Place:Hepple, Northumberland, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

Hepple is a small village and parish in rural Northumberland, England, 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Rothbury, which provides most of its local services. It is on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, and lies on the bank of the River Coquet. It is on the road between Rothbury and Otterburn. In 2011 it had a population of 144 according to the UK census.

A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Hepple from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:

"HEPPLE and HEPPLE-DEMESNE, two townships in Rothbury parish, Northumberland; on the river Coquet, 5½ miles W by S of Rothbury. Acres: 3,874 and 1,534. Population: 74 and 30. Houses: 14 and 6. Hepple House is the seat of Sir Walter Riddell, Bart.; and includes remains of an ancient castle, which belonged to the Bardolfs, the Talboyses, and the Ogles. An ancient chapel stood on Kirk-hill, about ¼ of a mile to the W; was destroyed by the moss troopers; and was completely removed in 1760. An ancient British camp is at Helchester, near a Roman way; and a number of urns have been found."

Hepple was originally a township in the ancient parish of Rothbury, Northumberland. Hepple became a separate civil parish in 1866 and in 1889 Hepple Demesne became part of it. From 1894 until 1955 it was part of Rothbury Rural District. In 1955 Hepple absorbed the following parishes, all of which were abolished:

• Bickerton
• Caistron
• Farnham
• Woodside
• Wreighill

In 1974 rural districts were abolished and Hepple became part of the Alnwick District until 2009 when Northumberland became a unitary authority.

Research Tips

• Northumberland Archives previously known as Northumberland Collections Service and Northumberland County Record Office. Now based within Woodhorn Museum in Ashington and providing free access to numerous records for local and family historians alike.

Full postal address: Museum and Northumberland Archives, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF; Phone: 01670 624455

There is a branch office in Berwick upon Tweed.

• Northumberland and Durham FHS covers both Northumberland and County Durham. The Family History Society have a research centre in Percy House in central Newcastle upon Tyne (full address on website), open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Browse the website to see what else the society can provide.
• Further information from GENUKI
• Ordnance Survey map of Northumberland 1832 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time. This map includes the boundaries of the various Wards (or "hundreds") in existence at that time.
• Ordnance Survey map of Northumberland 1900 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• Ordnance Survey map of Northumberland 1944 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• English Jurisdictions 1851, a parish finding aid provided by FamilySearch, particularly helpful in large towns and cities.
• Unfortunately, there is no Victoria County History for Northumberland.