Rothbury (All Saints)
The parish consists of 33,770 acres, and comprises the townships of Bickerton, Caistron, Cartington, Debdon, Fallowlees, Flotterton, Hollinghill, Hepple, Hepple-Demesne, Hesley-Hurst, Lee-Ward, Mount-Healey, Newtown, Paperhaugh, Raw, Rothbury, Snitter, Thropton, Great Tosson with Ryehill, Little Tosson, Trewhitt, Warton, Whitton, and Wreighill. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor, and proprietor of a large portion of the parish. The haughs by the river side are good alluvial soil, but the rest of the land is generally covered with stones or heath. The parish contains an abundance of limestone, sandstone, and ironstone, and though there are no mines at present worked, yet, from the large accumulations of scoria, it is evident that the ironstone must have been extensively wrought at a very ancient period, and most probably by the Romans: in many parts, the water is so strongly impregnated with iron, as to be used medicinally. The ancient Forest of Rothbury, occupying a tract seven miles long and five broad, has been divided under the authority of an act of parliament passed in the year 1831.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £58. 6. 8.; net income, £1106; patron, the Bishop of Carlisle. The church is a ruinous cruciform structure in the early English style, with a square tower: against a pillar near the south door is the effigy in stone of a man in armour; and the font, which is very antique, bears a rudely-sculptured representation of the Redeemer sitting in Judgment. The Independents have a place of worship. Near the church is a free school, with a dwelling-house and garden for the master, to the erection of which the Rev. Mr. Thomlinson, rector, in 1720 gave £100, with £20 per annum as an endowment, to which have been added some other benefactions, producing £252. 18. per annum. The poor-law union of Rothbury comprises 71 parishes and townships, containing a population of 7297. There are numerous British stations in the neighbourhood. About a mile to the west of Rothbury is a circular intrenchment, with a triple ditch and earthen rampart: at the distance of a quarter of a mile to the north-east of this, is another; on Tosson hills, two miles to the south-west, a third; and about the same distance to the south-east, on Whitton hills, a fourth. The last is still very perfect, and of great extent: the plan of one of the serpent temples of the Druids may be clearly traced; the stones, placed side by side, yet remain, and the visiter may pass into the inclosure by the original entrance. These stations were doubtless connected; they all stand upon abrupt and lofty elevations, commanding extensive views of the surrounding country and of each other. Dr. John Brown, vicar of St. Nicholas' in Newcastle, and author of some essays, poetical pieces, and dramatic writings, was a native of the parish. Bernard Romney, an ancient Norman bard and musician, lived and died here.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.