Place:Branxton, Northumberland, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

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

Branxton is a village and civil parish in northern Northumberland, England. It lies about 3 miles (5 km) from the England-Scotland border and about 4 miles (6 km) from the Scottish border town of Coldstream, just off the A697 Newcastle-Edinburgh road. It had a population of 121 in the UK census of 2001, rising slightly to 123 at the 2011 UK census.

Branxton is very close to the site of the Battle of Flodden, fought on 9 September 1513 between Scotland and England, the latter prevailing. King James IV of Scotland was killed in this battle.

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

"BRANXTON, a parish in Glendale [registration] district, Northumberland; on the skirts of the Teviots and the river Till, 3 miles ESE of Cornhill [railway] station, and 9 NW by N of Wooler. Post Town, Etal, under Coldstream. Acres: 1,487. Real property: £2,392. Population: 255. Houses: 44. The property is divided between two. Here is the field of the battle of Flodden, fatal to James IV. of Scotland, fought in 1513. See Flodden. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham. Value: £234. Patrons: the Dean and Chapter of Durham. The church is good. Stockdale, the poet, was a native."

Branxton was originally an ancient parish in the Glendale Ward of Northumberland. It had no chapelries or townships. From 1894 until 1974 the parish was part of Glendale Rural District. In 1974 rural districts were abolished and Branxton 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.