BOLAM, a parish, county of NORTHUMBERLAND,
comprising the township of Trewick
in the western division of CASTLE ward, the townships
of Bolam, Bolam-Vicarage, and Gallow-Hill, in
the western division of MORPETH ward, and the townships
of Belsay, Bradford, Harnham, and Shortflatt, in
the north-eastern division of TINDALE ward, county of
NORTHUMBERLAND, and containing 651 inhabitants,
of which number, 55 are in the township of Bolam, 9
miles (W. S. W.) from Morpeth. The living is a vicarage,
in the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and diocese
of Durham, rated in the king's books at £6. 13.4.,
and in the patronage of the Crown. The church, an
ancient edifice, is dedicated to St. Andrew. On the
western side of the village are vestiges of an oblong
intrenchment, consisting of a rampart with a double
ditch, which was approached by a raised road. Mr,
Gale ascribes it to the Britons, and is of opinion that
this was the town of Glanoventa, which Camden fixes
on the banks of the Wansbeck; some consider it to be
of Roman, and others of Saxon, origin. A branch of
the Watling-street, called the Devil's Causeway, may be
distinctly traced about a mile westward, near which are
two stone pillars, with a tumulus between them, which,
on being opened, was found to contain a stone coffin.
On an intrenched rock, on the north-eastern side of
Bolam moor, are the ruins of some ancient buildings.
The village was formerly much larger than it is at
present; therS are coal and limestone in the parish.
The township of Bolam-Vicarage comprises only the
glebe land, lying on the eastern side of the church.