Alwinton

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Alwinton
latitude= 55.35
longitude= -2.11
population =
shire_district= Alnwick
region= North East England
shire_county = Northumberland
constituency_westminster= Berwick-upon-Tweed
post_town= MORPETH
postcode_district = NE65
postcode_area= NE
dial_code= 01669
os_grid_reference= NT925065__NOTOC__Alwinton (previously named "Allenton" and sometimes still referred to as this) is a village and parish in Northumberland, England. It is situated approximately 29 km (18 miles) to the west of Alnwick.Alwinton village lies at the head of the Coquet valley, on the edge of both the Otterburn Army Training Estate and the Northumberland National Park, roughly 16 km (10 miles) from the border with Scotland. A road continues past Alwinton into into the Cheviot Hills where it terminates at the ancient Roman encampment of Chew Green. Having no shops, Alwinton's social life centres on the Rose and Thistle Public House. Regular Church of England services are offered at St Michael and All Angels, which traditionally serves the parish of Alwinton encompassing the nearby townships of Biddlestone, Burradon, Clennell, Fairhaugh, Farnham, Linbriggs, Netherton, Peels, and Sharperton.

History

St Michael and All Angels, an early Norman church, was built on a hillside in the late 11th century or 12th century. Little historical information is available about Alwinton prior to 1245, when the value of its vicarage was first recorded. In 1279, two prisoners escaped from Harbottle castle and fled to the Alwinton church where they confessed to thievery and abjured the realm.

The church building was significantly neglected in the 15th and 16th centuries, to the extent that a Court of High Commission reported "the walls of the church and chancell are in great decay, noe glass in the windowes and noe doores for the church." Major repairs were finally funded and completed in the 1720s. The church was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. The crypt was last used for a burial in 1868 and is now inaccessible. The church is now a Grade II* listed building.

Historical population and surnames

Surnames of Alwinton residents during the period 1538 to 1828 gathered from militia lists, parish books, feodary books and poll books include Belany, Bell, Bland, Brokyt, Brown, Browne, Burn, Clarke, Clavering, Clennell, Davison, Drybrough, Dykson, Foreste, Gibson, Gladstaines, Hall, Handley, Heatherington, Kirkup, Levingstone, Martin, Moses, Myngzies, Nesbit, Nevison, Patonson, Peary, Potts, Pratt, Robson, Scott, Selby, Starbecke, Steynson, Stuart, Thirwall, Trumble, Turnbull, Wallis, Whyt, Widdrington, Wilkinson, Wilson, and Young (Dixon, 1903, pp. 173, 215, 230).

Census records for Alwinton township during the 19th and 20th centuries indicate a gradual decline in population:

Alwinton Border Shepherds Show

The annual Border Shepherds Show, a traditional agricultural show or fair featuring sheep farming in the borders area of England and Scotland, is held on the second Saturday of October. The Alwinton show is the last agricultural show of the season in the borders area. Traditionally, it marks the end of summer and the time for hill farmers to begin preparations for winter.

ee also

* Clennell
* Biddlestone

External links

* [http://www.coquetdale.net/alwinton/index.html Alwinton Village Website]
* [http://www.alwintonparish.co.uk/index.html Alwinton Parish Council]
* [http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N12983 Local history]
* [http://www.genuki.bpears.org.uk/NBL/Alwinton/ Alwinton on GENUKI]
* [http://www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk/VisitorGuide/TimesPast/HistoricVillageAtlas/Alwinton/ Alwinton: Historic Village in Northumberland National Park]
* [http://www.clennellhall.co.uk/ Clennell Hall Riverside Holiday Park]
* [http://www.roseandthistlealwinton.com/ The Rose and Thistle]
* [http://www.northumberland-cam.com/alwinton/index.htm Alwinton Photos]
* [http://www.familytraits.co.uk/northumberland_parish_index.html Northumberland parish index] Index of all the parish locations in Northumberland

Sources

* Dixon, D. D. (1903). "Upper Coquetdale". Reprinted 1987 by Sandhill Press, Alnwick.
* Dodds, M. H. (1940). "A history of Northumberland" (vol.15). Newcastle Upon Tyne: Andrew Read & Company.