Kirknewton And Westnewton : Area of Study

The area of study adopted is represented by the 19th century townships of Kirknewton and Westnewton (NCH XI (1922), 143-52, 152-7), two of  fifteen townships incorporated in the huge, 38,000 acre ecclesiastical parish of Kirknewton. The parish embraced the bulk of the north Cheviot massif and a substantial proportion of what is now the Northumberland National Park.

Kirknewton Township contained 2028 acres whilst Westnewton comprised 1118 acres. The townships embraced the south side of adjacent stretches of Glendale, extending southwards to include the neighbouring hills of the Cheviot massif and in the case of Westnewton stretching up the valley of the College Burn as far as the boundary with Hethpool Township. The modern civil parish of Kirknewton covers a much wider area embracing the former townships of Kirknewton, Westnewton, Hethpool, Yeavering, Crookhouse, Grey's Forest and substantial parts of Selby's Forest and Coupland.