Alwinton : Selected Sources and Surveys

Liber Feodorum (The Book of Fees) II, 1117-9; 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.

. . . . .

Gilbertus de Humframvill tenet Alwenton, Bidlisden, Clenhill, Chirmundisden, Scharberton, Thirnum, Burwedon, Neddirton, Faudon et Angerham per duo feoda de veteri feoffamento et per unum austurcum sorum.

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.

. . .

'Gilbert de Umfraville holds Alwinton, Biddlestone, Clennell, Chirmundesden' (Peels), Sharperton, Farnham, Burradon, Netherton, Fawdon and Ingram for two (knight's) fees by ancient feoffment and one sparrow hawk.'

2. Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem (Cal IPM)

Includes all indexed references from or relating to Alwinton.

i.  Sir Gilbert de Umfranville, Earl of Angus. 30 April 29 Henry III (1245); Cal IPM vol I, no. 49; the fuller text in CalDocScot i, no.1667 is reproduced here; see also Hodgson 1827, 107-8.

There are in the manors of Hyrbottle, 408 acres of land and 3 roods, whereof each is worth yearly 5d; total, £10 3s 7d.  Also there are 80 acres of meadow [and] 18½ acres, whereof each of 20 is worth yearly 6d, and of 78½, each is worth yearly 2d; total thereof, 23s 1d.  Also there are two mills there, worth yearly £17 11s 4d.  Also a burgus (borough, at Harbottle) returning by the year with grazing, £4 12s. Also the jurors say there are within the manor of Otterburne in demesne, 168½ acres and 1 rood, whereof each is worth yearly 5d; total, 70s 3½d.  Also there are 43½ acres of meadow, each worth yearly 4d; total, 14s 6d.  Also a mill worth yearly £8.  And the advowson of the church at Ellesden.

(Marginal note) That church is worth 80 marks, and Vincencius Cornwalais holds it.

And they say that in Alwenton there are 9 'bondi', each of whom holds one 'bondagium' worth yearly 10s; total £4 10s.

(Marginal note) There is the advowson of the church there, worth yearly 80 marks, and the vicarage 20 marks, besides the portion of Halistan (the portion of Alwenton rectory's revenue accruing to Holystone Priory).  And William de Lexington holds that church.

Also they say that in Otterburne, a member of Hyrbotle, there are ten 'bondi', holding ten bondagia' each worth 8s 8½d; total, £4 7s 1d. Also there are in the said Otterburne and Alwenton thirty eight cottars, whose services and labours ('opera') are worth 48s. 11d. Also they say there are in the said vills (of Otterburn and Alwinton) 2 'bracinagia' (brewhouses) worth yearly 25s.  Also there are in the said vills rents of 'liberorum' (freemen) the total whereof is £12 15s 8d. Also there are 'gresmanni' (or cresmanni – Hodgson translates as 'assart-men'), whose services and rents are worth £13 10s 7d.

Also (in the manors of Redesdale and Coquetdale) there is pasture for 1140 sheep, worth 111s 8d.  Also the pasture for mares is worth £12.  Also they say regarding the cow pastures, 1400 [acres?], 900 of which are worth 4d and 500 worth 2d – that the total is £23; besides Hollesden (the valley of the Hosedon Burn N of Alwinton), worth 2 marks.  Also the forges there render iron, worth yearly 4l 2s.  Also the wards there are worth yearly, 18s 4d.  Also there are six entire knights' fees, and one sixth of a knight. . . . . . .

Also they say that the monks of Novi Monasterii (Newminster) hold three granges (in the liberty of Redesdale and the barony of Prudhoe) viz., Tolland, Fyleton and Ruhehope (Rowhope) and pay yearly £12.

ii.  Gilbert de Umframvill alias Dunfranvyl, Earl of Angus, alias Denegus.  Whelpington, 13 Oct., 1 Edward II (1308); vol. V; no. 47.

"Redesdale ...with the liberty, in which is the castle of Hirbotell (extent given), including a borough called Hirbotell, a capital messuage at Oterburn, a park nearly a league in circuit, and free tenants in Ellesden, all held freely of the king in chief by service of defending the same from wolf and robber.

Alwenton, 200 acres arable and 10 acres meadow, the lordship of the ten towns of Alwenton, Clonhill, Bydellesden, Angreham, Faudon, Ryhill, Scharberton, Nodirton, Boroudon, and Thirnum, which rendered nothing to the earl but knight's service and suit at his court of Hirbotell, and two water-mills, all held of the heirs of Vesci in chief of the barony of Alnewyck by service of 2 knights' fees, and doing suit at the court of Alnewyck.

Robert his son, aged 30 and more, is his next heir".

iii.  Robert de Umframvill, alias de Umfraunvill, Dumframvill, late Earl of Angus. 10 May, 18 Edward II (1325); vol VI, no. 607.

Redesdale Liberty (extent given), including the site of the castle of Hirbotil and lands woods and rents in [Redesheved, Herlessyde], Spithope [Nuthope], Cotynghopp, Suleshop [Kyneshope], Yerdhopp, Carwyk, Coketmore, Mickelwanges, Little Wodbourn, Wolrych and Helvesdon.

Helvesden [alias Ellesden]. A messuage and a carucate of land, held by John son of William by service of one twentieth of a knight's fee and 1d yearly; a messuage and a carucate of land, held by William de Sok . . . .  (?) by service of one fortieth of a knight's fee and suit of court; and a messuage and a carucate of land, held by Gilbert de Caprewyk (?) by service of one twentieth of a knight's fee, 5s 2d rent, and suit of court.

All held of the king in chief by service of keeping the liberty of Redesdale from robbers and wolves.

Schirmundesdene [alias Shirmunden]. The manor (extent given in the original but not in Cal IPM, VI, 607).

Alwenton. Four bondages and 4 cottages, all wasted by the Scots.

Faudon. The manor (extent given in the original).

Clenyl.  The manor held by Thomas Clenyl by service of ½ knight's fee, 6s 8d for guard of the castle of Alnewyk and 15d for cornage.

Bedilsden [alias Bitelsden].  A moiety of the manor held by Robert de la Vale by service of ½ knight's fee, 6s 8d [alias 3s 4d] for guard of the said castle, 40d [alias 15d] for cornage, and suit at the court of Schirmundesden.

Borouden.  The manor, held by John de Borouden by service of a knight's fee, 13s 4d for guard of the said castle, and 15d cornage.

Nedderton. A moiety of the manor held by Henry son of John by service of ½ knight's fee, and 15d for cornage.

Thirnom. A moiety of the manor held by John de Horseley by service of 7½d; and the other moiety held by Hugh de Raymyngton and Joan his wife by service of 7½d and 1lb pepper, price 18d, yearly.

Angram [alias Angraham] (Ingram). The manor held by John de Laybourn by service of ½ knight's fee, and 15d for cornage.

[Foxden and] Scharperton. Four messuages and a carucate of land, held by Gilbert de Borouden by service of ¼ knight's fee

All held (of the king in chief?) as of the barony of Alnewyk by service of . . . . yearly.

Extent: 8 June, 18 Edward II (1325); vol VI, no. 607.

The knight's fees mentioned above with the variations there given within square brackets and the following:--

. . . .

Thirnhom. Certain tenements held by Alice de Sadlingestan by service of one tenth of a knight's fee, now worth nothing by the devastation of the Scots.

Aldenscheles. The manor held by John de Horsley by service of a fifth of a knight's fee, now worth nothing by the devastation of the Scots.

Linsheles. Certain tenements held by Thomas Shert by service of one fortieth of a knight's fee, now worth nothing by the devastation of the Scots. . . . .

Alwenton. The advowson of the church.

iv.  Robert de Umframvyll, or de Humframvyll, late earl of Anegos. Monday the feast of St Oswald, 5 Edward III (1331); vol VII, no. 390. A revision of the 1325 inquisition – no. iii, above. . . . . Shiremondesden. The manor (extent not reproduced in Cal IPM).

Alwenton. The manor (extent not reproduced in Cal IPM).

. . . .

Helvesden (Elsdon), Clenill, Bedelsden, Boroudon, Nedderton, Thyrnom, Angreham and Sharperston.  Divers lands and tenements, held freely of the said Robert (names of tenants given in the original document), by homage and fealty, and by service of rendering 13s. yearly, and 30s. yearly for ward of the castle of Alnwicke; as is more fully contained in the extent taken after the death of the said Robert (Cal IPM VI, 607; no ii above).

v.  Eleanor late the wife of Robert de Umframvyll, knight. 8 May, 42 Edward III (1368); vol. XII; no. 250; cf. Hodgson 1827, 110. . . . . . .

Shirmondene.  A messuage, 5 carucates of land (500-600 acres), 20 acres meadow, 50 acres wood and a watermill in the hands of tenants at will rendering 10 marks yearly, held in dower.

Alwynton. 5 messuages, 5 husband-lands and a cottage in the hands of tenants at will rendering 22s. Yearly, held in dower of Henry de Percy, as of the manor of Alnewyk by knight's service.

vi.  Thomas Umframvill. Northumberland. 10 Richard II (1387); vol. XVI; no. 469.

He died in possession of nine husbandlands, six cottages and the rents of freemen in Alwinton.

vii.  Maud wife of Henry earl of Northumberland. 10 March, 22 Richard II (1398); XVII; no. 1246.

Died seised of various places, including:

Oterburn. The manor, with divers places, scalings (shieling grounds) and wastes, to wit, ......21s. 2d. rent from Herbotle .....

"All the lands etc. In Redesdale are held of the king in chief by knight's service.

Shirmondesden in Cokdale. A third part of the demense lands of the manor, to wit, 100acr. land (i.e. ploughland) towards the east and 26½ acr. meadow, a third part of the park and of 2 water-mills, 3s. 11½d. rent of assize, 2s. 4d. castle ward, 1½ lb. pepper and 1 lb cummin from three husbandlands in Alwenton, three cottages there and a third part of a pasture called Butterland, held of Henry earl of Northumberland by knight's service".

Fawdon. A third part of the town held of Henry earl on Northumberland in socage, for 3s. 4d. yearly.

viii.  Thomas Grey, Knight. Commission and Inquisition. 13 Henry VII (1498), Cal IPM Hen VII, vol. III; no. 10.

Properties inherited by Ralph Grey, his son, include the following manors:

Alneham, worth 10l.

Chirmundsden, or Chirmundisd', worth 5 marks.

Bitlisdon, or Butlisden, worth 10l.

Clenhill, worth 100s.

Nedirton, worth 10 marks.

Buereweton, or Burueton, worth 20 marks.

Allenton, or Alwenton, worth 5 marks.

Hetton, or Heton, worth 10 marks.

Ambell, worth 10l.

Sharperton, worth 100s.

Thirnam, or Thitnum, worth 10 marks.

3. The Lay Subsidy 1296 (Fraser (ed.) 1968, 174-5, no.404)

Alwinton (Alwenton) in West Coquetdale Ward

4. 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, 44

5. Survey of the Debateable and Border Lands adjoining the Realm of Scotland and belonging to the Crown of England taken A.D. 1604,  (ed.) R P Sanderson (Alnwick, 1891), 116-7 (cited elsewhere as 1604 Survey)

THE SURVAIE OF THE TENN TOWNES IN CUBEDALE which by their ancient custome owe their service to Harbotle in Rydsdale to be comaunded by the Capten there to serve in feild on horse or on foote in the Princes affaires for the defence of the Border lands.

The number of Tennants, the several rents, the quantitye of ground they possesse, and the yearly value of the same, is expressed in the Abreviate followinge.  

Memorandum that foure of the Customarie Tennants in Allington paie id. ob. (1½ d.) a peece yearly rent for their farmes, and are called Fosters of the Forrest of Harbotle, whoe have their farmes at so small a rate in respect of their service there.