WARKWORTH CHURCH
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When Ceolwulf resigned the throne of
Northumbria in 738 and entered St. Cuthbert's monastery at Lindisfarne,
at the same time endowing it with large gifts in money and land, in
addition to the territory of Warkworth and its appendages, he gave the
church which he had himself built there.
L Osbert, who succeeded in 849, took Warkworth away from
St. Cuthbert, no doubt including in the abstraction the church and its
possessions. Whether it ever again came into the hands of the
congregation of St. Cuthbert or into those of any other religious body
or person is not known. It was, anyhow, vested in the Crown when Henry
I. became king of England. He gave it, by a brief'
L addressed to Ranulf (Flambard) bishop of Durham and Roger
Picot, with other valuable churches, Corbridge, Whittingham, and
Rothbury, to his chaplain Richard de Aurea Valle. This gift must have
been made before 1123, in the early part of which year Robert Bloet,
bishop of Lincoln, one of the witnesses, died. It was a grant for life
only, and Henry I., when he founded the Augustinian priory at Carlisle
in 1132, endowed the canons with the church of Warkworth and the other
three churches, to come to them on the death of Richard de Aurea Valle.
N Though given in this way to the priory the advowson became
ultimately vested in the bishop of Carlisle, in whose hands it remained
until it was transferred in 1886
N to the bishop of Newcastle. Some transactions in the time of
Pope Honorius III. appear to explain how the priory lost their rights in
Warkworth. In the year 1219 a letter was written
to the pope by Henry III., telling him that Warkworth, with the
other five churches in the diocese of Durham given by Henry I., had been
alienated, during the vacancy of the see, through the neglect of the
canons, and asking the pope to restore and confirm them to the see.
N A little later, in May, 1223, Pope Honorius confirmed to
Bishop Hugh de Beaulieu (1218-28) all the possessions of the see,
present and to come, at the same time referring to a division of them
between the bishop and priory, made by the abbot of Holme Cultram and
the prior of Hexham, under the authority of the legate, Pandulf, and
other arbitrators.
N
In the reign of King John the advowson was in the
king's possession, and he presented his clerk, Thomas, to the rectory of
Warkworth, who was admitted and instituted.
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The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence,
N which occupies the site of the earlier one of Ceolwulf, is
pleasantly situated on the right, or south, bank of the Coquet, a short
distance from the river where it trends towards the east. With its long
line of grey walls and sturdy though lofty spire rising from a tower of
good proportion but marked by some characteristic northern severity,
backed on the north by the steep slope of a wooded bank, the church
forms a marked feature in the scene and well fills in the picture of a
small Northumbrian town.
Whatever may have been the nature of the church which
Ceolwulf built at Warkworth before he gave it to St. Cuthbert, or
whether it was more than a wooden structure, there certainly existed on
the spot a stone church of pre-Conquest date, which probably remained
until it was replaced by the present fabric, in the main erected about
the beginning of the twelfth century. That this earlier building was a
small one appears to be shown by the remains of the foundations of its
eastern termination discovered, immediately west of the chancel arch,
when the church was restored' in 1860.
N In addition to these foundations
the only other object remaining which may be supposed to belong
to the pre-Conquest church is a small, rather roughly carved head-stone,
with a cross and an interlacing pattern upon it, which once no doubt
stood at the head of a grave in the adjoining cemetery. |
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Pre-Conquest Head-stone |
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The present church, a very noble building, which in size and
dignity rises far above what might be looked for at Warkworth, must owe
its erection to a more than ordinary influence, and to the possession of
means beyond what might be expected from such a community as existed
there. The possession of more than mere local resources has therefore to
be accounted for.
The gift of the church at Warkworth by Henry I. to Richard de Aurea Valle has already been referred to. It appears to have an
important bearing upon the building of the church. The grant may with
much probability be assigned to a time between
1110 and 1120, a date quite consistent with that to which the erection
of the church may be attributed, regard being had to its architectural
style. The ecclesiastic, Richard de Aurival, to whom the grant was made
not only of Warkworth but of the rich benefices of Corbridge,
Whittingham, and Rothbury, who was also prebendary of Brownswood in the
cathedral church of St. Paul's, as well as chaplain to the king, was a
man of high position and wealth. Possessed of these endowments, he must
have been well able to make a large expenditure upon any scheme which he
took in hand, and the undertaking to build a church at one of his
benefices does not seem to be at all an improbable one. The small and
possibly poorly-built church then existing, may have appeared to be one
quite inadequate to the dignity of his position and the largeness of his
revenue, and he might reasonably be induced to replace it with a
building which would equally do credit to his judgment and give honour
to his position as a great ecclesiastic.
The church, as constructed in the earlier years of the
twelfth century,
N consisted of a chancel with the unusual feature of a groined
roof, and an aisle- less nave with a west end destitute of a tower. All
the fine series of windows belonging to the chancel and nave of the
church then built, the greater part of which still remain, have the
semi-circular heads on the inside supported on shafts with capitals of
simple cushion form in the chancel and scalloped in those of the nave.
This difference in the capitals suggests that a short interval occurred
between the building of the chancel and the nave, though probably there
was no intermission of the work. The chancel arch, which is now pressed
somewhat out of form, is richly decorated with roll and other mouldings,
and is an important addition to the general effect of the building of
which it forms a conspicuous feature.
To the nave as originally constructed there was added,
at the very beginning of the thirteenth century, if not a little
earlier, a tower of three stages, which was further heightened in the
succeeding century by another stage capped by a stone spire. Later on,
about the middle of the fifteenth century, the erection of a finely
proportioned and imposing south aisle, with a richly moulded arcade of
five bays, and of a porch with groined roof and parvis above it,
completed the church.
The Norman church, to judge from its architectural
features, must have been commenced about 1120, the work having been
begun at the east end and carried on continuously until the nave, which
shows a slight advance in style, was finished at the west end a few
years later. The chancel gives some indication of a Durham influence
having been applied to the work, especially in the groining, which bears
a strong resemblance to that of the south transept of the cathedral
there.
N
The walls are built of coursed stone, both internally
and externally. The chancel measures on the interior, above the
string-course, 32 feet by 16 feet 5 inches, and has a double
quadripartite vault with segmental diagonal ribs, the moulding being a
bold roll between zig-zag ornament. Where the compartments adjoin, the
diagonal ribs spring from a pair of short half-round responds with plain
cushion capitals, and simple bases which stand on a bold chamfered and
quirked string that passes round the chancel 7 feet above the floor
level. Where the diagonal ribs spring from the corners of the chancel,
they are carried on half-round responds, which correspond in detail with
the others. Transversely the section of the vault is meant to be
semi-circular, following the lines of the chancel arch. The contour of
the transverse rib is very erratic and ill-shapen, and its section—a
roll between two flat fillets which divide it from the hollow mouldings
covering the edge of the rib—does not resemble the diagonal ribs. At the
springing, the transverse rib appears to be intruded between the
diagonals it is possible it may have been inserted later on. There are
no wall ribs, and the cells of the vaults are covered with plaster. Each
compartment above the level of the string-course contains a round-headed
window with widely splayed internal jambs, having nook shafts on the
interior angle, cushion capitals and simple bases. The jambs of the
windows are not splayed alike,
N the object apparently being to make the window opening
appear in the centre of the responds on the inside, and in the centre of
the pilasters on the outside. On the south side, below the string-course
already mentioned, is a built-up priest's doorway with square lintel and
tympanum under a semi-arch.
N It is unusually near to the east end. Near to the door on
the east is an aumbry. The south door now in use is modern. A door on
the north side of the chancel admits to the vestry. |
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GROUND PLAN OF ST
LAWRENCE CHURCH WARKWORTH. (click
for larger image) |
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CHANCEL OF WARKWORTH CHURCH 1860 |
INTERIOR OF WARKWORTH
CHURCH
FROM THE SOUTH-EAST |
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The chancel arch is semi-circular, of two
orders formed of roll and hollow mouldings with a hood doubly enriched
by a ball ornament and a curiously carved decoration resembling a fan in
shape towards the nave, supported by responds composed of triple shafts
having cushioned capitals and moulded bases on a square plinth. The
corbel table on the exterior is formed of moulded corbels on the north
side and beak-heads on the south side. The nave is 90 feet 7 inches in length and 25 feet 2
inches in width, certainly the longest of its date in Northumberland. It
was proportionately high, the original height being indicated on the
exterior by the lower row of corbels at the west end of the north
elevation. The length of the nave on the exterior is divided into five
compartments, each containing a round-headed window between flat
pilasters. On the interior the window jambs are widely splayed and have
a nook shaft on the angle, with moulded bases and mitred scalloped
capitals with square chamfered and quirked abaci continued as a string.
On the exterior there are two string-courses, one at the level of the
window sill and the other a continuation of the hood moulding. The north
door, now built up, is curiously arranged in the buttress ; it has a
half-round arch of two orders set below a triangular arch. The outer
order is supported by nook shafts with cushion capitals. The arrangement
of the windows of the west end may easily be discerned ; the wall was
pierced by three windows between pilasters similar to, and on the same
level as, those on the north side. The south nave wall, which was taken
down when the arcade was inserted, no doubt corresponded with that on
the north side, excepting that a south door of greater prominence than
that on the north side would probably form the access from the town. A feature not often met with in early churches is the
circular staircase contrived in the north-east angle of the nave (the
original entrance to it was from the interior by a door now blocked up
near the pulpit); it gives access to the space above the chancel
vaulting.
N The tower was built about 1200. It is lighted by small
slits, and is connected with the church by a door opening 6 feet 4
inches wide, cut through the west wall of the Norman nave. The
south-west angle of the tower is capped by a projecting buttress which
encloses a newel-staircase. On the exterior the tower is divided into
four stages by weathered offsets. Whether the tower terminated when
first built (three stages in height) in a parapet, or, like Ryton church
in the county of Durham, had a wood and lead spire, it is impossible to
say. The parapet which now crowns the tower, and the spire, belong to a
later date. Following on the erection of the tower the
massive buttresses were added to cover some weakness on the north side
of the nave, and the vestry on the north side of the chancel. The latter
is an oblong block, entered only from the chancel and lighted by lancet
windows arranged on two levels, indicating that it was of two stories,
and that the vestry had a room over it. In addition to the windows near
to the ground level at the west end is a stone pierced by three slits ;
its precise use is not evident. An opening of unusual shape exists in
the same position in the church at Morpeth. The next addition was made about the middle of the
fourteenth century. It comprised the belfry stage of the tower and the
broached spire, which so satisfactorily crowns it and greatly improves
the general appearance of the fabric.
N It is octagonal in shape, without mouldings at the angles,
but is relieved by three tiers of four trefoiled and gabled dormers or
louvres on alternate faces. The parapet to the tower is perfectly plain
; the two-light Pointed belfry windows below may once have contained an
inner order. About the same time as the erection of the spire the
cusped recess was formed on the north side of the chancel arch ; it was
the customary position for a chantry altar where aisles and transepts
did not exist. The light near to this altar was improved by the
insertion of a window with a widely splayed jamb shown on the plan. The next addition, one of much importance, was the
erection of the south aisle and a clerestory over the south wall of the
nave, built towards the end of the fifteenth century, the result being a
very considerable alteration in the appearance of the church. The work,
to judge by the style, appears to be a little later than that of the
beautiful keep of the castle, and may owe its existence to the
munificence of the third earl of Northumberland. There are two piscinæ
in the south wall, and there is a filled-in opening near the west jamb
of the easternmost window in this wall, indicating the position of the
screen which enclosed the altar at the east end of the aisle, separating
the chantry from the rest of the aisle. The position of the second altar was on the
west side of the screen and near to the second piscina. The aisle, which
is the same length as the nave, is 16 feet in width and including the
depth of the arcade piers it is 20 feet. The arcade is composed of five
pointed arches of two orders, with a hood moulding on both sides,
supported by piers of four clustered shafts
N divided by four rolls, the responds at the east and west
ends being half piers of the same section. The capitals and bases follow
the plan of the piers. The west bay is 3 feet narrower than the others.
The aisle is lighted by four windows on the south and one at the east
and another at the west end. Some of the windows, which are within
deeply recessed original jambs and four centred heads, were inserted at
the time of the ` restoration ' of 1860. The exterior is relieved by
buttresses placed between the windows, those at the corners of the aisle
being set anglewise. The base course and the parapet have mouldings of
simple section. The roof, a flat one, is contemporary with the masonry.
Opposite the second bay from the west end is the entrance doorway with
its pointed arch and moulded jambs and hood. The porch which covers the entrance has a parvis over it. The
outer opening, which never had a door, is chamfered only on the inside,
but moulded and with a hood to the exterior, and is flanked by
buttresses set anglewise.
N Within there is a stone seat and a small square-headed
window on each side. The porch is vaulted, and has moulded diagonal ribs
springing from carved corbels, and longitudinal and transverse ridge
mouldings which mitre into the wall ribs. The approach to the parvis is
by a newel-stair in the re-entering angle formed by the east wall of the
porch with the aisle, and is accessible from the exterior only. The
parvis is lighted at the south end by a two-light traceried window, and
on the east side by a square single-light window. The parapet to the
porch is similar to that crowning the aisle walls, and still carries the
original finial. The contemporary clerestory to the nave unfortunately no
longer exists.
N The nave had a flat roof similar to that which now covers
the aisle, and the south wall was pierced by five square-headed windows.
It is impossible to speak without regret of what was
done when the church was `restored' in 1860. The fifteenth-century
window at the east end of the chancel was replaced by three
pseudo-Norman windows, and the roof was raised to one of a high
pitch, the repose of the gable being destroyed by a useless and
obtrusive round light. The original fifteenth-century clerestory of the
nave was taken down, and in place of the good, simple, massive oak roof,
similar to, and contemporary with, that happily left on the aisle, was
substituted a high pitched, mean, and
paltry one of pine, the eastern gable like that of the chancel being
defaced by a similar round light. It is needless to say how much the
church has suffered by these ignorant and destructive alterations. In the survey of chantries made in the second year of
Edward VI., it is recorded that within the parish church of Warkworth
and in the 'chapell of Our Lady' there was a chantry of which the yearly
value was 72s. 9d. The . name of the incumbent or chantry priest is omitted, but he is said to
be `meanly lerned, of honest conversation and qualytes, having no other
lyving then the same chauntry.' There were certain lands and
tenements worth 12s. 4d. per annum, for the 'sustentacion of one lyght,
called the roode lyght'; and there were nine hundred houseling people
within the parish.
N `Dominus Johannes Shales capellanus parochiae' appeared at
the visitation made in 1501 by Archbishop Savage during a vacancy in the
see of Durham.
N In 1534 the office was promoted by the vicar of Warkworth
against John Bulman, chaplain, `pro eo quod sacra ac sacrarnentalia
infra parochiarn de Werkeworth injuste ministrat, et sine auctoritate
aliquali saltem legitima.'
N On the 9th of April, 1553, Robert Collingwood of
Eslington purchased from the Crown a cottage and nine acres of arable
land in Buston, then or late in the occupation of ` George Wavye,'
sometime belonging to the chantry founded in the chapel of St. Mary of
Warkworth, to be held as of the manor of East Greenwich a free socage.
N In the churchyard are three stone coffins unearthed in 1860. At the west end of the south aisle, supported upon a Jacobean
base, which bears the inscription, ` The Effigies of S r Hvgh
of Morwicke who Gave the Common to this Towne of Warkworth,' is
the effigy of a knight which, judging by the details of the armour, may
be assigned to a time between the years 1310-1330. The arms sculptured
in relief on the shield, on a cross five eagles displayed, in the
dexter chief an annulet,
N are not those of Morwick (the last male heir of which family
died about 1260). It is not improbable that the person commemorated may
have been an official of John fitz Robert, the last lord of Warkworth of
the Clavering line.
The figure, that of a knight
clad in a mixed armour of mail and plates, is placed on a
slab, 7 feet long by 2 feet 6 inches wide. Over the head is
an ogee crocketed canopy trefoliated within, springing from
carved bosses and flanked by diminutive gabled and crocketed
buttresses. The top or end of the canopy—semi-circular in
shape—is filled with foliage.
N The head is enclosed in a hood of mail, which
slightly overlaps the surcoat on the right shoulder, and has
a movable plate visor attached, which must have been pivoted
to a plate cap worn inside the chain mail. This feature
appears to be unique as regards examples in stone or brass,
though in a MS. of Matthew Paris,
N
Lives of the two Offas, there is a
group which represents the Mercian king Offa combating in
behalf of the king of Northumbria and defeating the Scottish
army, in which, on one of the figures the head defence,
composed of a mask of steel placed over the coif of banded
mail, is very remarkable.
N
The chain hauberk with long sleeves is seen at the
armpits, beneath the elbows, at the wrists, and above the
kneecaps. A scale skirt
N overlies the mail hauberk (the scales being
pointed at the ends and ridged
on the top), and terminates above the knees in a band or
border connecting the points ; the middle scales are
smaller. The arms are sheathed in plates, and have elbow
caps with embossed rosettes ; similar rosettes are at the
shoulder. The plate on the forearm is ridged on the
underside, and at the wrists and edges of the plate there is
an incised line. A heart is borne in the bare hands, which
point upward in the attitude of prayer. The legs are
crossed, the left uppermost, and equally with the knees are
encased in plate ridged down the centre, the kneecaps being
embossed with a fleur-de-lys pattern, and girt below with a
cable or thong-like band. The chausses appear to be drawn
together behind the legs, and the feet, in articulated
sollerets, rest on a mutilated lion. The spurs, of the star
rowel kind,
N are secured with straps buckled over the instep.
A pointed piece covers the junction of the chausses and
solleret, and the end of the strap is pendent on the outside
of the foot. The moulded and embossed pattern of the leg
armour, taken in conjunction with the scaled skirt, seems to
indicate that the material of which these defences were made
was cuir bouille.
N The cyclas surcoat which covers the body armour
is supported from each shoulder by narrow bands, and is
sleeveless; it is short and tight-fitting in front, and at
the back hangs in simple folds below the level of the knees.
N The surcoat, pendent on the right side, is girt
at the waist by a strap or belt buckled, and below is
encircled by the sword belt which has strong buckles ; the
end of the strap which passes under and over the belt hangs
by the side of the sword on the left of the figure, and is
terminated by an ornamental tag.
N The sword, which has a shaped cross-piece and
extends from the hip to the knees, is damaged at the pommel
and foot. Supported by the guige passing over the right
shoulder is a bowed triangular shield reaching from shoulder
to hip, on which the armorial bearings are sculptured in
relief.
N
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Fourteenth- Century Effigy of a Knight in Warkworth
Church. |
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On the interior jamb of the old priest's
door to the chancel is a small incised inscription in a mediæval cursive
hand, the letters of which seem to form 'Hewyh' or some such word.
N On the floor of the aisle, immediately within the doorway,
is a grave cover, bearing the following inscription :
Hic jacet Willei. Baker.
N cujus
animae propicietur deus. Amen. In the east window of the
south aisle are the only existing fragments of old stained glass now
left in the church. In one of the lights at the top of the window is a
crescent ` with the horns brought up to unite, and the space enclosed
given in pale as usual, but the colours are yellow and black. The yellow
is, however, pale and cross hatched with black, and perhaps the idea of
red is intended to be conveyed, yellow being the only colour which the
old stainers mingled with white in one piece of glass, and the size of
the crescent being too small to admit of a separate insertion of red.'
N Another light contains a female figure and below it in
Gothic letters the name bilba,
N and in yet another light is the word
meldreda.
The communion plate comprises a cup made,
circa
1665, by John Wilkinson of Newcastle ; a cover and a paten made, circa 1685, by William Ramsay of Newcastle, all of silver. The
flagon is plated and bears the inscription : ` Ex dono Revd.
Wilfrid. Lawson, 1772.'
N There is a silver-headed staff
N formerly carried by the parish clerk in preceding the old
funeral processions, and a similar staff, with a white wood head, which
was borne by the sexton in the rear.
Neither of the bells is ancient and both are uninscribed.
N The font is solid but very plain. In the basement of the
tower is preserved the very artistic wrought iron rails displaced from
before the holy table in 1860. At the west end of the nave hangs the
scutcheon bearing the royal arms, probably of the time of James II.,
which was formerly placed over the chancel arch.
A clock was inserted in the tower by the same
benefactor who gave the school-house and market cross to the town ; the
dial bore the following inscription : ` W. R. 1700. Ex dono Geo. Lawson,
Gloster-hill, generosi.'
N A new clock, purchased by the subscription of the
parishioners, and striking the hours and quarters, was provided in 1875.
The floor of the chancel up to the year 1877 was paved with
grave covers, some of them enriched with coats armorial ; unfortunately
no transcript was made when they were covered up by the present
commonplace tiles. The monumental inscriptions are numerous and
interesting, the following of an earlier date than the year 1800 are
selected from tablets on the walls of the church and from tombstones in
the churchyard : |
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MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS. |
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| Sacred to the memory of Isabella, wife of Thomas
Appleby of Eastfield, who died December 7th, 1787, aged 57 years. The
above Thomas Appleby, who died September 23rd, 1790, aged 67 years. |
| Sacred to the memory of Edward Brown of Broomhill in this parish,
who died 1748, aged 40 years. Also of Jane his wife, who died April
27th, 1800, aged 86 years. And of Mary their infant daughter. And of
Edward Brown of Broomhill, their only son, who died September 23rd,
1784, aged 41 years. |
| Sacred to the memory of Edward, son of Edward Brown of
East Chevington, who died May 20th, 1696. Edward Brown of
East Chevington, who died January 20th, 1785, aged 66 years.
Jane, his daughter, died December, 1786, aged 29 years.
Eleanor his wife, died March 6th, 1804, aged 86 years. |
| Here lyeth the body of Robert Bullock, who departed this
life the 17th day of December, anno domino 1698, freehold .
. . of Amble. Phillice his wife, who departed January 12th,
1717. |
| Sacred to the memory of John Clark of Hauxley, who died
September 27th, 1757, aged 33 years. Of Ann his daughter,
who died September 2nd, 1767, aged 16 years. Of William his
son, who died September 29th . . . aged . . . years. Of
Phillis, wife of the above John Clark, who died September
19th, 1780, aged 61 years. Of Margaret her daughter, wife of
William Richardson of North Seaton, who died March . . ,
1784, aged 26 years. |
| Nigh this place lies interred the body of Mr. John
Clutterbuck, he formerly lived in Newcastle, late of
Warkworth, who died 20th February, 1720, in the 43rd year of
his age. He had three wives, and left three children :
Hannah to the first, Anne to the second, and Richard to the
third wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Clutterbuck, who survived him. |
| In memory of Robert Dand of Gloster-hill, who died
August 27th, 1801, aged 83 years. Also of Mary Dand his
wife, who died August 27th, 1797, aged 79 years. |
| Here lyeth the body of Edward Dodsworth of East
Chevington, huntsman to King James, who departed to the
mercy of God the 30th of May, anno domini 1630. (Arms : a
chevron between 3 bugle horns.) |
| Sacred to the memory of Lieut. John Forster, R.N., who
died August 4th, 1783, aged 48 years. |
| John Grey of Morwick, died the 15th day of November,
1783, aged 91 years. This monument is erected to the memory
of Catherine Maria Grey, wife of Charles Grey, esq., of
Morwick ; she departed this life on the 21st June, 1786,
aged 34 years. |
| Nigh this place lies interred the body of Mrs. Ann
Hunter, wife of Mr. William Hunter,
N who died December ye 14th, 1720. (Arms :
vert
3 hounds proper, 2 and 1; on a chief 3 bugle horns. Crest :
A tree of the first. Motto : ` Jucunditate
afficior.') |
| Sacred to the memory of William Hall of Bondicar, who
died May 2nd, 1795, aged 62 years. Dorothy his wife, died
December 10th, 1793, aged 49 years. Elizabeth their
daughter, died June 27th, 1790, aged 17 years. Dorothy their
daughter, died July 22nd, 1799, aged 22 years. |
| This tablet, erected by desire of Sarah Widdrington,
wife of the Rev. Joseph Cook of Newton hall in this county,
is sacred to the memory of her ancestors the Widdringtons of
Hauxley, descendants of the Widdringtons of Widdrington, who
rest below. A.D. 1840. (Crest : A bull's head on a cap of
maintenance.) |
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The ordination of the vicarage
is no longer extant, but it was certainly of an early date and was
probably made soon after the acquisition of the rectory by the abbot and
convent of Carlisle. That the original endowment was ample appears from
the valuation of the vicarage in the ecclesiastical taxation of Pope
Nicholas IV. in 1292. In this record the rectory and vicarage are thus
separately estimated : ` Decanatus de Alnewyk. Werkesworth rector. cxx
marc [ £80] ; vicar. ejusdem, xxx marc [£20].'
Speaking generally, the vicar is possessed of all the petty tithes
throughout the parish, though for the tithe of hay many townships have
pleaded a modus. The rectorial tithes as well as the vicarial were
commuted about 1838 for tithe rent charges.
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INCUMBENTS OF WARKWORTH. |
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RECTORS. |
| 1110 (circa) |
Richard de Aurea Valle, also prebendary of
Brownswood in St. Paul's cathedral, and rector of Rothbury,
Corbridge, and Whittingham. |
| |
VICARS. |
| 1200 (circa) |
Thomas, clericus, described by King John as
`clericus meus.'
N |
| 1223 (circa) |
William de Sallau, who released to the
abbot and convent of Newminster the tithe of the salt-works
they possessed at Warkworth.
N |
| 1247 |
Robert Maleter.
N |
| 1311 |
Dominus Rogerus de Stanhope, capellanus
parochialis, and John de Shivington, capellanus, appeared at
a visitation held at Alnwick by the archbishop of York, on
18th kal. May of that year.
N |
| . . . |
Dominus Gilbertus de Burgham,
vicar of Warkworth, died in 1333
N |
| 1332 |
John de Penrith, the king's chaplain;
presented to the vicarage of Arthuret, 11th July, 1332;
N presented to the vicarage of Warkworth, 12th
July, 1333;
N was presented to the rectory of Whickham, 8th
August, 1346.
N Will dated Monday after the Purification,
1353/4, proved in the February following.
N |
| 1345 |
Stephen de Dunelm,
N of Newcastle, deacon, instituted 27th May, 1345,
after the death of Sir John, the last vicar;
N ordered priest 8th kal. October, 1345,
N is a witness to some of the Brinkburn charters.
N |
| 1352 |
John de Pulhore, after the death of Stephen
de Dunelm.
N |
| 1362 |
Sir Peter de Morland, presented 9th August,
1362,
N previously rector of Dittensalle [? Dinsdale ]
and vicar of Torpenhow.
N |
| 1366 |
Sir Thomas Colerdoue, presented 1st
February, 1365/6,
N previously vicar of Stanwix.
N |
| 1367 |
Henry de Atten was inducted and
instituted by the bishop 12th March, 1367.
N |
| 1394 (circa) |
John de Blyth
N occurs 2nd February, 1394 |
| . . . |
Adam Tossen.
N |
| 1428 |
William Raven or Rawyn,
presented after the death of Tossen.
N He was an attesting witness to the return of a
commission issued by Bishop Langley, dated at Stockton, 12th
August, 1436, on the death of Thomas Dover, rector of
Ingram.
N |
| . . . |
Henry Ellergyll,
N also rector of Ingram, died
circa 1495,
in which year his successor was instituted to the rectory. |
| 1495 |
3rd December. John Bladesmyth, presented
after the death of Ellergyll.
N A monition to reside on his cure of Warkworth
`of the neglect of which a crying fame had come to the ears
of the bishop,' was issued 7th October, 1499.
N |
| 1501 |
15th December. John Curwin, M.A.,
instituted on the resignation of Bladesmyth.
N |
| 1533 |
John Williams, B.D., was instituted
on the last day of February, 1532/3
N |
| 1538 |
13th July. Cuthbert Hopyn,
N
presented on the death of Williams.
N |
| 1572 |
Edmund Robinson, M.A., instituted 23rd
March, 1571/2, on the death of Hopyn.
N |
| 1575 |
12th August. Thomas Handley, after the
death of Robinson.
N Edward Rasshall, curate at
Warkworth, had no licence 29th January, 1577/8.
N
The vicarage of Warkworth (1577-1589) was worth £18 5s. 8d.
N Handley, in 1578, was one of Bishop Barnes' special
preachers, and engaged himself to preach in the diocese nine
sermons over and besides his 'ordinarie quarterlee and
monethelye sermons' in his own church.
N His will
is dated 15th July, 1588, and was proved at Durham the same
year. |
| 1579 |
Humphrey Sykelmore
N who was
presented to Felton in 1589, and till his death continued to
hold both benefices. John Lyghton occurs as curate 26th
June, 1581. |
| 1598 |
John Ladyman, presented on the death of
Sykelmore ;
N vicar of Shilbottle, 1571-79 ; of
Lesbury, 1579-86.
N |
| 1610 |
18th August. John Warwick, son of John
Warwick of Cumberland, of Queen's college, Oxford,
matriculated 10th October, 1595, aged 19 ; B.A. 24th April,
1599 ; M.A. 30th June, 1602.
N |
| 1628 |
22nd August. John Heslyhead.
N
As he was officiating in his church on the Lord's day, a
party of soldiers came in a very rude manner and disturbed
the congregation, and one of them made up to him holding a
cock'd pistol to his breast, threatening to shoot him if he
did not desist. Having thus turned him out of the church,
the next attempt was to turn his poor wife and children and
his whole family out of the vicarage house . . . After his
ejectment he hired a house in the town, but was not
permitted to stay in it nor in any place of that parish, and
therefore to support his family . . . he was obliged to take
a farm in the neighbourhood, where, in less than half a
year, what by the change of pasture, and what by thieves and
plunderers, he lost upon the matter all his cattle and was
reduced to extreme poverty.
N There is a curious
account of an action brought by Hesleyhead in 1634, against
some fishermen, connected with the collection or exaction of
certain tithes of fish, printed in the Acts of the High
Commission at Durham.
N |
| 1648 (circa) |
Archibald Moor enjoyed the profits of
the living for twelve years,
N `who made a
very great reformation in the parish by his prudence,
diligence, and obliging behaviour : he went afterwards into
Ireland, where he dy'd at Tredagh in 1670.'
N |
| 1660 |
John Hesleyhead restored. He died in
1667, and was buried in Warkworth church under the clerk's
pew.
N
1667, 10th April,
will of John Hesleyhead, vicar of Warkworth : `To be buried
in the parish church, with my funerals (sic) to be
observed at the day of my buriall.' All my estate to my
wife, Lucy Hesleyhead, she executrix, paying thereout £150
to my two grandchildren, John Forster and Mary Forster, and
I order my said two grandchildren upon the receipt of the
aforesaid £150 to give a general release unto Mr. Nicholas Forster of Newcastle. My
well-beloved friends, Robert Widdrington of Hauxley, esq., and Francis
Forster of Buston, gent., to be supervisors. Witnesses : Nicholas Lewin,
William Lewin, Albany Fleminge.
N |
| 1667 |
11th May. Matthew Bonner.
N Held Warkworth with Hartburn by
dispensation.
N Bond of marriage, 8th July, 1668, Matthew Bonner of
Warkworth, clerk, and Barbara Bonner. |
| 1680 |
30th July. John Child, after the death of Bonner.
N He was inducted
to the vicarage of Warkworth, but resigned it in the following year for
the vicarage of Bromfield in Cumberland, where he died.
N He, or another
of the same name, was fellow of Magdalen college, Cambridge; B.A. 1667 ;
M.A. 1671 ; B.D. 1678 ; vicar of Penrith, Cumberland, 1670-1694. |
| 1681 |
13th June. Ralph Bell, on the resignation of Child.
N Son of G. Bell of Darlington, minister. Of
Corpus Christi college, Oxford ; matriculated 11th December, 1668, aged 17.
N He was inducted 24th June,
1681, and died 11th December, 1685, and was buried in Warkworth church
`in the grave of Mr. Hesleyhead.
N |
| 1686 |
Robert Simpson of Queen's college, Oxford, matriculated 9th
December, 1653 ; B.A. 1657 ; vicar of Lazonby, Cumberland. 1661 ; rector
of Long Marton in `Westmorland, 1661 ; vicar of Bywell St. Andrew, 1668.
He died of a `lethargy' and was buried 29th July, 1694, in
Warkworth chancel.
N |
| 1694 |
Nicholas Thomlinson, probably he of that name who was born at
Thriplands in Westmorland, educated at Glasgow university, where he took
the degree of M.A.; admitted pensioner to St. John's college, Cambridge,
24th June, 1684.
N Previously vicar of Hutton in Cumberland ;
buried in Warkworth chancel 28th August, 1696.
N |
| 1696 |
Robert Davison.
N Curate of Bamburgh, 1690-1702. 24th February,
1692, N he had licence to marry Elizabeth Heron, spinster; and he
married, secondly, at Bolton chapel in July, 1700, Mrs. Isabella Proctor
of Shawdon. N He died 1702. 1701, 27th December, will of Robert Davison
of Warkworth, clerk. `To be decently buried in the church of Warkworth.
To my wife Isabella £300, to be paid out of my lands in Chipchase. To my
brothers-in-law, Mr. Edward Brown of East Chevington, Mr. Thomas Forster
of Newcastle, and Mr. Thomas Brown of Chillingham, each £40.
N I leave
all my personal estate, stock, and crop at Fowberry and elsewhere to my
loving father Mr. Robert Davison ; Mr. John Davison of
Warkworth Barns and Mr. Thomas Davison of Warkworth, they
executors.
N |
| 1702 |
Thomas Smith.
N
[The register of burials from July, 1701, to September, 1704, is
wanting.] |
| 1702 |
William Ion, instituted 19th March, 1702/3,
N after the death of
Smith. N Son of Thomas Ion of Eamont Bridge in Westmorland ; of Queen's
college, Oxford ; matriculated 7th March, 1692/3, aged 16 ; B.A. 1696.
N
`1704, 5th October. Gulielmus Ion, vicarius de Warkworth, et Elizabetha
Bayles married.
N
`1717, 30th March. Gulielmus Ion, vicarius de
Warkworth, buried.'
N |
| 1717 |
8th April. Wilfrid Lawson,
N perhaps he of that name of University
college, who matriculated at Oxford 24th November, aged 15, who was `only son of Henry Lawson of London, fifth son of Sir Wilfrid Lawson,
first baronet.'
N He was ordered by Richard, bishop of Meath,
N and
before his preferment to Warkworth, ministered at Galtrim, co. Meath. He
was inducted 4th May, 1717,
died 1st April, 1732, and was buried in the churchyard on
the ` right hand of the chancel door as you go into the
church,' with the following monumental inscription : ` Juxta
hunc locum / Jacent reliquiae / Wilfridi Lawson / Hujus
ecclesiae vicarii obiit /Apr. 1, 1732 / In vita, labor
et periculum, in moriendo / Pax, et resurgendi securitas / '
N |
| 1732 |
13th June. Wilfrid Lawson,
N after the death of his father.
N He was ordered by John, bishop of Carlisle,
N and he succeeded his father in, and was inducted
to, the vicarage of Warkworth, 22nd June, 1732, and retained
it to his death, though he had retired about the year 1771
to Carvill, near Newcastle, which with an annuity of £200
had been devised to him by his friend George Lisle of that
place. He died there on the 27th November, 1777, aged 71.
N 1776, 2nd January. Will of Wilfrid Lawson, vicar
of Warkworth. To the Rev. George Bowe of Warkworth my best
gown and cassock, and my father's sermons and my own, which
if he does not make use of himself I request it of him that
he would not hack them about or lend them to others. To Mr.
William Johnson of Woodhorn £20, which was a legacy to me by
the will of Nicholas Brown of Bolton, esq., in the year
1762, but has never been paid by his executors. To Miss
Grace Johnson, eldest daughter of my said friend, William
Johnson, £220, and my household goods, plate, and china in
my house at Carvill or at Warkworth. Residue of estate to my
godson, Wilfrid Johnson, fourth son of the said Mr. William
Johnson. I desire to be buried as near as may be to my
dearly beloved father on the south side of his grave in the
churchyard, and I desire a flat stone may be put over my
grave close to that which is over my father, and upon the
erect monumental stone I would have these words added : ` Et
Revdi`. Wilfridi Lawson in hac ecclesia patri
successoris obt. . . . .' here let the day of the
month and the year of our Lord be set down in figures. My
funeral expenses, which I desire may be as moderate as
decency will admit of, six bearers to have full mourning,
and the gentlemen of the twenty-four gloves. Seal, a
chevron between 3 martlets; crest, 2 arms holding a
ring. Proved 1777. Durham Probate Registry. |
| 1778 |
John Law, D.D., instituted 21st January,
N inducted 28th of same month
N (after the death of Lawson.
N Presented to the vicarage of Whittingham, 1777.
He held both livings by dispensation.
N Eldest son of Edmund Law, bishop of Carlisle.
Born at Greystoke in Cumberland in 1745, educated at the
Charterhouse and at Christ's college, Cambridge, where he
matriculated in 1762 ; fellow of his college, 25th December,
1776. After being prebendary and archdeacon of Carlisle, he
was, in 1782, made successively bishop of Clonfert, of
Killala, and of Elphin. The writer of his biographical
notice in the Gentleman's Magazine of 1810 says that
when he took possession of the see of Killala, learning that
almost the whole of the population was Roman Catholic, he
professed ` that as it was a hopeless task to make them
Protestants, it would answer every desirable purpose to make
them good Catholics,' and with these views he printed
`and distributed gratis through the diocese a new edition of
the works of the Rev. J. Gother, which breathe the piety,
and, in plain and intelligible language, inculcate the
morality of the Bible. The bishop of Elphin has been
recorded as a man of great variety of knowledge, uncommon
genius, and sincere religion . . . . It is supposed that he
had considerable share in the composition of the Moral
and Political Philosophy of his friend Dr. Paley, and we
believe the chapter "On Reverencing the Deity " has been
generally ascribed to him.' He died on the 19th of March,
1810, at St. Stephen's Green, Dublin. |
| 1782 |
Joseph Hudson, D.D., instituted 15th
June, N inducted 13th September.
N Son of John Hudson of the parish of Coldbeck, Cumberland; matriculated at Glasgow, 1740; M.A. 1742.N In 1783
he had a dispensation to hold Warkworth along with Newburn.
N He had a
grant of arms from Heralds' college, 11th May, 1789 ; became a prebendary at Carlisle, and died there on the 18th of July, 1811, and
was buried in the chancel of Castle Sowerby.
N |
| 1811 |
William Goodenough, instituted 25th September,
N
and inducted 28th
September. N Son of Edmund Goodenough, sometime vicar of Broughton,
Oxfordshire. Of Christ church, Oxford; matriculated 9th June, 1790, aged
17 ; B.A. 1794 ; M.A. 1797. Archdeacon of Carlisle, 1826 ; rector of
Mareham-le-Fen, 1818; and vicar of Great Salkeld, Cumberland, 1827,
until his death, 13th December, 1854.
N |
| 1818 |
Edmund Goodenough, inducted 1st August.
N Son of Samuel Goodenough,
bishop of Carlisle. Of Christ church, Oxford ; matriculated 15th May,
1801, aged 16; B.A. 1805; M.A. 1807 ; D.D. 1820. Vicar of Warkworth,
1818; head master of Westminster, 1819-1828 ; and dean of
Wells, 1831, to his death, 2nd May, 1845.
N |
| 1820 |
Thomas Cave Winscom, B.D., instituted 16th May and inducted on the
20th of same month.
N Born at Brecon, 16th October, 1787. Of Trinity
college, Cambridge, at which he came under the influence and teaching of
the Rev. Charles Simeon. After his ordination he became curate of Romsey
in Hampshire. On his appointment to Warkworth he rebuilt the vicarage
house, established a Sunday school, and influenced his parishioners to
build a National school-house. He wrote and printed a small collection
of hymns for the use of the parish church. He died on the 6th of March,
1840. M.I. |
| 1840 |
Henry Percy, son of Hugh, bishop of Carlisle, entered at St.
John's college, Cambridge, 19th October, 1832 ; B.A. 1837 ; M.A. 1842 ;
canon of Carlisle, 1847 ; rector of Greystoke, 1853. |
| 1853 |
John Woodham Dunn, M.A., of Queen's college, Cambridge ; B.A. 1836
; M.A. 1866. Sometime curate of Long Houghton and of Lesbury, and
successively vicar of Matterdale and Dalston. Born 17th September, 1812
; died 18th September, 1883. M.I. |
| 1883 |
Richard Watson Dixon, M.A., instituted and inducted 30th November.
Of Pembroke college, Oxford ; matriculated 3rd June, 1852 ; B.A. 1857 ;
M.A. 1860 ; vicar of Hayton, hon. canon of Carlisle, 1874. Author of A
History of the Church of England from the Abolition of the Roman
Jurisdiction, etc. |
| |
|
| |
|
The parish register, as now existing, begins in 1677, but there is
evidence to indicate that up to the end of last century it began twenty
or thirty years earlier.
N The following are selections from it : |
| |
| 1677, April 30. |
Robertus Harper de Acklington park in templo, buried. |
| 1678, June 22. |
Maria Rosemunderley vidua de Braneshaugh in templo, buried.
|
| 1678, Aug. 17. |
Gulielmus Culduoish (?) miles, in templo, buried. |
| 1678, Oct. 23. |
Alicia uxor Henrici Wharier de Berlin, buried in woollen. |
| 1680, Sept. 21. |
Sepult. Franciscus filius Stephani Palfrey. |
| 1682, April 28. |
Sepult. Robertus Mushums de Acklington. |
| 1688, Sept. 8. |
Sepult. Richard Forster de Low Buston. |
| 1689, May 14. |
Maria uxor domini Thomae Forster de Pontiland, buried. |
| 1692, April 12. |
Robertus Newton de Wallsend et Maria Milbourn de Birling,
married. |
| 1696, Dec. 1. |
Joseph Palfrey de Morwick et Katherine Gray de Kilay,
married. |
| 1698, May 5. |
Elizabeth Dodsworth . . . . . buried. |
| 1700, Sept. 2. |
Bonner filius Thomae Fenwick de Warkworth, baptised. |
| 1704, June 27. |
Johannes Annit de Witherington et Maria Garrat de Grange,
married. |
| 1705, Oct. 9. |
Elizabeth filia Gulielmi Ion, vicarii de Warkworth,
baptised. |
| 1708, July 20. |
Cuthbertus Rowlin de Dailmain com. Cumberland, buried. |
| 1712, April 30. |
Stephanus Muscham de Acklington, buried. |
| 1717, April 13. |
Caleb Buston de High Buston, buried. |
| 1717, July 7. |
Johannes Gregson de Sunne-lands (Sunnilaws) et Jane Brown de
East Chivington, married. |
| 1720, April 19. |
Radulphus filius Radulphi Fenwick de Togston, baptised. |
| 1722, Jan. 22. |
Johannes Proctor de Dunston et Elizabeth Ion de Warkworth,
married. |
| 1723, April 9. |
Johannes Lamb, annos natos 106, et Isabella uxor, annos
natos 86, eodem die Sepult. de Warkworth. |
| 1724, April 1. |
Gulielmus Cramlington filins Lansloti de Birling, buried. |
| 1726, Oct. 3. |
Maria, Jana, Dorothea uno partu natae, filiae Roberti Shanks
de Warkworth, baptised. |
| 1726, Oct. 4. |
Phillida Peck mersa in puteo de Warkworth, buried. |
| 1730, May 21. |
Benj. Ord de Newcastle et Gratia Forster de Hartlaw,
married. |
| 1734, April 23. |
Dorothea filia Georgii Elder de `face the devil,' baptised. |
| 1735, May 11. |
Jerardus Browell de Amble et Rachel Thew de Warkworth,
married, |
| 1738, Aug. 27. |
Robertus Midford de Widdrington et Margaretta Carr de
Chester house, married. |
| 1739/40, Jan.13. |
Henricus Richardson, annos natos 101, de High Buston,
buried. |
| 1740, April 27. |
Henrietta Augusta filia Rev. Johannis Skelly, vicarii de
Shilbottle, de Low Ruston, baptised. |
| 1741, July 2. |
Gordon filius Rev. Johannis Skelly, vicarii de Shilbottle,
de Warkworth, baptised. |
| 1742, Nov. 18. |
Anthonius Pearson, parochia de Long Benton, et Maria
Woumphrey de Acklington, married. |
| 1743 Nov. 6. |
Johannes et Guleilmus gemelli filii Gulielmi Watson de
Gloster-hill, baptised. |
| 1749, May 31. |
Maria Palphrey de Chester house, buried. |
| 1749/50, Feb.15. |
Elisebetha Brown, annos natos 105, de West Chevington,
buried. |
| 1758, Aug. 10. |
Gulielmus filins Henrici Cramlington de Birlin, baptised. |
| 1759/60, Feb.12. |
Gulielmus Otley et Anna Cook, ambo de Warkworth, married. |
| 1772, April 26. |
Benjamin Cowell, ye son of Zackeriah Tyzack of Warkworth,
baptised. |
| 1775, May 31. |
Elizabeth, wife of John Clennel of Isel in Cumberland,
buried. |
| 1794, Jan. 15. |
Stephen, son of Jesse W. . . . of Foundery, buried at Guison. |
| 1794, Dec. 27. |
Joshua Wastell of the parish of St. Hild's, co. Durham, and
Frances Hall of this parish, married. |
| 1799, Feb. 21. |
Ann Tate of Guizon, widow, aged 84, buried at Brainshaugh. |
| 1800, Jan. 10. |
Charles Preston, son of Andrew Moffat Wellwood, a captain in
McLeod's Fencibles, by his wife Maria (late Taylor), aged 7
months, buried. |
| 1800, April 30. |
Jane Brown of Morpeth, widow of Edward Brown of Broomhill,
aged 86 years, buried. |
| 1801, Oct. 5. |
John Leadbitter and Margaret Smith, married. |
| 1801, Oct. 27. |
Edward Heron of Morpeth parish, and Isabella Richardson of
this parish, married. |
| 1801, Nov. 5. |
Benjamin Woodman of Morpeth parish, and Francis Wilson of
this parish, married |
| 1803, April 21. |
John Forster and Ann Muers, both of this parish, married. |
| 1804, Oct. 15. |
Henry Heddington, esq., bachelor, and Eliza Maria Bates,
spinster, both of this parish, married. |
| 1804, Nov. 9. |
John, first son of John Leadbitter of Amble Hope house,
farmer (a native of Capheaton), by his wife Margaret Smith (a
native of Warton in the parish of Rothbury), baptised. |
| 1805, Aug. 22. |
Charles Wilson and Rachel Frazer, both of this parish,
married. |
| 1805, Nov. 5. |
John Ferdinando Forster of the parish of Alnwick, and
Elizabeth Huntley of this parish, married. |
| 1806, Feb. 13. |
William Story of the chapelry of Brainshaugh, and Julia
Caesar Forster of this parish, married. |
| 1808, Oct. 8. |
John Cook, esq., of the parish of Wratling, Suffolk, major
28th Dragoons, and Elizabeth Surtees of this parish, married. |
| |
|
| |
| |
MISCELLANEA. |
| |
| 1340, February. |
John de Kirkby, bishop of Carlisle, leased for two years the
tithes of his churches in Northumberland, viz. : Warkworth,
Newburn, and a moiety of St. Nicholas, Newcastle, to John de
Burdon, rector of Rothbury, and Robert de Penreth, burgess of
Newcastle.
N |
| 1368, 15th April. |
Receipt of the bishop of Carlisle for £40 for tithe of corn
of the church of Warkworth last autumn.
N |
| 1577/8, 29th January. |
At the chancellor's visitation held at Alnwick, Thomas
Handley, vicar of Warkworth, was excused for non-appearance.
Edward Rashall, the curate, appeared, but produced no licence.
Roger Lighton, the parish clerk, was not cited.
N |
| 1578, 30th July. |
At a general chapter held at Alnwick, Handley, vicar of
Warkworth and Woodhorn, undertook to preach a course of nine
sermons, viz., in the. general chapter at Morpeth, at Bishop
Auckland, at Mitford, at Felton, at Rothbury, at Harbottle, at
Whittingham, at Ingram, and at Bedlington. |
| 1600, 4th November. |
Warkworth : George James hath a stypend to repaire the
church heges, and letts them decay, and buryed one so shallowe
in the grave that he was almost pulled out of the grounde by the
dogges.
N |
| 1606, l0th July. |
At a visitation held at Alnwick ; Warkworth : Office against
Edmund Finch, his wife churched by a seminarie priest in his
house.
N |
| 1650. |
The parish of Warkworth is a viccaridge, the late bishop of
Carlisle patron ; Mr. . . . Moore, a preaching minister, serveth
the cure there, and the viccaridge of the yearely value of sixte
pounds. There is an impropriacon in the hands of Mr. Peter
Wentworth and Mr. John Fountayne of London, which payed yearely
to the bishop of Durham tenn pounds and to the bishop of
Carlisle thirtye pounds and tenn shillings, out of which twentye
pounds per annum is fitt to be taken and added to the said
church : the chappelrye of Warkworth [? Chevington] is depending
of the said church of Warkeworth, being worth twelve pounds per
annum and pettye tythes, and somewhatt distant from the said
parish church.
N |
| 1663. |
The vicaridge of Warkworth. In the gift of the lord bishop
of Carlisle, valet per annum £66 6s. 8d. The impropriacon
belongs to the lord bishop of Carlisle, valet per annum £400.
Gleeb anciently belonging to the church (as appears in the
office of first fruits), in Nether Buston, valued there at 6s.,
for which the incumbent receives nothing ; in East Chevington,
4s. ; in West Chevington, 6s. 8d. One chappell in the parish
[at] Chevington very much ruined and vacant. No schooles, no
papists, but many schismaticks.
N |
| 1663, 22nd October. |
A terrier
N and particular of such houses, lands, and tythes as
belong to the vicarage of Warkworth. The vicarage house, situate
upon the west side of the church, with a little platt of ground
called the garden, for the which the incumbent payeth to the
earl of Northumberland 3s. 8d. per annum. The vicarage of
Warkworth, in ye office of first fruits for land in East
Chivington 4s., for the which the incumbent receiveth 8s. per
annum. By an abstract out of the court rolls holden in that
manor the 30th October, 1626, it appeareth that one Robert
Albone holdeth in right of glebe land there nineteen stints or
grassings besides arable land and meadow. For land in West
Chevington, 6s. 8d., for the which the incumbent receiveth 13s.
4d. per annum. Tyth wool and lamb throughout the parish, with
Coquet Island. Tyth calves throughout the parish and 1d. for
every milck cow. Tyth hens through all the parish except the
borough of Warkworth. Tyth fish of all sorts paid in sea, in
rivers. Tyth pig, goose, foal, and bees throughout the parish.
Acklington park pays for the petty tithes 13s. 4d. per annum.
Every communicant throughout the parish pays a penny
halfpenny at Easter. Hadston mill 3s., Hauxley mill 2s.,
Warkworth mill 20s., the Grange mill 2s., Hounden mill 2s. 6d.,
Walk-mill 2s., Morwick mill 3s. 4d. Tythe hay in kind of ye East
demesne and park, New-town and Nether Buston. Tyth hemp and lint
in the town of Warkworth, Amble, Hauxley, Hadston, the two
Chevingtons, Nether Buston, and New-town. Composition called
`hay silver' paid in Amble 1d. ob. per farm ; Hauxley,
3d. a farm ; Robert Widdrington's land, 1s. Hadston hay money,
7s. 11d.; East Chevington hay, 12s. ; West Chevington hay,
William Baird pays 7d., and the rest of the town being 12 farms,
pays 7d. a farm ; Togston hay, Sir William Fenwick, 3 farms,
pays 4d. a farm ; Mr. Carnaby's 6 farms pays 3d. a farm ;
Matthew Wharrier's land pays 4d., John Patterson's 3d., and
William Smith's freehold 3d. per annum ; Acklington hay pays 3d.
a farm ; Morwick hay, Lord Grey's land pays 3s. 4d., and Horsley
and Errington's 10d. ob. hay money per annum ; West
demesne hay money, 4d. ye farm ; Birling, 4d. a farm; Spittle
houses, 4d. ; Upper Buston hay money, 7d. a farm ; Broderick
hay, 1s. 2d. ; Walk-mill farm, 3d. ; Sturton Grange, being 8
farms, pays no composition for hay. Mortuaries are paid through
the whole parish where they are due. Thomas Lewin, Jno. Dinnon,
Robt. Hall, Robt. Mugechamp, churchwardens.
The collection taken at Warkworth upon the fast day, October 10th,
1666, ordered by the king's proclamation for the relief of the
distressed condition of the sufferers by the great fire of
London, amounted to £2 1s. |
| 1714, 23rd November. |
Award of Joseph Nicholson vicar of Whittingham, Richard
Parker vicar of Embleton, and Christopher Laidman vicar of
Woodhorn, the commissioners appointed by the bishop of Durham's
vicar-general, for the appointment of the pews in a gallery
lately erected in the parish church.
To Mr. Ralph Forster of Hartlaw, the square seat in the midd'e of the
front ; to Thos. Cook, two places ; Gerard Browell, two places ;
Mr. Thos. Lewin, end in the seat next behind Mr. Fra. Forster ;
to widow Ramsay, two places ; to Roger Grey, two places ; to
James Pattison (?), one in the seat next behind ; to Mr.
Ogle of Link-house, the seat on the front next the south side of
the church ; to Mr. Ion two places, and Mr. Valentine four
places, in the second seat on the south side ; to Wm. Wedle four
places, and Jh. Wood, two places, on the third seat on the south
side ; Hen. Brown four places, Thos. Baird two, in the hindmost
seat on the south side ; to Mr. Edw. Cook of Coldrife, the seat
next the front on the north side ; to Mr. Jo. Forster two
places, and Mr. Thos. Davison four places, the second seat on
the north side ; to Mr. Edw. Cook of Togston, the third seat on
the north side ; to Mr. Robt. Reed and Matthew Kerton, the
hindmost seat on the north side.
N |
| 1719, 17th September.
|
` An account of the pews in Warkworth church, beginning at
the choir and proceeding forward to the font.' Settled by John
Tomlinson, Joseph Nicolson, and Mark Forster, the commissioners
appointed by the court of Durham.
N
The north aisle: (1) John Davidson, Demesnes, Warkworth ;
(2) John Huntley and Thomas Elder, Birling ; (3) Thomas Lewen,
William Reavely, Ralph Elder, and William Baxter, a square pew ;
(4) William Ord, Sturton Grange, 1 square pew ; (5) Edward Cook,
Togston, a square pew ; (6) Robert Widdrington, Hauxley, a
square pew ; (7) Joseph Forster, High Buston, and John
Clutterbuck, Warkworth, a square pew ; (8) Martin Milburn and
William Wharrier, Birling ; (9) Thomas Davidson, Brotherwick ;
(10) Forster, Musgrave, and Strother, Low Buston ; (11) (12)
(13) Roger Buston (High Buston), Joseph Straker (Walk-mill),
William Wilkinson, Robert Wilson, John Deucob, and John Wilson,
High Buston ; (14) Widdrington, Hauxley, and Joseph Forster,
High Buston.The north middle aisle: (1) Lewins pew, alias Hope-houses ; (2) Francis Forster, Low Buston ; (3)
the vicar's seat ; (4) Mr. George Lawson, Glouster-hill ; (5)
Mr. Joseph Palfrey, Acklington ; (6) Thomas Smith, Togston ; (7)
Matthew Kirton, Hauxley ; (8) Mr. John Cook, Eastfield ; (9) Mr.
Thomas Carr, Bondicar ; (10) Robert Reed and John Taylor, Amble
; (11) Edward Browell and John Clark, Hauxley ; (12) Bath,
Wright and Thomas Harper, Acklington ; (13) William Ord, Sturton
Grange ; (14) Geo. Bullock, Amble ; James and Philip Wumphrey,
Acklington.
The south middle aisle: (1) Thomas Dawson, Warkworth ;
(2) Mr. Francis Forster, Low Buston ; (3) a passage to the
clerk's pew, where the vicar has two seats for his servants on
the left hand going in ; (4) John Lee, Acklington ; (5) John
James, Acklington ; (6) Thomas Horsley, Morwick ; (7) Edward
Bell, Shortridge ; (8) William Cresswell and Robert Hudson,
Hauxley ; (9) Robert Dawson and Philip Wumphrey, Acklington ;
(10) John Appleby and John Anderson, Acklington ; (11) John
Taylor and Thomas Embleton, Acklington ; (12) Robert Smart and
Geo. Robinson, Acklington ; (13) Musgrave, Low Buston ; Forster,
Low Buston ; Frances Strother, Low Buston ; Thomas Davison of
Brotherwick, servants' seats.
The south aisle: (1) Mr. Robert Widdrington ; (2)
Linton, Patterson, and Ramsay ; (3) Collingwood and Clark ; (4)
Huntley, Nicholson, and Hall ; (5) Patterson and Elder ; (6)
John Watts ; (7) Donkin, Shanks, and Fawcus ; (8) Anderson,
Hogg, and Wharrier ; (9) Thomas Baird ; (10) Wilson and Hudson ;
(11) Thomas Davidson, John Davison, and Geo. Castles ; (12)
Valentine and Wardle ; (13) Simpson, John Shotton, and James
Shotton ; (14) Thomas Cook, Roger, Edward, and William Young,
Rowden, Milbourne ; (15) Wilkinson, Gordon, Waugh ; (16)
Robinson and Huntley ; (17) Gibson, Hall, and Lamb.
|
| |
The copy of a letter from Wilfrid Lawson, vicar of
Warkworth, to Edward Ward of Morpeth : `Warkworth, August 21st,
1724. I am informed that my lord duke of Somersett has committed
the repairing of his pews in this church to your care and
management ; I must humbly desire that you will do it in a
manner worthy of the house of God, worthy of my lord duke's
quality, and of yourself the genteel agent. If your affairs
bring you near this place I should be glad you should stop
either to view the pews and give proper orders, and I could wish
you would come soon, because there is other work going on ; my
Lady Hazle
N is wanscotting and adorning the chancel very
handsomely, and as his grace's pews are next to the chancel in
place, I would hope that they would be next, if not equall, to
it in beauty.' |
| |
Copy of a letter from Edward Ward to William Elder, esq., at
his grace the duke of Somersett's house at Petworth, in Sussex :
` Morpeth, August 28th, 1724. The above writt is ye copy of a
letter which I had from ye vicar of Warkworth about 2 days after
I had sent a joiner, according to your directions, to view and
make a report with ye expense of repairing of my lord duke's pew
in that church would come to. The vicar, you see, proposes to
have it done in ye handsomest manner ; and indeed ye workman I
sent tells me that ye parishioners are repairing and beautifying
all ye pews in ye church, and that my lord duke's pew is no less
than six yards square, and capable of being converted into seven
extraordinary good ones, which, he tells me, if made but after
ye comon manner, will come to about £20 ; but if they be made
with proper ornaments and distinctions suitable to my lord
duke's quality, he says £25 is ye . . . . ye expense will amount
to. When you give me further orders about this matter I shall
put them in execution with great pleasure, as I do everything
that tends to my lord duke's interest and service.'
N |
| 1761. |
John Wesley included Warkworth in his missionary tour, and
at noon on Saturday, 16th May, preached to a `great and
attentive ' congregation.
N |
| 1763, 23rd July. |
This day the church of Warkworth was visited by the
archdeacon, Doctor John Sharp, and upon a view of the defects of
the church the following directions (inter alia) were given to
the churchwardens :
N
| The east end of the south isle be flag'd and
kept neat and decent. The pews in it be lower'd to
the level of the rest and made uniform. The few pews
that want floors either to be flag'd or boarded. Two
casements to be made and frequently set open in dry
weather.
N |
| The chancel to be whitewash'd. |
| The eight windows in the belfry filled up with
sloping bons 5 or 6 inches asunder to keep out rain. |
|
| 1763. |
The real value of the vicarage one year with another not
above £130, owing to butchers taking farms and lands thrown into
tillage. Mr. Ridley is the lessee of the great tithes under the
bishop of Carlisle ; they were formerly farmed by Lady Hazle of
Delmain.
N |
| 1794, 22nd April. |
A list of what each township in the parish and
chapelry repairs of the church wall, being at 2 yards per farm,
beginning at the north-east corner next the tyth barn and to go
round by the sun, viz. : Morwick, 6 farms, 12 yards ; Togston,
12 farms, 24 yards ; Acklington, 18 farms, 36 yards ; Hauxley,
10 farms, 20 yards ; Walk-mill, 1 farm, 2 yards ; Grange, 8
farms, 16 yards ; Amble, 14 farms, 28 yards ; Brotherick, 3
farms, 6 yards ; Spital and Low Buston, 13 farms, 26 yards ;
Demesnes and Warkworth, 10 farms, 20 yards ; High Buston, 8
farms, 16 yards ; Biding-, 10 farms, 20 yards ; East Chevington,
14 farms, 27½ yards ; West Chevington, 12 farms, 24 yards ;
Hadston, 8 farms, 16 yards.
N |
| |
Archdeacon Singleton, who visited Warkworth 1st June, 1826,
says : The impropriation belongs to the bishopric of Carlisle,
and is rented by Sir M. Ridley ; it is worth £3,000 per annum.
The vicarage is worth £400 per annum from undisputed tithes, but
a suit is now pending for agistment. The vicar has, however, no
endowment. The population is 3,000 ; the church holds 600, but
there are no free sittings, and the rated inhabitants of
Chevington chapelry are entirely unprovided with accommodation.
I pressed their case upon the notice of the parish. Service is
performed twice on Sundays, with two sermons ; that in the
evening the vicar considers voluntary. They have a clock,
repaired by the town ; also a schoolhouse, one by subscription
and another rented. The school is on the National system. The
glebe is very small and, small as it is, is scattered. The
vicarage house is new and well contrived ; a piece of the small
garden belongs to the lord of the manor. In the churchyard are a
few handsome trees. The clerk was appointed in 1825 by the vicar
; he is paid 1s. 6d. by each farm, 3d. a house at Easter, and
church fees. The sexton has 1d. a house and 6d. a farm. The four
churchwardens come in by rotation ; the vicar appoints the town
churchwarden. They gather the church rate by an ancient custom
from the farms ; one gathering produces £29 8s. at 4s. per farm.
They have two bells, a plated flagon, a silver chalice and
cover, a silver patten; and a silver mace-head given by Mr.
Clutterbuck. There is a curious old monument of Sir Hugh de
Morwick, who is thereon stated to have given the common to
Warkworth. The Grey arms are on the gallery ;
N but there are few, if any, memorials of the Percies.
I requested that their dilapidated pew might be repaired, a
request I made as to all the pews generally. Painting is
necessary, but above all sittings for the Chevington people.'
N |
| |
And again in 1841 : `I inspected the church with the vicar,
the Rev. Harry Percy. It is, I should say, a curious specimen of
early Norman architecture, and although the north wall seems to
have settled outward, the old sexton assured me that he had
known it all his life, and seen no alteration. There is a
speculation going on in the parish in forming a harbour, which,
either by its success or failure, will effect strange
alterations in the quiet little town.
N
|
| |
A new burial ground, situated in a field called the
Tenterheugh, was provided for the parish in 1862,
N in which every inhabitant of the parish has the
right of interment, the grave spaces being taken in
rotation. By an order of the vicar
and churchwardens published 22nd June, 1862, in consideration of
a. fee of one pound per grave space, parishioners are permitted
to select a grave space ; the money so paid is devoted to a fund
for keeping the ground in neat and decent order.
The surplice fees payable by the parishioners by ancient custom are as
follows : Banns of marriage, 2s. (viz., the vicar 1s., clerk
1s.) ; marriage by banns, 3s. (vicar 1s., clerk 1s., sexton 1s.)
; marriage by licence, 15s. 6d. (vicar 10s. 6d., clerk 2s. 6d.,
sexton 2s. 6d.) ; churchings, 1s. 3d. (vicar 8d., clerk 4d.,
sexton 3d.). Burials : vicar 1s., clerk1s., sexton 4s. (or 6s.
according to depth of grave). The vicar's fee for a monument is
£2 ; for a tombstone, 15s. 9d. |
| |
|
A select vestry
N of twenty-four elected by co-optation still lingers as a
consultative body, though it was shorn of power and responsibility at
the abolition of the compulsory payment of church rates. The lists
preserved in the churchwardens' books indicate it to have been a
representative body of ratepayers, for every vacancy was filled up by
the appointment of another from the same farm or township, and his
membership of or association with another communion neither rendered him
ineligible nor relieved him of his duty to serve on the vestry and as
churchwarden. The parish was divided into four districts or quarters,
each of which furnished a warden who served in rotation ; these
divisions were the north side, Amble or the south-east side, Acklington
or the south-west side, and the town of Warkworth.
N At the meeting of the four-and-twenty various parish
officers, such as overseers of the poor and of highways
N and bridge masters,
N were appointed, apparently in rotation.
The following extracts are taken from the churchwardens' account-books : |
| |
| |
| 1725. |
Note : the holy bread money
N collection left off at Mr. Edward Bell's of
Shortridge. |
| 1725. |
Paid rogue money, 13s. 4d.
N |
| 1726. |
Paid for binding a book of the martyrdom of King
Charles, 4s. ;
N for setting school lock; 4d. ; for four fox
heads, 4s.
N |
| 1726, Feb. 7. |
It is ordered that one shilling per
farm shall be levied upon lands in the parish and chapelry. |
| 1736. |
The church steeple repaired by
Thomas Hudson of Alnwick and Robert Hudson of Hauxley ; tender,
£6. |
| 1742. |
Received Joseph Cook of Newton's 'lairstorm,'
3s. ; Madam Forster's `lairstorm' of Newtonon-the-Moor, 2s. 6d. |
| 1746. |
Holy bread money left off at John
Bell's of Morwick and begins at Robert Thew's. 1759. Paid Roger
Buston for a fox head, 1s. |
| 1781, |
June 28. Paid for seven deals for
the school above the church porch, 6s. 10d.
N |
| 1786, April 15. |
Received of John Wilson £1 13s. for
interest on the £33 for the use of the poor of Warkworth.
N |
| 1792. |
The parish boundary perambulated by
order of the archdeacon. |
| 1794. |
The gallery was taken down,
enlarged, and re-erected at the cost of 85. |
| |
|
| |
| In a garden
N adjoining the east side of the churchyard there is a
red-tiled building which, up to the passing of the Tithes Commutation
Act, was the tithe barn
N of the rectory of Warkworth. Next to it is another garden,
N attached to Mr. Clutterbuck's house, in which there used to
stand a small Benedictine chapel, the foundations of which can still be
traced at a distance of 2 feet outside of and parallel to the south wall
of the garden. It was probably built for or by the two monks who, in the
thirteenth century, were maintained by the prior and convent of Durham
at the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene ; for whose support Nicholas de
Farnham, bishop of Durham (1241-1249), appropriated the church of
Branxton,
N a grant confirmed by his successor Walter de Kirkham.
N Dugdale was of opinion that the custom of maintaining two
monks here had been discontinued long before the dissolution. In 1616
there was near the churchyard `a little yard wherein standeth the ruins
of a decayed chapel.'
N |
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