| |
|
THE HISTORY OF ACKLINGTON TOWNSHIP |
| |
| The greater part of the township of Acklington,
N which
has an area of 2,121 acres, is situated a little above the 100 feet
contour-line of the Ordnance survey. Its north-west corner abuts
upon the river Coquet, and, except a wood comprising about 50 acres,
replanted about forty years ago, it is all in pasture or under
tillage. The population in 1891 was 235.
N A survey made
at the beginning of the seventeenth century describes the bounder of
the township in the following words ; |
| |
| Acklington beginninge at the over end of Braunshaugh-bank even as the
pale goes to the water of Cockett, and soe downe the water of
Cockett to Whinfell-dike, and along Whinfell south dike to the North
burne, and goe east on the northe side of the said burne to a dyke
corner at Key-hill,
N and then turne south over the dyke
in Key-hill as the way goeth to the glades to the marche stones
there, and soe along as a lane goeth to the north nooke of Leyng
lands dyke (having one raike for cattell without) to the south side
of the west raynes, and soe to the south end of Pringles-letch, and
soe from thence upp the south side of Whitakers, and then south the
nether end of Dayndes-Flatt, and soe to a water gappe a little by
the south of Nayler-gate, and soe upp along as the way goeth to the
rough dyke end, and from thence along even as the way goeth to the
south burne to West Chevington hagge dike, and then upp the hagge
dike to the Shawe dike, and from thence even as the dike goeth unto
the parke pale, and soe from thence downe the said pale to
Braunshaugh-banke end, where wee begunne.
N |
|
| |
| |
|
 |
| |
|
Map of Acklington and Acklington Park Townships.
(Acklington Park in green) |
| |
No traces exist, nor have any objects been found (so far as is
known), of the prehistoric inhabitants of Acklington, though a
reminder of early occupation is suggested in the name of the homestead
of Chester-house, from which a road probably led, and has in part
been traced, to Gloster-hill, near the estuary of the river Coquet.
The feudal history of the township has always been included in that
of the castle and barony of Warkworth, of which barony it is a
member. There are a few notices of the vill and tenants of the
thirteenth and beginning of the fourteenth century, and from that
period onward the elaborate surveys, bailiffs' accounts and
receivers' accounts remaining in the muniment room of the duke of
Northumberland yield abundant evidence of the relationship of the
tenants with their lord and with one another.
A full account of Acklington in the year 1248 is preserved in
the inquisition taken after the death of Roger fitz John, lord of
Warkworth,
N in which it was found that there were in
Aclinton twenty-one bond tenants, each of whom held 30 acres of
land, for which he rendered each year 3s. 6d. in rent, 4 quarters of
malt barley (or 9s. at the lord's option); for stallage 2d.; for the
keep of the lord's draught horses and cattle (averiorum) 3d. ; and a
fowl (or 1d.) to be paid at Christmas ; every week he laboured for
three days (unless a feast intervened), or in lieu he paid, at the
lord's option, 5s. ; in autumn he reaped the lord's corn for five
days with two men (on three of the days the lord providing the food,
on the other days he provided it himself) ; the value of this
service was 6½d. He was bound to carry to the castle of Warkworth a
load of firewood from Acklington, or give 1d. in lieu of the same.
The value of the rents and services of the twenty-one tenants was
£19 11s. 3½d. a year. The tenants held a meadow called Rumedu, for
which they paid 5s. a year. Robert Annig held 3 acres of land, and
rendered for the same a quarter of malt barley of the old measure ;
and Roger Wansbe, by charter, held for the term of his life 20 acres
of demesne land for keeping the park, and also 4 acres for which he
gave 2s. 6d. a year for all services.
There were also ten farmers who held 168 acres of land, and
rendered 75s. 11d. a year, and each made forty works with a man a
day (the lord providing food on four of the days), which, besides
food, were worth 25s. a year. There were also two cottars, who held
5 acres and rendered 2s. 9d. for rent and made works of the value of
5s. William, the smith, for making the iron of Warkworth and shoeing
the horses, held 9 acres of land. |
| |
| At the Northumberland assizes of 1256, Roger, son of Thomas of
Esingwaud, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing clothes (pannos)
from the house of Robert, the son of Henry, in the vill of Aklinton.
Evidence was given that he had fled to Bolam, and taken refuge in
the church there ; he abjured the realm.
N There were
fourteen tenants assessed to the subsidy of
1296. |
| |
|
ACLINGTON SUBSIDY ROLL, 1296. |
| |
| |
|
£. s.
d. |
|
s. d. |
| Summa bonorum |
Utting filii Willelmi |
0 12
9 |
unde regi |
1 2 |
| " |
Agnetis viduae |
0 14 1 |
" |
1
3¼ |
| " |
Hugonis messanger |
0 14 5 |
" |
1
3¾ |
| " |
Rogeri molendinarii. |
1 1
10 |
" |
1 11¾ |
| " |
Tyocke viduae |
0 15
3 |
" |
1
4¾ |
| " |
Ranulphi praepositi |
0 15 6 |
" |
1
5 |
| " |
Thomae Scot |
1 0 3 |
" |
1 10 |
| " |
Willelmi de Felton |
1 2 4 |
" |
2
0½ |
| " |
Willelmi filii Roberti |
0 14 7 |
" |
1
4 |
| " |
Rogeri caretarii |
1 4 8 |
" |
2
2¾ |
| " |
Roberti ad portam |
1 6 1 |
" |
2
4½ |
| " |
Roberti filii Gilberti |
0 19 10 |
" |
1
9¾ |
| " |
Hugonis stodherd |
0 17 6 |
" |
1
7 |
| " |
H. Payn |
0 11 4 |
" |
1
0¼ |
| Summa hujus villae, £12
10s. 5d. Unde domino regi, 22s. 9¼ d. |
|
| |
| In 1309 there were in Aclington forty-seven bond tenants, each
of whom held a messuage and 18 acres of land, and paid 9s. ; the
total, £21 3s. There was a dovecote worth 3s., and a windmill worth
£5 6s. 8d.
N Three years later, fourteen tenants were
assessed at £17 9s. 10d. for a subsidy. |
| |
|
AKELINTON SUBSIDY ROLL, 1312. |
| |
| |
|
£. s.
d. |
|
s. d. |
| Summa bonorum |
Radulphi filii
Roberti |
3 0 0 |
unde regi |
6 0 |
| " |
Thomae Scot |
1 10 4 |
" |
3 0½ |
| " |
Roberti ad portam |
1 16 0 |
" |
3 7¼ |
| " |
Hutredi |
1 19 4 |
" |
3 11¼ |
| " |
Ranulphi filii Thomae |
1 12 0 |
" |
3 2½ |
| " |
Vymarce viduae |
0 12 0 |
" |
1 2½ |
| " |
Rogeri filii Willelmi |
1 3 6 |
" |
2 4¼ |
| " |
Willelmi King |
0 17 0 |
" |
1 8½ |
| " |
Adae filii Ricardi |
0 18 4 |
" |
1 10 |
| " |
Willelmi de Felton |
1 1 8 |
" |
2 2 |
| " |
Willelmi stoker |
0 11 0 |
" |
1 1¼ |
| " |
Rogeri carter |
0 17 4 |
" |
1 9 |
| " |
Rogeri filii Willelmi.. |
0 19 4 |
" |
1 11½ |
| " |
Adae de Wyndegatis |
0 12 0 |
" |
1 2½ |
| Totius villae de
Akelinton, £17 9s. 10d. Unde regi, 35s. 1d. |
|
| |
| |
|
ACLYNTON SUBSIDY ROLL, 1336. |
| Thomas filius Roberti, 6s. 8d. ; Hugo Wayt, 2s.; Hugo filius
Rogeri, 2s. 8d.; Ricardus filius Rogeri, 4s. 4d.; Adam Stodhird,
4s. 2d.; Robertus filius Willelmi, 1s.; Rogerus filius Ranulphi,
4s. 3d. ; Willelmus filius Ranulphi, 3s. |
| Summa, 28s. 1d. |
| |
|
| |
|
In 1352 there was at Aklyngton a certain capital messuage, which
was worth and rendered 4s. a year ; 70 acres of demesne land,
which were worth and yielded 40s. ; and 7 acres of meadow, worth
14d. per acre. Of the thirty-five bondage holdings, each of
which contained a messuage and 16 acres of land, twenty-six paid
12s. each per annum, and the remaining nine lay waste and
uncultivated for lack of tenants,
N though
10s. was
received for the herbage. The windmill was worth and paid 40s. a
year, and the perquisites of the halmote court were worth 3s.
2d.
N Sixteen years later, the site of the manor
rendered 4s. a year, the 70 acres of demesne land were let to
the tenants at will at 6d. an acre, and the 7 acres of meadow
were let at 12d. an acre. There were twenty-six bondage holdings
in the hands of tenants at will, each of whom paid 13s. 4d. a
year ; and there were nine bondage holdings which lay waste, but
yielded 20s. for herbage. The windmill rendered 30s., and the
profits of the halmote court 3s. 4d.
N
In 1472 thirty-five husbandlands yielded £19 3s. 2d. ; a capital messuage called the
'Hall-stede,' 8s. 9d. ; the price of
twenty-three (sic) hens, from each house whence smoke issued,
one hen at 1d., 2s. ; giving a total sum of £19 13s. 11d. to be
accounted for.
N In 1489, 5s. 4d., was paid to the
tenants of Acklington for mowing a meadow called 'Ermet-fall '
for hay to the lord's use for his cattle in Aklyngton park in
winter after the close of the account, 5s. 4d.
N
In a survey made about the year 1498
N it
was ascertained that though there were at that time nominally
thirty-five husbandlands or tenements in Acklington there were
actually but eighteen, for seventeen tenants held two
husbandlands apiece and paid 20s. a year ; and the other tenant,
Thomas Pereson, who only held one husbandland, paid 10s. a year.
The names of
the seventeen tenants were : Robert and Thomas Jamys, William
Gibson, Thomas Sympson, William Jamys, John Symson, John Pereson,
John Hudson, William Patanson, Richard Wryght, Robert Jamys,
Robert Hudson, James Katerall, William Maile, William Crawcester,
Hugh Jamys, Robert Symson, Robert Wright. Besides the holders of
the thirty-five husbandlands, there were eight cottage-tenants
or cottars, who held directly from the lord, at rents varying
from 1s. to 8s. 9d. a year. There was a system of suretyship
common to both classes of tenants ; the tenants paid twenty-four
rent hens ; and the sum of the rents was £19 13s. 11d. a year. |
| |
| In 'a description and gross valuation of all the castles, rents,
and farms . . . conveyed to King Henry VIII. by the earl of
Northumberland,' it is noted that in the lordeshippe of
Acklyngton ben ij lytell woodes, one called Shevley and another
Whorlecharle, N both conteyneng x acres, wherof the under-wood ys
estemyd to the valewe of xli.' And there is in the same 'of okes
for tymber xxx trees, valued at lxs. N |
|
| |
|
The following extracts relating to Acklington are derived from
the sixteenth-century bailiffs
N and receivers' accounts
preserved among the duke of Northumberland's MSS.
|
| |
1526, Michaelmas. The bailiffs' account for arrears of last
year, 61i. 8s. 8½d.; rents and farms as in previous years
payable at Martinmas and Whitsuntide, 19li. 13s. 11d.; new rent
as in previous years as appears by the rental, 4s. 4d.; new rent
of John Symson for farm of a brewery in the lordship leased to
him by the lord's commissioners 13 Henry VIII. for twenty years,
2s. ; increase of farm of one small close called Kay-hill close,
charged above at 16d. yearly, and leased by the lord's
commissioners 9 Henry VIII. to Thomas Symson for 6s. 8d. yearly,
5s. 4d. Sum of receipts and arrears, 261i. 14s. 3½d.
Allowances. William Gybson received by him of the rents and
farms of the lordship for two years ending at Michaelmas, 14
Henry VII., and kept by him in the name of an annuity granted to
him by the executors of the last earl at 20s. yearly, above
among arrears 40s. Edward Radclyffe, late constable of Warkworth
castle, received by William Male, provost, 17 Henry VII., beyond
his fee of 10 marks yearly 17s. 11d. William Male, grieve, 21
Henry VII., for his arrears, 50s. 9½d. Christopher Thrilkeld,
esquire, received of the issues of the lordship, 22 Henry VII.,
and claimed in part payment of 10 marks for his fee as constable
of Warkworth castle the same year for which he did not show the
lord's warrant, 20s.
1532. Increase of farm of a small close called Kyhil-close,
charged above at 16d. yearly, now leased to Thomas Symson at 6s.
8d. yearly, 5s. 4d. New rent of John Symson for farm of a
brewery within the
lordship leased to him by the lord's commissioners in 1521 for
twenty-one years at 2s. yearly, 2s. Sum, 201i. 5s. 7d.
Allowances, etc. Delivered to Master Ingram Percy in part
payment of his annuity as in carriage of grain from Aklington to
Alnwick as appears by a bill dated 12th April, A° 24,
4s. 10d. Paid to tenants of Aklington for carriage of 17 waggon loads of grain, corn,
oats, and big, cart loads `in sheffes,' from Hedelston to the
chapel of St. Mary Magdalene in Warkworth before Christmas A°
24, at 8d., as appears by a bill written by John Williamson,
clerk, controller of the household,11s. 4d.
1534. Paid to tenants of Aklington for carriage of 36 bolls of
coal from Ambell-hugh to Belton-feld (3s.), and of 55 bolls of
lime from Baton to Warkworth castle, at a 1d. a boll (4s. 7d.),
7s. 7d. |
|
| |
|
In 1538 the township sent to the muster but one man fully
equipped, the remaining twenty-four, though able men, were
wanting in horse and harness.
|
| |
|
ACLINGTON MUSTER ROLL, 1538.
N |
| |
| Willme Pawttinson, horse and harnes ; John Robynson, Ryc.
Borden, John Wryght, Thomas Symson, Rog. Symson, Willme Symson,
John Thomeys, Robt. Symson, John Person, Willme Clay, Robt.
Hudson, Willme Wryght, John Robyson, John Mantell, Ryc. Herryson,
John Robynson, Robt. Symson, John Lawe, Thomas Smyth, James
Pattonson, John Burstred, John Harper, Thomas Wryght, George
Steynson, able men wanting horse and harnes. |
| |
|
| |
|
Eight of the able men present at the muster were living when the
survey of 1567 was made, and at least eight others were
represented by their sons or kinsmen of the same name. This
document gives not only the estimated acreage of the arable,
meadow, and pasture land belonging to each of the eighteen
tenants, but the extent of the close or croft attached to his
tenement, and the fine payable on admission or paid at the
customary periods. |
| |
|
SURVEY OF ACKLINGTON TOWNSHIP
circa 1567
N |
| Tenants |
Messuages |
Area
of
Close. etc. |
Holding |
Rent |
Fine |
| |
A. R. |
Acres |
s. d. |
£ s. d. |
| Robert Robinsone |
1 |
4 1 |
30 |
20 4 |
2 0 8 |
| William Robinsone |
1 |
4 1 |
30 |
20 4 |
4 1 4 |
| Roger Simpsone |
1 |
4 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| Robert James |
1 |
6 0 |
30 |
21 4 |
4 5 4 |
| Thomas Wimpray |
1 |
2 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
4 1 4 |
| John Urpethe |
1 |
4 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
4 1 4 |
| John Claye |
1 |
4 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
4 1 4 |
| John Pattersone |
1 |
4 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
4 1 4 |
| John Robinson |
1 |
3 2 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| Robert Johnsone
|
1 |
2 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| Robert Lawe |
1 |
4 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| John Smithe
|
1 |
5 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 4 |
| William Pawtersone |
1 |
2 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| John Brewster |
1 |
4 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| Thomas Andersone |
1 |
2 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
2 1 4 |
| Humphrey Harper |
1 |
1 0 |
15 |
10 2 |
1 0 4 |
| Thomas Simpsone |
1 |
2 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| John Wright
|
1 |
2 0 |
30 |
20 4 |
3 1 0 |
| |
18 |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
ACKLINGTON COTTAGE
TENANTS, 1567. N
|
|
Cottages |
Acreage of Cottages and
Close, etc. |
Rent. |
Fine. |
| |
A. R. |
s. d. |
s. d. |
| Thomas Lawsone |
1 0 |
2 0 |
8 0 |
| Richard Hardinge |
2 0 |
- |
- |
| William Wright |
1 3 |
6 8 |
26 0 |
| Robert Robinsone |
1 0 |
4 0 |
12 0 |
| William Simpsone |
3 1 |
8 0 |
24 0 |
| Roger and William
Simpsone |
6 0 |
6 8 |
20 0 |
| George Thewe |
0 1 |
3 0 |
9 0 |
| Edward Smales |
2 0 |
8 9 |
30 0 |
| Thomas Woompray and
Robert Johnson |
5 0 |
7 6 |
22 6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| The document from which these tables are compiled goes on to
say : |
| |
Ther is a mencon of a mansion howse lyke as it hathe ben the
scite of the manor nowe in the tenure of Edward Smales and
demysed by the name of a cotadge of ye yerly rent of viijs,
ixd
Ther ys neather avowson nor patronage of benefice in this towne
of Ackelingeton, for yt ys parcell of the vicarage of
Warkeworthe ; neather ys ther anie demeane lands or demaine
meadowes, but all is occupied together in husbandrie ; yer ys no
comone grounde to be improved, althoughe ther ys large comon,
because of the barrenness therof, withoute greate hurte to the
tenants, which of necessatie muste be cherished and rather helpt
for service cause.
Yt is mooche convenient yt all yt parte of ye comone which is betwixte ye
easte corner of ye southeaste ende of Ackelington parke to ye
gate of ye said parke, and as ye heighe streate called
Warkworthe waye goethe wer inclosed with a stronge quicke hedge,
and that the same so inclosed did lye twoo or thre yeares in
haninge,
N in which tyme ye tenants
mighte with ther owne labor brynge ye same to a fyne grounde
or at ye leaste to arable grounde wher nowe yt ys but rotten
mosse grounde, which wolde be to the tenants in grease tyme
N muche comodetie. as also to ye said parke a
greate strengthe and saife garde to his lordship's game.
And yt ys to be noted yt ye grounde called Whorle Charre, N which lyethe at ye northe caste corner of the said
parke, enclosed on ye one syde with ye pale of the parke envyrouned on two partes with the water Cokett, ys the beste and
moste comodiouse parte of all the comone. The same is alwaies
eaten with ye cattell of Braineshaughe, Guisnes, and Bernehill,
and muche suffrid by licence by the said tenants, - for that yt
ys farre from them yt wer good the same wer also enclosed, but
that ther ys a comon waye over at the forde of Braineshaughe
which cannot he barred, or yf not, a lodge ther to be budded for
the comone servaunte dewringe ye tyme of summer, or else a
specyall respecte to be gevine unto the same or else ye same
grounde wyll doe ye saide tenants not muche profett and in tyme
be a specyall cause, the same to be improved to his lordship,
which God forbyd yt sholde be so, for they maye not spare yt for
nothinge.
It wer also good that ye parcell of grounde called Cheaveley wer
also enclosyd by the said tenants with a stronge quicke-hedge
and kepte severall to the use of the said tenants, onelie
provyded that the cottages had set foorthe to them suche parcell
of ye said comone as wolde serve them or extende to suche
quantetie of ye grounde so inclosed by the said tenants, which
they owe to have as apperteaninge to ye cottagers, and yt they
mighte lykewyse inclose ye same yt wer to them all a greate
comodetie as also a ,greate strengthe to his lordship's game.
This towne ys not to be devyded otherwayes than yt ys nowe
presentlie, for that ye inequalitie of ye goodnes of the grounde
as also ye scyte of the towne, which ys yn all respectes
scytuated for ye most comodetie to all the said inhabitaunts.
Neverthelesse yt ys muche requisyte yt every tenant and cotiger
had sett foorthe to him such quantitie of grounde adjoyning unto
his tenement or cottage as wolde fall by equall porcion unto
them and everie of them and everie tenant or cottinger to
inclose his crofte from the other with one stronge dyke quicke
sett as before ys menconed. Provyded also ther in bothe sydes of
ye said towne ther be remaninge suche accustomed loninge and
comone passadge, the same not to be straitened, as at this
present are on bothe sydes of the said towne for ye occupacon in
maneteaninge and tyllage of ye said grounde as well erable as
medowe and pastor. N |
|
| |
|
A survey made about the year 1585 is still richer in detail
than that made in 1567 :
|
| |
|
ACKLINGTON, 1585.
N |
|
|
| Tenants at Will. |
Former Tenant |
|
|
Husbandlands containing |
Rent |
Fine |
| Acres |
s. d. |
£ s. |
| John Robinson |
Previously held by Robert, his
Father |
1 messuage |
1 croft and 6 selions of arable
land of 4 a. 1 r. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| William Robinson |
- |
1 messuage |
1 croft and 6 selions of arable
land of 4 a. 1 r. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| *John Simpson |
Roger, his father |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2 a. and
3 selions of land
of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| †Robert James |
Himself |
1 messuage |
1 croft of 4½
and croft of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Roger Womprey |
Thomas Womprey, formerly
Robert Simpson |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| John Jackson |
John Urpeth,
formerly Thomas
Womprey |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 4 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| John Clay |
- |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 4 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Thomas Clarke |
John Patterson |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 4 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Thomas Robinson |
John, his father |
1 messuage and garden
1 tenement and garden |
1 croft of 2 a., 1 close of ½ a.,
1
croft of 1 a. ½ r. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Robert Turner |
Robert Johnson |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Thomas Hoppyn |
Robert Lawe |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 4 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| *John Smith |
Himself |
1 messuage and garden |
2
crofts of 5 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| The Widow of
Patterson |
William Patterson |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| John Brewster |
Himself |
1 messuage and garden |
2
crofts of 4 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Thomas Anderson |
Himself |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2½ a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Thomas Sharp |
Humphrey, his
father |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 1 a. |
15½ |
10 2 |
2 10 |
| Thomas Simpson |
- |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| Thomas Wright |
John, his father |
1 messuage and garden |
1
croft of 2 a. |
30 |
20 4 |
5 0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| * Also held a cottage with garden.
†Also a cottage with garden,
and toft with garden. |
|
| |
|
THE SMALLER OR COTTAGE TENANTS N OF
ACKLINGTON IN 1585. N |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Rent |
Fine,
1585 |
| s. d. |
£. s. |
| Thomas Lawson N |
1 cottage |
1 croft of 1 a. |
With land in common fields |
2 0 |
0 10 |
| William Anderson |
1 cottage with garden of
½ r. |
A moiety of a croft, called
'le Hole' of 1½ a. |
With land in common fields |
6 8 |
2 0 |
| Robert Robinson, son of Robert |
1 cottage with garden of
½ r. |
_ |
1 a. of arable land in the common
fields, etc. |
4 0 |
1 0 |
| The widow of John
Waud |
1 cottage with 1 garden of 1 r. |
A moiety of a croft, called
'le Hole', of 1½ a. |
2 a. of land in the common
fields. etc. |
8 0 |
2 0 |
| John Simpson and the widow of
John
Waud |
_ |
1 close, called 'Howy's close', of
6 a |
Arable land, meadow, and pasture |
6 8 |
'Nil quia pauper' |
| George Thewe |
1 cottage with garden of 1 r. |
_ |
Common of pasture, etc. |
3 0 |
0 15 |
| Edward Smales |
1 cottage |
_ |
2 a. of arable land, in the
common
field, etc. |
8 9 |
2 0 |
| Widow Haryson. |
_ |
1 parcel of meadow, called
'Lambe meadow', of 2 a. 1 toft |
8 selions of arable land in the
fields of 3 a. |
5 8 |
'Nil quia pauper' |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
At a muster of the Middle Marches taken by
Sir John Forster at the Moot-law on the 26th of March, 1580, Acklington town was
represented by only one able horseman ; N
but at a muster of light horsemen at Abberwickedge on the 24th
of November, 1595, there were present eleven footmen.
|
| |
|
AKLINTON MUSTER ROLL, 1595.
N |
| |
| Jo. Robinson, William Robinson, Jo. Anderson, Robert James, Jo.
Clay, Jo. Lawson, and Thomas Robinson, armed with spears and
defensive armour. Jo. Righ, furnished with petronel. Tho.
Anderson, Rob. Robinson, and Tho. Wright, furnished with spears. |
| |
|
| |
|
At a meeting of the gentlemen of Morpeth ward held at Morpeth in
November, 1597, it was agreed that in respect of the outrages by
'our home theaves on the forraine borderers' that the 'plump watche' should be kept in seven places by the gentlemen of the
ward. The appointed place of the bailiff of Chevington was at
the ' Flower of Cheveley; N |
| |
| As has been already observed, the rental of 1498 assumes the
existence of thirty-five husbandlands in the township, though
there were but eighteen tenants. This statement is the only
record that has survived of an earlier stage in which, probably
for military purposes, a larger number of holdings had been
created than the land was able to maintain : a condition which
had been reformed by the lord here, as at High Buston, by
reducing the number of holdings by one-half, with the result
that each tenant, save one, possessed two holdings. The surveys of
1567 and 1585 show the same number of seventeen (practically)
co-equal tenements and one of half the extent and value. But all
the surveys already quoted yield in interest to that of 1616, so
rich is it in minuteness ; each plot, each strip and balk in
every field is measured and shown, whether in meadow, pasture,
or arable land ; so, also, is the area of each tenant's house
and garth. |
| |
|
A COLLECTION, WHAT NUMBER OF
ACRES EVERY TENANT IN ACKLINGTON HOLDETH, PARTICULERLY WITHIN THE SAID TOWNE AND THE
TERRITORIES THEREOF BELONGING TO THEIR SEVERAL TENEMENTS AND
COTTAGES IN 1616. N |
|
|
| Name of Tenant. |
No. of Tenement. |
Tenement and Garth. |
No. of Cottage. |
Cottages, etc. |
Meadow, etc. |
Arable |
Total |
| |
|
A. R.
P. |
|
A. R P. |
A. R. P. |
A. R.
P. |
A. R. P. |
| Humphrey Barker |
1 |
0 1 16 |
1 |
0 1
18 |
0 3
0½ |
42
1 11¼ |
45 0 23¾ |
| 1 |
0 1
10 |
1 0
8 |
| William Clay |
1 |
0 1 23 |
- |
- |
1 3 5 |
38 2
25 |
40 3
13¼ |
| Martin Smart |
1 |
0 1 16 |
- |
- |
1 3 5 |
33 2
25 |
35 3
6¼ |
| John James |
1 |
1 1
0½ |
- |
- |
1 3 15 |
41 0
23 |
44 0
38½ |
| Lawrence Rishforth |
1 |
0 1 7 |
- |
- |
1 3
9½ |
40 2
20 |
42 2
36⅓ |
| John Smith |
1 |
0 1
5½ |
1 |
0 0
24½ |
1 3
4¾ |
40 2
20 |
42 3
14¾ |
| Robert Robinson |
1 |
1 0 12 |
- |
- |
1 1
33½ |
36 3
21 |
39 1
26¾ |
| John Robinson |
1 |
1 1 16 |
- |
- |
1 3
20¼ |
39 0
27 |
42 1
23¼ |
| William Lee |
1 |
0 1 26 |
1 |
0 1 0 |
2 0 1 |
40 1
20 |
43 0
7 |
| Robert Wompery |
1 |
0 0 35 |
1 |
0 1 8 |
1 3 5 |
41 3
16 |
44 0 24 |
George Hunter
[pasture 15a. 2r. 16¼p.] |
1 |
0 3 18 |
1 |
0 1 0 |
4 3
18¾ |
42 0
34½ |
63 3
7½ |
| Thomas Anderson |
1 |
0 3 37 |
1 |
0 1 20 |
1 2
28¼ |
39 3
26½ |
42 3 31¾ |
| Thomas Wright |
1 |
0 1 28 |
1 |
0 2 0 |
1 2
24¼ |
41 0
7¼ |
43 2 19½ |
| Thomas Horsley |
1 |
0 1 12 |
- |
- |
1 2 35 |
39 2
9 |
41 2 16 |
| Thomas Harper |
1 |
0 1 12 |
- |
- |
0 3 36 |
23 2
21 |
24 3 29 |
| Henry Johnson |
1 |
0 1 18 |
1 |
0 2 22 |
1 2
14¼ |
40 0
3 |
42 2
17¼ |
| Robert James |
1 |
0 3 6 |
1 |
0 2 26 |
1 2
10¼ |
38 1
35 |
41 2
17¼ |
| John Robinson, junior |
1 |
0 1
30 |
1 |
0 2 8 |
1 2
29½ |
36 2
35¼ |
39 1
22¾ |
| |
18 |
Some of acres of
all the tenements with the cottages and
lands aforesaid ... ... ..... ... ... |
764 1 21¾ |
| |
|
| |
|
COTTAGES IN ACKLINGTON, 1616.
N |
| Name of Tenant |
Cottage and Garth. |
Land in the fields. |
Rough Meadows. |
Lamb-close Meadow. |
Total |
| |
A. R.
P. |
A. R.
P. |
A. R.
P. |
A. R.
P. |
A. R.
P. |
| Robert Taylor |
0 1 7 |
7 0
9 |
- |
- |
7 1 16 |
| John Wand |
0 0
12 |
6 3 8¼ |
- |
- |
6 3
20¼ |
| John Greeves |
0 0
12 |
7 0
16¼ |
- |
- |
7 0
28¼ |
| John Smales |
1 1
36½ |
7 2
25 |
- |
- |
9 0
21½ |
| Thomas Robinson |
0 0
22 |
10 1
8¾ |
0 1 20 |
0 3 30 |
11 3
0¾ |
| Roger Womperey |
0 0
22 |
- |
- |
- |
0 0 22 |
| George Thew |
0 1
0½ |
1 0
13 |
- |
- |
1 1
13½ |
| |
43 3
1½ |
| |
|
|
|
| The commons there bee great and lardge but soffiewhat barren,
and part thereof may bee inclosed as well for the benefitt of
the tenants as proffit to the lord, as the pasture ground called
Whorlton Carre, lying at the north-east corner of Acklington
parke. A parcell of ground called Cheyfley and a parcell of rotton mossie ground lying betwixt the east corner of the
south-east end of the same parke to the parke gate, and as the
high street called Warkworth way goeth, for that they bee eyther
eaten with the cattell of other townes or else to little or noe
commoditie for his lordship's tenants. N |
|
|
|
|
The acreage of Acklington and Acklington park in 1616 was
stated
to be : N
|
|
|
| |
A. R.
P. |
| The lands held by 18 tenants ... ... |
764 1
21¾ |
| Do.
7 cottage holders ... ... ... |
43 3
1½ |
| The common pasture and wastes ... |
1,169 0
24¾ |
| Acklington park ... |
2,691 2 4 |
|
|
|
A comparison of the last tables with those of the earlier
surveys will show ' that the differences in the size of the
holdings, when measured, was much greater than was imagined to
be when the survey was made only by the eye.
N
Before the end of the seventeenth century an important
modification had taken place ; for, though the survey of 1702
shows that the number of farms was maintained at seventeen and a
half, besides the cott/rs' lands, the township had been divided
into the ' north side,' which comprised eight and a half farms,
and the ' south side,' which comprised nine farms. This survey
notes that; |
|
|
|
This towne of Acklington consisteth in seventeen farmes and a
halfe, besides severall coatlands, . . . there farmes are lately
divided ; they have a coale myne in their grounds, but noe
lymestone but what they fetch five myles off; there houses are
all in good repaire, and there tenements are worth about £25 per
annum, being improved . . . the south parte of this towne is
better by 20s. per annum then the north syde. |
|
|
|
|
ACKLINGTON, TENANTS AT WILL, 1702.
N |
| Tenants at Will. |
Tenements |
Date of Lease |
Rent |
Rack |
|
|
£ s d |
£ s |
|
South side |
|
|
|
Thomas Harper, late Robinson |
1 |
- |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
William Lee, late Robinson |
1 |
- |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
William Lee, late John Lee |
1 |
- |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
Robert Smart, late Robert Smart |
1 |
- |
3 6 8 |
25 0 |
|
Executors of William Clay |
1 |
- |
3 6 8 |
25 0 |
|
Philip Womphrey |
1 |
- |
3 1 0 |
25 0 |
|
Thomas James, late John James, a
cottage house and iii riggs |
1 |
- |
3 10 0 |
25 10 |
|
Thomas and Elizabeth Taylor |
1 |
1697 |
3 6 8 |
50 0 |
|
Elizabeth Taylor and Thomas her son |
1 |
1680 |
3 6 8 |
|
North side : |
|
|
|
George Robinson, late John Robinson |
1 |
- |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
Mr. Stephen Palfrey,
N
a tenement, late Hunter's, Howey's-close, and
Lamb-close meadow |
|
1688 |
3 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
Thomas Appleby |
1 |
1697 |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
Jane James, late Stephen Muschampes
N |
1 |
- |
2 10 0 |
25 0 |
|
Thomas James, late Roger Stawpert |
1 |
- |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
Thomas Anderson, late John Anderson |
1 |
- |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
William Horsley |
1 |
1699 |
4 0 0 |
25 0 |
|
Bartholomew Wright |
1 |
- |
3 6 8 |
25 0 |
|
Philip Womphrey |
½ |
- |
2 0
0 |
12 0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
ACKLINGTON, COTTAGE TENANTS AT WILL, 1702.
N |
| Tenants |
Holding |
Rent |
Rack |
| |
£.
s. d. |
£. s.
d. |
| Robert Smales, late Thomas Smales |
A cottage |
1 6 8 |
3 0 0 |
| Roger Muschampe |
A cottage and land called Lamb's land |
1 0 0 |
3 10 0 |
| Thomas Harper, late Simpson |
A cottage |
1 0 0 |
2 10 0 |
| Mabell Barker |
A cottage |
0 13
4 |
1 10
0 |
| Roger Grey |
A cottage |
1 0 0 |
3 0 0 |
| Thomas Wood, late Roger Taylor |
A house and garth and
four riggs |
0 8 0 |
1 0 0 |
| John Harkas |
A small cottage |
0 9 0 |
0 13 4 |
Stephen Palfrey, Roger
Muschampe
Stawart, etc |
For Wholeshawes |
2 0 0 |
6 0 0 |
| |
|
|
|
`Idem tenantes inter omnes' hold a parcell of ground called Sheaveley, nuper Mr. Whitehead, at 2li. per annum ; but, being
part of the tenements aforesaid, which they could not want, it
was restored.
`Mr. Henry Whitehead, the coale myne.'
` The nine farms on the south syde' have the Coal-close and
the west of the Coatlands, which are intermixed, 1,059 acres 3 roods
301 perches ; which doth reach to each farme 114 acres 0 roods 3
perches.
`The eight farms and a half' have the Hunter-coat closes, the
other two coat closes, the rest of the coatlands, which are
intermixed in the infield lands on the north syde ; 889 acres
1 rood 7 perches, which doth reach for each farme 101 acres, and
for the halfe farme 50 acres 2 roods.
N |
|
|
|
|
Warburton, writing about the year 1715, describes Acklington as
'a large village,' and speaks of a colliery in the township. The
following inventory from the registry at Durham affords a view
of the agricultural and household possessions of a tenant of the
period : |
|
|
1700, 5th April. Inventory of the goods, movable and immovable,
of Margaret Clay of Acklington.
Imprimis : 4 oxen, £10 ; 6 kine, £16 ; 3 bull'd quies, £7 ; 3
unbull'd quies, £4 ; 2 stears, £3 ; 2 year-olds, £1 10s. ; 1
year-old, 15s. ; 2 mares, £5 ; 2 swine, £1 8s. ; 20 ews and 15
lambs, £7 6s. ; 6 sheep hogs, £1 4s. ; all ye implyments of
husbandry, valued to £3 (viz., 1 pair of wheels, 1 long wayn, 1
short wayn, 4 yokes, 1 soame, a pair of horse gear, 1 horse
harrow, 1 ox harrow, plow and irons, 2 bolts and shekles) ; bigg
unsold, valued to £3 6s. 8d. ; pees unsold, valued to 16s. ;
wheat sown valued to £5 8s. ; rie sown, valued to £1 ; oats
sown, valued to £7 ; pees sown, valued to £1 ; bigg sown, valued
to £4 ; 10 bonds from Ed. Hutton, at £3 15s. per bond, £37 10s.
; William Lee, indebted £3 18s. 6d. ; George Hair,
indebted £2 2s. 5d. ; Roger Gray, indebted £1 ; Thomas
Applebee, indebted 17s. ; Mrs. Watson of Morpeth,
indebted £3 1s. 4d. ; household stuff, apprised to £15* Totall, £146 2s. 11d.
*:
2 Household plenishings : 2 cupboards, 2 tables, 3 chores, 3
joynt stooles, 4 bedsteads, 5 chests, 2 feather beds, 2 other
beds, 3 suits of curtains, 2 rugs, 2 coverletts, 5 blanketts, 4
pair of linen sheats, 7 pair of course sheats, 1 odd, 4 long
bolsters, 6 short bolsters (all these stuft with feathers), 7
happens, 1
diper table cloth, a duzen of diper napkins, 1 plain table
cloth, 6 course napkins, 1 dozen of huggaback napkins, 9 pewter
dishes, 6 pewter plates, 6 pewter porringers, 3 pewter
candlesticks, 2 pewter tankets, pewter flaggon, 2 pewter cupps,
1 pewter quart, 1 pewter chamber pott, 2 pewter salts, one duzen
and ½ spoons, 4 cheany dishes, 6 cheany plates, 3 cheany
porringers, a dropping pan, a bason, 1 pair of beaf forks, 1
pair of winters, 1 pair of toasting irons, 1½ dozen of
trenchers, 2 kettles, 2 iron potts. 1 yettling, 2 panns, 1
frying pan, 6 milck bowlls, 3 milck tubs, 1 cheese tub, 4
pitchers, 6 cheese fatts, 2 chirns, 2 washing tubs, 6 other
tubs, 4 stands, 1 pair of silk timses, 2 pair of hair timses, a
pair of linn window curtains, a woollen wheel, a pair of woollen
cards, a lint wheel, a pair of tow cards, 1 small
heckle, 5 wallets, a winnowing cloth, a hedging spade, 1 ax,
2 bows, 1 lymestone hamer, 3 pitch forks, 3 pair of wayn blades unmade, 4
pair of new stings, 5 axle trees, 3 dormins, 4 couple of ciles, 2
plow beams, 2 square plow beams, 2 pieces of oak, 4 square
sticks two yards long, 12 fellyes, 2 sticks for-four wain heads,
1 wayn unmade out, 13 pieces of oak and ash, 4 wain busks, 1 bee hyve, I muck how ; 20 futher of lymestones, to be left for the
use of the heiress. Rev. John Hodgson's Collection.
|
|
|
|
|
During the seventeenth century the old system of holding land by
copy of court roll was discontinued, and was replaced by the
system of leases for a term of years. Under the former, the
tenant paid an inelastic and generally inconsiderable yearly
rent, and on admittance, change of tenancy, and at customary
periods, a not inconsiderable fine ; the onus of repairs and
improvements falling upon him. The newer or reformed system
retained for a time the practice of paying a fine or valuable
consideration for the granting of the lease with a low yearly
rent, but permitted the re-adjustment of boundaries and the
re-grouping of holdings, whilst the burden of the cost of
buildings, etc., was shifted from the tenant to the landlord.
|
|
|
|
APPLEBY OF ACKLINGTON, STURTON GRANGE, EASTFIELD, AND
LOW BUSTON. |
|
 |
|
|
| (a) Warkworth Register. |
(e) Enrolment of Leases, Duke of
Northumberland's MSS. |
| (b) M.I., Warkworth. |
(f) Eastfield Deeds. |
| (c) Newcastle Courant, 2nd July, 1803. |
(g) Low Buston Deeds. |
| (d) Felton Register. |
(h) Shilbottle Register. |
| |
| 1647, 2nd June. William Brown and Mary
Appleby of Warkworth parish married. Woodhorn Register. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the end of the eighteenth century there were eleven
tenants, who, with the cottars, held the ancient farms amongst
them in the following proportion :
|
|
|
|
THE TOWNSHIP OF ACKLINGTON, 18 FARMS. N |
| |
| William Harper, 4 farms ; Henry Grey, 3 farms ; Thomas
Appleby, 2 farms ; John Womphry, 1½ farms ; Mrs. Grumble, 1
farm ; John Henderson, 1 farm ; George Robinson, 1 farm ; Thomas
Anderson, 1 farm ; Henry Horsley, 1 farm ; John Appleby, 1 farm
; Field-house, 1 farm ; Coatlands, ½ farm. Total number of
farms in Acklington, 18. |
| |
|
|
|
|
At a later time these ancient holdings became grouped into the
farms called or known as Chester-house, Cavil-head, Whirleshaws,
Field-house, the Town-farm, Coal-houses, and Chievely.
The hamlet of Acklington, which stands in the midst of the
township, long bore an unenviable reputation in the parish and
neighbourhood for the dealings of certain of its inhabitants in
the magic arts. Stories still linger of their belief in, and
practice of, that species of witchcraft termed invultation, by
which the life, death, or suffering of an enemy was attempted by
means of a figure in which pins were stuck, or which was roasted
'before a fire at night within barred doors and closed and
darkened window'.
N
The townships of Acklington and Acklington park were, by an
Order in Council, severed from the parish of Warkworth in 1859, N and, together with the extra-parochial chapelry of
Brainshaugh or Guyzance, were constituted an ecclesiastical
parish or district, the advowson of which church or the
presentation of its minister or perpetual curate was vested in
the duke of Northumberland, the sole owner of both of the
townships and the owner of a considerable portion of the
chapelry. A chapel dedicated to St. John, now the parish church
of the new district, was built in 1861 from designs by Mr. James
Deason. The benefice is endowed with a parsonage house and with
the great tithes of the township of Acklington, parcel of the
rectory of Warkworth.
|
|
|
|
INCUMBENTS. |
| 1860. Henry E. Miles, M.A., of Magdalen college, Cambridge,
previously incumbent of Rock and Rennington, and subsequently
rector of Huntley, Gloucester. |
| 1866. George Selby Thompson, M.A. (son of Charles Thompson,
sometime curate of Howick), died 29th July, 1886, aged 77 ;
buried at Howick. |
| 1886. William Rudge, ordered deacon and licensed to curacy of
Higham Ferrers, 1874. Incumbent of Lucker, 1883-1886. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOWNSHIP OF ACKLINGTON PARK. |
|
The township of Acklington park has an area of 794 acres and
a frontage upon the right bank of the Coquet of nearly two miles
and a half. At the census of 1891 there was a population of 76. N
The park has been from a very early period attached to the
castle of Warkworth, and it is possible that it may in part
represent the lord's demesne land within the lordship of
Acklington. So far as has been discovered, it is first mentioned
in the year 1248, when it is described as a ' park having a
circuit of four leagues (leucae), N in which
are at this time, according to estimation, seven score beasts,
to wit, young stags and fawns ; but no buck (damus) is to be
found there ; and there are seven or eight hinds (bisce) and one
hart (cervus) of two or three years of age. There are, besides,
two little woods, the herbage of which is common pasture to the
vill of Aclintone.' The tenants of Acklington were entitled to
housebote and haibote, to be delivered to them by the forester.
N
In 1309 the park was found to contain nothing except wild
animals, and its herbage, besides the sustenance of the wild
animals and the keeping of the enclosure (custus clausturae
ejusdem parci), was worth 20s.N In 1352 the
herbage was worth 30s. a year, N but sixteen
years later it was only worth 13s. 4d. N
At the end of the fifteenth century there is mentioned a close
'juxta Aclyngton park' called 'heremyt fall,'
N
for which, about the year 1499, James Katerall paid a rent of
6s. 8d. a year, his sureties being John Brockett and Robert
Crawcester of Guysyns.
N Caterall was the '
parker ' or park keeper, and as such was paid a wage or fee of
60s. 8d. |
|
|
|
|
1472. Account of the vicar of Warkeworth, farmer N
of Aklyngton park for the year ending 29th September. Arrears,
nil. Farm of the park leased to the accountant for seven years,
of which this year is the sixth, 66s. 3d. Farm of 7 acres of
meadow within the park called 'Hermet-fall' held by the
accountant, 6s. 8d. No sale of 'topp et cropp' of trees cut down for palings, and rails. Received from the
grieve of Aklyngton for full payment 'stipendiorum diversorum
operariorum super clausura predicti parci,' 20s. 9¼d. Sum, £4 14s.
1½d
Of which : In making 26 rods of new paling for the said park by
William Mayle and other tenants of Aklington, hired for the same
at 6d. a rod, 13s. ; in 60 rods of old paling removed in various
places in the park at 2d. a rod, 10s. ; in 5 score 'postes'
newly made and placed in the said paling at ½d. each, 4s. 6½d.;
in 78 'rayles' made and placed in the said paling at 1d. each,
6s. 6d. ; in 155 struwys
N made and placed in the said paling at
¼d. each, 3s. 7¾d. ; in making 140 rods 'novi fossati spinis
plantati ' on the south of the park by Richard Theker and his
companions, hired for the same at 3d. a rod, 35s.; paid to
various men making 86 posts, 152 rails 'situat super landam
infra dictum parcum' for reserving a separate pasture for deer
in winter 'in grosso,' 10s. 9d.; in carriage of the said paling
at various places in the park in various waggons hired for the
same, 3s. 4d.; in removing 26 rods of old paling on the south of
the park at 2d., 4s. 4d. ; in 6 rods of new paling made at 6d. a
rod, 3s. Sum, £4 14s. l¼d.
N
1480. Delivered to John Harbotell, esquire, receiver, by
hand of Thomas Alnwyk, scholar of Oxford, assigned to him by the
lord's warrant for his exhibition there, £4. N
1486. Farm of the park from 29th September to the 25th March
beyond agistment of the cattle of Master William Percy, the
lord's son, 29s. 3d. ; farm or profit of agistment from the 25th
March to the 29th September, not answered for because reserved
in the lord's hand by his especial order for pasture for his
deer and cattle ; farm of 7 acres of meadow west of the park
called 'Ermetfall,' 6s. 8d.
N
1487. Price of four bulls sold by the lord's order, 25s. 10d.
Paid for new making . . rods of paling round the park, bying
timber in Medylwod for the same work, carriage of the same, and
other necessaries pertaining thereto, as is contained in a bill
of particulars, £15 12s. 8d. ; paid for repair and maintaining
of the hedge round ' le Fyrth' within the parke by the lord's
order, 3s. 9d. N |
|
|
|
|
In the bailiffs' accounts of 1506 there is an allowance of 10s.
made for the agistment of 16 'catallorum silvestrorum ' of Master
William Percy, esquire, the lord's brother, viz., ' one bull,
five cows, six stirkett (of which four are male and two female),
and four calves:
N
In 'a description and gross
valuation of all the castle, rents, and farms, etc., and numbers
of able men to serve the king, conveyed to King Henry VIII. by
the earl of Northumberland' the surveyor says :
|
|
|
|
Also there ys another parke called Acklyngton parke, conteyneng
by estmacon iiii myles aboute, and the pale ys in metely good
state of reparacions, and there ys viewed to be in the same
parke upon this survey over and besydes byrche, alders, and
other wood good for fewell, in okes greate and smalle 600 (DC)
valued at xxli ; fallow dere lx.
N |
|
|
|
|
In 1512 there were 144 fallow deer in Acklington park,
classified under the heads of 'ant. liii, rascall lxx, faunez
xxi,' and in the following year there were about the same
number, viz., 'ant. xlvii, rascall iiiixx faunez xvii,' making
147 in all. N
Thomas Huntley, the under keeper of Acklington park, appeared 'able with horse and harnes' at the muster taken in 1538.
N Robert Horsley of Acklington, who was one of the
gentlemen appointed in 1552 to be commissioner in the Middle
Marches for the district extending from the sea to the street
between the Coquet and the Wansbeck, N may
possibly have been the person who, twenty years before, was
appointed keeper of the gates of Warkworth castle. As parker of Acklington in 1562 he enjoyed a fee of £3
0s. 8d. per year
N 'George Horsley of
Acklington parke, gent.,' having taken a prominent part in the
Earls' Rebellion of 1569 was by name included in the Act of
Attainder. N Margaret, daughter of Robert
Horsley, became wife of Thomas Lisle of Hazon, and it is
possible that he may have been the ancestor of the family of
Horsley of Morwick. N
|
|
|
1584. 'A breyfe note of the profyttes' of Acklington park, 'sett
downe as they ryse (prima facie) without any kepers', palisters',
or geysters' fee, repayringe of any pailes, railes, yates,
lockes, quicksettes, scouringe of ditches, or other repryses
deducted' for seven years from Michaelmas, 1577, to Michaelmas,
1584. The first year of the period yielded £9 8s. 10d.; the
second, £9 0s. 8d.; the third, £9 3s. 4d. ; the fourth, £9; the
fifth, £8 15s. 4d.; the sixth, when the park was let to George
Horsley, £6; and the seventh, £9 2s. 3d.
N
The tenants and inhabitants of Thirston paid yearly at Christmas
to the keeper of Acklington park a hen termed a 'wod henne,'
supposed for suffering them to have and take wodd in his
lordship's park at Acklington.
N |
|
|
|
|
The park was well timbered with forest trees, as is shown in the
survey made in 1585 :
|
|
|
|
There is estimated to be in the said parke of oke trees 2,000
and of asshe trees 300, valued at £783 10s. In the purlues of
the said parke is estimated to be 1,500 of small oke trees,
valued at £160, and of byrkes and other underwoodes there valued
at £300. Between the paile and the water is estimated to be 40
okes, 50 ashes, and 33 elmes, with other underwoodes valued at
£140. Total, £1,383 10s.
N |
|
|
|
|
There is a curious valuation of the park made in 1608 : |
|
|
Ackington (sic) parke demysed to one Harbottell in the kynge's
tyme, when the landes were in hys majestye's handes, and th'old
rentt then was per annum vli. vis. viiid., which ys th'old rentt
; and now being in the lord's handes hytt hathe be adjoysted
unto, and all that wold ryse that waye for the lord's profytt
was not above ixli. yerly, as th'audyttores' bookes do showe : The
keeper's fees per annum, iiili, viiid. ; the pallester's fees per
annum, xxs.; the charges of all the new paaling, 0.
So you may see the great cleare gaynes yerly that cloth comeeth
(sic) in, and yett I wold have you to desyre hyt of th'old rentt
without eny fyne yf hyt wylbe hadd, which me thynkes shuld not
styke at the thyng being not muche. Yf hytt wyll not be hadd,
offer a fyne as muche, or as lytle, as you wyll, so as hyt exceed
nott above C markes. But me thynkes yf he wyll needes have a
fyne he shuld not aske of you above 30 or 40li. But the better
cheap you gett hyt the better shalbe for your sellfe. Gyve no
more rentt for this park of Aklyngton but th'old rentt in eny
wyse, for else small pleasure ys hytt by haveyng therof.
Be earnest, I pray you.
N |
|
|
|
|
The survey of 1616 states that : |
|
|
Me lord hath there a parke called Acklington parke very well
scited for strength and safeguard of the game, and a parkly
ground well replenished and sett both with rammell wood and good tymber of oke. The said parke conteyneth, by estimation
[blank]
acres, the soyle whereof is reasonable good, but the deare are
all destroyed, and the herbage thereof is demised to George
Whitehead, gent.
N
Lawrence Rishforth holdeth by assignment from George Whitehead,
gent., the moyety of the parke of Acklington, . . . . 361 acres 3
roods 24½ perches. Henry Whitehead holdeth also by assignment,
as it is said, from the said George Whitehead the other moytie
of the said parke, . . . . 352 acres 1 rood 11½ perches. Some totall of all the said park, 714 acres
0 roods 36 perches.
N |
|
|
|
|
In the bailiffs' account of 1602 there is entered the account of
Johr Rushforth, farmer of Acklington park, the herbage of which
he seems to have held under the lease granted to Roger Thorpe
for the term of his life.
N As a tenant from Ogle, Lawrence Rushforth appeared at the muster taken on Clifton field on the
24th of November, 1595, duly furnished and mounted on a black
horse with a white star.
N In 1616 he held one of the eighteen
customary holdings or farms in Acklington.
In 1629 Laurence Rushforth of Acklington park was confined in
Morpeth gaol for a debt of £100 and £10 costs at the suit of
Marmaduke Macholl.
N His chief claim to be noticed is through his
son, John Rushforth, or Rushworth, the indefatigable collector
and antiquary, sometime recorder and M.P. for Berwick, who is
stated to have been born at Acklington park about the year 1608.
N As one of the clerks of the House of Commons, John
Rushworth was present at that stirring scene in the Long Parliament
when King Charles I. came down to arrest the five members, and he it
was who took down the speech made on that occasion. |
|
|
|
RUSHWORTH (OR RUSHFORTH) OF ACKLINGTON PARK. |
| |
 |
| |
| (a) Ex inf. Mr. G. McN. Rushforth of
Oriel college, Oxon., who has furnished many of the
proofs of the pedigree. Cf. also Hunter,
Familiae Minorum Gentium, Harl. Soc. p. 420,
Dictionary of Nat. Biography, etc. |
| (b) Cf. Yorkshire Arms and Descents,
Harl. MS, No. 4198. |
| (c) Dodsworth MSS. vol. 45, f. 112 b. |
| (d) Dugdale's Visitation of Westmorland,
also Pedigrees of Yorkshire Families; Brit.
Museum, Add. MSS. No. 32116, f. 32. |
| (e) Foster, Alumni Oxonienses. |
| (f) Scott, Hist. of Berwick, p. 475.
|
| (g) Surtees, Durham, ii. pp. 146, 150. |
| (h) Marriage Licences, Harl. Soc. vol. 24, p.
77. |
| (i) Ibid. vol. 23, p. 138. |
| (k) Cf. Notes and Queries, 2nd series, xi.
(1861), p. 263. |
| (m) Duke of Portland's MSS. ; Hist. MSS.
Com. 13th Report, app. pt. ii. p. 164. |
| (n) Records of Lincoln's Inn (pub.
1896), i. p. 244. |
| |
|
| |
| In 1680 Acklington park with 631 acres was
granted on lease to Joseph Ashurst, at a rent of £64 ; apparently he
paid a fine of £120.
N He appears to have sublet to John Cook of Togston, who,
in 1685, paid 2s. for one half-year's duty for two fire hearths in
his house in Acklington park, one of which, as was certified by the
collector of hearth dues in December of that year, was subsequently
demolished.
N Cook
N died in 1710, and by his will gave £500 to his son
Christopher, who seems to have also succeeded to the tenancy of
Acklington park. The latter was married within Brainshaugh chapel on
the 6th of July, 1721,
N to his kinswoman, Ann Cook of Brainshaugh, and was
buried at Warkworth on the 26th of April, 1733.
N His widow was buried at the same place on the 2nd of
July, 1746.
N Of the three daughters born of the marriage, Anne was
married on the 21st of April, 1746,
N to William Hudson, a brazier and tinplate worker at the
'Foot' of the Side in Newcastle, who, in 1747, had the disposal of
the goodwill of the lease of Acklington park.
N |
| |
The rural calm of Acklington park was broken
in the year 1775, when a firm of speculators, attracted by the
unfailing water-power of the Coquet, acquired a lease of land from
the duke of Northumberland with liberty to erect a foundry for the
manufacture of tin and iron. By leases granted by John Archbold of
Acton and Edward Cook of Brainshaugh, the promoters acquired powers
to erect a weir or dam across the Coquet, and to impound its waters
against the lands of the grantors.
N The dam, engineered by Smeaton,
N was built of ` firm, close stone,' and pounded `the
water so high as to cause upwards of 15 feet head and fall at the
wheels ' of the works, and formed ` a pound in the river upwards of
2,000 yards long and 60 yards wide.'
Handicapped by distance from market the works, with an
unexpired lease of forty-five years, were advertised in 1791 to be
sold. They might ` be employed alternately one week in rolling tin
and next in rolling half blooms'; there was at Warkworth `a
warehouse'
N and shipping place where at spring tides there is water
sufficient for vessels drawing from 8 to 9 feet of water.'
Application was to be made to Mr. George Kendal at the premises, Mr.
Edward Kendal of Beaufort Forge, near Abergavenny, or to Mr.
Jonathan Kendal at Swansea.
N
The premises were purchased by John Reed, a woollen draper in
the Groat Market, Newcastle, who, in the Newcastle papers of 1796,
was advertising for weavers for the woollen manufactory at
Acklington,
N and a year later advertised that as he was retiring from
the retail trade, wholesale customers should address their letters
to his `warehouse, near the White Cross, Newcastle, or to the
manufactory at Acklington park.'
N
Reed disposed of the works in 1828
N to David Thompson, a Galashiels manufacturer, a
neighbour and correspondent of Sir Walter Scott, and himself a
versifier. In his family the manufactory remained, and was carried
on till 1884, when it was finally discontinued.
The bridge was built across the Coquet about 1865. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
St John's Church, built is 1861 to serve the newly
formed parish of Acklington. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gallery of
modern images of Acklington and Acklington Park
townships. |
| .....Click to
enlarge..... |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Acklington
Parish Church |
Parish Church Lich Gate
Inscription |
Acklington Village Hall |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| Acklington
Village |
The Railway Inn
Acklington |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
Acklington Auction Mart |
|
Acklington road bridge east coast main line. |
Acklington School |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Rail bridge at Rake Lane, Acklington. Victorian, but now
reinforced with modern concrete buttresses |
The east coast main rail line just north of Acklington.
Parallel with this for a short distance here is part of a DEFRA
conservation bridleway, in this picture with
"Geordie" out for a stroll on it with his owner. |
Cavil Head |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| The iron works/ woollen
mill main building. Now private residential property. |
The weir |
The weir, panorama. |
Also see: Guyzance
tragedy. |
|
|
|
|
images © www.fusilier.co.uk 2010 ©
home |