Alnham : Selected Sources and Surveys

1 Liber Feodorum (The Book of Fees) II, 1117-9, 1126-7; Northumberland, 1242

Baronia de Vescy:

Willelmus de Vescy tenet in capite de domino rege Aunewic, Aunemue, Denwye, Haukehall, Bylton, Lescebyr, Schipplingbothill, Neuton super Moram, Heysandan, Gynis, Ruggeley, Morewyc, Chivington' del Est, Houcton' Magnam, Houcton' Parvam, Howyc, Renigton', Rok', Charleton' del North', Charleton del Suth, Falwedon, Burneton Batayll, Neuton super Mare, Preston, Tughal, Swinhou, Neuham Cumyn, Lukre cum Hopum membro suo, Hetheriston, Spinlastan, Ewrth, Dodington cum Nesebit membro suo, Horton, Turbervill, Hesilrig, Leum, Chatton, Folebir, Wetwod, Caldemerton, Yherdhill, Angreham, cum Reveley et Hertishevid membris suis, Faudon Batayll, Prendewic, Alneham, Chirmundisden, Bidlisden, Clenhill, Nedderton, Burweton, Alwemton, Hetton, Ambell, Scharberton, Thirnum, Scravenwood, Hauekislawe, Chevelingham et Hibburn.

. . . .

Walterus Bataill et Thomas Bunte tenent Scravenwod per terciam partem unius feodi de veteri feoffamento.

Socagium Baronie de Vescy:

. . . .

Willelmus le Walays tenet unam carucatam terre in Prendwye pro ii. s.

Walterus de Prendwye tenet unam carucatam terre in eadem pro dimidia marca.

Willelmus Cocus tenet xxx acras terre in eadem pro i libra piperis.

Johannes de Unthanc tenet xxx acras terre in Prendwye et in Unthanc unam carucatam terre et dimidiam carucatam pro dimidia marca.

Gilbertus de Glentedon tenet xxx acras terre in Prendwye pro i libra piperis.

Walterus filius Edmundi tenet xxx acras terre in eadem pro v. s

. . . .

Rogerus Balistarius tenet tres bovatas terre in Aunelam pro vii. s.

Translation:

Barony of Vesci:

William de Vesci holds in chief from the lord king Alnwick, Alnmouth, Denwick, Hawkhill, Bilton, Lesbury, Shilbottle, Newton-on-the-Moor, Hazon, Guyzance, Rugley, Morwick, East Chevington, Longhoughton, Littlehoughton, Howick, Rennington, Rock, North Charlton, South Charleton, Fallodon, Brunton, Newton-by-the-Sea, Preston, Tughall, Swinhoe, Newham, Lucker with its member Hoppen, Adderstone, Spindlestone, Ewart, Doddington with its member Nesbit, Horton, Turvelaws, Hazelrigg, Lyham, Chatton, Fowberry, Weetwood, Coldmartin, Earle, Ingram, with its members Reaveley and Hartside, Fawdon, Prendwick, Alnham, 'Chirmundesden' (Peels), Biddlestone, Clennell, Netherton, Burradon, Alwinton, Hetton, Amble, Sharperton, Farnham, Scrainwood, Hauxley, Chillingham and Hepburn.

. . . . .

Walter Bataill and Thomas Bunte hold Scrainwood for a third part of a (knight's) fee by ancient enfeoffment.

Socage holdings of the Barony of Vesci:

. . . .

William le Walays holds one carucate of land in Prendwick for 2 shillings.

Walter of Prendwick holds one carucate of land in that same (vill) for half a mark..

William the Cook (Cocus) holds 30 acres of land in that same (vill) for one pound of pepper.

John of Unthank holds 30 acres of land in Prendwick and one and a half carucates of land in Unthank for half a mark.

Gilbert of Glanton holds 30 acres of land in Prendwick for one pound of pepper.

Walter son of Edmund (or FitzEdmund) holds 30 acres of land in that same (vill) for 5s.

. . . .

Roger the Crossbowman holds three bovates of land in Alnham (vill) for 7s..

2. Cal Inq Misc I, no. 847: John de Vesci, 1265 (PRO C145/29/38; cf. Dixon 1985, II, 24 & 32)

Alneham: The manor said to contain 348 acres of demesne land, the rents of 18 bondagers, cottage rents, the brewery, rents of freemen and the 'Seles' (shiels) of Alnham Moor.

3. Cal IPM II (Edward I, 1-19), no. 723: John de Vesci 1289 (cf. Hartshorne 1852, I, cxviii-ix; Tate 1866, I, 88; Dixon 1895, 27; NCH XIV (1935), 575; Dixon 1985, II, 32)

John died seised of:

Alneham with shealings of this vill (township), and of a capital messuage, demesne lands, farm of free tenants, of bond tenants, of cotmen, and of mills and of rents, yearly value £51 7s 6d..

4. Cal IPM V (Edward II, 1-9), no. 536: Henry de Percy 1314/5 (PRO C134/41/1; cf. Dixon 1985, II, 24, 32)

Alneham:

A capital messuage and 214 acres of land in demesne, a mill, rents etc.

18 bondagers listed in possession of 24 acres of land each.

Alneham sheles: [The hamlet]

There were 11 tenants who paid £6 in time of peace

5. Cal IPM X (Edward III. 26-34), no.43: Henry de Percy 1352 (cf. Hartshorne 1852, I, ccxviii; NCH XIV (1935), 575; Dixon 1985, II, 24)

The vill of Alnham:

• Site of the manor with garden and 2 acres of meadow worth yearly in herbage 6s 8d;
• 180 acres of demesne each acre of yearly value of 8d;
• 15 acres of demesne meadow each acre of yearly value of 1s 6d;
• 18 bondage tenements each containing a messuage and 24 acres of arable and meadow, of which pay 13s 4d each per annum and 6 are waste through lack of tenants and are worth in herbage 6s p.a.;
• 16 cottages of which 5 pay 2s p.a. each and 11 are waste through lack of tenants and worth nothing;
• a water-mill worth 40s p.a.;
• rents of free tenants 24s 3d p.a..

6. Cal IPM XII (Edward III, 39-43), no. 242: Henry de Percy 1368 (cf. Tate 1866, I., 138; Dixon 1895, 27-8)

Alnham was held as a member of the Barony of Alnwick

• The town of Alnham he held in his own demesne;
• ? the site of the manor, with a garden and two acres of meadow, render in herbage 6s;
• 180 acres of demesne land in the hands of tenants at will render 6d per acre, and 15 acres of demesne meadow 12d per acre;
• of 18 bondages (bondagia), 12 are in the hands of tenants at will, each yielding 13s 4d, and the other six are wasted and render in herbage 12s;
• 12 cottages (cotagia) in the hands of tenants at will render 24s, and six, which are wasted, render in herbage 12s;
• one water mill renders 43s 4d;
• free tenants render 24s 3d.

7. A View and Survey . . . of the borders or frontier of the East and Middle Marches of England, Sir Robert Bowes and Sir Ralph Ellerker'1541 (cf. Hodgson 1828, 211; Bates 1891, 43)

Margin Description

Aylnane

two little towers oute of reparacons At Alname be two lytle toures whereof th(e) one ys the mansion of the vycaredge and th(e) other of the inheritaunce of the kinges majestie, parcell of the late Erle of Northumb'landes landes being scarcely in good reparac'ons.

8. Clarkson's Survey 1566 (Aln Cas A I i m)

31 tenants-at-will listed, holding varying proportions of land in the common fields

Two free tenants and two demesne tenants.

9. Stockdale's Survey 1586 (Aln Cas A II no.1)

Alnham.  The lord hath there a faire stronge stone tower of ancient tyme builded & strongly vaulted over & the gates and dores be all of great stronge iron barres and a good demayne adjoining thereto, and the house is now ruinous and in some decay by reason the farmer useth to carry his sheep up the stares and to lay them in the chambers which rotteth the vaults and will in shorte time be the utter decay of the same house if other reformacion be not had.

Demesnes.  Thomas Horsley holdeth scyte of manor of Alneham with stone tower well builded with toft and croft and certain lands lying together called Hobcroftes and one cottage with toft and croft called Aymers land.  Rent p.a. 40d.

The Manor.  John Horsley holdeth certain demesne lands called Alneham Moore.

Freeholders.  Cuthbert Rutherforth holds a toft which Robert, sometime the chaplain of the chantry of Eland [Holy Island] held by fealty and suit of court.

George Alder gent. holds one toft which Richard Alder lately held, and before, the chaplain aforesaid by like service.

Thomas Brockett and John Wattson hold 24 acres of land sometime in the possession of the monjastery of Alnwick which William Carver did hold.  The names of 29 tenants-at-will are given.

10. Mayson's Survey of 1615 (Aln Cas A V no.5)

The toune and manor of Alneham is parcell of the Barony of Alnewicke.  The soyle thereof is good and fertile but the tenants have been greatly impoverished and disabled by the Scots and often English thieves by reason that the said toune lieth open to the great wastes between the two realms.  29 tenants were listed, comprising 22 tenants at will, one cottager, two demesne tenants and three freeholders

11. A Terrier of the Gleeb Land belonging to the Vicaridg of Alneham in the County of Northumberland and Diocese of Durham (1663) (cf. PSAN2, 4, 235; Dixon 1895, 43)

• There is a vicaridge-house which is an old tower but ruinous and so hath been these twelve years by past it fell in Mr Thompson's time. 2ndly.  Another low house where the Clerk lives at present.
• 3rdly.  A little close called the Church Meadow joyning the church-yard and lying upon the north side of the church.
• 4thly.  A priviledge in Alneham Common.

Given under our hands at Alneham the eight day of December 1663

Archibald Forster X his mark Church Wardens

Chistopher Jamison X his mark

12. Archdeacon Singleton's parochial description, 1828: Archdeacon's Church Notes, vol II (cf. NCH XIV (1935), 561)

Alnham (parish) is usually but not of necessity united with Ilderton. The Church is in the patronage of the Duke of Northumberland.  The population of the Parish is about 130 and the church is fully equal to the accommodation of all those who may wish to frequent it.  The service is on alternate Sundays with the service at Ilderton; the sacrament is administered three times a year.  There is no parsonage house but an old tower long uninhabited and uninhabitable . . .  The revenues amount to £59.

13. Description of the remains of Earl of Northumberland's tower: D.D. Dixon (1895), 28

The foundations of an extensive fortress are yet visible on a green knoll opposite to the church, shewing traces of a square tower and the remains of other buildings, probably the outer offices, the dwellings of the servants, and the wall of the barmekyn (sic.).  Mr William Brown, of Alnham, says that his father, the late Edward Brown, excavated a large quantity of stones out of the 'castle mound' with which to build walls around the fields on the adjoining farms, and he himself remembers having seen a number of door heads, window heads, and mullions, along with other dressed stones, amongst the ruins.

14. Descriptions of Alnham moor, 1702 Survey (Aln. Cas. A VI 1)

"There is a large and good Common or Moor might be improved but a great distance from Coales and severall intercomers."

15. Undated survey - written in the 1702 Survey (Aln. Cas. VII10),:

"The most part of his Graces large common is a very good soyle; if inclosed were as good as their inground having no heather or linge.  Divers adjacent freeholders claim intercommen as followeth:

• HestletonRigg.  Mr Robert Alder jnr., at Alneham Court anno 1633 before Michael Feary, steward.
• Hartlaw House.  Mr George Alder quo jure.
• Unthank Mr Thos.  Unthank formerly kept a shield or herde house in the midst of his Grace's common which is decayed but Mr Robert Alder payes now about £4 per annum for his right of intercommon which was formerly presented at the court as an incroachment as appears by Court Rolls ann. 1633, who keeps what Unthank could feed in winter att stobb and stake now pleads prescription.
• Prendick. Mr Robert Alder and his goods is suffered to depasture dayly on Alnham common at the Lee field which in process of time may come to claim a right there as intercommon.
• One Robert Alder's son has a ½ a farm of freehold values it to £10 with rake in common."

16. The Division of the Common 1776 (NCH XIV (1935) 577)