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Ancroft, Northumberland: People and Places of 1879

 Enjoy a glimpse of history about Ancroft in Northumberland, North East England, UK.

The Post Office Directory of Durham and Northumberland

by Kelly and Company

Published in 1879


ANCROFT is a parish comprising the townships of ANCROFT, CHESWICK and HAGGERSTON, in the Northern division of the county, Norham and Islandshire division, Berwick union, county court district of Berwick, Norham rural deanery, Lindisfarne archdeaconry, and Durham diocese, 6 miles south from Berwick, 10 north-west from Belford, and 3 south-west from Scremerston station on the North Eastern railway: it is a small village, pleasantly situated on the high road from Berwick to Wooler. The church of St. Anne is a very ancient edifice, said to have been erected about the year 1090: it has a very large square tower, presenting more the appearance of an old castle than a church, and chancel and nave. The register dates from the year 1743. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £420, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, and held by the Rev. James Henderson of Durham University. Coal and lime are found here. Ancroft is said to have been at one period a place of some importance, as the foundations of several houses in an adjoining field have been discovered, and it is supposed that a company of army shoemakers resided here in the reign of Queen Anne. Earl Grey is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are Earl Grey, Capt. Leyland, and Robert Crossman, esq. The soil is of a loamy nature; the subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley and turnips. The area is 9,958 acres; rateable value £21,710. The population in 1871 was 1991.

POST OFFICE.—Mrs. Elizabeth Weatherstone, postmistress. Letters arrive from Beal at 12.30 p.m.; dispatched at 1.30 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Tweedmouth

National School, Samuel Yeomans, master

Cheswick, 5 miles from Berwick, 5 from Holy Island, and 3 from Beal station on the North Eastern railway, is a township and very small village, in Ancroft civil parish, the property of Robert Crossman and Henry Himsworth, esqs. and Mrs. Taylor. The manor of Cheswick was formerly possessed by a family which bore the local name, but through the failure of the male line it was transferred by marriage to several families. Robert Crossman, esq. J.P. is now the lord of the manor. Ladythorn House, the property of H. Himsworth, esq. is a very old building, partly in ruins, pleasantly situated on an eminence from which a beautiful prospect, embracing Holy Island, the Fern Islands, and the coast from Bamborough Castle to Berwick, may be obtained. — Letters through Beal. Tweedmouth is the nearest money order office.

Haggerston, 6 1/4 miles from Berwick, is a township 4 miles east from Ancroft, containing the mansion, Haggerston Castle, two or three farm dwellings, and a few scattered houses. The Castle was long the seat of a family named Haggerston; the last possessor was Lady Massey Stanley, whose decease took place in 1857; it was erected on the site of an old castle, which was destroyed by fire in 1618, with the exception of a small portion of the building still remaining: it is now a handsome large mansion of stone, situated in a spacious park, and surrounded by pleasure grounds, with conservatories adjoining the mansion.—Letters received through Beal.

Ancroft.

Sibbitt Mrs. Greenses house

COMMERCIAL.

Allen John, miller, Allerdean

Brown James, farmer, town farm

Howie Henry, farmer, Allerdean

Laidler George, farmer, Greenses

Marshall Robert & William, farmers, North Moor

Marshall Wm. farmer, Cheswick Nab

Middlenas George, farmer, Steads

Pringle Cath. (Mrs.), Lamb, & farmer

Storey George William, farmer, North farm

Scremerston & Shoreswood Coal Co. (The), Robert Nesbitt, manager; offices Scremerston

Tait Henry, blacksmith

Cheswick.

Crossman Robert, J.P. Cheswick house

Black James, farmer

Bone George, farmer, Cheswick bldgs

Davidson Alexander, joiner & wheelwright

Rutherford Andrew, farmer, Windmill hill

Rutherford Thomas, The Cat

Haggerston.

Himsworth Henry, Broom house

Carter John, miller & farmer, Bridge mill; & at Ancroft mill

Hall John, gamekeeper to Capt. Thomas Leyland

Hogg James, farmer, Broom house

Knox James, farmer, New Haggerston

Main Ignatius, farmer, Brock mill

Main Thomas, land steward to Capt. Thomas Leyland

Mathison William, farmer, New Haggerston

Murray Thomas, blacksmith



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Location: Ancroft, Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 2TB, UK

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