WHELPINGTON (KIRK), a parish in the northeastern
division of TINDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND,
comprising the townships of Great Bavington,
Capheaton, Catcherside, Coldwell, Crogdean, Fawns;
Little Harle, West Harle, Kirk-Whelpington, and West-
Whelpington, and containing 793 inhabitants, of which
number, 277 are in the township of Kirk-Whelpington,
11 miles (EbyN.) from Bellingham. The living is a
vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and
diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at £7-3.4.,
and in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham. The
church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is ancient, and
constitutes the remains of a much larger structure
The river Wansbeck has its source in this parish, which
is a hilly and extensive district, for the most part composed
of sheep and dairy farms. Limestone and sandstone
are plentiful, and the moors afford an almost inexhaustible
supply of peat for fuel. There is a spring, the
water of which is impregnated with sulphur, and has
been found efficacious in chronic disorders. In various
parts of the parish are traces of circular and rectilinear
earthworks, probably thrown up in the border wars, for
the protection of cattle from the moss-troopers. Whelpington
tower, now the vicarage-house, was anciently
fortified.