STANNINGTON, a parish in the western division
of CASTLE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, 5 miles
(S. by E.) from Morpeth, containing, with the townships
of Blagdon, and Plessey with Shotton, 963 inhabitants.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland,
and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's
books at £5. 13. 4., and in the patronage of the Bishop
of Durham. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an
ancient structure; it had formerly a chantry, and the
windows exhibit some fine old specimens of stained
glass. There are places of worship for Wesleyan Methodists
and Unitarians. The river Blythe runs through
the parish, which abounds with coal. Here is an extensive
manufacture of oil-cloth. Mrs. Grey, in 1720,
gave a rent-charge of £2, and John Moor, in 1813,
bequeathed the interest of £200, which, together
amounting to £ 11 per annum, is applied for teaching
eleven poor children.