SPITTLE, or SPITTAL, a village with considerable fishing and
sea-bathing, in the parish of TWEEDMOUTH, in
ISLANDSHIRE, forming a part of the detached portion
of the county palatine of DURHAM, locally northward
of the county of Northumberland, 1 mile (S. 15.)
from Berwick upon Tweed. The population is returned
with the parish. There is a place of worship for Presbyterians.
This place, which is situated on the coast of
the North sea, at the mouth of the river Tweed, consists
of two principal streets. It was formerly inhabited by
smugglers and others of disreputable character, but,
since the enclosure of the adjacent common, these
have gradually given place to honest and industrious
fishermen. Here are six herring houses for curing red
and white herrings, and good accommodation for persons
who resort hither for sea-bathing and for drinking
the water of a powerful chalybeate spring in the neighbourhood.
On Sunnyside hill, half a mile from the
village, is an extensive colliery, the property of the
corporation of Berwick.