ELSDON, a parish in the southern division of
CoauETDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, com-
prising the townships of Elsdon ward, Monkridge ward,
Otterburn ward, Rochester ward, Troughend ward, and
Woodside ward, and containing 1848 inhabitants, of
which number, 299 are in the township of Elsdon ward,
18 miles (W. N.W) from Morpeth. The living is a
rectory, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and
diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at £20,
and in the patronage of the Duke of Northumberland.
The church, dedicated to St. Cuthbert, is a large cruciform
structure. A fe%v years since, in clearing away the
earth against the north transept, upwards of one hundred
skeletons were discovered, lying in double rows
alternately between the legs of each other. The river
Reed and the new Edinburgh road intersect the parish.
There are some fine seams of coal, which, with limestone
and iron-stone, is obtained in abundance. A fair
for cattle, sheep, linen and woollen cloth, is held on the
26th of August. Elsdon is supposed to have been a
Roman town, and the first of a chain of forts between
Watling-street and the Devil's causeway. North-east of
the village is an ancient intrenchment, called Moat-hill,
which, from the relics discovered in it, seems to have
been used as a place of sepulture by the Romans. About
two miles to the north-west is Tod-law, an eminence
upon which are three large columns of stone, in .a triangular
position, said to have been set up to the memory
of some distinguished Danish leaders. Elsdon castle
was erected by David, King of Scotland; it is a strong
tower building, .now the rectory-house, the lower story
of which is spanned by a single arch, having in front
the armorial bearings of Umfraville, Lord of Prudhoe,
who died about 1325.