OTTERBURN-WARD, a township in the parish of
ELSDON, southern division of COQUETDALE ward, county
of NORTHUMBERLAND, 11 miles (N. B. by N.) from
Bellingham, containing 388 inhabitants,,who are principally
employed in the manufacture of woollen cloth,
including carding, dyeing, and fulling. Otterburn castle
was a strong fortress well adapted for sustaining the
frequent attacks of the Scottish borderers.. Here was
fought, in 1388, the famous battle, between the English,
under Henry Percy, surnamed Hotspur, and the Scots,
commanded by Earl Douglas, in which the latter fell by
the sword of the former, who, with many of,his knights,
was afterwards taken prisoner: The ancient and
popular ballad of " Chevy Chase," in which, however,
there are material deviations from. historical facts, was
founded upon this sanguinary .contest. On the spot
where the battle was fought are several tumuli, also remains
of intrenchments, and a cross erected where
Douglas is said to have fallen.