FORD, a parish in the western division of GLENDALE
ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, 9 miles
(N.N. W.) from Wooler, containing 1807 inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland,
and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's
books at £24, and in the patronage of the Marquis of
Waterford. The church is dedicated to St. Michael.
There are places of worship for Baptists and Presbyterians.
The parish contains a considerable quantity of
coal, limestone, freestone, whin stone, and slate. About
seventy children are educated in a charity school, of
whom thirteen boys and thirteen girls are clothed at
the expense of the Marquis of Waterford. There are several
other schools in the parish. On the western-side
of the village is Ford castle, erected in 1287, by Sir
William Heron, and rebuilt by the late Lord Delaval:
two towers, the remains of the former castle, are retained
in the present structure. This castle was demolished
by the Scots in 1385, under the earls of Fife, March,
and Douglas; and, prior to the battle of Flodden, it
was captured by King James troops. In 1549, it was
again taken by the Scots, who demolisheda great
part of it. Courts leet and baron are held annually
about Easter, for the recovery of small debts, at which
the steward of the manor presides. Floddon-field, in
this parish, was the scene of the celebrated battle
fought on the 9th of September, 1513, by the Scotch
under King James IV., and the English commanded by
the Earl of Surrey, in which the former were defeated,
and their king slain. The top of the hill is now covered
with fir trees. As some workmen were digging in a field
near Floddon, in 1810, they discovered a large pit filled
with human bones.