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Rothbury in Northumberland County England History and GeographyROTHBURY, a market town and parish in the western division of COQUETDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, comprising the townships of Bickerton, Caistron, Chartington, Debdon, Fallowlees, Flotterton, Hellinghill, Hepple, Hepple-Demesne, Hesley-Hurst, Lee-Ward, Mounthealy, Newtown, Paperhaugh, Raw, Rothbury, Rye-Hill, Snitter, Thropton, Great Tossen, Little Tossen, High and Low Trewhitt, Warton, Whitton, and Wreigh-Hill, and containing 2609 inhabitants, of which number, 891 are in the town of Rothbury, 30 miles (N.W. by N.) from Newcastle, and 300 (N.N.W.) from London. The name of this town was anciently written Roberie, Rathbury, and Routhbyrig; by some derived from the British Rhath, a cleared spot, or the Gaelic Ruth, denoting a place of security, but more probably from the Saxon Ruth, red, expressive of the ferruginous appearance arising from the iron-stone and ochre that exist in the parish. Its situation, though low, is very beautiful, being in a sequestred and romantic glen, through which the river Coquet flows near the southern extremity, where it is crossed by a handsome stone bridge of four arches. On the brow of a hill on the south side of the river is Whitton Tower, formerly the seat of the Umfravilles, whose arms decorate the western front, now used as the parsonage-house; on the west the beautiful vale opens gradually on the view, almost encircled with hills and ridges of broken rocks, interspersed with trees, among which numerous goats browze, the milk and whey being in considerable request by valetudinarians, who resort hither during the summer season. The parish also contains an abundance of coal and limestone, and some inconsiderable veins of lead-ore. The ancient Forest of Rothbury, occupying a tract seven miles long and five broad, has long been cleared of its trees, and is now under cultivation, except a very small portion, which is depastured by sheep. The town, which is wide and airy, consists of three streets irregularly built, diverging from the market-place, which is decorated with a neat cross: it is neither paved nor lighted: the inhabitants are supplied with water from several springs. A small subscription library was established in 1815. The market, granted, in the reign of John, to Robert Fitz-Roger, Baron of Warkworth (of which this manor was a member), to be held on Thursday, is now on Friday, but is almost grown into disuse. Fairs for horses, cattle, and sheep, are held annually on Whit-Monday, October 2nd, and November 1st, and a statute fair for hiring servants on the Friday in Easter week. The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, and its local affairs are under the superintendence of two bailiffs, appointed annually by the lord of the manor, on the first Tuesday in October, assisted by two constables, two bread-weighers and ale-conners, and two land-meters. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at £58. 6. 8., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Carlisle. The church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is a fine old structure in the form of a cross, with a square tower; against a pillar near the south door is the effigy in stone of a man in armour, with a pistol in his right hand, and a powder bag in his belt: the head has been broken off; there are some handsome monuments, and a very antique font, on which is rudely sculptured a representation of the Redeemer sitting in Judgment. Near the church is the free school, with a dwelling-house and garden for the master, to the erection of which, the Rev. Mr. Thomlinson, rector of the parish, gave £100, and £20 per annum as an endowment, to which have been added £6 per annum by George Fletcher, Esq., High Sheriff of Northumberland, and some other benefactions, producing about £240 per annum, of which the master receives £50 per annum as a salary, part of the funds being applied, according to the will of Dr. Thomlinson, in sending a few scholars to the university, and apprenticing poor children. A subscription school, called the Central school, has lately been united with this institution, which is now conducted on the Madras system. Dr. John Brown, vicar of St. Nicholas' in Newcastle, and author of some essays, poetical pieces, and dramatis writings, was a native of this parish; and Bernard Rumney, an ancient northern bard and musician, lived and died here. At a distance of one mile to the east, on a bold eminence, is a circular intrenchment, with a double ditch and rampart, called Old Rothbury, an asylum or place of refuge in times of public danger, to which the inhabitants retired from the incursions of the Scots, prior to the union of the two kingdoms. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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