KNOW YOUR PARISH

WHITTINGHAM

J.K. Brown

The parish of Whittingham, in the heart of Northumberland, is bordered by Rothbury to the south, Edlingham parish to the east, Alwinton, Alnham and Ingram to the west, and Eglingham to the north. The village of Whittingham, in which the parish church is situated, is one of the most ancient and picturesque in the county. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and the name signifies 'the dwelling in the white meadow' (Hewitt-inge-ham). Beautifully situated amidst rich meadows and cornfields, with the Aln rivulet gently flowing through its centre, it retains its old rusticity. On the north side of the village, across the narrow river, is the parish church of St Bartholomew, the vicarage, the school, and a pretty row of cottages raised above the road, with well cared-for gardens of colourful flowers and lush lawns. On the south side of the river is the ancient pele tower, so typical of Northumberland, the 'pub', a couple of small shops and a few cottages, all built in a style of delightful irregularity. The sheltered position of the village and the rich nature of the soil have encouraged the growth of many fine trees - ash, elm, oak and beech.

The parish church stands on its Saxon foundations, but with the passage of time various restorations have been carried out. In the north transept there is a 13th century window with massive tracery, cut out of a single block of stone. By the porch, which has an 18th century sun-dial, is part of the worn shaft of a 12th century cross. Whittingham is thought to be the'Twytord near the river Alne' mentioned by Bede, where, at a great synod assembled in the presence of King Egfrid of Northumbria in the year 664, Cuthbert was chosen as Bishop of Lindisfarne. The bodies of these two venerable Northumbrians lie today almost side by side in the sanctuary of the cathedral of Durham. It was at Whittingham about the year 883 that Guthred was proclaimed King of Northumbria.

As the Doomsday Book does not include Northumberland there are few records of the later Anglo-Saxon lords, and one of the earliest mentions of Whittingham is in the Pipe Rolls of King Henry 11 in 116 1, when 'Uhtred of Witengeham' rendered an account for payment in connection with 'drengage' (drainage). In the Pipe Rolls of King John in 12116 a Vincent de Whitingham paid forty shillings knight's fee instead of personal service in the field. In 1538 Henry VIII commissioned Sir Cuthbert Radcliffe and Robert Collingwood to muster all able men, with horse and harness, out of Alndale and Coquetdale, and to have them assemble at Abberwick. A total of 142 men assembled, and amongst the names of those present were Reid, Hopper, Smith, Nicholson, Clavering, Collingwood, Buteman and Brown. Many more with the same surnames (with a few exceptions) answered similar calls in 1803/6, 1914 and 1939. It is ironic that descendants of both Radcliffe and Collingwood were executed for treason after the 1715 Jacobite rebellion. Perhaps they had just cause, as the 'Old Pretender' was the rightful hereditary heir to the throne.

In the mid 14th century the main families were the Claverings, the Herons, the Hazelriggs and the Collingwood’s. The Collingwood’s were named as tenants of the Hazelriggs in a survey dated 1541, and in 1450 John Collingwood granted land by charter to Roger Folberry. Names of freeholders in the parish in 1628 were Sir John Clavering of Callaly, George, Thomas, Alexander, Francis, Cuthbert and Henry Collingwood, Thomas Unthank, Robert Clavering and Jeffrey Proctor.

There were echoes of the dreadful Civil War in Whittingham. Sir John Clavering wrote to the Royalist headquarters stating that Scottish troops under General Leslie had crossed the border and “on 25th August, 1640, 400 horse ordered breakfast at Whittingham, they came from Brandon Hills, singing psalms all the way. They behaved civilly and paid for everything. Although the rank and file were of both parties, the majority followed their masters and landlords who were royalists. These cavaliers suffered most; many were Catholics whose estates were sequestrated and who were heavily fined. The vicar of Whittingham was ejected form his church, and Sir John Clavering was taken prisoner and later died in prison. In 1663, however, in the reign of Charles 11, many of the Kings’ party were included in the Rates and Rentals Lists, showing that they had retrieved their property and position.

The Jacobite cause was highly popular amongst many of the Northumbrian gentry. The Claverings and Collingwood’s of Whittingham, being staunch supporters of the old faith, warmly espoused the cause. They joined the, Earl of Derwentwater, and with the Protestant commander-in-chief 'General' Tom Forster of Adderstone marched to Preston where they were heavily defeated. Over 1400 were taken prisoner, many of them Whittingham men of humble stock who had followed their leaders. Among the prisoners were: John Clavering, a papist of Northumberland. John Clavering, a brother to William Clavering, both papists in Northumberland. John Hunter, a farmer in Callaly, reputed to be very rich, George Collingwood, a papist, owner of a valuable estate. George Collingwood was ordered to London, but he was seized of gout at Wigan and taken to Liverpool where he was afterwards executed in February 1716. He was described as being "a very pious gentleman and well beloved in his country" (Northumberland).

In the 1745 rebellion the old Jacobite spirit still burned within the hearts of the Collingwood’s, and Thomas Collingwood of Thrunton was committed for trial for treason at Morpeth. He escaped, only to be retaken later and tried at Carlisle, where he was acquitted for lack of evidence. On 21st October 1805 the head of a cadet branch of this illustrious Northumberland family, Admiral Lord Collingwood, on board the Royal Sovereign, led the British fleet into action at Trafalgar. Nelson exclaimed "See how that noble fellow Collingwood takes his ship into action."

Callaly, like Eslington, was held in early times by men who took the name of the place where they lived. The first owners of Callaly, being in debt, sold the lands to a Jew, who in turn disposed of them to the family of Fitz-Roger, Lords of Warkworth; they subsequently took the name of Clavering from their principal estates of that name in Essex. This was about 1247. John Fitz-Robert, otherwise Clavering, was one of the barons who compelled King John to sign Magna Carta at Runnymede. The last male Clavering, Edward John, died in 1876, and although he left a daughter, the estate was sold. Thus after six centuries and historic name of Clavering was severed from their lands of Callaly. Immediately outside the door of the Roman Catholic church of St Mary in Whittingham, which was opened in 1881, stands a handsome monument to the memory of the last Clavering. The inscription reads: "Pray for the souls of Edward John Clavering, Esq., of Callaley Castle who died 3rd Nov. 1876 and of'Jane his wife, who died 13th Feb. 1881. This cross was erected in their memory by their daughter Augusta Lady Bedingfield: Jane Clavering, 67, 19th Feb. 1881 (J. W. Bewick D. D.) Edward John Clavering removed from Whittingham Church and re-interred 9th June 1881”

In Callaly Castle there was a domestic Roman Catholic chapel which had been in use before the building of St Mary's. The oldest register of the chapel begins in 1796, and the names in it are Peary, Bolam, Snowdon, Avery, Dodds, Blacklock and Protluck (Proudlock). There was an older register containing entries of the greatest interest, but unfortunately this has been lost. The registers of the parish church of St Bartholomew include a section Baptism of Dissenters and Papists.

Eslington, first mentioned in the reign of Edward III in 1335, was held in early times by a family who took that name. It later passed into the hands of the Hazelriggs, the Herons, and then the Collingwood’s, who lost all when George, the head of the family, was executed for treason in 1716. The Liddell’s purchased the Eslington estates from the Crown, and the head of the family, Lord Ravensworth, became the chief landowner.

Glanton, a pleasant village two miles north of Whittingham, was in the reign of John owned by a Norman baron William de Flammavill, and from 1356 to 1439 it was held by the Lilburns. Later it came into the possessions of the Collingwood’s, Forsters, the Anderson’s and the Hardbottles of Tuggall Hall, the Trewarts, and the Mills. The Presbyterian Church is probably the most prominent building in the village and was erected 1783. At the time of the threatened Napoleonic invasion Glanton was the centre for the assembly of volunteers for Glendale, Couquetdale, and Alndale. Whittingham is just one more beautiful part of the land between Tyne & Tweed.

Editor’s notes

Whittingham, St Bartholomew: Records of baptisms 1662-1976, marriages 1659-1991 and burials 1658-1960. Roman Catholic: Records of baptisms 1881-1940 and deaths 1881-1962 Glanton (Presbyterian): Records of births/baptisms 1784-1836 are available at Woodhorn http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=3300

The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes births/baptisms 1784-1837.

Transcripts of baptisms 1784-1837 are available at Newcastle Central Library; Local Studies Dept. http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/librarieslocalstudies

Bishop Transcripts cover the years 1760-1879 and are held by the University of Durham and are on-line http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#c=1309819;w=232;p=imageBrowser

The Northumberland & Durham Family History have the following: Monumental Inscriptions St Bartholomew http://www.ndfhs.org.uk/Sales/prices/NI_21.html

On-line resources

Whittingham Northumberland www.whittinghams.me.uk/Places-Whittingham-Northumberland.htm

A history of Northumberland by John Hodgson http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=H1IGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR51&dq=northumberland+history+whittingham&as_brr=1

An historical, topographical, and descriptive view of the county of Northumberland

by Eneas Mackenzie http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-RtNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA23&dq=whittingham+parish+northumberland&as_brr=1

Whitingham Poll Book 1852 http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zoEHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA49&dq=poll+books+whittingham

Keys to the Past http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N13849