  to  John  Haigh,  hostman.  A  few  years 
later  Haigh  became  bankrupt,  and  the  property  was  resold  in  1800  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Wright  of  North  Shields.  Since  Mr.  Wright's  death  in  1840 
the  house  has  several  times  changed  hands.  It  is  now  the  property  of 
the  Whitley  Park  Hotel  Company,  and  the  remainder  of  the  estate  has 
been  laid  out  for  building  purposes. 

Hall  of  Whitley. 

I.  John  Hall,  son  of  John  Hall  of  Whitley,  by  Catherine  his  wife,  died  May  24th,  1743,  aged  47. 
By  his  wife,  Ann,  who  died  January  28th,  1734/5,  aged  37,  he  h.ad  issue  two  sons,  John  H.all  (II. \  and 
Edward  Hall  of  Whitley  (who  made  his  will  December  31st,  1790,  and  died  unmarried,  June  7lh,  1792, 
aged  65)  ;  and  three  daughters,  Ann,  Catherine,  and  Isabella  who  married  Samuel  Hurry  of  Great 
Yarmouth  and  afterwards  of  Howdon. 

II.  John  Hall  of  Whitley,  brewer,  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Willi.im  Hicks  of  Whitehaven 
(marriage  settlement  dated  July  5th,  1746)  ;  was  admitted  to  his  father's  lands  at  Whitley,  May  jlh.  1747; 
died  at  Berwick-on-Tweed,  April  iglh,  1762,  where  he  was  buried.  He  left  issue,  together  with  an  only 
daughter,  Sarah  (who  married  Duncan  Campbell,  R.N.),  a  son  and  heir,  William  Hall. 

III.  William  Hall  of  Whitley  and  of  Forth  house,  Newcastle,  w.as  admitted  to  his  father's  kinds, 
June  7th,  1777;  by  his  will,  dated  February  2nd,  1779,  he  devised  his  real  estate  to  his  uncle,  Edward 
Hall,  charged  with  the  payment  of  ^2,000  to  his  sister's  children.' 

The  remainder  of  Edward  Hall's  property  came  to  his  niece,  Mrs. 
Campbell.  In  consequence  of  disputes  between  this  lady  and  her  uncle's 
executors,  the  estate  was  thrown  into  Chancery  and  sold  pursuant  to  an 
order  made  in  that  court  on  March  31st,  1804,  Whitley  Lodge  farm  being 
purchased    by    Zephaniah   Shipley,    and    Whitley    Link   farm    by  Cuthbert 

'  Based  on  pedigree  in  Bell  Collection  at  Alnwick  Castle,  No.  369,  and  on  monumental  inscriptions 
at  Christ  church  and  Tynemouth  priory. 


400  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Steel.  These  farms  arc  now  owned  respectively  by  the  trustees  of  John 
Thomas  Davison  of  North  Shields,  and  bv  the  representatives  of  Robert 
Potts  of  Long  Rcnton. 

Campbf.ij.  of  Whiti.f.y. 

I.  Duncin  Campbell  of  Earsdon,  an  officer  in  tlie  Royal  Navy  ;  married  at  Earsdon,  August  14th, 
1769,  Sarah,  only  daughter  of  John  Hall  of  Wliitley.  He  died  April  21st,  1800,  aged  69,  and  was  buried 
at  Earsdon.  By  his  wife,  who  died  at  Knightsbridge,  May  24th,  1817,  he  had,  with  other  issue,  Edward 
Hall  Campbell  (II.);  Elizabeth,  who  married  February  22nd,  1800,  James  Justice  of  Justice  hall, 
CO.  Herwick  ;  Maria,  who  married  November  iSth,  1797,  Thomas  Churchill  Thompson  ;  Amelia,  who 
married  September  27th,  1800,  Sir  Wharton  Amcotts  of  Kettlethorp  park,  co.  Lincoln  ;  Caroline 
Augusta,  who  married  at  St.  Michael  le  Belfry,  York,  February  loth,  1803,  B.  Hardy  of  Hatton  Garden, 
London  ;  and  a  daughter,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Craster,  rector  of  Kettlethorpe. 

II.  Edward  Hall  Campbell  of  Saville  Row,  Newcastle,  and  of  North  Shields,  brewer  ;  married  at 
Gosforth,  August  9th,  1S04,  Henrietta,  daughter  of  Cuthbert  Reaveley  of  Newcastle  and  Kenton,  by 
whom  he  left  issue;  purchased  Ivy-house  and  other  property  in  Whitley  in  1824  from  John  Henzell. 
He  died  at  Newcastle,  April  ist,  1844,  aged  67,  and  was  buried  at  Earsdon.  His  representatives  sold 
their  property  in  Whitley  in  1854  to  the  duke  of  Northumberland.' 

William  Clarke  of  Benton  and  Thomas  Taylor  of  Earsdon  succeeded 
the  Hudsons  as  lessees  of  the  limestone  quarries  at  Marden,  and  recom- 
menced mining  for  coal  about  the  year  18 10  by  opening  Cullercoats  main, 
besides  working  the  waste  heaps  of  older  coal  pits  on  the  Whitley  links  for 
ironstone.^  They  constructed  a  waggonway  past  the  Monk  House  to  the 
Low  Lights,  along  which  lime  and  coal  were  carried  in  large  quantities 
to  be  shipped  from  the  lime  staiths  where  the  fish  quay  now  is.  Edward 
Hall's  brewery,  dismantled  in  1808,  was  turned  into  a  storehouse  for  the 
colliery.  In  1848  the  colliery  was  laid  in.  Mr.  Clarke  had  sold  the  greater 
part  of  his  land  in  Whitley,  now  occupied  by  building  sites,  in  1809  to 
Mr.  Henry  Trewhitt.  A  further  account  of  his  family  is  reserved  for  Long 
Benton  township. 

Nearly  all  the  copyhold  land  in  the  township  has  been  enfranchised, 
and  the  duke  of  Northumberland  and  the  executors  of  Mr.  John  Thomas 
Davison  are  the  only  large  landowners.  The  duke  of  Northumberland's 
property  includes  land  purchased  in  1854  from  John  Henzell's  repre- 
sentatives, besides  the  Whitley  hall  property  above  mentioned. 

'  Based  on  pedigree  in  Bell  Collection,  No.  369,  and  on  monumental  inscription  at  Earsdon. 

=  The  Rev.  John  Hodgson  notes  in  his  journal,  July  31st,  1821  :  'On  the  links  north  of  Whitley 
there  are  rubbish  heaps  of  old  coal-pits,  grown  over  with  grass  and  whins,  excepting  where  the 
openings  of  the  rabbit  burrows  are.  In  them  massive  pieces  of  ironstone  in  flatted  spheres,  and  in 
masses  with  parallel  faces.  They  contain  mussell  shells  of  different  sizes.  Also  in  the  same  heaps  the 
schist  is  very  thickly  filled  with  shells  of  the  mytillis  kind,  differing  much  in  size.  Whitley  colliery  is 
again  at  work,  after  being  drowned  with  salt  water  for  several  months.  The  Leniington  Iron  Company 
worked  ironstone  here  till  the  colliery  was  inundated.'     MS.  Materials,  vol.  M,  p.  32. 


WHITI.EY    TOWNSHIP.  4OI 

Henzeli,  ok  Whitlev  and  Newcastle. 

I.  Peregrine  Henzeli  of  St.  Lawrence  Hroadglass-house,  and  of  the  Mushroom,  near  Newcastle  ; 
married  May  8tli,  1735,  Anne,  daughter  of  Charles  Archbold  of  Whitley  and  devisee  of  John  Hall  of  the 
same  place.  He  made  his  will  on  February  14th,  1775,  and  died  October  loth,  1785,  aged  72.  By  his 
wife,  who  died  February  4th,  1785,  aged  72,  he  h.ad  issue  John  Henzeli  (II.);  Charles  Henzeli; 
Peregrine  Henzeli  of  lielvedere  house,  Whitley,  who  was  baptised  December  igih,  1743,  made  his  will 
December  3rd,  1812,  and  died  July  rgth,  1824  ;  Julian,  wife  of  Thomas  Rutherford  of  Whitley  ;  .Mary, 
wife  of  Joseph  Hume  ;  Anne,  wife  of  Joseph  Naters  of  Sandiford. 

II.  John  Henzeli  of  the  Glass-houses,  baptised  August  31st,  1736,  died  January  14th,  1784, 
having  had,  with  other  issue,  Peregrine  Henzeli  (III.). 

III.  Peregrine  Henzeli  of  Tyne-bridge-end,  baptised  December  2nd,  1770;  will  dated  December 
31st,  i8r6  ;  died  .August  22nd,  1817,  leaving  issue  by  his  wife  Jane,  daughter  of  John  CapstafT  of  the 
Mushroom.' 

Since  the  year  1866,  the  other  estates  in  Whitley  have  been  laid  out 
for  building  purposes.  In  1873,  Whitley  and  Monkseaton  were  formed 
into  an  urban  district  with  a  local  board  under  the  Local  Government  Act 
of  1858.  By  order  of  the  County  Council,  October  18th,  1894,  the  district 
was  divided  into  the  two  wards  of  Whitley  and  Monkseaton.  The  local 
board  has  been  superseded  by  a  District  Council  under  the  Parish  Councils 
Act  of  1894,  and  the  number  of  wards  has  been  increased  to  four,  namely, 
Marden,  Monkseaton,  Rockcliff,  and  St.  Mary,  under  an  order  of  the  County 
Council  dated   November  5th,   1903. 

The  ecclesiastical  parish  of  St.  Paul's,  Cullercoats,  was  formed  out  of 
Tynemouth  parish  in  i860,  a  church  being  erected  in  1864  by  the  duke 
of  Northumberland.  There  are  also  the  following  Nonconformist  places  of 
worship  in  Whitley  :  (i)  the  United  Methodist  Free  Church  in  Whitley 
Road,  built  in  1905  to  replace  an  earlier  chapel  erected  in  1877,  having  a 
schoolroom  and  lecture  hall  attached  ;  (2)  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  chapel 
(Trinity)  in  Whitley  Road,  built  in  1889;  (3)  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  England,  Park  Parade,  built  in  1899;  (4)  a  Baptist  chapel  in  O.xford 
Street,  built  in  1901  ;  (5)  a  Primitive  Methodist  chapel  in  O.xford  Street, 
built  in  1904;  and  (6)  a  Congregational  church  in  Park  Avenue,  built  in 
1906-1907. 

The  Prudhoe  Memorial  Convalescent  Home  on  Whitley  links  was 
erected  by  public  subscription  in  memory  of  Algernon,  fourth  duke  of 
Northumberland,    and    opened    in    1869.      The    Northumberland    Village 

'  Based   on   pedigrees  in  the   Bell   Collection,  Nos.   373  and   388,  wills  in  the   Durham    Probate 
Registry,  and  registers  and  monumental  inscriptions  of  All  Saints,  Newcastle. 

Vol.  VIII.  5' 


402  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Homes  for  homeless  and  destitute  children  was  founded  by  Mr.  James 
Hall  of  Tynemouth,  and  opened  in  iSSo.  In  1871  a  national  school  was 
erected  in  the  Whitley  road.  Two  council  schools  have  been  recently 
established,  namely,  Whitley  and  Monkseaton  North  in  1905,  and  Whitley 
and   Monkseaton  South  in   1906.' 


MONKSEATON     TOWNSHIP. 

Monkseaton  township  is  bounded  by  Whitley  on  the  east,  by  Hartley 
on  the  north,  bv  Earsdon  and  Murton  on  the  west,  bv  Preston  on  the 
south,  and  by  Tynemouth  on  the  south-east.  It  comprises  an  area  of 
1,344  acres,"  and  in  1901  had  a  population  of  952.^  Its  ancient  name  was 
Seton,  and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  township  formerly  included 
Whitley  and  extended  to  the  coast.  Monkseaton  and  Whitley  were  both 
included  in  Graftard's  lordship,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory  in  the  early 
part  of  the  reign  of  Henry  I.  From  that  time  the  village  acquired  the 
name  of  Seton  Monachorum,  or  Monkseaton,  as  a  mark  of  distinction  from 
Seaton  Delaval  and  Seaton  in  the  parish  of  Woodhorn. 

Walter  le  Escot  of  Welton,  son  of  John  de  Middleton,  held  seventy- 
four  acres  of  freehold  in  Monkseaton  at  the  close  of  the  reign  of  Henry  III. 
In  1273  he  sold  the  property  for  ^'20  to  the  prior  and  convent,  who 
in  their  turn  granted  forty  acres  out  of  the  seventy-four  to  Gilbert  de 
Wulsington.*  A  survey  taken  in  1292  shows  that  the  monastery  had  then 
three  carucates  of  demesne  in  Monkseaton,  each  giving  a  return  of  £1  7s., 
and  that  they  received  a  rent  from  their  tenants  of  £2  6s.  lod.  and  seventy 
quarters  of  barley-malt.^  Three  years  later  the  demesne  was  measured 
and  found  to  contain 

'  Further  information  as  to  Wliitley  is  to  be  found  in  Tonilinson,  Historical  Notes  on  CuUercoats, 
Whitley,  and  Monkseaton. 

'Thompson's  survey  (1757)  gives  the  extent  of  the  township  as  1,053  acres  i  rood  10  perches. 
The  tithe  commutation  map  places  it  at  1,084  acres  2  roods  26  perches,  including  808  acres  o  roods  23 
perches  of  arable  land,  243  acres  5  perches  of  meadow,  and  2,i  acres  i  rood  38  perches  of  buildings, 
quarry,  waggon-ways,  etc. 

'The  census  returns  since  1801  are:  1801,  427;  1811,  504;  1S21,  537;  1831,  489;  1841,  581; 
1851,  424  ;  1861,  421  ;  1871,  453  ;  1881,  450;  1891,  564  ;  1901,  952.  To  18S1  inclusive  these  returns 
include  an  allotment  on  Shire  Moor. 

*  Feet  of  Fines,  I  Edward  I.  No.  4  ;  Assize  Rolls,  No.  1,217  .  ni.  g  d. 

''  St.  Alban's  Register,  fol.  107  ;  Tynemouth  Churtulary,  fol.  54  b. 


MONKSEATON    TOWNSHIP. 


403 


a. 

r. 

p. 

On  tlie  south  of  the  seashore 

...       12 

I 

0 

In  Wytheriner 

...          5 

I 

10 

In  the  same  furlong 

3 

-> 

0 

In  Short-flat     

4 

I 

10 

In  Merden-flat             

13 

I 

0 

In  West  Wythermer 

-y 

-J 

10 

In  Colt-fryth     

...       7 

2 

20 

In  West  Lang-acres 

...     30 

3 

0 

In  Edereslalawe-flat 

21 

2 

10 

In  Cotmen-acre 

...     5 

0 

20 

In  Thorn-flat 

...    20 

2 

0 

In  Ber-rigges   ... 

In  le  Croftes 

In  North  Lang-acres 

In  Xorth-rigge-flat     ...         

In  the  furlong  on  the  north  side  of 

the  seashore         

In  le  Over-flat  near  a  bank 

In  Wytstan-flat  

In  Sicchor-rygge         

In  Milne-flat 

A  new  intake  in  the  Kyne-meadowe 


a. 

r. 

p. 

9 

0 

0 

16 

2 

0 

'9 

I 

20 

8 

0 

0 

16 

2 

0 

33 

I 

0 

9 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

At    the   same   time    573   acres   were  held   by  fifteen  and  a  half  bonds 
and  a  few  cotnien."     Their  names  appear  in  the  tallage-roll  of  1294. 


[Seton]  Monachorum  Tallage  Roll,  1294. 


Gilbertus  filius  Willelmi 

Johannes  Hert 

Willelmus  longus 
Johannes  filius  Johannis 
Matilda  u.xor  Willelmi  Hert 


I 

s. 
I 

d. 
0 

[Willelmus]  filius  Thurby 

0 

0 

Robertus  filius  Jurdani 

0 

0 

Galfridus  filius  Roberti 

0 

0 

Robertus  filius  .■\vicie 

0 

0 

Thomas  filius  Gilberti 

0 

0 

Walterus  Guntrem 

...  nihil  quia  pauper 

Walterus  de  Heryngton 

0 

6 

8 

Robertus  Sis     

0 

'3 

4 

Radulfus  serviens 

0 

4 

0 

Alanus  Pleuyn 

0 

6 

8 

Summa, 

£ 

5  14s.  2d.' 

nih 


£ 

s. 

d. 

1  quia  pauper 

0 

12 

0 

0 

5 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

7 

0 

0 

2 

0 

0 

I 

6 

0 

I 

6 

o     I     6 


With  this  list  may  be  compared  that  of  the  persons  who  paid  subsidy 
in   1296. 

Seton  Subsidy  Roll,  1296. 


Summa  bonorum  Willelmi  filii  Rogeri  .. 
„  Johannis  Hert 

„  Ade  filii  Johannis 

„  Willelmi  filii  Thurby 

„  Roberti  filii  Willelmi 

„  Waldevi  

„  Thome  filii  Gilberti  .. 

„  Roberti  filii  Avicie    .. 

„  Galfridi  filii  Roberti  .. 

„  Thurby  

Matildis  Hert 


£  s. 

I  19 

I  19 

'  '3 

I  2 

I  10    3 

I  19     I 

I  8    4 

I  '3     > 

I  1 1    10 

I  17     8 

I  I  ^     ^ 


unde  regi 


5.  d. 

3  6i^ 

3  6* 

3  oi 

2  oA 

2  9 

3  6J 

2  7 

3  o 

2  io| 

3  5 
3  oi 


Summa  hujus  ville,  ^i8  7s.  2d.  ;  unde  domino  regi,  £1  13s.  4}d.' 


Tynemouth  Chartuhiry,  fol.  4. 
St.  Albans  Register,  fol.  1 10. 


>  Ibid.  fol.  8. 

'  L<o'  SiibsiJy  RoU.  ij- 


404  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

The  custumal  of  Monkseaton,  drawn  up  about  the  same  time,  substitutes 
the  names  of  Robert  son  of  Thurby,  Thurby  son  of  Jordan,  and  Adam  de 
Erdesden,  for  those  of  William  son  of  Thurby,  Thurby,  and  Adam  son  of 
John.  It  also  adds  those  of  Ralph  son  of  Walter,  William  Aid,  William 
Wyot,  and  Gilbert  son  of  William,  making  the  number  of  bonds  up  to 
fifteen.  Each  bond  held  thirty-six  acres  and  rendered  the  same  services 
as  did  the  bonds  of  Preston.  Robert  son  of  Thurby  held  an  additional 
two  and  a  half  acres,  for  which  he  paid  is,  3d.  rent.  The  cotmen  held 
each  a  toft  and  a  plot  of  land  for  which  they  did  three  days'  work  in 
the  autumn  and  paid  yearly  rent.  Their  names,  holdings,  and  rents  are 
as    follow  : 

'  Ux'  frater,'  four  and  a  half  acres,  3s.  gd.  rent ;  William  '  X'icarii,'  half  an  acre,  is.  rent  ;  Walter 
de  Herynton,  four  acres,  is.  4d.  rent ;  Robert  Chis,  four  acres,  is.  rent  ;  Robert  faber,  two  and  a  half 
acres,  4d.  rent  ;  the  miller's  wife,  three  acres,  3s.  gd.  rent  ;  William  Guntrem,  four  acres,  is.  6d.  rent  ; 
Emma,  the  miller's  wife,  half  an  acre,  is.  7d.  rent ;  Matilda  Chepman,  three  acres,  6|d.  rent  ;  Alice 
daughter  of  Andrew,  half  an  acre,  is.  7d.  rent. 

There  were  three  freeholds.  Ralph  the  serjeant  held  twenty-nine 
acres  and  paid  8s.  id.  rent  ;  Alan  Pleuyn  and  Roger  his  brother  held 
fifteen  acres  and  paid  2s.  6d.  rent  ;  William,  son  of  Ralph  the  serjeant, 
held  Thurby  Bercar's  land,  namely  ten  acres,  and  paid  2S.  6d.  rent. 
Their  services  were  :  money  in  rent  ;  half  a  '  tawe '  of  malt  and  half  a  tawe 
of  conveis-ates  ;  3d.  for  milne-silver  ;  3d.  for  Hertness-pennies  ;  3d.  for 
abbot-scot  ;  boon-ere  and  boon-harrow  ;  two  authreps  and  the  prior's  great 
boon-work  ;  in-lade  and  Neusum-lade  ;  herding  of  cattle  taken  by  way  of 
distraint.'  Freemen  and  bonds  alike  rendered  yearly  half  a  quarter  of 
scat-malt,  half  a  quarter  of  scat-ates,  and  half  a  quarter  of  conveis-ates. 
The  whole  township  paid  three  shillings  for  '  lovinge,'  which  was  probably 
a  commutation  for  some  form  of  boon-work.^ 

The  surveys  and  custumals  here  quoted  show  that  in  1295  there  were 
880  acres  of  land  in  Monkseaton  under  cultivation.  In  1757  the  township 
was  found  to  contain  1,053  acres  i  rood  10  perches.  This  leaves  173 
acres  of  common,  waste,  roads  and  buildings. 

The  Black  Death  made  its  ravages  felt  in  Monkseaton.  The  fifteen 
bondage   holdings  were   reduced    to   ten    by  throwing    some    of  them   into 

'  William,  son  of  Ralph  the  serjeant,  rendered  an  additional  half-tawe  of  malt  and  half-tawe 
of  conveis-ates,  but  was  immune  from  Hertness-pennies  and  abbot-scot,  and  only  paid  lid.  for 
milne-silver. 

"'  Tyncmoiith  Churtulary ,  fols.  40-41. 


MONKSEATON    TOWNSHIP. 


405 


demesne;  and  of  the  remaining  ten  farms,  six  were  lying  waste  in  1377 
and  the  other  four  were  in  the  prior's  hands.  The  Httle  colony  of  agri- 
culturists had  been  absolutely  swept  away,  as  may  be  seen  from  the 
surveyor's  note  : 

Rent  of  ten  bondage  hoIdinj,'s,  ^2  4s.  oAd.,  paid  in  coin.  Of  these  ten  holdings,  four  render  no 
labour  service  and  are  in  the  prior's  hands  ;  six  have  lain  waste  for  want  of  tenants  since  the  time  of  the 
first  pestilence.  Rent  of  free  tenants  in  the  town,  paid  in  coin,  2s.  lojd.  There  is  one  freeman,  named 
Merley,  heir  to  Robert  Teuyng,  who  holds  a  cottage  and  four  acres,  and  half  of  the  tenements  and  lands 
formerly  held  by  Adam  P'awconer  ;  but  he  has  as  yet  paid  no  rent.  Cottages  and  lands  formerly  held 
by  Adam  Fawconer,  and  now  let  at  the  will  of  the  lord,  pay  £2  lis.  id.' 

The  ten  holdings  again  found  == 
tenants.  In  1538  there  were  ten  *$(^^°*J^^^/j®^S' 
tenants  in  husbandry,  each  having  '•^s:^^f'~~^' 
one  tenement,  with  thirty-six  acres 
of  arable,  one  rood  of  meadow, 
and  pasture  for  six  oxen  in  the 
ox  pasture,  and  for  six  cattle, 
twenty  sheep,  and  three  horses  in 
the  common  pasture.  The  rent 
for  a  holding  was  twenty  shil- 
lings, besides  four  quarters  of 
barley  and  two  quarters  of  oats  ; 
and  each  tenant  paid  in  addition 
8d.  for  the  farm  of  the  tithe  of 
hay  and  4d.  for  pannage.  A 
meadow  called  Chamberlain's 
meadow,  containing  nine  acres 
two  roods  twenty  perches,  was 
farmed  by  the  whole  township  for 
£1  6s.  8d.  John  Robinson  held 
fifteen  acres  of  freehold  land  for 
which  he  paid  three  shillings  rent.' 

No   change    in   the   extent   of  arable    land  attached  to  each  tenement 
had  taken   place  since    1295.      On  the  other  hand  over  five  hundred  acres 

'  Tyncmouth  Cliartulury,  fols.  52  and  51;  b. 

-Gibson,   Tyncmouth,  vol.    i.    p.    222.     Thompson's   survey,   taken    in    1757,  g'vcs   the   acreage  of 
Chamberlain's  meadow   and    Robinson's   land,  and  mentions  another  demesne  close,  Shankcy's  field, 

containing  7  acres  2  roods. 


FlKErLACU   IN    TUL   51111     l.N.V,   MONKSE.\TON. 


4o6  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

previously  arable  or  meadow,  including  the  three  carucates  of  demesne, 
had  been  converted  into  pasture,  and  equal  grazing  rights  had  been  attached 
to  each  of  the  remaining  holdings.  The  common  fields  remained  unen- 
closed until  the  third  quarter  of  the  seventeenth  century.'  The  various 
farms  have,  for  the  most  part,  retained  their  original  boundaries,  and  show 
the  principle  on  which  division  was  carried  out  ;  the  farm  buildings  being 
grouped  together  in  the  village,  while  the  lands  attached  to  them  run  out 
from  the  village  to  the  edge  of  the  township  like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel. 
Monkseaton  farm,  at  the  north-west  corner  of  the  township,  was  for 
long  the  property  of  the  Mills  family,  and  was  sold  by  their  representatives, 
Messrs.  Tatham  and  Mitchell,  to  Mr.  James  Younger  of  Burradon,  the 
present  owner.  A  portion  of  the  Mills  property,  called  South-ridge, 
passed  to  Roger  Boulby  of  North  Shields,  who  married  Elizabeth,  daughter 
of  John  Mills.  Acquired  in  1840  by  Henry  Perronet  Briggs  of  London, 
it  was  resold  in  1865  to  William  Davison  of  North  Shields,  and  since 
1894  has  been  the  property  of  Mr.  John  Thomson.  The  Ship  Inn,  built 
in    1688,  was  formerly  the  residence  of  the  Mills  family. 

Mills  of  Monkseaton. 

I.  John  Mills  of  Bishopwearmouth,  baptised  October  7th,  1632  ;  succeeded,  on  the  death  of  his 
brother,  Thomas  Mills,  to  lands  in  Monkseaton ;  made  his  will  January  2nd,  1690,  and  died  leaving  issue, 

II.  John  Mills  of  Monkse.iton,  who  married  Mary  Smith,  and  left  issue,  a  son,  John  Mills  (III.), 
and  two  daughters,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Roger  Boulby,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Leonard  Huntridge. 

III.  John  Mills  of  Newcastle,  attorney,  baptised  November  29th,  1688;  admitted  to  his  father's 
lands  in  Monkseaton,  October  17th,  171 1  ;  married  Jane,  daughter  of  Mark  Browell  of  Newcastle 
(marriage  settlement  dated  February  nth,  1712),  by  whom  he  had  issue  a  son,  John  Mills  (IV.),  and  a 
daughter,  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Robinson  of  Durham. 

IV.  John  Mills  of  Lincoln  College,  Oxford;  matriculated  October  loth,  1744,  aged  16;  B.A. 
1748  ;  M.A.  1753  ;  perpetual  curate  of  Jarrow,  1751-1775  ;  will  dated  October  nth,  1768  ;  died  s.p.  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  niece,  Jane  Robinson,  who  in  1794  married  the  Rev.  Edward  Parker  of  the  city 
of  Durham.^ 

To  the  east  of  Monkseaton  farm  lies  the  Red  House  farm,  formerly 
owned  by  a  family  of  the  name  of  Hall.  The  northern  portion  was  sur- 
rendered on  August  1 6th,  1687,  to  John  Clarke  of  North  Shields,  whose 
great-grand-daughter,  Anne  Clarke,  brought  it  by  marriage  to  Samuel  Lacy 
of  Preston.'     Their  grandson,  Samuel  Lacy  of  Kirkoswald  in  Cumberland, 

'  On  July  3rd,  1650,  Thomas  Hall  surrendered  to  George  Milbourne  of  Chirton,  five  rigs  or  leazes  of 
meadow  and  arable  in  Monkseaton,  namely,  one  rig  lying  east  and  west  in  the  lord's  close,  another  rig 
lying  east  and  west  in  Mazor  leazes,  two  rigs  lying  together  east  and  west  in  Deckham  dubbs,  and 
another  rig  in  Deckham  dubbs.     Tynciiwiilh  Court  KoUs. 

'  Based  on  abstract  of  title  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Ryott. 

'  See  Proc.  Sue.  Antiq.  Newcastle,  2nd  series,  vol.  i.\.  pp.  219-222. 


MONKSEATON    TOWNSHIP. 


407 


sold  it  in  1801  to  Thomas  Wright  of  Dockwray  Square  and  afterwards  of 
Whitley  park.  Mr.  Wright's  executors  resold  it  in  1855  to  Mr.  Edward 
Stobbs,  to  whose  trustees  it  still  belongs.  The  southern  portion  was 
surrendered  on  March  27th,  1704,  by  William  Wall  of  Newcastle  to 
Jonathan  Hyndmer,  whose  representatives  sold  it  in  1763  to  Anthony 
Pearson  of  North  Shields.  It  passed  under  his  will  to  William  Linskill 
of  Tynemouth  house,  and  was  sold  in  1875  by  the  late  Captain  Linskill 
to  Mr.  Edward  Stobbs,   whose  family  still  owns  it. 

HiNDMER   OF    MONKSEATON   AND    NEWCASTLE. 

I.  William  Hindmer  of  Newcastle,  will  dated  January  24th,  1703  ;  by  his  wife,  Mary,  who  made 
her  will  June  2nd,  171 5,  he  had  a  son, 

II.  Jonathan  Hindmer  of  Newcastle,  acquired  property  in  Monkseaton  in  1704;  by  his  first  wife 
he  had  issue  a  son,  William  Hindmer  (III.),  and  a  daughter,  Mary,  wife  of  John  Cook  of  Newcastle. 
He  married,  secondly,  Barbara,  daughter  of  William  Peareth  of  Newcastle,  and  widow  of  Abraham 
Dixen  of  Newcastle  ;  she  was  buried  May  llth,  1727.  By  his  will,  dated  May  7th,  1705,  he  left  his 
farmhold  in  Monkseaton  and  his  lands  in  Westinorland  to  his  son  William. 

III.  William  Hindmer  of  North  Shields,  merchant;  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  John  .Stor)-  of 
North  .Shields  (marriage  settlement  dated  January  nth,  1720),  by  whom  he  had  issue  a  son,  Jonathan 
Hindmer  (IV.),  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thoinas  Thompson  of  Newcastle,  merchant.  By  his 
will,  February  28th,  1723/4,  he  devised  his  real  estate  at  Kirkby  Stephen,  his  houses  in  Newcastle,  and  his 
copyhold  lands  in  Northumberland  to  his  son  Jonathan. 

IV.  Jonathan  Hindmer  of  Newcastle,  merchant,  made  his  will  October  29th,  1748,  whereby  he 
gave  all  his  property  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Thompson,  whom  he  made  sole  executrix.' 

Monkseaton  North-west  farm  bounds  the  Red  House  farm  on  the  east. 
It  was  surrendered  on  April  22nd,  1690,  by  John  Rogers  of  Newcastle, 
to  Henry  Hudson  of  Whitley,  whose  representatives  sold  it  in  1853  to 
the  duke  of  Northumberland.  At  the  north-east  corner  of  the  township 
is  Monkseaton  Village  farm,  which  was  surrendered  on  October  14th, 
1680,  by  Elizabeth  Collyer  of  Newcastle,  to  Robert  Cay  of  the  same  place, 
baker  and  brewer.-  Coal  was  worked  upon  this  property  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  eighteenth  century.  It  was  sold  in  1885  by  the  e.xecutors  of 
Rev.  Edward  Cay  Adams  of  Hawkchurch,  in  the  county  of  Dorset,  to  the 
late  Mr.  T.  A.  Potts  of  Newcastle,  who  laid  it  out  for  building  purposes. 
To  the  south  of  it  is  another  building  estate,  formerly  called  Bygate  farm, 
owned  in  1740  by  Christopher  Spanton  of  Monkseaton,  and  sold  by  his 
representatives  to  Alexander  Crighton  of  North  Shields  in   1795. 

South    and    west    of    Bygate    farm    is    Monkseaton    South  -  west    farm, 

'  Based  on  deeds  in  Mr.  Richard  Welford's  possession  and  on  .abstract  of  title  in  the  Bell 
Collection,  No.  352. 

2  For  a  pedigree  of  Cay  see  vol.  ii.  of  this  work,  pp.  29S-300. 


^o8  TYNEMOUTH     PARISH. 

which  was  surrendered  by  William  Hills,  on  December  7th,  171 1,  to  John 
Robinson  of  Whitley.  Robinson's  representatives  sold  it  in  1779  to 
William  Clark  of  Dockwray  Square,  and  it  was  resold  by  his  heirs  in 
18 1 3  to  Ralph  Crawford  of  Hartley  South  farm.'  From  Ralph  Crawford 
the  farm  descended  to  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  John  Moor  of  Morpeth  High 
House,  whose  representatives  sold  it  in  1885  to  the  duke  of  Northumber- 
land. His  Grace  is  also  owner  of  the  Rake  close,  in  the  south-west  of 
the  township.  This  was  purchased  in  1822,  along  with  the  Backworth 
estate,  from  Mr.  Ralph  William  Grey,  to  whose  ancestor,  Ralph  Grey  of 
Backworth,  it  had  been  surrendered  on  April  2nd,    1662,  by  Thomas  Hall. 

Seaton  Ville  farm,  northward  from  the  Rake  House  farm,  represents 
a  holding  surrendered  by  Robert  Fyfe  on  April  26th,  1654,  to  James 
Barker  of  Monkseaton.  Robert  Barker  of  Monkseaton,  tanner,  grandson 
of  the  latter,  surrendered  his  property  on  April  27th,  1706,  to  George 
Johnson  of  Monkseaton."  It  was  purchased  in  1792  from  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  Johnson  family  by  Henry  Mitcalfe  of  Murton  House,  and 
since  that  time  has  followed  the  same  course  of  descent  as  the  Murton 
House  property. 

Between  Seaton  Ville  and  Monkseaton  farms  is  the  Burnt  House 
farm,  formerly  the  property  of  the  Reay  family.  John  Reay,  who  died 
without  issue  in  171 5,  devised  it  to  his  nephew,  Charles  Archbold  of 
Monkseaton.  A  moiety  was  sold  in  1762  by  the  trustees  of  Reay 
Archbold,  son  of  Charles  Archbold,  to  Nathaniel  Tavernor,  a  block  and 
mast  maker  in  North  Shields,  and  remained  in  the  possession  of  his 
descendants  until  1902,  when  it  came  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Fairweather.  The  other  moiety  was  sold  by  the  Archbold  family  in 
18 15  to  John  Crawford  of  the  Steam  Mill,  North  Shields,  and  has  des- 
cended from  him   to   the  present  owner,   Mr.  Shallett  John  Crawford. 

'  A  pedigree  of  Clark  is  given  above  on  p.  273.  For  the  Crawford  pedigree  see  pp.  333-334- 
-  George  Johnson  of  Monkseaton  appears  to  have  been  a  brother  of  John  Johnson  of  Bebside,  for 
whom  see  above,  p.  347.  He  was  buried  on  March  12th,  170S/9,  leaving  issue  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  namely,  (i)  William  Johnson,  who  was  apprenticed  on  September  29th,  17 10,  to  John 
Johnson,  hostman ;  was  admitted  free  of  the  Hostmen's  Company,  June  19th,  1718;  made  his  will  on 
June  loth,  1749;  and  was  buried  May  5th,  1751  ;  (2)  John  Johnson,  who  was  apprenticed  May  6th, 
1715,  to  Ralph  Snowdon,  hostman  ;  was  admitted  to  the  Hostmen's  Company,  May  6th,  1723,  and  died 
October  l8th,  1723  ;  (3)  George  Johnson,  who  was  apprenticed  to  John  Johnson,  hostman,  July  8th, 
1725  ;  was  admitted  to  the  Hostmen's  Company,  November  29th,  1732  ;  and  was  buried  May  28th,  1734; 

(4)  Ann,  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Green  of  Preston  ;    (5)  Mary,  the  wife  of Ward  ;    (6)  Elizabeth,  the 

wife  of  William  Hedley  of  Newcastle.      From   notices  given   in  Dandy,  Hpstmni's  Books  :   a  deed  in 
Mr.  Welford's  collections,  and  Earsdon  Parish  Registers. 


MURTON   TOWNSHIP.  409 


MURTON  TOWNSHIP. 

Miirton  township  forms  an  intrusion  into  the  bleak  and  level  district  of 
the  Shire  Moor.  Previously  to  the  enclosure  o£  1788,  the  moor  surrounded 
this  township  on  the  north,  west,  and  south-west.  On  the  north-east 
and  east  it  is  bordered  by  Monkseaton,  and  on  the  south-east  by  Preston. 
Thompson's  survey  of  the  manor,  taken  in  1757,  gives  it  an  acreage  of 
450  acres  3  roods.  Subsequent  additions,  on  the  side  of  Shire  Moor, 
have  increased  its  size   to  680  acres.     In    1901   the  population  was  869.' 

Murton  first  occurs  in  the  list  of  townships  of  which  the  prior  and 
convent  of  Tynemouth  received  confirmation  in  1189.'  It  consisted  of  a 
few  freeholds.  Nicholas  de  Morton,  Robert  de  Chirton,  and  Roger  Tod 
appeared  to  make  acknowledgment  for  their  holdings  to  the  abbot  of  St. 
Alban's  in  1264,^  and  again  in  1291.'*  The  survey  of  1292  states  that  the 
rental  of  Murton  was  £2  12s.  6d.,  and  that  the  prior  and  convent  had  a 
carucate  of  arable  demesne  at  a  place  called  Moor-houses,  worth  6s.  Sd. 
clear.'  A  terrier  prepared  in  1295  specifies  the  following  parcels  of 
demesne  : 

In  Kylne-flat,  5  acres  3  roods  10  perches;  in  the  same,  8  acres  i  rood  20  perches  :  in  Wyth-flat, 
21  acres  2  roods  ;  in  the  Brokes,  2  acres  3  roods  ;  in  G.ilu-flat,  7  acres  2  roods  ;  in  the  same,  3  roods  ;  m 
the  same,  24  acres  ;  in  Mus-welle,  9  acres  2  roods  ;  in  the  same,  2  roods." 

The  subsidy  roll   of  1296  gives  the  names  of  five  tenants  : 

Morton  Subsidy  Roll,  1296. 

Summa  bonorum  Nicholai  de  Morton     ... 
„  Rogeri  de  eadem 

,,  Galfridi  de  eadem 

„  Radulphi  de  eadem     ... 

„  Johannis  de  eadem 

Summa  hujus  ville,  ^lo  iis.  2d.  ; 

'  Population  returns  are:  iSoi,  496;  1811,  615  ;  1821,  556;  1S31,  45'  :  '841,  43S  ;  "Sj'.  499; 
1861,  543  ;   1871,  515  ;  1881,  446  ;   1891,  630  ;  1901,  869. 

■  See  above,  page  67,  note  3. 

'  Nicholaus  de  Morton  fecit  homagium  pro  tenemento  suo  quod  tenet  in  eadem  villa  de  Morton,  et 
dedit  nomine  recognicionis  iijs.  Item  die  sancti  Vincentii  in  camera  prions  de  Tynemulh  lecit 
fidelitatem  Rogerus  Tod,  et  pro  confirmatione  xxx  et  unius  acrarum  terre  quas  tenet  m  villa  de  Morton 
dedit  xs.  Item  die  et  loco  supradictis  fecit  Robertus  de  Chinon  fidelitatem,  et  pro  confirm-icione  x 
acrarum  terre  quas  tenet  in  villa  de  Morton  dedit  iijs.  St.  Albans  RtgisUr,  fol.  62  :  and  compare 
ibid.  fol.  129.  Radulphus  [prior]  dedit  Rogero  filio  Roberti  Tod  de  Castello  triginta  et  unam  acras, 
cum  duabus  partibus  tofti  et  crofti  in  Est  Morton,  pro  xvs.  et  vji/.  annuis. 

'  IbUI.  fol.  153  b.  '  Tynemouth  Charlulary,  fol.  55  b.  '  Ibid.  fol.  5. 

'  Lay  Subsidy  Roll,  ij*. 

Vol.  VIII.  5" 


i     s.     d. 

s.      d. 

3     2     0 

unde  regi 

5    7i 

3     7    0 

»» 

6     I 

I    14     0 

i» 

3     ' 

1     4     2 

)) 

2       2i 

I     4    0 

It 

2       2I 

unde  domino  regi. 

19s. 

2id.^ 

1821 

556;    1S31, 

45' 

:    1841 

.    43S; 

4IO  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

No  cornage  was  paid  by  Murton,  and,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 
no  services  were  required  from  the  tenants  except  rents  of  assize  and 
suit  of  court.  There  were  within  the  township  the  two  hamlets  of  East 
and  West  Murton.  Property  in  each  of  them  was  acquired  by  the  prior 
and  convent.'  Thus,  in  1339,  Richard  de  Dalton  of  Newcastle,  and 
Matilda  his  wife,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory  a  messuage  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Murton,  receiving  back  the  messuage  and  forty  acres  on  lease 
for  their  joint  lives  at  twenty  shillings  yearly  rent.*  Prior  Dunham,  at  an 
earlier  date,  had  granted  three  acres  in  Murton  to  the  sacristan  of  Tyne- 
mouth, for  the  maintenance  of  one  poor  person  and  the  provision  of 
lights  for  the  high  altar.^  In  1377  rents  of  assize  and  rents  of  land  let 
out  at   will  brought  in   £$  4s.  6|d.  yearly.* 

There  is  no  mention  of  demesne  in  the  minister's  accounts  of  1538, 
but  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  township  were  arable  or  meadow 
in  the  hands  of  customary  tenants,  and  the  rest  was  common  pasture.  Each 
tenant  held  forty-two  acres  of  arable,  eight  acres  of  meadow,  and  pasture 
for  twelve  cattle,  thirty  sheep,  and  three  horses  in  the  common  pasture. 
The  rent  due  from  each  holding  was  £1  2S.,  and  four  quarters  of  oats,  as 
well  as  lod.  for  tithe  hay  and  4d.  for  pannage.  Six  shillings  was  paid  for 
a  cottage.^  In  1580  George  Dennand,  one  of  the  four  tenants,  was  paying 
3s.  for  three  acres  and  three  roods  called  Lady-land,  which  is  perhaps  to  be 
identified  with    Prior  Dunham's  gift."     A  small  freehold  of  four  acres   was 

'  See  above,  pp.  1 15-1 16. 

■  Hec  identuia  testatur  quod  nos,  prior  at  conventus  de  Tynemuth,  concessimus  et  present!  carta 
dimisiinus  Kicardo  de  Dalton  et  Matildae  uxori  ejus  unum  niesuagiuni  et  quadraginta  acras  terrae  cum 
pertinenciis  in  Moreton,  habenda  et  tenenda  ad  terminuiii  vitae  ipsorum  Ricardi  et  iMatildis,  tenenda  de 
nobis  et  successoribus  nostris  annuatim  solvendis,  etc.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  de  Surese,  tunc  ballivo 
libertatis  de  Tynemuth,  Johanne  de  Bacvvorth,  Willelmo  Faukes,  Alano  de  Castro,  Willelmo  de 
Hereford,  Johanne  de  Whitele,  et  aliis.  Data  apud  Tenemuth,  quintodecimo  die  Maii,  a.d.  1339. 
Tynemouth  Cluirltihiry,  fol.  102  b.  Omnibus,  etc.,  Ricardus  prior  de  Tynemuth  et  ejusdem  loci 
conventus,  salutem.  Noveritis  quod,  consideratis  niunificentiis  nobis  per  Ricardum  de  Dalton  de  Novo 
Castro  exhibitis  et  expressis,  reniisimus  eidem  Ricardo  et  Matildae  uxori  suae  ad  terniinum  vitae 
utriusque  tres  solidos  et  quatuor  denarios  annuatim,  etc.  Datum  apud  Tynemuth,  sextodecimo  die 
Julii,  A.D.  1339.     I  bill.  fol.  103. 

^  Memorandum  quod  dominus  Radulphus  de  Dunham,  prior  de  Tynemuth,  dedit  et  concessit  cum 
consensu  ejusdem  loci  conventus  domino  J.  de  Sutherax,  tunc  sacristae  de  Tynemuth,  et  ejus  successor! 
qui  pro  tempore  fuerit,  imperpetuum  unam  dimidiam  acram  terrae  in  campo  de  Moreton,  pro  qua  dabit 
sacrista  qui  pro  tempore  fuerit  singulis  annis  tres  denarios  die  cenae,  ad  inveniendum  unum  pauperem 
ad  mandatum  prioris;  item  pro  duabus  acris  et  diniidia  cum  pastura  quas  idem  J.,  licencia  ejusdem 
Radulphi  prioris,  emit  de  Nicholao  de  Moreton,  inveniet  sacrista  qui  pro  tempore  fuerit  duos  cereos  ad 
majus  altare,  scilicet  unum  ante  ymaginem  beatae  virginis,  et  alium  ante  ymaginem  sancti  Oswini,  cum 
aliis  cereis  in  omnibus  pnncipalibus  festis  ardentibus,  et  in  anniversario  domini  Johannis  abbatis,  et 
domini  Radulphi  de  Dunham,  prioris  de  Tynemuth.     Ibid.  fol.  73  b. 

*  Ibid.  fols.  52  and  59  b.  '  Ministers'  Accounts  in  Gibson,  Tynemouth,  vol.  i.  p.  222. 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 


Holding, 
1707. 

Acreage, 

'757- 
a.          r. 

1  farm 

109        2 

*              T) 

no      2 

1       ,. 

103      2 

h      -. 

47       3 

i       ,. 

26      2 

J       ,. 

32      0 

MURTON   TOWNSHIP.  4II 

termed  Caere's  close,  from  the  name  of  its  former  owner,  and  was  devised 
by  Cuthbert  Alder,  by  will  dated  May  23rd,  1736,  to  the  minister  and 
churchwardens  of  Long  Benton,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  Weetslade 
township.'  A  comparison  of  two  surveys  taken  in  1707  and  1757  shows 
the  size  of  the  various  holdings  after  enclosure  had  taken  place.- 

Name  of  Tenant,  Name  of  Tenant, 

■707.  1757. 

Thomas  Andrew,  gent.  ...       Heirs  of  William  Johnson        

Heirsof  George  Rutter  ...       Abraham  Stout 

John  Douglas,  esq.       ...  ^        ^..    ,,      ,        „„  . 

I     1,  n  r.-     ■  t       ^"'  Matthew  White,  bart 

Isabell  Dmnmg  ...  j  ' 

John  Hutchinson  John  Hutchinson  

Winifred  Milbourne     ...         ...       Edw.  Collingwood  and  Hilton  Lawson 

Robert  Barker Robert  Barker 

Murton  North  farm  was  acquired  in  1741  from  Robert  Andrew  of 
Gateshead  by  William  Johnson  of  Monkseaton  and  Newcastle,  hostman. 
It  descended  through  his  sister,  Ann  Green,  wife  of  Nathaniel  Green  of 
Preston,  to  her  son,  Nathaniel  Green  of  London,  whose  nieces  and  devisees, 
Mary  Tattersall  and  Elizabeth  Ward,  sold  it  in  1825  to  Matthew  Wilson  of 
Blyth.  Matthew  Wilson's  representatives  sold  it  in  1856  to  Miss  Jane 
Davison  of  North  Shields,  and  it  is  now  owned  by  her  devisees  and  by  Mr. 
John  Bowman  of  South  Shields.  Murton  Steads  farm,  lying  to  the  east  of 
this  property,  was  sold  by  John  Hutchinson  in  1 770,  and  now  belongs  to 
the  representatives  of  Mr.  Shallett  Hewson,   who  purchased  it  in    1856. 

Murton  House  farm  was  sold  in  1765  by  William  Stout  of  Durham, 
grandson  of  Abraham  Stout  of  the  same  place,  to  Henry  Mitcalfe  of  North 
Shields.'  It  descended  to  Mr.  Mitcalfe's  grand-daughter,  Ann  Bird 
Mitcalfe,  wife  of  Levi  Ames  of  Clifton,  who  sold  it  in  1833  to  Mr.  Robert 
Hansell.  His  trustees  sold  it  in  1872  to  Mr.  Joseph  Love  of  Durham,  to 
whose  representatives  it  now  belongs.  The  quarter  of  a  farm  owned  in 
1764  by  Collingwood  and  Lawson  is  still  in  the  possession  o{  the 
Collingwood  family. 

Murton  farm  represents  a  holding  owned  in  the  seventeenth  century  by 
the  yeoman  family  of  Dinning  or  Dennand.  It  was  surrendered  by  Margaret 
Dinning  in  January,  1679,  to  Robert  Lawson  of  Ulgham,^  whose  son,  George 

'  £.1  inf.  Mr.  W.  W.  Tomlinson.  -  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS. 

'  For  a  note  on  the  pedigree  of  this  branch  of  the  Mitcalfe  family,  see  above,  p.  268. 
'  For  Lawson  of  Ulgham  and  Glostcr  Hill  see  Hodgson,  S\<iiliiimhi:rl,init,  pt.  ii.  vol.  ii.   pp.   175, 
177,  and  vol.  v.  of  this  work,  pp.  263-264. 


412  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

Lawson  of  Gloster  Hill,  conveyed  it  on  October  20th,  1702,  to  John 
Douglas  of  Newcastle.  In  September,  171 8,  it  passed  from  John  Douglas 
to  John  Johnson  of  Newcastle  and  Bebside.  Mr.  Johnson  devised  it  to 
his  son-in-law,  Matthew  White  of  Blagdon,  whose  descendant,  Sir  Matthew 
White  Ridley,  bart.,  sold  the  farm  in  1774  to  John  Hedley  of  Newcastle. 
Mr.  Hedley's  representatives  resold  it  in  1803  to  Robert  Gothard  of  Long 
Benton,  from  whom  it  was  purchased  in  1824  by  Thomas  Dryden  of  Seaton 
Sluice.  Mr.  Dryden  also  bought  land  in  Murton,  sold  in  1823  by  John 
Barker  of  North  Shields,  and  his  property  is  now  owned  by  his  repre- 
sentatives. 

The  colliery  villages  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  date  from  the 
war  of  American  independence.  Philadelphia  formed,  for  a  time,  a 
separate  constabulary,  but  is  now  included  in  Murton  township.  Ninety- 
four  acres  were  allotted  to  Murton  upon  the  division  of  Shire  Moor  in 
1788,  and  seventy-five  acres  have  been  subsequently  added  under  orders 
of  the  Local  Government  Board. 

Shire  Moor. 

From  Murton  and  Earsdon  westward,  a  great  tract  of  desolate  country 
stretches  right  across  Long  Benton  township  in  the  direction  of  North 
Gosforth.  The  western  portion  is  called  Killingworth  moor  ;  the  eastern 
portion  bears  the  alternative  names  of  Billy  moor,  Billy  Mill  moor,  Tyne- 
mouthshire  moor,  and  Shire  moor.  It  stands  at  a  uniform  height  of 
between  200  and  250  feet  above  the  sea.  No  trees  grow  on  its  ex- 
posed and  level  surface.  The  shallow  loughs  which  studded  it  have  been 
drained,  and  turnpike  roads  and  colliery  lines  have  been  carried  through 
it  in  every  direction.  The  tall  chimneys  of  colliery  engines,  huge  pit- 
heaps,   and   rows  of  miners'    cottages  form  its  only  distinctive  features. 

Possibly  this  was  the  Tine-mor,  where,  in  917,  Ragnal,  the  Danish  king 
of  Northumbria,  suffered  defeat  at  the  hands  of  Constantine  mac  Aedh, 
king  of  the  Scots.'     Some  tradition  of  a  fight  here  between  the  Scots  and 

'  '  Bellum  Tinemore  factum  est  in  xviij  anno,  a.d.  921,  inter  Constantinuni  et  Reynall,  et  Scotti 
habuerunt  victoriam.'  Pictish  Chronicle  in  Chronicles  of  the  I'icts  and  Scots,  Scottish  Record  Publications, 
p.  9.  .A.  fuller  account  is  given  in  the  A  limits  of  Ulster,  Irish  Record  Publications,  vol.  i.  p.  437.  It  is 
there  stated  that,  in  the  year  917,  Ragnall,  king  of  the  Dubhgall,  met  the  men  of  Alba  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tyne,  in  North  Saxonland.  The  men  of  Alba  gained  a  victory  over  three  battalions,  and  made  a 
great  slaughter  of  tlie  (Jenliles,  including  their  earls,  t^ttir  and  Graggaba.  Ragnall,  however,  .afterwards 
attacked  the  rear  of  the  army  of  the  men  of  Alba,  and  made  a  slaughter  of  them,  but  no  king  or 
'mormaer'  of  them  perished.  Night  interrupted  the  battle.  The  fragmentary  Book  of  Leinsler  says 
that  Ragnall  himself  perished  {IVurs  of  the  Gaedliill  K'ith  tlic  Gciilt,  Rolls  Series,  pp.  35,  235),  but  he  did 
not  in  fact  meet  his  death  until  920.     Annals  of  Ulster,  vol.  i.  p.  441.     This  battle  is  usually  identified 


t  "'J'"^. 


Ec3 


1^ 


MURTON    TOWNSHIP.  4I3 

English  survives  in  the  legend  of  Hungus  mac  Ferlon,  the  great  king  of 
the  Picts,  who  gathered  his  host  against  Athelstan,  king  of  the  Saxons, 
and  camped  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tyne.  In  the  battle  that  ensued,  St. 
Andrew  intervened  on  behalf  of  the  Picts.  His  interposition  rendered  the 
flight  of  the  Saxons  less  discreditable  but  not  less  disastrous,  and  Athelstan's 
headless  trunk  was  found  among  the  countless  numbers  of  the  slain.' 

A  survey  made  in  1722  estimates  the  size  of  Billy  Mill  moor  at 
1,305  acres  38  perches.  Thompson's  survey  of  1757  gives  it  at  1,253 
acres.'^  The  boundaries  are  given  in  a  verdict  made  in  the  manor  court 
about  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  centurv  : 

The  Bounders  of  the  Moore. 
Wee  finde  that  the  bounders  of  the  said  moore  beginneth  at  the  west  nooke  of  West  Chirton  dicke 
towards  the  north,  and  so  north-west  by  a  letch  to  certaine  march  stones  at  the  north-e.ist  end  of  Rawes 
moore ;  from  thence  west  and  bv  north  to  another  march  stone  ahnost  at  the  head  of  the  said  letch ; 
from  thence  north  west  and  by  north  up  another  letch  to  a  place  in  Willington  new  close  called 
Greenchestere  ;'  from  thence  west  and  by  north  to  the  north-west  end  of  the  said  close  ;  from  thence  to 
the  west  end  of  Paddocke  poole,  and  so  nor'-west  to  the  Haggar  stones  being  three  great  stones  lying 
togealher  in  a  whinbush;  and  so  north-west  to  a  stand  with  a  hole  in  it,  wherein,  as  it  should  seem, 
hath  stood  a  crosse  ; '  and  from  thence  directly  to  Backworth  dicke  on  the  south  side  of  Backworth 

with  the  battle  of  Corbridge,  for  which  the  Historia  dc  S.  Ciithbcrto  is  sole  authority,  but  it  seems 
impossible  to  reconcile  the  accounts  of  the  two  battles,  for  at  Corbridge  '  paganus  rex  vicit, 
Constantinum  fugavit,  Elfredum,  sancti  Cuthberti  fidelem,  et  omnes  meliores  .Anglos  interfecit  preter 
Ealdredum  et  fratrem  ejus  Uhtred.'  Symcon  of  Durham,  Rolls  Series,  vol.  i.  p.  209.  .A  full  account  of 
the  history  of  these  years  will  be  given  under  Corbridge,  and  it  is  here  sufficient  to  note  that  the 
narratives  quoted  furnish  some  slight  evidence  of  the  importance  of  Tynemouth  as  a  stronghold  of  the 
Danish  kings,  for  which  see  also  above,  pp.  40-41. 

'  Legend  of  St.  .Andrew  in  .Skene,  Chronicles  of  the  Picts  and  Scots,  p.  183.  The  account  might  be 
dismissed  as  wholly  legendary  were  it  not  for  the  reference  to  w-ar  in  740  between  Angus  and  Eadbert, 
king  of  Northumbria  ;  Bede,  Hist.  Eccl.  ed.  Plummer,  vol.  i.  p.  362. 

"  Duke  of  Northumberland's  .MSS. 

''1724,  August  27th,  David  Richardson,  herd  of  a  place  called  Greene  Chester,  belonging  to 
Willington  in  the  parish  of  Wallsend,  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  Earsdon.'  Earsdon  Registers. 
In  an  eighteenth-century  plan  of  Willington  farm  two  fields  called  West  Green  Chester  and  East  Green 
Chester  are  shown  lying  on  the  borders  of  Shire  Moor,  north  of  .Milbank  Square.  Il'<i/sii;i  Papers, 
North  of  England  Institute  of  .Mining  and  Mechanical  Engineers.  Though  actual  traces  of  earthworks 
have  vanished,  the  names  of  Green  Chcsters  and  Black  Chesiers  suggest  a  continuation  in  a  south- 
easterly direction  of  'a  series  of  small  camps,  each  eighty  or  a  hundred  yards  square,  that  run  in 
a  line  northwards  out  of  Cramlington  grounds,  through  Plessey  and  .Shotton,  into  the  east  part  of 
the  township  of  Stannington,'  to  which  allusion  is  m.ide  by  the  Rev.  John  Hodgson,  SorthumherlanJ, 
pt.  ii.  vol.  ii.  p.  306,  note  ;  compare  also  pt.  ii.  vol.  iii.  p.  440.  Their  origin  must  await  further 
investigation.  For  other  instances  of  the  name  of  Green  Chesters  see  Prof.  Soc.  Antiq.  Sewcastle, 
2nd  series,  vol.  vii.  p.  16. 

'  The  stone,  known  as  the  Holy  Stone,  still  remains  in  its  original  position,  a  few  yards  north  of  the 
railway,  westwards  from  Backworth  station.  The  socket  measures  only  6A  by  ji  inches,  and,  from 
being  carried  light  through  the  stone,  suggests  joiner's  work.  The  place  is  commemorated  in  an  old 
song  of  the  pitmen  of  Long  Benton  : 

"The  Holy  Stone's  a  holy  place  ;  the  trees  are  thick  and  la'  ; 
But  they  are  nought  to  the  Moor  Yate  for  footy  .again  the  w.V." 

Possibly  the  origin  of  the  name  Kodestane  moor  i,(or  which  see  above,  p.ige  316,  note  ii  is  to  be 
found  in  this  rood-stoiu:  The  reference  is  certainly  not  to  the  Monk's  stone  as  Brand  supposed; 
Newcastle,  vol.  ii.  p.  90. 


414  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

eastward  downe  the  said  dike  till  it  come  to  the  marches  belweene  Backworth  and  Earsdon  west  feild 
dicke  on  the  outside  thereof,  till  it  come  to  the  marches  bctweene  Earsdon  and  Morton,  and  so  south- 
east along  Morton  west  fcild  dicke  to  the  Rakehead,  and  so  south  as  far  as  Preston  west  fcild  dicke 
goeth  to  the  marches  betweene  Preston  and  East  Chirton  to  the  north  dicke  of  East  Chirton  close  called 
liilly  miine  close  to  the  turne  of  the  said  dicke  south  to  the  gate  that  cometh  from  East  Chirton  to 
Billimilne  moore;  and  so  south  and  by  west  to  the  dike  of  Middle  Chirton,  and  from  thence  west  and  by 
south  along  to  the  said  dike  of  Middle  Chirton  to  the  bourne  and  dike  between  West  Chirton  and 
Middle  Chirton,  and  so  along  West  Chirton  dike  on  the  north  side  thereof  westwards  to  the  north 
nooke  of  West  Chirton  dike,  deviding  West  Chirton  and  Willington,  to  the  west  nooke  thereof  where  it 
beginns.' 

Every  year,  on  St.  Mark's  Day,  the  bailiff  of  Tynemouthshire  and 
several  of  the  copyholders  rode  the  boundary.  Robert  Saburn  of  Balk- 
well  deposed  in  1737  to  having  seen  horse  races  run  forty  years  before, 
on  the  day  that  the  boundary  was  ridden."  The  bailiff's  duties  in  con- 
nection with  the  moor  are  given  as  follow  : 

The  manor  bayliff  rides  the  boundery  on  St.  Mark  Day  annually,  and  generally  expends  five  or  six 
pounds  with  the  copyholders,  repairs  the  Tynemouth  bounder  hedges  and  pinfold  on  the  moor,  which 
amounts  one  year  with  another  to  about  fifteen  pounds,  and  is  at  an  uncertain  expence  annually  in 
herding  the  moor,  impounding  the  cattle  belonging  to  ye  Long  Benton  township  for  trespassing  on  ye 
comnien,  and  drives  the  moor  once  or  twice  a  year,  and  he  employs  on  that  occasion  ten  or  fifteen 
persbns  to  assist  him,  and  has  disbursed  between  thirty,  forty,  and  fifty  shillings  in  doeing  that 
business,  which  necessarily  detains  him  and  his  assistance  from  one  or  two  in  the  morning  till  four  or 
five  o'clock  next  day.'' 

The  customs  regulating  the  right  of  common  on  the  moor  are 
described  in  an  agreement  drawn  up  on  May  ist,  1707.  The  sole  right 
of  herbage  and  of  eating  and  depasturing  on  Billy  Mill  moor  was  there 
stated  to  belong  to  the  tenants  of  the  seven  copyhold  townships  within 
the  manor  of  Tynemouth  ;  the  tenants  of  Tynemouth  and  North  Shields, 
where  freehold  tenure  prevailed,  being  e.xcluded.  There  were  fifty-three 
farms  in  the  seven  townships.  Every  farm  had  eight  stints  allotted  to  it, 
and  paid  two  shillings  to  the  herd,  who  had  a  house  upon  the  moor. 
The  agreement  contains  the  usual  prohibition  of  carting  or  leading  flags 
and   turves.^ 

In  1788  the  tenants  of  Tynemouthshire  came  to  terms  with  the  lord 
of  the  manor  for  the  enclosure  of  the  common.  The  Act  of  Parliament 
authorising  division,  provides  for  the  setting  out  of  highways  and  bridle- 
paths over  the  common,  of  a  breadth  not  less  than  forty  feet,  in  the  one 
case,  and  not  exceeding  twenty-one  feet  in  the  other.  One  sixteenth  part 
of  the  residue  was  to  be  allotted  to  the  duke  of  Northumberland  as  lord 

'  Duke  of  Northumberland's  MSS.  '  IhiJ.  '  Ibid.  '  Ibid. 


MURTON    TOWNSHIP.  415 

of  the  manor,  in  lieu  of  his  right  to  the  soil,  and  the  remainder  to  all 
persons  having  right  of  common  or  stints.  Allotments  to  the  lord  of 
the  manor  were  to  be  of  freehold  tenure,  and  allotments  in  right  of  stints 
appurtenant  to  copyhold  farms  were  to  be  of  copyhold  tenure.  The  duke 
of  Northumberland,  as  lord  of  the  manor,  was  to  have  full  power  to  work 
mines  and  quarries  within  the  moor,  and  to  lay  waggon-ways  for  leading 
coals  from  the  pits.  If  anyone  sustained  damage  by  the  mines  being 
wrought,  compensation  was  to  be  made  to  him  by  all  the  owners  of 
allotments.' 

Commissioners  were  appointed  for  setting  out,  dividing,  and  allotting 
the  commons.  They  allowed  claims  for  4483  stints  upon  the  moor,  the 
number  being  made  as  follows  : 

Duke  of  Northumberland,  54  stints  (plus  j'^tli  of  the  whole) ;  Ralph  William  Grfey,  esq.,  101^;  John 
Lawson,  esq.,  iS  ;  John  Noble,  4;  Henry  Metcalfe,  8;  John  Hedley,  esq.,  8;  PZdward  Collingwood, 
esq.,  10;  Nathaniel  Green,  8;  John  Barker,  I'J  ;  Thomas  Barker,  S;  Henry  Cramlinyton,  4;  Thomas 
Fenwick,  esq.,  165;  Elizabeth  Barker,  16;  William  Ainsley,  4;  Robert  Robinson,  4;  Edward  Hall, 
esq.,  22f^  ;  Ralph  Milbank,  esq.,  32  ;  Richard  Ellison,  esq.,  2:-  ;  Samuel  Lacey,  esq.,  34  ;  Mr.  Robert 
Yelloley,  8  ;  Henry  Hudson,  esq.,  225  ;  John  Archbold,  4  ;  Nathaniel  Tavenor,  4  ;  Christopher  Spanton, 
2  ;  Henry  Boult  Cay,  esq.,  8  ;  Jane  Mills,  14  ;  Thomas  -Sikes  and  others,  8  ;  Messrs.  Clarke,  8  ;  Thomas 
Rutherford,  8  ;  Rev.  Wilfrid  Huddlestone,  2|;  ;  Joseph  and  Ralph  Saburn,  I  ;  Juliet  Rutherford,  I  ; 
Peregrine  Henzell,  I  ;  Rachel  \'eonian  and  Mary  Waters,  5?,  ;  Ralph  Spearman,  2.  Total,  448^ 
stints. 

The  award  is  dated  October  19th,  1790.  A  reference  to  the  plan 
accompanying  it  (Plate  XVII.)  shows  that  the  number  of  acres  allotted 
to  each  tenant  bears  only  an  approximate  relation  to  the  number  of 
stints  in  respect  to  which  allotment  was  made,  other  considerations  being 
introduced  to  insure  an  eqtiable  division.  As  a  claim  to  a  certain  number 
of  stints  expressed  the  rights  of  common  appurtenant  to  a  farm  in  one  ot 
the  seven  copyhold  townships  of  the  manor,  the  land  awarded  in  virtue 
of  each  respective  claim  was  assigned  to  that  township  within  which  the 
particular  farm  lay.  Thus  an  allotment  made  to  a  farm  in  Monkseaton 
came  to  be  included  in  Monkseaton  township,  and  if  a  copyholder  held 
a  whole  farm  in  one  township  and  half  a  farm  in  another,  his  allotment 
was  equivalently  divided  between  the  two  townships.  The  sixteenth  part 
of  the  moor  assigned  to  the  duke  of  Northumberland,  as  lord  of  the 
manor,  was,  under  the  provisions  of  a  subsequent  Act,"  reckoned  as  falling 
within  Chirton  township. 

'  28  George  III.  cap.  xlvii.  -'  46  George  III.  cap.  xlvi. 


41 6  TYNEMOUTH    PARISH. 

This  arrangement  resulted  in  a  large  number  of  detached  portions  of 
various  townships  being  scattered  over  the  moor.  It  continued  in  force 
until  December  20th,  1881,  when,  under  an  order  of  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board,  portions  of  Monkseaton  and  Whitley  were  transferred  to  the 
contiguous  townships.  Other  changes  were  made  under  the  Divided 
Parishes  Act  of  1882,  and  under  another  order  of  the  Local  Government 
Board,  made  on  March  24th,  i88g,  the  colliery  village  known  as  the 
Allotment,  built  early  in  the  nineteenth  century  upon  land  assigned  to 
Preston,  was  transferred  from  that  township  to  Chirton.  Detached  frag- 
ments of  Chirton  and  Murton  still  exist,  as  well  as  insignificant  portions 
of  Tynemouth,  Cullercoats,  and  North  Shields.  Part  of  Murton  township 
lying  within  the  municipal  borough  of  Tynemouth  has,  for  nominal  pur- 
poses, become  a  separate  civil  parish.  The  principal  proprietors  of  lands 
in  Shire  Moor  are  the  duke  of  Northumberland  (Shire  Moor  farm),  the 
Backworth  colliery  owners  (Allotment  farm),  Mr.  John  Liddell's  heirs 
(Prospect  Hill  farm),  and  Mr.  Charles  Taylor  of  London  (Murton  Grange 
farm). 


APPENDIX    I. 


4'7 


APPENDIX    I. 

REFERENCES    TO    GEOLOGICAL    LITERATURE. 


Author. 

Title. 

Autborily. 

Dale. 

I. — Thomson  (Dr.)    ... 

A  Geognostical  Sketch  of  the  Counties  of 

Annals  of  Philosophy,  Nov. 

I8l4 

North  Durham  and  part  of  Cumberland. 

P-  337. 

2.— Winch  (N.  J.)       ... 

Geology  of  Northumberland  and  Durham. 

Trans.  Gcol.  Soc.  vol.  iv.  p.  i 
(pub.  1817). 

1S14 

3.— Sedg\vick  (Prof. 

On  the  Geological  Relations  and  Internal 

Proc.  Geul.  Soc.  vol.  i.  p.  2. 

1826 

Adam) 

Structure  of  the  Magnesian  Limestone. 

Trans.  Geol.  Soc.  2nd  series, 
vol.  iii.  pp.  37-124. 

4.— Trevelyan      (Sir 

On  a  Whin  Dyke  in  Cowpen  Colliery,  near 

Proc.  Geol.  Soc.  vol.  i.  p.  23. 

1827 

W.  C.) 

Blyth,  Northumberland. 

1834. 
Trans.  Geol.  Soc.  2nd  series, 
vol.  ii.  p.  405.     1828. 

5.- Wood  (Nicholas) 

On  the  Geology  of  a  part  of  Northumber- 

Nat.   Hist.   Trans.    North- 

1831 

land  and  Cumberland. 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol.  i.  p.  305. 

6.— Howse  (R.) 

Catalogue  of  the  Fossils  of  the  Permian 

Trans.  Tyncside  Nat.  Field 

1848 

Systeiii  of  the  Counties  of  Northuinber- 

Club,  vol.  1.  p.  2ig. 

land  and  Durham. 

7.— Hancock  (A.) 

Notice  of  the  Occurrence  of  Fossil  Fish  in 

Trans.  Tyncside  Nat.  Field 

1848 

the  rocks  (marl  slate)  in  the  great  slip 

Club,  vol.  i.  pt.  li.  p.  275. 

dyke  at  Cullercoats  Haven. 

8.-King(Wm.) 

Monograph  of  Permian  Fossils. 

Pal.  Soc. 

1850 

9.— Sorby  (H.  C.)       ... 

On  the  Oscillation  of  the  Currents  drifting 

Proc.  Yorks.  Polyl.  Soc.  vol. 

1852 

the    Sandstone    Beds    of   the    South- 

iii. p.  232. 

east  of  Northumberland 

10. — How*e  (R.) 

Notes  on  the    Permian  System  of  North- 

Ann. and  itag.  Nat.  Hist. 

1857 

umberland  and  Durham,  being  a  sup- 

vol. xi.\.  2nd  series,  pp. 

plement  to  the  Catalogue  of  Fossils. 

33,  304  and  463. 

11.—       „ 

Notes  on  the  Permian  System  of  North- 

Trans. Tyncside  Nat.  Field 

1857 

umberland  and  Durham. 

Club,  vol.  iii.  p.  235. 

12.— Hancock  (A.) 

Remarks    on    certain    Vermiform    Fossils 

Trans.  Tyncside  Nat.  Field 

1S58 

found  in  the  Mountain  Limestone  Dis- 

Club,   vol.    iv.    p.     17. 

tricts  of  the  North  of  England. 

Plates  III.-VIII. 

13.— Hurst  (T.  G.)       ... 

On  some   Peculiarities  of  the   Low   Main 

Trans.    North    <>/   England 

i860 

Seam. 

Inst.  Mining  Engineers, 
vol.  viii.  p.  23. 

14.— Geinitz  (Dr.  H.  B.) 

The  Dyasor  Permian  Formation  in  England. 

Leipsig.     1 86 1. 

1S61 

15. — Binney  and  Kirkby 

Translation  of  above. 

Trans,  hfanchcsler  Gcol.  Soc. 
vol.  iv.  p.  121. 

1863 

16. — Howse   (R.)   and 

Synopsis  of  the  Geology  of  Durham  and 

Trans.  Tyncside  Nat.  Field 

1S63 

Kirkby  (J.  W.) 

part  of  Northumberland. 

Club,  Aug.  1S63. 

17.— Bainbridge  (W.)  ... 

On  the  Fault  in  connection  with  the  Vol- 

British   Association   Report 

1S64 

canic  Rocks  at  the  foot  of  Crossfell, 

(Notes  and  Abstracts\ 

and   with    the  Tynedale    Fault   called 

1863,  pt.  ii.  p.  64. 

'  The  Ninety  Fathom  Dyke.' 

Vol.  viii. 


4l8  APPENDIX    I. 

Appendix  I.— References  to  Geological  Literature  {continued). 


Author. 


iS.— Howse  (R.) 

19.— Kirkby  (J.  W.)  and 
Atthey  (T.) 

20. — Howse  (R.) 
21.— Kirkby  (J.  W.)     ... 
22.— Atthey  (T.) 
23. — Owen  (Prof.) 


24. — Hancock   (A.)   and 
Atthey  (T.) 

25.— Atthey  (T.) 


Title. 


26.- 

27-- 

28. 


-Barkas  (T.  P.)      ... 
-Barkas  (T.  P.)      ... 


29.— 


)»  J) 


-Hancock   (A.)   and 
Atthey  (T.) 


31. — Hancock   (A.)   and 
Atthey  (T.) 


.Synopsis  of  Organic  Remains  found  in  the 
Northumberland  Coal  Measures. 

On  some  Fish  Remains  from  the  Durham 
and    Northumberland   Coal    Measures. 

On  the  Glaciation  of  the  counties  of  Dur- 
ham and  Northumberland. 

On  the  Fossils  of  the  Marl  Slate  and 
Lower  Magnesian  Limestone. 

Remarks  on  Report  of  Prof.  Owen's  Paper 
on  Fish  Remains  found  in  Northumber- 
land Coal  Fields. 

On  Dental  Characters  of  genera  and 
species,  chiefly  of  Fishes,  from  the 
Low  Main  Seam  and  Shales  of  Coal, 
Northumberland. 

Notes  on  various  Species  of  Ctenodus  ob- 
tained from  Shales  of  the  Northumber- 
land Coal  Field. 

On  the  Occurrence  of  Palatal  Teeth  of  a 
Fish  belonging  to  the  genus  Climaxodus 
(McCoy)  in  the  Low  Main  Shale  of 
Newsham. 

On  the  Fauna  of  the  Low  Main  Seam, 
Northumberland. 

Results  of  Fossil  Gathering  from  the  Shale 
over  the  Low  Main  Coal. 

Fossil  Reptiles  and  Fish  from  the  North- 
umberland Coal  Measures. 

On  Climaxodus  or  Pa;cilodus  ;  a  Palatal 
Tooth  from  the  Low  Main  Coal  Shale, 
Northumberland. 

Notes  on  Remains  of  Reptiles  and  Fishes 
from  the  Shales  of  the  Northumberland 
Coalfield. 


On  a  new  Labyrinthodont  Amphibian  from 
the  Northumberland  Coalfield,  and  on 
the  Occurrence  in  the  same  locality  of 
Anthracosaurus  Russelli. 


Authority. 


Iiidustyial  Resources  of  the 
Tyne,  Wear  and  Tees, 
2nd  edition. 

Trans.  Tyneside  Nat.  Field 
Club,  vol.  vi.  p.  231. 
Plate  VI. 

Trans.  North  of  England 
Inst.  Mining  Engineers, 
vol.  xiii.  p.  169. 

Nat.  Hist.  Trans.  North- 
umberland and  Durham, 
vol.  i.  p.  184. 

Geol.  Mag.  vol.  iv.  p.  378. 


Gcol.  Mag.  vol.  iv.  p.  323. 


Dale. 


1864 

1864 


1865 
1867 
1867 


Nat.    Hist.   Trans.    North-    1868 

umberland  and  Durham, 

vol.  iii.  p.  54. 
Nat.    Hist.    Trans.    North-  j  1868 

umberland  and  Durham, 

vol.  iii.  p.  306. 


Geol.  Mag.  vol.  v.  p.  580. 

Naturalist's    Notebook,  vol. 

ii.  p.  334. 
Science   Gossip,    No.  45,   p. 

204. 
Geol.  Mag.  vol.  v.  p.  495. 


Nat.  Hist.  Trans.  North- 
umberland and  Durham, 
vol.  iii.  p.  65 ;  also 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
vol.  i.  pp.  266  and  346. 
Plates  XIV.  XV.  and 
XVI. 

Nat.  Hist.  Trans.  North- 
umberland and  Durham, 
vol.  iii.  p.  310. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
vol.  iv.  series  iv.  pp. 
182  and  270. 


1868 
1868 
1 868 
1868 

1868 

1868 

1869 


I 


APPENDIX    I. 
Appendix  I.— References  to  Geological  Literature  (continued). 


419 


Author. 

Title. 

Aotborilr. 

Date. 

32.- 

—Hancock  (A.)   and 

On  the  generic  identity  of  Climaxodus  and 

Nat.   Hist.    Trans.   North- 

1869 

Atthey  (T.) 

Janassa,  two  fossil  fishes  related  to  the 
Rays. 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol.  iii.  p.  330.  Plate  IX. 

33-- 

-Barkas  (T.  P.)      ... 

On  the  Discovery  of  a   Molar  of  a  large 
Reptile   in   the   Northumberland   Coal 
Measures. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
vol.  iii.  p.  419. 

1869 

34-- 

>»          i» 

Notes  on  various  Species  of  Ctenodus  found 
in  the  Low  Main  Coal  Shale,  Newsham 
Colliery. 

Geol.  Mag.  vol.  vi.  p.  314. 

1869 

35-- 

))          1) 

Letters  on  unusual  forms  of  Ctenoptychius 
and  Climaxodus  ovatus  and  Diplodus 

Geol.  Mag.  vol.  vi.  pp.  42, 
43- 

1869 

36.- 

—        .,          .. 

Letter  on   Teeth  of  Clima.\odus  from  the 
Coal  Measures. 

Geol.  Mag.  vol.  vi.  p.  381. 

1869 

37-- 

-Brady  (G.S.)       ... 

Description  of  an  Entomostracan  inhabiting 
a  Coal  Mine. 

Nat.    Hist.    Trans.   North- 
umberland and  Durham, 
vol.  iii.  p.  203.  Plate  VI. 

1869 

38-- 

—Hancock    (A.)   and 

Note  on  Undescribed  Fossil  Fish  found  in    Nat.  Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1870 

Atthey  (T.) 

Newsham  Coal  Shale,  near  Newcastle-          umberland  and  Durham, 
on-Tyne.                                                              vol.  iv.  p.  199. 

39-- 

-Cohn  (Prof.  J.)     ... 

Ueber  den  Steinkohlenpilze  Archagaricon. 

48    Jahrcsb.     Schles.     Ges. 
Vatcrl.  Kultur,  p.  62. 

1871 

40.- 

—Hancock   (A.)  and 

On  Occurrence  of  Loxomma  Allmanni  in 

Nat.   Hist.    Trans.    North- 

187I 

Atthey  (T.) 

Northumberland  Coalfields. 

umberland  and  Durham, 

1        vol.  iv.  p.  201. 

41- 

—Hancock    (A.)   and 

Description  of  a  considerable  portion  of  a  :  Nat.    Hist.   Trans.   North- 

1871 

Atthey  (T.) 

Mandibular  Ramus  of  .A^nthracosaurus 
Russelli  ;  with  Notes  on  Lo.xomma  and 
Archichthys. 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol.    iv.    p.    38  5.      Plate 
XII. 

42.- 

—Hancock  (A.)  and 

Description  ofaLabyrinlhodont  Amphibian, 

Nat.   Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1871 

Atthey  (T.) 

a  new   generic   form,  obtained   in  the 

umberland  and  Durham, 

Coalshale  at  Newsham,  near  Newcastle.          vol.  iv.  p.  208.   Plate  1\'. 

43-- 

—Hancock    (A.)   and 

A  few  Remarks  on  Dipterus  and  Ctenodus, 

Nat.   Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1871 

Atthey  (T.) 

and  on  their  Relationship  to  Ceratodus 
Forsteri  from  Newsham. 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol.  iv.  p.  397.      Plates 
XIII  and  XIV. 

44.- 

-Barkas  (T.  P.)      ... 

Teeth     of     Climaxodus    from     the     Coal 
Measures. 

Geol.  Mag.  vol.  vi.  pp.  42 
and  38 1. 

1869 

45.- 

—Hancock  (A.)   and 

On  some  curious  Fossil  Fungi  from  Black 

Nat.    Hist.   Trans.    North- 

1869 

t  J* 

Atthey  (T.) 

Shale    of   the    Northumberland    Coal          umberland  and  Durham, 
Measures.                                                         vol.  iii.  p.  32'-     P'ates 

VII.  and  VI n. 

46.- 

—Hancock   (A.)   and 

Descriptive    Notes     on     a    nearly    entire    Nat.  Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1S7I 

Atthey  (T.) 

specimen  of  Pleurodus  Rankinii,  on  two 
new  species  of  Platysomus  and  a  new 
Amphicentrum,  with  Remarks  on  a  few- 
other  Fish-remains  found  in  the  Coal 
Measures  at  Newsham. 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol.  iv.  p.  40S.    Plates 
XV.  and  XVI. 

420   "  APPENDIX    I. 

Appendix  I.— References  to  Geological  Literature  {continued). 


Author. 

Title. 

Authority. 

Date. 

47.— Atthey  (T.) 

Chmaxodus  Hnguiformis. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 
vol.  ii.  series  iv.  p.  321. 

1868 

48.— Barkas  (T.  P.)      ... 

Illustrated  Guide  to  the  Fish  Amphibian, 
Reptilian    and    Supposed    Mammalian 
Remains  of  the  Northumberland  Car- 
boniferous Strata. 

1873 

49.— Allport  (S.) 

On  the  micro-structure  and  composition  of 
British  Carboniferous  Dolerites. 

Q.y.G.S.  vol.  XXX.  p.  529. 

1874 

50.— Toplcy  (W.) 

On    the     Correspondence    between    some 

Q.J.G.S.  vol.   XXX.  p.   186, 

1874 

Areas  of  Apparent    Upheaval  and  the 

and  Brit.  Assoc.    1873, 

Thickening  of  Subjacent  Beds. 

p.  91. 

51.— Lindley     (J.)     and 

Illustrations  of  Fossil  Plants. 

^uh.iori'hcNorthof  England 

1877 

Hut'ton  (W.),  ed. 

Institute  of  Mining  and 

by  Lebour(G.A.) 

Mechanical  Engineers. 

52.— Atthey     (T.)     and 

On  Anthracosaurus  Russelli  (Huxley).           |  Nat.   Hist.    Trans.   North- 

1877 

Dinning 

timberland  and  Durham, 
vol.  V.  p.   307.     Plates 
VI.  VII.  VIII.  and  IX. 

53.— Embleton  (D.)  and 

On  the  .Skull  and  other  Bones  of  Loxomma 

Nat.    Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1877 

Atthey  (T.) 

Allmanni  (Huxley)  from  the  Low  Main 

umberland  and  Durham, 

Coal  Shale,  Newsham,  Northumberland. 

vol.  V.  p.   196.      Plates 
I.-IV. 

54. — Simpson  (J.  B.)    ... 

The  Coal  Seams   of  the  Northumberland 
and  Durham  Coalfield. 

Pub.  Newcastle. 

1877 

55.— Atthey     (T.)     and 

On  Pteroplax  Cornuta. 

Nat.    Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1880 

Dinning 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol.  vii.  p.  176.     Plates 
XV.  and  XVI. 

56.— Atthey  (T.) 

Notes  on  the  Vertebral  Column  and  other 

Nat.    Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1882 

Remains  of  Loxomma  Allmanni  (Hux- 

umberland and  Durham, 

ley)  at  New^sham. 

vol.  viii.  p.  46.    Plate  VI. 

57.-TealI  (J.  J.  H.)     ... 

Petrographical    Notes    on     some    of   the 

Proc.  Geol.  Association,  vol. 

1886 

Igneous  Rocks  of  Northumberland. 

ix.  p.  S7S- 

58.— Howse  (Richard)... 

Catalogue    of  the    Local    Fossils    in    the 

Nat.  Hist.   Trans.    North- 

1888 

Museum  of  the  Natural  History  Society, 

umberland  and  Durham, 

Newcastle. 

vol.  X.  p.  227. 

59.— Howse  (R.) 

Catalogue    of    the    Hutton    Collection    of 

Nat.    Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1887 

Fossil  Plants  in  Newcastle  Museum. 

umberland  and  Durham, 
vol  X.  p.  19. 

60.- Teall  (J.  J.  H.)     ... 

On    the    Amygdules    of    the    Tyncmouth 
Dyke. 

Geol.  Mag.  vol.  vi.  p.  481. 

1S89 

61.— Lebour  (G.  A.)     ... 

Outlines  of  the  Geology  of  Northumberland 
and  Durham. 

Pub.  Newcastle,3rd  edition. 

1889 

62.— Tate  (Robert  M.) 

On  the   Erosion  and    Destruction   of   the 

A'((/.    Hist.    Trans.    North- 

1894 

Coast  Line  from  the  Low  Lights  and 

umberland  and  Durham, 

Tynemouth  and  CuUercoats  during  the 

vol.  xi.  pt.  ii.  p.  187. 

last  Fifty  Years. 

APPENDIX    II.  421 

APPENDIX    II. 

Early  Deeds  relating  to  Property  in  Tynemouth. 

A.  Harbottle's  land  ;  deeds  in  the  possession  of  the  duke  of  Northumberland  : 
(i)  Grant  from  VVilliani,  son  of  Gilbert  of  Tyncmue,  to  William,  son  of  Robert  of  Chirton,  of  a 
toft  with  buildings  and  curtilage,  in  Tynemouth,  lying  between  the  house  of  Germanus  de  coquina 
on  the  east,  and  the  house  of  William  de  Hyndeleye  on  the  west,  paying  yearly  a  rent  of  4s.  Testibus, 
Thoma  de  Clyvedon,  tunc  scncscallo  de  TynenV,  Ada  de  Pykering,  Philippo  de  Merston,  Roberto 
berciatore,  Roberto  filio  Baldwyni,  Petro  de  Bacwrth,  Rogero  Boyd,  Willelmo  filio  Alani,  Alano  de 
Herttelawe,  at  aliis.     [Circa  1276.] 

(2)  Grant  from  John,  son  of  John  de  Hundemanby,  and  Nigasia,  his  wife,  to  John  de  Ridesdale, 
their  son-in-law,  of  all  their  lands,  tenements  and  buildings,  which  they  have  as  dowry  in  Tinemuye, 
paying  8s.  during  the  life  of  Nigasia.  Hiis  testibus,  Willelmo  de  Heselrig,  John  le  oefener,  Ada  le 
sergaunt,  Roberto  filio  Baldwin!,  Philippo  de  Binham,  et  aliis.     [Thirteenth  century.] 

(3)  Grant  from  John  Dunne  of  Redesdal  and  Dyonisia,  his  wife,  to  Robert,  son  of  William,  son 
of  Gilbert  of  Tynemouth,  in  free  marriage  with  their  daughter,  Constance,  of  four  acres  of  arable  land 
in  Tynemouth,  of  which  one  rood  lay  beneath  .Stanilawe,  between  the  land  of  Margery  de  Wulsington 
and  the  land  formerly  of  William  de  Hyndeley,  three  roods  lay  beneath  Stanilawe,  between  the  land 
formerly  of  Roger,  son  of  Michael,  and  the  land  of  Margery  de  Wulsington,  one  rood  lay  at  the 
'hevedeslandes,'  between  the  land  of  John  de  Redingge  and  the  land  of  Margery  de  Wulsington,  one 
rood  lay  on  the  north  side  of  Kencwaldes-den,  between  the  land  of  Robert  de  bracina  and  the  land 
of  Philip  de  Merston,  one-acre  lay  on  the  north  side  of  Tunstalles-dike,  between  the  land  of  the  foresaid 
Robert,  son  of  William,  and  the  land  of  Margery  de  Wulsington,  half  an  acre  lay  at  Tudehope,  between 
the  land  formerly  of  William  de  Hyndeley  and  the  land  of  Margery  de  Wulsington,  half  an  acre  lay 
over'le  bourne,'  between  the  land  of  Philip  de  Merston  and  the  land  of  the  foresaid  Margery,  and 
half  an  acre  lay  near  the  road  'del  Pul,'  between  the  land  of  the  chamberlain  of  Tynemouth  and  the 
land  of  the  foresaid  Philip  ;  to  hold  subject  to  the  rent  and  service  due  to  the  lord  of  Wulsington  as  lord 
of  the  fee.  Hiis  testibus,  Willelmo  de  Wulsington,  Willelmo  Russel  de  Discington,  Nicholao  Faucus, 
Nicholao  de  Morton,  Rogero  de  eadem,  Roberto  de  Chirton,  Roberto  de  bracina,  Willelmo  de  Wylum, 
Alano  de  Boldum,  clerico,  et  multis  aliis.     Seal,  a  jUur-de-lys  (?)  ornament.     [Thirteenth  centur)-.] 

(4)  Grant  from  Alice  of  Tynemouth,  widow,  to  Robert,  son  of  William  of  Tynemouth,  of  half  an  acre 
of  arable  land  in  Tynemouth,  of  which  one  rood  lay  between  the  land  of  Philip  de  Merston  on  the  south 
and  the  land  of  Thomas  de  Burton  on  the  north,  and  abutted  on  the  road  leading  to  Wyttelye  on  the 
west  ;  and  one  rood  lay  near  Stanilawe,  between  the  land  formerly  of  William  de  Hindely  on  the  north 
and  the  land  of  John  Dunne  on  the  south,  and  abutted  on  the  land  of  Peter  de  Backworth  ;  to  hold  to 
the  said  Robert  and  to  the  joint  heirs  of  him  and  of  Constance,  his  wife,  paying  yearly  at  Whitsuntide 
one  halfpenny  to  the  chief  lord.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  de  Dudden,  tunc  senescallo  doniini  prions, 
Rogero  Gray,  tunc  serviente,  Petro  de  Backeword,  Willelmo  de  Seyton,  Philippo  de  Merston,  Alano 
de  Hertelawe,  Willelmo  de  Chirton,  et  aliis  multis.     1302. 

(5)  Grant  from  Matilda  Brown,  formerly  wife  of  Robert  Turnur  of  Tynemouth,  to  Richard,  son  of 
Geoffrey  of  the  same  place,  and  to  Alice,  his  wife,  of  half  a  toft,  with  buildings,  etc.,  in  the  Cross  street 
in  Tynemouth  ;  which  half-toft  came  to  the  grantor  by  hereditary  right  on  the  death  of  her  mother, 
Cecily  Brown,  and  lay  between  the  tenement  of  John,  son  of  Roger,  clerk,  on  the  south,  and  the 
tenement  of  William  Broun  on  the  north.  Hiis  testibus,  Henrico  de  Harden,  tunc  senescallo  domini 
prioris  de  Tynemuth,  Roberto  filio  Willelmi,  Willelmo  de  Seton,  Willelmo  Faymian,  Roberto  Sauvage, 
Sampsone  de  Seton,  et  multis  aliis.     July  2nd,  1319.     Seal  attached. 

(6)  Quit-claim  from  Robert  de  Bewick  to  John  de  Horton  of  his  right  to  the  tofts  in  T>-nemouth 
which  he  had  of  the  gift  of  Roger  le  tailler.     August  25th,  1320. 

(7)  Deed  of  entail  whereby  William  de  Heppiscotes  granted  to  Gilbert  de  Tynemouth  all  his  lands 
and  tenements  in  Tynemuth  and  Preston  of  which  he  had  been  enfeoffed  by  the  said  Gilbert,  to  hold 
for  life,  with  reversion  to  Agnes,  sister  of  the  said  Gilbert,  and  to  the  heirs  of  her  body  ;  with  reversion, 
in  case  of  failure  of  issue,  to  Gilbert,  son  of  Peter  Webster,  and  to  the  heirs  of  his  body  ;  with  ultimate 


422  APPENDIX    II. 

reversion  to  the  heirs  of  Gilbert  de  Tynemouth.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  de  ^lurton,  Willehiio  de  kylne, 
Roberto  Gubbe,  Willelmo  Bacon,  Johanne  Clerk,  Johanne  de  Preston,  Roberto  Maymond,  Johanne  de 
Thornton,  et  ahis.    Dated  at  Tynemouth,  April  i6th,  1363.    Seal  attached.    Printed  above,  p.  258,  note  4. 

(8)  Grant  from  William  de  Heppiscotes  to  Nicholas  Wright  of  Tynemouth  and  Margaret  his  wife, 
of  an  acre  of  land  in  Tynemouth  given  to  the  grantor  by  Christiana  Porter.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  de 
Tewing,  Willelmo  de  Chevington,  Roberto  de  Bynham,  Roberto  Maymund,  Roberto  Gubbe,  Willelmo 
Bacoun,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemuth,  September  31st,  1363.     Seal,  oti  a  shield  tirmorial  a  lion  rampant. 

(9)  Grant  from  Gilbert,  son  and  heir  of  William  Robynsone  of  Tynemouth,  chaplain,  to  William 
de  la  Vale,  knight,  of  all  his  lands  within  the  liberty  of  Tynemouth  which  descended  to  him  on  the 
death  of  his  father.  Hiis  testibus,  Alano  Whitchevede,  perpetuo  vicario  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Tyne- 
muth, Thoma  Ruft,  Waltero  Cok,  Roberto  de  Bynham,  Willelmo  del  kilne,  Willelmo  Watsone,  Adam 
Smythe,  Roberto  Gubbe  de  Tynemouth,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  March  12th,  1375/6. 

(10)  Lease  from  Gilbert  de  Tynemouth,  chaplain,  to  his  sister,  Agnes,  relict  of  William  de  Episcotys, 
of  one  part  of  his  tenement  in  Tynemouth  (described  in  detail),  to  hold  for  life,  at  a  nominal  rent  during 
the  first  thirteen  years,  and  thereafter  paying  ten  shillings  yearly.  Hiis  testibus,  Alano  Whitcheved, 
perpetuo  vicario  de  Tenemuth,  Roberto  de  Fenrother,  Willelmo  de  Chevington,  Willelmo  .  .  .  .  ,  Roberto 
de  Bynham,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tinemuth,  June  2nd,  13S1.     Printed  above,  p.  258,  note  2. 

(ii)  Lease  from  Gilbert  Wilkynesson,  chaplain,  to  Walter  Dun,  for  twenty-five  years,  of  all  his 
lands  and  tenements  within  the  liberty  of  Tynemouth,  at  the  yearly  rent  of /lo.  Hiis  testibus,  Willelmo 
Tychington,  Willelmo  Chevyngton,  Willelmo  \'escy,  Adam  Smyth,  et  Roberto  Bynnham,  et  aliis.     Dated 

at  Tynemuth,  May  22nd,  1383.     Seal:  two  martlets  in  chief:  signvm  iohannis Enrolled  on 

the  court  roll  of  the  manor,  July  12th,  141 5. 

(12)  Grant  from  Agnes  de  Heppescottes,  formerly  wife  of  William  de  Heppescottes,  and  widow 
of  Robert  Bullok,  to  Gilbert  de  Tynmouth,  chaplain,  and  to  William  Vescy,  of  all  her  lands  and 
tenements  which  she  had  as  dower  in  Morpath  and  Heppescottes,  together  with  her  rents  within  the 
liberty  of  Tynmouth,  to  hold  for  her  life.  Hiis  testiljus,  Willelmo  de  Bysschopdall,  tunc  majore  ville 
Novi  Castri  super  Tynam,  Ricardo  Scott,  Laurentio  de  Acton,  Thoma  de  Gryndon,  et  Willelmo  Joneson, 
tunc  ballivis  ejusdem  ville,  et  aliis.  Dated  at  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  May  19th,  1391.  Seal  :  the  letter  I 
between  two  palm  branches  ;  over  it  viv. 

(13)  Grant  from  William  Dune  to  Gilbert  de  Tynmouth,  chaplain,  of  all  his  lands  and  tenements 
within  the  town  and  liberty  of  Tynmouth,  which  he  had  by  feoffment  of  the  said  Gilbert.  Dated  at 
Tynemouth,  August  ist,  1391.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  le  Ornford,  tunc  senescallo,  Willelmo  Vesci, 
Johanne  Wilkinson,  Roberto  de  Bynham,  et  Ricardo  del  brewheus,  et  multis  aliis.  Seal  :  three  martlets. 
Enrolled  on  the  court  roll  of  the  manor,  July  12th,  1415. 

(14)  Grant  from  Gilbert  de  Tynmouth,  clerk,  to  Walter  Dune,  of  a  yearly  rent-charge  of  13s.  4d. 
issuing  out  of  his  lands  within  the  town  and  liberty  of  Tynmouth.  Dated  at  Tynemouth,  August  26th, 
1391.     Seal:  three  martlets. 

B.     Radcliffe's  lands;   Greenwich  Hospital  deeds,  P.R.O.  : 

(i)  Grant  from  Simon  Wattarius  to  William  Grey  of  the  Sheles  of  one  acre  in  Tynemouth,  on  the 
Scowel-braddes,  between  the  land  of  Robert  Baldewyn  on  the  west  and  the  land  of  the  said  Simon 
on  the  east,  and  abutting  on  the  land  of  Peter  del  horcheherd  and  Adam  de  coquina  on  the  south,  and 
on  the  land  of  Robert  Baldewyn  on  the  north,  to  hold  at  the  rent  of  one  penny  to  the  prior.  Hiis  testi- 
bus, Nicholao  Vigr",  tunc  senescallo,  Rogero  Gray,  tunc  serviente,  Philippo  de  Merstona,  Willelmo  de 
Chirtun,  Alano  de  Hertelaw,  Johanne  de  Wittelyt,  Radulpho  serviente  de  Seyton,  Roberto  de  Chirton, 
et  aliis.     [Circa  1295.] 

(2)  Grant  from  Robert  de  Slykeburn  to  William  Gubbe  of  Tynemouth  of  the  moiety  of  one  acre 
in  Tynemouth,  lying  at  Todupp,  between  the  land  of  the  said  William  on  the  south  and  the  land  of 
Robert,  son  of  William,  son  of  Gilbert,  on  the  north,  and  abutting  on  the  land  of  the  said  Robert,  son 
of  William,  on  the  west.  Hiis  testibus,  [Henrico  de  Harden],  tunc  senescallo  domini  prioris  de  Tynem', 
Gilberto  Daudre,  Roberto  filio  [Willelmi],  [Willelmo]  Fayrm[an],  Philippo  filio  Alani  de  Hertlawe, 
johanne  le  coylour,  et  multis  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  November  28th,   1320.     Seal  imperfect. 

(3)  Grant  from  John  de  Grey  to  John,  son  of  John  de  Bydik  of  Scheles,  of  all  his  lands  and  tene- 
ments in  Tynemouth,  Scheles,  Milnetone,  Prestone,  Setone,  .Middel  Chirtone,  and  Est  Chirtone,  and  five 


APPENDIX    II.  423 

shillings  yearly  rent  out  of  the  land  which  Simon  Stocard  held  in  Est  Backwerth.  Hiis  testibus,  Thoma 
de  Rayntone,  tunc  senescallo  libertatis  de  Tynemuth,  Johanne  de  Bakwerth,  Henrico  Faukes,  Galfrido 
de  Mortone,  Ricardo  de  Daltone,  Johanne  de  Setone,  Roberto  Savage,  et  multis  aliis.  Dated  at  Tyne- 
mouth,  March  12th,  1325/6. 

(4)  Quit-claim  by  Symon  Nogge  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne  to  John,  his  son  and  heir,  of  his  right  to  a 
tenement  in  the  Middilrawe  in  Tynemouth,  between  the  tenement  of  Richard  lirunson  on  the  west, 
and  the  tenement  of  John,  son  of  Ralph  the  taylor,  on  the  east.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  Soreys,  tunc 
senescallo  libertatis  de  Tynemouth,  Roberto  de  Tewyng,  Roberto  Savage,  Johanne  Curtays,  Willelmo 
filio  Robeni,  Rogero  Dabber,  et  multis  aliis.    Dated  at  Tynemouth,  September  2nd,  1333.     Seal,  a  shield. 

(5)  Quit-claim  by  John,  son  of  Symon  Nogge,  to  John  de  Tewyng,  of  his  right  to  the  tenement  above- 
mentioned.  Witnesses  as  before,  with  the  addition  of  Richard,  son  of  Geoffrey.  Dated  at  Tynemouth, 
November  6th,  1333.     Same  seal  as  No.  4. 

(6)  Grant  by  Roger,  son  of  William  Malkeyn  of  Tynemouth,  to  John  de  Tewyng,  of  half  an  acre 
in  Tynemouth,  namely,  one  selion  between  the  land  of  John  de  Horton  and  the  land  formerly  of  Philip 
de  Merston,  and  two  selions  lying  at  the  head  of  the  said  selion  towards  the  cast,  near  the  pasture  of 
the  prior  of  Tynemouth.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  Soreys,  tunc  senescallo  libertatis  de  Tynemuth, 
Roberto  de  Tewyng,  Ricardo  filio  Galfridi,  Willelmo  filio  Roberti,  .Stephano  Scot,  Johanne  Curtays,  et 
multis  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  August  8th,  1340. 

(7)  Grant  by  John  the  clerk,  son  of  Ralph  the  taylor,  to  John  de  Tewyng,  of  two  acres,  of  which  half 
an  acre  lay  in  Tynemouth  in  the  culture  called  Chaund-landis,  between  the  land  of  John  Curtays  and  the 
land  of  John  de  Bedik  ;  half  an  acre  lay  in  Est  Chyrton  between  the  land  of  William  Chaumpeneys  and 
the  land  of  Thomas  Breuster  ;  and  one  acre  lay  in  Preston  between  the  land  of  John  de  Bedyk  and  the 
land  of  John,  son  of  Adam  de  Preston.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  Soreys,  tunc  senescallo  libertatis  de 
Tynemuth,  Roberto  de  Tewyng,  Rogero  filio  Ranulphi,  Ricardo  filio  Galfridi,  Willelmo  filio  Roberti, 
Johanne  de  Wylum,  et  multis  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  July  31st,  1341. 

(8)  Grant  by  John,  son  of  Ralph  the  taylor,  of  Tynemouth,  to  John  de  Tewyng,  of  half  an  acre  in 
Tynemouth  on  the  west  side  of  Spitil-den,  lying  in  two  selions,  between  the  land  of  Robert  de  Tewyng 
on  the  east  and  the  bondage  land  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  which  Simon  Grene  of  Preston  formerly 
held,  on  the  west.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  Soreys,  tunc  senescallo  libertatis  de  Tynemuth,  Roberto  de 
Tewyng,  Johanne  de  Wyteley,  Ricardo  filio  Galfridi,  Willelmo  filio  Roberti,  Stephano  Scot,  Rogero  filio 
Ranulphi,  et  multis  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  September  30th,  1343. 

(9)  Lease  by  Agnes,  daughter  of  Sibill  of  Tynemouth,  to  William  Gubbe,  of  half  an  acre  in  T>'ne- 
mouth,  near  the  water-mill,  between  the  land  of  William,  son  of  Robert,  on  the  west,  and  the  land  formerly 
of  Philip  de  Merston  on  the  east.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  Soreys,  tunc  senescallo  libertatis  de  Tynemuth, 
Johanne  de  Wyteley,  Ricardo  filio  Galfridi,  Willelmo  filio  Roberti,  Thoma  Robil,  Stephano  Scot,  et  multis 
aliis.     November  nth,  1344. 

(10)  Grant  by  Joan,  daughter  of  Richard  Brounson,  to  John  Tew7ng  and  Alice  his  wife,  of  all  her 
arable  lands  in  Tynemouth,  of  which  one  rood  and  a  half  lay  at  Seton-cross,*  and  one  rood  upon 
Boterlawe,  and  one  acre  on  the  north  side  of  the  water-mill  belonging  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  and 
half  an  acre  on  the  west  side  of  St.  Leonard's  hospital.  Hiis  testibus,  Willelmo  de  Hepescotis,  tunc 
senescallo  libertatis  de  Tynemuth,  Roberto  de  Tewyng,  Johanne  clerico,  Roberto  Gubbe,  Stephano 
Gubbe,  Johanne  Stiford,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  May  5th,  1351.     Seal,  flower  and  leaves. 

(11)  Grant  by  William,  son  and  heir  of  William  Mason,  to  John  de  Horsseley  of  the  Sheles,  of  three 
messuages,  one  acre  of  land,  and  three  roods  in  Tynemouth.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  de  Fenrothre, 
Willelmo  de  Chevyngton,  Willelmo  del  kylne,  Roberto  de  Bynham,  Waltero  Coke,  Willelmo  Watisson, 
Johanne  filio  Willelmi,  ct  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  February  28th,  1375/6.     Seal,  a  bird. 

*  Seton-cross,  which  is  probably  to  be  identified  with  the  Monk's  stone,  recurs  in  a  deed  dating 
circa  1312,  whereby  Nicholas,  son  of  Ralph,  granted  to  William  Hyndcley  half  an  acre  in  Tynemouth, 
lying  between  the  land  of  the  said  William  and  the  land  of  William  Cuhcrd,  'ex  parte  boriali  crucis  de 
Seton.'  Hiis  testibus,  Thoma  de  Fischeburn,  tunc  senescallo,  Ada  de  Pykering,  Nicholao  de  Bacwrht, 
Nicholao  de  la  Hay,  Johanne  aurifabro,  Johanne  filio  Suayn,  et  multis  aliis.  Arch.  Ad.  ist  series,  vol. 
ii.  p.  410. 


424  APPENDIX    11. 

(12)  Quit-claim  of  all  right  to  the  said  premises,  by  John  de  Thornton  to  John  de  Horsley.  Date 
and  witnesses  as  above.     Seal,  St.  Andrew's  cross  with  unequal  arms. 

(13)  Quit-claim  by  John  de  Ualton  to  John  de  Horsseley  of  his  right  to  the  premises.  February 
27th,  1375/6.     Same  seal  as  to  No.  10. 

(14)  Grant  by  John,  son  of  Roger  of  Tyncmouth,  to  Agnes,  widow  of  William  de  Heppiscotes,  of  all 
those  lands  and  tenements  in  Tynemouth  and  Bakworth  which  came  to  him  on  the  death  of  Alice,  his 
mother.  Hiis  testibus,  Alano  Whithevede,  perpetuo  vicario  ecclesie  parochialis  de  Thynemuth,  Roberto 
de  Fenrother,  Willelmo  Vessi,  Willelmo  de  Chevynton,  Roberto  de  Bynham,  Willelmo  del  kylne,  Adamo 
Smythe,  Willelmo  Watsone,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  April  9th,  1381. 

(15)  Grant  by  Agnes,  widow  of  William  Hepscottes,  to  John  Horsly  of  the  Shelyz,  of  one  tenement 
and  eii'ht  acres  in  Tynemouth,  purchased  by  the  said  Agnes  from  John  de  Tynemouth,  butcher,  of 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.  Hiis  testibus,  Willelmo  Wattison,  Johanne  Wilkynson,  Adam  Smyth,  Roberto 
Bynhame,  et  Roberto  Hakford  de  Tynemuth,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  July  9th,   13S6.     Satne 

seal  as  (10). 

(16)  (Jrant  by  William  de  Bolton  to  John  de  Horsley  and  Agnes,  his  wife,  of  three  roods  lying  in  two 
selions  in  Tynemouth,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Stavekartway,  between  the  land  of  the  said  John  on  the 
north  and  the  land  of  Alan  Whitehed  on  the  south.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  Brotherwyk,  tunc  ballivo 
libertatis  de  Tynemouth,  Johanne  de  Merlay,  Johanne  Wilkynson,  Roberto  de  Bynham,  Roberto  Wryght, 
Roberto  de  Hacford,  Johannne  del  kylne,  et  aliis.  Dated  at  Tynemouth,  May  20th,  1392.  Seal,  a 
scorpion  (?) 

(17)  Quit-claim  by  John  Horsley,  junior,  of  Tynnemouth  Scheles  to  his  mother,  Agnes  Horsley,  of  his 
ri°ht  to  the  lands  and  tenements  in  Tynemouth,  Chirton-est,  Preston,  and  Middel  Chirton,  which  had 
descended  to  him  from  his  father,  John  Horsley.  Hiis  testibus,  Robert  Hakford,  Ricardo  Brewe-house, 
Roberto  Bynham,  Roberto  Wryght,  Johanne  Nele,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  March  20th,  1399. 

(18)  Grant  by  Agnes,  widow  of  John  Horsley  of  Tynnemouth,  to  Alice,  wife  of  John  Halmonde  and 
daughter  of  the  said  John  Horsley,  of  all  her  lands  and  tenements  in  Tynnemouth,  Chirton-est,  Preston, 
and  Middel  Chirton.  Hiis  testibus,  Ricardo  Brewehouse,  Roberto  Bynham,  Roberto  Hakford,  Johanne 
Wilkynson,  Willelmo  Jacson,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynnemouth,  April  ist,  1400. 

(19)  Grant  by  John  Horsley,  son  and  heir  of  John  Horsley  and  of  Agnes,  his  wife,  formerly  of 
Tynemouth-Sheles,  to  his  kinsman,  Thomas  Horsley  of  Benwell,  of  the  premises  above-mentioned, 
which  were  the  lands  of  his  father  or  of  his  mother.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  Bertram,  milite,  Sampsone 
Hardyng,  Willelmo  Hardyng,  Eligio  Rothbury,  Willelmo  Jacson  de  Tynemouth,  et  aliis.  Dated  at 
Tynemouth,  July  28th,  1421.     Seal,  an  initial  T  with  a  crown  above  it  (?). 

(20)  Quit-claim  by  John  Almonde  of  Tynnemouth-Sheles,  .and  Alice  his  wife,  daughter  of  John 
Horseley  and  of  Agnes  his  wife,  to  Thomas  Horsley  of  their  right  to  the  said  premises.  Same  witnesses 
and  seal  as  to  No.  19.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  142 1. 

(21)  Quit-claim  by  John  de  Horsley,  son  and  heir  of  John  de  Horsley,  to  Thomas  de  Horsley,  of  his 
rifht  to  the  lands  and  tenements  in  Tynemouth,  Preston,  West  Chirton,  and  Est  Chirton,  lately 
belonging  to  his  father.  Hiis  testibus,  Willelmo  de  Mitford,  tunc  senesctllo  de  Tynemouth,  Willelmo 
Swan,  tunc  ballivo  ibidem,  Willelmo  Davy,  Willelmo  Jakson,  Johanne  Elyson,  et  aliis.  Dated  at  Tyne- 
mouth, October  28th,  1421.     Same  seal  as  to  No.  19. 

(22)  Grant  by  Thomas  de  Horslee  of  Benwell  to  John  de  Cartyngton  of  .ill  his  tenements  and  lands 
in  Tynemouth.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  de  Woddryngton,  chivaler,  vicecomite  Northumbriae,  Roberto 
Ogle,  chivaler,  Johanne  Bertram,  chivaler,  Johanne  Middelton,  chivaler,  Rogero  Woddryngton,  artnigero, 
et  multis  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  September  6th,  1426.     Same  seal  as  to  No.  19. 

(23)  Quit-claim  by  Thomas  Horslee  of  Benwell  to  John  de  Cartyngton  of  his  right  to  the  said 
premises.  Hiis  testibus,  Rogero  Woddryngton,  Johanne  Middelton,  armigeris,  Willelmo  Chessman, 
Willelmo  Cartyngton,  Willelmo  Bedenhall,  et  multis  aliis.  Dated  at  Tynemouth,  September  14th, 
1426.     Same  seal  as  to  No.  19  ;  also  official  seal  of  the  mayor  of  Newcastle. 

(24)  Quit-cl.aim  by  John  Horslee  of  Richemond,  goldsmith,  son  and  heir  of  John  Horslee,  late  of 
Tynemouth,  to  John  de  Cartyngton,  of  his  right  to  the  said  premises.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  Wod- 
dryngton, chivaler,  Johanne  Middelton,  chivaler,  Rogero  Woddryngton,  Alexander  Heron,  Johanne 
Fenwyk,  armigeris,  et  multis  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  September  15th,  1426.     Seal  broken. 


APPENDIX    II.  A2C 

(25)  Grant  by  Thomas  Horslee  to  John  do  Cartington  of  all  liis  lands  and  lenemenls  in  Tynemouth, 
Chirton-est,  Preston,  and  Middcl  Chirlon.  Same  witnesses  and  seal  as  to  No.  22.  Dated  at  Tynemoulh, 
December  6th,  1426. 

(26)  Quit-claim  by  Thomas  Horslee  of  15en«ell  to  John  de  Cartyngton  of  his  right  to  the  said 
premises.    Same  witnesses  and  seal  as  to  No.  23.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  December  12th,  1426. 

(27)  Quit-claim  by  John  Horslee  of  Richmond,  son  and  heir  of  John  Horslee  late  of  Tynemouth,  to 
John  de  Cartyngton,  of  his  right  to  the  said  premises.  Hiis  testibus,  Johanne  Woddryngton,  chivaler, 
vicecomite  Northumbriae,  Roberto  Ogle,  chivaler,  Johanne  Middelton,  chivaler,  Rogero  Woddryngton, 
Johanne  Middelton,  armigeris,  et  multis  aliis.    Dated  at  Tynemouth,  December  15th,  1426.    Seal  broken. 

(28)  Quit-claim  by  John  Horslee,  son  and  heir  of  Thomas  Horslee  of  Benwell,  to  John  de  Cartyng- 
ton, of  his  right  to  the  said  premises.  Hiis  testibus,  Rogero  Woddryngton,  Johanne  Middelton,  Johanne 
Fenvvyk,  Willelmo  Cartyngton,  Willelmo  licdenhall,  et  multis  aliis.  Dated  at  Tynemouth,  December 
20th,  1426.     Seal,  an  initial  I ;  also  the  official  seal  of  the  mayor  of  Newcastle. 

(29)  Lease  by  John  Cartyngton  to  Robert  Smyth  of  one  tenement  in  Tynemouth,  between  the  tene- 
ment of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth,  and  the  tenement  in  which  William  Davy  formerly  dwelt,  at  a  yearly 
rent  of  2s.  8d.  Hiis  testibus,  Roberto  Whelpyngton,  tunc  senescallo  dicte  ville,  Henrico  Crey,  ballivo 
ejusdem,  Willelmo  Hardyng,  Willelmo  Bedford,  Thoma  Browster,  et  aliis.     May  25th,  1434. 

(30)  Grant  Ijy  John  Cartyngton  to  the  sacristan  of  the  church  of  St.  Oswin  of  Tynemouth,  of  a  yearly 
rent  of  6d.  out  of  a  tenement  at  the  east  end  of  the  Middel  rawe  in  Tynemouth,  for  the  maintenance  of 
lights  before  the  altar  of  the  said  church.  Hiis  testibus,  Henrico  Gray,  ballivo  libertatis  de  Tyne- 
mouth, Henrico  Lancastre,  constabulario  castri  de  Tynemouth,  Johanne  Robynson,  Willelmo  Peresson, 
Willelmo  White,  et  aliis.     Dated  at  Tynemouth,  December  i6th,  144;.     Printed  above,  p.  259,  note  2. 

The  following  table  shows  the  relationship  of  the  principal  persons  concerned  in  these  deeds  : 
William,  son  of  Gilbert  of  = John  Dun  of  Redes-  =  Dyonisia,  daughier  of  John  de  Hundmanby, 


Tynemouth. 


dcil 


by  Nigasia,  his  wife. 


Robert,  son  of  William  of  Tynemouth,  livhig  1302-1320.  =  Constance. 


William  Robinson  of  Tynemouth,  living  1333-1344.  =  , 


Gilbert  Wilkinson  of  Tynemouth,  chaplain  Agnes,   married   first,   William   de   Heppiscotes,  seneschal   of  Tyne- 

in  the  Greystoke  chantry  in  St.  Oswin's  moiuhshire  in   1351  ;     secondly,  Robert   liullok,  who  died   before 

church;    living  1363-1391  ;  entailed  his  May  19th,  1391  ;  [and  thirdly,  t)cfore  May  20th,  1392,  John  Morsley 

property  in  1363.  of  ShieldsJ. 

John  Horsley  of  Shields,  living  1 376. 1392.  =  Agnes  [widow  of  William  de  Heppiscotes],  living  a  widow,  April  1st,  1400. 


John  Horsley  of  Shields  conveyed  his  lands  in  142 1  to  his  kinsman,  ^=  Alice,  wife  of  John  Almondc  of  Shield.?, 

Thomas  Horsley  of  Benwell.  I  living  1400-1421. 

John  Horsley  of  Richmond,  goldsmith,  living  1426, 


Vol.  VIII.  S4 


426 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


Abbot-scot.     Sef  Cornage. 

Abbot's  welcome,  service  called  the,  112,  226. 

Abetot,  Urso  de,  witness,  55  n. 

Acone,  Fulk,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  C'S39)i  262,  263, 

265. 
Acorne,  Robert,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1293),  218. 
Acton,  Lawrence  de,  witness  (1 391),  422. 
Adam,  sheriff  of  Northumberland  {circa   1 140),  60  n  ; 

bastard  child  of  Edward  II.,  buried  at  Tynemouth, 

84. 
Adams,  Rev.  Edward  Cay,  of  Hawkchurch,  407. 
■  Adamson,   Charles   Alexander,   mayor  of  Tynemouth 

(1871-1872),  352;   Henry  Edward  Pyle,  mayor  of 

Tynemouth  (1874),  352. 
Adington,  Robert  de,  witness,  64-65  n. 
Adrian  IV.,  Pope.     See  Popes. 
Adshead,  .'Varon,  of  Bedlington,  334. 
Aelius  Rufus,  altar  at  Tynemouth  dedicated  by,  37. 
Agnew,  Sir  Andrew,   of  Lochnow,   bart.,  governor  of 

Tynemouth  castle  (1750),  204. 
Ainewyk,  John  de,  witness  (1332),  254. 
Ainsley,  William,  claim  on  Shire  iVIoor  (1790),  415. 
Airey,  John,  owns  salt  pans  at  North  Shields  (1707), 

310;     Thomas,    marriage     (16S7),    365;     Ursula 

(Toll)  (1687),  269. 
Aitken,  Rev.  James,  M.A.,  Presbyterian  minister  (1877- 

1881),  375- 
Akarius.     See  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 
Akome,  Luke,  of  Tynemouth,  bequest  (1563),  127. 
Alberic.     See  Northumberlanil,  carls  of. 
Albini,  Nigel  de,  witness,  49  n,  55  n  ;    Richard  de,  see 

St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 
Alcok,   Geoffrey,  land  in   Tynemouth,  255  ;    William, 

land  in  Tynemouth,  255. 
Alcuin,  sub-prior  of  Tynemouth,  61. 
Aid,  William,  Monkscaton  custumal  {circa  1296),  404. 
Alder,  Culhbert,  will  (1736),  411. 
Aldred,  comes,  attests  forged  charter,  44  n. 
Alduin,  re-founds  Jarrow  monastery  (1079'),  44. 
Alebrandini,  Alebrando,  creditor  of  Henry  III.,  75. 
Alexander  I.,  king  of  Scotland,  charter  to  Tynemouth, 

51  ;  brother  of  Malcolm,  at  founding  of  new  church 

at  Ilurham  (IO93),  120  n. 
Allen,  Mary  (Delaval),  171. 

Allgood,  Robert,  lessee  of  Flalworth  (1708),  341  n. 
Allison,  Barbara,  property  at  Chirton,  322. 
Allotment  (Shire  Moor),  28,  416. 
Allport,  S.,  geological  work,  420. 
Almoude,  John,  quit-claim  (1421),  424. 
Ahi,  Malcolm  III.  of  Scotland  killed  near  the,  51. 
AInmouth,  representatives  of,  261  n  ;    fishing  at,   379, 

388. 
Alnwick,  escape  of  John  de  Vesci  to,  78. 
Aluric,  sheriff  of  Northumberland,  writs  addressed  to 

{circa  II06-II16),  55. 
Alwald,  or  Elwald,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1083),  362. 
Alwinton,  payment  out  of  tithes  of,  312  n. 


Amble,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth ]>riory,  48,  68  n  ;  grant  of  tithes  of,  49  n, 
62  n  ;  appropriated  to  St.  Alban's,  118;  men  of, 
mulcted  by  sheriff,  69;  court  held  at,  113,  221  ; 
township  fined  at  Tynemouth  assizes,  219;  cus- 
tomary tenure  at,  22S  ;  recognition  of  copyhold 
tenure  at,  239;  payment  of  hall-corn  at,  231,  236; 
fishing  at,  3S8  ;    coble-building  at,   3S2. 

Amble,  Hugh  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1392), 
117;  Robert  de,  chaplain  of  Greystoke  chantry, 
85  n  ;  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1391),  116. 

Amcotts,  Sir  Wharton,  of  Kettlethorp  park,  400. 

Ames,  Levi,  of  Clifton,  268,  41 1. 

Amundesham,  John  of,  cited,  loi  n,  102  n,  1 18  n,  396  n. 

Anderson,  Dorothy  (Mitcalfe),  267  ;  Eleanor  (Spear- 
man), 347  ;  Henry  (l),  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562), 
240;  Henry  (2),  partner  in  keel  (1596),  327; 
Robert  (i),  copyholder  (1609),  238;  Robert  (2), 
lieutenant  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n. 

Andreu,  Gilbert.     See  Audre. 

Andrew,  St.,  legend  of,  413. 

Andrew,  Gilbert,  bailiff,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1293), 
21S  ;  Robert  (l),  tenant  of  East  Chirton  (1606), 
321  ;  Robert  (2),  of  Gateshead,  sells  farm  in 
Murton  (1741),  411  ;  Thomas,  tenant  of  Murton 
(1707),  411. 

Anglian  remains,  cross  fragments  at  Tynemouth, 
I3'-I35  ;  fibula  from  Whitehill  point,  316. 

Angus,  Robert  de  Umframvyll,  earl  of.     See  Umfraville. 

Anick,  heir  of,  swears  fealty  to  Abbot  Norton  (1264),  113. 

Annesley,  Frances  (Linskill),  272. 

Anson,  Rev.  W.  C.  H.,  Baptist  minister  (1874-1877), 
377. 

A])pleton  (Yorkshire),  property  of  St.  Alban's  abbey 
at,  52  n. 

Archbold,  Anne  (Henzell),  401  ;  Charles,  of  Monk- 
seaton  (1715)1  40S  ;  Henry,  juror  of  Tynemouth 
(1686),  241;  one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674), 
368;  John,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415; 
Mrs.,  tenant  of  Whitley  (1757),  397  ;  Reay, 
trustees  of  (1762),  40S. 

Archer,  John,  of  North  Shields,  will  (1562),  259  n. 

Arenis,  Milo  de,  witness  (1147),  60  n. 

Arey,  Thomas.     See  Airey. 

Argyll,  Archibald,  first  duke  of,  ])roperty  at  Chirton, 
'death  (1703),  322- 

Arkill.  workman,  miraculously  saved  by  St.  Oswin,  57. 

Arkless,  John  George,  of  Blyth,  333. 

Arlington,  Henry  Bennet,  Lord,  270. 

Armorer,  Nicholas,  scheme  for  seizing  Newcastle  and 
Tynemouth  (1652),  194;  William,  ensign  of  volun- 
teers (1667),  200  n. 

Armstrong,  Rev.  Alexander,  Presbyterian  minister, 
(1788-1810),  375  ;  George,  mayor  of  Tynemouth, 
(1894-1895),  352. 

Arms:  Clarke,  129,  130;  Conyers,  361  ;  Delaval,  172  ; 
Errington,  362;  Lacy,  130;  Rhodes,  102 ;  St. 
Alban's,  145  ;  Tynemouth  priory,  122  ;  \'illiers,  201  ; 
in  Percy  chapel,  104,  144,  145. 


INDEX. 


427 


Ascham,  Anthony,  English  ambassador  in  Madrid,  198. 

Ashburnham,  Henrj',  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1662),  305  n, 
364  ;  marriage,  365. 

Ashfield,  Licut-Col.,  takes  Tynemouth  castle  (1648), 
192. 

Asshe,  William,  purchases  Whitley  manor  (1403),  396  ; 
grants  it  to  Tj'nemouth  priory  (1404),  1 17. 

Astley,  Sir  Jacob  (l),  fortification  of  Newcastle  (1638), 
181  ;  Sir  Jacob(2),  30  ;  sells  Tynemouth  advowson 
(■838),  371. 

Atcheson,  Robert,  of  Middle  Chirton  (1597),  173. 

Athelstan,  king,  413. 

Athyr,  John,  of  Newcastle,  mill-wright  (1599),  329. 

Atkins,  Sarah  (Fenwick)  (1722),  348. 

Atkinson,  John,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1714),  268  ;  Mar- 
garet (Spearman)  (1620).  346  ;  Mary  (l)  (White), 
marriage  (1678),  365  ;  Mary  (2)  (Mitcalfe)  (1772), 
267  ;  Nicholas,  master  mariner  (1603),  328  ;  Rev. 
William  (1S33),  273. 

Atthey,  T.,  geological  works,  418. 

Auckland,  Thomas  de,  vicar  of  Whalton,  grant  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory  { 1337),  115. 

Auco,  Hugh  de,  witness  (1138),  59  "• 

Audre  (or^Andreu),  Gilbert  (1290),  216,  220  See  also 
Daudre. 

Avenel,  Robert  de,  witness,  58  n. 

Averay,  Ralph,  East  Chirton  and  Whitley  subsidy  roll 
(1296),  393;  William,  Preston  tallage  roll  (1294), 
342  ;  subsidy  roll  (1296),  343. 

Auth-repe,  meaning  of,  224. 

Aynsley.  J.,  bequest  (1S74),  366. 

Aydon  castle,  265  n, 

Ayr,  Gilbert,  Middle  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294),  330; 
Preston  tallage  roll  (1294),  342  ;  John,  free  tenant 
of  Middle  Chirton  (1295),  330. 

B. 

Backworth,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  48,  62  n,  6"  n  ;  manor  of,  221  ;  lands 
in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  1 15,  1 16,  117; 
deed  relating  to,  424  ;  Conveys  at,  225  ;  rights  of 
pasturage  at,  241  ;  suit  to  Elatworth  mill,  339  n  ; 
tithes  of,  369,  371;  plundering  of,  90;  size  of 
holdings,  22S  ;  rent  of  farmholds,  229  ;  recognition 
of  copyhold  tenure  at,  239  ;  enclosure  of,  244  n  ; 
Otway  property  at,  346  ;  coal  mining  at,  27-28,  29, 

3°- 
Backworth,   East,   lands   in,   acquired  by   Tynemouth 

priory,  1 15,  116  ;  rent-charge  out  of,  423. 
Backworth,  West,  lands  in,   acquired   by  Tynemouth 

priory,  115,  116  ;  quarries  at,  91. 
Backworth,  Hugh  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1293),  218  ; 

John  de.   It's;   witness   (I3i9-I339')i  248  n,  395  n, 

410  n,  423  ;  Nicholas  de,  witness,  423  n  ;  Peter  de, 

tenant  and  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1292-1302),  218, 

249  n,  252,  421. 
Bacon,  William,  tenant   of  Tynemouth    (1336),  256; 

witness  (1363),  258  n,  422. 
Bailiff,  Robert,  of  East  Chirton,  yeoman  (1596),  232  ; 

William,  tenant  of  East  Chirton  (1606),  321. 
Bainbridge,  W.,  geological  work,  417. 
Baker,      Augustine,     transcripts      cited,     47  n,     63  n, 

102  n,  113  n  ;  Joseph,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1880), 

352. 
Baking  and  brewing,  at  Tjmemouth,  252  ;   at   North 

Shields,   2S7-288,   289  ;   legalised,   290,   292  ;   sup- 
pressed, 299,  301,  305. 
Baldwin,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  witness,  68  n. 


Baldwin,  goldsmith,  66 ;  Gilbert,  land  in  Tynemouth, 
255  ;  Robert,  land  in  Tynemouth  (ciica  1295),  422. 

Balkwcll.     See  Chirton  (Middle). 

Balliol,  Guy  de,  benefactor  of  Tynemouth  priory,  49- 
50  ;  Edward,  king  of  Scotland,  212  ;  John  (1).  gift 
to  Tynemouth  priory,  121  ;  John  (2),  hostile  to 
Tynemouth  and  Durham,  75  ;  John  (3),  king  of 
Scotland,  80. 

Baltic,  trade  with  the,  312,  3S1. 

Bamburgh,  siege  of,  by  William  II.  (IO95),  53  ;  David 
of  Scotland  at(li3H),  59;  charter  of  Earl  Henry 
dated  at,  60  n  ;  fishing  at,  388. 

Bamburgh,  John  de,  sub-prior  of  Tynemouth,  prior  of 
Wallingford  and  Belvoir,  102-103;  gift  to  T)-ne- 
mouth  library  (1438-1450),  119;  commentary  on 
Geoffrey  de  Vinsauf,  120 ;  life  of  Prior  Whethamstede, 
103. 

Banester,  John,  lessee  of  Tynemouth  lordship  (1546), 
230,  233. 

Bankhead,  Rev.  William  T..  Presbjterian  minister 
(1882-1890),  375- 

Barbitonsor,  William,  baker,  252. 

Baret,  William,  of  Burradon  (1305),  394. 

Barkas,  T.  P.,  geological  works,  41S-420. 

Barker,  Christopher  (i),  juror  of  Tynemouth  (i;6:), 
240  ;  Christopher  (2),  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1686), 
241;  Elizabeth  (1790),  415;  Henry,  juror  of 
Tynemouth  (16S6),  241  ;  James,  of  .Monkseaton 
(1654),  40S  ;  Robert,  of  Monkseaton.  40S  ;  tenant 
of  .Murton  (1707  and  1757),  411;  John  (179°). 
412,  415  ;  Thomas  Bell,  of  Westoe,  333  ;  Thomas 
(I)  (1662),  241  ;  Thomas  (2)  (1790)1  4'5  I  William, 
tenant  of  East  Chirton  (1294),  319. 

Barnard  Castle,  William  de  Montague,  custodian  of 
(1315-1316)  87  n  ;  millstones  wrought  at,  328. 

Barneburgh,  John  de,  Wear  of  Tynemouth  (crrtu  1308), 
126,  362. 

Barnes,  lessee  of  Seaton  Delaval  collier)',  30. 

Bartleman,  Alexander,   mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1S51), 

352. 

Barton,  Thomas.     See  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Bartrara,  Robert,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 

Basirc,  Isaac,  archdeacon  of  Northumberland  (166S). 
359,  364  n. 

Bateman.  Robert,  tenant  of  Preston  (1294).  342.  343- 

Bates,  Margaret,  marriage  (I7'2)'  3*^5  '■  Richard, 
marriage  (1694),  365. 

Beadnell,  lishing  at,  379.  388. 

Bebside,  in  Tynemouthshire,  2oS  ;  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth prior)-,  48,  67  n  ;  manor  of,  221  ;  rouit  held 
at  (1264),  113;  lands  in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth 
priory  (1307)  115;  coal  mines  and  s;ilt  pans  at. 
leased  by"  Peter  Uelaval,  170:  included  m  T)-ne- 
mouth  Union,  351. 

Bebside,  Robert  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  prior)-.  115  ; 
William  de,  land  in  Tynemouth,  256. 

Beckmann,  Sir  Martin,  'drawings  of  Clifford's  fort, 
276  n. 

Bedenhall.  William,  witness  (1426),  424,  425. 

Bedford,  William  de,  prior  of  Tynemouth  ;ind  of 
Worcester  (1224),  122;    William,  witness  (1434)- 

425. 

Bedlington,  road  from  Tynemouth  to,  317. 

Belford,  family  of  Clark  of,  273. 

Bell,  Agnes,  wife  of  Nicholas  of  Newcastle,  inouest  on, 
219^  Christopher,  262;  ElizaU-th  (.11  (Mitcalfe), 
26S  ;  Elizabeth  (2)  (.Pot'cr,  S|K-arnian).  347  ;  George, 
mayor  of  Tynemouth  US70).  35^  :  t'ilbert,  son  of 
Galfrid,    West   Chirton   tallage   roll   (1294).    337; 


428 


INDEX. 


Humphrey,  minister  of  Ponleland,  quoted,  36411; 
Jane  (Fenwick),  348;  John,  373  n;  Margaret, 
327  ;  Matthew,  20  ;  Milot,  MiJille  Chirion  tallage 
roll  (1294),  330,  331  ;  Roger,  tenant  of  Preston 
(1296),  343;  William  (i),  Kast  Chirton  subsidy 
roll  (1296),  320;  William  (2),  chaplain  of  Tyne- 
mouth  (150;),  367. 

Bellasis,    Richard,    of     Henknowl,    loS ;     agent    fo 
Crown  on  dissolution  of  monastery,  157,  160  n,  233. 

Belsay.     Ste  Bilesho. 

Belsowe,  Thomas  de,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (1316), 
87  n. 

Belvoir,  John  de  Bamburgh,  prior  of,  102  ;  prior  of, 
enquiry  at  Tynemouth,  106. 

Benebalcrag,  35. 

Benson,  William,  of  Whitehaven,  399. 

Bensted,  John,  prior  of  Hertford  (14S3).  and  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1503),  and  abbot  of  Whitby  (1 505),  123. 

Benton,  wayleave  over  moor,  83  n  ;  trespass  on  Shire 
Moor,  414  ;  Ralph  Clarke,  vicar  of,  I2g,  130  ;  pay- 
ments out  of,  339  n  ;  included  in  Tynemouth  Union, 
351  ;  jiitmen's  song,  413  n. 

Benton,  Adam  de,  officer  of  Tynemouth  priory  (1306), 
216  n,  339  n  ;  witness  (1321),  394  n  ;  property  in 
Middle  Chirton,  331. 

Benwell,  conveyed  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1458)  49, 
102  ;  included  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  annuity 
charged  on,  107  n  ;  Prior  Blakeney  retires  to,  no, 
123  ;  oppression  of  customary  tenants  at,  231  ; 
recognition  of  copyhold  tenure  at,  239;  entries  on 
Tynemouth  court  rolls  relating  to,  240. 

Bergoma,  Antonio  de,  emplo3'ed  on  Tynemouth  fortifi- 
cations (1545),  157. 

Beikhamstead,  John  de.     Sfe  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 

Bernard,  William,  prior  of  Tynemouth  (1279),  123. 

Bertram,  Sir  John,  witness  (1421),  424;  Robert  (l), 
sheriff  of  Northumberland,  witness  {circa  1 140), 
60  n  ;  Robert  (2),  justice  (1283),  211  n. 

Berwick,  F.dward  I.  at  (1292),  80;  house  property  in, 
acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory  (1335),  90,  115; 
Margaret  of  Anjou  lands  at  (1462),  104;  Sir 
Krancis  Leeke,  governor  of,  158;  Sir  Richard  Lee's 
fortifications  at,  161  ;  establishment  of  garrison  at 
(1649),  193  ;  George  Fenwick,  governor  of,  194  ; 
garrison  of,  capture  royalist  party  at  Morpeth,  195  ; 
rumoured  plot  at  (1665),  199  ;  Tynemouth  garrison 
reinforced  from  (1667),  200  ;  declares  for  William 
III.,  203  ;  sea  fisheries  at,  379,  380,  381,  3S3,  3S6, 
388. 

Bewick,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208;  granted  to  Tynemouth 
priory,  48-49,  54,  55,  62  n,  67  n,  69  n  ;  lands  in, 
acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  115  ;  restored  to  St. 
Alban's  and  Tynemouth,  62  n  ;  church  confirmed 
to  St.  .'Mban's,  64,  68  n  ;  claimed  by  earl  of  Dunbar, 
74;  manor  of,  221;  court  held  at,  113;  gallows 
at,  211  ;  market  at,  75  ;  forest  of,  76  n  ;  plundered, 
90  ;  lease  of,  no.     SW  also  Morel,  Archil. 

Bewick,  John  William  (1857-1869),  Roinan  Catholic 
bishop  of  He-xham  and  Newcastle,  376,  377  ; 
Robert  de  (I),  payment  to  (^circa  1260),  76  n  ;  Robert 
de  (2),  quit-claim  (1320),  421. 

Bickerstaffe,  Philip,  of  Chirton  (1688),  203,  322. 
Bigod,  Hugh,  witness  to  charters,  58  n. 

Bilesho  Qjiiay  Belsay),  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory, 

68  n. 
Billington,  Ralph,  of  Birtley,  marriage,  347. 
Billy  Moor.     Sff  Shire  Moor. 

Billy  Mill,  Tynemouth  dyke  at,  13  ;  cist  found  at,  316  ; 
description  of,  328-329  ;  lease  of,  398. 


Billy  Mill  lane,  306  n,  316,  317  ;  Jewish  cemetery  in, 

378- 

Binham,  co.  Norfolk,  patronage  of,  70  ;  Ralph  Gubiun, 
Richard  de  Parco,  and  William  Dixwell,  priors  of. 
Sec  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Binham,  Geoffrey  de,  warden  of  I.ady-chapcl  at  Tyne- 
mouth (1338),  91  ;  Philip  de,  witness  (thirteenth 
century),  421  ;  Robert  de,  witness  (1363-1400), 
258  n,  422-424. 

Bird,  Anne  (Mitcalfc),  268. 

Bishopdale,  William  de,  mayor  of  Newcastle  (1391)1 
422. 

Bitleston,  Thomas,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 

Black  Chesters  in  Chirton,  316,  413  n. 

Black  Middens,  298  n. 

Blackburn,  John,  marriage,  272. 

Blackett,  Sir  William,  property  at  Chirton  (1699), 
322. 

Black  Piince,  the,  92. 

Blake,  Sir  Francis,  bart.,  29. 

Blakeney,  Robert.     See  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Blakeston,  John  (1664),  305  n  ;  Col.  Nathaniel,  283  n  ; 
Sir  William,  lieutenant  of  volunteer  troop  (1667), 
200  n. 

Blaydon,  2S1,  328. 

Blencuwe,  Bridget  (Reay),  monument,  130. 

Blithman,  Cuthbert,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 

Blunt,  Capt.  Robert,  in  command  at  Tynemouth 
castle  (1649),  194. 

BIyth,  fishing  at,  3S2,  3S8  ;  tithe  of  fish,  370  ;  boat- 
building at,  3S3  ;  shipment  of  salt  at,  22  ;  shipment 
of  coal  at,  33  ;  prohibition  of  trade  with,  184  ; 
Scottish  artillery  landed  at,  1S6  ;  transference  of 
salt  pans  to,  21,  284  ;  Seaton  Sluice  and  Cullercoals 
under  charge  of,  282  ;  creation  of  port,  353  ;  family 
of  Clark  of,  273. 

BIylh  and  Tyne  railway.     See  Railways. 

Boalh,  Thomas,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (16S5),  215  n. 

Bolam,  lords  of,  benefactors  of  Tynemouth  priory,  48- 

49- 
Bolam,  Walter  de,  prior  of  Tynemouth,  123. 
Bolam,  church  of,  granted  to  Tynenioulh   priory,  49, 

68  n  ;  claimed  by  Archbishop  of  York  (1254),  73  n  ; 

Joseph  Bonner,  vicar  of,  365. 
Boldon,    Alan    de,    clerk,    tenant    of    Preston    (1296), 

344.  421  • 
Bolt,  Roger,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1264),  249  n. 
Bolton,  leper  hosjiilal  at,  123. 
liolioii,     Thomas    Thompson,    mayor    of    Tynemouth 

(1S96),  352  ;   William  de,  grant  by  (1392).  424. 
Bond,  derivation  of  the  teini,  222  n. 
Bonett,  holder  of  jiension  from  Tynemouth,  118  n. 
Bonner,  Joseph,  vicar  of  Bolam  (1702),  365. 
Boon-ere,  meaning  of,  224. 
Boon-harrow,  meaning  of,  224. 
Bostock,  Hugh,  100  ;   John  of  Whethamstede.     See  St. 

Alban's,  abbots  of. 
Boston,   Nicholas  {see  Tynemouth,  priors  of)  ;    John, 

of  Bury,  account  of  John  of  Tynemouth    127  n. 
Bothal,  tithes  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  50,  62  n. 
Bothwell,  James,  earl  of,  |)risoner  at  Tynemouth  (1563), 

162. 
Boulby,  Roger,  of  North  Shields,  property  in  Monk- 

seaton,  406. 
Boulmer,  fishing  at,  385,  388. 
Boutflower,  William,  of  .Appeiley,  trustee  for  Chirton 

estate  (1702),  322. 
Bowe,  John,  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (l6o8),  263. 
Bovver,  Joshua,   32. 


INDEX. 


429 


Bowes,  Elizabeth,  widow,  of  North  Shields,  296  ; 
Henry,  copj-holder  (1609),  23S  ;  John,  freehold  in 
Tynemniith  (1649),  265,  272  ;  Sir  Robert,  survey 
cited,  159  n  ;  Stephen,  sued  (1659),  241. 

Bowmaker,  Thomas,  tenant  of  Tynemouth,  233. 

Bowman,  John,  of  South  Shields,  owns  land  at  Mur- 
ton,  411  ;  Rev.  Thomas,  Presbyterian  minister 
(1842-1845),  375. 

Bowser,  farmer  of  '  hall-corn  '  at  Tynemouth,  235. 

Boyd,  Roger,  witness  (circa  127O),  421. 

Boyfelde,  Hugh,  master  of  ordnance  (1545).  158. 

Boyt,  Roger,  tenant  of  Preston  (1296),  344;  Tunnok, 
Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1296),  252. 

Bradford,  Thomas,  of  Bradford,  commissioner  (1596), 
232. 

Bradley,  George,  one  of  the  '  twenty-four  '  (1674),  36S. 

Brady,  G.  S.,  geological  work,  419. 

Brandon,  Hugh  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priorj'  (13S0 
and  13S2),  116. 

Branxton,  Oliver  Selby,  chaplain  of,  363. 

Breadalbane,  John,  second  earl  of,  marriage,  202. 

Brende,  John,  overseer  of  fortifications  at  Tynemouth 
castle  (I545)>  '58. 

Brerden,  WilHam  de,  East  Chirton  and  Whitley 
subsidy  roll  (1296),  393. 

Brereton,  Sir  William,  account  of  Tynemouth  church 
(1635).  128  ;  of  salt  pans  at  Shields,  300  n. 

Breuster,  Thomas,  land  in  East  Chirton  (1341),  423. 

Bridgman.  Sir  Orlando,  121. 

Bridock,   I'homas,  inquest  on,  219. 

Brierdean  burn.  I,  3.S9  ;  pits  at,  24  ;  pasture,  327. 

Briggs,  Henry  Perronet,  of  Monkseaton  (1S40).  406. 

Briton,  Hugh,  witness  to  charter  (1 1 38),  59  n. 

Brinkburn,  prior  and  convent  of,  owned  coal  mines  at 
Hartley,  22. 

Bristol,  Merchant  A'enturers  of,  371. 

Broadbent,  Rev.  John,  Congregationalist  minister 
(1868),  377. 

Brodrick  (Brotherwyk),  John,  bailiff  of  Tynemouth 
(1392),  424;   Susannah  (Mitcalfe),  267. 

Browell,  Jane  (Mills),  406. 

Brown,  Alexander,  of  Callaly,  383  ;  Alice  (Spearman), 
346;  Cecily,  land  in  Tynemouth,  421  ;  Elizabeth, 
marriage  (1697),  36;  ;  Rev.  J.  C,  minister  of  St. 
.Andrew's  chapel  (1892-1895),  374;  .Mary  (Clark), 
273  ;  Matilda  (Turner),  grant  from  (1319),  42 1  ; 
Roger,  of  Tynemouth  (1324),  394;  Sir  \'alentine, 
garrisons  Tynemouth  castle,  163  ;  William  (l),  land 
in  Tynemouth  (1319),  421  ;  William  (2),  juror  of 
Tynemouth  (1562),  240;  William  (3),  millwright 
(1599).  329  ;  William  (4),  his  fire-engine  (1760),  24. 

Brownhill,  Francis,  marriage  (1711),  365. 

Browster,  Thomas,  witness  (1434),  425. 

Bruce,  Robert  1.,  benefactor  of  Tynemouth  ]>riory,  50  ; 
witness  to  charters,  59  n. 

Bruce,  Robert,  king  of  Scotland,  inroads  into  Nor- 
thumberland, 85. 

Bruerne,  Robert  de,  baker,  252. 

Brun,  Roger,  Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1296),  252  ; 
William,  East   Chirton  and   Whitley   subsidy  roll 

(1296),  393- 
Brunson,  Joan,  grant  from  (1351),  423  ;   Rich.ard,  land 

in  Tynemouth  (1333),  423. 
Brutton,  Thomas,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (186S),  364. 
Buchan,  Rev.  Ch.arles  E.,  Presbyterian  minister  (1840- 

1843),  374- 
Buddie,  John,  colliery  owner,  22,  27,  28. 
Budle  bay,  garpike  in.  378  ;  mussel  cultivation  in,  3S3. 
Bugnel,  Robert,  marriage  (1730),  365. 


Bull-ring,  North  Shields,  306   and   n  ;   coaches   start 

from,  314  ;  (Quakers'  meeting  house,  372  ;  dock  al, 

3ip. 
Bullein,  William,  physician  .and  author.  160. 
Bullok,  Robert,  422. 
Bulmer,  Thomas  de,  chaplain  to  Lord  of  Grcv'lokc  at 

Tynemouth,  85  n  ;  Sir  William,  107. 
Burdon  .Main,  26. 
Burdon,    Hugh,    claims    West    Chirton    (1293),    33;; 

Robert,  tenant  of  East  Chirton  (1294),  319  ;  Roger, 

337  ;  Thomas,  lessee  of  Coble  IJcne  ( 1733),  341  n  ; 

— ,  lessee  of  Seaton  Delaval  colliery,  30. 
Burfield,  Jane  (Spearman),  347. 
Burleigh,  Lord.     Stt  Cecil. 
Burlington  House,  Roman  stones  from  Tynemouth  at, 

36-37. 
Burneloft,    Henry  de,   grants   to   Tynemouth    priory 

(1345  and  134S),  115. 
Burnvill,  I),  de,  witness  10  charter,  60  n. 
Burradon  firestone,  9  ;  colliery,  28,  30,  32  ;  Burradon 

and  Coxlodgc  Coal  Company,  32  ;  tithes  of,  124, 

125  n,  369,  370.  37t. 
Burrell,  John,  of  Witton  Gilbert,  buys  land  al  Preston 

(1808),  345- 
Burton,  I  homas  de,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1302),  421. 
Burward,  .\dam,  Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1206),  252. 
Burwood,   wood    of,  confirmed    to  Tynemouth  priory, 

62  n. 
Buth,  Roger  del,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  ( 1 382),  1 16. 
Butler,  of  Chirton,  pedigree,  324  ;   John,  of  Chirton, 

346;  one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674),  368;  John, 

ste  Lanesborough,  earl  of. 
Bydik,  John  de,  of  Shields,  land  in  Tjniemouth,  422, 

423- 
Byker,  Robert  de,  witness  (1321),  395  n. 
Byscth,    Manasser,   sewer    to   Henry    II.,   witness    to 

charters,  62  n. 
Bywell  St.  Peter's,  church  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth 

priory,  49;  appropriated  to  St.  Alban's,  ilS;  sur- 
rendered to  Durh.im  (I174I.  63. 
Bywell  St.  .Andrew,  tithes  of,  363. 

C. 

Caldewell,    Robert,  tenant    in    West    Chirton   (1294), 

337;  (1296),  33,8. 
Callander,  James  Livingstone,  earl  of,  le.ider  of  Scottish 

army  (1644),  186. 
Callerton,    Black,   tithes   of,   granted   to    Tj-nemouth 

priory,  49  n,  50,  62  n. 
Cambo,  chapel  of,  confirmed  to  St.  .Mban's  (I174),  64. 
Cambou,  Sir  Waller  de,  officer  of  Tynemouth  priory 

(130b),  216  n. 
Camden,  William,  cited,  120,  120  n,  16S,  284-2S5. 
Campbell,  of  Whitley,  pedigree,  400:   Dun. m    RR 

399- 

Camperdown,  351. 

Canterbury,  Baldwin,  archbishop  of,  witness  to  charter 
(llSg),  68  n  ;  ll[ubcrlj,  archbishop  of,  witness  to 
charier  (1 1981,  68  n  ;  council  of  (i  1S9I.  69  n. 

Capstaflf,  Jane  (Henzell),  401. 

CardonncI,  Mansfeldt,  322  n. 

Cardonnel-L.awson  of  Chirton  and  Cramlington.  pedi- 
gree, 323  ;  Adam,  322  n,  326  ;  James  Hilton  de, 
sells  Chirton  property  (1865"),  323. 

Carey,  Mary  (Delaval),  171  ;  RoK-rt,  carl  of  Mon- 
mouth and  captain  of  Tynemouth  castle  (1633), 
167.  179,  180,  204  ;  Thomas,  reversion  of  capt.aincy 
of  Tynemouth,  iSo. 


43° 


INDEX. 


Carlbury,  co.  Durham,  granted  to  Tynemomh  jjiiory, 
50,  68  n  ;  court  held  at  (1264),  113  ;  cornage  rout 
at,  IlS  n. 

Carliol,  Thomas  de,  seeks  protection  at  Tynemouth.  77, 
212. 

Carlisle,  defended  against  Scots  (1315),  86. 

Carlisle,  Archiwald,  bishop  of,  witness  to  charier,  60  n. 

Carlisle,  earl  of,  lieutenant-general  of  the  North  (1667), 
199  ;  defence  of  Tyne,  200. 

Carnaby,  Jane  (Kellet),  marriage  (1672),  365  ; 
Thomas,  royalist  (1655),  T95. 

Cnrr,  Kdward,  lesidenl  in  North  Shields  (1664),  305  n  ; 
John,  works  coal  at  Whitley  and  Monkseaton 
(1676),  20,  281  ;  Messrs.,  work  Seghill  colliery,  29  ; 
]iurchase  Burradon  colliery  (1848),  30  ;  owners  of 
Cowpen  colliery,  31  ;  S.  S.,  account  of  monumental 
stones  at  Tynemouth,  147  n  ;  William  (i),  mayor 
of  Newcastle,  341  n  ;  William  (2),  land  at  Fiat- 
worth  (1671),  341  n. 

Carrick,    Rev.   J.    D.,    Baptist    minister    (1839-1866), 

,     377- 

Carruth,  John,  cornet  (1646),  189:  freehold  in  Tyne- 
mouth (1649),  265,  269. 

Carter,  Robert,  of  Earsdon,  grant  to  (1319),  24S  n  ; 
grant  by  (1324).  24S  n. 

Cartington,  John,  land  in  Tynemouth,  etc.  (1426), 
259,  424,  425  ;  William,  witness  (1426),  424,  425. 

Cartwright,  Thomas,  land  in  Tynemouthshire  (1633- 
1640),  240. 

Car^'ille,  John,  solicitor  to  earl  of  Northumberland 
(1606),  121,  174  n. 

Cary,  I.ady  .Mary  (Stafford),  secures  appointment  of 
Gardiner  to  priorate  of  Tynemouth  (1528),  107  ; 
annuity,  107,  109. 

Castell,  Thomas,  sub-prior  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  III. 

Castle-ward,  payable  in  West  Chirton,  214. 

Castro,  Alan  de,  witness  (1319-1339),  88  n,  248  n,  394  n, 
395  n,  4io,n. 

Cavendish,  William.     See  Newcastle,  marquis  of. 

Cay,  pedigree,  407  n  ;  Henry  Boult,  claim  on  Shire 
Moor  (1790),  415;  Robert,  of  Newcastle,  farm  at 
Monkseaton  (1680),  407. 

Cecil,  Sir  Robert,  holds  ancient  grants  of  Tynemouth 
(circa  1600),  120;  Sir  William,  Lord  Burleigh, 
obtains  captaincy  of  Tynemouth  for  Sir  Henry  Percy 
(1561).  160  ;  letter  to,  from  Sir  Henry  Percy  (1566), 
127. 

Cella,  John  de.     &<•  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 

Census  returns:  Chirton,  315  n;  Cullercoats,  28on; 
North  Shields,  315  n;  Monkseaton,  402  n  ;  Murton, 
409  n  ;  Preston,  342  n  ;  Tynemouth,  247  n  ;  Whit- 
ley, 389  n. 

Chaitour,  Christopher,  servant  to  bishop  of  Durham 
(1539).  Ill- 

Champeneys,  William,  East  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294), 
319  ;  subsidy  roll  (1296),  320. 

Chandler,  Bishop,  visitation  of  Tynemouth  (circa  1736), 
368. 

Charities  :  parochial  charities,  365-366  ;  general  charit- 
able institutions,  356 ;  lifeboat  institutions,  356- 
357,401-402;  charity  schools,  312,  356,366  ;  Master 
Mariners'  Asylum,  248  n,  356 ;  Shields  dispensary, 
311,  366. 

Charles  I.  at  Newcastle,  189-190;  visits  Tynemouth, 
180,  i8g. 

Charleton,  Rev.  Charles  (l),  vicar  of  Tynemouth 
('789),  361,  364;  Charles  (2),  M.D.,  monument  in 
Christ  church  (1827),  361  ;  bequest,  366. 

Charlton,  William,  of  Newcastle,  270. 


Chastelon,  Robert  de,  merchant  of  Normandy  (1333), 

254- 

Chatton,  Charles  Ward,  vicar  of,  364. 

Cha)-ler,  Sarah,  owns  salt  pan  at  North  Shields 
(1707).  310. 

Chepman,  Matilda,  cottager,  of  Monkseaton,  404. 

Cheseman,  William,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1392), 
117  ;  witness  (1426),  424. 

Chester,  Jane  (Lorrence),  marriage  (1675),  365  ; 
Ranulph,  earl  of,  60. 

Chester-le-Street,  projierty  in,  398. 

Chevage.     See  Head-pennies. 

Chevale,  Robert,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1307), 
115. 

Chevyngton,  William  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1380  and  1382),  116;  witness  (1363-1383),  258  n, 
422-424  ;  trustee,  396. 

Chiffinch,  Barbara  (\'illiers,  countess  of  Jersey)*  202. 

Chille,  well  called,  at  Gateshead,  210. 

Chirton  TOWNSHII",  315-341  ;  account  of  East  Chirton, 
319-329;  Middle  Chirton,  329-334  ;  West  Chirton, 
334-341  ;  in  Tynemouthshire,  208,  230;  granted  to 
Tynemouth  priory,  48,  55,  62  n,  67  n,  318;  lands 
in  acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  115-117; 
plundering  of,  90  ;  deeds  relating  to  property  in, 
254  n,  422-425;  size  of  holdings,  228;  rent  of 
farmholds  in,  229  ;  recognition  of  copyhold  tenure 
at,  239  ;  tithes  of,  369,  370  ;  parochial  services  at, 
35S  ;  charities,  365,  366  ;  medieval  coal  mines  in, 
17;  grant  of  royalties,  19;  the  Blaw  Pit  at,  241  ; 
later  history  of  mining  in,  22,  26  ;  included  in 
Tynemouth  Borough,  247,  350-353 ;  portions  of 
Shire  Moor  added  to,  415,  416;  census  returns, 
315  n.     See  also  Flalworth  anJ  West  Chirton. 

Chirton  barracks,  349. 

Chirton  hall,  322-323. 

Chirton  Hill,  coal  outcrop  at,  8. 

Chirton,  Robert  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295),  215  n  ; 
tenant  of  East  Chirton,  319,  320;  of  Preston,  342- 
343  ;  of  Murton,  409  ;  witness,  421-422  ;  William  de, 
juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295),  215  n  ;  fined,  220  ; 
land  in  Tynemouth,  257,  421  ;  Preston  tallage  roll, 
342  ;  witness,  421-422. 

Chis,  Robert,  cottager  of  Monkseaton,  404. 

Cholmley,  royalist  (1655),  195. 

Choppington,  family  of  Clark  of,  273. 

Chopwell  woods,  327. 

Christ  church,  Tynemouth.  See  Tynemouth  parish 
church. 

Christie,  Rev.  David,  M.A.,  Presbyterian  minister 
(1890-1897),  375. 

Christien,  Rev.  J.,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's  chapel 
(1S68-1871),  374- 

Cisseson,  John,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1360),  116. 

Clapam,  Dorothy,  charge  against  (1535),  367. 

Clarendon,  Edward  Hyde,  earl  of,  194,  198. 

Clark,  of  Blyth,  Choppington,  North  Shields  and 
Belford,  pedigree,  273;  Robert,  sued  (1655),  241  ; 
William,  of  Dockwray  Square,  buys  Monkseaton 
farm  (1779),  408. 

Clarke,  Ann  (Lacy),  monument  in  Tynemouth  church, 
130,406;  Edward  (Stewart),  274;  James  Stewart 
(Stewart),  274  ;  John  (i),  agent  of  earl  of  North- 
umberland, land  at  Chirton  (1672),  322,  359;  one 
of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674),  36S  ;  John  (2),  of 
North  Shields,  property  in  Alonkseaton  (1687), 
406;  Margaret  (i)  (Collingwood),  marriage  (16S4), 
365  ;  Margaret  (2)  (Bates),  marriage  (1694), 
365  ;    Messrs.,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  I 


INDEX. 


431 


Ralph,  tenant  of  Whitley  (1757),  397  ;  Rev.  Ralph, 
vicar  of  Long  Benton,  and  family,  monumental 
inscription,  129;  marriage  (1697),  365  ;  Robert,  of 
North  Shields,  master  mariner,  and  family,  monu- 
mental inscription,  129;  marriage  (1752),  365; 
William,  lessee  of  Whitley  colliery  (1810),  26,  400; 
of  Earsdon  colliery  (1823),  28;  of  West  Holywell 
collier)' (1828),  29  ;  of  East  Holywell  colliery  (1839), 
30-3I- 

Clavering,  royalist  (1656),  196. 

Clere,  Henry,  claims  land  in  West  Chirton  {circa  1280), 
337- 

Clerk,  John  (l),  of  Shields,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1336), 
257  ;  John  (2),  witness  (1360),  257  n  ;  (1363),  258  n, 
422. 

Cleveland,  alum  industr}'  at,  19. 

Clibborn,  Alice  (Spence),  350. 

Cliffe,  Thomas,  of  North  Shields,  shipwright  (1646), 
301  ■ 

Clifford,  Lady,  taken  prisoner  (fiVirn  131 5),  86;  Henry, 
Lord,  inspection  of  Tynemouth  (1627),  179  ;  Robert 
de,  marches  against  Edward  II.  at  Newcastle 
(1312),  84;  Thomas,  Lord,  fort  at  Shields  named 
after,  200  ;  Sir  Thomas,  loan  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1538),  no. 

Clifford's  fort,  200,  276  ;  watch-house  near,  312. 

Clousden  Hill,  Killingworth,  Permian  rocks  at,  2 ; 
Clousden  Hill  seam,  4,  7  ;  fossil  plants  at,  9. 

Clutterbuck,  John,  321. 

Cl)Teden,  Thomas  de,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (1276), 
215  n,  421. 

Coal :  descriptions  of  coal-measures  in  Tynemouth 
parish  and  Earsdon  chapelry,  6-1 1  ;  collieries  and 
the  coal  trade,  17-34;  character  of  the  district,  17  ; 
use  of  wagonways,  20-21,  27-2S  ;  invention  of  the 
atmospheric  engine,  21  ;  system  of  supports  and 
shallow  workings,  19-20,  25  ;  reduction  of  export 
duties,  29-30;  total  annual  sale  of  (1538),  114; 
export  at  North  Shields  (1267),  286  ;  Nonh  Shields 
colliery,  266  ;  Cullercoats  collier)-,  282-283  ;  Flat- 
worth  colliery,  341  ;  Percy  Main  colliery,  341  ; 
Whitley  colliery,  282,  283,  397,  400  ;  Monkseaton 
colliery,  407. 

Coast-erosion  at  Tynemouth,  16,  72  n,  97,  420. 

Coatswonh,  Michael,  owns  salt  pans  at  North  Shields 
(1707)  310. 

Cobbet,  Major,  leads  attack  on  Tynemouth  castle 
(1648),  192. 

Coble  Dene,  landing  place  at,  298  n,  317  ;  salt  pans  at, 
341  ;  dock  (.\lbert  Edward),  341,  354. 

Cochrane,  Rev.  John,  Presbyterian  minister  (1817- 
1823),  374. 

Cock,  Ralph,  327  n  ;  Samuel,  of  Newcastle,  boothman 
(1647),  346  ;  Walter,  witness  (1376"),  422. 

Cocklaw,  murder  of  Lord  Francis  Russell  at,  167. 

Cohn,  Prof.  J.,  geological  work,  419. 

Coke,  Robert,  land  in  Tynemouth,  125  n. 

Cokeman,  William,  claims  land  in  West  Chirton.  337. 

Cokesho,  Richard  de,  officer  of  Tynemouth  priory 
(1306),  216  n. 

Coldingham,  Richard  de,  witness  to  documents,  64- 
66  n. 

Coles,  William,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1707),  215  n. 

CoUingwood,  of  Dissington,  descent,  325,  326  n;  of 
Lilburn,  descent,  326 ;  Barbara  (Oiway),  346 ; 
Cuthbert,  Lord,  325,  326  n  ;  Edward  (i),  of  Byker 
and  Dissington,  325  ,  Edward  (2),  of  Byker,  grav- 
ing dock  at  North  Shields  (1752),  310  ;  recorder  of 
Newcastle,  324,  325,  326  n  ;  tenant  of  .\lurlon,  411  ; 


Edward  (3),  of  Chirton,  325  ;  claim  on  Shire  Moor 
('79°).  415  ;  Edward  Stanhofie,  325  ;  John,  of  Chir- 
ton, 326  ;  monument  in  Christ  church  (1841),  361  ; 
Roljert,  lease  of  Bewick  (1536),  no;  Sarah,  monu- 
ment in  Christ  church  C1824),  361  ;  William  (l), 
of  North  Shields  (1G61),  304,  305  n  ;  William  (2), 
marriage  (1684),  365. 

Collins,  Ralph,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1888-1889),  352  ; 
William,  grantee  from  the  Crown,  19,  264,  299,  328, 
341. 

Collinson,  Ilenr)',  of  Aydon  castle,  26S ;  Captain 
William,  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1649),  265  ;  buys 
land  at  Tynemouth  and  Aydon  castle,  265  n  ;  hci'rs 
own  salt  pans  at  North  Shields,  310  ;  bequest,  365  ; 
subscription  to  church,  367;  one  of  the  'iwenty- 
four'  (1674),  368. 

Collyer,  Elizabeth,  of  Newcastle,  surrenders  Monk- 
seaton village  farm  (1680),  407. 

Colville,  Sir  Thomas,  champion  for  Prior  de  la  Mare, 
94 ;  Rev.  William,  .M.A.,  Presbyterian  minister 
(1899),  375- 

Communication  :  between  North  Shields  and  New- 
castle, 303,  314  ;  between  North  Shields  and  South 
Shields,  314  and  n. 

Coneveis-pennies  and  Coneveis-silver.     See  Conveys. 

ConisclifFe  church  granted  to  Tynemouth  prior)-,  50, 
68  n  ;  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's  (11 74),  64  ;  claimed 
by  bishop  of  Durham  (125S),  73  n  ;  by  William  de 
Greystoke  (1256),  74;  advowson  conceded  to  St. 
Alban's  (1315),  85  ;  pension  from,  payable  to  St. 
Alban's,  65;  cornage  rent  at,  Ii8n;  Adam,  vicar 
of(ll74),  65. 

Constantinc  mac  Aedh,  king  of  the  Scots,  412. 

Conveys,  meaning  and  origin  of,  224-225  ;  at  Whitley, 

390.  393-594.  395- 

Conway,  royalist  general  (1640),  181. 

Conyers,  Ann,  monument  in  Christ  church,  361  ;  Mar- 
garet (Reed),  321  ;  Mar)-,  monument  in  Christ 
church,  361  ;  Nicholas,  of  Scarborough,  361  ;  Wil- 
liam, monument  in  Christ  church,  361. 

Cook,  John,  of  Newcastle,  407. 

Cookson,  Christopher,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1831), 
215  n. 

Cooper,  Grey,  marriage  (1753),  365. 

Copyhold  tenure  in  "Tynemouihshire,  developraent  of, 
228,  236-238  ;  legal  recognition  of,  238-239  ;  sute- 
ment  of  customs,  241-242 ;  in  North  Shields, 
293-297. 

Coquet,  mussel  bait  in  the,  382  ;  salmon  conservancy, 

3S7. 

Coquet  Island,  granted  to  Tynemouth  prior)-,  48  ; 
foundation  of  cell  at,  56 ;  appropriated  10  St. 
Alban's,  118  ;  St.  Ilenrj-  of,  56,  146. 

Corbridge,  battle  of  (923),  413  n  ;  tithes  of,  granted 
to  Tynemouth  priory,  49,  63n,  68  n;  David  I.  at 
(1 138),  58  ;  skirmish  at  (.1644),  iSj. 

Corder,  Elizabeth  (Spence),  350  ;  Percy,  cited,  350  n. 

Cornage  rents,  granted  to  prior  and  convent  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1205),  69  ;  their  amount,  213-214  ;  not  paid 
by  Tynemouth  township,  222  ;  not  p;iid  by  Murton 
township,  410  ;  paid  to  abbot  of  St.  .-Mban's  (abbot- 
scot),  iiS  n,  224. 

Cometh,  Mark,  juror  of  T)-nemouih  (1562),  240; 
.Mark,  of  Tynemouth  (l6Sb),  241. 

Corrody,  example  of,  70  n. 

Cosyn,  John,  alderman  of  Newcastle  (1647),  191. 

Coulson,  Gabriel,  parish  clerk  and  schoolmaster  of 
North  Shields  (1655),  3'2  n,  36S. 

Council  of  the  North,  proieedings  before,  228,  295-J97 


43: 


INDEX. 


Council  of  Trade,  proceeilings  before,  301-303. 

Coveniry,  bishop  of,  arbiiralor  between  Tynemoulh 
priory  and  Newcastle  (1512),  2gi. 

Coward,  Anne,  monument  in  Christ  church  (1S34"), 
361  ;  Henry,  of  Preston.  272  ;  monument  in  Christ 
church  (1836),  361  ;  Humphrey,  marriage  (1636), 
364  ;  Margaret  Antonia  Linskill,  monument  in 
Christ  church  (1843),  361  ;  Thomas,  tenant  of 
East  Chirton  (1606),  321. 

Cowden,    William,    dissenting    teacher    (died     1730), 

373  n- 

Cowell,  Richard,  of  Long  Benton,  buys  North  Balkwell 
farm  (iSoj"),  333. 

Cowpen,  geological  faults  at,  8  ;  in  Tynemouthshire, 
208  ;  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  48,  68  n  ;  lands 
in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  I15-117  ;  town- 
ship fined  at  Tynemouth  assizes  (1293),  2ig  ;  survey 
of  (1323),  227  ;  customary  tenure  at,  226  n  ;  entries 
on  Tynemouth  court  rolls  relating  to,  240,  241  ; 
tiihes  of,  370  ;  Toll  property  at,  269  ;  coal  seams 
at,  7;  coal  mines  leased  by  Peter  Delaval,  170; 
colliery,  31,  32  ;  railway  communication  with  the 
Tyne,  33  ;  included  in  Tynemouth  Union,  351. 

Cowpen,  John  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295"),  215  n  ; 
William  de,  concerned  in  burglary  (1290),  216; 
death,  218,  220  ;  William  de,  prior's  carter  (1336), 
257. 

Craig,  Herbert,  M.P.  for  Tynemouth  (1906),  351. 

Cramfield,  engineer  (1625),  178. 

Cramlington,  coal  seams  at,  7  ;  fossil  plants  at,  9  ; 
ancient  earthworks  in,  413  ;  wagonway,  29,  30, 
341  n  ;  family  of  Lawson  of,  no,  322-323  ;  included 
in  Tynemouth  Union,  351. 

Cramlington,  George  (circa  1550),  171  ;  Henry,  claim 
on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  ;  John,  sexton  of 
Tynemouth  (1645),  367. 

Craster,  fee  farm  rent  from,  49;  harbour  at,  381  ; 
fishing  at,  385,  386,  387  n,  388. 

Craster,  John,  of  Craster,  202  ;  Rev.  Thomas,  rector  of 
Kettlethorpe,  400. 

Crawford,  of  Seaton  Delavaf,  Hartley  and  Balkwell, 
pedigree,  333  ;  George,  of  King's  Langley,  be- 
quest (181 1),  366;  John  (i),  of  North  Shields, 
buys  Monkseaton  property  (1S15),  408;  John  (2), 
of  Cambois,  land  in  Chirton,  333  ;  Ralph,  of  Hart- 
ley, buys  Balkwell  farm  (1805),  333  ;  Monkseaton 
South-west  farm  (1S13),  408  ;  Shallett  John,  owner 
of  Monkseaton  properly,  408. 

Crawhall,  Thomas  Emerson,  vicar  of  Tjnemouth 
(1899),  364. 

Creppynge,    Simon    de,    collector    of    subsidy    (1276), 
2l3n. 

Cressingham,  H.  de,  justice  itinerant  (1293),  218. 

Cresswell,  fishing  at,  388. 

Cresswell,  Cresswell,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1S32), 
215  n. 

Cressy,  Hugh  de,  witness  to  charter,  62  n. 

Crewe,  trustees  of  Lord,  381. 

Crighton,  Alexander,  of  North  Shields,  buys  Monk- 
seaton property  (1795),  407. 

Crook,  Walter,  land  in  Tynemouth,  256. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  petition  to,  for  market  at  Shields 
(■''54)1  3°3  ;  at  Dunbar,  397  ;  Thomas,  annuity  from 
Tynemouth  priory,  107  ;  secures  appointment  of 
Robert  Blakeney  as  prior,  109. 

Cruddas,  Eleanor,  monumental  inscription  (1830)1361  ; 
John,  of  North  Shields,  brewer,  monumental  in- 
scription (1831),  361. 

Cuherd,  William,  land  in  Tynemouth,  423  n. 


Cullercoats  township,  2.S0-2S4  ;  fossil  fish  at,  3,  5-6, 
417  ;  Red  Sandstone  at,  4,  8  ;  Ninety-fathom  Dyke 
at,  5,  8,  417  ;  coal  outcrop  at,  8  ;  creation  of  township, 
283  ;  annexed  to  port  of  Newcastle,  282  ;  includeil 
in  Tynemouth  borough,  247,  350-351;  salt  trade 
at,  20-21.  2S2-284 ;  colliery,  282-283;  fishing  in- 
dustry at,  284,  3S5,  386,  388  ;  pier  at,  20,  281  ; 
marine  laboratory  at,  389  ;  lifeboat  station  at,  356, 
357  ;  fishermen's  chapel  .at,  376  ;  St.  George's 
church,  360;  Quakers'  burial  ground,  281,  372; 
census  returns,  280.     SVg  ti/so  Marden. 

Curset,  Colonel,  account  of  Scottish  attack  on  the 
Tyne  (1644),  1,85. 

Curtays.  John,  witness  (1333  and  1340),  423. 

Custumal  (1295);  East  Chirton,  319-320;  Middle 
Chirton,  330  ;  West  Chirton,  338  ;  Monkseaton, 
404  ;  Preston,  223,  343-344.  See  also  Tynemouth 
and  Whitley. 

Cuthbert,  St.,  at  Tynemouth,  38-39 ;  dedication  of 
church  at  Tynemouth  by,  40  ;  legend  of  his  hair,  42  n. 

Cutler,  Richard,  of  Harsdon,  yeoman  (1596),  233  ; 
Robert,  of  Earsdon,  will  (1570),  228  n  ;  Thomas, 
228  r» ;  William,  of  Newcastle,  cooper  (1596),  234. 

D. 

Dabber,  Geoffrey,  land  in  Tynemouth,  256;  Roger, 
witness  (1333),  423;  William,  Tynemouth  subsidy 
roll  (1296),  252. 

Dacre,  of  Gilsland,  family  of,  254  n  ;  Dorothy  (Lacy), 
monumental  inscription,  130;  Sir  Philip,  knight 
(1535).  367  I  -'''■  Thomas,  Lord  Dacre  of  Gilsland, 
212  ;  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262. 

D.agger  letch.  North  Shields,  262.  28;,  306,  368. 

Daglish,  Jacob,  mayor  of  Tynemoulh  (1900-1901),  352  ; 
John,  of  Wideopen,  murdered  (1596),  172  n. 

Dale,  Isabella  (I'enwick),  348  ;  John  (i),  master 
mariner,  monumental  inscription  (1744),  361  ;  John 
(2),  267  ;  Shallett,  of  Newcastle,  267  ;  S.  J.,  349. 

Dalton,  county  Durham,  tithes  of,  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  62  n. 

Dalton,  John  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1391), 
116,  117  ;  quit-claim  (1376),  424  ;  Matilda,  wife  of 
Richard  tie,  410  ;  Richard  de,  of  Newcastle,  grant 
to  Tynemouth  priory  (1339J,  115,  410;  witness 
(1326),  423. 

Danby,  earl  of,  secures  Tynemouth  for  William  of 
Orange  (16S8),  203. 

Danish  invasions,  40-41  ;  Tynemouth  a  Danish  base, 
154  ;  Danish  influence  in  Tynemouth,  222,  248. 

Danun  (Deanham),  granted  to  Tynemoulh  priory, 
68  n. 

Darnelon,  William,  of  North  Shields  (1596),  235. 

Daudre,  Gilbert,  witness  (1320),  88  n,  422.  See  also 
Audre. 

Davenport,  chaplain  to  bishop  of  Durham  (1668),  359. 

David  1.,  king  of  Scotland,  invades  Northumberland, 
(1136),  58  ;  second  invasion  (1 138),  58  ;  defeated  at 
battle  of  the  Standard  (1 1 38),  59  ;  charters,  59  n. 

David  H.,  king  of  Scotland,  capture  at  Neville's  Cross, 

94- 

Davison,  Sir  Alexander,  of  Newcastle,  property  in 
North  Shields  (1631),  298  n  ;  Jane,  of  North 
Shields,  buys  land  at  Murlon  (1856),  411;  John 
Thomas,  348,  399,  400  ;  Thomas,  270  ;  William,  of 
North  Shields,  buys  Preston  farm  (1S72),  34S  ; 
Whitley  property  (1855),  399  ;  Monkseaton  properly 
(1865),  406. 

Davy,  William  (1413),  258  n  ;  witness  (1421),  424. 


INDEX. 


433 


Dawson,  Barbara,  monumental  inscription,  129; 
Richard,  tenant  of  Tynemoulh,  231  n  ;  Thomas, 
monumental  inscription,  129. 

Deanham.     SW  Danun. 

Deckham,  Thomas  (1609),  officer  of  earl  of  Northum- 
berland, 167,  233,  234,  235  ;  copyholder,  238. 

Defte.     See  Deste. 

Defoe,  Daniel,  'Tour  through  Great  Britain'  cited, 
307  n,  379  n,  393  n. 

De  la  Beche,  Eliza  (Mitcalfe),  268. 

De  la  Mare,  Thomas.     See  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 

Delaval  of  Tynemoulh,  pedigree,  171  ;  family  of,  sell 
manor  of  Benwel!  to  Tynemoulh  priory,  102. 

Delaval,  Barbara,  subscription  to  Tynemoulh  garrison 
(1643),  i84n  ;  Edward  Hussey  (1814),  25  ;  Hubert, 
benefactor  of  Tynemoulh  priory,  48,  50,  55  (lo)  ; 
Sir  John,  knight  (l),  hosiile  10  Tynemoulh  priory, 
107  ;  Sir  John,  knight  (2),  leases  Whitley  tithes 
(1539),  no;  surveys  Tynemoulh  castle  (1571), 
164;  John  (3),  of  Tynemoulh,  petition  to  earl  of 
Northumberland,  172  n;  sells  Arnold's  close  (1618), 
281  ;  Sir  John  (4),  of  Dissington,  knight,  list  of 
Northumberland  fishermen  (1626),  378  n,  38S  ;  Sir 
John  (5),  third  baronet  (1725),  works  Hartley  coal 
mines,  23  ;  John  Hussey,  Lord,  e.\ploits  coal  trade 
at  Hartley,  23,  25  ;  Joshua,  of  Rivergreen,  report 
on  Tynemoulh  castle  (1596),  169;  convicted  of 
murder,  172  n  ;  Luce  (Hall),  marriage  (1635),  364; 
Peter,  character  of,  170;  works  Preston  coal  mines 
(1590),  18  ;  purchase  and  sale  of  Tynemoulh  rec- 
tory, 363  n,  370  ;  freehold  in  Tynemoulh,  262,  263, 
281  ;  captain  of  Tynemoulh  castle  (1596),  169,  173  ; 
dismissal,  174;  letters  from,  173,  174  n,  370  n  ;  law- 
suits, 231-235,  294-296  ;  purchase  of  Arnold's  close 
(1606),  281  ;  seal,  172  ;  Ralph  (i),  of  North  Shields, 
at  Tynemoulh  casile  (1596),  169.  173  ;  purchases 
moiety  of  Tynemoulh  rectory,  370  ;  hall-corn  dis- 
pute, 322,  235  ;  champions  claims  of  copyholders  in 
North  Shields,  294-297  :  inventory  taken  by,  328  ; 
owner  of  Arnold's  close  (1606),  281  ;  Sir  Ralph  (2), 
knight,  works  coal  at  Hartley,  22  ;  letter  on  pre- 
sentation to  Tynemoulh  vicarage  (1607),  363"  ! 
Sir  Ralph  (3),  first  baronet,  develops  coal  trade  at 
Hartley,  22-23  ;  defence  of  the  Tyne  (1667)  199; 
pew  in  Christ  church,  359  ;  one  of  the  '  twenty- 
four'  (1674),  368;  sells  tithes  (1676),  371; 
theological  treatise  dedicated  to,  372  ;  Robert  (i), 
plunders  Tynemoulh  property  (circa  1325),  90; 
Sir  Robert  (2),  knight,  defends  Tynemoulh 
castle,  87;  agreement  wilh  prior  (1326),  31S  ; 
witness  (1321),  394  n  ;  Robert  (3),  of  Sealon 
Delaval,  deputy  captain  of  Tynemoulh  castle  (1585), 
167  ;  on  commission  (1596),  232  ;  buys  half  Tyne- 
moulh rectory,  371  ;  Robert  (4),  of  Cowpen,  officer 
of  the  earl  of  Northumberland  (1609),  23S  ; 
Robert  (5),  captain  of  volunteers  (1667).  200  n; 
Thomas,  directs  trade  at  Harilcy,  23-24  ;  Walter, 
plunders  Tynemoulh  property  (circa  1325),  90; 
William  (i)  (before  1158),  reputed  benefactor  of 
Tynemoulh  priory,  49  ;  Sir  W'illiani  (2),  grant  to 
(1376),  422;  witness  (1360),  257  n  ;  William  (3), 
murdered  at  Hexham  (161S),  172  n  ;  William  (4), 
town  clerk  of  Newcastle  (1661),  19S  ;  — ,  royalist 

(1655),  '95- 
De  la  Zouche,  family  of,  92. 
Denand,  Edward,  yeoman  (1 596),  234;  George,  juror 

of   Tynemoulh    (1562),    240;    tenant    of    Murlon 

(15S0),  410;  Robert,  juror  of  Tynemoulh  (1562), 

240.     See  also  Dinning. 

Vol.  \'III. 


Dene,  Hugh,  freeholder  of  East  Chirton  (1294),  319. 

Dent,  John,  trawling  experiments,  389. 

Denton,  West,  conveyed  lo  Tynemoulh  priory  (1381), 
49,  98,  116  ;  included  in  Tynemouihshire,  208. 

Denton,  James,  of  North  Shields  (1664),  305  n. 

Depommas,  Mary  (Johnson),  marriage  (1723),  365. 

Derlyng,  — ,  West  Chirton  tenant  (1294),  338. 

Dersley,  — ,  vicar  of  Tynemoulh  (1651),  363. 

Despenser,  Hugh  (the  younger),  charge  against,  84. 

Deste,  John,  grant  to  Tynemoulh  priory  (1337),  II5. 
255.  257- 

De  Witt,  attempt  to  raid  colliers  (1653),  194. 

Dialect  of  Tyne-mouthshire,  222  n. 

Dickson,  James,  327. 

Digby,  John,  captain  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n. 

Dinning,  geological  work,  420 ;  Isabel,  tenant  of 
Murton  (1707),  411  ;  Margaret,  surrenders  Murton 
farm  (1679),  411;  Robert,  juror  of  Tynemoulh 
(1686),  241.     See  also  Denand. 

Dissington,  South,  manor  and  tithes  of,  granted  to 
Tynemoulh  priory,  48-50,  62  n,  67  n  ;  included  in 
Tynemouihshire,  208  ;  recognition  of  copyhold 
tenure  at,  239 ;  multure  charged  on  tenants  of, 
318,  339  n  ;  CoUingwood  family  of,  325. 

Dissington,  William  de,  renders  homage  (1264),  113. 

Dixon,  Rev.  George,  M.A.,  vicar  of  Tynemoulh  (1825), 

364- 

Dixwell,  William.     See  Tynemoulh,  pnors  of. 

Dobson,  A.,  of  North  Shields  (1607),  296;  John, 
architect  (1850),  129,  352. 

Docks,  Northumberland,  341,  354;  Albert  Edward, 
34'.  354  ;  .^raving  docks,  310.  314. 

Dockwray,  of  Tynemoulh,  pedigree.  269  ;  Josias,  of 
North  Shields  (1724),  269;  Richard,  of  North 
Shields,  and  family,  monumental  inscription  (1802), 
361  ;  Stephen,  vicar  of  Tynemoulh  (1673),  364  ; 
monumental  inscription,  361  ;  Thomas,  vicar  of 
Tynemoulh  (1668),  354,  361,  364 ;  Thomas,  vicar  of 
Tynemoulh  (16S2),  364  ;  Thomas,  vicar  of  Stam- 
fordham,  271. 

Dodding,  Charles,  trustee  for  sale  of  TjTiemoulh 
rectory  (1589),  370. 

Dodds,  George,  mayor  of  Tynemoulh  (1887),  352. 

Doewaye.     See  Dove. 

Dogger  Letch.    See  Dagger  Letch. 

Donemuth,  identified  wilh  Jarrow,  39. 

Donkin  Rigg,  lands  .at.  held  by  Tynemoulh  priory,  49. 

Donkin,  Armorer,  of  the  Low  Lights,  monumental 
inscription,  129;  Elizabeth,  monumental  inscrip- 
tion, 129;  Richard  Sims,  M.P.  for  Tynemoulh 
(1885-1900),  351  ;  W.,  schoolmaster  at  Tjmemoulh, 
(circa  1736),  368- 

Dorset,  Thomas  Sackville,  earl  of,  petitioned  by  tenants 
of  Shields  (1607"),  297. 

Dorlwick  sands.  306,  334.  354;  salt  pans  at,  29S.  34I. 

Douglas,  John,  tenant  of  Alurion  (I707).  4".  4'2; 
Sir  William,  prisoner  at  Tjmemouth  (I346)'  94- 

Doune,  James,  tenant  of  Tynemoulh.  263. 

Dove,  family  of,  281  n  ;  Eleanoi  (IIuddleston),:S2  ;  John 
(I),  miller  (1539").  2'''.  2S0  ;  John  (2),  of  Whitley, 
lenant  of  Tynemoulh  (1649),  265  ;  quaker.  2S1,  372 ; 
works  coal  mines  (1673),  20.  2S1,  397  :  John  (3),  of 
the  Low  Lights,  will  (1704).  266  n;  John  (4),  of 
Wapping,  marriage,  398 ;  sells  Sparrow  Hall 
(1706),  282;  Mary,  imprisoned  (1661),  372; 
Robert  (l),  tenant  of  rynemouth  (1539),  262,  26;  ; 
miller,  261,  2S0  ;  Robert  (2).  tenant  of  Tynemoulh 
(I594'»,  234,  235,  262,  263,  296;  Rolicrt  (3),  free- 
hold in  tynemoulh  (1649),  265  ;   family  of,  271  ; 

55 


434 


INDEX. 


Robert  (4),  of  Tynemoulli,  one  of  the  '  twenly-four ' 
(1674)1  368  ;  Roben  (;),  of  the  Low  Lights,  will 
(1704).  271  ;  Sarah  (Hudson),  39S  ;  Sarah  (2), 
tenant  of  Whitley  (1757),  397  ;  Thomas  (l),  juror 
of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240;  Thomas  (2),  of  Whit- 
ley, purchases  Arnold's  Close  (162 1),  281  ;  lease 
(1644),  281  n  ;  Thomas  (3),  of  Whitley,  builds 
Sparrow  Hall  (16S2),  282  ;  William,  ini]irisoned 
(:66i),  2S1,  372. 

Dowe.     Sfif  Dove. 

Downing,  Kdmund,  trustee  for  sale  of  Tynemouth 
rectory  (15S9)  370. 

Dowson,  Mary  (Mitcalfe),  267. 

Drengafje  in  Tynemouthshire,  225. 

DiifTield,  Robert  de,  rector  of  Ponteland  and  vicar  of 
Neuburn  (c;;r«  1267).  2S6  n. 

Drnry,  Henry,  West  Chirton  tenant  (1294)  338; 
Theodosia  (Mitcalfe),  267. 

Dryden,  Thomas,  of  Seaton  Sluice,  buys  Murton  farm 
(1824),  412. 

Drymouth,  William,  tenant  of  East  Chirton  (1294), 
320  ;  Middle  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294)  330. 

Dubuisson,  Rev.  M.,  French  refugee  (1793)  376. 

Duchnian,  Herman,  tenant  of  North  Shields  (1446), 
290. 

Dudden,  John  de,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (1302), 
215  n;  witness  (1302),  421. 

Duddo,  in  parish  of  Slanninglon,  royalist  ])lot  at  (1665), 

195- 

Dudley,  John,  duke  of  Northumberland.  See  North- 
umberland. 

Dunbar,  George  Hume',  earl  of,  governor  of  Tynemouth 
castle  (1606),  177;  enquiry  by,  297  I  Patrick,  earl 
of,  claims  .advowson  of  Eglingham  (1225),  73  n  ; 
claims  manors  of  Bewick  and  Eglingham,  74 ;  death 
(1248),  74. 

Duncan,  Rev.  George  J.  C,  Presbyterian  minister 
(1844-1S51),  374. 

Dunfermline,  body  of  Malcolm  III.  transferred  to,  ;i  ; 
abbot  of,  witness  to  charter,  59  n. 

Dunfermline,  earl  of,  attends  Charles  I.  to  Tynemouth 
(1646),  iSg. 

Dunham,  Ralph  de,  see  lynemouth,  priors  of;  William 
de,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1291),  362. 

Dunne,  Constance,  daughter  of  John,  421  ;  Dyonisia, 
wife  of  John,  421  ;  John,  of  Redesdale,  grant  from 
(ihirieenlh  century),  421  ;  pedigree,  425  ;  Thomas, 
tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262  ;  Walter,  lease 
(1383),  422  ;  giant  to  (1391),  422  ;  William,  grant 
from  (1 39 1),  422. 

Durant,  M.  L.  C.  (Fenwick),  349. 

Durham  priory,  foundation  of  (1033),  4;  ;  deprived  of 
Tynemouth  (1085),  46  ;  Turgot,  prior  of,  asserts 
claims  to  Tynemouth  (1093),  50-51  ;  claims  renewed 
(1121),  57-5S  ;  settlement  of  claims  by  Prior 
Germanus  (1174),  63-66. 

Durham,  bishops  of:  F.gelwin  (1057-1071)  assists  at 
the  discovery  of  the  body  of  St.  Oswin,  41-42  ; 
Watcher  (1071-1080),  confirms  Tynemouth  to  the 
monks  of  Jarrow,  44  ;  William  de  St.  Carileph 
(1080-1096),  transfers  the  monks  of  Jarrow  to 
Durham,  45  ;  quarrels  with  Robert  de  Mowbray,  46  ; 
founds  church  of  Durham,  120  n  ;  writ  addressed  to, 
53n;  Ranulf  Flainbard  (1099-112S),  present  at 
translation  of  St.  Oswin,  56,  57  ;  writs  addressed  to, 
55;  Hugh  Pudsey  (1153-1195);  renounces  claim 
to  Tynemouth  (I174),  63  and  n;  witness  to  royal 
charters,  62  n,  68  n  ;  Nicholas  de  Farnham  (1241- 
1249),   composition   with  T)iiemoulh  (1247),   73  ; 


oppressive  conduct,  74  ;  Walter  de  Kirkham  (1249- 
1260),  restores  churches  to  St.  Alban's,  74  ;  con- 
tests rights  of  St.  Alban's  and  Tynemouth,  74  ; 
Anthony  Bek  (12S4-13H)  pleads  before  Edward  I. 
at  Tynemouth  (1301),  83  ;  presentations  to  Tyne- 
mouth vicarage,  126  ;  Richard  de  Hury  (i  333-1 345) 
confirms  grant  of  land  to  Tynemouth  priory,  117  n  ; 
Cuthbert  Tunstall  (1530-1559),  complaint  to  j)rivy 
council  (155.S),  127;  Tobias  Matthew  (1595-1606), 
accoimt  of  defenceless  state  of  Tyne  (1599),  170; 
Richard  Neile  (1617-1628),  recommends  fortificalion 
of  Tynemouth,  178  ;  letter,  179  ;  John  Cosin  (1660- 
1672),  petition  to,  202  n  ;  consecrates  Christ  church, 
Tynemouth  (l66,S),  359. 

Dinham,  Dean  and  Chapter  of,  ferry  rights  at  North 
Shields  (1717),  314  n. 

Durham,  Robert,  marriage  (1694),  365. 

Du.xfield,  Mary  (Crawford),  333. 

Dymon,  widow,  complaint  (1597),  173. 


Eachwick,  family  of  Spearman  of,  346-347. 

Eadbert,  king  of  Nortlnimbria,  413  n. 

Eagleston,  Mary  Anne  (F'enwick),  349. 

Ealdred,  king  of  Northumbria,  413U. 

Earsdon  chapelry,  geology  of,  2-16;  collieiies  and  the 
coal  trade  in,  1 7-34. 

Earsdon  chapel,  endowment  of,  124-12;,  361  ;  Thomas 
Castell,  curate  of,  iii. 

Earsdon  township,  in  Tynemouthshire,  20S  ;  granted 
to  Tynemouth  priory,  48,  55,  62  n,  67  n  ;  lands  in, 
acquired  liy  Tynemouth  priory,  115  ;  medieval  road 
through,  317  ;  number  of  holdings  in,  228  ;  rent  of 
farmholds  in,  229  ;  testamentary  disposition  of  farm 
in,  228  n  ;  recognition  of  copyhold  tenure  in,  239  ; 
enclosure  of,  244  ;  tithes  of,  369,  371  ;  coal  mining 
in,  17,  28,  30-31. 

Earthworks,  ancient,  at  T5'nemouth,  155  ;  at  Chirton, 

316  ;  at  Cramlingtt)n,  413  n. 
Hddowes,  James,  of  South  Shields,  348. 
Eden,  William,  Crown  grantee,  19,  239,  332. 
Edgar,  son  of  Gospattic,  charter,  120. 

Edlingham,  chinch  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  prioiy*, 
49  ;  surrendered  to  Durham  (1 174),  63. 

Education  at  North  Shields,  312  and  n,  355-356,  365  ; 
at  Whitley,  402. 

Edward,  son  of  Malcolm  HI.  of  Scotland,  52. 

Edward  L,  visits  to  Tynemouth,  80,  83,  84  ;  seizes 
liberty  of  Tynemouth  (1291),  80,  218  ;  surrenders 
claims  to  Tynemouth  advowson,  81  ;  licence  to 
crenellate  Tynemouth  castle  (1296),  83,  150,  156; 
restores  franchise  (1299),  83,  221  ;  grant  of  market 
at  Tynemouth  (1304),  83,  253;  at  Holywell  (1304), 

317  ;  piivate  chapel  at  Tynemoutli,  147. 

Edward    II.    at    Tynemouth     (1312),    84;     intervenes 

between  prior  of  Tj-nemoulh  and  warden  of  Noilh- 

umberland,  89;  puts  John  de   Haustede  in  charge 

of  Tynemouth  castle,  156. 
Edward   III.,  petition  of  prior  of  Tj'uemouth  to,  91  ; 

visit  to  Tynemouth  (1335),  92  ;  praise  of  Abbot  de 

la  Mare,  92. 
Edward  IV.,  charter  to  Tynemouth  priory,  104,  221, 

290. 
Edwards,  H.  S.,  of  Corbridge,  owner  of  dock  at  North 

Shields  (1883),  310  n. 
Edwin,  king  of  Northumbria,  traditional  founder  of  a 

chapel  at  Tynemouth,  39. 
EgeUvin.     See  Durham,  bishops  of. 


INDEX. 


435 


Egfrid,  king  of  Norihumbria,  founder  of  Jarrow  monas- 
tery, 39. 

Eglingham,  in  Tjrnemouthshire,  208  ;  manor  granted  to 
Tjnemouth  priory,  48,  54,  55,  58  n,  63  n,  67  n,  69  n  ; 
manor  claimed  by  earl  of  Dunbar,  74  ;  lands  in, 
acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  116;  township 
fined  at  Tynemouth  assizes,  219;  church  of,  granted 
to  Tynemouth  priory,  49,  63  n,  65,  68  n  ;  advowson 
claimed  by  earl  of  Dunbar,  73  n  ;  church  appropri- 
ated by  St.  Alban's,  74  ;  accounts  for,  76  n. 

Eglinton,  earl  of,  1S5. 

Elder,  Thomas,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1725),  215  n. 

Elfinton,  land  in,  249  n. 

Elfred,  tenant  of  St.  Cuthbert,  413  n. 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  letter  concerning  Tynemouth  castle 
(1560),  161 ;  condemnation  of  Sir  Henry  Percy,  164. 

EUenborough,  Lord,  cited,  237. 

Ellerington,  William  de,  plunders  Tynemouth  pro- 
perty (circa  1 325),  90. 

Ellington,  lands  in,  held  by  Tynemouth  prior)-,  49, 115  ; 
plundered,  90. 

Elliott,  Joseph,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1885-1886),  352  ; 
Sergeant,  arbitrator  between  Tynemouth  priory  and 
Newcastle  (1512),  291. 

Ellis,  Rev.  J.  W.,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's  chapel 
(1S72-1S78),  374. 

Ellison,  Anne  (Benson),  399 ;  Elizabeth  (Hudson), 
398;  Hannah  (i)  (Dockwray),  270;  Hannah  (2), 
property  in  Whitley  (1815),  398  ;  Henry,  of  Otter- 
burn  and  Whitehaven,  398;  John,  witness  (1421), 
424  ;  Nathaniel,  vicar  of  Newcastle  (1705),  102, 
368,  39S  ;  Richard,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790), 
415  ;   Robert,  398. 

Elswick,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  49,  68  n  ;  grant  of  tithes  of,  50,  62  n  ; 
grant  of  fishery  at,  60  n  ;  lands  in,  acquired  by 
Tynemouth  priory,  115,  H7;  Henry  Scot  receives 
lands  in,  82  ;  Edward  III.  at,  92  ;  manor  of,  221  ; 
court  held  at,  113  ;  assizes  for  Tynemouthshire  held 
at,  210;  deaths  in  coal  pits  at,  219;  suit  to  Flat- 
worth  mill,  339  n  ;  oppression  of  tenants  at,  231  ; 
entries  on  Tynemouth  court  rolls  relating  to,  240, 

241-       , 
Elwald.     See  Alwald. 
Elwick,  tithes  of,  held  by  Tynemouth  prior)',  50,  370  ; 

house    at,    acquired    by    Tynemouth    priory,    I15; 

John  de  Thoresby,  rector  of  (1340),  115. 
Ely,  Geoffrey,  bishop  of,  witness  to  charter,  62  n. 
Embleton,  fishing  at,  388. 
Embleton,  D.,  geological  work,  420. 
Enclosures,   in  Tynemouth  parish,  244  n  ;    in    .Monk- 

seaton,  406  ;  in  Preston,  345  ;  in  Tynemouth,  264- 

266 ;    in  Whitley,  397  ;    enclosure  of  Shire   Moor, 

414-415- 

Englan(Vs  Grievance^  quoted,  301-303. 

Erdesden,  Adam  de,  Monkseaton  custumal  (1296),  404. 

Errington,  of  Woolsington,  family  of,  119;  Anthony, 
juror  of  Tynemouth  ( 1 562),  240 ;  copyholder  ( 1 609), 
238  ;  Christopher,  of  North  Shields,  and  family, 
monumental  inscription  (1722),  361  ;  Elizabeth 
(Howett),  monumental  inscription  (1732),  361  ; 
George,  tenant  of  Tynemouthshire  (1594),  234; 
Gilbert  (l),  of  Woolsington,  autograph,  119;  con- 
nection with  Tynemouth  monastery,  160  n  ;  Gilbert 
(2),  of  West  Denton,  marriage,  321,  364;  Lancelot, 
ensign  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ;  Mary,  marriage 
(1753),  36;;  Thomas,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562), 
240  ;  W.,  ensign  of  volunteers  {1667),  200  n. 

Escot,  Walter  le,  properly  in  .Monkseaton  (1273),  402. 


Eskdalc,  Jonathan,  m.ayor  of  Tynemouth  (1899),  352. 

Espec,  Walter  (ii2i>,  57. 

Essenden,  Ralph  de.  justice  of  the  prior  of  Tynemoulh's 

court  (12S3),  211  n. 
Essex,  Henry  de,  constable,  witness  to  charter,  62  n. 
Ethelred,  king  of  Norihumbria,  40. 
Eudo,  sej^-er  to  William  II.,  wiini-ss,  53  n. 
Eugenius,  chancellor  of  Earl  Henry  fitz  David,  witness, 

59n,  60  n. 
Eure,    Ralph,    Lord    (1597),    299  n ;    Henry,    atucks 

Tynemouth  priory,  108. 
Euthymius,  St.,  relic  of,  114. 
Eversdon,  Hugh  de.     See  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 
Evesham,  battle  of,  77. 
Evreux,  bishop  of  (1121),  57. 


Faccale,  Thomas,  freeman  of  Middle  Chirton  (1295), 
330- 

Fader,  Robert,  tenant  of  fisher)'  (1328),  340  n. 

Fairfax,  Thomas,  Lord,  191  ;  petition  to  {1648),  193. 

Fairman,  Roger,  tenant  of  'I'ynemouth  ( 1 264),  249  n  ; 
William,  witness  (1319)  421  (1320),  422. 

Fairweather,  .\lexander,  acquires  Monkseaton  property 
(1902),  408. 

Fall,  Mary,  wife  of  William,  monumental  inscription, 

ISO- 
Farewell,  Mr.,  receiver  of '  hall-corn,'  233. 

Fanns,  discussion  of  their  origin,  242-246  ;  in  Tyne- 
mouth township,  266. 

Fame,  seal  fisheries,  378. 

Fameakers,  John  de,  justice  for  Tynemouthshire 
(1283).  211  n. 

F'arnham,  .Nicholas  de.     See  Durham,  bishops  of. 

Fauconberg,  Thomas,  Lord  (1662),  198. 

Fauconer,  Adam,  witness  (1360),  257  n  ;  land  in 
.Monkseaton,  405. 

Faucus.     See  Faukes. 

Faukes,  Henry  de.  of  Backworth,  grant  to  Tynemouth 
prior)' (1320),  91,  315,  328  ;  witness.  248  n,  393  n, 
423  ;  Nicholas,  of  Backworth.  juror  of  'Tynemouth 
(1293),  21S;  grant  to  Tynemouth  prior)',  316  n; 
witness,  421  ;  William,  witness  (1339).  410  n. 

Fawcus,  John,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1S62),  352. 

Fawedon,  Sir  Robert  de,  witness  (1321),  394  n. 

Fearon.    Thomas,  of  South  Shields,  salt  manufacturer 

(1677). -'S3' 

Featherstonhaugh,  John,  of  Swnhope,  commissioner 
(1596),  232. 

Feldc.  Edward,  S.T.P.,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  {cvca 
1526),  362. 

Felton,  John  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priorv  (1326).  115. 

F'enham,  ownership  disputed  by  Newcastle  and  Tyne- 
mouth (1357),  97  ;  tenants  of.  amerced  at  T)'nc- 
niouth  manor  court.  240. 

Fenham  flats,  shell-fish  in  the,  3S2.  3S3. 

Fenn,  Edward,  Crown  grantee,  19,  264,  299.  328,  341. 

Fenrother,  Adam  de,  rector  of  Stokesley  and  m.ister  of 
St.  F'dmund's  hospital.  Gateshe.ad.  grant  to  T)'ne- 
mouth  priory  (1 38 1),  49.  116  ;  trustee.  396  ;  Robert 
de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  ( 13S0).  1 16  ;  witness, 
25S'n,  422-424. 

Fenwick,  of  Preston  and  North  Shields,  pedigree,  J48  ; 
.■\nne  (Clark),  273  ;  Cuthbert  Smith,  267  ;  Edward, 
high  sheriff  (1^59).  J^?  ;  Eleanor  (Clark"),  273  ; 
Elizalieth,  sued  U^jl)-  24'  :  '-'<''•  George,  of 
Brinkburn.  in  command  of  Tynemouth  castle 
(164S),    193;    governor   of   Berwick  (i'-: -^     'v 


436 


INDEX. 


Henry,  r;iptain  of  Tynemoiith  raslle  (1634'),  182  an  J 
n  ;  Sir  John  de  (i),  sheriff  (i  319,  1335),  SS  n,  89  n  ; 
witness  (1321"),  394  n  ;  John  (2),  witness  (1426),  424, 
425  ;  Sir  John  (3),  of  Wallington,  captain  of  Tyne- 
nioiilh  castle  (161G),  l5on,  178;  John  (4),  of 
Milhurn  Place,  buys  land  at  Preston  (1814),  348; 
John  (5),  of  Dockvvray  Square,  buys  land  at  Preston 
(1818),  34S  ;  John  (6),  of  Preston,  marriage,  267  ; 
Margaret  (Mills,  SjJearman),  346  ;  Mary  (Kenwick), 
349;  Ralph,  marriage  (1652),  364;  Richard  (l), 
bailiff  (1610),  240  ;  Richard  (2),  buys  land  at 
Preston  (1S44),  345  ;  Robert,  servant  to  William, 
173;  Thomas  (l),  marriage  (1695),  347;  Thomas 
(2),  bu3's  Preston  farm  (1817),  348  ;  Thomas  (3),  of 
Earsdon,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  ; 
William,  of  the  Sheele  Milnes,  fight  in  Tynemoiith 
castle  (1597),  173  ;  of  Wallington,  173. 

Ferguson,  Joseph,  of  Carlisle,  273. 

Fernham,  Frances  (Salkeld).  333  ;  Sir  Francis,  333. 

Ferrers,  Edward,  grant  of  mills  to  (1610),  263. 

Ferries  on  the  Tyne,  241,  354-355. 

Fesefoul,  John,  of  Wylam,  prior's  serf,  255. 

Fielding,  Mary,  property  at  Preston,  347. 

F'ishburn,  Thomas  de,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (circa 
1312),  215  n,  216  n,  423  n. 

Fisheries  :  account  of  sea  fisheries,  378-389  ;  herring 
fishery,  379-381  ;  fishing  cobles,  381-3S2  ;  trawling, 
3S3-3''*5  ;  crab  and  lobster  fishing,  385-3S6  ;  salmon 
and  sea-irout,  386-387  ;  Northumberland  Sea  Fish- 
eries Committee,  387-389 ;  list  of  fishermen  in 
Northumberland  (1626),  388 ;  number  of  fishing 
boats  (1905),  3S8 ;  fishing  industry  at  North 
Shields,  285,  286-2SS,  290,  292-293  ;  fish  market  at 
North  Shields,  314  ;  grant  of  fisheries  in  the  Tyne, 
59,  60  n  ;  salmon  fishery  at  the  Low  Lights,  298 
and  n  ;  tithe  of  fish,  369  and  n. 

Fitz  Audelm,  William,  sewer  to  Henry  II.,  witness  to 
charters,  62  n. 

Fitz  Harding,  John,  Viscount,  202. 

Fitz  Walter,  Robert.  70. 

Flambard,  Ranulph.     Ste  Durham,  bishops  of. 

Flane,  John,  free  tenant  of  Cowpen  (1323),  226. 

Flatford.     Sre  Flatworth. 

Flatford,  Ouestric  de,  337. 

Flatworth,  historical  account  of,  334-341  ;  in  Tyne- 
mouthshire,  208  ;  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory, 
4S.  62,  335  ;  manor  of,  221,  318,  339  ;  suit  to  mill  at, 
-22,  339.  395t  396  ;  leased  to  Sir  Thomas  Hilton, 
156,  340  ;  acquired  by  the  earl  of  Northuniberl.and, 
19.  341  ;  coal  worked  at,  22,  25. 

Flaundres,  Michael  de,  takes  sanctuary,  220. 

Flemings,  royal  writ  in  favour  of  (1325),  261. 

Foliot,  Robert,  witness  to  charter  (1138),  59  n. 

Forests.     See  Bewick,  Burwood. 

Forster,  CoUlngwood,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1761), 
215  n;  Doroihy  (Mitcalfe),  267;  Gawen,  sued 
(1652),  241  ;  bequest  (1654),  365  ;  Sir  John  (i), 
charged  to  arrest  Sir  Henry  Percy,  163  ;  report  on 
Tynemouth  castle,  164  ;  attacked  by  Scots  at 
Cocklaw,  167  ;  John  {2),  lieutenant  of  volunteers 
(1667),  200  n;  Richard,  letters  from  Newcastle 
(1667),  199,  200. 

Foster,  Mary  (Spence),  350. 

Fourstones,  justices  of  assize  met  at,  210. 

Fowke,  Mary  (Lockey,  \'illiers),  202,  207  ;  William, 
owner  of  Tynemouth  lighthouse  (1802),  207. 

Fox,  George,  the  quaker,  371. 

Francklyn,  Major-General  John  Henry,  C.B.,  267. 

Frank.  Elizabeth  (Fenwick),  348. 


Franklin,    Rev.    Robert    J..    Roman     Catholic     priest 

(1873-1878),  376;  Wiiliani,  chancellor  of  Durham, 

107. 
Fraser,     Rev.     Henry     Krskine,     M.A.,    Presbyterian 

minister  (1.S45-1856),  375. 
Freeman,     Patrick,    of    Cambois,    334 ;    Thomas,    of 

Benton,  334. 
Fundclyng,  Robert,  sentenced  at  Tynemouth  (1293), 

219. 
Fyfe,  Robert,  surrenders  Monkseaton  properly  (i(>54), 

408. 
Fymer,  Willi.im,  property  in  Whitley  (138:),  396. 


Gaclut,  William,  forfeits  lands  in  Tynemouth,  253. 

Gaddon,  Richard,  tenant  of  North  Shields  (1446), 
290  n. 

Gaidum,  Hugh  (circa  1260),  76  n. 

Galew.ay,  Agnes  (1382),  116;  Robert,  of  Newcastle 
(1382),  n6. 

Gait,  Robert,  Shields  subsidy  roll  (1296),  288. 

Gardiner,  Thomas,  see  Tynemouth,  priors  of;  William, 
of  London,  107. 

Gardner,  Devereux,  writing-master,  332 ;  Katharine 
(1664),  305  n  ;  Ralph,  of  Chirton,  account  of,  332 
and  n  ;  works  Flatworth  colliery,  19,  24I  ;  quarry 
at  Billy  Mill,  329  ;  schedule  of  losses,  185  n,  193  ; 
refusal  to  p.ay  '  hall-corn,'  236  ;  struggle  against 
Newcastle's  monopoly,  301-304;  parochial  concerns, 

358,  367. 
Gategang,     Henry,     \'icar    of    Tynemouth    (thirteenth 

century),  362. 
Gateshead,   property  in,   held   by  Tynemouth    ]>riory, 

.    +9-  .  .  .  .  , 

Gaveston,  Piers,  flight  with  Edward  II.  from  Newcastle, 

and  death,  84. 
Geinitz,  Dr.  H.  B.,  geological  work,  417. 
Geoffrey,  prior  of  Tynemouth  (12th  century),  122. 
Geology  of  Tynemouth  parish  and  Earsdon  chapelry, 

2-16  ;    appendix   of  geological  literature,  417-420  ; 

Permian   rocks,   2-6;    coal-measures,    6-1 1  ;    dykes, 

II-15  ;  glacial  deposits,  15-16. 
Germanus  (l),  prior  of  T3'nemouth  (l  I48)  ami  al^bot  of 

Selby  (1153),   122  ;  (2),  prior  of  Durham,  releases 

claims  to  Tynemouth    (1174),  ^4  \    (3)i  -''''  Tyne- 
mouth, priors  of. 
Gervase,  abbot  of  Westminster,  119. 
Gibson,  Francis,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1652),  363,  367  ; 

William    Sidney,    esq.,    monument    in    T^'uemoutli 

church,  129;   History  of  Tynemouth  cweA  passim. 
Gilbert,  constable  to  Earl  Henry  fitz  David,  60  n.     See 

also  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 
Gillespie,    James    Dunsmure,    mayor    of    Tynemouth 

(1902),  352. 
Gilling  in  Richmondshire.     See  Ingetlingum. 
Gillison,    Rev.   Andrew,    M.A.,    Presbyterian   minister 

(1897-1899),  375. 
Gillow,   Rev.  Thomas,   Roman  Catholic   priest   (1821- 

1857),  376  ;   Rev.  William,  Roman  Catholic  priest 

(1869-1873),  376. 
Gilmour,   Rev.  Thomas,  Presbyterian  minister  (1813- 

1841),  375- 
Gilpin,  Rev.  R.,  marriage,  398. 
Girling,  Rev.  W.  H.,  minister  of  St.  .Andrew's  chapel 

(1S96-1898),  374-  . 
Glanvill,  Ralph  de,  witness  to  charter,  62  n. 
Glede,  William,  gaoler,  220. 


INDEX. 


437 


Glenham,  Sir  Thomas,  governor  of  Carlisle  (1644), 
187. 

Gloucester,  Adam  de,  witness,  66  n  ;  Richard,  duke  of, 
see  Richard  III.;  Thomas,  duke  of,  patron  of 
Tynemoutli  priorj-  (1390),  gS,  gg  ;  William  de  Clare, 
earl  of  (l  1 77),  I20n. 

Goble,  James  Methold,  267. 

Gobyclif,  Patrick,  order  of  arrest,  220. 

Gobyon,  Hugh,  sheriff  (i2g3),  220. 

Godric.  St.,  cures  effected  by,  43  n. 

Goldsmith,  family  in  Tynemouth,  254. 

Goodyeare,  Captain  lienry,  in  Tynemouth  garrison 
(1648),  192  n. 

Gordon,  Lord  Adam,  governor  of  Tynemouth  castle 
(■778),  204;  Alexander,  vicar  of  Tynemouth 
(l65g),  363  ;  ejected,  372. 

Goreham,  Henry  de,  donor  to  Tynemouth  conventual 
librar}-,  iig. 

Gospatric  I.     See  Northumberland,  earls  of. 

Gospatric  \\.  grants  Edliiigham  church  to  Tynemouth 
priory,  49  ;  witness  to  charters,  59  n,  60  n. 

Goswick  bay,  fishing  in,  3S0,  386. 

Gothard,  Robert,  of  Long  Benton,  buys  Murton  farm 
(1803),  412. 

Gourley,  Walter  de,  plunders  Tynemouth  property, 
90. 

Gowland,  Mary  (Stephenson),  268  n. 

Graffard,  grant  of  his  lordship  to  Tynemouth  priory, 
54i  55)  3^9i  4°^  \  charter  of  enfeoffment,  225. 

Graggaba,  Danish  earl,  412  n. 

Graham,  Major,  deputy  governor  of  Tynemouth  castle 
(1661),  372. 

Grandisson,  family  of,  92. 

Gray,  George,  of  Newcastle,  freeholder  in  Tynemouth, 
172,  265  n  ;  Henry,  bailiff  of  Tynemouth  (I445), 
25g  n,  425;  John,  officer  of  Tynemouth  priory 
(1306),  216  n;  grant  from  (1326),  422;  Robert, 
Shields  subsidy  roll  (1296),  2S8  ;  Roger,  land  in 
Tynemouth,  256  ;  Shields  subsidy  roll  (1296),  28S  ; 
tenant  of  Middle  Chirton,  329,  330  ;  East  Chirton 
and  Whitley  subsidy  roll  (1296),  393  ;  witness,  421- 
422  ;  William,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295),  215  n  ; 
tenant  of  East  Chirton  (1294),  319;  of  Preston, 
342  ;  grant  to,  422. 

Greathed,  Henr)',  model  of  first  lifeboat  (1789),  356. 

Greaves,  Joseph  Edward  (Elmsall),  323. 

Green,  Isabel,  of  North  Shields  (1672),  373  ;  Joseph, 
mayor  of  Tj'nemouth  (1865  and  1S76),  352  ;  Messrs., 
of  Newcastle,  architects,  360;  Nathaniel  (l),  of 
Preston,  40S  n,  411  ;  Nathaniel  (2),  of  London, 
property  in  Murlon,  411;  claim  on  Shire  Moor 
(1790),  415;  Simon,  land  in  Tynemouth,  423; 
Spurgeon,  268. 
Green  Chesters  in  WilUngton,  316,  413  n. 
Greteville,  John  de,  of  Newcastle,  witness  (1332),  254. 
Grey,  Charles,  Earl,  parliamentary  reform,  350 ;  Sir 
Charles,  ^LP.  for  Tynemouth  (1S3S-1S41),  351  ; 
Elizabeth  Mary  (LinskiU),  272  ;  Elizabeth  (Craw- 
ford), 333;  John  (i),  lieutenant  of  volunteers 
(1667), 20on;  John  (2),  of  Hartley,  334  ;  Margaret, 
marriage  (1753)  365  ;  .Mary  (Dockwray),  270  ; 
Ralph,  of  Backworth  (1649),  lands  in  Preston,  34;  ; 
in  Monkseaton,  40S  ;  Ralph  William  (l),  of  Back- 
worth,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  ;  Ralph 
William  (2),  of  Backworth,  sale  of  lands  (1821),  27, 
34S,  40S  ;  Ralph  William  (3),  of  Chipchase.  M.P. 
for  Tynemouth  (1847),  351  ;  Richard,  first  master 
of  Trinity  House  (153S),  274  ;  Sir  Thomas,  of 
VVark,  author  oi  Scalachronka,  126. 


Greystoke,  John  do,  grants  wayleave  to  Tynemouth 
priory  (1296-1297),  83  n  ;  Ralph  filz  William, 
lord  of,  agreement  with  abbot  of  St.  Alban's  over 
Coniscliffe  (1 31 3),  85  ;  founds  chantry  in  Tj-ne- 
mouth  priory  (131 5),  147. 

Grey  I-'riars,  London,  church  of.  Prior  Boston  buried 
at,  106. 

Grieve,  Richard,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1760),  215  n. 

Grif,  Peter,  of  Whitsand,  owner  of  vessel  (1332),  254  n. 

Grimm,  drawing  by  {circa  1780),  143. 

Gros,  John,  of  Berwick,  grant  to  Tynemouth   priory 

(1335).  115- 
Gryndon,  Thomas  de,  witness  (1391),  422. 
Gub,  Robert,  witness  (1351-1376),  257  n,  25S  n,  422- 

423;    Stephen,   witness   (1351),  423;   William,  of 

Tynemouth,  grants  to  (1320),  422  ;  (1344),  423. 
Gubiun,  Hugh,  prior  of  Tynemouth  (circa  1 200),  122  ; 

Ralph,  see  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 
*  Guedesho,'  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  62  n. 
Guillims,  Captain,  captain  of  Tynemouth  castle  (1664), 

198. 
Gumer,  officer  of  Robert  de  Mowbray,  46. 
Guntrem,  Walter,  Monkseaton  tallage  roll  (1294),  403  ; 

William,  Monkseaton  custumal  (1296),  404. 
Gut,  William,  inquest  on,  219. 

H. 

Haddock,  Zephaniah,  buys  Sparrow  hall  (1706).  2S2. 

Hadrian,  erection  of  wall,  280. 

Hadston,  barony  of,  334-336. 

Hagen,  Sarah  (Spence),  350. 

Haggarty,  Rev.  M.  J.,  Roman  Catholic  priest  (1903),  377. 

Haggatt,  Bartholomew,  commissioner  on  tenures  at 
Tynemouth  (1608),  2g7. 

Haggerston,  Thomas,  captain  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n. 

Haigh,  John,  hostman,  buys  Whitley  park  (1792),  399; 
Rev.  William,  vicar  of  Wooler,  family  of,  monu- 
mental inscription,  1 30. 

Hakford,  Robert,  witness  (1386,  etc.),  424. 

llalfdene,  reduces  Northumberland  (875),  40. 

Halidon  Hill,  battle  of  (1333),  92. 

Ilaliwarcsfolch  {i.e.,  St.  Culhbert's  patrimony),  64. 

Hall,  of  Whitley,  pedigree,  399  ;  family  of,  property  in 
Monkseaton,  406  ;  Lady  Appolonia,  royalist  agent 
(1636),  196;  Edward  (l),  327;  Edward  (;),  of 
Whitley,  monumental  inscription,  130;  buys  land 
in  Whitley,  399  ;  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1 790),  415  ; 
Elizabeth  (Stephenson),  268  n  ;  James,  of  Tyne- 
mouth, charily  (1880'),  402  ;  John  (l).  tenant  of 
Tynemouth  (1596),  235  ;  John  (2).  marriage  (.1635), 
364  ;  John  (3).  marriage,  347  ;  John  (4),  tenant  of 
Whitley  (1757),  397  ;  Reynold,  of  Ottcrbum,  39.S  ; 
Robert,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1596),  234;  Sanrh 
(Campbell),  400;  Thomas  (I),  tenant  of  Tvncmouth 
(1539),  :62,  265  ;  Thomas  (2'),  sued  (I(ij2\  241  ; 
Monkseaton  projwrty  (1650),  4060,408;  Thomas 
(3),  juror  of  Tynemouth  (16S6),  241  ;  one  of  the 
'twenty-four"  (1674),  36S ;  William,  of  Forth 
house,  Newcastle,  399. 

Hall-corn,  account  of,  229,  231-236,  331. 

Hallsey.  Robert,  bailiff  (1597').  328. 

Halton,  John  de,  sheriff,  letter  to  prior  of  Tynemouth 
(1:65").  77;  collector  of  subsidy  (IJ/O).  213  n; 
.Mabel  (^Killingworth),  marriage  (1662),  364. 

Haliwhistle,  church  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(13.S4),  49.  98,  lOI  n,  116. 

Halywcll,  Walter  de,  of  Newcastle  (1293).  2'9; 
William  de,  sells  land  (.1407),  254  n. 


438 


INDEX. 


Hambleton,  Ambrose,  of  Tynemouth,  268. 

Hameldon,  William  do,  219. 

Hamilton,  William,  curate  of  Tynemouth  (1605),  176. 

Hancock,  Albany,  jjeolofjical  works,  417,  418,  419. 

Hancock  museum,  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  2,  6,  g. 

Hansard,  Gilbert  (l),  tenant  of  bishop  of  Durham 
(1166),  335;  pedigree,  335;  enfeoffed  of  West 
Chirton,  336;  Gilbert  (2),  suit  as  to  homage  (1202), 
336;  Sir  Gilbert  (3),  sells  West  Chirton  (1256), 
76  n,  336 ;  John,  tenant  of  West  Chirton  (circa 
1240'),  335  n  ;  sued  (1225),  336. 

Hansell,  Robert,  buys  Murton  house  (1S33),  411. 

Hanswell,  John,  marriage  (1611),  172. 

Harbottle,  family  of,  lands  in  Tynemouth,  258  and  n  ; 
John,  sells  freehold  (1519),  263  n  ;  Sir  Ralph, 
freeholder  in  Tynemouth,  263  ;  Sir  Wigiott,  free- 
holder in  Tynemouth,  262  ;  William,  of  Newcastle, 
marriage,  270. 

Harden,  Henry  de,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (1319- 
1320),  215  n;  clerk  to  prior,  220;  witness,  248  n, 
421,  422. 

Hardewey,  William,  Middle  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294), 

330- 

Hardrada,  Harold,  king  of  Norway,  enters  the  Tyne 
(1066),  43. 

Hardy,  B.,  marriage  (1803),  400. 

Hardyng,  Sampson,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1391),  116  ;  witness  (1421),  424  ;  William,  witness 
(1420,424,425. 

Harehope,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  48. 

Harker,  Thomas,  of  North  Shields  (1607),  296. 

Harley,  Edward,  Lord,  account  of  salt  pans  at  Shields 
(1725),  300  n. 

Harris,  Benjamin,  grant  of  land  in  North  Shields  to 
(1600),  29S  n  ;  Frederick  Leverton,  M.P.  for  Tyne- 
mouth (1900-1906),  351. 

Harrison,  Thomas,  of  Liverpool,  349. 

Hartburn,  church  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  49, 
68  n  ;  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's  (1 174),  64  ;  claimed 
by  bishop  of  Durham  (1252),  73  n  ;  restored  to  St. 
Alban's  (ciVrrt  1252),  74;  papal  provision  to,  75  ; 
accounts  for,  76  n. 

Hartburn,  Robert,  vicar  of  (1 174),  64. 

Hartford,  West,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  granted  to 
Tynemouth  priory,  6S  n  ;  lands  in,  acquired  by 
Tynemouth  priory,  I15;  township  fined  at  Tyne- 
mouth assizes  (1293),  219;  leased  to  Thomas 
I.awson  (1536),  no;  included  in  Tynemouth 
Union,  351. 

Hartlepool,  captured  by  the  Scots  (1644),  186,  189; 
petition  of  garrison  of  (164S),  193  ;  coble-building 
at,  382  ;  fishing  at,  385. 

Hartley,  geological  features,  2,  7,  8-9,  II-I2;  coal- 
mining at,  22-25,  31-32  ;  accident  at  the  Hester  pit, 
32  ;  collier)*  engines  used  at,  24  ;  lands  in,  held  by 
Tynemouth  ])riory,  49  ;  priory  lands  in,  granted  in 
fee  farm,  239;  family  of  Crawford  of,  333-334; 
ownership  of  tithes,  369,  371;  tithe  of  fish,  370; 
fishing  at,  388. 

Hartley  Pans.     Set  Seaton  Sluice. 

Haslam,  Lawrence,  of  North  Shields,  imprisonment 
(1661),  372. 

Haukewell,  Robert  de,  witness  (1321)  394  n. 

Haustede,  John  de,  custodian  of  Tynemouth  castle 
(1318),  87,  156. 

Hauxley,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208 ;  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  48,  68  n  ;  charges  on  rent,  lOI,  I05  ; 
township  fined  at  Tynemouth  assizes  (1293),  219  ; 
l)ayment  of  hall-corn  at,  231  ;  recognition  of  copy- 
hold tenure  at,  239  ;  fishing  at,  388. 


Haverfield,  F.,  note  on  Rom.in  armour  by,  278-280. 
Hawthorn,  Peter  de,  Shields  subsidy  roll  (1296),  2S8. 
Hay,  Nicholas   del,   Tynemouth   subsidy   roll   (1296), 

252,  255;  tenant  of  Preston  (1296),  344;  witness, 

423  n. 
Hay  Hole  (Northumberland  Dock),  33,  341,  354. 
Hebburn  Point,  353. 

Head-pennies,  meaning  of,  224,  339  and  n. 
Heatheringlon,  Edward,  27. 
Hebborne,  John,    vicar   of  Tynemouth    (1492),    362  ; 

complaint  against  (1505),  367. 
Hedley,   John   (i),  of  Newcastle,   333  ;    buys   Murton 

farm   (1774),  412  ;    claim   on   Shire   Moor  (1790), 

415  ;  John  (2),  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1866,  1882- 

1SS3),  352  ;  William,  of  Newcastle,  408  n. 
Hedley  wood,  281,  328. 
Hedwin-streams,  292. 
Helme,  Robert,  officer  of  the  earl  of  Northumberland 

(1605),  237,  32S  ;    freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1608), 

263 ;    account   of   tenure    in   North    Shields,    293 ; 

deposition  (1596),  233;    Henry,   of  North  Shields 

(1607),  296. 
Hendele.     See  Hyndeley. 
Henderson,  Williaivi,  curate  of  Earsdon,  372. 
Henley,  Walter  de,  manuscript  of,  119. 
Henry,  prior  of  Tynemouth  (twelfth  century),  122. 
Henry,  St.,  of  Coquet  Island,  56 ;  buried  in  Tynemouth 

priory  (II 27),  146. 
Henrj^  L,  list  of  charters  to  Tynemouth  priory,  54-55  ; 

grant  of  GrafTard's  lands,  48,  54,  389;  confirmation 

of  tithes,  49  n  ;  grant  of  free  warren,  209  ;  accords 

free  election  of  priors  of  Tynemouth,  57-58,  8r. 
Henry  IL.  charters  to  Tynemouth  priory,  61-62,  209, 

212  n,  335. 
Henr}'  111.,  demands  on  Tynemouth,  75  ;  charter,  213. 
Henry  VL,  grant  to  Prior  I,angton  (1446),  289-290. 
Henry  VHI., grant  of  Tynemouth  priory  to  Sir  Thomas 

Hilton(i53S),  156;  charter  to  Trinity  House(i536), 

274-275- 

Henry,  earl  of  Northumberland.    See  Northumberland. 

llenzell,  of  Whitle3'and  Newcastle,  pedigree,  401  ;  John, 
sells  property  in  Whitley  (1S24),  400;  Peregrine, 
of  Whitley,  monumental  inscription  (1824),  362  ; 
claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415. 

Heppescotes,  William  de,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth 
(135O.  21511  425;  witness,  257  n,  423;  grants 
from,  421-422  ;  Agnes,  wife  of  WilHam  de,  25S,  425  ; 
grants  to  (1381),  422,  424  ;  grants  from,  422,  424. 

Heppscot,  deed  relating  to  properly  in,  422. 

Herebald,  abbot  of  Tynemouth  (745),  39. 

Hereford,  bishop  of,  exactions  from  Tynemouth,  75,  76  ; 
Richard  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1293),  218; 
William  de,  witness  (1339),  4I0n. 

Hering,  William,  witness  (1332),  254. 

Heron,  .Alexander,  witness  (1426),  424  ;  Gilbert,  agree- 
ment (1299)  339  n  ;  Jordan  (l),  tenant  of  bishop  of 
Durham  (1 166),  335  ;  marries  heiress  of  Hadston 
barony,  336  ;  Jordan  (2),  336  ;  Mary,  widow  of 
William,  339  n  ;  Ralph,  336  ;  William  (l),  grants 
West  Chirton  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1256),  48,  76, 
336,  339  n  ;  William  (2),  king's  justice  (1290),  216. 

Iferries,  Rev.  Robert,  Baptist  minister  (1880-1892), 
377- 

Herrington,  Walter  de,  Monkseaton  tallage  roll  (1294), 
403  ;  cottager,  404. 

Hert,  John,  Monkseaton  tallage  roll  (1294  and  1296), 
403  ;  Matilda,  Monkseaton  tallage  roll  (1294  and 
1296),  403. 

Herterpol,  Galfrid  de,  officer  of  Tynemouth  priory 
(1306),  216  n. 


INDEX. 


439 


Hertford,  John  Bensted,  prior  of,  123;  William  Oixwell, 
prior  of, "106,  123  ;  Algernon,  e;irl  of,  seventh  duke 
of  Somerset,  governor  of  Tynemouth  castle  (17 15), 
204  ;  Edward,  earl  of,  makes  Tynemoulh  a  naval 
base  (1544),  157  ;  John  de,  see  St.  Alban's,  abbots 
of. 

Hertlaw,  Alan  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295)  215  n, 
218,  249  n;  witness,  421-422;  Philip  de,  witness 
(1320),  422  ;   Robert  de,  property  in  Tynemouth, 

255.  256- 

Hertness  church,  sacked  by  the  Danes  (800),  40  ;  tithes 
of  demesne  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  50, 
62  n,  63  n  ;  service  of  carting  tithes  from,  224,  390. 

Hertness-pennies,  224,  390. 

Hesilden,  Walter  de,  holds  land  in  East  Chirton  (1377), 
320. 

Hesihige,  Sir  Arthur,  governor  of  Newcastle  and 
Tynemouth  (1647),  191-192,  397  ;  tried  as  regicide, 
197  ;  William  de  (Heslerig),  seneschal  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1291),  215  n,  217  ;  witness,  421. 

Heslop,  John,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1623),  363  ;  mar- 
riage, 171. 

Heton,  Sir  Alan  de,  of  Lowick,  property  in  Tyne- 
mouth (13S8),  262  n  ;  Sir  Henry  de,  262  n  ;  Mar- 
garet (Middleton),  262  n. 

Ilevvard,  Joseph  Elder,  bequest  (1872),  366. 

Hewson,  Shallett,  owns  land  in  Murton,  411. 

Hexham,  franchise  of,  68,  208  ;  letter  from  canon  of, 
76  ;  destruction  of  priory  by  Scots  (1296),  S3. 

Heyworth,  William.     See  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 

Hickeringill,  Isabell  (Bonner),  marriage  (1702),  365. 

Hicks,  Elizabeth  (Hall),  399  ;  William,  of  Whitehaven, 

398. 
Hidewyn,  Thomas  de,  witness  (1324),  248  n  ;  (1321), 

394  n. 

Hild,  St.,  her  monastery  at  South  Shields,  38-39. 

Hills,  John,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240  ;  William, 
surrenders  Monkseaton  south-west  farm  (171 1), 
408. 

Hilton,  Agnes  (Bullein),  160;  Anne  (Cardonnel),  323  ; 
Sir  Thomas,  of  Hilton,  hostility  to  Tynemoulh 
priory,  115  ;  leases  Tynemouth  priory  and  de- 
mesnes to  (1539),  156,  230,  261,  340,  370; 
resigns  stewardship  of  Tynemouth  manor  (1546), 
158  ;  appointed  captain  of  Tynemouth  castle  (1 549), 
159,  204;  re-appointed  to  stewardship  (1549), 
159,  215  n  ;  letter  to,  127;  death  of  (1559),  159; 
Thomas  (2),  of  Hilton,  commissioner  (1596),  232  ; 
William,  of  BiJdick,  160. 

Hindmer,  of  Monkseaton  and  Newcastle,  pedigree, 
407  ;  Jonathan,  acquires  Monkseaton  property, 
(1704),  407. 

Hinguar,  Danish  leader  (875),  41  n. 

Hirlawe,  Gilbert  de,  fJock  master  of  Newminsler  abbe)-. 
78  n. 

Hoby,  Ralph,  plunderer  of  Tynemouth  property,  90  n. 

Hobson,  William,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1533),  363. 

Hodgson,  Anne,  monimiental  inscription  (1689),  362  ; 
Edward,  of  North  Shields,  one  of  the  '  twenty- 
four, '  368;  monumental  inscription  (1690),  362; 
Richard  (l),  of  Cowpen,  334  ;  Richard  (2),  .\I.P. 
for  Tynemouth  (1861-1865),  351. 

Hodshon,  William,  of  Whitley,  234. 

Holderness,  John  (Ramsay),  earl  of,  298. 

Holdsworth,  Richard,  vicar  of  Newcastle  (1595).  327  n. 

Holme,  Bridget  (Morton),  274  n. 

Holy  Island,  Bothwell  captured  at,  162  ;  petition  of 
garrison  of  (1648),  193  ;  fishing  at,  37S,  383,  385, 
386,  388. 


Holy-stone  (Shire  Moor),  413  n. 

Holywell,  lands  in,  held  by  Tynemouth  prinrj'.  49; 
Edward  I.  stops  at,  317  ;  road  from,  li)  Slickley, 
318  ;  tithes  of,  369,  371  ;  collieries  at,  29,  30,  31. 

Hopper,  Jane  (Fenwick),  349. 

Horlyne,  Roger,  sentenced  at  Tynemoulh  (1293),  219. 

Horner,  Alice  (Spearman),  346. 

Hornsee,  Robert,  of  North  Shields  (1407),  254  n. 

Horsley,  near  Felton.  pro|)eny  in,  396. 

Horsley,  Agnes,  widow  of  John, 424  ;  Alice  (jMmonde), 
424;  John  (i),  of  Shields,  land  in  Tynemouth,  259; 
grants  to  (1376),  423-424  ;  pedigree,  4:;  ;  John  (2). 
son  of  John  de,  256  ;  quit-tlaim,  424  ;  John  (3),  of 
Richmond,  goldsmith,  259,  424-425  ;  John  (4), 
son  of  Thomas,  quii-claim,  425  ;  Thomas  (l), 
owner  of  manuscript  from  Tynemoulh  library,  II9  ; 
Thomas  (2),  of  Bcnwell,  259,  424-42;. 

Horion,  castle  held  by  William  de  Valence,  75  n ; 
Edward  I.  at,  80,  317  ;  chapel  confirmed  to  Si. 
Alban's  monastery  (1174),  631;  not  subject  to 
pension,  64  ;  agreement  respecting  tynodaha  and 
churchyard  of,  66  n;  included  in  Tynemouth  L'nion, 
351  ;  Osbem,  chaplain  of,  362. 

Horton,  John  de  (l),  grant  to  Tynemoulh  priory,  115  ; 
officer  of  priory  (1306),  2l6n  ;  John  (2),  son  of 
John  de,  tenant  of  Tynemouth,  256,  423  ;  grant  to 
(1320),  421  ;  grant  of  right  of  way  (1331).  259n  ; 
William  de,  prior  of  Wymondham  and  of  Tjme- 
moulh  {circa  1265),  123. 

Hostmen's  Company,  Newcastle,  privileges  of,  300-302, 
304,  308,  312. 

Howard,  of  Carlisle,  family  of,  254  n  ;  colonel,  cap- 
lures  royalisu  at  Moriwth  (1655),  195 ;  Frances 
(Villiers),  202  ;  Frederick,  fifth  earl  of  Cariisle,  sells 
lands  in  "Tynemoulh  (1796),  266 ;  Lord,  freehold  in 
Tynemouth  (1649)  ;  26;  ;  Thomas,  marriage  (1 68 1), 
36; ;  William,  Lord,  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1608), 
262. 

Howarth,  John  de,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1325),  126, 
362  ;  grant  of  land  to  (1321),  394. 

IIowdon-on-Tyne,  I ;  Howdon  pit  (1804),  25  ;  »-agon- 
way  10,  29 ;  staithes  at,  30  ;  landing  place  al,  298  n; 
Howdon  bum,  315  ;  Howdon  pns,  298  n. 

Howe,  Rev.  G.  E.,  Roman  Catholic  priest  (1882),  377- 

Howick,  John  de,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (131 1),  126,  362. 

Howlet,  John,  one  of  the  '  iwentv-four'  (1674),  368. 

Howse,  Richard,  geological  works,  417,  418,  420. 

Hubba,  Danish  leader  (875),  41  n. 

Hucheson,  William,  tenant  of  Tynemoulh  (1539),  26J, 
265. 

Huddleston,  Rev.  Cunven,  282  ;  Wilfnd,  of  Hullon 
John,  282  n  ;  Rev.  Wilfrid,  claim  on  Shire  Moor 
(1790),  415. 

Hudson,  of  Newbiggin  in  Xewburn  and  of  Whitley, 
pedigree,  398  ; '  Enoch,  of  Brunton,  2S2  ;  Henry 
(l),  397  ;  works  coal  at  Whitley  and  Culler- 
coats,  20,  281  ;  Henrj-  (2),  buys  land  in  Whitley 
(1690),  398;  at  Monkseaton  (1690),  407:  Henry 
(3),  tenant  of  Whitley.  397  ;  builds  Whitley  hall. 
39S  ;  sells  land  in  Whitley  (1778),  399  ;  trustee  for 
North  Shields  poorhouse.  31 1;  claim  on  Shire 
Moor,  415  ;  Mary  (Dove).  2S;;  Richard,  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1675),  128  n. 

Hull,  merchants  of,  254. 

Humble,  Thomas,  fined  (1610).  240. 

Hume,  James,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1637),  363 ;  Joseph, 
401. 

Humford  mill  on  the  Blyth.  317. 

Humframvill.     See  Umfraville. 


440 


INDEX. 


Hundemanby,)John  de,  grant  from  (ihirtecnlh  century), 

421  ;  Nigasia  de,  421. 
Hiingus  mac  Fcrlon,  king  of  the  Picts,  413. 
Hunsdon,  Robert  Carey,  Lord  (158S),  164,  167. 
Hunter,  John,  one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674),  368; 

Nicholas,  charge  against  (1603),  367. 
Huntingdon,    Henry,   earl    of,    instructed    to    defend 

Tynemouth  castle  (15.SS),  168  ;  lord  lieutenant,  232. 
Hiintridge,  Leonard,  406. 
Hurry,    Amelia   (Fenwick),    349 ;     Samuel,    of  Great 

Yarmouth  and  Howdon,  399. 
Hurst,  T.  G.,  geological  work,  417. 
Hutchinson,  Anne  (Clark),  273  ;    Edward,  348  ;  John, 

tenant   of   Murton  (1707   and    1757),  411  ;    Ruth 

(Hudson),  39S. 
Hutton,  Michael,  of  Newcastle,  cooper  (1596),  235  ; 

W.,  geological  work,  420. 
Hyndeley,  WiUiam  de,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1264), 

249  n,  42 1  ;  grant  to,  423  n. 
Hyndmarsh,  Anthony,juror  of  Tynemouth  (1686),  241. 

I. 

Iceland  fisheries,  378. 

Igtham  Mote,  county  Kent,  Selby  of,  176  n. 

Inieary,  Rev.  Robert,  Baptist  minister  (1798-1814),  377. 

Inchiquin,  \Villiam,  third  earl  of,  202. 

Ingeilingum  (Gilling),  scene  of  St.  Oswin's  death,  42  n. 

In-lade,  sen'ice  called,  222  n. 

Innocent  III.,  Pope.     Si(  Popes. 

Inshire,  application  of  the  term,  i,  240. 

Ireland,  Rev.  Mr.  (1783),  312  n  ;  John  of,  rebel  {liiC), 

86-87. 
Ipswich,  settlers  from,  at  North  Shields,  310. 
Irvin,  Richard,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1897-1898),  352. 
Isabella,  Queen,  at  Tynemouth  (1312),  84. 

J. 

Jack,  Rev.  .Archibald,  minister  of  St.  .Andrew's  chapel 
(1834-1867),  374. 

Jackson,  Collingwood,  349  ;  Edward,  of  Gateshead, 
267  ;  Sarah  (Fenwick),  348  ;  William,  witness 
(1400),  424. 

James  IV.  of  Scotland,  106. 

Jarrow  monastery,  identified  with  '  Donemuth,'  39  ; 
sack  of  (794),  40  ;  re-settled  by  Bishop  Walcher 
(1074),  44;  monks  removed  from,  to  Durham 
(1085),  45  ;  tithe  fish  of,  369. 

Jersey,  Edward  \'illiers,  earl  of,  202. 

Jesmond,  grant  of  lands  in,  to  Tynemouth,  120. 

Jobling  and  partners,  lessees  of  Hartley  collieries,  31. 

Jubling,  Emily  (Mitcalfe),  268;  George,  mayor  of 
Tynemouth  (1S64),  352. 

Johanna,  princess  of  Wales,  100. 

John,  King,  charter  to  Tynemouth  prior}\  69  and  n  ; 
charter  to  Newcastle,  287. 

John,  St.,  of  Beverley,  39. 

Johnson,  .Ann  (Green),  411  ;  George,  of  Monkseaton, 
acquires  Seaton  Ville  farm  (170&),  408;  family, 
40S  n  ;  Humphrey,  brewer  (1627),  299  ;  Rev.  James, 
Roman  Catholic  priest  (1784),  376;  John  (i),  of 
Bebside,  high  sheriff  (17 15).  347.  408  n  ;  acquires 
Murton  farm  (1718),  412;  John  (2),  of  Wood- 
horn,  and  family,  monumental  inscription,  130; 
Michael,  marriage  (1723),  36;  ;  Robert,  tenant  of 
Tynemouth  (1539),  262,  265  ;  William  (r),  bailiff 
of  Newcastle  (1391),  422  ;  William  (2),  of  Monk- 
seaton  and  Newcastle,  buj's  farm  in  Murton  (1741) 
411. 

Jones,  Rev.  David  Thomas,  chaplain  at  Blyth,  334. 


Jouyn,  Robert,  merchant  of  Normandy  (1333),  254. 
Junius  Dubitatus,  owner  of  Roman  shield  found  in  the 

Tyne,  279. 
Justice,  James,  of  Justice  hall,  400. 

K. 

Keith,  Lord,  prisoner  at  Tynemouth,  163. 

Kelleseye,    Robert   de,   grant    to    Tynemouth    priory 

(1337),  115- 

Kellet,  John,  marriage  (1672),  365. 

Kellio,  Benjamin,  marriage  (1731),  365  ;  Ralph,  mar- 
riage (1675),  365. 

Kelly,  .Magnus  Morion,  323. 

Kenneslawe,  William  de,  grant  to  Tynemouth  prior)' 
(1307),  115,  257. 

Kenton,  coal  mines  in,  327. 

Ker,  Sir  .Andrew,  of  (iessford,  prisoner  at  Tynemouth, 
163  ;   Mr.,  of  North  Shields  (1764),  359  n. 

Kerrich,  John  (i),  of  Harleston,  271  ;  John  (2),  of 
Geldestone  hall,  271. 

Kettlewell,  Thomas,  founds  charity  school  at  North 
Shields  (iSig),  312,  336,  366. 

Kidd,  Mary  (Cardonnel-Lawson),  323. 

Kilham,  Rev.  .Alexander,  Primitive  Methodist  minister 

..  (1797),  375- 

Killerby,  James,  one  of  the  '  twenty-four '  (1674),  368. 
Killingworth,  moor,  316,  412  ;  geological  features,  see 

Clousden  Hill. 
Killingworth,    Luke,    heirs   own    salt   pans   at   North 

Shields  (1707),  310  ;   Ralph,  marriage  (1662),  364. 
King,    Allan,    deputy    at    Tynemouth    (1584),     165  ; 

William,  geological  work,  6,  417. 
Kirkby,  J.  W.,  geological  works,  2,  3,  417,  41S. 
Kirkham,  Walter  de.     See  Durham,  bishops  of. 
Kitchin,  Phillis  (Reed),  321. 
Klein,  Edward,  268. 

Knight,  Colonel,  under  General  Monk  (1660),  197. 
Knightley,  John,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (157S),  363. 
Knox,  Rev.  Walter,  Presbyterian  minister  (1803-1817), 

374- 

L. 

Lacy,  Joseph,  349  ;  Richard,  of  Newcastle,  monumental 
inscription,  130;  Robert  de,  sheriff  of  Northumber- 
land {circa  1 105),  54  n  ;  Samuel  (l),  of  Great 
A'armouth,  and  family,  monumental  inscription, 
130;  property  at  Preston,  347  ;  at  Monkseaton,  406 ; 
Samuel  (2),  of  Kirkoswald,  sells  Preston  farm 
(1805),  348;  .Monkseaton  property  (1800,407; 
claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415. 

Lade-bund,  meaning  of,  224. 

Laing,  family  of,  owners  of  dock  at  North  Shields,  310  n. 

Lamb,  Joseph,  lessee  of  collieries  (1799-183S),  27,  29, 
30  ;  Mary  (Ashburnham),  marriage  (1663),  365. 

Lambert,  Anne  (Crawford),  334  ;  Major-General,  at 
Newcastle  (1659),  196  ;  Robert,  takes  sanctuary  at 
Tynemouth  (1523),  212  ;  and  By.as,  Messrs.,  32. 

Lancaster,  John  of  Gaunt,  duke  of,  supports  cause  of 
Tynemouth  priory,  gS  ;  subscribes  towards  repair  of 
Tynemouth  castle  (1390),  99,  15c,  156;  Henry, 
constable  of  Tynemouth  (1445),  259  n,  425  ;  Thomas, 
earl  of,  84. 

Langley,  Prior  de  la  Mare  visits  Edward  11 1,  at,  93,  95  n. 

Lanesborough,  John  \'.  D.  Butler,  earl  of,  273. 

Lanfranc,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  46. 

Langdale,  Sir  Marmaduke,  defeats  Scots  (1644),  185  ; 
secures  Tynemouth  castle  for  the  Royalists  (164S), 
191  ;  plans  for  securing  Newcastle  and  Tynemouth 
(1652),  194. 


INDEX. 


441 


Langthong,  Adam,  murdered,  219. 

Langton,  John.     See  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Larkin,  Isabel,  Quaker  meetings  in  the  house  of,  371. 

Lawrence,  Peter,  marriage  (1675),  365 ;  Ralph,  in 
charge  of  Tynemouth  castle,  160. 

Laws,  Cuthbert  Umfreville,  steward  of  Tynemouth 
(1870),  215  n. 

Lawson,  Sir  George  (i),  takes  surrender  of  Tynemouth 
priory  (1539),  ill;  George  (2),  of  Glosler  Hill, 
sells  Murton  farm  (1702),  A12  ;  Hilton,  of  Chirton, 
will  (1748),  322  ;  marriage,  324,  325  ;  tenant  of 
Murton  (1757),  411  ;  Jane  (Dockwray),  269;  John 
(i),  of  Barton,  322  n  ;  John  (2),  of  Chirton,  322  n, 
415  ;  Robert  (i),  of  Ulgham,  acquires  Murton  farm 
(1679),  411  ;  Robert  (2),  of  Cramlington,  buys 
Chirton,  322  ;  sells  land  for  Quakers' burial  ground, 
372  ;  Thomas,  of  Cramlington,  lease  of  West 
Hartford  from  Tj-nemouth  priory,  no;  Rev. 
Wilfrid,  vicar  of  Warkworth,  322  n ;  Winifred, 
322  n  ;  bequest  (1790),  366. 

Laycock,  Joseph,  lessee  of  Seghill  colliery,  32. 

Leadbitter,  Edward,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1882), 
215  n. 

Lebour,  Professor  G.  A.,  geological  works,  4,  lo,  420. 

Lee,  Arthur,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240  ;  Edward, 
of  Monkwearmouth,  172  ;  Dr.  Peter,  candidate  for 
Tynemouth  priorate,  107  ;  Sir  Richard,  fortification 
of  Tynemouth  castle  (1545),  157  ;  report  on  Tyne- 
mouth fortifications,  161  ;  inspection  of  Tynemouth 
church,  127. 

Leeke,  Sir  Francis,  captain  of  Tynemouth  castle  (1546), 
127,  158,  204;  steward  of  Tynemouth  manor,  158, 
215  n. 

Leker,  Nicholas,  inquest  on,  219. 

Leland's  Collectanea  cited,  35,  106  n,  119,  154  "• 

Lemington  ironworks,  27. 

Len,  Stephen  de,  workman,  76. 

Leowric,  Tynemouth  fisherman,  captured  by  earl  of 
Chester,  60. 

Lesbur)',  John  de  Barneburgh,  vicar  of,  362. 

Leslie.     See  Leven,  earl  of. 

Leven,  Alexander  Leslie,  earl  of,  occupies  Newcastle 
(1640),  181  ;  campaign  of  1644, 185  ;  besieges  New- 
castle, 186  ;  Tynemouth  surrenders  to,  187  ;  holds 
earl  of  Northumberland's  demesnes  at  Tynemouth, 

193- 
Leving,  Captain,  rebel  (1662),  198. 
Libert,  John  de,  of  Saxton,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory 

(1345).  115- 
Liddell,  John  (i),  of   Dockwray  Square,  and  family, 

monumental  inscription,   130;   heir  of,  property  in 

Shire  Moor,  416  ;  John  (2),  of  Benwell,  349. 
Lighthouses  at   Tynemouth  and  North  Shields,  201, 

205-207,  274-27S. 
Ligulph,  sheriff  of  Northumberland,  writs  addressed  to 

{circa  II06-II16),  55. 
Lilburn,  in  Tyneniouthshire,   208  and  n  ;  granted  to 

Tynemouth    priory,    48,   54,   55   (13),    67  n,   69  n  ; 

restored  to  the  priory  after  forfeiture  (l  176),  62  n  ; 

chapel   of,  confirmed   to   St.  Alban's   (1174),  64; 

agreement    respecting    synodalia,   66  n.      See    also 

Morel,  Archil. 
Lilburn,  Captain  (1655),  195  ;  Lieut.-Colonel  Henry, 

deputy  captain  of  Tynemouth  castle  (164S),  192. 
Lindisfarne,  sack  of  (793).  4°- 
Lindley,  J.,  geological  work,  420. 
Lindsay,  William  Schaw,  M.P.  for  Tynemouth  (1854- 

1859)-  331-  ,  ,        , 

Lingones,  fourth  cohort  of  the,  36-37. 

Vol.  VIII. 


Linskill  of  Tynemouth  lodge,  pedigree,  272  ;  William 
(i),  inherits  property  in  Tj-nemouth,  269,  274;  in 
ilonkseaton,  407  ;  William  (2),  mayor  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1849-1850,  and  1855),  352  ;  sells  .Vlonk- 
seaton  property  (1875),  407. 

Linton,  George,  quaker  (1661),  372;  Robert,  quaker 
(1661),  372. 

Litel,  Matilda,  messuage  in  Tynemouth  (1336),  256. 

Loadsman,  Robert,  fishery  at  North  Shields  (1729- 
1730),  298  n  ;  marriage  (171  Oi  36;- 

Lomax,  John,  nonconformist  preacher,  373 ;  monu- 
mental inscription  (1693),  130. 

Long,  Henry,  Preston  tallage  roll  (1294),  342  ;  subsidy 
roll  (1296),  343. 

Longchamp,  William  de,  mtness  to  charter,  68  n. 

Longhorsley,  Charles  Ward,  vicar  of,  364. 

Long  Houghton,  sur\ey  of  (1567),  2440;  family  of 
Clark  of,  273. 

Lothian,  William  (Ker),  carl  of,  at  Tynemouth  (1646), 
189. 

Love,  Elizabeth  (Dockwray),  269  ;  Joseph,  of  Durham, 
buys  Murton  house  (1872),  411  ;  Captain  Thomas, 
deputy-governor  of  T>Tiemouth  (1662),  198,  ao3 ; 
one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674),  368. 

Low  Lights  (North  Shields),  early  building  at,  286 ; 
medieval  pier  at,  285  ;  salmon  fisher)-,  298,  324  ; 
staiths,  308,  309  ;  coal  and  lime  shipped  at,  27,  313, 
400;  factories,  271,  310,  313;  proposed  dock, 
354;  lifeboat  station  at,  356.  See  also  Clifford's 
fort,  Lighthouses,  and  Pow-bum. 

Lowe,  Jeremiah,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1686),  24I, 
305  n  ;  one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674),  368. 

Lowes,  John,  and  family,  monumental  inscription,  130. 

Lucy,  family  of,  arms  in  chapel  in  Tj-nemouth  prior)", 
104,  145  ;  Richard  de,  witness  to  charters,  62  n. 

Ludeburn,  John  de,  monk  of  T)'nemouih,  392  n. 

Ludgate,  Ann,  widow,  of  North  Shields,  296. 

Lyberd.     See  Libert. 

Lynn,  merchants  of,  254. 

Lyon,  James,  349. 

M. 

Macdonell,  Colonel,  202. 

Mackay,   Hon.   Alexander,  governor   of   Tj-n«mouih 

castle  (1771),  204. 
Mackenzie,  Rev.  Colin  A.,  Presbjterian  minister  (1854- 

1864),  374. 
Macrel.     See  Makarey. 
Madeson,  Henr)',  heirs  hold  land  in  Tynemouth,  262, 

263. 
Makarey,  family  of,  pedigree,  100  ;  John,  of  Whelham- 

stede,  see  Tynemouth,  priors  of;  .Margaret  (Bostock), 

100  ;  Thom.as,  of  Whethamstede.  100. 
Malcolm  IlL,  king  of  Scotland,  submits  to  William  the 

Conqueror  (1072),  43  ;  buried  at  Tj-nemouth  (1093), 

51-52. 
Malcolm  IV.,  king  of  Scotland,  surrenders  Nonhum- 

berl.ind  to  Henr)-  II.  (il57),  61. 
Malkeyn.  Roger,  son  of  William,  grant  from  (1 340),  423. 
Manley,  George,  268. 
M.ansell,  Captain  John,  272. 

Maperteshall,  .Vdam  de.     See  Tj-nemouth,  priors  of. 
Mare,  Thomas  de  la.     See  T)-nemouth,  priors  of. 
Marden,  co,il  mine  at  (13151.  '7.  254.  2S0;   water-mill 

at. .106,  241,  261,  263.  2S0-281,  328;  demesne  land 

at,  251,  262,  2S1  ;  well  at,  31 1  ;  limestone  quarries, 

set  Whitley  ;  burn,  course  of,  247,  280  n,  342,  3S9. 

See  also  Cullercoats. 

56 


442 


INDEX. 


Mareys,  Peier,  of  Berwick,  fined  at  Tynemouth  (1293), 

219. 
Margaret,  wife   of  Edward   I.,  at  Tynemouth  (1304), 

84.  253- 
Margaret  of  Anjou,  lands  at  Tynemouth  (1462),  104. 
Margaret,  daughter  of  Henry  \'1I.,  received  by  prior 

of  Tynemouth  (1503),  Io6. 
Market  at   Bewick,  75  ;    at  Tynemouth,  75,    79,  84, 

252-253  ;    market   cross   at   Tynemouth,    217  ;    at 

North  Shields,  301-303,  311. 
Marley,  Sir  John,  governor  of  Newcastle,  182, 195,  19S  ; 

Robert,  son  of  Sir  John,  195  ;  lieutenant  of  volun- 
teers (1667),  200  n. 
Marmion,    Manser,   witness   to   charter   (1138),  59  n  ; 

Robert,  witness  to  charter,  62  n. 
Marshall,  Elizabeth  Fairlam  (Clark),  273  ;    Rowland, 

tenant    of    East    Chirton    (1606),    321  ;    William, 

witness  to  charters,  68  n,  69  n. 
Marston  Moor,  battle  of,  186. 
Mary,  St.,  Tynemouth   church  dedicated  to,  41,   57  ; 

figure  on  counterseal  of  Prior  Germanus,  121. 
Mary,  Queen  of  Scots.     See  Stuart. 
Maryns,  John.     Sre  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 
Mason,  service  of  carting  from,  224. 
Mason,   William,  son  of  William,  grant  from  (n76), 

423. 
Matilda,  queen  of  Henry  I.,  grants  Bewick   and  Lil- 

burn  to  Tynemouth  priory,  48-49,  54  and  n. 
Matlyne,  John,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 
Matthew,  Tobias.     See  Durham,  bishops  of. 
Matthewson,  Roger,  tenant  of  fisheiy  (1328),  340  n. 
Maud,    Empress,    supported    by    David    of    Scotland 

(1 136),  58. 
Maude,  Jacob,  lessee  of   Percy    Main  colliery  (1799), 

22  ;  of  Backworth  colliery  (1812),  27. 
Maudut,  Roger,  coroner  of  Tynemouth  (before  1293), 

2ig. 
Ma.ximinus,  C.  Julius,  dedicatory  inscription  b}',  found 

at  Tynemouth,  37. 
Maymond,  Robert,  witness  (1363),  25S  n,  422. 
Maynard,  Mary  (Dockwray),  270. 
Mayson,  John  Walker,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1854), 

352- 
Mazon,  Simon,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1336),  255,  256  ; 

Walter,  land  in  Tynemouth,  256  ;  William,  son  of 

Roger,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1336),  256. 
Mease,   Solomon,    mayor    of   Tynemouth    (1852    and 

i860),  352. 
Melton,  Sir  John,  grant  of  salt  pans  at  North  Shields 

(1631),  310  ;  land  in  Tynemouth  (1631-1637),  264  ; 

Lady,  sued  (1649),  241. 
Merchant  \'enturers  of  Bristol,  Company  of,  owners  of 

fee-farm  rent  in  Tynemouth,  371. 
Merdeffen-pennies,  meaning  of,  224. 
Meredith,    Thomas,    governor   of    Tynemouth    castle 

(1708),  204. 
Merley,  freeman  of  Monkseaton  (1377),  405  ;  John  de, 

witness  (1392),  424. 
Merrj-man,  William,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1466),  362. 
Mersfen.     See  Mason. 
Merston,   Philip  de,  exemption   from  merchet,  250  n; 

Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1296),  252  ;  witness,  421, 

422  ;  land  in  Tynemouth,  423. 
Meryngton,    William,    grant    to    Traemouth    priory 

(1380),  116.  ^       ^ 

Messor,  Robert,  West  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294),  337. 
Metcalfe.     See  Mitcalfe. 
Michellson,    Thomas,   tenant   of   Tynemouth    (1539), 

262,  265. 


Middlesex,    Lionel,    earl    of,    lord    treasurer    (1622), 

1 78. 
.Middleton-in-Teesdale,    tithes    of,    granted    to    Tyne- 


Gilbert   de,   rebel 
John  de  (i),  senes- 


mouth  priory,  50,  62  n,  68  n. 

.\liddleton,  .'Xiine  (Delaval),  171 
(131S),  86,  254  ;  executed,  87  ; 
chal  of  Tynemouth  (1264),  215  n,  402;  John  (2), 
witness(i426),  425,426 ;  Sir  John  (3),  witness  (1426), 
424,  425;  Robert  de,  chaplain  (1319),  248  n  ; 
Thomas  de  (l),  plunders  Tynemouth  property  {circa 
1325),  90  ;  Thomas  (2),  of  Silksworth,  262  n,  263  n  ; 
William  de  (l),  justice  itinerant  (1280),  211  n; 
William  de  (2),  marauder  (1 321),  88. 

Milbanke,  of  Halnaby  and  Thorpe  Perrow,  descent,  326 ; 
Bryan,  327  ;  Christobel,  327  ;  Edmund  (l),  tenant 
of  Tynemouth  (1597),  23 1,  234,  235,  326  ;  will,  327  ; 
Edmund  (2),  327  ;  Eleanor,  327  ;  Grace,  327  ;  Joan, 

327  ;  John,  327  ;  Lancelot,  327  ;  Mark  (l),  tenant 
of  East  Chirton  (1606),  321  ;  high  sheriff  and 
mayor  of  Newcastle,  326  ;  inheritance,  327  ;  buys 
Middle  Chirton,  333  ;  acquires  part  of  Tynemouth 
tithes  (1676),  371  ;  Sir  Mark  (2),  of  Halnaby,  first 
baronet,  creation  (1661),  326  ;  bequest  (167S),  365, 
36S,  371  ;  Nicholas,  327  ;  Sir  Ralph  (i),  fifth 
baronet,  petition  for  wagonway  (i757),  266  n  ;  Sir 
Ralph  (2)  (Noel),  sixth  baronet,  claim  on  Shire 
Moor  (1790),  415  ;  sale  of  Balkwell  estate  (1805), 

328  ;  sells  tithes  in  Tynemouth  parish  (1818),  371  ; 
Richard  (i),  327  ;  Richard  (2),  327  ;  Robert,  327  ; 
William,  of  North  Shields,  death  (1603),  260; 
transfer  of  land  to  (1600),  298  ;  will,  327. 

Milbourne,  of  Chirton,  pedigree,  324  ;  family  of,  own 
salt  pans  at  Shields,  306,  310;  George  (l),  of 
Chirton,  works  coal  in  Chirton  and  Monkseaton, 
>9i  325;  sued  (1649),  24I  ;  property  at  Low  Lights, 
272  ;  fishery  at  North  Shields  (1637),  298  n  ;  mort- 
gage of  property  in  Chirton  (1641),  332  ;  land  in 
Preston  (1649),  345  ;  bequest,  365  ;  land  in  Monk- 
seaton (1650),  406  n  ;  George  (2),  of  Chirton,  be- 
quest (167 1),  365  ;  Jane  (.\Iitford),  324  ;  Ralph,  of 
Chirton,  death  (1689),  325  ;  monument  in  Christ 
church,  362  ;  William,  of  Newcastle,  fishery  at  North 
Shields  (1637),  298  n ;  Winifred  (i),  rebuilds 
Chirton  house  (1693),  325  ;  monument  in  Christ 
church,  362;  tenant  of  Murton  (1707),  411; 
Winifred  (2)  (Roddam),  heir  to  Chirton,  325  ; 
mani.age  (1698),  365. 

Milburn,  George,  of  Chirton,  herd,  324  n ;  Lucy 
(Delaval),  171  ;  Thomas  de,  conservator  of  Tyne 
(1293),  220. 

Miller,  John,  of  Preston,  'bond'  (1295),  223. 

Mills,  suit  to,  222,  228  n  ;  mill  silver,  339  n  ;  Tyne- 
mouth windmill,  219,  247-248,  261,  263.  See  also 
Billy  .Mill,  Flatworth,  Marden. 

Mills,  of  Monkseaton,  pedigree,  406  ;  Elizabeth  (i), 
(Otway),  346  ;  Elizabeth  (2)  (Boulby),  406  ;  Jane, 
claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  ;  John,  juror  of 
Tynemouth  (1686),  241  ;  high  constable  (1690), 
283  n  ;  Robert,  yeoman  (1603),  328;  Thomas  (i), 
juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240;  Thomas  (2), 
soldier,  177. 

Milnton,  near  North  Shields,  247-248  ;  in  Tynemouth- 
shire,  208  ;  granted  to  Tynemouth  jiriory,  55  (13), 
67  n  ;  lands  in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth  priorj-, 
115,  117,  248;  valuation  of  tithes,  369;  deed 
relating  to,  422. 

Milneton,"Hugh  de,  pays  homage  to  Abbot  Norton 
(1264),  113,  248;  William  de,  paj's  homage  to 
Abbot  Berkhamstead'(i29i),  248. 


INDEX. 


Mitcalfe,  of  Tynemouih  and  Norih  Shields,  pedigree, 
267-268  ;  Ann  Bird  (Ames),  sells  Murton  house 
(1833),  41 1 ;  Anne  Emma  (Fenwick), 349;  Henry  (i), 
of  Murion  house,  buys  Monkseaton  property  (1792), 
408;  Murion  house  (1765),  411  ;  claim  on  Shire 
Moor  (1790)  415  ;  Henry  (2),  M.P.  for  Tynemouih 
(1841-1S47),  351  ;  John,  porter  at  Tynemouih 
castle,  164  ;  receiver  of  hall-corn  rent,  335  ;  Sus- 
anna (Fenwick),  349  ;  Thomas,  graving  dock  at 
North  Shields  (1820),  314  ;  William,  of  Tynemouih 
house,  presents  paten  to  Christ  Church  (1825),  360. 

Mitford  castle,  surrender  of  (1321),  88  and  n  ;  David  I. 
at  (1138),  59. 

Mitford,  Anthony,  constable  of  Tynemouih  castle,  216  n, 
234;  tenant  (1539),  262;  Christopher,  tenant  of 
Tynemouih  (1539),  262;  Henry,  262  n  ;  Jane 
(Milbourne  and  Fenwick),  324  ;  second  marriage 
(1652),  364;  Robert,  327;  W.  de  (i),  canon  of 
Hexham,  78  n  ;  William  de  (2),  seneschal  of  Tyne- 
mouih (1421),  215  n,  424. 

Mollineux,  Roger,  ensign  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n. 

Monk,  General,  crosses  the  Tweed  (1660),  196;  ad- 
vance to  London,  197. 

Monkchester.     See  Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 

Monk's  stone,  near  Tynemouth,  description  of,  131-133; 
possibly  a  griih  cross,  211  ;  early  reference  to,  423  n. 

Monkseaton  TOWNSHIP,  402-407  ;  in  Tynemouthshire, 
208  ;  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  48,  54,  5;,  62  n, 
67  n,  389,  402  ;  lands  in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth 
priory,  115,  116  ;  manor  of,  221  ;  serf  of,  buried  at 
Dunfermline,  51  ;  plundering  of  property  at,  90; 
Black  Death  in,  227,  405;  freeholds  in,  263,  422  ; 
suit  to  F'latworth  mill,  339  n  ;  number  and  size  of 
holdings  in,  228  ;  rent  of  farmholds  in,  229  ;  recog- 
nition of  copyhold  tenure  at,  239  ;  tenants  of,  pre- 
sented at  Tynemouth  manor  court,  241  ;  tithes  of, 
369,  371  ;  coal  mines,  17,  18,  19,  20,  26-27,  321, 
397-398  ;  census  returns,  402  n  ;  urban  district,  401; 
isolated  portions  of  township,  416. 

Montacute,  family  of,  92. 

Montague,  William  de,  custodian  of  Barnard -castle 
(1315-1316),  87  n. 

Montgomer)',  Hugh,  Lord,  in  command  of  Tynemouih 
Castle  (1640),  182  ;  Major,  commander  of  Scottish 
horse  (1644),  185. 

Montivilliers,  merchants  of,  254. 

Montrose,  James,  Marquis  of,  joins  royalists  (1644),  186. 

Moor,  John,  of  Alorpeth  High  House,  333  ;  property 
at  Monkseaton,  408. 

Moor  Houses,  315  ;  gallows  at,  317  ;  demesne  at,  409. 

Moray,  F.arl  of,  besieges  Tynemouth  (1389),  99. 

More,  Rev.  George,  Presbyterian  minister  (17S1-17S5), 

375- 

Morel,  Archil,  lord  of  Bewick  and  Lilburn  {circa 
II05),  54  and  n. 

Morgan,  Robert,  grant  of  land  in  North  Shields  lo 
(1600),  298  n. 

Morkar,  cousin  of  earl  Waltheof,  44. 

Morpeth,  capture  and  recapture  of  castle  (1644),  186  ; 
royalist  conspirators  at  (1655),  195  ;  General  Monk 
at  (1660),  197  ;  deed  relating  to,  422. 

Morton,  Galfrid  de,  witness  (i  321-1326),  395  n, 
423;  Murton  subsidy  roll  (1296),  409;  John  de 
(l),  Murton  subsidy  roll  (I2g6),  409  ;  witness  (1319 
and  1324),  248  n  ;  John  de  (2),  witness  (131)0), 
257  n,  (1363),  258  n,  422  ;  John  (3),  of  Tynemouih, 
freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1649),  26;,  274  ;  John  (4), 
of  Willington,  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1649),  265, 
274;    Matilda    de,    Preston    Ullage    roll    (1294), 


443 

342  i  subsidy  roll  (1296),  343  ;  Nicholas  de,  juror 
of  Tynemouih  (1293),  218;  holding  in  Murton 
(1264  and  1291),  409,  4ion;  subsidy  roll  (1296), 
409  ;  witness,  421  ;  Ralph  de,  Murton  subsidy  roll 
(1296),  409;  Roger  de  (l),  juror  of  Tynemouih 
(1293)  218;  Murion  subsidy  roll  (1296),  409; 
witness,  421  ;  Roger  (2),  173;  freehold  in  Tyne- 
mouth (1608),  263,  274  n. 

Morton-Tynemouth,  granted  lo  Tynemouth  priory,  50, 
68  n  ;  cornagc  rem  at,  118  n. 

Morvill,  Hugh  de,  witness  lo  charters,  59  n,  60  n. 

Mould,  John,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 

Mowbray,  Robert  de.     See  Northumberland,  earls  of. 

Moyer,  Colonel,  prisoner  at  Tynemouih,  ig8. 

Moyner,  Hugh  le,  seneschal  of  Tynemouih  (1256), 
215  n. 

Muggleswick  plot,  198  n. 

Murray,  Rev.  George  M.,  273. 

Murton  TOWNSHIP,  409-412  ;  in  Tynemouthshire.  208  ; 
granted  lo  Tynemouih  priory,  48,  67  n  ;  lands  in, 
acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  115,  116,410;  tithes 
of,  124,  369,  371  ;  number  and  size  of  holdings  in, 
228  ;  rent  of  farmholds  in,  229 ;  recognition  of 
copyhold  tenure  at,  239 ;  prescntmeni  made  at 
Tynemouih  manor  court.  241  ;  freeholds  in,  263, 
411  ;  outcrop  of  coal  at,  8;  colliery,  19;  census 
returns,  409  n  ;  isolated  portions  of  township,  416. 

Murton,  Marj-  (Durham),  marriage  (1694),  365.  See 
nlso  Morton. 

Mussel  scalp  near  North  Shields,  298  n. 

Mykeley,  Roger  de,  inquest  on,  219. 

N. 

Nades,  Roger,  freeholder  of  Preston  (1296),  343. 

Nalers,  Joseph,  of  Sandiford,  401  ;  Mrs.,  of  Tynemouth, 
presents  paten  lo  Christ  church  (1818),  360. 

Naylor,  Kathcrine  (Dockwray),  269. 

Neile,  Richard.     See  Durham,  bishops  of. 

Nele,  John,  witness  (1399),  424. 

Nelle,  Roger,  order  of  arrest  (1293),  220. 

Nennius,  cited,  35. 

Netherwitton  farm  case,  243. 

Ncubom,  Christiana,  widow  of  William  de,  messuage- 
in  Tynemouth  (1336),  256. 

Neusum-lade,  meaning  of  224,  250  n. 

Neville  of  Rab)',  pedigree,  335  ;  Ralph  de,  «-arden  of 
the  .Marches  (1346),  95,  156. 

Neville's  Cross,  battle  of,  94. 

Newbiggen  in  New  burn  parish,  family  of  Hudson  of,  398. 

Newbiggin  in  Woodhorn,  lands  in,  held  by  Tjmcmoulh, 
])riory,  49,  117;  chapel  confirmed  lo  St.  Alban's 
abbey  (1 174),  63  n  ;  pension  from,  p.ayable  10  St. 
Alban's,  64  ;  parliamenlarj-  representatives  of,  261  n  ; 
fishing  at,  287  n,  385,  3S6,  388. 

Newbum,  tithes  of,  granted  to  Tynemouih  priorj-,  49  n, 
;o,  62  n,  68  n  ;  caning  to,  396;  battle  of,  iSl  ; 
Dockwray,  vicar  of,  269. 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  William  I.  al  (1070,  1072),  43  ; 
arrival  of  monks  al  (1074).  44  ;  siege  of,  by  Wil- 
liam H.  (lC9j),  52-53  ;  monks  of  Tynemouih  freod 
from  forced  labour  at,  55  (14)  ;  charters  of  David  I. 
dated  al,  59  n  ;  charters  of  Earl  Henry  fiiz  D.ivid 
dated  at,  60  n  ;  burgesses  of,  do  homage  lo  .AbKi: 
Norton  (1264),  113;  attack  on  North  Shields  by 
men  of  (I26,S),  79,  2S6  ;  legal  piiveedings  «iih 
Tynemouih  regarding  North  Shields  (I2yl),  79. 
2S6-2S8 ;  Edward  1.  at  (1292),  80;  attempted 
capture  of  Gavestonal(i3l2),  84  ;  defended  against 


444 


INDEX. 


Bruce  (1315),  86  ;  Edward  III.  at  (1335),  92  ;  castle 
ofi  395  ;  claims  ownership  of  Kenham,  97  ;  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's prior)'  at,  260  ;  property  of  Tynemoulh 
priory  in,  49,  62  n,  ICO,  I15,  I16;  Scots  besiege 
Hotspur  in  (1388),  98;  armed  feud  with  prior  of 
Tynemouth  (15 10),  290-291  ;  settlement  of  disputes 
by  arbitration  (1512),  291-292  ;  acquires  monopoly 
of  trade  in  the  Tyne  (1530),  292-293  ;  establishment 
of  Trinity  House  at  (1536),  274-275  ;  petition  for 
custody  of  Tynemouth  castle  (1574),  164-165  ; 
defenceless  state  of,  168,  170;  claims  right  of 
searching  vessels,  299  n  ;  offer  to  repair  Tynemoulh 
caslle  (1625),  178-179  ;  action  taken  against  North 
Shields  brewers,  299 ;  ordnance  removed  from 
Tynemouth  to  (1638),  181  ;  occupation  by  the 
Scots  (1640),  181-182  ;  re-fortified  by  the  marquis 
of  Newcastle  (1641),  1S2  ;  Parliament  prohibits 
trade  with  (1643),  183-1S4;  siege  of  (1644),  1S6- 
187  ;  Charles  1.  at  (1646),  189-190  ;  evacuation  by 
the  Scottish  troops  (1647),  190-191  ;  occupation 
by  the  Parliamentarians  (1647),  191  ;  monopoly 
exercised  by  the  Hostmen's  Company  and  Ship- 
wrights, 300-301  ;  Gardner's  attack  on  privileges 
of  (1653).  301-303  ;  George  Fox  at  (1653),  371  ; 
royalist  plots  for  seizure  of  (1654),  194-195  ; 
declares  for  Monk  (1660),  197  ;  money  voted  for 
repair  of  Tynemouth  castle  (1665),  19S  ;  sectarian- 
ism at,  198-199 ;  attempts  at  suppressing  trade 
at  Shields,  304-305,  308  ;  house  property  in,  327, 
396,  398  ;  fish  market  at,  379,  382  ;  Newcastle  and 
North  Shields  railway,  355  ;  Shields  separated 
from  port  of  (1848),  353  ;  Richard  Holdsworth,  vicar 
of  (1595),  327  n  ;  tithes  of,  363.     See  also  Tyne. 

Newcastle,  William  Cavendish,  marquis  of,  governor 
of  Newcastle  (1642),  182  ;  campaign  of  1644,  186. 

Newcomen's  atmospheric  engine,  21. 

Newenham,  Henry  de,  manor  of  Whitley  conveyed  to 
(1310),  393. 

Newminster,  abbey  destroyed  by  David  of  Scotland 
(1138),  58  ;  debt  from  Tynemouth  to,  76. 

Newport,  Montjoy,  earl  of,  master  of  ordnance  (1638), 
181. 

Newsham,  fossil  plants  and  fish  at,  9,  418,  419,  420  ; 
geological  features,  11,  30;  coal  workings  at,  33; 
tithes,  369,  371  ;  service  of  carting  from,  224. 

Newton  by  the  Sea,  fishing  at,  385,  386,  388. 

New  York,  hamlet  of,  412. 

Nicholas  I\'.,  Pope.     See  Popes. 

Nicholson,  John,  sued  (1651),  241. 

Nixon,  Frances  (Crawford),  334. 

Noble,  John,  claim  on  Shire  -Moor  (1790),  415. 

Noel,  Sir  Ralph.     See  .Milbanke. 

Nogge,  John,  quit-claims  to  and  by  (1333),  423  ; 
Symon,  of  Newcastle,  quit-claim  (1333),  423. 

Nolan,  Rev.  John,  Roman  Catholic  priest  (1878-1884), 
376-377. 

Norfolk,  Hugh  Bigod,  earl  of,  witness  to  charter  (1158), 
62  n  ;  Thomas,  fourth  duke  of,  trial  before,  160  ; 
report  on  cost  of  Tynemouth  garrison  (1560),  161. 

Norham,  surrenders  to  David  of  Scotland  (1138),  59  ; 
Parliament  at  (1291),  80,  392. 

Norris,  Rev.  Alfred,  Congregationalist  minister  (1869- 
1885),  377. 

North,  John,  of  London,  273  ;  Roger,  '  Life  of  Lord 
Keeper  Guildford  '  cited,  308. 

Northampton,  Peace  of,  91. 

Northbury,  William  de,  justice  for  Tynemouthshire, 
(127S),  211  n. 

North  Seaton.     See  Seaton  Woodhorn. 


North  Shields,  TOWNSHIP,  284-315  ;  in  Tynemouth- 
shire, 208  and  n  ;  boundaries,  284  ;  early  growth  of, 
75,  285-286;  shipment  of  coal  at  (1268),  18; 
attacked  by  citizens  of  Newcastle  (1268),  79,  286; 
suit  between  Tynemouth  and  Newcastle  regarding 
(1290),  79,  2S6-288  ;  subsidy  roll  of  1296,  288; 
further  growth  and  development,  289  ;  inquisition 
into  st.ate  of  (1447),  290;  privileges  at,  conferred 
on  Tynemoulh  priory  (1462),  104,  290  ;  dispute  be- 
tween Newcastle  and  Tynemouth  regarding  port  of, 
290,  292  ;  lighthouses  built  at  (1539),  274-275  ; 
decline  of,  293-294  ;  attempted  establishment  of 
copyhold  tenure  at,  294-297  ;  office  of  bailiff  of, 
298  n  ;  right  of  search  exercised  at,  298  n  ;  sale  of 
crown  lands  in  (1635),  240,  297-299  ;  suppression 
of  brewing  trade  at,  299,  301,  305  ;  forts  erected  at 
(1641),  1S2-184,  276  ;  capture  of  forts  (1644),  186- 
187  ;  attempt  to  obtain  market  for  (1653),  301-303  ; 
threatened  destruction  of  quays  at  (1661),  304-305  ; 
description  of,  in  the  seventeenth  century,  305-307  ; 
local  government  in,  307-30S ;  entries  on  Tyne- 
mouth court-rolls  relating  to,  240-241  ;  CHfford's 
fort  built  at  (1672),  200,  276  ;  decay  of  salt  trade, 
309-310;  increase  of  shipping  at,  308-309,  310, 
312  ;  roperies  at,  268  ;  colliery  at,  266  n  ;  develop- 
ment of  Lord  Howard's  lands,  266  ;  development  of 
Dockwray  estate,  271;  Stephenson  and  Linskill 
properties,  269,  274  ;  Walker  property  in,  271  ; 
development  of  Yeoman  and  Sibthorpe  estate,  326  ; 
urban  extension  and  public  buildings,  311-314; 
establishment  of  municipal  government  (182S),  314- 
315  ;  creation  of  Tynemouth  borough  (1838),  247, 
350-353  ;  town  hall,  352  ;  Newcastle  railway,  355  ; 
creation  of  port  of  (1848),  353;  ferries,  241,  354- 
355;  public  institutions,  356;  churches,  360; 
tithes,  369,  371  ;  nonconformity  in,  199,  371-378; 
coble-building  at,  382  ;  herring  fishing  at,  380-381  ; 
white  fisheries  at,  382-385  ;  number  of  fishing  boats 
at,  388  ;  census  returns,  315  n.  See alsoTynemoMlh 
Borough  and  Low  Lights. 

North  Sunderland  (Seahouses),  fish  trade  at,  380,  381, 
3S5,  388. 

Northumberland.  John  Dudley,  duke  of,  receives  site 
of  Tynemouth  priory  and  lands  (1551),  159.  See 
also  Percy. 

Northumberland,  earls  of,  Tostig  (1055-1066),  visits 
Tj'nemouth,  41  ;  his  banishment  and  death,  43  ; 
connection  with  Tynemouth,  154  ;  Gospatric  (1067- 
1072),  his  deposition,  44  ;  Waltheof  (1072-1075), 
grants  church  of  Tynemouth  to  the  monks  of 
Jarrow,  44 ;  Walcher  (1075-1080),  see  Durham, 
bishops  of;  Alberic  (1080-10S2),  confirms  grant  of 
Tynemouth  to  the  monks  of  Jarrow,  45  ;  Robert  de 
Mowbray  (1082-1095),  extent  of  his  powers  as  earl, 
209  ;  sanctions  removal  of  the  monks  of  Jarrow  to 
Durham,  45  ;  probable  founder  of  T)'nemouth  castle, 
155  ;  transfers  Tynemouth  priory  from  Durham  to 
St.  Alban's,  46-47,  81  ;  his  endowments,  47-50,  55, 
24S  ;  buries  Malcolm  IlL  at  Tynemouth,  51  ;  his 
revolt  and  death,  52-54,  155  ;  history  of,  in  Tyne- 
mouth library,  I20n;  Henry  (fitz  David)  (1139- 
1152),  recognised  by  treaty  (1139).  59;  confers 
privileges  on  monks  of  Tynemoulh,  59,  209 ; 
charters  of,  59  n,  60  n  ;  Hugh  Pudsey,  see  Durham, 
bishops  of.     See  also  Percy. 

Northumberland  Dock,  33. 

Norihumbrian  Annals,  40. 

Norton,  county  York,  cornage  of,  Ii8n;  county 
Durham,  John  de  Barneburgh,  vicar  of,  362. 


INDEX. 


445 


Norlon,  John,  of  Cliiheroe,  officer  at  Tynemouth  castle 
(1545),  158;  Mark,  witness  (1603),  327,  328; 
Roger  de,  see  St.  Albans,  abbots  of. 

Norwich,  bishop  of,  arbitrator  between  Tynemouth 
priory  and  Newcastle  (15 12),  291. 

O. 

Odard,  sheriff  of  Northumberland,  writs  of  Henry  I. 

addressed  to  {circa  1 120),  55  ;  at  York  (1121),  57. 
Offa,  king  of  Mercia,  founder  of  St.  Alban's  monastery, 

122  n. 
Ogle,  Henry  Cavendish,  earl  of,  governor  of  Newcastle 

(1667),  200  ;  colonel  of  volunteer  regiment,  200  n  ; 

Frances  (Howard),  m.irriage  (1681),  365  ;   Henry, 

of  Liverpool,  marriage  (1754).  363  ;   Jane  (Ogle), 

marriage   (I754).   365;    J"hn    (i),   of  Ogle,   171; 

John  (2),  of  Newsham  and  Bebside,  marriage,  171  ; 

Katherine,     tenant    of    Tynemouth    (1649),    265  ; 

Mark,  owns  salt  pans  at  North  Shields  (1707),  310; 

Oswald,    of    Shilvington,    deposition    (1596),   234; 

Phillis   (Cramlington,    Delaval,    Ogle),    171  ;     Sir 

Robert,  witness  (1426),  424,  435. 
Oilli,  d'.     See  Oyley  d'. 
Oliver,   Johanna,  of   Rypton,  396  ;   John,  of  Rypton, 

sells    manor    of    Whitley   (1403),    396 ;    Thomas, 

architect,  377. 
Orange,  William  (i),  prince  of,  sends  man-of-war  to 

the   Tyne   (1646),    190;     William    (2),    prince   of 

(William  111.),  lands  at  Torbay  (16S8),  203. 
Orde,  Lancelot,  lieutenant  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ; 

Nathaniel,  depiit}-  captain  of  Tynemouth,  177. 
Orkney,  George  Hamilton,  first  earl  of,  202. 
Orm,  villager  of  Tynemouth,  248. 
Ornford,  John  le,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (1392),  215  n, 

422. 
Osbern,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (twelfth  century),  362. 
Oseworth,    John    de,    plunders    Tynemouth    property 

{circa  1325),  90. 
Osred,  king   of  Northumbria,   buried   at    Tynemouth 

(792)^40- 

Oswald,  St.,  reputed  founder  of  Tynemouth  monastery, 
39  ;  cross  in  church  of,  at  Durham,  132,  133. 

Oswin,  St.,  discovery  of  his  body  at  Tynemouth  (106;), 
41-43,  135;  his  body  granted  to  monks  of  Jarrow 
(1072),  44-43  ;  patron  saint  of  Tynemouth,  57  ; 
extinction  of  fire  attributed  to,  61  ;  last  miracle  of 
(13S4),  gS  ;  shrine  made  for  (mo),  56;  work  of 
13aldwin  the  goldsmith  on  shrine,  66 ;  description  of 
shrine,  73  ;  shrine  removed  to  Lady-chapel  {circa 
1346),  95-96  ;  donation  to  shrine  by  Johanna, 
princess  of  Wales,  100;  destruction  of  shrine  (1539), 
III  ;  search  for  remains  of  (1774),  146  ;  figure  on 
Tynemouth  priory  seal,  121  ;  psalter  of.  nS  ;  Vila 
Osu'ini,  118,  119;  cited,  41-44,  56-57,  60-61,  67, 
119,  212,  222  n,  248,  318. 

Oswy,  king  of  Bernicia,  murderer  of  St.  Oswin,  41. 

Oltir,  Danish  earl,  412  n. 

Otterburn,  battle  of  (13SS),  98. 

Otway,  of  Preston,  pedigree,  346;  Anne  (Dove),  271  ; 
Gilbert,  tenant  of  Tj-nemouih  (1649),  265  ;  John, 
tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539).  262,  265  ;  Robert  (l), 
assault  on  (1305),  394;  Robert  (2),  of  Preston, 
freehold  in  Tynemoinh  (1649),  265  ;  freehold  in 
Preston  (1649),  345  ;  daughter's  marriage,  271  ; 
Thomas  (l),  tenant  of  Tj'nemouth  (1595),  232, 
234;  juror  (1562),  240;  freehold  (1608),  263; 
Thomas  (2).  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1686),  241  ;  one 
of  the  '  twenty-four  '  (1674),  368. 


Overing,  John,  brewer  of  North  Shields  (1672),  305. 
Ovingham  rectory,  purchase  of,  121  ;  John  PIkeworth, 

vicar  of,  121. 
Ovington,  tithes  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  49  n, 

50,  62  n,  121. 
Owen,  Prof.,  geological  paper,  418. 
Owton,  tithes  of,  held  by  Tynemouth  priory,  50,  370. 
Oxenhall,  near  Darlington,  'hell-pots'  at,  120  n. 
Oxford,  payment  made  by  Tynemouth  10  St.  Alban's 

hall,  118. 
Oxiey,  Joseph,  invents  winding-engine  (1763),  24. 
Outshirc,  application  of  the  terra,  I,  240. 
Oyley,  Richard  d',  witness,  58  n. 

P. 

Page,  John,  candidate  for  vicarage  of  Tynemouth 
(1659),  367. 

Palmer,  Rev.  E.  R.,  .M.A.,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's 
chapel  (1888-1892),  374. 

Pape,  Gilbert,  land  in  Tynemouth,  256. 

Parco,  Richard  de,  prior  of  Tynemouth  (1244),  123. 

Parker,  Rev.  Edward,  of  Durham,  406 ;  William, 
marriage,  396;  inherits  Whitley  (I403),  396; 
grants  Whitley  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1404),  117. 

Patadoille,  William,  tenant  of  Preston  (1296),  343. 

Pate,  .Margaret,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262; 
Thomas,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262.  265 

Pattison,  Hannah  (Whitehead),  marriage  (1684),  365  ; 
John,  of  North  Shields  (1607),  296 ;  Robert,  juror 
of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240;  Stephen,  of  North 
Shields  (1607),  296. 

Paul.     See  St.  .Mban's,  abbots  of. 

Payne.  John,  receiver  of  hall-corn  rent,  233. 

Pearcih,  Barbara  (Dixon  and  Hindmer),  407. 

Pearson,  .Anthony,  of  North  Shields,  monumental 
inscription,  130;  will,  274,  366,407;  buys  pro- 
perly at  .Monkseaton  (1763),  407  ;  Christopher, 
leg.acy  to  (1603),  327  ;  Jane  (Linskill),  272 ; 
Nicholas,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1362),  240  ;  Robert, 
legacy  to  (1603),  327 ;  Rev.  Samuel.  Congre- 
gationalist  minister,  377. 

Pedie,  Lieutenant  John,  270. 

Pedigrees  :  Butler  of  Newcastle  and  Chirion,  324  ; 
Campbell  of  Whitley  and  F..arsdi>n,  40O  ;  C.irdon- 
nel-Lawson  of  Chirton  and  Cramlington,  323  ; 
Clark  of  BIyth,  North  Shields  and  Belford.  273  ; 
Crawford  of  Seaton  Delaval,  Hartley  and  Balkwell, 
353-334;  Delaval  of  Tynemouth,  171-172  ;  Dock- 
wr,ay  of  Tynemouth,  269-270 ;  Fenwick  of  Preston 
and  North  Shields,  348-349  ;  Hall  of  Whitley.  399  ; 
Hansard  of  Chirton,  33;;  llenzell  of  Newcistie 
and  Whitley,  401  :  Hindmer  of  Newcastle  and 
Monkseaton'.  407  :  Horslcy  of  North  Shields.  425  ; 
Hudson  of  -Newbiggen  and  Whitley,  401  ;  Linskill 
of  Tynemouth  lodge,  272  ;  .Milboume  of  Chirton, 
324 ;  .Mills  of  .Monkseaton.  406 ;  .Mitcalfe  of 
Tynemouth  house,  267-268  ;  Neville  of  Raby,  335  ; 
Otway  of  Preston,  346;  Reed  of  Chirton.  321  ; 
Spearman  of  Preston  and  Eachwick,  346-347 ; 
S])cnce  of  South  Preston.  350 ;  Toll  of  North 
Shields,  269  ;  \"illiers  of  Tynemouth  castle.  202  ; 
Whethamsiedc,  lOO  ;  Whitley  of  Whitley,  395. 

Pelham.     See  Vanlore. 

Percy,  family  of,  arms  in  chapel  in  Tynemouth  priory. 
104.  144;  .Alan  de  (1121).  57  ; '  .Mgernon,  tenth 
e-arl  of  Northumberland  (l6c2-l66S);  grant  of 
Tynemouth  castle  to,  revoked,  179,  190;  acquires 
town  of  North  Shields  (i655\  240.  299  ;  aajuires 


446 


INDEX. 


Tyneniouth  lordship  (1637),  240,  264,  32S  ; 
acquires  Flatworlh  demesnes  (1637),  19,  341  ; 
acquires  lordship  of  Tynemouthshire  (1640),  240; 
grants  land  at  Tynemouth  for  church  (1654),  35S  ; 
purchases  mills  (1659),  263  n  ;  captain  of  Tync- 
mouth  castle  (1661),  197,  204  ;  Algernon,  fourth 
duke  of  Northumberland  (1792-1865).  buys  land 
at  Monkseaton  (1853),  407  ;  builds  Sailors'  Home 
at  Tynemoulh  (1856),  356;  builds  church  at 
Cullercoats  (1864),  401  ;  Prudhoe  Convalescent 
Home,  Whitley,  in  memory  of  (1869),  401  ; 
Algernon,  sixth  duke  of  Northumberland  (1810- 
1899),  bu)-s  Chirton  property  (1869),  324  ;  Monk- 
seaton South-west  farm  (1885),  408  ;  Preston  farm 
(1894),  348  ;  Arnold  de  (1121),  54,  57  ;  Elizabeth, 
duchess  of  Somerset,  20  ;  builds  Cullercoats  pier 
(1677),  281  ;  petition,  282  ;  G.  de,  witness  to 
charter,  6on  ;  Henry  de  (i)  (1272-1315),  marches 
against  Edward  II.  at  Newcastle  (1312),  84;  Sir 
Henry  (2)  (1319-1353),  friend  of  Prior  de  la  Mare, 
94  ;  Henry  (3)  (1342-1407),  first  earl  of  North- 
umberland, subscribes  towards  repair  of  Tyne- 
moulh castle  (1390),  99,  150,  156;  Henry  (4) 
(1444-I489),  fourth  earl  of  Northumberland,  grant 
to  Prior  Dixwell,  105  ;  Sir  Henry  (5),  afterwards 
eighth  earl  of  Northumberland  (1532- 1585), 
steward  and  captain  of  Tyneniouth  (1561),  160,  204, 
215  n  ;  complaint  of  scanty  remuneration,  161-162  ; 
warned  of  Mary  Stuart's  return  to  Scotland,  162  ; 
letters  to  Sir  William  Cecil,  127,  29S  n  ;  in  charge 
of  Bothwell,  162  ;  acquires  right  of  working  coal 
at  Tyneniouth  (1569),  18;  opposed  lo  the  Rising 
of  the  North,  163  ;  receives  site  of  Tj'nemouth 
monastery  for  life  (1570),  163  ;  concerned  in 
Ridolphi  conspiracy,  163 ;  imprisoned,  fined, 
liberated,  164  ;  succeeds  as  eighth  earl,  165  ;  lessee 
of  Tyneniouth  (1580),  230,  235  ;  maintains  light- 
house at  Tynemouth,  205  ;  imprisoned  again  for 
conspiracy  (1583),  165  ;  ihird  imprisonment  and 
death  (1585),  166  ;  Henry  (6),  ninth  earl  of  North- 
umberland (l  564-1632),  reversion  of  captaincy  of 
T3'nemouth  castle  and  stewardship  of  T3'neniouth- 
shire,  163,  204,  215  n;  volunteers  against  Spanish 
Armada,  168  ;  restored  lo  captaincy  of  Tynemoulh 
castle  (1591),  168;  lessee  of  Tj-nemouthshire 
(1596),  230,  235  ;  letters  to,  293,  294,  295  ;  petition 
to,  from  tenants  of  Shields,  295  ;  purchases  half 
of  Tynemoulh  rectory  (1602),  363  n,  371  ;  works 
coal  at  Tynemoulh,  18  ;  concerned  in  Gunpowder 
Plot,  175-176;  grant  to,  of  Tynemouth  copyhold 
lands  (1624),  263  ;  grant  of  lands  in  North  Shields 
(1624),  298  ;  grant  of  coal  in  Murlon  and  Shire 
Moor  (1624),  19;  death  (1632),  179;  Henry  (7), 
seventh  duke  of  Nonhumberland  (born  1846),  paper 
on  Northumbrian  farms,  243  ;  Hugh,  first  duke 
of  Northumberland  (died  1786),  fishery  at  North 
Shields  (1759),  298  n  ;  Hugh,  second  duke 
of  Northumberland  (1742-1817),  his  enclosure 
of  Shire  Moor  (1788).  414-415  ;  leases  Backworth 
royally  (1812),  27  ;  Hugh,  third  duke  of  North- 
umberland (1785 -1847),  purchases  Backworlh 
(1S21),  27  ;  While  House  farm  (1821),  348  ;  second 
half  of  advowson  of  Tyneniouth  (1838),  371  ; 
tithes  in  Tynemoulh  parish  (181S),  371  ;  Joscelin, 
eleventh  earl  of  Northumberland  (1644- 1670), 
captain  of  Tynemouth  castle,  197,  204  ;  death,  200  ; 
petitioned  by  townsmen  of  North  Shields,  304 ; 
Lady  Mary,  supports  Prior  de  la  Mare,  94  ; 
Thomas,  seienth  earl  of   Northumberland  (1529- 


1572),  site  of  Tynemouth  priory  leased  to  (1557), 

159  ;  joins  in  Rising  of  the  North,  163  ;  attainted, 
163  ;  executed  (1572),  165  ;  Thomas,  concerned  in 
Gunpowder  Plot,  175  ;  Thomas,  brother  of  ninth 
earl,  179. 

Percy  chapel,  Tynemouth,  description  of,  144-145. 

Percy  Main,  colliery,  22,  25-26,  341. 

Percy  Square,  Tj'nemouth,  coast  erosion  at,  16,  274. 

Peresson,  Wiiliam,  witness  (1445),  259  n,  425. 

Perkins,  Anne  (Spearman),  347. 

Perrin,  James,  of  Newcastle,  268  n. 

Peter,  vicar  of  Tynemoulh  (1250),  125  n,  362. 

Peterborough,  Akarius,  abbot  of,  122. 

Peterson,  William,  sued  (1652),  241. 

Philadelphia,  hamlet  of,  412. 

Phillips,  Francis,  grant  of  Tyneniouth  mills  to  (1610), 
263  ;  Jane  (Mitcalfe),  268. 

Phillipson,  Joseph,  349. 

Picot,  Roger,  writ  of  William  II.  addressed  to  (1095), 
53;  writs  of  Henry  I.  addressed  to  (II05-II08), 
53-54  n. 

Pickering,  Adam  de,  grant  lo  Tynemouth  priory, 
115;  coroner  of  Tyneniouth  (before  1293),  219; 
witness  (c/rcrt  1276),  421,  423  n. 

Pikeworth,  John,  parson  of  Ovingham,  121. 

Pilgrimage  of  Grace,  109. 

Pindar,  Richard,  of  North  Shields,  holds  Quaker 
meetings  (16S1),  372. 

Pipe,  Rev.  S.,  Baptist  minister  (1869-1874),  377. 

Plescies,  John  de,  witness  (1319  and  1324),  248  n. 

Pleuyn,  Alan,  Monkseaton  tallage  roll  (1294),  403  ; 
freehold,  404  ;  Roger,  freehold  {circa  1295),  404. 

Plowman,  Mary  Anne  (Mitcalfe),  267. 

Plummer, — ,  lessee  of  VVest  Holywell  colliery  (1828),  29. 

Pointel,  William,  West  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294), 
337  ;  (1296),  338. 

Pollard,  John,  of  Newcastle,  349. 

Ponteland,  Humphrey  Bell,  minister  of,  364  n. 

Pont  I'Eveque,  Roger  de,  archbishop  of  York,  rights 
granted  to  Tynemouth  priory  by,  69-70. 

Poor-law,  administration  of,  30S  and  n  ;  Tyneniouth 
Union,  351.     Sge  also  Charities. 

Popes:  Innocent  HI.  confirms  rights  of  Tynemouth 
priory  (1209),  69;  Nicholas  IV.,  taxation  of  bene- 
fices (1292),  80,  361,  369;  Adrian  IV.,  confers 
immunity  on  churches  in  gift  of  St.  Alban's,  124. 

Poppelwell,   Matthew,   m.ayor  of   Tynemoulh   (1853), 

352- 
Pore,  Thomas,  of  Flalworth  (1597),  173. 
Porter,  Christiana,  land  in  Tynemoulh  (before  1363), 

422. 
Portington,  Sir  Ralph,  owner  of  Tynemoulh  C/iarlulaty, 

119. 
Portland,  William,  first  earl  of,  202. 
Post,  Simon,  of  Sulhloges,  order  of  arrest  (1293),  220. 
Poller,    Edward,  mayor   of   Tynemoulh   (1858-1859), 

352;   Emanuel,  vicar  of  Tynemoulh  (1749),  364; 

Willi.am,  mayor  of  Tynemoulh  (1S75),  352. 
Potts,  Robert  (i),  surrenders  lands  in  Preston  (1622), 

346  ;  Robert  (2),  of  Long  Benton,  representatives 

of,   own   Whitley   Link    farm,    400 ;    T.   A.,   buys 

Monkseaton  property  (1SS5),  407. 
Pow,  Robert,  of  North  Shields,  mayor  of  Tyneniouth 

(1857),  352  ;  bequest  (1859),  366. 
Pow  burn  (North  Shields),  ancient  landing  place  at, 

78  n,  285  ;    bridge  over,  2S4,  306  and  n,  314  ;   salt 

pans  at,  306,  310  ;  land  at,  purchased  by  Reed  and 

Milbourne,  321,  324;    mill  on,  248.     See  also  Low 

Lights  and  St.  Leonard's  hospital. 


INDEX. 


447 


Power,  Captain,  deputy  at  Tynemouth  castle  (1591)1 
168  ;  deposition,  171,  173. 

Powlton,  cofferer  to  earl  of  Northumberland  (1600), 
174  n. 

Poyen,  Robert,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1264),  249  n. 

Prat,  Richard,  of  Tynemouth,  fined  (1293),  219. 

Prehistoric  remains  in  Chirton,  316. 

Preston  TOWNSHIP,  342-350 ;  in  Tynemouthshire, 
208  ;  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  48,  55  (13), 
67  n,  342  ;  manor  of,  221,  344,  393  ;  hinds  in, 
acquired  by  Tynemouth  prior}',  1 1 5-1 17  ;  tanyards 
at,  75,  286  ;  services  of  bonds  at,  223,  342  ;  services 
of  free  tenants,  226  n,  343-344  ;  suit  to  Flatworth 
niill,  339  n  ;  early  deeds  relating  to,  422,  423,  424  ; 
demesne,  251,  260,  342  ;  tithes,  369,  371 ;  plundering 
of,  90  ;  number  and  size  of  holdings,  228,  342-344  ; 
rent  of  freeholds  in,  229,  344  ;  recognition  of  copy- 
hold tenure  at,  239  ;  freeholds  in,  253,  258,  263  ; 
enclosure  of  (1649),  244  n,  345  ;  collieries,  17,  18-19, 
34,  321  ;  included  in  Tj'nemouth  borough,  247, 
35°-353  ;  cemetery,  378  ;  census  returns,  342  n. 

Preston,  John  de,  witness  (1363),  258  n,  422  ;  land  in 
Tj-nemouth,  423. 

Price,  John,  lieutenant  of  volunteers  (1667),  203  n. 

Prosperini,  Bernardo,  creditor  of  Henry  III.,  75. 

Prudhoe,  freeholders  of,  281  ;  woods,  32S. 

Prudhoe,  Robert  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295),  215  n. 

Pryor,  Richard,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1649),  265. 

Pudsey,  Hugh.     See  Durham,  bishops  of. 

Puissars,  Marquis  de,  202. 

Pull.     ^V^  Pow  burn. 

Pulleine,  Mary  Winifred  (Spencer  -  Stanhope),  325; 
Thomas  Babington,  of  Carlton,  325. 

Punder,  William,  Preston  subsidy  roll  (1296),  343. 

Pygun,  William,  monk  of  Tynemouth,  70-71. 

R. 

RadclifFe,  of  Dilston,  family  of,  own  estates  in  Tyne- 
mouth, 259  ;  Christopher,  murder  (1523),  212  ;  Sir 
Cuthbert.  chief  steward  of  Tynemouthshire,  215  n  ; 
lands  in  Tynemouth  (1539),  262  ;  Edward,  property 
in  Tynemouth  (1614),  263  n  ;  Francis,  property  in 
Tynemouth  (1614),  263  n ;  George,  properly  in 
Tynemouth  (1560),  263  n. 

Rad-mal,  tenure  by,  226. 

Rae,  Rev.  James,  Presbyterian   minister  (1759-1803), 

373-374- 
Ragnal,  king  of  Northumbria,  defeated  (91 7).  4' 2. 
Railways,  355  ;   BIyth  and  Tyne,  29,  33,  34  ;    Cram- 

lington,  29,  30,  341  n  ;    Backworth,  27,  28,  341  n  ; 

Whitley,  27,  313  ;  Newcastle  and  North  Shields,  355. 
Raine,  Jonathan,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1796),  215  n. 
Raineford,   Charles,   governor    of    Tynemouth    castle 

(1796),  204. 
Rakedul,  William,  Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1296),  252. 
Ramrigge,  Thomas.     See  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 
Ramsey,  family   of,   298  n  ;    Edward,   of   Heathersett, 

grant  of  property  in  North  Shields  to  (1624),  298, 

314  n  ;  James,  sued  (1652),  241  ;   Robert,  grant  of 

property  in  North  Shields  to  (1624),  298,  314  n. 
Raper,  William,  presents  paten  to  Christ  church  (1728), 

360;  bequest  (1730),  366. 
Ratcliflfe.     See  Radcliffe. 
Raven-ness,  merchants  of,  254. 
Ravensworth  family,  28. 
Rawdon,  Marmaduke,  description  of  Tynemouth  castle 

(1664),  198. 
Rawe,  Ralph,  of  Tynemouth,  maltster  (1596),   327  ; 

Richard,  receiver  of  hall-corn  (1596),  235. 


Rawlinge,  James,  of  North  Shields  (1607),  296. 

Ray,  Thomas,  lessee  of  Tynemouth  (1558),  230; 
William,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 

Raymes,  Anne  (Delaval),  171. 

Raynlon,  Thomas  de,  grants  to  Tynemouth  Priory 
(1325  and  1328),  115,  2480,  395  n  ;  seneschal  of 
Tynemouth  (1325),  215  n,  249;  grants  to  (1324), 
248  n  ;  (1325),  394  ;  witness  (13:6),  423. 

Rca,  Richard,  millwright  (1599),  329. 

Read.     See  Reed. 

Reaveley,  Henrietta  (Campbell),  400. 

Reay,  Henry,  of  Newcastle,  and  family,  monumenlal 
inscription,  130  ;  John,  Monkseaton  property  (1715), 
408  ;  William,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (16S6),  241  ; 
one  of  the  '  twenty-four  '  (1674),  368. 

Redesdale,  franchise  of,  63  ;  men  of,  106. 

Rcdewood,  near  Newburn,  acquired  by  Tynemouth 
priory  (1386),  116. 

Redhead,  Abraham,  one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674), 
368  ;  William,  of  Newcastle,  267. 

Reding,  John  de,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1291),  249  n, 
252,  256,  421  ;  Maud  de  (Bacon),  256. 

Reed  of  Chirton,  pedigree,  321  ;  Anne  (Covrard), 
marriage  (1636),  364  ;  Rev.  Christopher,  vicar  of 
Tynemouth  (1830),  364  ;  Dorothy  (.\litcalfe),  267  ; 
Francis,  ensign  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ;  Jane 
(Errington),  marriage  (1640),  364  ;  John,  juror  of 
Tynemouth  (1562),  240;  Ralph  (i),  works  mines 
in  Tynemouthshire  (1624),  19,  325  ;  grant  of  salt 
pans  at  North  Shields  (1631),  310  ;  acquires  farms 
in  East  Chirton,  322  ;  mortgages  property,  322 ; 
death  in  prison  (1646),  332  ;  Ralph  (2),  quarter- 
master of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n;  sells  property 
in  Chirton  (1672),  322  ;  petition,  332  ;  one  of  the 
'  twenty-four  '  (1674),  368. 

Reinhard,  J.,  334. 

Reive,  Rev.  William,  Presbyterbn  minister  (1852-1854), 

374- 

Remigius,  prior  of  Tj-nemouth  (1129),  122. 

Resley,  Stephen,  327. 

Reygar,  John  de,  justice  of  the  prior  of  Tynemouth's 
court  (1278),  211  n. 

Reymund,  prior  of  St.  .Mban's,  banished  to  Tyne- 
mouth, 70. 

Rhodes,  Robert  de.     See  Tj-nemouth,  priors  of. 

Richard  I.,  charter  (11S9),  67,  208,  209,  2l8,  22In, 
287  ;  confirmation  of  charter  (1 198),  68. 

Richard  H.,  grants  Haltwhistle  church  to  Tynemouth 
priory,  49,  98  ;  grant  in  aid  of  repairs  to  Tynemouth 
castle  (1390),  99,  150,  156. 

Richard  III.,  appoints  NichoLas  Boston  prior  of 
Tynemouth  (1478),  105 ;  grant  to  Boston,  106, 
280. 

Richardson,  David,  shepherd,  buried  (1724).  413"; 
Edmund,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (I539)i  262,  265  ; 
James,  Nonconformist  minister,  373  ;  John,  of  the 
Low  Lights,  uanner,  271  ;  Margaret,  of  West  Ham, 
bequest  (17SS),  366  ;  T.  .\l.,  sketch  of  lime  staithes 
at  North  Shields,  313  n;  William,  petty  consuble 
of  Cullercoats  (1690),  283  n ;  monumenul  inscrip- 
tion (1710),  362  ;  Winifred  (.\lilboume).  324. 

Riddell,  Gervase,  sewer  to  Earl  Henry  tiu  David  {circa 
1 147),  60  n ;  Peter,  copyholder  (1609),  238 ;  Thom.as 
(l),  witness  to  charter  (1 147),  60  n ;  Sir  Thomas  (2), 
of  Gateshead,  183  n  ;  iir  Thomas  (3),  of  Fenham, 
governor  of  Tynemouth  castle,  183,  376  n  ;  siege 
and  surrender  (1644),  1S7  ;  escape  and  death,  1S8  ; 
Sir  Waller  Buchanan,  baronet,  steward  of  Tj-ne- 
mouth  (1842),  215  n;  Sir  William,  imprisonment 
(1644),  188. 


448 


INDEX. 


Ridesdale,  John  de,  grant  to  (thirteenth  century),  421. 
See  also  Dunne. 

Ridley,  Anne,  of  Westwood,  deposition  concerning 
murder  of  William  Delaval  (l6i8),  172  n;  Sir 
Matthew  White,  baronet  (l),  sells  Murton  farm 
(1774),  412  ;  Sir  Matthew  White,  baronet  (2),  lease 
of  Cowpen  colliery,  33  ;  Richard,  buys  CuUercoats 
salt  pans  (1726),  284. 

Rikelot,  William,  Preston  tallage  roll  (1294),  342  ; 
subsidy  roll  (1296),  343. 

Rishanger,  chronicle  in  Tynemouth  library,  119; 
cited,  S3  n. 

Ritson,  Nicholas,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240; 
L'trick,  colliery  owner,  34. 

Roads,  medieval;  Tynemouth  to  Newcastle,  219,  241, 
259  and  n,  311  ;  Tynemouth  to  Uedlington  (North 
Street),  316,  317  ;  Tynemouth  to  Whitley,  249, 
421  ;   Tynemouth  to  Low  Lights,  259  and  n,  42 1. 

Robert,  prior  of  Tynemouth  (twelfth  century),  122. 

Robeson,  Margaret,  widow,  of  North  Shields  (1607), 
296. 

Robil,  Thomas,  witness  (1344),  423. 

Robinson,  Edward,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1570),  263; 
George,  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1649),  265  ; 
Gerrard,  272  ;  Gilbert,  son  of  William,  see 
Wilkinson  ;  Isaac,  Nonconformist  minister  (1782), 
373  ;  Isabella  (Liddell),  monumental  inscription, 
130;  James  (i),  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1608), 
263;  James  (2),  one  of  the  'twenty-four'  (1674), 
368;  John  (i),  witness  (1445),  259  n,  425;  John 
(2),  tenant  of  Monkseaton  (1538),  405  ;  John  (3), 
of  Whitley,  owns  Monkseaton  farm  (1711),  40S  ; 
Robert,  of  Durham,  406 ;  claim  on  Shire  Moor 
(1790),  415  ;  William,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1607), 
363- 

Robson,  Anne  (Crawford),  334  ;  Jane  (Fenwick),  349. 

Rocheford,  Thomas  (Boleyn),  Lord,  high  steward  of 
Tynemouth  priory  {circa  1530),  108,  215  n. 

Roddam,  John,  of  Roddam  and  Little  Houghton, 
marriage,  324,  365  ;  Mary  (Collingwood),  fishery 
at  North  Shields  (1729),  29S  n  :  marriage,  325; 
Susannah  (Brownhill),  marriage  (1711),  365; 
W'inifred  (Lawson),  fishery  at  North  Shields  (1729), 
298  n  ;  marriage,  325. 

Rodestane  moor,  315-316,  413  n.     See  also  Shire  Moor. 

Roger,  archbishop  of  "^'ork,  witness  to  charter  (1158), 
62  n  ;  confirms  rights  of  St.  Alban's  over  Tyne- 
mouth, 65  n. 

Rogers,  family  of,  283  n  ;  captain,  at  siege  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1648),  192  n;  Elizabeth,  inherits  collieries, 
etc.,  283  n  ;  John  (i),  works  coal  at  Whitley  (1676), 
20,  281  ;  at  Hartley,  23  ;  holds  salt  pans  at  Culler- 
coats,  2S3  ;  surrenders  Monkseaton  property  (1690), 
407  ;  John  (2),  leases  Hartley  coal  mines,  23  ;  will 
(1711),  283n. 

Roland,  John,  trustee  (fourteenth  century),  396. 

Role  {ijuery  Rothley),  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory, 
68  n. 

Roman  stones  at  Tynemouth,  35-38  ;  armour  found  in 
the  Tyne,  278-280 ;  supposed  remains  at  Black 
Chesters,  316  n. 

Rookbj'e,  receiver  of  hall  corn  rent,  233. 

Rookhope  lead  mines,  398. 

Rosella,  legend  of,  39  n. 

Roses,  Wars  of  the,  104. 

Rossiter,  Arabella  (Villiers),  202. 

Rothbury,  tithes  of,  grantee!  to  Tynemouth  priori',  49, 
62  n,  68  n. 

Rothburj',  Giles,  witness  (1421),  424. 


Rotherford.     See  Rutherford. 

Rothley.     See  Role. 

Roucestre,  Robert  de,  219. 

Rudyerd,  family  of,  property  in  Chirton,  326 ;  Richard, 

326- 

Ruelendus.     See  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Ruft,  Thomas,  witness  (1376),  422. 

Rupert,  Prince,  intercedes  for  Sir  William  Riddell,  188. 

Rushworth,  Collections  c\\.tA,  192  n. 

Russell,  Lord  Francis,  164 ;  captain  of  Tynemouth 
castle  (1583),  165  ;  report  on  state  of  castle,  166  ; 
death  at  Cocklaw,  167  ;  William  (i),  juror  of 
Tynemouth  (1293),  218;  William  (2),  of  Dissing- 
lon,  256;  witness  (thirteenth  century),  421;  Sir 
William  (3)  (1631),  264. 

Ruthall,  Richard,  property  in  Tynemouth  (1570),  263  n. 

Rutherford,  John,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1686).  241  ; 
Juliet,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  ;  Ralph, 
lieutenant  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ;  Robert, 
tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1649),  265  ;  one  of  the 
'twenty-four'  (1674),  36S  ;  Thomas,  tenant  of 
Whitley  (1757),  397  ;  marriage,  401  ;  claim  on 
Shire  Moor  (1790),  415. 

Rutland,  Henry,  earl  of,  letter  to  Sir  Henry  Percy 
(1561),  162. 

Rutter,  George,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1686),  241  ;  heirs 
of,  tenants  of  Murton  (1707),  411. 

Ryan,  Rev.  Denis,  Roman  Catholic  priest  (1884),  377. 

Ryhill,  Robert  de,  witness  (1319  and  1324),  88  n, 
248  n,  394  n. 

Ryott,  William  Hall,  steward  of  Tynemouth  (1894), 
215  n. 

Ryton,  Richard  de,  inquest  on  (1293),  219. 


Saburn,  Joseph,  tenant  of  Whitley  (1757),  397  ;  claim 
on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415  ;  Ralph,  claim  on  Shire 
Moor  (1790),  415  ;  Richard,  plaintiff  (1653),  241  ; 
Robert,  of  Balkwell  (1737),  414. 

Sadberge,  wapentake  of,  possessions  of  Tynemouth 
priory  in,  50  ;  transferred  to  Bishop  Pudsey  (1189), 

74- 

Sadler,  Sir  Ralph,  charged  with  custody  of  Sir  Henry 
Percy  (1571),  164. 

Sainebraine,  John,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262, 
265. 

St.  Alban,  altar  of,  in  Tynemouth  priory,  147. 

St.  Alban's  abbey,  burials  at,  395  ;  heraldry  of,  122  n  ; 
register,  description  of,  47  n  ;  Nicholas  Boston, 
archdeacon  of  (1477),  105. 

St.  Alban's,  abbots  of,  Paul  (1077-1093),  receives  grant 
of  Tynemouth  priory  from  Robert  de  Mowbray, 
46-47  ;  visits  Tynemouth,  50-51  ;  Richard  de  Albini 
(1097-1 1 19),  regulates  payments  from  Tynemouth, 
118;  grant  of  Graffard's  lands  from  Henry  L, 
389;  Simon  (1167-1188),  surrenders  Bywell  St. 
Peter's  and  Edlingham  to  Durham  (11 74),  63; 
patron  of  art,  66;  visits  Tynemouth,  67,  112; 
John  de  Cella  (1195-1214),  banishes  monks  to 
Tynemouth,  70  ;  adds  to  St.  Alban's  church,  138  ; 
William  de  Trumpington  (1214-1235),  banishes 
Prior  Reymund  and  others  to  Tynemouth,  70  ;  visits 
Tynemouth,  70,  112,  141  ;  John  de  Hertford  (1235- 
1260),  payments  from  Tynemouth  during  abbacy, 
76  n  ;  Roger  de  Norton  (1263-1290),  letter,  77; 
visits  Tynemouth  (1264),  79,  113,  221  ;  John 
de  Berkhamstead  (1290-1301),  visits  Tynemouth 
(1291),   Son;    secures   rights  of  St.  Alban's   over 


INDEX. 


■449 


Tynemouth  (1293),  81  ;  takes  prior  of  Tynemouth 
pnsoner  (1294),  82;  John  M.iryns  (1302-1308) 
regulations  for  Tynemouth,  118;  Hugh  de  Evers. 
don  (1308-1326),  agreement  with  lord  of  Greystoke 
over  ConeschEfe  (1315),  Sj  ;  special  devotion  to  the 
Virgin,  90;  threat  of  long  stay  at  Tynemouth,  112- 
builder  of  Lady  chapel  at  St.  Alban's,  143 ;  Richard 
de  VVallingford  (1326.1334),  author  of  work  in 
lynemouth  library,  119;  Thomas  de  la  .Mare 
(1 349-1 396),  election,  96;  petition  for  aid  to  repair 
lynemouth  castle,  99;  constitution  (1352),  118, 
396;  see  also  Tynemouth,  priors  of;  William 
He)^vorth  (1402-1420),  waives  right  of  homage  at 
Tynemouth,  113;  John  de  Whethamstede  (1420. 
1440  and  1451-1464),  register  of  second  abbacy, 
71  n;  pedigree,  100;  visiuition  of  Tynemouth 
(1426),  loi  ;  deposes  prior  of  liinham,  104  ;  corres- 
pondence, 102,  109;  William  Wallingford  (1476- 
1484),  register,  104 ;  election,  105 ;  Thomas 
Ramrigge  (1492- 1516),  compelled  to  consent  to 
independence  of  Prior  Stonpvell,  107  ;  his  chapel 
in  the  abbey,  122. 
St  Amphibalus,  alt,ir  of,  in  Tynemouth  priory,  147. 
St.  Andrews,  bishop  of,  witness  to  charter,  59  n. 
St.  Bartholomew,  Benedictine  nunnery  of,  .Newcastle, 

260. 
St.  Leonard's  hospital,  TjTiemouth,  account  of,  259-260 ; 
site  of,  leased  to  Sir  Thomas   Hilton,    156,   261  ; 
bridge  at,  219,  259;  burial  place  at,  260,  327;  early 
references  to,  219,  223  n,  423. 
St.  .Martin,  .Alfred  de,  witness  to  charter,  62  n. 
St.  Mary's  Island,  fishing  at,  388. 
Salmond,   Rev.  William,  Presbyterian  minister  (1858- 
^     1875),  375-  ^     ' 

Salkeld,  Cathenne  (Reed,  Gardner),  321,  332  n  ;  John, 
of  Rock,  321  ;  property  at  .Middle  Chirton  (1652), 
332  ;  Sir  William,  sells  Middle  Chirton,  333. 
Salter,  George,  grant  of  salt  pans  (1610),  341. 
Salt  pans  at  Warkworth  (circa  1 140),  59  ;  free  exporta- 
tation  of  salt  allowed   to  Tynemouth   priory,  290, 
293;    total  annual  sale  of  salt  (1536),   114;    salt 
trade  at  Cullercoats,  20-21,  282-284;  salt  pans  at 
North    Shields,    298-299,    306;    at     Hartley,    22; 
Society  of  Saltmakers,  300 ;  method  of  manufacture, 
300  and  n  ;  decline  of  salt  trade  at  Shields,  309-310. 
Sanctuary,  rights  of,  at  Tynemouth,  211. 212;  examples 

of,  219. 
Sanderson,  Dorothy,  monument  in  Tynemouth  church, 
129 ;  Henry,  suit  (1602),  299  n  ;  Mary  (Dockwray), 
269. 
Sandj-s,  Francis,  captain  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ; 

George,  ensign  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n. 
Saunders,  Anne  (Fenwick),  348. 

Savage,  Rev.  H.  S.,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's  chapel 
(1898),  374  ;  Robert  (i),  of  Tynemouth,  witness 
(1324),  248  n;  householder  (1336),  253;  witness, 
395  n,  421.  423  ;  Robert  (2),  mayor  of  York  (l  ^84, 
1391.  1392).  253,  258  n;  Robert  (3),  of  North 
Shields,  baker  (1447),  254  ;  Thomas,  archbishop 
of  York,  254;  William  (i),  baker  (129S),  252,  253  ; 
William  (2),  mayor  of  York  (1369),  253;  William 
(3).  owner  of  lands  at  Tynemouth  (I400),  253. 
Saj',  William,  Lord,  nominates  Boston  prior  of  Tync- 

mouth  (1478),  105. 
Sayburne.     See  Saburn. 

Scala,  John  Thomas,  employed  on  TjTiemouth  fortifi- 
cations (1545),  157. 
Scarborough,    fishing   at,   60,    385  ;    Edward    H.  and 
Gaveslon  retreat  to,  84. 

Vol.  \I1I. 


Scorht.    See  Short. 

Scot,  Henry,  bribed  to  seize  prior  of  Tj-nemouth  (1295), 
82  ;  John  (l),  of  Sulhloges,  order  of  arrest  (1293), 
220;  John  (2),  tenant  of  fishery  (1328),  J40n; 
Nicholas,  mayor  of  .N'ewcastle,  attacks  -N'onh  Shields 
ictrca  1267),  79,  286;  Richard  (i),  of  Newcastle, 
levies  pnor's  rents  at  Elswick,  92  ;  grants  land  at 
•  Elswick  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1348),  115;  Richard 
(2),  of  Newciistle,  witness  (1391),  422;  Robert, 
resident  in  Tynemouth  (1296),  252  ;  Roger,  tenant 
of  Preston  (1296),  344;  Stephen,  witness  (1340- 
1344).  423  ;  Walter,  of  Welton,  pays  homage  to 
Abbot  Norton  (1264),  113;  collector  of  subsidy 
(1274),  213  n. 

Scott,  Barbara,  charge  against  (1603),  367  ;  Edward, 
receiver  of  hall-corn,  235  :  James,  steward  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1756),  215  n;  John  (l),  charge  against 
(1603),  367  ;  John  (2),  buys  Preston  farm  (1805), 
348  ;  Joseph,  wharfinger  of  North  Shields  (1808), 
312. 

Scottish  Fisheries  Board,  381. 

Scriven,  William,  Crown  grantee  (1633),  19,  239,  332. 

Scrope,  Henry,  Lord,  captain  of  Carlisle  (1569),  163.' 

Seaton  Carew,  county  Durham,  tithes  of,  granted  to 
Tynemouth  priory,  62  n. 

Seaton  Delaval,  plundering  of  Tynemouth  property  at, 
90 ;  chapel  of,  confirmed  to  St.  .Mbiin's  monastery 
(1174),  63  n  ;  agreement  respecting  churchyard, 
66  n  ;  moor,  318  ;  service  of  carting  from  (Neusum- 
lade),  250  n,  390  ;  tithes  of,  369,  370,  371  ;  colliery, 
30  ;  family  of  Crawford  of,  333-334. 

Seaton  Sluice,  formation  of  harbour  at,  23  ;  wagoniray 
to,  24 ;  export  of  coal  from,  31  ;  decline  of,  33  ; 
fishing  at,  388. 

Seaton  Woodhom,  lands  in,  held  by  Tynemouth  priory, 
49.  115- 

Sedgwick,  Professor  Adam,  geological  works,  2,  3,  5, 
12,417. 

Segedunum.    See  Wallsend. 

Seghill,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth prior)',  48,  54,  55  (13),  62  n,  67  n  ;  lands  in, 
acquired  by  TjTiemouth  priorj',  49,  115, 117;  tenure 
of,  225  ;  lands  of  TjTiemouth  priory  in,  granted  in 
fee  farm,  239  ;  tithes  of,  369,  371  ;  collierj-,  29. 

Segrave,  John  de,  captain  of  king's  forces  in  Northum- 
berland (1304),  214. 

Selbj",  Adam,  collector  of  subsidj-  (1276),  213  n  ;  Henry 
CoUingwood,  steward  of  Tj-nemouih  (1775),  215  n  ; 
John,  soldier,  177;  .Marj-  (Bell,  Clark),  373; 
Oliver,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (.1540),  363  ;  Roger  de, 
NTcar  of  Tj-nemouth  (1344),  362  ;  Sir  Walter  de, 
marauder  (1315),  86;  surrenders  (1321).  SS  ;  house 
burned  by  Scots,  254,  255  ;  Sir  William,  of  "Twisell, 
sheriff  (1605),  176;  captain  of  TjTieinouth  castle, 

177- 

Selfodes,  status  of,  227,  250. 

Septem  Signacula,  a  book  at  TjTiemouth  priory,  I20n. 

Services.  See  .■\bbol's  welcome,  .Xuih-repe,  Boon-ere, 
Boon-harrow,  Hall-corn,  Head-pennies,  Hertness- 
pennies,  In-lade,  Merdeffen-pennies,  Neusum-Iade, 
Vevel-pennies. 

Seton,  John  de,  witness  (1321),  395  n  ;  (1326),  423; 
Ralph  de,  le  serjaunt,  juror  of  "Tjiiemouth  (1295), 
215  n;  witness,  422;  Sampson  de,  witness  (1319), 
421  ;  William  de  (l),  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295), 
215  n;  witness,  421;  William  de  (2),  granu  to 
Tjnemoulh  priorj-  (1380- 1 393),  116-117  ;  house  in 
Tj-nemouth,  258  n, 

Selon-Wodehom,  Robert  de,  witness  (1321),  395  n. 


57 


450 


INDEX. 


Severan,  John,  marriage  (17 12),  365. 
Severus's  Wall,  its  eastern  termination,  35-36. 
Shadforth,    Henry,  349 ;    Sarah,  monumental   inscrip- 
tion, 130. 
Shaftoe,  chapel  of  Hartburn,  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's 

("74).  64- 
Shaftoe,  Robert,  copyholder  (1009),  238. 
Sharpe,   .\rchdeacon    (Thomas),   visitation   of    TjTie- 

mouth  (1725),  361,  368. 
Shavaldore,  note  on  use  of  the  term,  86  n. 
Shaw,  Rev.  M.  S.,  Congreg.itionalist  minister  (1887- 

1891)-  377- 
Sheldon,  Robert,  tenant  of  Tynemouth   (1539),  262; 

Thomas,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262. 
Sheles,  Patrick  de,  order  for  arrest  (1293),  220. 
Shephird,  Emma  (Fesefoul),  land  in  Tynemouth  (1336), 

255  ;  John,  land  in  Tynemouth  (before  1336),  255. 
Shetland  barks,  301  n  (cp.  327  n,  378  n). 
Shewell,  Caroline  (Spence),  350. 
Shieldfield  fort,  near  Newcastle,  185. 
Shields.     See  North  Shields. 
Shipley,  CoUingwood  property  at,  325. 
Shiple)',  Zephaniah,  buys  Whitley  Lodge  farm  (1S04), 

.399- 
Shipperdson,  Adam,  royalist  (1656),  196. 
Shire,  meaning  of  the  term,  207-208.     See  also  Tyne- 

mouthshire. 
Shire  Moor,  account  of,  412-416;  bounder  of,  413- 

414  ;  rights  of  common  on,  222,  414-415  ;  enclosure 

of,  244  n,  315,  342,  409,  412,  414-416;  coal  mining 

on,  19,  20,  22,  33-34,  321. 
Shire  rents,  229. 
Shoreston,  fishing  at,  388. 
Short,   Robert,  Preston  tallage  roll  (1294),  342  ;  cus- 

tumal  (1296),  344. 
Shotton,  Edward,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1867.1868  and 

1877),  352  ;  bequest  (1884),  366. 
Shrewsbury,  Francis,  earl  of,  arrangements  for  garri- 
soning  Tj'nemouth   castle   (1545),    157  ;    suggests 

use  of  Spanish  troops,  158. 
Sibthorpe,  family  of,  property  in  Chirton,  326. 
Sigillo,  Baldwin  de,  witness  to  writ,  58  n. 
Sikes,  Thomas,  claim  on  Shire  .Moor  (1790),  415. 
Silky's  lane  in  Chirton,  317. 
Silvermouth,  Adam,  Preston  tallage  roll  (1294),  342  ; 

Robert,  Preston  tallage  roll  (1294),  342,  343. 
Simon,  see  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of;  Henry,  steward  of 

Tynemouth  (1725),  215  n. 
Simpson,  Dr.,  deeds  cited,  281  n  ;  Frederick,  candidate 

for   vicarage   of  Tynemouth   (1658),    367  ;    J.    B., 

geological  work,  420. 
Singleton,  .\rchdeacon,  visitation  of  Tynemouth  (1827), 

368;  Robert,  miller  (1597),  328. 
Sis,    Robert,    tenant   of    East    Chirton    (1294),    319; 

Monkseaton  t.allage  roll  (1294),  403. 
Sisterson,  Dorothj-  (.-^irey),  marriage  (1687),  365. 
Skinner,  Thomas,  parliamentary  draftsman  (1653),  302. 
Skippon,  M.ajor-General   (Philip),  governor   of   New- 
castle,  etc.   (1646),    190 ;    secures   Newcastle   and 

Tynemouth  (1647),  190  ;  recalled  to  London,  191. 
Slade,  William,  incites  'Tynemouth  troops  to  treason 

(1650),  194. 
Slaley,  millstones  obtained  from,  226  n  ;  tithes  of,  363. 
Slauk  (iilva  marhta),  72  n. 
Slikborne,  John  de,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1336),  256; 

Robert  de,  land  in  Tynemouth,  255,  256 ;    grant 

from  (1320),  422. 
Slingsby,  Francis,  of  Scriven,  deputy  captain  of  Tjme- 

mouth  castle,   164;    Sir   William  (i6u),   lease  of 

Hartley  coal  mines,  22. 


Smith,  Adam,  witness  (1376  and  1383),  422  ;  (1381), 

424  ;  Barbara  (Wilkinson),  marriage  (1687),  365  ; 
Sir  David,  buys  property  in  Preston  (1809),  348; 
Edward,  of  Gateshead,  master  mariner  (1650),  301  ; 
Father,  organ  builder,  360  n ;  John,  tenant  of 
Tynemouth  (1596),  234,  235;  .Mary  (l)  (Fenwiek), 
348  ;  .Mary  (2)  (Mills),  406  ;  Messrs.,  dock  owners, 
land  in  Chirton  (1S25),  325  ;   Robert,  lease  (1434), 

425  ;  Thomas,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262; 
Thomas  Eustace,  M.P.  for  Tynemouth  (1868-1885), 

351- 
Somerset,    Algernon,    seventh   duke   of,   see   Hertford, 

earl  of ;  duchess  of,  see  Percy,  Elizabeth. 
Somervile,  Robert  de,  grants  waj'leave  to  Tynemouth 

priory  (1297),  S3  n  ;  William  de,  witness  to  charters, 

60  n. 
Sorby,  Dr.  H.  C,  geological  work,  8-g,  417. 
Soreys,   Robert   de,   seneschal    of    Tynemouth   (1333- 

1344).  215  n.  4101.  423- 

Soulbye,  John,  of  Blaydon  (1599),  328. 

South  Shields,  Roman  camp  at,  35-36 ;  St.  Hild's 
monastery  at,  38-39,  40  ;  fort  at  (1644),  186;  salt 
trade  at,  300  ;  creation  of  port  of,  353. 

Spanish  battery  at  Tynemouth,  52  n ;  erection  of 
(■S45)i  158;  rebuilt  (1643),  184;  lifeboat  station 
at,  356. 

Spanton,  Christopher  (i),  of  Monkseaton  (1740),  407  ; 
Christopher  (2),  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415. 

Sparhawk,  shoal  at  mouth  of  the  Tyne,  292  and  n. 

Sparrow,  Henry,  West  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294),  337. 

Sparrow  hall,  CuUercoats,  282. 

Spearman,  of  Preston,  pedigree,  346  ;  of  Old  Acres, 
descent,  326  ;  of  Thornley,  descent,  346  ;  Edward, 
juror  of  Tynemouth  (16S6),  241  ;  one  of  the 
'twenty-four'  (1674),  368;  John,  of  Durham,  be- 
quest to  North  Shields  schools  (1703),  312  n,  365  ; 
presents  fiagon  to  Christ  church,  360 ;  Michael, 
tenant  of  Preston  (1649),  345  ;  one  of  the  'twenty- 
four'  (1674),  368;  Ralph,  of  Eachwick,  manuscripts 
cited,  365  n,  366  n  ;  claim  on  Shire  -Moor  (1790), 
415  ;  sells  land  in  Preston  (180S),  345  ;  Robert  (l), 
of  Preston,  freehold  in  Tynemouth  (1608),  263, 
326  ;  charity,  365  ;  Robert  (2),  freehold  in  Tyne- 
mouth (1649),  265,  345  ;  Robert  (3),  of  Durham, 
sells  land  in  'Tynemouth  and  Chirton  (1724),  266  n, 
326  ;  Thomas  (i),  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562), 
240;  Thomas  (2),  property  in  Chirton  (1620), 
326. 

Spence,  of  South  Preston,  pedigree,  350 ;  Charles  J., 
350  ;  cited,  303  n,  356  n  ;  Gilbert,  vicar  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1588),  363;  John,  mayor  of  Tynemouth 
(1881),  352  ;  John  Foster,  m.ayor  of  Tynemouth 
(1861  and  1891-1893),  352,  357  ;  Joseph,  mayor  of 
Tynemouth  (1S63  and  1869),  352  ;  Robert,  founds 
first  bank  at  North  Shields  (1S19),  312-313. 

Spencer,  John  Philip,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1903- 
1906),  352. 

Spittal,  fishing  at,  380,  388. 

Stamfordbridge,  death  of  Tostig  at  (1066),  43. 

Stamfordham,  Thomas  Dockwray,  vicar  of,  270. 

Stanhope,  Richard  de,  grant  to  TjTiemouth  priory 
(1360),    116;     Walter   Spencer,   of    Cannon    hall, 

325- 
Stanley,    Catherine    (Mitcalfe),    26S ;     Rev.    Charles, 

Baptist  minister  (1892),  377. 
Stanley  burn,  diversion  of,  240. 
Stanton,  Anne  (Kellio),  marriage  (1675),  365. 
Steel,  Cuthbert,  buys  Whitley  Link  farm  (1804),  399- 

400. 
Stella  on  the  Tyne,  328. 


INDEX. 


451 


Stephen,  King,  charters  to  Tynemouth  priorj-,  58  and  n, 
209,  214,  287  ;  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (circa  1200), 
362. 

Stephens,  Daniel  Edward,  267  ;  Rev.  Thomas,  of 
Horsley,  278. 

Stephenson,  of  North  Shields,  family  of,  268  n  ;  George, 
experiments  on  Killingivorth  wagonway,  28  ;  John, 
of  North  Shields,  and  familj',  monumental  in- 
scription (1752),  362  ;  property  in  Tynemouth, 
268  n  ;  John  C,  349. 

Steventon,  Robert  de,  grants  land  at  Earsdon  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory  (1345),  115. 

Stewart,  Edward,  of  North  Shields,  268  ;  James,  of 
North  Shields,  buys  land  in  Tynemouth,  272 ; 
fishery  at  North  Shields  (1730),  298  n ;  Jessie 
Monro  (Linskill),  272  ;  Rev.  John,  Presbyterian 
minister  (1866-1872),  374  ;  history  of  North  Shields 
Presbyterian  church,  374  n. 

Stickley  in  Horton,  317,  318. 

Stiford,  Agnes,  255  ;  John  de,  land  in  Tynemouth 
(1336).  255  ;  witness  (135O.  423- 

Stiklawe,  William  de,  land  in  Tynemouth,  257. 

Stiward,  William,  coroner  of  Tynemouth  (before  1293), 
215  n,  216,  217,  219,  220. 

Stobbard,  John,  land  in  TjTiemouth,  257. 

Stobbs,  Edward,  buys  Monkseaton  property  (1855  and 
1875),  407. 

Stocard,  Simon,  land  in  Backworth,  423. 

Stockton,  captured  by  the  Scots  (1644),  186,  189. 

Ston)'well,  John.     See  TjTiemouth,  priors  of. 

Storey,  James,  of  Low  Lights,  312  n  ;  presents  bells  to 
Christ  church,  359  ;  charity  (1785),  366. 

Storo,  Anne  (Bugnel),  marriage  (1730),  365. 

Story,  Margaret  (Leadsman),  of  Shields,  marriage 
(1 711),  365;  Robert,  one  of  the  'twenty-four' 
(1674),  368  ;  Sarah  (Hindmer),  407. 

Stout,  Abraham,  tenant  of  Murton  (1757),  411  ; 
William,  of  Durham,  sells  Murton  House  farm 
(1765),  411. 

Stowell,  Rev.  W.  H.,  D.D.,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's 
chapel  (:820-:834),  374. 

Strabolgy,  David  de,  warden  of  Northumberland  (1322), 

Straker,  Joseph,  and  family,  monumental  inscription 
(1867),  362  ;  — ,  colliery  owner,  30,  32. 

Strangale,  Richard,  land  in  Tynemouth,  255. 

Strathmore  family,  28. 

Strother,  John,  captain  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n; 
William,  major  and  captain  of  volunteers  (1667), 
200  n. 

Stuart,  Marj',  return  to  Scotland  (1561),  162  ;  projected 
escape  from  Tutbury,  163. 

Stutevill,  Robert  de,  witness  to  charter  (1176),  62  n. 

Subsidy  roll  (1296):  East  Chirton,  320,  593;  Middle 
Chirton,  331  ;  West  Chirton,  338  ;  Monkseaton, 
403;  Murton,  409;  North  Shields,  2S8  ;  Preston, 
343  ;  TjTiemouth,  252  ;  Tyncmouthshire  (jurors), 
215  n  ;  Whitley,  393  ;  collection  of  subsidy  (1276), 
2l3n. 

SufTolk,  Thomas,  earl  of,  interest  in  advowson  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1609),  371  n. 

Sunderland,  prohibition  of  trade  with  (1643),  184 ; 
coble-building  at,  3S2. 

Surese.     See  Sorejs. 

Surtees,  Robert  Watson,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1873), 

352- 
Survej'S  of  Tynemouthshiie  :  A.  (1292) — East  Chirton, 
319;    .Middle  Chirton,   329;    West    Chirton,   337; 
Flatworth,  337  ;    Monkseaton,  402  ;   Murton,  409  ; 


Tynemouth,  251  ;  B.  (demesnes,  1 294) — Flatworth, 
337  ;  Monkseaton,  403  ;  Moorhouses,  409  ;  Tyne- 
mouth,25l  ;C.(bondage  lands,  1294)— East  Chirton, 
319;  Middle  Chirton,  330;  West  Chirton,  337; 
Monkseaton,  403  ;  Preston,  342  ;  D.  (1377)— East 
Chirton,  320  ;  .Middle  Chirton,  331  ;  West  Chirton, 
339;  Monkseaton,  405;  Murton,  410;  North 
Shields,  289 ;  Preston,  344 ;  Tynemouth,  261  ; 
Whitley,  395;  £.(1538)— East  Chirton,  320;  .Middle 
Chirton,  331  ;  Flatworth,  340;  Monkseaton,  405; 
Murton,  410;  North  Shields,  293;  Prest^jn,  344; 
Tynemouth,  261-262;  Whitley,  396;  F.  (1608)— 
East  Chirton,  320  ;  North  Shields,  297  ;  Preston, 
344-345  ;  Tj-nemouth,  262-263  ;  Whitley,  397. 

Sutherax,  J.  de,  sacristan  of  Tynemouth,  410  n. 

Sutton,  John,  tenant  of  Tj-nemouth  (1649),  265 ; 
Robert,  lieutenant  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n. 

Suynwynd,  Robert,  Shields  subsidy  roll  (1296),  288; 
William,  Shields  subsidy  roll  (1296),  288. 

Swan,  Rev.  Francis,  273  ;  William,  bailiff  of  Tyne- 
mouth (1421),  424. 

Swetopp,  Warin  de,  under-sheriff  (1315-1316),  87  n. 

Swinburne,  Adam  de,  sheriff,  86 ;  Allan,  ensign  of 
volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ;  Anthony,  sued  (1623), 
241  ;  Sir  John,  captain  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ; 
Sir  William  de,  witness  (1 321),  394  n. 

Sj-meon,  Johanna,  property  at  Whitley,  396  ;  Percival, 
property  at  Whitley  (1382),  396. 

T. 

Taca,  Robert,  officer  of  Robert  de  Mowbray,  46. 
Tailour,   John,    tenant    of    Tynemouth    (1539),    262; 

Philip,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1392),  117. 
Tallage    roll    (1294):     East    Chirton,    319;     Middle 

Chirton,  330 ;    \Vest    Chirton,  337  ;    Monkseaton, 

403  ;  Preston,  342. 
Tankcr\ille,  earl  of,  i^j-ster  beds  at  Fenham,  3S3. 
Tasker,  Rev.  David,  Presbjierian  minister,  374. 
Tate,  Robert  Morrison,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1S84), 

352  ;  geological  work,  420. 
Tatham  and  Mitchell,  Messrs.,  representatives  of  Mills 

of  Monkseaton,  406. 
Tattersall,  Mary,  sells  land  at  .Murton  (1825),  411. 
Taunton,  Simon  de,  prior  of  Tj-nemoulh  (131 1),  123. 
Tavenor,  Nathaniel  (l),  scho^^ilmaster  at  Tynemouth 

(circa  1736),  368  ;  Nathaniel  (2),  of  North  Shields, 

buys  Monkseaton  property  (1762),  408;   cbim  on 

Shire  Moor  (1790),  415. 
Taylor,  Charles,  of  London,  property  in  Shire  Moor, 

416;    Henry,   Crown    grantee    (1633),    240,    264; 

Hugh,  of  Earsdon,  collier)- owner  (1S23-1S39"),  28, 

29,  30  ;    Hugh,  of  Chi[Khase,  M.P.  for  Tynemouth 

(1852  and  1S59),  351  ;   Thomas,  of  Whitehill  point, 

349  ;  colliery  owner  (iSio),  26,  27,  400. 
Teall,  Dr.  J.  J.  11..  geological  works,  12,  13-14,  420. 
Tempest,  Sir  Nicholas,  241,  32S  ;  lessee  of  Flatworth 

property  (1649),  341  ;  Richard,  will  (1671),  341. 
Temple,   -Mary  Clementina,   monumental   inscription, 

129. 
Tenures.   &/Castle-ward, Conveys, Comage.Drengage, 

Rad-mal. 
Tewing,  .Adam  de,  see  Tynemouth,  priors  of ;   John  de, 

land    in    Tynemouth   (l3;3->3;'),   255.   559.   4^3  1 

Richard  de,  see  Tyneniouih,  priors  of ;    Robert  de, 

grants    lands   to     Tynemouth    prior)-  (1343),    IIj; 

witness  (I333-I3<>3).  257  ".  4^2,  4^3  i  1-"»1  '"  T>-ne- 

mouth,  423  ;  in  Monkseaton,  405. 
Thirlwall  castle  garrisoned  by  the  Scots  (1646),  189. 


452 


INDEX. 


Thirnyn,  Ralph,  teiianl  of  Preston  (1296),  343. 

Thomas,  archbishop  of  York  (1093),  50. 

Thomson,  Rev.  Charles,  Presbyterian  minister  (1823- 
1840),  374  ;  history  of  North  Shields  Presbyterian 
church,  374  n  ;  Or.,  geological  works,  5,  417  ;  John, 
tenant  in  .Monkseaton,  406;  Thomas,  juror  of 
Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 

Thompson,  Elizabeth  (Clark),  273 ;  Francis,  350 ; 
Isaac,  survey  of  Tynemouthshire  (1757),  397. 402  n  ; 
405  n,  409,  413;  Thomas,  of  Newcastle,  407; 
Thomas  Churchill,  400. 

Thoresby,  John  de,  rector  of  Elwick,  grant  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory  (1340),  115;  Ralph,  visit  to  Tyne- 
mouth castle  (16S1),  203. 

Thornburgh,  Thomas,  purchases  manor  of  Whitley 
(1403),  396 ;  grants  same  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1404),  117. 

Thornton,  John  de  (i),  witness  (1360),  257  n  ;  (1363), 
258  n,  422;  quit-claim  (1376),  424;  John  (2), 
cornet  of  volunteer  troop  (1667),  200  n. 

Thorp  Basset  (Yorkshire),  property  of  St.  Alban's 
abbey  at,  52  n  ;  surrendered  in  exchange  for  Cones- 
cliffe  (1 3 1 5),  85  ;  cornage  rent  at,  118  n. 

Throckelawe,  Alice  de,  land  in  Tynemouth,  255  ;  John 
de,  cellarer  of  Tynemouth  priory  (1292),  81  ;  taken 
prisoner  to  St.  Albans,  82  ;  author  of  history  of 
Edward  II.,  1 19;  Robert  de,  conservator  of  the 
Tyne  (1293),  220. 

Thurloe,  John,  secretary  of  state  (1655),  195. 

Thurstan,  archbishop  of  York  (1121),  57. 

Tillmouth,  John,  vicar  of,  126,  127  n. 

Tinemor,  battle  of  (917),  412  and  n. 

Tithes,  grants  of,  to  Tynemouth  priory,  49,  50  ;  royal 
confirmations  of,  49  n,  55,  62  n,  68  n  ;  episcopal 
confirmations  of,  64,  65  ;  conventual  leases  of,  77, 
no;     Tynemouth   rectorial    tithes,    valuations   of, 

369  ;    ownership  of,  368-370  ;    Tynemouth  vicarial 
tithes,   125  ;    corn   tithes,  mode  of  collection,   319, 

370  n  ;  tithing  of  fish,  369  n. 
Titlyngton,  William  de,  trustee,  396. 

Tod,  Roger,  holding  in  Murton  (1264  and  1 291),  409. 

Toll,  pedigree,  269  ;  Edward  of  North  Shields,  305  n  ; 
buys  land  in  T)niemouth  (1667),  269  ;  one  of  the 
'twenty-four'  (1674),  36S  ;  Elizabeth  (Dockwray), 
270  ;  Susanna  (Otway,  Snowden),  346. 

Tolls  :  men  of  Tynemouth  exempted  from,  58,  287  ; 
tolls  and  customs  in  port  of  Tyne  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  289-290,  292  ;  anchorage  and  ground- 
age,  29S  n  ;  toll  on  fish,  2S7,  296  ;  furnage,  287, 
292  ;  lightage,  205-207,  27;,  277,  278  and  n  ; 
murage,  exemption  from,  213;  tolnetum  cervisiae, 
251. 

Tong,  Captain  John,  321. 

Topley,  W.,  geological  work,  420. 

Topping,  Major  John,  governor  of  Tynemouth  castle, 
194-195  ;  declares  for  Monk  (1660),  197  ;  monu- 
mental inscription  to  family  of,  130. 

Tostig.     See  Northumberland,  earls  of. 

Tounstede,  Symon,  work  in  Tynemouth  conventual 
library,  119. 

Tourney,  Edward,  lieutenant  of  volunteers  (1667), 
200  n. 

Towlehurst,  Jeremiah,  governor  of  Carlisle  (1656), 
196  n. 

Treuelove,  Julian,  Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1296),  252. 

Trevelyan,  Sir  George  Otto,  of  Wallington,  buys 
Chirton  property  (1865),  323  ;  M.P.  for  Tynemouth 
(1865-1868),  351  ;  Sir  W.  C,  geological  work,  417. 

Trewhitt,  Henry,  buys  land  in  Whitley  (1809),  400. 


Trinity  Mouse,  Deptford  Strand,  controversy  with  Sir 
Edward  Villiers,  206  ;  purchases  Tynemouth  light- 
house, 207  ;  Trinity  1  louse,  Newcastle,  charter  of 
(1536)1  274-275  ;  lighthouses  belonging  to,  275- 
278  ;  contributes  to  maintenance  of  Tynemouth 
light,  205,  206  ;  monopoly  exercised  by,  302,  309. 

Tripiett,  Dr.  Thomas,  rector  of  Whitburn  (1668),  270. 

Trokelowe.     See  Throcklawe. 

Trollop,  Robert,  builder  of  Christ  church  (1663),  359. 

Trumpington,  William  de.     See  Si.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 

Tully,  Charles,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1 878- 1 879),  352. 

Tunnacester,  identification  of,  38. 

Tunnocellum,  identification  of,  38. 

Tunstal,  county  Durham,  tithes  of,  granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  62  n. 

Turchil,  monk  of  Jarrow  (1082-10S5),  46. 

Turgoi,  prior  of  Durham  (1093),  50. 

Turnbull,  John,  Nonconformist   minister    (1693-1723), 

373- 

Turner,  .Archdeacon,  visitation  of  Tynemouth,  373  n  ; 
Cuthbert,  269  ;  Robert,  Tynemouth  subsidy  roll 
(1296),  252  ;  land  in  Tynemouth,  421  ;  Roger,  land 
in  Tynemouth,  257  ;  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1345),  115  ;  William,  master  of  Pembroke  college, 
Cambridge  (156S),  cited,  72  n. 

Tweed  salmon  conservancy,  387. 

Tweedmouth,  fish-curing  at,  381  ;  coble-building  at,  382. 

Twyne,  Brian,  antiquary,  119. 

Tychington,  William,  witness  (13S3),  422. 

Tyne,  mouth  of  the,  34 ;  Roman  defences  of  the,  35-37  I 
Roman  armour  found  in,  278-280  ;  entered  by  the 
Danes  (875),  40;  entered  by  Harold  Hardrada 
(1066),  43  ;  'in  nort  de  Tj^ne  et  in  suth  de  Tyne' 
(1095),  52,  cp.  55  (13);  fisheries  in,  confirmed  by 
Henry  I.  to  Tynemouth  priory,  54,  55  (13)  ;  fisheries 
in,  granted  by  Earl  Henry  to  Tynemouth  priory, 
59  ;  names  of  fisheries  in,  60  n  ;  breach  of  regula- 
tions for  fisheries,  220  ;  suit  regarding  liberties  in 
the  port  of  (1290),  286-288  ;  enquiry  into  encroach- 
ments in  (1401),  289  ;  weirs  in,  289 ;  grant  of 
customs  and  tolls  in,  to  the  prior  of  Tynemouth 
(1446),  289-290  ;  freedom  of  import  in,  allowed  to 
Tynemouth  priory  (1462),  290  ;  wharfs  and  weirs  in, 
290-291  ;  award  concerning  rights  of  'I'ynemouth 
and  Newcastle  in  (1512),  291-292  ;  lighthouses  on 
the,  205-207,  274-275  ;  right  of  searching  vessels  in, 
298  n  ;  conservancy  of,  granted  to  Newcastle  Cor- 
poration (1613),  300;  Gardner's  proposal  for  new 
conservancy  board  (1653),  301-303  ;  River  Com- 
mission, 353-354;  division  of  port  of  (1848),  353  ; 
salmon  conservancy,  387  ;  ferries,  314,  354-355  ', 
docks,  341,  354. 

Tynedale,  franchise  of,  68  ;  men  of,  retained  by  prior  of 
Tynemouth,  106. 

Tynemouth  borough,  247-389 ;  creation  of  parlia- 
mentary borough,  350-351  ;  list  of  members  of 
parliament  for,  351  ;  poor  law  union,  351  ;  creation 
of  municipal  borough,  352  ;  list  of  mayors  of,  352  ; 
port  of  North  Shields,  353  ;  River  Tyne  Commis- 
sion, 353-354;  ferry  brat  service,  354-355;  rail- 
ways, 355  ;  education,  355-356;  public  institutions, 
356-357  ;  non-established  churches  in,  371-378. 
See  also  Chirton,  CuUercoats,  North  Shields, 
Preston  and  Tynemouth. 

Tynemouth  castle,  historical  account  of,  154-204; 
architectural  account  of,  150-154;  not  a  Roman 
fortress,  35-38  ;  a  Danish  stronghold,  40 ;  Mow- 
bray's castle,  its  capture  (1C95),  52-53  ;  traces  of 
its   earthworks,    155  ;    fortified  by  Prior  Adam  de 


INDEX. 


453 


Tewing  (1296),  83,  156;  siege  of,  by  Gilbert  dc 
Middlelon  (1317),  86-87,  254  ;  custody  entrusted  to 
John  de  Ilaustede  (1318),  87  ;  giirriioncd  by  Prior 
Richard  dc  Tewing  (1322-1327),  89,  91  ;  acknow- 
ledged as  a  private  castle  (1346),  95  ;  constables 
appointed  by  priors  of  Tynemouth,  215-216; 
reparations  by  Prior  de  la  Mare  (1346-1349),  95  ; 
decay  of  the  fortifications  (13S0-1384),  97-98; 
besieged  by  the  earl  of  Moray  (13S9),  gS-gg  ;  the 
gate -house  rebuilt  (i3go),  gg-ioo;  description 
'of  the  gate-house,  : 50-1 52  ;  re-fortified  (1545), 
157-158;  inventory  of  goods  in  (i55g),  160  n; 
Scottish  prisoners  at,  162-163  !  Rising  of  the 
North,  163;  Ridolplii  conspiracy,  163-164;  New- 
castle petitions  for  custody  of  (1574),  164-165  ; 
inventory  of  goods  in  (1585),  167  ;  the  Spanish 
Armada,  167-168  ;  report  of  Joshua  Delaval  on 
(1596),  i6g-i7o;  fray  at,  173-174;  Gunpowder 
Plot,  175-176;  repairs  at  (1607),  177;  ruined  state 
of,  178;  plans  for  rebuilding,  178-179;  report  on 
strategical  position  of,  180;  the  castle  dismantled 
(1638),  180-181  ;  second  Bishop's  War  and  Scot- 
tish occupation  (1640),  181-182  ;  re-fortified  by 
marquis  of  Newcastle  (1641),  182-184;  campaign 
of  1644  and  capture  by  Leslie,  183-188  ;  Charles  1. 
visits,  180,  189;  handed  over  to  the  parliamentary 
forces  (1647),  191  ;  second  Civil  War,  revolt  and 
capture  (1648),  I9i-ig3  ;  royalist  plot  and  rising  of 
1655,  Ig4-I96  ;  the  Restoration,  ig6-ig7  ;  Mug- 
gleswick  Plot,  ig8  ;  description  of  (1664),  igS  ;  tiie 
Dutch  Wars,  198-200  ;  the  Revolution,  203  ;  list  of 
captains  and  governors  of,  204 ;  (Juakers  im- 
prisoned in,  372  ;  establishment  at,  under  Sir 
Francis  Leeke  (1546),  158-159;  under  Sir  Henry 
Percy  (1560),  160-162  ;  under  Sir  William  Sclby 
(1610),  177  ;  under  Sir  Arthur  Ileslerig  (1649), 
ig3-ig4,  ig6 ;  under  Sir  Edward  Villiers  (1600), 
197  ;  ordnance  at  (1545),  158,  159  ;  list  of  ordnance 
(1558),  160  n;  decay  of  ordnance  at  (1571),  164; 
inventory  of  ordnance  (1584),  165-166  and  166  n  ; 
Delaval's  report  on  ordnance  (1597),  i6g  ;  repara- 
tion by  Sir  William  Selby  (1610),  177  ;  its  decay, 
I7g  ;  cannon  removed  to  Newcastle  (1638),  181. 

Tynemouth  Chartulary  cited  passim;  description  of, 
86  n,  119. 

Tynemouth  Chronicle  (lost),  120  and  n. 

Tynemouth,  Great  Book  0/,  121. 

Tynemouth  parish  church  (St.  Mary  and  St.  Oswin), 
124-131  ;  alleged  consecration  by  St.  Cuthbert, 
40  ;  discovery  of  St.  Oswin's  body  in  (1065),  41-42  ; 
granted  to  monks  of  Jarrow  (1074),  44  ;  granted  to 
Durham  (1083),  45-46;  transferred  to  St.  Alban's 
(10S5),  46 ;  demolition  of  pre-Conquest  church 
(II 10),  56-57  ;  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's  by  Bishop 
Pudsey  (1174),  63;  settlement  of  parochial  rights 
(1247),  73,  124;  ordination  of  vicarage  (1250), 
124-125;  valuation  of  vicarage  (I2g2),  125-126: 
continued  use  of  church  after  the  dissolution,  127  ; 
its  decay  and  ruin,  128  ;  monumental  inscriptions, 
I2g-I3i  ;  plans  for  rebuilding  (1674"),  201  ;  (Christ 
church),  357-368;  erection  of,  357-359;  division  of 
parish,  360  ;  account  of  church  ()late,  360  ;  valua- 
tion of  vicarage,  361,  36S  ;  monumenud  inscriptions, 
361-362  ;  list  of  vicars,  362-364 ;  extracts  from 
registers,  364-365;  charities,  365-366;  extracts  from 
church  books,  367.368. 

Tynemouth  priory,  historical  account  of,  34-123;  des- 
cription of  the  site,  34-35  ;  Roman  remains  at,  35-3S  ; 
the   .Vnglian   monastery,   38-41  ;   discovery  of  the 


body  of  St.  Oswin  at  (1065),  41-43;  atUcheJ  to 
Jarrow  monastery  (1074),  44-45  ;  attached  to 
Durham  priory  (1083),  45-46;  made  a  cell  of  St. 
.Alban's  (1085),  46-47  ;  table  of  endowments,  48-50  ; 
burial  of  Malcolm  III.  at  (1092),  51-52;  revolt  of 
Robert  dc  .Mowbray  (1095),  52-54  ;  grants  made  to, 
by  Henry  I.,  54-55  ;  building  of  the  priory  church 
(mo),  56-57  ;  disputes  regarding  the  patronage  "I 
(1 121),  57-58  ;  charters  »(  Stephen  to.  58  ;  charters 
of  David  I.  of  Scoilaud  and  Karl  Henry  to,  59-60; 
fire  at,  60-61;  charters  of  Henry  II.  to,  61-62; 
settlement  touching  counterclaims  of  Durham  and 
St.  Alban's  to  (1 174).  63-66;  extension  of  choir, 
66;  Richard  I.'s  and  John's  charters  to,  67-70; 
early  descripiiun  of,  71-73;  disputes  with  the 
bishops  of  Durham  (1247. 1275),  73-74;  financial 
difficulties  of,  74-76;  collection  of  monastic  letters 
(1258-1269),  76-78;  lawsuits  with  Newcastle  and 
with  the  Crown  (1290-1293),  79-81  ;  fortification  of, 
(1296),  83  ;  visits  of  Edward  I.  and  of  Edward  H. 
to,  80,  83-84  ;  Scotch  wars  and  .Middleton's  rebellion 
(1313-1323),  85-90;  erection  of  Lady-chapel  at 
(circa  1326),  91,  256  ;  Edward  III.  at  (1335).  9^  ; 
priorale  of  Thomas  dc  la  Mare  (1340-1349),  92-96  ; 
renew'ed  Scottish  invasions  and  reparation  itf  the 
fortifications  (1380-1390),  97- 100 ;  visitation  of 
(1426),  I0I-I02  ;  erection  of  Percy  chapel  at  (circa 
1450),  103-104;  landing  of  Ouecn  Margaret  at 
(1462),  104;  privileges  granted  by  Edward  IV.  to 
(1463),  104;  quarrels  of  Prior  Boston  and  Prior 
Dixwell  (1462-1485),  104-106;  last  days  of,  106-I10; 
suppression  of  (1 539),  1 10- 1 1 1  ;  site  of,  leased  in  Sir 
Thomas  Hilton  (1539),  156-157  ;  site  of,  leased  to 
Thomas,  seventh  earl  of  Northumberland  (1557). 
159;  leased  to  Henry,  eighth  earl  (1570).  163;  in- 
ternal organisation,  constitution  and  officers,  III- 
112;  visitations  of,  112-113;  revenue  of  (lemfi. 
Henry  III.),  75-76;  in  1292,  80;  in  1526,  114; 
table  of  property  acquired  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
I15-I17;  financial  regulations,  II8;  b<xiks  in  the 
conventual  librar)-,  ii'S-lig;  literary  pnxluctions, 
103,  119-120;  muniments,  120-121;  conventual 
seals,  121-122  and  plate  vii. ;  arms  of,  122;  list 
of  priors  of,  1 22- 1 23  ;  architectural  description  of. 
131-153;  pre-Conquest  remains,  131-135;  the 
church,  (A)  the  Norman  structure,  135-13**:  (^) 
the  Early  English  development,  13S-142;  (C)  the 
I.ady-chapel,  142-143  ;  (D)  the  chamber  over  the 
choir,  143  ;  (E)  the  Percy  chapel,  144  -  145 ; 
sepulchral  remains,  146-147  ;  conventual  buildings, 
147-149;  the  great  gnte-housc,  150-152;  the  cur- 
tain, 152-153  ;  interments  at,  Su  Oswin  (651), 
41-43,  146;  St.  Ilerebald  (745).  39!  Osred,  king 
of  Northumbria  (792),  40 ;  Malcolm  HI.,  king 
of  Scotland  (1093),  5'-52  ;  St.  Henr}'  of  Coquet 
Island  (1127),  146  ;  Patrick,  earl  of  Dunkir  (124S), 
74-75  :  .Adam,  son  of  King  Edward  II.  (1322),  84  ; 
Prior  John  Whethamsicde  (1419).  U*- 
Tynemouth,  priors  of,  list,  122-123  ;  Gcrmanus  (II4S), 
grant  to  nuns  of  St.  Bartholomew,  260  ;  Ruclendus 
(twelfth  century),  fire  in  time  of,  61,  149;  Gilbert 
(twelfth  centur)-).  death,  66  ;  Akarius  (bcf.^rc  1189), 
391  ;  election,  66,  81  ;  seal,  121  ;  builder  of  choir  of 
priory  church,  138  ;  Ralph  Gubiun  (1208').  resigna- 
tion, 70,  249  ;  Germanus  (1227').  3pp.nntmenl,  70  ; 
seal,  121  ;  founds  North  Shields,  2S5  ;  sues  teaint, 
390';  Ralph  de  Dunh.im  (1252),  finds  supposed 
coffin  of  Malcolm  Caenmore  (1257"),  52;  offer  for 
llartburn  and  Eglingham,  74;   letter,  76;  gift  to 


454 


INDEX. 


library,  Ii8  ;  seal,  121  ;  enjowment  of  Tynemouth 
vicarage  (1250),  124 ;  agreement  with  William 
Heron  (1256),  336  ;  leases  land  at  Murton,  409  n  ; 
grants  land  at  Murton  to  sacristan,  410  ;  Adam  de 
Maperteshall  (1273),  complaint  against  by  John 
de  Whitley,  391  ;  William  Bernard  (1279),  John 
de  Whitley  complains  against,  392  n  ;  Simon  de 
Walden  (1280),  quo  warranto  proceedings  against 
(1290),  79.  208,  210  n,  252,  286-288  ;  complaint  of 
John  de  Whitley  against,  392  ;  forfeits  franchise 
of  Tynemouth  (1291),  216-218  ;  seeks  royal  pro- 
tection against  St.  Alban's,  80-81  ;  seized  by  abbot 
of  St.  Alban's  (1294),  82  ;  erects  pillory,  211  n,  216  ; 
seal,  122;  Adam  de  Tewing  (1295),  82  n  ;  men- 
suration of  estates,  222  ;  Richard  de  Tewing  (1315)1 
strong  rule,  85-86,  156  ;  chartulary  and  register, 
86  n  ;  letter  to,  88  ;  secures  letters  of  protection,  89  ; 
buys  land  at  Newcastle  and  Berwick,  90 ;  builds 
I.ady  -  chapel,  91;  seal  used  by,  122;  remits 
tenant's  rent,  256 ;  agreement  with  Sir  Robert 
Delaval  (1326),  318  ;  lease  of  fishery  (1337),  339  ". 
340  n  ;  agreement  for  land  in  Murton  (i 339).  41°  "  J 
death  (1340),  92  ;  Thomas  de  la  Mare  (1340), 
account  of,  92-93 ;  secures  letters  of  protection 
from  Edward  III.,  93,  156;  religious  work,  94; 
outlay  on  priory  buildings,  95-96,  143,  148-149 ; 
moves  shrine  of  St.  Uswin,  143 ;  made  abbot  of 
St.  Alban's  (1349),  96  ;  Clement  de  Whethamstede 
(1349),  appointment,  96;  dispute  with  Newcastle 
over  Fenham  (1357),  97  ;  seal  used  by,  122  ;  John 
Macrell  (AVhethamstede)  (l393),  builds  gate-house 
at  Tynemouth,  100,  150  ;  pedigree,  100  ;  verses  on, 
loi  n  ;  life  of,  103  ;  effigy  in  Tynemouth  priory, 
146  ;  Thomas  Barton  (1419),  correspondence  with 
abbot  of  St.  Alban's,  102  ;  Robert  de  Rhodes  (circa 
1440),  acquires  manor  of  Benwell,  102  ;  John 
Langton  (1450),  probable  builder  of  Percy  chapel, 
103,  144;  deposed  (1478),  105;  commissioned  to 
visit  priory  (1480),  105  ;  monogram  in  Percy 
chapel,  145  ;  grant  from  Henry  VI.  (1446),  289- 
290 ;  Nicholas  Boston  (1478),  almoner  of  St. 
Alban's  (1462),  104  ;  archdeacon  of  St.  Alban's 
(1477),  105  ;  appointed  prior  (147S),  105  ;  grant 
from  Richard  111.,  106,  280;  resignation  (1480), 
105  ;  reinstatement,  grant  in  jjerpctuity  reissued, 
death  (1495),  106  ;  William  Dixwell  (1480),  prior 
of  Binham,  deposed  and  reinstated,  104  ;  prior  of 
Tynemouth  (1480),  105  ;  again  prior  of  Binham, 
106;  prior  of  Hertford,  death,  106  ;  John  Bensted 
(1503).  reception  of  Princess  Margaret,  106;  John 
Stonywell  (15 1 2),  exempted  by  W'olsey  from  juris- 
diction of  St.  Alban's,  107  ;  dispute  with  Newcastle 
(1510),  290;  Thomas  Gardiner  (152S),  appoint- 
ment, 107  ;  made  prior  for  life,  107  ;  petition  for 
protection,  107-108 ;  charges  against,  108-109 ; 
hall-corn  customs  in  time  of,  234  ;  agreement  with 
tenants,  235;  Robert  Blakeney  (I537),  appoint- 
ment of,  109  ;  grant  of  corrody,  70  n  ;  signs  deed 
of  surrender  (1539),  no,  156  ;  receives  pension  and 
lease  of  Benwell,  no;  hall-corn  customs  in  time 
of,  233  ;    books  belonging  to,  71  n. 

Tynemouth  rectory,  369-371  ;  leased  to  Sir  Thomas 
Hilton,  156. 

Tynemouth  TOWNSHIP,  247-280 ;  geological  features, 
2-4,  8,  12-15;  manor  and  church  of,  granted  to 
monks  of  St.  Alban's,  48,  49  ;  manor  of,  221  ;  early 
rental  of,  248-249  ;  fishing  industry  at,  379,  388  ; 
customary  freeholds  in,  249-251  ;  market  at,  75,  79, 
84,  252-253  ;  survey  of  C1336).  255-257;  lands  in, 


acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory,  11 5. 1 17,  257  ;  early 
deeds  relating  to  property  in,  258-259,  421.425  ; 
semi-corporate  character  of,  261  ;  destruction  of 
village  by  the  Scots  (1389),  98,  261  ;  survey  of 
(153H),  261.262  ;  survey  of  (1608),  262-263;  '"''d- 
ship  of,  acquired  by  the  earl  of  Northumberland 
(1637),  240,  263.264  ;  survey  of  (1649),  265  ;  en. 
closure  of  (1649),  244,  264.266,  311  ;  descent  of 
freehold  properties,  266.274  !  census  returns,  247  n ; 
tithes  of,  369,  371  ;  Holy  Saviour  church,  360  ; 
non-established  churches  at,  377-  See  also  Tjnie- 
mouth  borough. 

Tynemouth,  John  de,  author  of  the  Hhloria  Aurea, 
120,  255. 

Tynemouthshire,  207-246;  the  liberty,  207-221; 
creation  of  liberty  of  (1198),  68  ;  forfeiture  of 
(1291),  80,  216-218  ;  restoration  of  (1299),  83,  221  ; 
geographical  extent  of,  208  ;  historical  development, 
208-210;  special  jurisdiction,  210-211  ;  sanctuary, 
211-212;  financial  privileges,  211-214;  military 
and  naval  obligations,  214-215  ;  officers  of  the 
liberty,  215-216;  list  of  seneschals  and  stewards, 
215  n  ;  assize  roll  for  (1293),  218-220;  Abbot 
Norton's  progress  through  (1264),  113  ;  the  manor, 
221-246;  various  manors  within  the  liberty,  221- 
222  ;  the  bond's  services,  222-225  '<  varieties  of 
customary  freehold,  225-226;  transition  from  bond- 
age tenure  to  tenant  right,  227-230  ;  leased  from  the 
Crown,  230  ;  commutation  of  labour  sers'ices,  230  ; 
hall-corn,  231-236  ;  custom  of  husbandry,  236-238  ; 
recognition  of  copyhold  tenure,  238-239  ;  lordship 
of,  granted  in  fee  farm  (1633),  239-240;  extracts 
from  manor  rolls,  240-241  ;  jury  for  (1562),  240  ; 
customs  of,  241-242  ;  rating  by  farms,  242-246  ; 
surveys  of,  see  Sun'eys. 

Tyzack,  family  of,  271  ;  Benjamin  Cowley,  monu- 
mental inscription,  131  ;  Mary,  monumental  in- 
scription, 131. 

U. 

Uhtred,  member  of  the  Northumbrian  royal  house,  413  n. 

I'fford,  Robert  de,  earl  of  Suffolk,  95. 

Umfraville,  Gilbert  de,  witness  to  charters,  60  n ;  Robert 
de  (i),  witness  to  charters,  59  n;  Robert  de  (2), 
earl  of  Angus,  letter  to  prior  of  Tynemouth,  88. 

Uphill,  .Anthony,  of  London,  property  in  North  Shields 
(1624),  298  n. 

Upton,  J.  R.,  268. 

V. 

Val,  de  la.     See  Delaval. 

Valence,  William   de,  earl  of  Pembroke,  oppressor  of 

St.  .Mban's  and  Tynemouth  (1257-1270),  75. 
Vallibus,  Hubert  de,  witness  (1158),  62. 
Valoniis,  Peter  de,  witness,  55. 
Vanholt,  Dorothy,  marriage  (1752),  365. 
Vanlore,  Catherine,  Lady  (Pelham),  263  n. 
Vasey,  iVIartha  (Kellio),  marriage  (1732),  365. 
\'aux.  Sir  John  de,  itinerant  justice,  392  n. 
Vauxhall  gardens,  organ  from,  360  n. 
Vavasour,  Edward,  '  prayser  '  of  fish  (1485),  287  n. 
Ventermann,  Joel,  town  crier  of  Tynemouth  (1823),  368. 
Vere,  Robert  de,  witness  to  charter,  58  n. 
Vescy,    John    de,   escape   from    Evesham    (1265),   77  ; 

William    de   (i),  witness  to  charter   (1158),  62  n  ; 

William    (2),  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1382), 

116  ;  witness  (1 381-1391).  422,  424. 


INDEX. 


455 


Vigerus,  Nicholas,  attorney  for  prior  of  Tyncmouth 
(1293),  219  ;  seneschal  (1295),  215  n,  422. 

Vikers,  Simon  del,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory  (1360), 
116,  331. 

Villiers,  of  Tynemouth  castle,  family  of,  arms,  201  ; 
pedigree,  202  ;  Sir  Edward,  governor  of  Tynemouth 
castle  (1661-1689),  197-204;  builds  lighthouse  at 
Tynemouth,  206  ;  Colonel  Henry  (l),  governor  of 
Tynemouth  castle  (1702-1707),  I02,  203,  204;  monu- 
mental inscription,  131  ;  Henry  (2),  lieutenant- 
governor  of  Tynemouth  (died  1753),  203,  207. 

Vinsauf,  Geoffrey  de,  work  in  Tynemouth  library,  119. 

W. 

Wake,  Richard,  of  Whitburn,  269. 

Walcher.     Sre  Durham,  bishops  of. 

Walden,  Simon  de.     Se^  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Waldie,  George,  coal  owner,  22,  27. 

Walesende,  .Man  de,  witness  to  documents,  64-65  n. 

Walker  township,  351. 

Walker,  Bryan,  of  Willington,  327  ;  Elizabeth  (Ker- 
rich),  271;  Esther  (Ellison),  326;  Henry,  of 
Whitby,  buys  land  in  Chirton  and  Tynemouth 
(1724),  266  n,  326;  James,  of  Newcastle,  347; 
John  (i),  ensign  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ;  John 
(2),  of  the  Low  Lights,  326  ;  John  (3),  of  Dock, 
wray  Square  and  Wallsend,  coal  owner,  27  ;  will 
(1818),  271  n  ;  John  (4),  property  at  the  Low 
Lights  (1833),  271  n  ;  Mary  (Waters),  326  ;  claim 
on  Shire  .Moor  (1790),  415  ;  Rachel  (Yeoman), 
326;  Susannah,  land  in  Tynemouth  (1704),  266  n, 
271  ;  William,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1856),  352. 

Wall,  William,  of  Newcastle,  surrenders  Monkseaton 
property  (1704),  407. 

Wallace,  William,  invades  Northumberland  (1297),  83. 

Wallingford,  Richard  de,  sie  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of; 
William,  ste  St.  Alban's,  abbots  of. 

Wallis,  Roger,  messuage  in  Tynemouth  (1336),  257  ; 
Thoma^  (i),  of  Tynemouth,  receives  corrody  from 
Tynemouth  priory  (1538),  70"  \  Thomas  (2),  349. 

Wallsend,  Roman  stones  from,  37  ;  in  Tynemouth 
Union,  351  ;  tithes  of,  363  ;  Thomas  Dockwray, 
curate  of,  269,  270,  364  ;  Emanuel  Potter,  curate 
of,  364. 

Walmsley,  Emanuel,  349. 

Walsingham,  Francis,  Lord,  reports  death  of  earl  of 
Northumberland  (1585),  166  ;  John  de,  chaplain 
of  Greystoke  chantry  at  Tynemouth,  85  n  ;  Thomas 
de,  Historia  Aiiglicaiia,  cited,  98  n,  99  n,  lOO  n. 

Waltham,  abbot  of,  claims  satisfaction  for  attack  on 
North  Shields  (1267),  286. 

Waltheof.     See  Northumberland,  earls  of. 

Walton,  Thomas  de,  grants  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1382,  etc.),  116,  117,  257. 

Warburton's  MSS.  cited,  36.  2S3  n,  298  n,  309,  323. 

Ward,  Ann,  charge  of  brawling  (1605),  367  ;  Charles, 
vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1736),  364  ;  Elizabeth,  sells 
land  at  Murton  (1S25),  41 1  ;  George,  commissioner 
on  tenures  at  Tynemouth  (160S),  297  ;  George,  of 
Whitby,  marriage  (1753),  365  ;  Simon,  charge 
against  (1603),  367. 

Warenner,  William,  grant  to  Tynemouth  priory 
(1382),  116. 

Warkworth,  lands  and  tithes  in,  held  by  Tynemouth 
priory,  49,  62  n,  68  n  ;  grant  of  salt  pans  at,  59  ; 
garrisoned  by  the  Scots  (1646),  189;  the  castle 
dismantled,  322  ;  Wilfrid  Lawson,  vicar  of,  322  n  ; 
fishing  at,  388. 


Warnham  flats,  mussels  in  the,  382. 

Warren,  Henry,  323. 

Warwick,  John  Dudley,  carl  of.    See  Northumberland. 

Waters,  Ralph,  eighteenth  century  drawings  of  Tyne- 
mouth priory,  140,  153, 

Watson,  Aaron,  cited,  3S7  n  ;  Bennel,  plaintiff  (159;), 
232,  234  ;  John  (i),  of  Bedlingion,  171  ;  John  (2),  of 
Willington  Quay,  buys  West  Chirton  farm  (1805), 
333;  Thomas,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262, 
263  ;  William,  witness  (1376-13S6),  422-424. 

Watt,  James,  visits  Hartley  (1768),  24. 

Webb,  Rev.  James,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's  chapel 

(1878-1887),  374- 
Webster,  Gilbert,  property  in  Tynemouth  (1413)1  258, 

421  ;  Peter,  25S  n,  421. 
Weetslade  township,  351. 
Weiss,  Alice  M.  G.  (Spence),  350. 
Weldon,  Christopher,  262  ;    Matthew,  land  in  Tj-ne- 

mouth,  263  ;    Ralph,  tenant  of  Tynemouth,  233  ; 

Simon  de,  witness  (1321).  394n;    Simon,  land  in 

Tynemouth,  263  ;  William  de,  juror  of  Tynemouth 

(1295),  215  n. 
Welton,  in  Tynemouthshire,  20S  ;   granted  to  Tyne- 
mouth   priory,   49.   68  n  ;    Waller   Scot   of,   pays 

homage  to  Abbot  Norton  (1264),   113;    township 

fined  at  Tynemouth  assizes  (1293),  219. 
Wemvss,   General    David,   governor    of    Tynemouth 

castle  (1807),  204. 
Wesley,  Charles,  visit  to  North  Shields,  375  ;   John, 

visits  to  North  Shields  (I759-'78S).  375- 
West    Chirton,   historical    account    of,    334-34'  \     '" 

Tynemouthshire,    2oS ;     granted    to    Tynemouth 

priory  (1256).  48,  76  n,  336  ;  charge  on  rent,  lOI. 

See  also  Flatworth. 
Westgate  (Newc-astle),  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory, 

49  ;  entries  on  Tvnemouih  court  rolls  relating  to, 

240;  hospital  of  St.  Mary  at,  362. 
Westminster,  Gervase,  abbot  of,  119;   abbey  organ, 

360  n. 
Westou,  Rlfred,  collector  of  relics,  42. 
Westwood,  near  Hexham,  murder  at,  172. 
Westwyke,  John  de,  donor  to  Tynemouth  library,  119  ; 

possessor  of  manuscript  of  Bede,  119. 
Whalton,  church  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  49, 

68  n  ;  claimed  by  Robert  fitz  Roger  (1269),  73  n  ; 

Thomas  de  .\ukland,  vicar  of  (1337),  11;;  Edward 

Keldc,  vicar  of  (1531).  362  ;   John  de,  chaplain  of 

Greystoke  chantry,  85  n. 
Wheldon.     See  Weldon. 
Whelpington.  Robert,  seneschal  of  Tynemouth  (1426- 

1434),  215  n,  425. 
Wheteley,  John  de,  vicar  of  Tynemouth  (1350)1  3°*  '< 

grants  to  the  priory  (1360),  116,  257. 
Whcthamstede,  family  of,  pedigree,  100 ;  Clement  de, 

see  Tynemouth,  priors  of;   John  (Bostock)  ie,  see 

St.   Alban's,   abbots   of;     John   (.\lacrell)  de,   see 

Tynemouth,   priors   of ;    William    de,  cellarer   of 

Tvnemouth  (1405),  100,  396. 
Whitburn,  county  Durham,  Thomas  Dockwray,  rector 

of,  269,  270  ;  Thomas  Triplett,  rector  of,  270. 
Whitby,  John  Bensted,  abbot  of,  see  Tynemouth,  priors 

of ;  settlers  from,  at  North  Shields,  310. 
Whitchester,  manor  of,  321. 
White,   Matthew   (1I,   of   Blagdon,   acquires    .Murton 

farm,   412  ;    Sir   .Matthew  (2),   baronet,  tenant   of 

Murton  (1757).    4II  ;    Robert,   minister,   marriage 

(167S),  36;  ;  William,  witness  (1445).  359  "•  435- 
Whitehead,   George,   deputy   captain   of   Tynemouth 

castle  (1606),  175  ;   report  on  state  of  castle,  17S  ; 


4S6 


INDEX. 


letters  from,  I2I,  237,  239,  244  n,  264,  294,  295, 
297  ;  charges  against,  296,  299  n  ;  Hugh,  last  prior 
of  Durham,  175  n  ;  Michael,  lieutenant  of  volun- 
teers (1667),  200  n  ;  William,  marriage  (16.S4),  365. 

VVhitchill  point,  wagonway  to  (1818),  27,  28,  341  ; 
landing  place  at,  29S  n  ;  fibula  found  at,  316  ; 
sands  at,  353,  354  ;  ferry,  354. 

Whilehorn,. Augustus,  mayor  of  Tynemouth  (1890),  352. 

Whitfield,  Hannah  (Reay),  monumental  inscription, 
130. 

Whitheved,  Alan,  vicar  of  Tynemouth,  362  ;  grants  to 
the  priory  (1360-1392),  116-117,  257;  witness 
(1376,  etc.),  258  n,  421,  424  ;  trustee,  396. 

Whitley  TOWNSHIP,  389-402  ;  in  Tynemouthshire, 
208;  geological  features,  2,  5-6,  7,  10,  16, 
lordship  granted  to  Tynemouth  priorj',  48,  54i  55 
(13),  62  n,  67  n  ;  tenure  of,  225-226,  393-394; 
Conveys  at,  224-225,  390,  393-394 ;  custumals 
(1225),  390,  (1377),  395,  (1404),  396;  payment  to 
Marden  mill,  241  ;  payment  to  Flatworth  mill, 
339  n  ;  land  in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory 
(1325),  115,  394;  licence  to  crenellate  tower  at 
0345)1  395;  manor  purchased  by  Tynemouth 
priory  (1405),  100,  117,  396;  tithes  of,  no,  369, 
371;  grant  of  corrody  out  of,  70  n  ;  number  and 
size  of  holdings  in,  22S  ;  rent  of  farmholds  in, 
229 ;  recognition  of  copyhold  tenure  at,  239  ; 
Whitley  hall,  398  ;  colliery,  20-21,  26-27,  281,  397, 
400;  limestone  quarries,  26-27,  397-39^1  4°°  J 
ironstone  workings,  400 ;  brewery,  399,  400  ; 
wagonway  to  Low  Lights,  27,  313,  355,  400;  St. 
Paul's  church,  360  ;  urban  district,  401  ;  detached 
portion  of,  416  ;  census  returns,  389  n. 

Whitley,  pedigree,  395  ;  Agnes  de  (i),  grant  of  land 
to  vicar  of  T)'nemouth  (1321),  394  ;  Agnes  de  (2) 
(Parker),  396  ;  Alice  de,  messuage  in  Tynemouth 
(1336),  256;  Gilbert  de,  messuage  in  Tynemouth 
(13361,257;  witness  (1360),  257  n  ;  East  Chirton 
and  Whitley  subsidy  roll  (1296),  393;  breaches 
of  the  peace  (131S-1324),  394;  military  architect, 
395  ;  Henry  de,  391  ;  John  de  (i)  (Wyiteley), 
juror  of  Tynemouth  (1295),  215  n  ;  concerned 
in  burglary  (1290),  216,  220,  392  ;  petition 
against  prior,  391  ;  lo.sses  (1297),  393;  attack  on 
\Villiam  Baret  (1305),  394;  witness,  422;  John 
de  (2),  witness  (1339),  410  n;  (1343-1344),  423; 
death  at  St.  Alban's,  395  ;  Nicholas  de.  East 
Chirton  and  Whitley  subsidy  roll  (1296),  393  ; 
Ralph  de  (i),  witness  to  charters  (twelfth  century), 
389  ;  Ralph  de  (2),  sued  (1225),  390  ;  Robert  de, 
property  in  Tynemouth,  255  ;  Thomas  de,  grants 
to  Tynemouth  priorv  (1382,  etc.),  116-117. 

Whittingham,  Charles  Ward,  vicar  of,  364. 

Whittonstall,  Milo  de,  grant  to  St.  Mary's,  Westgate 
{circa  1200),  362. 

Widdringlon  ch.ipel  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's  abbey 
(1174),  63  n  ;  pension  in,  payable  to  St.  Alban's, 
64  ;  agreement  respecting  syiiodalia,  66  ;  lands  at, 
acquired  by  Tynemouth  priory  (1392),  117. 

Widdrington  Edward,  ensign  of  volunteers  (1667), 
200  n  ;  Gerard  de,  claims  Hauxley,  94  ;  Sir  Henry, 
takes  possession  of  Percy  castles,  175-176  ;  report 
on  state  of  Tynemouth,  178  ;  Sir  John  de,  sheriff 
of  Northumberland  (I426),  424.  425  ;  Ralph, 
ensign  of  volunteers  (1667),  200  n  ;  Roger  (i), 
witness  (1426),  424,  425  ;  Roger  (2),  captain  of 
volunteers  (16671,  200  n  ;  William,  Lord,  governor 
of  Berwick  (1667),  200  ;  captain  of  volunteer  troop, 
200  n. 


Wideopen,  murder  of  John  Daglish  at,  172. 

Wildgose,  Sir  Robert,  333. 

Wilford,  Caroline  Russell  (Cardonnel-Lawson  and 
AVarren),  323. 

Wilkinson,  Agnes  (Hepescotes),  258,  421-422,  424; 
pedigree,  425  ;  George  (juror  of  Tynemouth  ( 1562), 
240;  Gilbert,  of  Tynemouth,  chaplain  of  Grey- 
stoke  chantry,  85  n,  258  ;  grants,  421-422  ;  pedigree, 
425  ;  Jacob,  marriage  (16S7),  365  ;  James,  of  New- 
castle, and  family,  monumental  inscription,  131  ; 
John  (1413),  258  n  ;  witness  (1391),  422,  (1386- 
1400),  424  ;  Joseph,  Nonconformist  minister  (circa 

1759).  373- 

U  illiam  I.,  invades  Northumbria  (1070  and  1072), 
43-44,  154;  consents  to  transfer  of  Tynemouth 
from  Durham  to  St.  Alban's  (1085),  46. 

William  II.,  charters  to  Tynemouth  priory  52-53,  209  ; 
crushes  Mowbray's  re\'olt,  52-53,  155- 

Williams,  Rev.  J.  F.  C,  Baptist  minister  (1866-1869), 
377  ;  William,  of  North  Shields,  land  in  Tyne- 
mouth, 268. 

Williamson   Rev.  James,  Baptist  minister  (1816-1838), 

377- 
Willington,  Milbanke  property  in,  327  ;    plan  of,  413  ; 

included  in  Tynemouth  Union,  351. 
Willington  Qua}-,  351. 
Wills   and    Inventories:    Hilton    Lawson    of   Chirton 

(1748),  322  n  ;    Edmund  Milbanke  of  Tynemouth 

(1596),  327;   W'illiam  Milbanke  of  North  Shields 

(1603),  327-328. 
W^illoughby,  royalist  (1655),  195. 
Wilson,  Eleanor,  of  North  Shields,  bequest  (1703),  366  ; 

Dr.  Gregg,  paper  on  crab  and  lobster  fishing,  389  n  ; 

Rev.  John,  D.D.,  minister  of  St.  Andrew's  chapel 

(1818-1820),  374;  Mary  (Crawford),  333  ;  Matthew, 

of  Blyth,  buys  land  at  Murton  (1825),  411  ;  Ralph, 

sued  (1653),  241. 
Wilton,  "Thomas  de,  attorney  for  prior  of  Tynemouth, 

90  n. 
Winch,  N.  J.,  geological  works,  5,  II,  12,  417. 
Winchester,   Richard,    bishop   of,    witness    to   charter, 

62  n. 
Windehank,  Sir  Francis,  secretary  of  state,  181. 
Windsor,  Robert  de  Mowbray  imprisoned  at,  54. 
Winnoc  the  hunter,  grants  Eglingham  to  Tynemouth 

priory,  48-49,  54. 
Winship,    Luke,   juror   of    Tynemouth    (1686),    241  ; 

Thomas,  juror  of  Tynemouth  (1562),  240. 
Winter,  Sir  William,  mission  to  Scotland  (1560),  162. 
W'ircester,  Ralph  de,  grants  Flatworth  to  Tj'uemouth 

priory  (1158),  48,  62,   335;    owns  West    Chirton 

(1 166),  335  ;  death,  336. 
Witton,  chapel  of  Hartburn,  confirmed  to  St.  Alban's, 

^+- 

Witton,    William    de,   tenant   of   Tynemouth    (1264), 

249  n  ;  land  acquired  from,  220. 
Wolsey,  Cardinal  (Thomas),  107,  212. 
^Volsington,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  and  n  ;   granted 

to  Tynemouth  priory,  49,  67  n  ;  lands  in,  acquired 

by  Tynemouth  priory  (1360),  116. 
Wolsington,  Gilbert  de,  pays  homage  to  Abbot  Norton 

(1264),   113  ;    grant  of  land  in  Monkseaton,  402  ; 

Margery     de,    land     in     Tynemouth     (thirteenth 

century),   42 1  ;     William    de,   witness    (thirteenth 

century),  421. 
Wood,  Nicholas,  geological  works,  5,  n,  12-13,  4t7- 
Woodburn,  Thomas  de,  plunders  Tynemouth  property 

(circa-)  1325),  90. 
Wooden  Dolly  quay,  305. 


INDEX. 


457 


Woodhorn,  church  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory, 
49,  68  n  ;  confirmed  by  Bishop  Pudsey,  63  n  ; 
Richard,  vicar  of  (1174),  64;  church  claimed  by 
Bishop  Philip  de  Poitiers  (1205),  730;  appro- 
priated by  St.  Alban's,  118;  pension  in,  payable 
to  St.  Alban's,  64  ;  lease  of  tithes,  156  ;  survey  of 
(1271),  227  n  ;  lands  in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth 
priory,  115  :  grant  of  lands  in  parish  of,  159. 

Woodman,  William,  solicitor  (1832),  243. 

Wooler,  tithes  of,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  50, 
62  n,  68  n  ;  William  Haigh,  vicar  of,  130  ;  General 
Monk  at,  197. 

Wooperton,  granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  48. 

Worcester,  battle  of,  194  ;  William  de  Bedford,  prior 
of,  see  Tynemouth,  priors  of. 

Worswick,  Rev.  James,  of  Newcastle,  Roman  Catholic 
priest  {circa  1S21),  376. 

Worthington,  — ,  dissenting  teacher  (died  1733),  373  n. 

Wouldhave,  William,  inventor  of  lifeboat,  356. 

Wrangham,  Thomas,  buys  Arnold's  close  (1618),  281. 

Wrench,  — ,  prebendary  of  Durham  (i658),  359. 

Wright,  John  (l),  of  North  Shields,  purchases  lands 
in  Tynemouth  (1796),  266;  monumental  inscrip- 
tion, 131  ;  John  (2),  of  Wallsend,  273  ;  John 
Bowes,  property  in  Tynemouth,  266  ;  Margaret  (i), 
wife  of  Nicholas,  422  ;  Margaret  (2)  (Kelso, 
Mitcalfe),  267  ;  Nicholas,  of  Tynemouth,  grant  to 
(1363),  422  ;  Robert,  witness  (1392),  424  ;  Stephen, 
of  Dockwray  Square,  buys  Chirton  Hill  farm 
(1S05),  333  ;  monumental  inscription,  131  ; 
Thomas,  of  Whitley  park,  buys  Chirton  Hill  farm 
(1S05),  333  ;  buys  Whitley  park  (1800),  399  ;  buys 
land  at  Monkseaton  (iSoi),  407  ;  monument;il 
inscription,  362  ;  William,  property  in  TjTiemouth, 
266. 

Wycliffe,  John,  of  Offerton,  175  n  ;  Thomas,  174  n; 
William,  deputy  captain  of  TjTiemouth,  174;  letters, 
176,  294  ;  charges  against,  296,  299  n. 


Wydall,  Thomas,  tenant  of  Tynemouth  (1539),  262, 
263. 

Wylam,  in  Tynemouthshire,  208  ;  manor  and  tithes  of, 
granted  to  Tynemouth  priory,  49,  50, 620, 68  n.  121  ; 
manor  of,  221  ;  court  held  at,  113;  prior's  house 
at,  loi  ;  murder  at,  presented  at  Tynemouth 
assizes,  219  ;  lands  in,  acquired  by  Tynemouth 
priory,  116  ;  laid  waste  by  Scots  (1297).  83  ;  plun- 
dering of  property  at,  90  ;  oppression  of  prior's 
men  at,  92 ;  recognition  of  copyhold  tenure  at,  239  ; 
presentments  at  Tynemouth  manor  court,  240 ; 
woods,  396. 

Wylam,  John  de,  tenant  of  Chirton  (1377),  227,  331  ; 
witness  (1341),  423  ;  Ralph  de,  337  ;  Roger  de, 
freeholder  of  Chirton  (1295),  227,  330 ;  claims  land, 
337  ;  William,  Tynemouth  subsidy  roll  (1296), 
252  ;  witness,  421. 

Wymondham,  prior  of,  author  of  Vila  Orwini,  119; 
William  de  Horton,  prior  of,  see  Tynemouth, 
priors  of. 

Wynyarde,  David,  cooper,  233,  235. 

Wyot,  Henry,  Atiddle  Chirton  tallage  roll  (1294), 
330;  William,  Monkseaton  custumal  (circa  1296), 
404. 


Yarmouth,  merchants  of,  254  ;  fish  trade,  379,  380,  381, 

388. 
Yelloley,  Robert,  claim  on  Shire  Moor  (1790),  415. 
Yeoman,  family  of.  property  in  Chirton,  326  ;   Anne 

(Rudyerd,)  326 ;    Rachel,  claim  on   Shire   Moor 

(1790),  415. 
Yevel-penies,  meaning  of,  224. 
Young,  George  Frederick,  M.P.  for  Tynemouth  (1832. 

1S37),  351- 
Younger,  James,  of  Burradon,  owner  of  Ntonkseaton 
farm,  406  ;  Rowland  (1597),  328. 


Vol.  VIII. 


58 


London  and  Newcastle-upon-Tyne: 
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