Place:Kirknewton, Northumberland, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

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

Kirknewton is a village in the north of the county of Northumberland, about 6 miles (10 km) from the town of Wooler and roughly the same distance to the Scottish Borders. The village lies in the valley of Glendale, which takes its name from the River Glen, whose source at the confluence of the Bowmont Water and the College Burn lies at the west end of the village. The population as taken at the 2011 UK census was less than 100. Details are maintained in the parish of Akeld.

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

"KIRKNEWTON, a township and a parish in Glendale [registration] district, Northumberland. The township lies on the river Glen, under the Cheviots, near the railway from Scots-Gap to the Tweed, 3¾ miles E of the boundary with Scotland, and 5 WNW of Wooler. Acres: 2, 217. Population: 79. Houses: 15.

"The parish contains also the townships of Howtell, Kilham, Paston, Coldsmouth-with-Thompsons-Walls, Greys-Forest, Heathpool, West Newton, Crookhouse, Lanton, Yeavering, Coupland, Selbys-Forest, Akeld, and Milfield; the last of which has a post office under Alnwick. Acres: 37,976. Real property: £21,778. Population in 1851: 1,732; in 1861: 1,503. Houses: 291. The property is much divided. The surface includes much mountain pasture, and contains a fine variety of scenery.

"Coupland Castle is a Border tower, with additions of 1614; belonged to the ancient family of Coupland; passed to the Wallaces; and belongs now to M. T. Culley, Esq. Milfield was a residence of the Kings of Bernicia; was also the scene of a contest which preceded the battle of Flodden; and now has a handsome mansion, the seat of G. A. Grey, Esq. Yeavering was a residence of the Kings of Bernicia, prior to Milfield, or till the death of Edwin. Howtell has a fragment of an ancient Border tower, built into farmhouses. Lanton Hill is crowned with an obeliskal monument, erected by the late Sir W. Davidson. Vestiges of ancient camps and extensive earth works are on the hills; and various relics of the ancient Britons and the Romans have been found. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham. Value: £631. Patrons: the Marquis of Bute's Trustees. The church is very ancient; shows traces of Norman architecture; and was recently restored. There are chapels for Presbyterians, Independents, and Primitive Methodists at Milfield, and a national school at Kirknewton, and denominational schools at Milfield and Howtel."

Townships in Parish

• Akeld
• Carham
• Coldsmouth and Thompsons Walls
• Coupland
• Crookhouse
• Greys Forest
• Heathpool
• Howtel
• Kilham
• Lanton
• Milfield
• Paston
• Selbys Forest
• West Newton
• Yeavering

Kirknewton was an ancient parish in the Glendale Ward of Northumberland, England which became a civil parish during the 19th century. From 1894 until 1974 it was part of Glendale Rural District. In 1955 the civil parish was expanded when the parishes of Coupland, Crookhouse, Greys Forest, Heathpool (sometimes Hethpool), Selbys Forest, West Newton and Yeavering were absorbed into it. In 1974 rural districts were abolished and Kirknewton became part of the Berwick upon Tweed 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.