CHOLLERTON, a parish in the north-eastern division
of TINDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND,
comprising the chapelry of Chipchase with Gunnerton,
and the townships of Barrasford, Chollerton, and Colwell
with Swinburn, and the greater part of the township
of Broomhope with Buteland, and containing 1241
inhabitants, of which number, 403 are in the township
of Chollerton, 6 miles (N.) from Hexham. The living
is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northumberland,
and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at
£6. 14. 4., and in the patronage of Colonel and Mrs.
Beaumont. The church is dedicated to St. Giles. A
cross, still called St. Oswald's cross, was set up here by
Oswald, King of Northumberland, to commemorate his
victory at Haledon, in this parish, over Ceadwall, King
of Cumberland, after which he became a Christian.
About a mile from the village of Chollerton was the line
of the Picts' wall, erected by the Romans and South
Britons, in 430, to protect themselves from the incursions
of the Picts, the remains of which still exist, ex-
tending above eighty miles through this county and that
of Cumberland, from the North sea to the Solway
Frith: it was eight feet broad and twelve high, with
towers situated about-a mile from, each other; and-at
short distances were erected several small fortified places,
called Chesters by the Saxons, many vestiges of which
are still conspicuous. Within this parish also are the
remains of two ancient and extensive castles, called
Chipchase and Swinburn, which have partly been converted
into elegant modern structures.