Alwinton

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Alwinton
Alwinton (Northumberland)
Alwinton

Alwinton shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference NT925065
District Alnwick
Shire county Northumberland
Region North East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MORPETH
Postcode district NE65
Dialling code 01669
Police Northumbria
Fire Northumberland
Ambulance North East
European Parliament North East England
UK Parliament Berwick-upon-Tweed
List of places: UK • England • Northumberland

Coordinates: 55°21′N 2°07′W / 55.35, -2.11

River Coquet
Settlements

Alwinton (previously named "Allenton" and sometimes still referred to as this) is a village in Northumberland, England. It is situated approximately 29 km (18 miles) to the west of Alnwick. Alwinton lies at the head of the Coquet valley, on the edge of both the Otterburn Army Training Estate and the Northumberland National Park, roughly 16 km (10 miles) from the border with Scotland. A road continues past Alwinton into into the Cheviot Hills where it terminates at the ancient Roman encampment of Chew Green. Having no shops, Alwinton's social life centres on the Rose and Thistle Public House. Regular Church of England services are offered at St Michael and All Angels, which traditionally serves the larger parish of Alwinton encompassing the nearby townships of Biddlestone, Burradon, Clennell, Fairhaugh, Farnham, Linbriggs, Netherton, Peels, and Sharperton.

[edit] History

St Michael and All Angels, an early Norman church, was built on a hillside in the late 11th century or 12th century. Little historical information is available about Alwinton prior to 1245, when the value of its vicarage was first recorded. In 1279, two prisoners escaped from Harbottle castle and fled to the Alwinton church where they confessed to thievery and abjured the realm.

The church building was significantly neglected in the 15th and 16th centuries, to the extent that a Court of High Commission reported "the walls of the church and chancell are in great decay, noe glass in the windowes and noe doores for the church." Major repairs were finally funded and completed in the 1720s. The church was largely rebuilt in the 19th Century. The crypt was last used for a burial in 1868 and is now inaccessible. The church is now a Grade II* listed building.

[edit] Historical population and surnames

St Michael and All Angels
St Michael and All Angels

Surnames of Alwinton residents during the period 1538 to 1828 gathered from militia lists, parish books, feodary books and poll books include Belany, Bell, Bland, Brokyt, Brown, Browne, Burn, Clarke, Clavering, Clennell, Davison, Drybrough, Dykson, Foreste, Gibson, Gladstaines, Hall, Handley, Heatherington, Kirkup, Levingstone, Martin, Moses, Myngzies, Nesbit, Nevison, Patonson, Peary, Potts, Pratt, Robson, Scott, Selby, Starbecke, Steynson, Stuart, Thirwall, Trumble, Turnbull, Wallis, Whyt, Widdrington, Wilkinson, Wilson, and Young (Dixon, 1903, pp. 173, 215, 230).

Census records for Alwinton township during the 19th and 20th centuries indicate a gradual decline in population:

Year 1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 1901 1911 1921 1931
Population 102 103 106 85 78 71 64 83 88 60 58 53 51 43

[edit] Alwinton Border Shepherds Show

The annual Border Shepherds Show, a traditional agricultural show or fair featuring sheep farming in the borders area of England and Scotland, is held on the second Saturday of October. The Alwinton show is the last agricultural show of the season in the borders area. Traditionally, it marks the end of summer and the time for hill farmers to begin preparations for winter.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Sources

  • Dixon, D. D. (1903). Upper Coquetdale. Reprinted 1987 by Sandhill Press, Alnwick.
  • Dodds, M. H. (1940). A history of Northumberland (vol.15). Newcastle Upon Tyne: Andrew Read & Company.