KNOW YOUR PARISH

FELTON

J.K. Brown

Felton, in rural North Northumberland, consists of the townships of Felton Village, Eshott, Acton, Old Felton, Swarland, Glantlees, Greens, Framlington, Thirston and Bockenfield. Felton,the village, lies on the northern wooded slopes of the River Coquet, which is crossed by the two bridges, the older being late 15th century; the other formerly carried the old Al, but Felton is now bypassed. Apart from the wooded banks on either side of the Coquet the scenery is not outstanding, but whatever Felton may lack in beautiful surroundings it more than makes up for by its history.

Here on 22 October 1215 Northumbrian barons voluntarily paid homage to King Alexander of Scotland: thereby spurning their unpopular King John. He was so incensed by such disloyalty that he reduced the township of Felton to ashes. On 10 October 1715 Tom Forster of Adderstone, `General' and later Commander in Chief of the rebel army of the 1715 rebellion, marched out from nearby Warkworth with a body of Northumbrian mainly Catholic gentry to meet up at Felton with 70 Scottish and Border noblemen. The augmented force travelled south and eventually reached Preston where it was totally routed. A few years later John Welsey preached to a congregation of which he said "very few seemed to understand anything of the matter." Perhaps the Rev. John spoke with the wrong accent!

At the side of the old A1 is a dwarf obelisk erected by Alex Davison of the Davisons of Lanton and Swarland. The inscription on it reads:-"England expects every man to do his duty. Victory - 21.10 1805 not to commemorate the public virtues and heroic achievements of Nelson, which is the duty of England, but to the memory of private friendship this erection is dedicated by Alex Davison 1807."Alex Davison died at Brighton in 1829, and his body was carried the length of England to be buried at his birthplace, Kirknewton. He was an army clothing contractor, and so close was his relationship with Nelson that he christened his son Alexander Horatio Nelson Davison in 1799.

In the 12-13th century the Bertrams were the overlords of Felton: King John granted Robert Bertram III a licence to hold a market every Monday. Robert was later an active promoter of the barons' war against the crown, and in consequence forfeited most of his estates. Edward Bertram was killed fighting with Henry Percy, the first Earl of Northumberland, at the Battle of Towton in 1460. There were many noble families of Felton parish: William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, and half brother of Henry III, held the lease of Felton Mill, and on the failure of his male line the property passed into the possession of the Stabolgy family, Earls of Athol. Two Stabolgy sisters married Thomas and Ralph Percy, the younger brothers of Harry Hotspur, so one can imagine their lives would be eventful. Also there were the Lisles, whose name derived from Insula - del Isle - Lisle – and who were related by marriage to other prominent Northumbrian families whose descendants are still living in the same places today such as the Swinburns of Capheaton, the Mitfords of that ilk, and the Fenwicks; also the Ogles, Herons and Hazelriggs, and the Forsters of Adderstone, whose descendants are widely spread around the world. Sir Humphrey Lisle, knighted by King Henry VII but later imprisoned for misdemeanours, was afterwards released and pardoned only to be taken prisoner at the Battle of Hodden. His son, Sir William, and his grandson, also named Humphrey was pardoned in 1529. The last male Lisle died aged 2 years in 1679, and all his young sisters died as children. Other notable families were the Carliols, of whom three succeessive heads, father, son and grandson, were Mayors of Newcastle. No doubt Carliol House, the head office of the North Eastern Electricity Board, is named after this family. The Widdringtons, as Catholics, had to register their estates, and poor Edward Widdrington, fighting for King James II, was killed at the Battle of the Boyne.

Felton Church is early 13th century, and seen from the churchyard the nave appears to have no roof, so flat is its pitch. The strikingly massive and primitive bellcot is capped by an unfinished stone spire, and has large square openings in which two bells can be seen: one is pre-Reformation and the other 18th century. The massive and rugged porch, of about 1400, has an extraordinary rib and slab roof, and resembles a great stone cave. It is capped by a cubical stone sun-dial bearing the date 1724. In the east end of the south aisle is a fine window with three roundels of elaborate tracery carved from a single stone: it is perhaps the best example of this practice in Northumberland, and is thought to have been executed to the order of Robert Mauduit of Eshott, who was granted a chantry in the church in 1331. The 14th century arcades have pointed arches on eight-sided pillars and above them is the 15th century nave roof of black oak. The pointed chancel arch of the 13th century has an unusually massive semi-circular shaft on each side, and across it is a modern rood beam of oak supporting a beautiful crucifix: the cross is painted red, and terminates in golden stars. Two treasures of the church were brought from Brinkburn Priory: some golden glass in a west window showing the head of St. Aiden; and near by, a headless and legless sandstone figure of a priest holding a chalice. When the church was being restored in 1870 seventy skulls were found lying together, with several spurs and Scottish coins. John Mallory, the vicar in 1645, was not only deprived of his living but also had his personal estate seized; it was afterwards forfeited for treason, for which he was condemned by the Rump Parliament on 18 November 1652.

Not far from the church is Felton Park. Amidst the beautiful and extensive grounds of the ManorHouse is the Roman Catholic Chapel of St. Mary, built in decorated style in 1857, in which Thomas Riddell, the founder, was buried in the vaults in 1870.

Certainly in earlier times Felton seems to have been a busy place and centre of activity, in complete contrast to what it is today when perhaps the main event of the week is the darts match in the Stags Head pub!

Editors notes

The archives at Woodhorn hold the Parish Registers for Felton: C. 1653-1924; M.

1656-1951; and those of Dissenters 1729-1759. Their Presbyterian and other non-conformist registers do not specify Felton, but they may be included with those of Alnwick and Belford, which are on microfilm. Census returns and M.I.s (Bell's MSS), as well as Muster Rolls and other records, are also at Woodhorn.

Transcripts of baptisms 1653-1812, marriages 1656-1812, burials 1653-1812 and of monumental inscriptions for Felton are available at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Dept.

The Northumberland & Durham Family History Society hold the following in either

their databases, on microfiche: Felton baptisms 1653-1994 (excluding the years 1840-1879; Felton marriages 1653 – 1839 Felton burials 1653 – 1839 Felton and district MI’s 

Presbyterian baptisms 1880-1993 (P Cook); Felton RC baptisms 1792 – 1858

Online resources at Google Books

“An historical, topographical, and descriptive view of the county of Northumberland” by Eneas Mackenzie 1825 (parish of Felton page 486).

“Wards, Divisions, Parishes and townships of Northumberland” by W Dickinson of Alnwick 1833 page 52