WARDEN, a parish in the north-western division
of TINDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, comprising
the chapelry of Haydon, or Elringtori, the
townships of Brokenhaugh, Dean-Raw, Lipwood, and
Warden, and containing, with the extra-parochial liberty
of Walwick, 2072 inhabitants, of which number,
498 are in the township of Warden, 2 miles (N.W.
by N.) from Hexham. The living is a vicarage, in
the archdeaconry of Northumberland, and diocese of
Durham, rated in the king's books at £8.16. 3., and
in the patronage of Col. and Mrs. Beaumont. The
church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a cruciform structure,
in the early style of English architecture. The
parish lies between the wall of Severus and the North
and South Tyne rivers, and near their junction is a petrifying
spring. On an eminence, called Castle Hill,
are vestiges of a circular British fortification, which was
defended by a rampart of rough stone; it was subsequently
occupied by the Romans, by whom additional
earthworks were raised, and surrounded by a fosse;
within the area the foundations of buildings, and several
hand-mills, have been discovered. Not far from
the vicarage-house are traces of another fort, termed
Castle Hill.