SIMONBURN, a parish in the north-western division
of TINDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, com-
prising the chapelry of Humshaugh, and the townships
of Haughton and Simonburn, and containing 1030 inhabitants,
of which number, 569 are in the township of
Simonburn, 10 miles (N. W. by N.) from Hexham. The
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland,
and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books
at £34. 6. 3., and in the patronage of the Governors
of Greenwich Hospital. The church, dedicated to St.
Simon, was repaired and beautified in 1821; it contains
monuments to the family of Allgood. This parish was
formerly the largest in the county, having, in 1814, been
divided, pursuant to an act obtained in 1811, into six
parishes and rectories, the livings of all which are in
the gift of the Governors of the Hospital, to which institution
the manor of the ancient parish belongs, and
from its funds the churches were erected. None but
chaplains in the navy who have served ten years, or lost
a limb in the service, can be inducted to these benefices;
they are not allowed to hold any other preferment, but
by an act passedin 1820, may receive their half-pay.
The ancient parish was about thirty-three miles in length,
and fourteen in breadth, diversified with mountains and
vallies of picturesque character: the Roman wall passed
on the northern side of it, and within its limits coal is
abundant, and iron-ore was formerly obtained. A very
small portion of its surface is in tillage, the land being
chiefly applied to depasturing sheep and Scotch and
Irish cattle. Giles Heron, a liberal benefactor to the
poor, founded and endowed, ha 1679, a school for teaching
poor children, and for apprenticing them. The ancient
castle was entirely destroyed in expectation of
finding some hidden treasure, but part of the west end
was rebuilt in 1766. In 1735, a stone inscribed VLPI.
SABI., to Ulpias and Sabinus, Roman lieutenants in
Britain, was found in taking down part of the rectoryhouse.