WARK, a parish in the north-western division of
TINDALE ward, county of NORTHUMBERLAND, comprising
the townships of High Shitlington, Low Shit-,
lington, Wark, and Warksburn, and containing 866 inhabitants,
of which number, 367 are in the township
of Wark, 4 miles (S. S. E.) from Bellingham. The living
is a rectory not in charge, in the archdeaconry of
Northumberland, and diocese of Durham, and in the
patronage of the Governors of Greenwich Hospital,
who have erected a handsome church, the first stone of.
which was laid in October 1815, and it was opened for
divine service on August 10th, 18185 they also built
the parsonage-house. There is a place of worship,
for Presbyterians. This parish is one of the six into,
which the late extensive parish of Simonbourn was.
divided, in 1814, under the authority of an act of;
parliament obtained in 1811: it is bounded on the.
east by the North Tyne, across which there is a ferry.
Courts leet and baron for the manor are held, annually
in October, by the Governors of Greenwich Hospital,
who, with the Trustees of Heron's charity, have erected
a school-room, in which the poor children of the parish
are instructed on the National system. The village is
ancient, and has been considerably improved by the
recent erection of a handsome row of houses, with stone
taken from some extensive ruins. About half a mile
northward are the remains of an old church, a tumulus,
and a cairn, in which urns and other relics have,
been found. Within the parish are vestiges of several
ancient fortifications, said to have been thrown tip by
Edward III.; and on the bank of the river is Moat
Hill, formerly occupied by a tower, and more recently
used as an observatory to watch the movements of an
enemy.