Enjoy a glimpse of history about Branxton in Northumberland, North East England, UK.
The Post Office Directory of Durham and Northumberland
by Kelly and Company
Published in 1879
BRANXTON, 9 miles north-west from Wooler, and 3 south-east from Cornhill, on the Kelso branch of the North Eastern railway, is a township, parish and small village, in the Northern division of the county, west division of Glendale ward, Glendale union, county court district of Norham rural deanery, archdeaconry of Lindisfarne, and diocese of Durham. The church of St. Paul is of stone and was rebuilt in 1849 in the Norman style; it has chancel, nave and tower with 1 bell: the chancel arch is Norman, and is very beautiful, supposed to have been erected between seven and eight hundred years ago, and is the only portion of the former church now remaining: the font, of Norman design, supported upon four pillars, is modern, and is formed of stone obtained in the neighbourhood. The entrance to the church is on the south side, by a door with a Norman arch and zig-zag, moulding, an exact copy of the original design. The register dates from the year 1739. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £350, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, and held by the Rev. John Dixon Hepple, M.A. of University College, Durham. Here is a National school for boys and girls, the property of Watson Askew, esq. and entirely supported by him. Branxton is celebrated in history as being the place where the battle of Flodden Field was partly fought, on the 9th September, 1513, and was finally decided in this parish, not far from the village; here is a huge pillar of stone, erected in commemoration of the victory, or, as some affirm, to mark the spot where King James IV. fell in the conflict. It is also related that on the 21st June, 1524, about 500 of the Scots crossed the river near here and concealed themselves for the purpose of plundering the traders who were on their way to a fair at Berwick-upon-Tweed, many of whom were made captives, besides being robbed of all they possessed; but before they arrived home the young lord of Fowberry, with a party of English, rescued the prisoners after a sharp skirmish, when 200 were either slain or taken prisoners. The village, which is now small, is said to have been much larger, even in the memory of some of the present inhabitants, and was formerly a market town. Watson Askew, esq. who is lord of the manor, and John Collingwood, esq. are the chief landowners. The soil is of a rich loamy and gravelly nature; the subsoil, clay. The principal crops are wheat, barley, oats, beans, peas and turnips. The acreage is 1,508; rateable value, £2,714; the population in 1871 was 234.
POST OFFICE.—Isaac Matthewson, postmaster. Letters arrive from Cornhill at 11.20 a.m.; dispatched at 5.20 p.m. Coldstream is the nearest money order office
School, William Bayliff, master
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