Kilham : Selected Sources And Surveys
1. Liber Feodorum (The Book of Fees) II, 1120; Northumberland, 1242
Baronia de Ros
Willelmus de Ros tenet in capite de domine rege Werke, Leuermuwe, Mindrum, Karham, Prestfen, Manilawe, Dunum, Palwiston, Schotton, Killum, Holthal, Neuton et alteram Neuton, Langeton, Lilleburn, Hildirton, Weperden, Russeden, Schauden, Titlington, Bowilton, Alburwye, Butlisdon, Grangiam de Stratton et medietatem de Glatendon per duo feoda et dimidium feodum de veteri feoffamento.
Robertus de Ros tenet predictas villas de predicto Willelmo per duo feoda et dimidium feodum de novo feoffamento exceptis Bowilton, Karham, Titlington et Grangiam de Stratton..
Translation:
Barony of Ros
William de Ros holds in chief from the lord king Wark (on-Tweed), Learmouth, Mindrum, Carham, Pressen, Moneylaws, Downham, Pawston, Shotton, Kilham, Howtel, (Kirk)newton and the other (West)Newton, Lanton, (West) Lilburn, Ilderton, Wooperton, Roseden, Shawden, Titlington, Bolton, Abberwick, (Low) Buston, the Grange of Sturton and half of Glanton for two and a half (knights') fees by ancient feoffment.
Robert de Ros holds the aforesaid townships from the aforesaid William for two and a half (knights') fees by new feoffment, with the exception of Bolton, Carham, Titlington and the Grange of Sturton.
2. The Lay Subsidy 1296 (Fraser (ed.) 1968, 122-3 no.290)
Kilham (Kylum) in the Ward of Glendale
| Taxpayer | Tax Assessment |
| Robert Herbert | £1 2 6 |
| Hugh son of the reeve | £1 18 0 |
| William de Molle | £2 1 4 |
| William son of Peter | £1 1 6 |
| Adam Tempilman | £1 9 6 |
| The lady of Kilham | £2 1 8 |
| Alan the smith | £2 1 4 |
| Thomas the servant of Robert | £3 4 4 |
| Robert the Reeve | £2 2 8 |
|
Thomas the servant (servientis) of the canons |
£1 14 0 |
| Total Assessment of Kilham | £20 7 10 |
| Tax Due | £1 17 1 |
3. 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 (Cotton MS. Calig., B vii, fo. 636, reproduced in Bates 1891, 31 and Hodgson 1828, 183)
Margin Description
Kylhame
most part Gray of Chillingham's inheritance
No fortresse, desolate therefore by warre
Pytye, being a good plot. The towneshippe of Kylham conteyneth xxvi husband lands nowe well penyshed and hathe in yt nether tower, barmekyn nor other fortresse whiche ys great petye for yt woulde susteyne many able men for defence of those borders yf yt had a tower and barmekyn buylded in yt where nowe yt lyeth waste in ev'ry warre and then yt is a great tyme after (before) yt can be replenished againe and the most parte thereof ys the inherytaunce of the said Mr Graye of Chyllingham.
4. Warburton's description - 1715
John Warburton's notes contain the following description of the village in 1715 (Hodgson 1916, 11):
- Kilham: a large village . . . . . a chapell in ruins.
5. Description of Kilham bastle house The Border Holds of Northumberland (Bates 1891, 53-4):
It appears that, in accordance with the views of the Commissioners of 1541, a strong house was built at Kilham. This has been unfortunately recently destroyed, but it is said to have closely resembled, on a smaller scale, the bastle-house at Doddington, one of the most charming remains of Border architecture, only finished, as the inscription on it informs us, in 1584.