ROTHBURY, a market-town and parish in the
western division of COQUETDAI,E ward, county of
NORTHUMBERLAND, comprising the townships of Bickerton,
Caistron, Chartington, Debdon, Fallowlees, Flotterton,
Hellinghill, Hepple, Hepple-Demesne, Hesley-
Hurst, Lee-Ward, Mounthealy, Newtown, Paperhaugh,
Raw, Rothbury, Rye-Hill, Snitter,Thropton, GreatTossen,
Little Tossen, High and Low Trewhitt, Warton, Whitton,
and Wreigh-Hill, and containing 2609 inhabitants, of
which number, 891 are in the town of Rothbury,
30 miles (N.W.byN.) from Newcastle, and 300 (N.N.W.)
from London. The name of this town was anciently
written Robejie, Rathbury, and Routhbyrig; by some derived
from the British Rhath, a cleared spot, or the
Gaelic Ruth, denoting a place of security, but more probably
from the Saxon Ruth, red, expressive of the ferruginous
appearance arising from the iron-stone and ochre
that exist in the parish. Its sitxiation, though low, is
very beautiful, being in a sequestred and romantic glen,
through which the river Coquet flows near the southern
extremity, where it is crossed by a handsome stone bridge
of four arches. On the brow of a hill on the south side
of the'river is Whitton Tower, formerly the seat of the
Umfravilles, whose arms decorate the western front, now
used as the parsonage-house; on the west the beautiful vale
opens gradually on the view, almost encircled with hills
and ridges of broken rocks, interspersed with trees,
among which numerous goats browze, the milk and
whey being in considerable request by valetudinarians,
who resort hither during the summer season. The
parish also contains an abundance of coal and limestone,
and some inconsiderable veins of lead-ore. The
ancient Forest of Rothbury, occupying a tract seven
miles long and five broad, has long been cleared of its
trees, and is now under cultivation, except a very small
portion, which is depastured by sheep. The town, which
is wide and airy, consists of three streets irregularly built,
diverging from the market-place, which is decorated with
a neat cross; it is neither paved nor lighted; the inhabitants
are supplied with water from several springs.
A small subscription library was established in 1815.
The market, granted, in the reign of John, to Robert
Fitz-Roger, Baron of Warkworth (of which this manor
was a member), to be held on Thursday, is now on Friday,
but is almost grown into disuse. Fairs for horses,
cattle, and sheep, are held annually on Whit-Monday,
October 2nd, and November 1st, and a statute fair for
hiring servants on the Friday in Easter week. The
town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates,
and its local affairs are under the superintendence of
two bailiffs, appointed annually by the lord of the manor,
on the first Tuesday in October, assisted by two cpnstables,
two bread-weighers and ale-conners, and two
land-meters.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of
Northumberland, and diocese of Durham, rated in the
king's books at £58. 6. 8., and in the patronage of the
Bishop of Carlisle. The church, which is dedicated to
All Saints, is a fine old structure in the form of a cross,
with a square tower; against a pillar near the south
door is the effigy in stone of a man in armour, with a
pistol in his right hand, and a powder bag in his belt:
the head has been broken off: there are some handsome
monuments, and a very antique font, on which
is rudely sculptured a representation of the Redeemer
sitting in Judgment. Near the church is the free
school, with a dwelling-house and garden for the master,
to the erection of which, the Rev. Mr. Thomlinson,
rector of the parish, gave £100, and £20 per annum
as an endowment, to which have been added £6
per annum by George Fletcher, Esq., High Sheriff of
Northumberland, and some other benefactions, producing
about £240 per annum, of which the master receives
£50 per annum as a salary, part of the funds
being applied, according to the will of Dr. Thomlinson,
in sending a few scholars to the university, and apprenticing
poor children. A subscription school, called the
Central school, has lately been united with this institution,
which is now conducted on the Madras system.
Dr. John Brown, vicar of St. Nicholas' in Newcastle, and
author of some essays, poetical pieces, and dramatic
writings, was a native of this parish; and Bernard
Rumney, an ancient northern bard and musician, (lived
and died here. At a distance of one mile to the east, on
ahold eminence, is a circular intrenchment, with a double
ditch and rampart, called Old Rothbury, an asylum or
place of refuge in times of public danger, to which the
inhabitants retired from the incursions of the Scots, prior
to the union of the two kingdoms.