ANCIENT FORTIFICATIONS, STREETS ^*, CHURCHES, MONASTERIES, BRIDGES, AND OTHER PUBLICK EDIFICES, IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.

HARDYNG, in his Chronicle, informs us that Newcastle upon Tyne was inclosed with a wall during the reign of William Rufus ^a.

[Page 2]In a charter of King John to that town, dated January 28th, 1216, express mention occurs of the walls thereof^b.

In a grant from the King to the Black-Friars of Newcastle, dated Sept. 18th, 1280, the west part of the present wall of that town, near the house of that order, is called the New-Wall ^c.

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[Page 3]In a record, dated May 26th, 1307, the building anew of the wall^d of Newcastle, on the side towards the east, occurs ^e: this was, in all probability, occasioned by the union of Pampedon, or Pandon, with that town, by the charter of Edward I. dated Dec. 20th, 1299 ^f.

King Edward the Third, in the first year of his reign, A. D. 1327, granted the custom of things sold at Newcastle upon Tyne to be taken for seven years, to contribute towards the reparation of the walls of that town ^g.

The above King repaired the walls of Newcastle during his residence there in 1334 ^h. The year following Hugh de Merchinleigh, one of [Page 4] the bailiffs of that place, was removed from his office by the common­alty of the town, for having procured murage against them ⁱ.

A. D. 1386, 10 Ric. II. there was an assignment to the mayor and bailiffs of Newcastle upon Tyne, to take workmen for repairing the walls of that town ^k.

August 16th, 1403, King Henry IV. granted to the mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, all fines and forfeitures for the reparation of the walls and bridge of that town ^l.

A. D. 1527, mention occurs of an annuity of twenty pounds, granted by King Henry the Eighth, for the support of the walls and bridge of Newcastle upon Tyne ^m.

The walls here were much damaged during the remarkable siege, and at the taking of the town by storm, in the year 1644. There was af­terwards a grant from Parliament, of the sum of 2,564l. for repairing them ⁿ.

[Page 5]June 17th, 1667, there is an order of the common council of Newcastle upon Tyne for the immediate reparation of the walls, gates, and draw-bridges of that town ^o.

Several houses, erections, buildings, and other obstructions near these walls, were pulled down at the rebellion in 1745. There are orders of the common council, dated September 28th, and October 7th that year, to indemnify the town's surveyor, and make up the damages of the private sufferers ^p.

November 17th, 1762, the corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne, on their petition, stating, that that part of the town-wall, which ex­tended from the Sand-Hill to Sand-Gate, was no longer of any use for defence, but a great obstruction to carriages and hindrance to the dis­patch of business, obtained an order of the privy council to remove it at their own expence ^q.

FOSS.

THE Foss or Ditch, that has anciently surrounded the walls of Newcastle, is, in most places at present, filled up, and made level with the adjoining ground. The space, however, which it occupied, is still called "The King's-Dikes." It appears to have been uniformly of the breadth of twenty-two yards, or a chain. It is claimed as the pro­perty of the corporation, to whom every waste within their jurisdiction devolves, by the authority of their charter. It occurs, A. D. 1312, by the name of "novum fossatum." See account of Black-Friars.

The subsequent entry occurs in the common council books, Sept. 28th, 1648. "Ordered, upon the petition of James Turner, shewe­ing, that whereas he farmed the Kinge's-Dikes of the towne, and was to paie about 30 and odd shillings rent for the same—By reason of the trenches it became a common road for man and horse, and especially for the townes kie, so that he could make no benefit by it, &c."

As does the following: "February, 1654. The ground called the King's-Dikes, leadinge from Sand-Gate towards Wallknole-Tower, ordered "to be canted," i. e. let to the highest bidder, with the Wall­knole-Close—as likewise the dikes from Pandon to Sand-Gate."

TOWERS AND GATES.

THE town, says Bourne, after the completing of the walls, was divided into twenty-four wards ^r, according to the number of the [Page 7] gates ^ſ, and round towers in them, which were wont to be defended, in times of hostility with the Scots, by the particular wards appropriated to them.

There was a turret, or tower, fifty-two yards to the south of the Close-Gate, adjoining to the river Tyne ^t—part of it is still remaining. —It has been made use of, successively, as a meeting-house for the companies of house-carpenters and sail-makers.

The Close-Gate ^u, which since the fall of Tyne-Bridge, in 1771, has been converted into a temporary prison, has evidently had its name from the street called the Close, both sides of which it had in ward as far as the place called Javel-Grip. From the Close-Gate there are an hundred and forty steps, on the top of the wall, as it mounts a very steep hill to White-Friar-Tower, at the distance of sixty-nine yards and one foot.—The common name of these, i. e. the Break-Neck-Stairs, is of very obvious etymology.

[Page 8]White-Friar-Tower was so called from the adjoining house of the Carmelites, or White-Friars. The fraternity of masons had their hall in the upper apartment of this tower; in the lower one was the meet­ing-house of the companies of bricklayers and mettors ^v.

The distance from White-Friar-Tower to Postern-Gate, which adjoins on Denton, or Nevil-Tower, is two hundred and fourteen yards and two feet.

Denton, or Nevil-Tower ^w, probably derives the first of these appel­lations, from the same person that gave a name to the lane called Denton-Chare—As it undoubtedly does the second from the Nevil family, whose town-house, called Westmoreland-Place, stood near, and is said to have communicated with it by a subterraneous passage.

[Page 9]From the Postern-Gate ^x to West-Spital-Tower ^y it measures an hundred and eighteen yards and four feet. This tower undoubtedly derived its name from St. Mary's Hospital, otherwise called ‘West-Spital,’ which stands very near it. Bourne supposes it was built by [Page 10] the master and brethren of that hospital for their protection. It is cer­tain they had hereabouts a postern in the Town-Wall ^z.

The next to West-Spital is Stank-Tower ^a.

The next to Stank is Gunner-Tower: the distance from West-Spital to Gunner-Tower is two hundred and six yards and one foot.

From Gunner-Tower ^b to Pink-Tower ^c it measures eighty yards and one foot.

From Pink-Tower to the West-Gate the distance is ninety-three yards and two feet.

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[Page 11]This gate consists of four wards, and is said to have been built by Roger de Thornton, a merchant, who from small beginnings became equally distinguished for his wealth and munificence. This place was formerly a prison for unruly apprentices, and is at present the hall of the company of house-carpenters. A foot way was opened out on the north side of this gate, 1782; "Edward Mosley, Esq. mayor, George Collpits, Esq. sheriff^d."

Leland calls this gate "a mightye strong thinge of four wardes and an yron gate."

From the West-Gate to Durham-Tower ^e it measures an hundred and one yards and one foot.

[Page 12]From Durham to Herber-Tower ^f, the distance is seventy-seven yards and one foot.

This is the meeting-house of the armourers, curriers and felt-makers, who made an agreement to repair it for that purpose, July 3d 1620 ^g.

From Herber to Mordon-Tower^h it measures an hundred and fifteen yards.

This is at present the hall of the glaziers, plumbers, pewterers and painters, who repaired it A. D. 1700. It appears to have been granted to them in 1619ⁱ.

Between Herber and Mordon-Tower there has been a postern in the wall.—See the account of the Monastery of Black-Friars.

From Mordon to Ever-Tower ^k the distance is ninety-nine yards and one foot.

This was built by some of the ancient family of Eure, or Ever, lords of Kirkley, near the river Blyth, and barons of Witton, in the county of Durham. It is now the hall of the paviers, colliers and carriage-men.

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[Page 13]From Ever to Andrew-Tower ^l it measures one hundred yards. This has evidently got its name from its vicinity to St. Andrew's Church.

From St. Andrew-Tower to New-Gate ^m the distance is an hundred yards.

We may infer, from the name of this gate, that it has been erected on the site of an older one, which appears to have been called Berwick-Gate ⁿ. On the north front there remain three ancient shields of arms —St. George's cross—Arms of England, with the fleurs de lis semée ^o —and those of Newcastle upon Tyne.—The upper part of this front seems considerably more modern than the rest of the structure.

The statue thereupon appears to resemble King James I ^p.—It is placed [Page 14] under an arch of Roman architecture, has a crown and robes, holding a sceptre in the right, and a globe or mound in the left hand.—New-Gate was built before Newcastle ^q was made a county of itself, and took custody of its own prisoners, who, no doubt, before that period, were confined in the prison of the castle of that town, in common with other delinquents of the county of Northumberland. The additional wings or flanks on each side of the south front of this structure appear to have been erected about the beginning of the present century ^r. The port­cullis of this gate still remains.

June 21st, 1676, there was an order of common-council to appoint a minister for reading prayers every Wednesday and Friday, and preach­ing a sermon to the prisoners confined here, once a month, with an annual^s salary of 10l. In the year 1765, a foot-way was opened into Sid-Gate on the east side of New-Gate, through the Town-Wall, for the convenience of the publick.

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[Page 15]From New-Gate to Bartram Mombowcher-Tower ^t it measures an hundred and twenty-six yards and one foot. This has plainly had its name from the Bertram Mombowcher, who was several times sheriff of Northumberland ^u.

From Bartram Mombowcher to Fickett-Tower ^v it measures an hun­dred and thirty-two yards.

From Fickett-Tower to Pilgrim-Street-Gate ^x the distance is an hun­dred and thirty-seven yards. Convenient foot-passages have lately been [Page 16] opened out on each side of this gate communicating with Northumber­land-Street ^y.

From Pilgrim-Street-Gate to the Weavers or Carlel-Tower ^z, between which there are three less ones, ^a the distance is an hundred and fifty-seven yards and two feet. This is at present the hall of the weavers' company, and is called Carlel or Carliol-Tower, from the family who gave its name also to the Carlel-Croft. The weavers repaired it A. D. 1682.

From Weaver or Carlel-Tower, to Carlel-Croft-Tower ^b, otherwise called Plummer-Tower, the distance is an hundred and seventy-six yards. This was also called Cutlers' Tower, having once been the hall of that company, who are now extinct in Newcastle. It has been fronted after an elegant design, and is at present the meeting-house of the fraternity of masons.

From Carlell-Croft or Plummer-Tower, to Austin-Tower ^c, it mea­sures

[Page 17] one hundred and eighty-seven yards. This tower has evidently had its name from its vicinity to the house of Austin-Friars. It has been, successively, the hall of the millers and coopers, and is at present the meeting-house of the ropers, who repaired it, A. D. 1698, John Langlands and John Dawson being wardens.

From Austin-Tower to Corner-Tower ^d, the distance is an hundred and thirty-two yards.

From Corner-Tower to Pandon-Gate ^e, it measures ninety-five yards and two feet.

Over the gate-way, the barber surgeons had once their meeting-house. It has resembled, in its original state, three turrets, between Pilgrim-Street-Gate and the Weavers' Tower.—The western wall of this meet­ing-house appears to have been taken away during the civil wars. It has been called, but erroneously, a tower of the Roman wall, which passed it at a considerable distance, and went over the top of the hill called Wallknoll.

From Pandon-Gate to Wallknoll-Tower ^f, or the Carpenters' Tower, it measures ninety-five yards and one foot.

[Page 18]From Wallknoll, or Carpenters' Tower, to the farther side of Sand-Gate ^g, the distance is two hundred and thirty-two yards and one foot ^h.

[Page 19]The Town-Wall, which formed a right angle here, and ran parallel with the river Tyne to Close-Gate, which had Broad-Chare-Gate, with many smaller water-gates, and Bridge-Gate in it, is now almost intirely taken away.

HOUSES, STREETS, &c.

IT appears, by the books of the window-cess, for 1781, that two thousand three hundred and eighty-nine houses were then rated to pay that tax within the four parishes of Newcastle ⁱ.

Hutton's plan makes the number of houses in that town two thou­sand four hundred and fifty, and in Gateshead five hundred and fifty ^k.

QUAY, OR KEY-SIDE ^l.

THIS street, at present, lies open to the river—It was formerly bounded on the south side by the Town-Wall ^m, which, in this place, was perforated by a great number of small gates: it has been much enlarged by the removal of this part of the wall, and is, indeed, at present, one of the longest and most commodious wharfs in the king­dom. [Page 21] The length of it, according to Bourne, is 103 rods. The custom-house of the port of Newcastle was, a few years ago, re­moved from the upper, or western end of the Key-Side, to a situation nearer to its center ⁿ.

Twenty narrow lanes ^o, or, as they are called here, chares ^p, lead from the Butcher-Bank, Pandon, &c. and terminate in the Key-Side. —Their names, which they seem to have changed almost with every change of their owner, are given, as follow, in Corbridge's Plan of Newcastle, A. D. 1723.

• ^q 1. The Dark-Chare.
• ^r 2. Grinding-Chare.
• 3. Blew-Anchor-Chare.
• 4. Pepper-Corn-Chare.
• 5. Palester's-Chare.
• ^s 6. Colwin's-Chare.
• [Page 22] ^t 7. Hornsby's-Chare.
• ^u 8. Plumber-Chare.
• ^v 9. Fenwick's-Chare.
• ^w 10. The Park.
• 11. Broad-Garth.
• 12. Peacock-Chare.
• 13. Trinity-Chare.
• 14. Rucastle-Chare.
• ^x 15. Broad-Chare.
• 16. Spicer-Lane.
• 17. Burn-Bank.
• ^y 18. Baker-Chare.
• ^z 19. Coxton-Chare.
• ^a 20. Love-Lane.

Betwixt Grindon-Chare and Blue-Anchor-Chare, there is a remark­able old building: the front towards the Quay has a balcony, supported by posts with shields on them, but at present not charged with any ar­morial bearings.—Behind, in Grindon-Chare, is a very observable house ^b, of stone, with buttresses on the outside, with a crypt, or vault, [Page 23] arched with stone, now converted into a cellar.—Human bones have been found here, and there is a tradition, that this was once called St. John's Chapel.

SAND-HILL.

THIS is said to have been, anciently, at low-tide, an hill of naked sand, where the inhabitants of the town were wont to assemble for their recreation ^c. It is at present the great market-place of New­castle.

On the south side of the Sand-Hill stood the hospital called Maison de Dieu, for a warden, being a priest, and nine poor men, brethren, and four poor women, sisters, which was founded about the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Fourth, by Roger de Thornton ^d (a most opulent merchant, representative in parliament, and a great be­nefactor to the town of Newcastle), and dedicated to St. Catharine.

[Page 24]February 12th, 1403, King Henry IV. granted a licence to Roger Thornton, burgess of Newcastle upon Tyne, to alien in mortmain to the mayor, sheriff, aldermen and commonalty of that town, a piece of ground an hundred feet in length, and twenty-four in breadth, within that town, wherein certain poor persons were to be provided with meat and clothing, in an "House of God," to be built thereupon by the said Thornton, and where they should pray daily for the health of the said mayor, sheriff, aldermen and commonalty; as also for that of the founder, while he lived, and after their respective deaths for their souls, and the souls of the father and mother of the founder, and those of all the benefactors of that intended hospital ^e.

The royal licence for the foundation of this hospital is dated June [Page 25] 10th, 1412, when the edifice appears to have been completed. By the name of the warden, brethren and sisters of the hospital of St. Katherine, called Thornton's Hospital, in Newcastle upon Tyne, they might plead and be impleaded in all courts, and have a common seal. —This grant included also the licence for the chantry of St. Peter, in the chapel of All-Saints, in that town ^f.

July 6th, 1424. King Henry VI. by his patent, setting forth, that whereas the king's grandfather had given licence to Roger Thornton, his heirs, assigns, and executors, to acquire for this hospital to the yearly value of ten pounds, therefore granted a licence to the said Roger, to assign a portion of ten messuages and ten tofts, with their appurtenances, in Newcastle upon Tyne, of the value of seven pounds per annum, as appeared by an inquisition made by John Wall, late mayor of Newcastle, and eschaetor there, to this hospital, in aid of their support for ever, in full satisfaction of the lands, tenements and rents, to the value of ten pounds per annum aforesaid ^g.

[Page 26]Roger Thornton, by his will, dated the Thursday before Christmas-day, 1429, bequeathed to this place, which he styles "The Meson-Dieu of St. Katherine of my foundation, for their enorments," twenty pounds^h.

In the year 1456, Roger Thornton, probably the son of the founder, granted to the mayor and community of Newcastle upon Tyne, the use of the hall and kitchen belonging to this hospital, to the following purpose; "for a young couple," says the Milbank MS. "when they were married, to make their wedding dinner in, and receive the offer­ings and gifts of their friends: for at that time houses were not largeⁱ."

February 5th, 1531, Sir John Lomley, Knt. Lord of Lomley, the [Page 27] true and undoubted patron, granted to Robert Ayton, of Fishborn, in the county of Durham, and to Robert Halyman, of Newcastle, yeoman, jointly, the next vacation, nomination and jus patronatus of the free chapel of St. Catherine, called Masyndue ^k.

The following account of this place is extracted from a certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. A. D. 1546, remaining in the augmentation-office. "The Hospitalle of Saynt Katheryne, called le Maison-Dieu, in the parishe of All-Saynts, in the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne, was founded by reporte to fynde a prieste for ever to be ther dayly resident in kepyng of hospi­talitie to the reliefe of the poore, and to herborowe the sickke, and to gyve in almes yerely certeyn cooles to poore folks, to the value of 26s. 8d. and bredde to the valewe of 13s. 4d. and to kepe two yerely obytts for the founders sowles, but the dede of the foundacion we have not seene—yerely value 8l. 1d.—yerely value according to this survey 20l. 3s. 2d. as appereth by a rentall, whereof is paid out for rents re­solut 23s. For a perpetual salarie, 6l. 13s. 4d.—For two obitts, 16s. 4d. and for almes, 40s. to be distributed according to the foundacion.— And for the Kinges Majesties tenths, 16s. quad.— 11l. 8s. 8d. quad. And remayneth clerely 8l. 13s. 5d. ob. quad. which the incumbent hathe towarde his lyvyng, according to the order of the foundacion.— It is aboute a furlong in distance from the parishe churche.—Value of or­naments, [Page 28] jewells, plate, goodes and catalls, 62.s. 8.d. as appereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther were no other landes nor yerely profits, &c."

A. D. 1535, this house appears to have been valued at 12l. 3s. 10d. in the whole, and at 8l. 1d. clear^l.

In 1551, five poor women resided in the Maison-Dieu ^m.

February 14th, 1582, and July 7th, 1586, Martin Hallyman occurs as master of the "Masendew ⁿ."

This place appears to have continued in the family of the founder after its dissolution: for Sir Richard Lumley, of Lumley-Castle, in the county of Durham, knight, a descendant of Thornton by the fe­male line, conveyed, June 1st, 1624^o, to the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne, and their successors for ever, "all that building of stone covered with lead, standing near to the water of Tyne, and to the east part of the town's chamber of the said town of Newcastle, being about sixteen yards in length, and anciently part of, and belong­ing to the hospital of St. Catharine the Virgin, commonly called Thornton's Hospital." An annual rent appears to have been re­served^p.

[Page 29]In Speed's Plan of Newcastle the Maison-Dieu is the only publick place, or building ^q, marked on the Sand-Hill, through which Lork-Burn is represented as passing ^r on the east side. It has, since that time, been arched over. In this place stand the exchange and town-court, built between the years 1655 and 1658 ^s. An old town-house appears to have occupied nearly the same site ^t, which, as Bourne in­forms us, was built by the munificent Roger Thornton.

The present town-court is of beautiful architecture.—The ceiling is adorned with various paintings, and the floor laid with chequered marble. The benches are, at the west end, considerably raised above [Page 30] the floor of the court ^u— Above hang portraits of Charles II. and James II. at full length, and as large as the life ^v. The windows are on the south—one is in form of a catharine-wheel, in which is a large sun-dial of painted glass—the motto, Eheu fugaces! Under this win­dow is a large balcony, which overlooks the river.—Here the mayor and sheriff hold their courts of guild, &c. Here was, formerly, the court of admiralty kept, and here, also, the judges on the northern cir­cuit hold the assizes once a year.

A little before the revolution ^w "a statue of King James the Second, [Page]

[Page 31] on horseback, cast in copper, of the size of the famous equestrian statue of Charles I. at Charing-Cross, was erected on the Sand-Hill. It was the work of Mr. William Larson, was approved of by Sir Christopher Wren, and cost the town 800l. sterling.—It was thrown down and cast into the Tyne, by a mob of the town, at the revolution in 1688 ^x.

Passing from the Sand-Hill to Tyne-Bridge, on the left-hand, near the entrance to the bridge, stands the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr.

It is, at present, unknown by whom, or at what time, this chapel was founded.

From the circumstance of its being dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, it must be of a date posterior to 1171, the year in which that prelate was assassinated.

Mention of it occurs in the year 1248 ^y.

A. D. 1255, Robert Valesine gave an annual rent to the support of Tyne-Bridge, and to a chaplain to pray for the souls of his father, his late wife Emma, and his own soul, in this chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr ^z.

One Laurence was keeper of Tyne-Bridge and this chapel, A. D. 1269 ^a.

[Page 32]William of Stanhope occurs as guardian here, A. D. 1289 and 1297 ^b.

A rent of 12d. a year, payable from a house in Pilgrim-Street, to the keeper of the chapel and bridge of Tyne, is mentioned in a deed dated at Newcastle upon Tyne, on the Monday after the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, A. D. 1311.—Also in another deed, concerning the same property, dated ibid. Feb. 1st, 1349 ^c.

In the year 1329, William Heron founded a chantry, dedicated to St. Ann, in this chapel, with an annual rent of six marks, arising from tenements in the Sand-Hill ^d.—There was also, in this chapel, a chantry dedicated to St. Mary, the founder of which is unknown. It was endowed with an annual revenue of five marks, out of five mes­suages in the Close and the Side, two streets of Newcastle ^e.

[Page 33]A. D. 1341, Nicholas de Stockton was master of this hospital ^f.

William Spynn occurs as keeper of Tyne-Bridge, and chaplain of this chapel, A. D. 1347, and 1352 ^g.

In the eschaets, A. D. 1370, several rents occur belonging to the reparation of the bridge and St. Thomas' Chapel in Newcastle upon Tyne ^h.

In Hilary-Term, A. D. 1408, before the King it was determined by the verdict of a jury, that three acres of land called Sandy-Ford-Flatt, with a windmill below Jesmond, near Newcastle upon Tyne, were not held of the King in capite, but of the keeper of the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr on Tyne-Bridge ⁱ.

[Page 34]John Wernmouth occurs as master of this chapel, A. D. 1411 and 1413 ^k.

In the year 1426, there was a grant from the mayor and common­alty of Newcastle upon Tyne, to John Crofte, to be master of the chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr, and collector of the rents of Tyne-Bridge. He is mentioned, A. D. 1457, as having lost his eye-sight ^l.

Roger Thornton, by his will dated 1429, left six fothers of lead to the reparation of this chapel ^m.

A. D. 1445, upon an inquisition taken after the death of John Duke of Bedford, it was found that the tenement in Newcastle, in the street called the Close there, named the Earl's Inn of Northumberland, was held in burgage, and paid twenty shillings per annum to the warden of the free chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr, upon Tyne-Bridge ⁿ.

A. D. 1498, Thomas Scott was master of this chapel ^o.

It appeared, by an inquisition taken at Gateshead, October 6th, 1536, that Roger de Thorneton gave three acres of meadow, and three [Page 35] acres of land in Whickham to a chantry in the chapel of St. Thomas, on Tyne-Bridge, without licence of the Bishop of Durham ^p.

August 30th, 1538, John Brandlyng, clerk, was appointed master of this chapel—he occurs in the same office, A. D. 1541 ^q.

Cuthbert Ellison must have been appointed master of this chapel be­fore March 13th, 1556, when he appears to have been ordained sub­deacon, on the title of his chapel on Tyne-Bridge ^r.

This chapel was united to the hospital of St. Mary Magdalene, in the beginning of the reign of King James I.—and on the 12th of June, 1611, they were incorporated by a royal charter.—See the continuation of their common history, under "St. Mary Magdalen's Hospital."

From St. Thomas' Chapel we enter upon

TYNE-BRIDGE.

THE proofs that a Roman bridge ^s occupied either the same, or nearly the same site with the present bridge at Newcastle, appear [Page 36] stronger than those generally are which are brought in confirmation of truths of such remote antiquity.

Two eminent antiquaries ^t of this country, to one of whom we owe the greatest part of our intelligence concerning Roman Britain, were persuaded, from visible remains existing in their time, that there was a Roman road from Binchester, through Chester-in-the-Street, to the site of the present Newcastle upon Tyne.

An ancient Itinerary, discovered since they wrote, seems to confirm their account beyond the possibility of a doubt ^u.

[Page 37]The Emperor Aelius Hadrian, who connected the forts erected by Agricola, by raising the great vallum, that in this part of the island extended nearly from sea to sea, was probably the first that built a bridge at this place; from which circumstance, the station it led to from the Roman road was afterwards called "Pons Aelii," an appellation plainly derived, as were those of others of his publick works, from the name of his own family ^v.

Many Roman coins ^w were discovered in the ruins of the piers of [Page 38] this bridge, after the fall thereof, A. D. 1771, proving, it should seem, that some of the original Roman structure remained here, till every part of the ancient building was cleared away on the erection of the new bridge.

Bourne's reasoning ^x on the Bishop of Durham's charter to the bur­gesses of Gateshead, in the reign of Richard I. is founded on an error in translating the passage he selected from the original Latin:—The clause, which he has either found wrong or made so, ought to be ren­dered as follows: "Any burgess (i. e. of Gateshead) may give his wood to whom he pleases, provided they live on this side of the Tyne," that is, on the Durham side of that river.

[Page 39]In a charter of King Henry II. to the town of Newcastle, cited in one of King John, the existence of a bridge here, at that period, is implied in his exempting the burgesses from the duty of pontage for their own goods ^y.

In the year 1248, the greatest part of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne, together with the bridge there, was destroyed by fire ^z.

Bourne tells us, without subjoining on what authority, that after this event the town of Newcastle joined with the Bishop of Durham in erecting a bridge of stone ^a, and that the business was effected by a method common at that time, i. e. by sending indulgencies to all per­sons who would assist them, either with money or labour, to rebuild it. Here he first mentions that the Bishops of Durham were bound to repair a third part of Tyne-Bridge ^b.

A. D. 1251, Simon de Shotton, Robert de Seaton, and Henry Gategang, parson of Emildon, occur as benefactors to this bridge ^c.

A. D. 1255, during the mayoralty of Henry de Carliol, Robert Valesine gave an annual rent to the support of Tyne-Bridge ^d.

On the 14th of the kalends of October, 1256, Walter, Bishop of [Page 40] Durham, granted an indulgence ^e of twenty days, to any person that would contribute to the reparation of Tyne-Bridge ^f.

On the ides of September, 1257, Sewald, Archbishop of York, granted an indulgence of thirty days to come, to every person bestow­ing any thing towards the building and reparation of Tyne Bridge. About the same time Andrew, Bishop of Cathness in Scotland, gave liberty, by a grant, to collect alms throughout his whole diocese for the reparation of Tyne-Bridge.

The Bishop of Waterford, in Ireland, granted also to those that would assist in the reparation of Tyne Bridge, a promise of being prayed for in the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity, in Waterford, and the other churches of his diocese: as also an indulgence for ten days ^g. By this means considerable benefactions were procured ^h.

A. D. 1269, in the mayoralty of Nicholas Scot, an anonymous [Page 41] benefaction towards the reparation of Tyne-Bridge occurs, when one Laurence was keeper ⁱ.

On the 8th of the ides of September, 1277, Walter, Bishop of Ro­chester, granted an indulgence of twenty days, to any that would as­sist in the reparation of this bridge, either by contributing money or personal service ^k.

A. D. 1292, the following persons appear to have been benefactors to this bridge: Peter le Graper, Adam, son of Henry de Carliol, bur­gess of Newcastle; Nicholas, son of Adam de Carliol, burgess of New­castle; Henry Lewyn, Johannes Aurifaber, Robert de Valenceres, and Emma his wife, Henricus Gervasius, John de Burneton, John Brune, Johannes Page, Richard de Cromclif, and Roger Amyas ^l.

A. D. 1315, William de Salisbury occurs as a benefactor ^m.

A. D. 1323, Ralph Brydock, of Gateside, occurs as another bene­factor ⁿ.

In the year 1339, part of Tyne-Bridge was carried away by a sudden inundation ^o.

A. D. 1342, Tyne-Bridge is mentioned as being in a ruinous and falling condition, and not having its rents duly paid: it was agreed upon, and ordered on this occasion, that the master thereof, assisted by some of the magistrates of Newcastle, should call in and levy the arrears to be applied to the repairing thereof ^p.

[Page 42]November 18th, 1362, farther mention occurs of many defects in Tyne-Bridge, towards the reparation of which, as well as of the for­tifications of the town, there was an order to take tolls of goods coming into Newcastle for ten years following ^q.

A. D. 1370, it appeared, upon an inquisition, that Tyne-Bridge was in so ruinous a condition, as to require more than a thousand pounds to repair it.—There was found, at the same time, a revenue of ten marks belonging to it; with one of the like value to St. Thomas' Chapel ^r.

In the year 1394, a licence was granted to John Cochet, to alien to the mayor, bailiffs, and commonalty of Newcastle upon Tyne, and their successors, two parts of five messuages for the reparation of Tyne-Bridge: this year, also, there was a grant of customs for a certain number of years for the like purpose ^s.

January 28th, 1416, Thomas Langley, Bishop of Durham, recovered from the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne, the third part of this bridge, adjoining to Gateshead, in the county of Durham, together with a tower which that body had lately caused to be erected thereupon ^t.

[Page 43]In the year 1429, a recluse appears to have lived in a hermitage upon Tyne-Bridge, and was appointed by Roger Thornton, in his will ^u, one of the thirty priests he had ordered to sing for his soul, with a bequest of six marks, annually. This year, also, the above [Page 44] Roger Thornton left an hundred marks to the reparation of this bridge ^v.

In an ordinary, granted A. D. 1477, to the fullers and dyers of Newcastle, half of a fine of twenty shillings, imposed as the penalty for taking a Scotsman to apprentice, or for employing one of that na­tion, is ordered to be paid towards the support of Tyne-Bridge ^w.

Thomas Ruthal, who was appointed Bishop of Durham, A. D. 1509, and held that see fourteen years, repaired a third part of Tyne-Bridge ^x.

A. D. 1517, a grant was made in fee, by the mayor and commu­nity of Newcastle upon Tyne, to Edward Surtis, bowyer, of a tene­ment in the street there called the Side, under the yearly rent of six­teen shillings for the use of Tyne-Bridge ^y.

Thomas Wolsey, who was made Bishop of Durham, A. D. 1523, and held that see till 1530, repaired the third part of this bridge ^z.

A receipt occurs of the date of 1527, given by the mayor and sheriff of Newcastle upon Tyne, to Leonard Musgrave, Esq. collector of the customs of that town, for an annuity of 20l. granted to them by the King, towards the support of their walls and bridge ^a.

[Page 45]Cuthbert Tunstal, who was translated to the see of Durham, A. D. 1530, and deprived thereof in 1559, repaired, at two separate times, with stone and wood work, the third part of Tyne-Bridge ^b.

About the year 1559, the very marvellous event related by Bourne, and others, concerning Mr. Anderson's ring, dropped by accident over this bridge, as he was fingering it, is supposed to have happened. The part of the story, which some have ventured to doubt the truth of, is, that this identical ring was brought back again, after some time, in a fish bought in Newcastle market, by a servant of the above merchant, and most unexpectedly restored to its owner ^c.

[Page 46]A. D. 1579, an ordinary granted to the company of slaters and bricklayers, directs, that half of the penalty of ten shillings, for any brother's invading the province of the wallers in working with black mortar, or clay; as also, half of all the other fines of the company shall go to the maintenance of the great bridge of Newcastle ^d.

February 12th, 1582, a decree was made in the Exchequer, that the Bishop of Durham, for the time being, and not the inhabitants of the county of Durham at large, should repair the third part of this bridge ^e.

In a deed, preserved in the archives of Newcastle upon Tyne, dated November 20th, 1616, a tenement here is mentioned, "as knowne by the name of the Ladies Chapell." This i [...] plainly a corruption of "our Lady's Chapel." and evinces, that there was a chapel on Tyne-Bridge in the Popish times, dedicated to the Virgin Mary ^f.

[Page 47]In the common-council books, Dec. 23d, 1646, and July 5th, 1647, mention occurs of the reparation of Tyne-Bridge.

It appears, ibid. March 28th, 1649, that the late King, i. e. Charles the First, had allowed a portion of trees out of Chopwell Woods, in the vicinity of Newcastle, for the reparation of Tyne-Bridge ^g.

By authority of the ordinance for abolishing episcopacy, two dif­ferent sales, one in the year 1647, and the other in 1651, were made of the late Bishop of Durham's property on this bridge ^h.

[Page 48]A. D. 1651, a statue of King James I. with the arms of the late King Charles, having been taken down from the Magazine-Gate on this bridge, by an order of the Parliament, the common-council of Newcastle directed, that the arms of the common-wealth should be put up in their stead ⁱ.

Soon after the restoration of King Charles II. the arms of the common-wealth before-mentioned were taken down from the said gate, and their place supplied by the royal arms, and a statue of the late restored King, in a Roman habit, with this motto: "Adventus Regis solamen gregis," i. e. the coming of the King is the comfort of the people.

There were the visible remains of a portcullis above this gateway, in Bourne's time: on the north side, an inscription, marking it to have been repaired, A. D. 1713, "Henry Reay, Esq. mayor; Joseph

[Page 49] Green, Esq. sheriff." This gate was taken down in 1770, and the statue removed, as before-mentioned, to the front of the Exchange, on the Sand-Hill.

In the month of July, 1770, the Bishop of Durham repaired, with stone work, that part of Tyne-Bridge where there had anciently been a draw-bridge ^k.

On the Saturday night preceding the 17th of November, 1771, a great land stood, occasioned by the fall of heavy rains in the west, happened in the river Tyne, causing it to overflow its banks, and every where marking its progress with the most dreadful devastation. At Newcastle upon Tyne, the water began to rise about eleven o'clock at night, and continued increasing in height till seven the next morn­ing: about three o'clock, the arches of this bridge were filled up, and between three and four, two of them on the south side were driven down, as was the north arch, adjoining to the toll shop, about five o'clock, burying the houses erected thereon, together with several of their inhabitants, in the ruins ^l.

[Page 50]January 20th, 1772, the common-council of Newcastle ordered a petition to be presented to the House of Commons, for leave to bring in a bill for building a temporary bridge, and also a bridge of stone over the river Tyne, as also for monies to be granted them to defray the expences necessary for such a work ^m. A second petition, from the same body, and on the same subject, occurs February 25th, 1772 ⁿ.

February 26th, 1772, a petition of the Right Rev. John, Lord Bishop of Durham, was presented to the House of Commons and read, praying that leave might be given to bring in a bill, to raise out of, or charge upon, the said see, such sum of money as was necessary to repair his part of Tyne-Bridge, which was referred to the consideration of a committee ^o.

[Page 51]An agreement having been entered into by the bridge committee at Newcastle, with Mr. Stephenson, carpenter, to finish a temporary bridge in four months, to be reckoned from June 18th, 1772 ^p, under a large penalty. On the 17th of July following they began to drive the piles, and the bridge was opened on the 27th day of October in that year.

April 1st, 1774, the above bridge committee advertised for masons to undertake the rebuilding of such part of a new intended stone bridge over the river Tyne, as belonged to the town of Newcastle, having previously provided a great quantity of large blocks of stone for that purpose, which were at that time lying upon Felling and Elswick-Quays ^q.

[Page 52]July 8th, 1776, a medal was deposited in the first new pier, and the boundary of that part of Tyne-Bridge, that belongs to the corpo­ration of Newcastle upon Tyne, southward, by the mayor and sheriff of that town: over the device, which exhibited the Newcastle Ex­change, with the Genius of Commerce sitting by it, supporting the arms of the corporation, and presenting a purse to a figure in the robes of magistracy, directing his attention to a prospect of some rising piers of a bridge, with shipping and lighters on the river, is the following motto: "Quod felix faustumque sit;" and on the reverse, this inscrip­tion: "This stone, being the boundary of the corporation of New­castle, southward, was laid Anno Domini, 1776, in the mayoralty of Charles Atkinson, Esq. William Cramlington, Esq. sheriff."

This medal was of copper, about four inches diameter, and being inclosed in a thick glass-case, was placed in the south-east corner of the above pier ^r.

March 22d, 1779, there was an order of common-council for a thousand pounds to be expended in purchasing the property that was on the west side of the north avenue to Tyne-Bridge, on condition that the Act of Parliament, for which that body were then petitioning, could be obtained ^s.

A. D. 1779, an Act passed for enlarging the former Act of the 12th of George the Third, for building a temporary bridge over the river [Page 53] Tyne, between the town of Newcastle and Gateshead, for completing the new stone bridge there, and for making the avenue to, and the passage over it, more commodious.—This Act was to be continued for the term of three years, and no longer. No houses, except toll shops, were to be erected on the new bridge, and the tolls were to be raised upon it for twelve years, from June 24th, 1779 ^t.

THE CLOSE.

FROM Tyne-Bridge we enter the street called the Close ^u, in which the chief merchants of the town had anciently their habitations, and which, probably, had its name from its closeness, or narrowness. [Page 54] The house of the Earls of Northumberland stood on the side of this street, next to the river, bounded, on the east, by Bower-Chare, be­twixt Tyne-Bridge and Javil-Groop.—April 10th, 1482, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, demised it to his servant George Bird, by the name of the Earl's Inn, under an annual rent of 13s. 4d. Bourne tells us, that it stood on the site of a house, having, in his time, "a great gate at its entrance, with a large round ball of stone ^v, and that in the lower part of the building, towards the water, were very manifest tokens of its antiquity ^w."

[Page 55]A little to the west of the Earl's Inn, is an opening towards the river, called the Javel-Groop ^x: Groope, or Grype, signifies a ditch, and Javel is said to be a corruption of gaol. The castle of Newcastle was long the common prison of the county of Northumberland, and here, it is probable, has been anciently the communication between the ditch, or foss, of the castle and the river Tyne.

On the right hand, after we have entered the Close ^y from Tyne-Bridge, is a flight of stairs, conducting to the castle by the southern postern ^z. And farther along, on the same side, is another flight of stone steps, opposite to Javel-Group, called Long-Stairs ^a.

Beyond these, to the west, on the same side, and nearly opposite the mansion-house, is a third flight of stairs, called the Tuthill-Stairs ^b, communicating with the foot of West-Gate. There is an anabaptist meeting-house, with a well for the immersion of adults in the Tuthill-Stairs. [Page 56] There is said to be another meeting of this sect held at a pri­vate house in the town.

The present mansion-house of the mayors of Newcastle ^c, in the Close, was begun to be built A. D. 1691, and cost the corporation, in building, 6,000l. besides the furniture ^d.

The judges of assize, with their chief officers and servants, are usu­ally entertained here, during the assize week^e. The mayor gives entertainments in it to very large companies of the gentlemen of New­castle and its vicinity, and it is furnished, for that purpose, with a valuable and elegant service of plate^f. The fire arms, belonging to the corporation, are the furniture of the spacious saloon^g.

[Page 57]In the Close, says Bourne, were many houses that paid an annual rent to the master and brethren of St. Mary's Hospital^h.

"This street," he adds, "is commemorated in many ancient writings for a mill, which, in ancient times, was wont to stand upon the Hoga ⁱ, [Page 58] i. e. the Bank without the Close-Gate.—In a grant from the master and brethren of St. Mary's, in West-Gate, it is permitted to the par­ties concerned, that they have "quandam placeam terrae in vico qui vocatur le Closs sicut se extendit in longitudine de Hoga ubi antiquum molendinum solebat stare usque ad aquam Tinae et quantum de Tina acquirere poterit."

WEST-GATE ^k.

THIS street has plainly had its name from its western situation. Near the foot of it stood the house of the Friars^l of the Sac ^m, or of the penance of Jesus Christ. They occur, as being settled here, A. D. 1268 and 1272 ⁿ.

[Page 59]Their house here was near the White-Friar-Tower ^o.

January 8th, 1299, on King Edward the First's arrival at Newcastle, the Friars of the Sac, of that town, received (in common with the other orders of religious there) 2s. for their pittance of two days, by the hands of brother Walter de Carleton ^p.

A. D. 1307, this Walter de Carleton occurs as the only surviving brother in their house, which the King, by letters patent, dated May 26th that year, granted to the order of Carmelites, of the same town, upon condition that they should support the above brother, in a way becom­ing his rank, during the remainder of his life. The residence of the Carmelites, before this time, was upon the Wall-Knoll, from whence their being greatly straitened for want of room caused their removal, having just before lost part of their land by the building of the town-wall ^q.

HOUSE OF CARMELITES, OR WHITE-FRIARS ^r.

THE first residence of this order of mendicants at Newcastle was on the Wall-Knoll, as before related, which, by licence of King Henry III. they acquired to themselves and successors in fee of John de Byker ^s.

On the 8th of January, 1299, the White-Friars of Newcastle re­ceived 16s. 8d. for their pittance of two days, by the hands of brother Roger de Felton, on the King's arrival at Newcastle. They appear to have received, by the hands of the same person, 9s. for their pittance of one day, on the King's passing through that town in the beginning of the preceding December ^t.

King Edward the First, by a charter dated May 26th, 1307, granted [Page 61] to the White-Friars of Newcastle, straitened at that time in their house on the Wall-Knoll, by the incroachment of the town-wall upon part of their site, this place of the Friars of the penance of Jesus Christ, on the condition before-mentioned, of their granting to Walter de Carle­ton, the then only surviving brother of that order, a decent subsistence for his life ^u.

August 1st, 1322, the brethren of this house received 8s. for their pittance of one day, and on the 14th of September following, on the King's arrival at Newcastle, 8s. for the same, by the hands of the King's almoner ^v.

[Page 62]November 20th, 1337, King Edward the Third granted a licence of mortmain, to enable Ada Page, of Newcastle upon Tyne, to assign to the prior and brethren of this house, a garden, with its appurte­nances, that lay contiguous to their house, in order to enlarge it ^w.

Doctor Nicholas Durham, the famous opponent of Wickliff, appears to have flourished in this convent, about the year 1360 ^x.

February 24th, 1361, King Edward the Third granted a licence of mortmain to the Carmelites of this convent, to enable them to make a grant of the place of their former residence on the Wall-Knoll to William de Acton, for the purpose of founding thereupon the hospital of the Holy Trinity ^y.

A. D. 1424, a suit occurs between William Glynn, vicar of New­castle upon Tyne, and William Boston, prior of this house, concerning the offering of wax-candles on Candlemas-Day ^z.

A. D. 1450, Edward Dynley, born of a good family in Newcastle upon Tyne, and a learned writer of this order, flourished in this house ^a.

[Page 63]Brother Robert Benton, of this convent, was ordained priest, March 23d, 1497 ^b.

January 10th, 1539, Gerald Spor, prior, with seven brethren and two novices, surrendered this house ^c, after it had been valued [Page 64] by Nicholas Harpsfield, at nine pounds eleven shillings and four-pence ^d.

[Page 65]The church of this convent was dedicated to St. Mary, who, as Speed informs us, was the patroness of above thirty houses of this order in England ^e. In the year 1546, a grant of this house was made to Sir Richard Gresham and Richard Billingford ^f.

The convent of White Friars is marked in Speed's Plan of New­castle, dated 1610.—January 27th, 1647, this Friary occurs as being the property of Dr. Jennison, vicar of Newcastle, who claimed a pound of pepper on account thereof annually, on Christmas-day, from the cor­poration of Newcastle upon Tyne ^g.

The ground where this convent stood was purchased by Dr. Adam Askew, who in 1740 built a handsome house upon it, in the kitchen [Page 66] of which some vestiges of the windows, &c. of the Priory still re­main ^h.

WEST-GATE.

Bolbeck-Hall ⁱ, which, after the founder of it was, in 1398, created an Earl, took the name of Westmoreland-Place, from the title of his Earl­dom, stood in this street, where, opposite nearly to Pudding-Chare, part of it still remains. From a survey of the possessions of Charles, Earl of Westmoreland, made June 10th, 1569 ^k, it appears that James Bertram

[Page 67] held this tenement in free soccage of the Earl of Westmoreland, at the yearly rent of 6s. 8d.

It was afterwards in the tenure of Robert Bertram ^l.

A little higher up, but on the same side of the street, stands the hos­pital of St. Mary the Virgin.

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.

THIS house, anciently consisting of an hospital and chapel, was founded in the reign of Henry the Second, by one Aselack of Killing­howe ^m, who not only raised the fabric, but gave the ground also upon which it was erected, and placed therein two friars regular, and [Page 68] a chaplain, to serve God and the poor; farther intending it to be a place of entertainment for the indigent clergy and such pilgrims as were passing this way ⁿ.

Hugh Pudsey, made Bishop of Durham, A. D. 1154, and who died in the year 1192, granted a charter of episcopal confirmation to this hospital ^o.

King Henry the Second appears to have granted the first charter of royal confirmation to this house ^p. He is said also to have made it in [Page 69] some way or other dependant upon the Nunnery of St. Bartholo­mew in the same town ^q.

Another charter of royal confirmation was granted to this hospital by King Richard I ^r.

Robert de Heddon, clerk, with the consent and confirmation of his lord, Walter de Bolbeck ^s, gave a yearly sum to the support of this hospital, probably on its first foundation, and on condition that the fraternity should pray for the soul of his said lord, and for his own and those of his ancestors ^t.

About the year 1251, Adam de Neusum, for the sake of his own soul, that of Eve his wife, and those of his ancestors and heirs, granted to the fraternity of this hospital, in free, pure, and perpetual alms, all [Page 70] the land they held in the village of Newsham, remitting to them an annual rent of thirteen pence for the same ^u.

Henry the Third appears to have granted a charter for liberties to this house in the year 1253 ^v.

About the year 1257, Julian, daughter of Agnes Blanch, made some charitable donation to this hospital, that the fraternity might pray for her soul, and for the souls of her ancestors, and upon condition that she should be supplied with a lodging there whenever she visited New­castle upon Tyne ^w.

Martin Coyman gave a messuage to this place, A. D. 1259 ^x.

One Simon was master of this house, A. D. 1264, as was John Norrys in 1267 ^y.

Roger de Quintingham occurs as a benefactor to this house in the year 1269 ^z.

[Page 71]About the year 1269, Gerard, preacher or master of this hospital, with the brethren, demised to Robert, chaplain of Bingefeldthune and his assigns, at the annual rent of twelve pence, two acres of land and a toft, which had been given them by Godfrey, Lord of Bingefeld, in free, pure, and perpetual alms, for the sake of his own soul and the souls of his ancestors ^a.

About the same time the said Gerard and his brethren granted to Udard, son of Richard of Pilgrim-street, the land that had been given them in pure and perpetual alms by John Skinner, to hold of the said hospital at an annual rent of five shillings ^b.

A. D. 1290, the brethren of this hospital, on their petition to the king in parliament, setting forth, that the new town-wall of Newcastle had been built through the middle of their court-yard, leaving the greater part of their edifices on the outside thereof, obtained a patent for making a postern-gate of communication through the said wall ^c.

Nicholas Essot occurs as a benefactor to this house, A. D. 1292 ^d.

A. D. 1296, letters of protection were granted to the master of this hospital. The king granted these protections to religious houses, for their persons, servants, lands, rents, possessions, goods and chattels ^e.

May 5th, 1304, King Edward I. granted a licence of mortmain to [Page 72] enable John de Insula (Lisle) to devise to the master and brethren of this hospital a messuage, four shops, and a rent of 16 shillings, in the town of Newcastle upon Tyne, as also a messuage, with its appur­tenances, in the said town, which Dionisia, relict of Laurence Swayn, held of the said John as her dower, and which had reverted to him at her death ^f.

Robert Tunnikysiman, and Matilda his wife, occur as benefactors to this house, A. D. 1305 ^g.

A. D. 1317, William Herringe occurs as a benefactor to this hospital ^h.

It appears from an original record still preserved among the writings of this house, but without a date, that Geofry, son of Gerard of Whickham, and grandfather of Robert of Whickham, had given to this hospital, in pure and perpetual alms, a pound of pepper and a pound of cinnamon, payable out of his lands at Whickham, on St. Cuthbert's day, in September, in every year: and that the above Ro­bert confirmed this donation, and charged it upon a capital messuage in that village for ever ⁱ.

King Edward the Third, for the relief of St. Mary's Hospital, the possessions of which had been destroyed by various inroads of the Scots, granted a licence, dated at Newcastle upon Tyne, August 2d, 1334, to the fraternity of that house, to acquire lands, tenements, and [Page 73] rents to the yearly value of an hundred shillings, notwithstanding the statute of mortmain ^k.

Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, by a charter of inspeximus, dated at Gateshead, January 8th, 1335, confirmed the former charter of Hugh Pudsey, his predecessor in that see, for the confirmation of lands, rents, rights, privileges, &c. belonging to this hospital ^l.

A. D. 1343, Joan, widow of Nicholas de Ellirker, of Newcastle upon Tyne, remitted to the fraternity of this house, all her right in the lands and tenements, which reverted to her as her dower, after the death of her said husband, and which they held at that time by his gift ^m.

A full guild of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne was held at the hospital of St. Mary, in West-Gate, on the Friday before Valentine Day, 1343, when several articles were agreed upon for the better go­vernment of the town, which were sealed under the common-seal of the corporation of that place, and afterwards received the royal con­firmation ⁿ.

A. D. 1347, Gilbert Palmer granted to the master and brethren of [Page 74] this hospital, a messuage and ten acres of land, in the town and territory of Newbigging on the Moor^o.

King Edward III. by a charter of inspeximus, dated at Westmin­ster, April 12th, 1351, confirmed to this hospital a charter granted to them by King Henry the Second: The fraternity are here styled "the prior and brethren ^p."

Robert de Morton, canon of the church of the Blessed Mary, in West-Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, of the order of St. Austin, having been elected prior of that church, by an authority which Thomas Hatfield, then Bishop of Durham, did not admit of: the above Ro­bert, on the death of Friar William de Norton, was created by the said Bishop, on his own authority, and confirmed in that office, Au­gust 13th, 1369 ^q.

[Page 75]King Edward III. having granted a licence to one Allan Pulthore, of Newcastle upon Tyne, to assign a rent of one hundred shillings out of three messuages in that town (held of the crown in burgage, by a service of 6d. per annum), to a chaplain, to perform daily service in a chantry, in All Saints Church in that town, for the souls of all the faithful, and which the said Allan having neglected to perform, the King, by letters patent, had made a similar grant to John, the son and heir of the said Allan. This John, by virtue of the royal licence, had assigned the said rents to this fraternity, for the above purpose; and they had been seized of them, till on the tenements becoming empty, they could no longer be raised out of them.

Upon which the said John, unwilling that the chantry should go down, had assigned the three messuages themselves, instead of the rents, to this fraternity, to be by them maintained and repaired; but being in possession, without the royal licence, the King, in consideration of a fine of ten pounds, to be paid him by William de Norton, master, and the brethren of this house, had granted them a licence of mortmain, and confirmed to the said house the gift of the messuages, in lieu of the rents, for the purposes before related, November 4th, 1378 ^r.

A. D. 1401, Brother William de Burnham, prior and master of the hospital of St. Mary, in West-Gate, granted a messuage, and three shops, before the great gate of the castle of Newcastle, to John White, draper and burgess of that town, at the annual rent of thirty-seven shillings ^s.

Upon the death of William de Burnham, which happened August 9th, 1412, William Karlell, and Robert Lekynfeld, the then only surviving regular brethren of this hospital (called, at this time, "The [Page 76] Hospital of the Blessed Virgin, and St. John the Evangelist"), trans­ferred their right to elect a new master, to Thomas Langley, then Bishop of Durham, October 26th, 1412 ^t.—October 1st, 1413, the Bishop collated the above-named William Karlell ^u, who resigned, Fe­bruary 20th, 1416 ^v.

February 2d, 1416, the said Bishop of Durham issued a citation, to warn the master of his intention to visit this house: issuing also, at the same time, a commission for the safe keeping of the goods of the hospital ^w.

October 28th, 1417, Thomas Langley, Bishop of Durham, collated John Fitzhenry, canon of the priory of Newbrugh, in the diocese of York, to succeed the above William Karlell in the mastership of this hospital ^x.

January 5th, 1428, the Bishop of Durham issued a sentence of ex­communication against every person stealing the goods of this hos­pital ^y.

A bequest of two fothers of lead, to the reparation of this hospital, occurs in the will of the elder Roger Thornton, dated A. D. 1429 ^z.

[Page 77]An account of the wardrobe, &c. of this hospital, of the date of 1444, has been transmitted ^a.

John Bird, LL. B. was master of this hospital, A. D. 1501 ^b.

In the ordinary of the drapers company, in Newcastle upon Tyne, dated June 1st, 1512, mention occurs, that the election of the mayor and officers of the town had been, by the ancient usage of that place, held in this hospital ^c.

November 29th, 1528, Roland Swinburn, A. M. was inducted to the mastership of this hospital, to which he had been presented by Ed­ward Swinburn, mayor, and the community of Newcastle upon Tyne, the true patrons thereof.—Swinburn resigned this mastership, August 29th, 1531, having exchanged with Robert Davell, for a prebend in Norton Church, to which he was collated on the day following ^d.

The presentation of Robert Davell, clerk, by Gilbert Myddleton, [Page 78] Esq. mayor, the sheriff, aldermen, and community of Newcastle upon Tyne, is dated August 29th, 1531 ^e.

The famous Leland seems to have been recommended to this Doctor Davell, and to have been indebted to him for his information in several particulars, when he visited this town in his tour through England, for the purpose of collecting antiquarian knowledge ^f.

Davell was also archdeacon of Northumberland ^g.

January 26th, 1532, there was an exemplification of a record of the common pleas, whereby the presentation of the hospital of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called West-Spittle, was adjudged to pertain to the town of Newcastle upon Tyne, and not to the King ^h.

This hospital had revenues, A. D. 1535, that were valued at 26l. 13s. 4d. ⁱ.

[Page 79]It came to the crown by the statute of the 31st of Henry VIII. A. D. 1540, for the dissolution of abbies, priories, colleges and hos­pitals: but it never appears to have come in charge before the auditors of the county of Northumberland, nor to have paid rent to the King's receiver there.

The house, with the rents thereof, were still enjoyed, and the com­munity of Newcastle presented a master to the Bishop of Durham, as though the foundation had not been dissolved, or reverted to the crown.

By a rental of this hospital, dated 1547, it appears to have had property in West-Gate, Denton-Chare, Pudding-Chare, Meal-Market, Flesh-Market, Big-Market, Middle-Street, without New-Gate, in St. Nicholas' Church-Yard, before the Castle-Gate, in the Side, in the Sand-Hill and Close, in Pilgrim-Street, in Manor-Chare, Pandon and All-Saints-Street, White-Cross, rents of gardens without the Close-Gate and in the Forth, all in, or contiguous to, Newcastle; also at Jesmouth, Whickham, Whittonstale, Fenham, Newsham, Bolam, Old Heaton, Wossington, Mearsfen, Horton and Stewkley, Newbiggen on the Moor, Byngfield, Stamfordham and Hewght, Little Babington, and in Riddesdale ^k.

[Page 80]A. D. 1551, a grant is said to have been made to the Duke of Northumberland of this tenement, called therein the West-Spittle ^l, and included as parcel of the monastery of Tinmouth ^m.

April 25th, 1558, John Raymes, A. M. was instituted to the ma­stership of this hospital, vacant by the death of Doctor Davell. He had been presented by John Swinburn, of Chopwell, Esq. and John Swynborn of Wylom, Gent. patrons for that turn, by an advowson from the mayor, sheriff, aldermen and community of Newcastle upon Tyne ⁿ.

October 9th, 1579, Anthony Garforthe, clerk, was instituted to the mastership of this hospital, on the deprivation of Raymes, for contu­macy (May 29th preceding), and on the presentation of Ralph Law­son, of Brough, in Yorkshire, Esq. and William Selbie, merchant and alderman of Newcastle, for that turn, by an advowson from Richard Hod [...]hon, mayor, and the burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne ^o.

[Page 81]June 30th, 1580, Henry Dethicke, LL. B. was instituted to the mastership of this house on the death of Garforthe, and on the pre­sentation of the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle.—He was official of the dean of York, under Dr. M. Hutton ^p.

This hospital is said to have been granted, in fee simple, by Queen Elizabeth, under the great seal, to be held in soccage ^q.

Ralph Pattenson, A. M. succeeded Dethicke on his resignation of [Page 82] the mastership of this hospital, to which he was presented by the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne, May 9th, 1583 ^r.

Henry Ewbanke, A. M. was instituted to the mastership of this hospital, March 15th, 1585, on the presentation of the mayor and burgesses aforesaid, upon the resignation of Pattenson ^s.

May 27th, 1611, King James I. granted a new charter to this hos­pital; the preamble whereof sets forth, that John Raymes, a former master of this house, had, in the rebellion in the north, been com­mitted to Durham gaol, when the original charters, grants, and letters patent, concerning the foundation of this place, had been lost; as also, that attempts had been made by some persons to appropriate the pos­sessions [Page 83] of the hospital to their own use: whereupon it is to be founded anew, and decreed to consist of a master, who should, at least, be a master of arts, and of six unmarried poor old men, constituting toge­ther a body politick in law, having a common seal ^t, with power to sue and be sued, to let leases, &c. the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle to be the patrons. The King granted the house of the hospital at the same time, with all its possessions, under an annual rent of thirteen shillings and four-pence ^u.

Robert Fowberry, A. M. probably succeeded to the mastership of this hospital, on the resignation of Ewbank ^v, October 18th, 1615. He occurs as master, granting a lease ^w, January 26th, 1618. He was master, also, of the royal grammar school, which, a little before this time, had been removed to part of the church of this house.

Edward Wigham, A. M. was instituted to the mastership of this hospital, August 30th, 1623, on the presentation of the King, to whom, through lapse of time, that right had reverted for this turn ^x.

A question having arisen, upon some expressions in the new charter of this hospital, whether the master's office was presentative or dona­tive, it was answered by Hen. Yelverton, July 19th, 1623, in the subsequent words: "If this church, or place, was anciently presenta­tive, the King's new grant doth not, nor can, make it donative, espe­cially [Page 84] as the grant is made, for the patrons are to enjoy it as formerly they did, or ought to enjoy it; and if the patrons should attempt to make it donative, the bishop of the diocese, after six months passed without presentation, may collate by lapse, for a church once present­ative cannot, without act of parliament, or after dissolution thereof, become donative ^y."

March 11th, 1629, Francis Gray, A. M. was appointed master of this hospital, on the death of Wigham.—He was also master of the grammar school ^z.

Nicholas Hall, B. D. of Ellemar-Hall, in the county of Durham, was master of this hospital, A. D. 1649, and occurs as such, in a lease, dated Feb. 22d, 1657 ^a.

John Bewick, A. M. was master here, June 7th, 1669 ^b.

Richard Garthwaite, A. M. occurs as master of this hospital, A. D. 1671 ^c.

John Cotterell, A. M. appears to have been master here, A. D. 1690 ^d.

Thomas Rud, A. M. occurs as master of this house, A. D. 1699 ^e.

James Jurin, A. M. appears to have been master in the year 1710 ^f.

Robert Thomlinson, D. D. was appointed master of this hospital, A. D. 1715 ^g.

About the year 1738, upon a question, whether the mayor and bur­gesses, who, as visitors, had made an order that no leases should be [Page 85] let, without their consent, and had ordered a schedule of all the papers, leases, &c. to be delivered to them, had a right to do so—Dud. Ry­der gave the following opinion: "That the master and brethren may make leases for three lives, reserving the ancient rent, and take fines on granting such leases, the power by charter of granting leases reserv­ing the last rent doth not abridge the power they have as a corporation. The master and brethren are not bound to obey the order of the mayor and burgesses, not to grant leases without their consent, but as the mayor and burgesses are visitors, the hospital ought to return such schedule as ordered. And the mayor and burgesses have a right to re­gulate the distribution of the profits of the estate, and to increase the maintenance and payment of the brethren, so far as is reasonable, though different from the proportions usually observed ^h."

Richard Dawes was appointed master of this hospital, October 9th, 1738.—He occurs, as such, in a lease, dated February 13th, 1748 ⁱ.

Henry Featherstonehalgh, B. D. occurs, as master of this hospital, in a lease, dated in November 1749 ^k.

Hugh Moises, A. M. was appointed master of this hospital, at a common-council, held June 14th, 1779, on a vacancy by the death of Featherstonehalgh ^l.

ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL ^m IN ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.

IT was not till the beginning of the sixteenth century, that a custom of long continuance began to grow into difuse, that of educat­ing [Page 86] our youth in monasteries ⁿ. Twenty new grammar schools, a num­ber greater than had been established for three hundred years before, were founded and endowed between that period and the reformation.

Among these novel institutions occurs the present grammar school of Newcastle upon Tyne, which, owing its origin to the ancient muni­ficence of a magistrate, stands indebted for its growth and continuance to the patronage of the community of that town.

Thomas Horsley, alderman, and who was mayor of Newcastle in the years 1525, and 1533, devised all his lands in that place, after his death and that of his wife, for the endowment of a grammar school, which was to be free for any within or without that town: in aug­mentation of which endowment, the corporate body of that place set­tled a stipend of four marks, to be paid annually out of their chamber, for ever ^o.

[Page 87]This school was at first in St. Nicholas' church-yard, in a build­ing on the north-east side of the church ^p. When it afterwards became a royal foundation, and was incorporated by a clause in the [Page 88] charter of Queen Elizabeth, granted to that town in the forty-se­cond year of her reign, it was removed to the Hospital of St. Mary in West-Gate ^q.

The clause in the above-mentioned charter ^r sets forth that the Queen's motive for the new institution was her regard for the instruc­tion of youth from their tender years in the rudiments of the true Christian religion, and in learning and good manners. She enacts that her foundation be styled the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth; the master and scholars whereof are to be a body corporate in law, with perpetual succession, to have a common seal—a legal ca­pacity of purchasing and holding lands, &c. to themselves, and suc­cessors, [Page 89] in fee simple, or for term of years, provided they exceed not the annual value of forty pounds, are not held of the crown in chief, or by military service, notwithstanding the act of mortmain. The governing part of the corporation of Newcastle, of whom the mayor and six aldermen to be seven, are appointed the patrons of this school, with the power of electing a master and usher thereof, whose offices are held under their pleasure, and are to be filled up by them on every re­moval or vacancy by death.

[Page 90]Robert Fowberry, A. M. a person eminent for his industry and learning, was invited hither from Hull in Yorkshire, to be the first master of this school ^s.

Edward Wigham, A. M. occurs as master, A. D. 1623 ^t.

Francis Grey, A. M. succeeded on the death of Wigham ^u, in 1629 ^v.

Amor Oxley was master about 1637.—Edward Lumsden, his under usher, with a salary of 20l. per annum ^w.

[Page 91]May 30th, 1645, Amor Oxley being a loyalist was displaced from the mastership of this school by an order of the lords and commons.

Nicholas Augar succeeded on the removal of Oxley, with a salary of 40l. per annum, and other perquisites. Matthew Gouch, a graduate of Cambridge, was his usher ^x.

A. D. 1646, Daniel Gibson occurs as usher of this school.

February 27th, 1647, Nicholas Augar resigned on account of his ill state of health ^y.

August 29th, 1648, George Ritschel was appointed master—the year following ten pounds additional salary were granted him for his in­dustry and careful discharge of his duty ^z. He removed to the vicarage of Hexham ^a.

[Page 92]April 27th, 1662, Amor Oxley was appointed a second time master of this school, with a salary of an hundred pounds per annum, with [Page 93] perquisites; when William Sanson occurs as usher, and Allan Gilpon as under-usher: the former with a salary of 40l. the latter with one of 30l. per annum ^b.

About Christmas, 1669, Richard Garthwaite, A. M. was appointed master of this school, with a salary of 50l. with other fees.

March 24th, 1674, Robert Grey occurs as usher, and Ralph Wilson as under-usher; the former with a stipend of 30l. the latter with one [Page 94] of 26l. 13s. 4d. afterwards, March 30th, 1682, raised to 31l. 13s. 4d. a year ^c.

Richard Garthwaite published a censure upon Lilly's Grammar, in duodecimo, London, 1684. He was removed from his office here ^d, A. D. 1690.

December 7th, 1677, Richard Gower, A. M. was appointed usher, on the death of Grey, and in 1682 his salary was raised to 35l. a year ^e.

June 11th, 1683, Ralph Gower occurs as under-usher.

July 11th, 1683, John Metcalfe was appointed usher, in the room of Richard Gower ^f.

Dec. 17th, 1690, John Cotteral, A. M. was appointed master ^g.

[Page 95]Thomas Rudd, A. M. occurs as master here, 1699 ^h.

January 23d, 1710, James Jurin, M. A. was appointed master of this school. He resigned this office, A. D. 1715, and afterwards be­came M. D. and F. R. S. fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and president of the College of Physicians.—In November, 1721, he was elected secretary to the Royal Society, on the resignation of Dr. Halley. In April, 1725, he was elected, with Dr. Oldfield, physician to the new hospital in Southwark, founded by Guy, a bookseller, of London. Having acquired a great fortune by his profession, he died at his house in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, March 22d, 1750, leaving a considerable legacy to Christ's Hospital, where he had been educated ⁱ.

[Page 96]September 26th, 1715, Edmund Lodge, clerk, was appointed master here, on the resignation of Jurin ^k.

September 26th, 1726, George Carr was appointed under-usher, on the decease of Richard Stewardson ^l: Carr removed afterwards to the episcopal chapel at Edinburgh: a collection of his sermons, published since his death, has deservedly met with great approbation.

July 10th, 1738, Richard Dawes, A. M. fellow of Emanuel Col­lege, in Cambridge, was appointed master here on the resignation of Lodge. He was also master of St. Mary's Hospital ^m. He resigned both these offices about A. D. 1750, but not before he had secured an annuity of 80l. per annum, to be paid him by the corporation of New­castle for his life ⁿ. He was a person of great learning ^o, but so wild and irregular as to be thought, generally, a little insane. The school under him was reduced to a very low ebb, and his refractory behaviour occasioned great trouble, and gave no small offence to his patrons, the magistrates of Newcastle.

[Page 97]In the year 1736, Mr. Dawes published proposals for printing, by subscription, "Paradisi amissi a cl. Miltono conscripti Liber primus, Graeca Versionè donatus, unà cum Annotationibus," with a speci­men ^p.

After his resignation, Mr. Dawes retired to a house at Heworth-Shore, a little below Newcastle, on the banks of the Tyne: he died, March 21st, 1766 ^q, and was, by his own desire, interred in Heworth church-yard, where his grave is still marked by a common head-stone, with the following inscription: "In memory of Richard Dawes, late head master of the grammer ^* school at Newcastle, who died the 21st of March, 1766, aged 57 years ^r."

John Wibbersley, A. B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, occurs as under-usher, July 12th, 1742 ^s.

On the resignation of Dawes, in 1749, Hugh Moises, A. M. first [Page 98] of Trinity-College, and afterwards of Peter-House, in Cambridge, was appointed master of this school ^t.

January 2d, 1752, Anthony Munton, A. M. of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed usher, on the resignation of Wibbersley ^u.

June 18th, 1755, Jeffry Clarkson, LL. B. was appointed usher, on the death of Munton ^v.

In 1758, the corporation of Newcastle purchased a pair of globes for the use of this school ^w.

John King, A. M. was appointed usher, on the resignation of Clarkson, February 6th, 1760 ^x.

September 24th, 1764, William Hall, A. M. fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed under-usher ^y.

December 15th, 1766, W. Hall was appointed usher, and Weaver Walter, A. M. afterwards fellow of Christ's College, in Cambridge, was appointed under-usher ^z.

[Page 99]At the Midsummer common-council, 1778, John Brand, A. B. of Lincoln-College, Oxford, was appointed under-usher, on the resigna­tion of W. Walter.

September 20th, 1781, J. Brand ^a was appointed usher, on the re­moval of W. Hall.

At the Easter common-council, 1784, Moses Manners, A. M. of Lincoln-College, Oxford, was appointed usher, on the resignation of J. Brand.—And soon afterwards Robert Wilson, A. B. of All Souls College, Oxford, was appointed under-usher.

June, 1787, Edward Moises, A. M. was appointed head-master, on the resignation of his uncle, Hugh Moises, A. M. master of St. Mary's Hospital.

WEST-GATE.

UNIVERSITY College, in Oxford, had possessions in this street: Arthur Charlott, D. D. and master of the college of the great college ^* [Page 105] of the great hall of the university of Oxford, commonly called Uni­versity College, and the fellows of the same, by indenture, dated Sep­tember 28th, 1693, demised to William Metcalf, of Newcastle upon Tyne, hostman, two houses or tenements, in the town of Newcastle aforesaid, in the street there called the West-Gate, between the com­mon street, on the east part, and a tenement belonging sometime to a chantry of the Blessed Virgin, in the church of St. Nicholas, on the west part—the highway on the north, and the back walls of the said town of Newcastle on the south, for 31 years ^c, under the yearly rent of ten shillings.

The parsonage, or vicarage house of Newcastle, is situated in this street, not far from St. John's Church ^d.

There was a building in this street, called Spital-Alms-House: it stood nearly opposite to St. John's Church.—It is mentioned by Bourne, and marked in his plan of the town. It was pulled down not many years ago, and a handsome house erected on the site.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

IT is alike unknown by whom, or at what time, this church or chapel was founded ^e.

Bourne says, that it appears to have been built, A. D. 1287 ^f.

Great alterations were probably made, both in the steeple and body of the church, by Robert Rhodes, the great benefactor to all our reli­gious buildings.

His arms, which remain in two of the other churches, are found here also, under the belfry.—They are also placed over the window, on the outside of the south-cross. One William Hutton is conjec­tured to have been one of the first benefactors to this church, from some punning devices, expressive of his name, after the manner of those times, which are still preserved in the glass of one of the south-east windows of the south-cross, and upon one of the pillars before the western gallery ^g.

In the year 1379, this place occurs with the title of "capella," or "chapel ^h."

There were three chantries here in the papal times; one dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr—a second to the Virgin Mary—and the last to the Trinity ⁱ.

St. Thomas' chantry was founded about A. D. 1319, by Adam of Durham, a burgess of Newcastle, for the souls of his father and mo­ther, &c. and his own.—It is supposed to have been situated near the north-cross. Roger de Burnet occurs as first chaplain in the deed of [Page 107] foundation, by which the mayor and bailiffs of Newcastle are appointed patrons. The yearly value of this chantry was 4l. 3s. arising out of property in the Sand-Hill and West-Gate. John Ragge (alias Rige) was the last incumbent, and had an annual pension of 3l. 16s. ^k.—The subsequent account of this chantry is taken from the certificate of col­leges and chantries, in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:—"The chauntrie of St. Tho­mas in the parishe church of Seynt John within the towne of New­castell upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynd a preist for ever for the mayntaynance of Godd's service and to pray for all Christen sowles and is so used at the present but ther is no dede of any foundacon to be shewed—Yerely value 4l. 2s. 8d.—Value according to this survey 4l. 3s. as apereth by a rentall whereof is paid owt for a rent resolut' 2s. and for the Kinges majesties tenthes 8s. 3d.— 10s. 3d. and re­maynith clerely 72s. 9d. whiche ben employed to the sustentacon and relief of John Rige clerke incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnance of the said foundacon—Ornaments &c. 22s. 1d. as apereth by a per­ticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

Our Lady's chantry was sounded by Edward Scott, in the time of Edward III. Its yearly value was 4l. 4s. 4d. out of property in Sand-Hill and West-Gate ^l.—The following account of it is preserved in the above-mentioned certificate, &c. 37 Hen. VIII.—"The chauntrie of our Lady in the parishe churche of St. John within the towne of New­castell was founded by one Edward Skott by a licence obteyned of Kinge Edward III. to fynde a priest for ever to say masse ther dayly and to pray for hys sowle and all Christen sowles by reporte but the foundacon thereof we have not seene—Yearly value 4l. 3s. 4d.—Value according to this survey 4l. 4s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall whereof is [Page 108] paid to the Kinge's majestie for the yerelie tenthes thereof 8s. 4d. and remayneth clerly 76s. whiche ar employed to the sustentacon and relief of Edwarde Skott, clerke, incumbent there accordyng to the ordynnaunce of the foundacon.—Ornaments &c. 27s. 10d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

The chantry of the Holy Trinity is said to have been founded by John Dalton, William Atkinshawe, and Andrew Accliffe, clerks.—Its yearly value was 5l. 13s. 4d. arising out of tenements in West-Gate and the Side, and one with a Close without the West-Gate ^m. Ber­tram Bertley was the last incumbent, and had a pension of 5l. per an­num, which he enjoyed in 1553 ⁿ.

The following account of this chantry is preserved in the above­cited certificate, 37 Hen. VIII.—"The chauntrie of the Trinitie in the parishe churche of Seynt John within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by a licence obteyned of Kinge Edwarde IV. by John Dalton, William Atkynshawe and Andrew Aclif clerke, to fynd a preeste for ever to say masse and pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles by reporte whiche is so used hitherto but ther is no dede of any foundacon to be shewed—Yerely valew 109s. 2d.—Valew ac­cordyng to this survey 113s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid yerely to the Kinge's majestie for the tenthes 10s. 11d.—and remayn­eth clerly 102s. 5d. whiche ben employed to the sustentacon and relief of Bartram Barkeley prieste incumbent there—Ornaments &c. 22s. 11d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

The present vestry of this church has probably been one of the chantries.—There is a nich in the wall, evidently intended to hold holy water.—There is preserved there also a curious specimen of old carv­ing, on what has been part of an ancient chest. The subject, George and the Dragon.

The ancient font of this church, which had been given by one John [Page 109] Bertram, was destroyed by the Scots in 1639 ^o. The present one has probably been the gift of Andrew Bates, A. M. appointed lecturer of this church, A. D. 1689, as there is a shield on it with the arms of that ancient family.

Mention occurs of an organ, or rather "organes," in this church, in the year 1570 ^p.

The present organ was built by subscription, A. D. 1734, on which occasion the corporation of Newcastle gave twenty guineas, and settled a salary of 20l. per annum on the organist ^q.

More painted glass remains in the windows of this than of any other church in the town.

The great eastern window, in particular, abounds with curious spe­cimens ^r.

[Page 110]There are six indifferent bells in the steeple.—It a [...]pears, by the common-council books, September 20th, 1724, that the names of the mayor, M. Featherstonhaugh, &c. engraved on a stone, were set up in the steeple of this church, with an order, "that lest it might be claimed as a precedent for such repairs, that the said steeple ought to be repaired by the parishioners."

The communion table of this church, says Bourne, was given by Mr. Robert Crow, merchant, anno 1712.

Mr. Robert Rymer of this town, he adds, left to this church, in the year 1722, a large flaggon, a chalice and a plate, all of silver, valued at 60l. to be used at the holy communion.

Lady Musgrave presented an altar cloth and cushion, being a legacy left to St. John's Church, by Mrs. Hilton.—Newcastle Courant, May 11, 1754.

There is a painting, by one Henry Mort, on the altar-piece, repre­senting cherubs ascending and descending in the clouds, &c. under a crimson curtain, with gold fringe.

The cross is left standing on the outside of this church, on the top of the choir.

This church was beautified in the year 1765.

A. D. 1762, the church-yard here was inclosed by subscription with a brick-wall and rail work above, and planted round in the inside with lime and elm trees.—On a table monument therein is the follow­ing inscription: ‘"Here lie the remains of John Cunningham. Of his excellence as a pastoral poet, His works will remain a monument For ages, [Page 111] After this temporary tribute of esteem is in dust forgotten. He died in Newcastle, September 18th, 1773, aged 44."’

The register of this church for births, marriages, and burials, begins in January, A. D. 1587.

In the year 1785, 58 males, and 43 females were christened: and 58 males, and 84 females, buried at St. John's.—Newcastle Courant.

There was a chapel and burying ground at Benwell, in this parish, now both destroyed.—"The old tower of Benwell-Hall," says Bourne, p. 113, "was the place where the prior of Tinmouth ^s resided some part of the summer, and the chapel, which Mr. Shaftoe opens and supplies for the good of the people of his village, was the prior's do­mestic chapel." A Mr. Dalgarner occurs as minister, A. D. 1680. It was supplied by the curate of St. John's till it was pulled down.— There is a register book belonging to it, ending A. D. 1742, at present, or very lately, in the possession of Mr. Rutter, attorney-at-law.— There is a vault, and a few grave stones still continue to mark the site of the burying-ground.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ST. JOHN'S.

A. D. 1640, Henry Hilton, Esq. left to this parish 4l. per annum, for 99 years. This charity determined in 1739.

1644, Sir Alexander Davison left to this parish 2l. per annum.

[Page 112]1644, Sir Thomas Davison left to this parish 1l. per annum.

Mr. Aldworth left 1l. per annum, as to St. Nicholas and All Saints.

Mr. William Carr, who died April 14th, 1660, left 1l. 2s. 4d. to this parish.

Mr. William Carr (another person) left 1l. 10s. aliter 1l. to this parish.

Mr. Thomas Davison, who died November 28th, 1676, left 1l. 6s. 8d. to be paid out of the merchants company to this church.

Mr. Mark Milbank, 1679, left 3l.

Sir William Blackett, 2l. per annum.

Mr. John Rumney left 2l. 10s. aliter 3l.

Mr. Timothy Davison left 1l. 10s. aliter 1l. 5s.

Nicholas Ridley, 1l.

Mr. Wrightson, 2l. 10s.

Matthew White, Esq. 1l.

Mr. William Harrison, the interest of 50l. for ever.

Margaret Percival, widow, a house in Back-Row; yearly rent, 3l. 7s. 6d.

Mr. Robert Percival, a house in the Wool-Market; yearly rent 20l.

George Mallaber, Esq. left 50l. the interest whereof to be paid yearly.

Lady Jane Clavering, relict of Sir John Clavering, left 50l. the interest whereof to be paid yearly.

CHARITY-SCHOOL.

THIS school was founded, A. D. 1705, for the education of 40 boys, by an anonymous person, discovered afterwards to have been Mr. John Ord.

December 15th, 1708, there was an order of common-council, to purchase a house for the school-master of St. John's school.—Com­mon-council books.

MONUMENTS AND INSCRIPTIONS IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In the chancel.

"This is the burial-place of Thomas Errington, merchant-adven­turer." These words are writ about the arms cut upon the stone:

"The burial place of William Wallas mercer, and merchant adven­turer of England. He departed this life the 23d day of September 1664. William Wallas son of the said William departed this life the 11th day of January anno 1688, aetatis suae 23."

"The burial place of Charles Clark barbar chyrurgeon. He de­parted the 2d of August 1667. Margaret his wife departed this life the 30th day of March 1683. At the bottom of the arms De pre­tient' Dei."

"The burial-place of the Rev. Matthew Forster, lecturer of this church, who dyed October 23d 1723, aged 46."

"Oswold Chayter lining weaver 38 year clerk of this church, de­parted to the mercy of God July 21st A. D. 1623, aged 68 years."

"Here lieth the body of John Dixon plummer, who died April the 12th, 1728, aged 42."

On a stone near the altar. "Hic quod remanet Johannis Shaw hujus ecclesiae pastoris: Deo, ecclesiae, patriae, regi piè fidelis—obiit Maii 22^o A. D. 1689, Aetatis suae 77."

Near the altar table.

"Sepulchrum Roberti Fenwick mercatoris & Dorotheae uxoris ejus suorumque filiorum & filiarum. Ille obiit Sept. die 8vo. A. D. 1689, aetatis suae 61. Robert filius natu maximus obiit 23 die Martii 1690. Illa obiit 15 Julii 1701. Petrus Potts Gener^s Annam filiam eorum na­tu maximam duxit uxorem ex qua liberos suscepit quorum sex sibi fuere [Page 114] superstites (viz.) Dorothea, Jana, Maria, Petrus, Robertus, Johannes; illa obiit 3^o April A. D. 1719, aetatis suae 63."

"The burial place of Mr. John Bell, merchant adventurer, & Mar­garet his wife Margaret Bell died the 21st of November, 1710, aged 55. John Bell died the 22d of June, 1716, aged 62."

Sepulchrum Radulphi Scourfield generosi qui obiit Februarii 16, 1675, et Janae uxoris ejus quae obiit Maii 12^o, 1689. Quorum filius Radulphus Scourfield Armiger, de comitatu Northumbrie quondam vicecomes, obiit Septembris 1^o, 1728."

"The burial place of John Clutterbuck, gent. and Barbara his wife, and their children. Hannah buried July 16th, 1683. Catharine buried July 23d, 1683. James buried April 3d, 1692. Barbara his wife buried September 2d, 1695. Richard their son departed the 9th of November 1702. He departed the 3d of July 1717."

"Hic jacet Johannes Astell Armiger & Maria uxor ejus, ille obiit 17 die Martii Anno Domini 1633, aetat. 73. Haec 22 Maii 1658, aetatis suae 95."

"Here lies interred the body of Peter Astell, gentleman: he de­parted this life 19th March 1678, and had issue by Mary his wife two sons and a daughter. William his son departed this life 15 March 1672."

CLERGY OF ST. JOHN'S, MINISTERS, LECTURERS AND CURATES.

The vicar of Newcastle pays to the lecturer of this church 3l. 10s. per annum, the king 4l. 0s. 10d.

Jurdan, chaplain of St. John's, occurs as witness to a deed preserved among the writings of St. Mary's Hospital, supposed to be about the date of 1269 ^t.

A mandate occurs dated at Aukland, March 19th, 1419, to the arch­deacon of Northumberland, to receive the purgation of William Med­calfe, of Morpeth, clerk, charged with stealing a horse and saddle from John Rauchif, of Morpeth, in the church of St. John in the town of Newcastle upon Tyne ^u.

John Eland occurs 1424.^v

William Talbot on Eland's death, 1431.^v

Robert Bonner and Robert Woller occur in 1500 ^w.

George Graye, in 1575—he occurs in Barnes' Visitation, Feb. 1, 1577, and July 6th, 1579—He died in 1579 ^x.

Humphrey Sicklemore occurs at the bishop's visitation, January 3, 1580.

Thomas Maslet occurs in 1582. Oswald Chaitor 10 Nov. 1582, li­censed parish clerk ^y.

Lancelot Graye, 1583 ^z.

Martin Liddall, clerk, occurs 1585, 1586 ^a.

Edmund Robinson, curate, before September, 1589 ^b.

March 1590, Mr. Bowland, curate ^c.

[Page 118]August 22, 1590, Mr. John Murra, minister of St. John's ^d.

Henry Patteson occurs 1591 ^e.

Clement Cockson, curate, before October 27th, 1598 ^f.

Shaw occurs lecturer about 1614 ^g.

Phil. Doncaster occurs 1626 ^h.

John Shaw occurs 1st February, 1632—he died in 1637 ⁱ.

July 28th, 1637, there is an order of common-council for settling Mr. Robert Urthwart at St. John's, with a salary of 20l. which Octo­ber 2d, 1643, was augmented to 40l. per annum ^k.

He occurs June 16th, 1646, sending a recantation of his principles to the common-council, and expressing his sorrow for having preached against the parliament ^l."

Bourne says, that having suffered in the civil wars, he went after­wards beyond the seas, and having turned papist, died in a convent.

June 14th, 1647, Mr. Thomas Woolfal settled at St. John's, to preach forenoon and afternoon, with a salary of 150l. per annum ^m. He died before 24th November, 1652.

March 25th, 1652-3, Mr. William Cole, on the death of Woolfal— He was minister of Kirby Kendal in Westmoreland, salary 150l. per annum ⁿ.

Henry Leaver "had a call" hither from Brancepeth about Candle­mas, [Page 119] 1659, on the resignation of Cole ^o. He was established here June 20th, 1660, and was afterwards deposed for non-conformity.

August 27th, 1662, John Shaw, A. M. on the removal of Leaver, to preach forenoon and afternoon—salary 60l. and 10l. for his turn in the Thursday's lecture, at St. Nicholas ^p. He died May 22d, 1689.

July 25th, 1689, Andrew Bates, A. M. on the death of Shaw, to preach forenoon and afternoon, with a salary of 90l. and 10l. for his turn at Thursday's lecture ^q.

Matthew Forster, A. M. 1710, on the death of A. Bates. He died October 23d, 1723 ^r.

March 7th, 1724, Henry Featherstonhaugh, B. D. of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed lecturer on the death of Mr. Forster ^s.

September 7th, 1731, on the removal of H. Featherstonhaugh to All Saints, there is an order of common-council to appoint Mr. Natha­nael Clayton to St. John's—one to officiate for him nine months on his going up to Cambridge to take orders.

[Page 120]June 15th, 1732, there is an order of common-council that the Reverend Mr. Richard Cuthbert ^t be removed from Sandgate (St. Ann's) Chapel, to the lectureship of this church. He was son to a recorder of Newcastle.

On the removal of Mr. Cuthbert to Kendall, September 29th, 1736, Mr. N. Clayton ^u was appointed to enter on this lectureship.

John Thompson, A. M. of St. John's College, Cambridge, suc­ceeded to the curacy of St. John's after J. Carr.

J. Thompson was succeeded in the curacy here by John Brunton, A. B. of Christ's College, Cambridge, who died March 17th, 1780, and was succeeded by J. Brown, clerk, curate of Kirkharle in the county of Northumberland.

[Page 121]September 21st, 1786, Thomas Hornby, A. M. was appointed to the lectureship of St. John's, on the death of his uncle, Mr. N. Clayton.

WEST-GATE.

FROM the Postern and Back-Row, as far as the Tuthill-Stairs, West­gate, in Bourne's time, changed its name to "Tuthill ^v."

An elegant assembly-house, built by contribution on part of the gar­den belonging to the vicarage of Newcastle, near the head of this street, was opened at the time of the races at Newcastle, A. D. 1776 ^w. It cost [Page 122] about 6701 pounds in building, furniture and other expences ^x. In the lower apartments is kept a subscription coffee-house.

Near the head of West-Gate, behind a handsome new square, built by Mr. Newton, architect, stands the house of the Black Friars.

BLACK FRIARS.

THIS house was filled with Dominicans, one of the four orders of mendicants or begging friars ^y.

In France they are called Jacobins, from their house in St. James's Street, Paris.—They are named Black Friars, from the colour of their garments: Dominicans, from the name of their founder: Preaching

[Page 123] Friars, from their office of preaching and converting heretics.—At New­castle they appear to have had the title of Shod Friars ^z, in contradis­tinction, as it should seem, to their neighbours, the Grey Friars, who went barefooted. Sir Peter Scot, and his son Sir Nicholas Scot, are said to have invited the order to Newcastle, and to have founded this house ^a.

The precise date of the building has not been transmitted ^b.

The ground on which it stands is said to have been given by three pious sisters, whose names have been ungratefully consigned to oblivion.

November 6th, 1264, after an inquisition taken by Adam de Gesse­muth, sheriff of Northumberland, and the mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, by which it appeared that the aqueduct made by the Friars Preachers of that town, under a royal grant, from a certain fountain be­yond their court-yard, and to their monastery, and from thence into the town, ought to remain as an advantage to the public at large, the King confirmed it to them for ever ^c.

[Page 124]September 18th, 1280, there was a grant from the King to the Black Friars of this house to make a postern-gate through the town-wall, to communicate with that division of their property, which had been placed in the suburbs by the building of the said wall: reserving to the king's constable, or the sheriff of Northumberland, power to build it up when it should be found necessary to do so for the security of the town ^d.

December 15th, 1299, the Friars Preachers here received eleven shillings for their pittance of one day on the King's passing through the town in the beginning of that month—as also on the 8th of Janu­ary following, for their pittance of two days, on the King's arrival, twenty two shillings ^e.

[Page 125]June 4th, 1312, King Edward II. granted a licence to the prior and brethren of this house, to make a drawbridge of wood, five feet broad, over the new foss of the town, for a passage to their garden in the suburbs, with pale-work, in lieu of the garden-wall, upon condition that the bridge and pale-work should be taken away on the appear­ance of any imminent danger ^f.

March 1st, 1318, the King granted for ever to the brethren of this house, for the purpose of enlarging their house and burial-ground, a messuage contiguous thereto, which had belonged to Gilbert de Middleton, and had escheated to the crown on his being hanged for felony and treason ^g.

A patent concerning this house, of the date of 1322, is mentioned in Tanner's Notitia Monastica.

[Page 126]August 1st, 1322, the brethren here received 8s. for their pittance of one day; and on the 14th of September following, on the King's arrival at Newcastle, the like sum, for their pittance of one day ^h.

May 16th, 1330, King Edward III. granted a licence of mortmain to John Baroun, of Newcastle upon Tyne, to impower him to assign to the prior and brethren of this monastery, a piece of ground conti­guous thereto, 60 feet long, and as many feet broad, for the purpose of enlarging their said house ⁱ.

[Page 127]On the Feast of Gervasius and Prothasius, 1334, Edward Baliol, King of Scotland, did homage to King Edward the Third, for the whole kingdom of Scotland, in the church of this house ^j.

December 6th, 1342, the King, on the supplication of the prior and brethren of this house, granted them power to renew and set up again certain gates on their ground, for ingress to, and to shut up their house, (which they had been accustomed to have, till, on a dispute be­tween the men of Northumberland and some persons of the said town, when the Earl of Warren, the warden of the March of Scotland, lodged at their house, the said gates were broken down, and they had been prevented from setting them up again by some persons of New­castle), to hold to themselves and successors for ever, in like manner as they had been held before such demolition ^k.

[Page 128]March 27th, 1380, the Bishop of Durham granted a licence to the prior and convent of this house, to celebrate mass in the church of St. Nicholas, in Newcastle upon Tyne, on asking leave of the vicar of that church for the time being, although such leave should be re­fused them ^l.

December 1st, 1390, King Richard II. prohibited the conferring of the degree of master on certain apostate brethren of the order of Friars Preachers. There occurs a letter of the same King, dated July 27th, 1397, to the vicar of the provincial chapter of the same order, to be held at Newcastle upon Tyne, concerning the said apostates ^m.

Lord Scroop, by his will, dated June 23d, 1415, bequeathed 13s. 4d. to the recluse in this house of Friars Preachers, at Newcastle upon Tyne ⁿ.

John Rokesburgh occurs as prior of this house, July 13th, 16 of Edw. IV ^o.

[Page 129]October 9th, 1537, an indenture passed between Rolande Hardynge, the last prior of this house, for himself and the convent, and Robert Davel, clerk, archdeacon of Northumberland, by which the former bound themselves, and their successors, for ever, on condition of re­ceiving 6l. 18s. from the said R. Davel, to sing daily an anthem, and perform certain other services, and pray for the souls of William Davel and others ^p.

[Page 130]This house, which is said to have been dependant upon the priory of Tinmouth, surrendered, June 10th, 1539 ^q. It consisted of a prior and twelve friars at the dissolution, when its annual value was 2l. 19s. 4d. alias 6d. ^r.—I find no particular account of any pensions granted to the prior or monks ^s.

[Page 131]A. D. 1551, Richard Marshall, one of the brethren of this house at the dissolution, and, it should seem, formerly prior, occurs at St. Andrew's in Scotland, very learnedly informing his audience there, that Pater noster should be addressed to God, and not to the Saints. See in a note subjoined, from the Preface to Knox's History of the Re­formation, a picture of the manners of our monks, drawn from the life, and marked with striking traits of the wretched ignorance that prevailed in those times ^t.

[Page 132]March 10th, 1544, King Henry VIII. granted the Black-Friars, with the houses and ground thereto belonging, at that time of the yearly value of 2l. 19s. 6d. to the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle, in consideration of the sum of 53l. 7s. 6d. reserving to himself and successors for ever, a yearly rent of 5s. 11½d.^u together with the bells, lead, stones, iron, and timber of the church and other edi­fices^v.

[Page 133]In the year 1552, the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne demised, for a term of years, this house of Black-Friars, with its ap­purtenances of orchards, gardens, &c. to nine of the mysteries, or most ancient trades of the town, at the yearly rent of forty-two shil­lings, a ninth part of which was to be paid by each company, to the respective uses of which were portioned out the several apartments of the monastery, with the adjacent grounds ^w.

[Page 134]Low-Friar-Chare, commonly called Shod-Friar-Chare, from its vi­cinity to the house just described, and Low-Friar-Chare in contradis­tinction to the Upper, or High-Friar-Chare, near New-Gate, leads from that division of West-Gate, now called Fenkill-Street, to the White-Cross.

A. D. 1777, an elegant hall was erected ^x in this street, by the so­ciety of free and accepted masons, of the lodge of St. John. It con­tains, together with two paintings by Bell^y, one representing St. John, the other a portrait of the present master of the lodge ^z, an excellent small organ for their solemn rites. There is a Greek inscription on the front, in capital letters—a text from the first chapter of St. John's Gos­pel, signifying, "The darkness comprehended it not."—" [...]."

Pudding-Chare, anciently, says Bourne, Budding-Chare, a cross street leading from West-Gate to the Big-Market, is in some places narrow and inconvenient for carriages. It communicates with St. John's church-yard, or rather with a new foot-way railed off at the [Page 135] end of it, called "Grave's End-Walk," by another little street called, anciently, St. John's Chare, at present Rosemary-Lane, in which is the lying-in hospital for poor married women.

January 12th, 1774 ^a, the magistrates of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the general quarter-sessions of the peace, as justices for that town and county, granted a licence to Mrs. Sarah Hudson ^b, to keep this house, in pursuance of an act of parliament made in the 13th year of the reign of King George the Third.

May 9th, 1778, mention occurs of a bequest of an hundred pounds to this charity, by the late Lady Allgood ^c.

A. D. 1781, an hundred and five children were born in this hos­pital ^d.

In the year 1761, a similar charity ^e was instituted for poor lying-in women at their own houses, in Newcastle ^f and Gateshead.

January 2d, 1762, it appeared that, out of 180 poor women who [Page 136] had been recommended to this charity since its first institution, 158 had been safely delivered and preserved from the extremities of want in their distressed situation ^g.

It appeared, March 18th, 1775, that 1250 poor women had re­ceived the benefit of this charity in Newcastle and Gateshead, since the time of its first establishment^h.

Opposite the south end of Rosemary-Lane stands an alms-house, which has lately been rebuilt.

It is marked as a large pile in Bourne's Plan of Newcastle. "Seven poor persons," he tells us, "reside in it, who have a small allowance from the town at Christmas."

There is an order of common-council, June 6th, 1645, confirming to the ten poor widows in Pudding-Chare alms-house, their former al­lowance of ten shillings, and two chaldrons of coals, yearly. This has lately been filled with the brethren of St. Mary's Hospital.

Back-Row, which leads from the foot of West-Gate, opposite the postern, towards the gate of the castle, commonly called the Black-Gate, had anciently the name of Gallow-Gateⁱ.

The Postern is a little street, which conducts from the foot of West-Gate westward to the Postern in the town-wall, called White-Friar-Gate^k.

[Page 137]Bayly-Gate^m leads towards the castle, into which it has anciently conducted by a postern-gate. It has plainly had its name from the ballium of the Castle, though Bourne (I think erroneously) derives it from "the coming of the felons of the county of Northumberland along it, attended by the county-bailiffs." The east end of this street is intersected by the passage from the descent into the close called Long-Stairs ⁿ, which, from thence to the east end of Back-Row, is at present called Queen-Street. There is a communication between the head of Long-Stairs and Castle-Stairs, called Bank-Side, and a still shorter by a subterraneous or arched passage, called Sheep-Head Alley.

Before I enter upon the history of the Castle of Newcastle, I shall take occasion to give a brief account of the famous wall of the emperor Hadrian, which ended at the castrum of the Roman station of Pons Aelii, and that of the emperor Severus, which passed through the site of the present Newcastle, and ended at Wall's End.

Hadrian's Wall or Vallum, made A. D. 120, was a wall of turf, with a deep foss or ditch accompanying it on the north side: the ori­ginal height of it is not known.

[Page 138]Severus' Wall was built, A. D. 207, of square stones, and every where also, except on the edges of precipices, was accompanied by a deep ditch or foss. The original height thereof was 12 feet, and the breadth 8. Between the village of Walker, i. e. the town by the wall, and Byker-Hill, the Wall of Severus, with its foss, are still plainly distinguishable: the site of the wall at present is covered with brush­wood and stunted trees. Dr. Stukeley has preserved in his Iter Boreale a view of the appearance of the Roman Wall, between Byker-Hill Mill and Newcastle, when he wrote. From this mill to the Smith's shop near the first mile-stone on the Shields road, the site of the wall and hollow of the foss, running parallel with the present turnpike way, are yet clearly discernible.

At the head of the bank, over-looking Ouse-Burn, was a castellum or exploratory tower, out of the foundations of which I saw many Roman stones taken, not many years ago, to build an adjoining house.

Coing down the hill from thence to the rivulet of Ouse-Burn, the foss on the north side of the hedge is still very deep, and forms what is here called a little gill.

Severus' Wall must have formed a small angle at the arch by which it has crossed Ouse-Burn.

On the rise of the hill between this streamlet and Red-Barns I found, April 3d, 1783, many of the square stones which had evidently been the plunder of the wall.

About Red-Barns the garden grounds have destroyed every vestige both of the wall and the foss: but when we are past the gardens, the remains of the wall seem again to appear, and, having crossed the field, proceed in a straight line, behind the Keelman's Hospital, to the Sally-Port, or Ship-Carpenter's Tower. There was a rope-walk here, upon the foundation of the wall, not many years ago.

Near the present Sally-Port Gate stood a turret or Roman castlellum. From hence the wall, as the foundations thereof, which were discovered some years ago^o, plainly evinced, passed over the top of the hill, to [Page 139] which it gave the name of Wall-Knoll, and must have crossed Pandon-Burn by an arch near Stock-Bridge, as it is said to have been the ancient boundary and defence of the royal mansion of Pandon-Hall on the north ^p.

From Pandon-Hall the Roman Wall must have climbed over another hill towards Lort-Burn, which it has spanned by an arch near the pre­sent Low-Bridge, in order to form the northern rampart of the station of Pons Aelii: where it has^q run a little to the north of that part of St. Nicholas' church, which is called St. George's Porch; stretching from thence through the gardens of the vicarage house, it has afterwards in­tersected [Page 140] the line of the town-wall, a little to the north of the West-Gate, where Horseley supposes a very small turn has been made in it, in order to come up to the north rampart of the station^r at Newcastle, and to get to a sufficient distance from Hadrian's Vallum.

[Page 141]Horseley with great probability supposes that one of the extremities of Hadrian's Vallum was on the bank of the Tyne, beyond the castle, perhaps near the present half-moon battery (covered now with mo­dern buildings), where there may have been a circular turret in the time of the Romans, to command the pass of the bridge.

This vallum, passing the north corner of the castle, went in a straight line^s to the place where, in Horseley's time, it became distin­guishable, without the West-Gate, and so onwards to that rising which still is so remarkable in a field, without the Turnpike-Gate, along which are ranged a set of boundary stones, where it certainly has passed.

Hadrian's Vallum, is with extreme probability supposed to have formed the southern rampart of the station of Pons Aelii, as Severus' Wall, at the distance of about six chains, may be naturally thought to have been the northern one. This station, most likely, has been square— The brow of the hill at the head of the Side easily directs us where to draw the line of the eastern rampart, running from St. George's Porch, till intercepted by Hadrian's Vallum, near Baily-Gate. And a line drawn from what was in Horseley's time Mr. Ord's house (lately Mr. Gibson's, the town-clerk's), to that part of the line of Severus' Wall which was about 30 yards east from the present Rosemary-Lane, shews as what must have been the western boundary of this fortification.

From that part of the line of the town-wall, where we left Severus' work, the track of it running westward has entirely been destroyed by buildings and gardens, till near the Turnpike-Gate, where it was thought distinguishable, in Horseley's time, in a small field between Quarry-House and Newcastle. That writer was of opinion that it [Page 142] passed through the site of this quarry-house, just beyond which, on the west, an immense quarry has eradicated every vestige both of the wall and foss of Severus: but mounting to the top of the rising ground be­yond it westward, the hollow of the foss begins to re-appear, running along pretty close to the north side of the turnpike road to Benwall, called in the Notitia the Station of Condercum.

Hadrian's Vallum, which we left running up a field west of the Turnpike-Gate, and marked by a range of boundary^t stones, disappears through the next field, where it has been destroyed by the working of pits ^u, but rises again into obvious notice after we pass the old mill, and is a long way distinguishable (with its foss) as it stretches west­ward towards Benwall, at the distance of a bow-shot in some places from the present turnpike-way.

[Page]

CASTLE OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.

THE date of the first building, or rather perhaps of the enlarging ^v, re-edifying, or refounding of this once very strong and important fortress, is differently fixed by different historians; some placing it in the year 1079 ^w, others in 1080 ^x, and 1082 ^y. And if we will believe our metrical annalist Hardyng, it was not erected till the reign of William Rufus ^z. Many considerations induce us to lament that no one has set about to give us a work to be intitled, "The Harmony of English Historians:" till that appear we may perhaps do something towards reconciling the various and clashing accounts of the building of this castle, by supposing that the earliest relate to the year when it was be­gun, and the others to the time of its final completion.

However that may be, the greater part of our historians agree that this work was undertaken during the reign and at the command, [Page 144] of William the Conqueror, under the direction of Robert Curthose, his eldest son, on his return from an unsuccessful enterprize against Mal­colm king of Scotland, who, presuming on the absence of William on the Continent, where he was likely to have been a long while detained by the revolt of the Normans, and the diversion of his French enemies, had passed the borders of the two kingdoms, and wasted the northern provinces of England.

Its having been called, on its erection, the "New Castle," seems strongly to imply that it arose from the site of some older fortress, from which, by way of contradistinction, it derived a name extended after­wards to the adjoining town, and which is still retained in its present appellation ^a. Thus, as Dr. Plot, in his History of Staffordshire, in­forms us in a very similar instance, Newcastle under Lyme ^b or Line, in that county, had its name from the old castle of Chesterton under Lyme, which at the time of its erection was falling into ruin.

Scarcely had this castle been completed, before it was converted to a purpose very different from the intention of building it, having been se­cured to protect the rebellion of Earl Mowbray against William Rufus, the son and successor of William the Conqueror. The King marched against it, in the year 1095 ^c, with a great army, and took it after a [Page 145] short siege, together with several of the partizans of that noble traitor. William, having missed the great object of his northern journey in this castle, sat down before that of Tinmouth, on the taking of which also he was a second time disappointed, for Earl Mowbray was found to have taken refuge in the fortress of Bambrough. After a tedious and fruitless siege of that castle, rendered by its natural situation almost im­pregnable, the King returned southward, but not till he had erected a castle before it to cut off all hopes of throwing in succours, and filled it with his army, whom he directed to continue the blockade.

Driven, perhaps, to great straits through want of provisions, Mow­bray closed with an offer of some of his faithful adherents, of whose loyalty the King had however entertained no suspicions, as he had ap­pointed them the guards of this Newcastle upon Tyne: these had trai­terously, and with secrecy, invited the Earl to take shelter in it. The unfortunate nobleman escaped from Bambrough, but was discovered during his flight to this castle, on which he suddenly changed his route, and took sanctuary in the church of St. Oswin at Tinmouth. The holy asylum could not protect so formidable an enemy of the King, for after being wounded, he was dragged out by violence from the altar, and made a prisoner ^d.

[Page 146]In the year 1174, by the King's writ, the sum of fifty pounds was expended on the tower of this castle; as also, the same year, a farther sum of 125l. 13s. 6d. by the above writ, on the view of Robert de Diveliston and Ralph Baiard ^e.

A. D. 1213, King John made a foss round this castle, with some new and additional works towards the river Tyne ^f.

This year William, Earl of Warren, had the custody of the castles of Bamburgh and Newcastle upon Tyne, with the whole bailiwick of Northumberland, committed to his trust ^g.

[Page 147]A. D. 1224, William Briwere was constituted governor of New­castle upon Tyne ^h.

In the year 1225, Hugh de Bolebec, by a special precept from the King, was acquitted from his service of castle-guard at Newcastle upon Tyne, having been with the King in his army at Bedford ⁱ. This year, also, Roger de Merley, for his assistance of the same oc­casion, was acquitted of the service due from him, for that time, in warding the castle of Newcastle ^k.

This year John, son of Robert (Clavering), sheriff of Northumber­land, occurs as governor of this castle ^l.

A. D. 1226, John Clavering was also sheriff of Northumberland and governor of this castle, in which trust he is said to have continued for the tenth, eleventh, and half of the twelfth year of that King's reign: his father's christian name having been Robert, he was com­monly called John, son of Robert, or John Fitz-Robert ^m.

Yet in the year 1228, Brian, son of Alan, sheriff of Northumber­land, occurs also as governor of this castle.—He was Earl of Britanny and Richmond.—He continued in this important trust till the 19th of Henry the Third ⁿ.

A. D. 1229, there was a determination that neither the King, nor the keeper of the King's castle at Newcastle upon Tyne, had a right to take prize of an hundred herring for each boat and vessel coming up to that town, and that thenceforth they should not be claimed ^o.

[Page 148]In the year 1234, twenty-two pounds appear to have been expended on the work of the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^p.

A. D. 1237, Hugh de Bolebeck, sheriff of Northumberland, occurs also as governor of Bamborough castle, and the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^q.

In the year 1248, a new gate, at the expence (to the crown) of 514l. 15s. 11d. was made in this castle ^r.

A. D. 1250, a gate of the same castle was repaired at the expence of 36l. 0s. 8d. ^s.

In the year 1266, Robert de Lisle, having taken part with the re­bellious barons, who had made the King their prisoner, was by them appointed governor of Newcastle upon Tyne ^t.

[Page 149]A. D. 1268, the reparations of the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne cost 14l. 16s. 6d. ^u.

In the year 1250, the King's tower in the castle of Newcastle cost, in repairing, 67l. 5s. ^v.

There is said to be a roll, of the date of 1278, remaining in the Tower of London, wherein is preserved an account of the different lands and tenements in the county of Northumberland, which were at that time charged with the repairs and support of some edifices within this castle ^w.

December 26th, 1292, John Baliol, King of Scotland, did homage for the crown of that kingdom to Edward I. King of England, in the great-hall of his palace, within the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^x.

There is a writ, dated 1297, by which the King commanded the sheriff of Northumberland to store the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne [Page 150] with victuals, and other necessaries, and to cause it to be safely guarded ^y.

A. D. 1299, Alan de Molton occurs as porter of this castle ^z.

In the year 1305, Thomas de Lucy occurs as holding the manor of Langley, in Northumberland, of the King in chief, by the service of one knight's see, an annual rent of 8s. 6d. for cornage to the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne, and by doing county suit and service there ^a.

May 3d, 1315, King Edward II. appointed William Ridell, Knt. sheriff of Northumberland, and committed to him the castle of New­castle upon Tyne, to account in the King's Exchequer as former she­riffs and keepers had done, for what related to the office of sheriff and to the custody of this castle ^b.

By an inquisition taken at Newcastle upon Tyne, September 13th, 1317, it appeared that Adam de Valentia, Earl of Pembroke, held, at the day of his death, the manor of Mitford in Northumberland, of the King in capite, by the service of a barony, and payment of 31s. 4d. for cornage to the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^c.

In the year 1323, one quarter of the body of Andrew de Hartela, who had suffered death for treason, was ordered to be stuck up on the tower of this castle ^d, which appears about this time to have been put into a posture of defence ^e.

[Page 151]A. D. 1336, there was an inquisition taken at Newcastle upon Tyne concerning the reparation of this castle, whereby it was found, that at the battle of Bannockburn, in the year 1313, when John de Kenton, Knt. was sheriff of Northumberland, the fortress, and all the edifices about it, were in good repair—that afterwards Nicholas Scot, Adam de Swinburn, William Riddell, John de Fenwick, Cuthbert de Bo­roughdon, John de Fenwick, John de Wodhorne, John de Lilleburne, William de Tyndale, Roger Mauduit, and Robert Darreins were sheriffs of Northumberland—during which time it was affirmed that the great tower, and also the lesser ones of the said castle, the great hall, with the King's chamber adjoining thereto; together with divers other chambers below in Queen's mantle, and the buttry-cellar and pantry: the King's chapel ^f within the castle; a certain house beyond the gate which is called the Checker-House, with the bridges within and without the gate, and one postern, were 300l. worse than be­fore: they say also, that there were in the custody of Roger Mauduit, late sheriff, four hundred and twenty fothers of lead. They say also, that it was thought highly necessary, that the Baron Heron, of Had­deston, the Baron of Walton, Lord Robert de Clifford, of the New-Place, [Page 152] Chief Lord of the Barony of Gaugie, the Lords of the Barony of — and Devilston; that the Lord of Werk upon Tweed, the Lord of the Barony of Bolbeck, alias Bywell, the Baron of Bothall, and, lastly, the Baron of Delaval, should build each of them a house within the liberties of the castle, for the defence thereof. The house of the Baron of Werk was built over the Postern ^g.

In the year 1340 John de Biker occurs as holding the manor of Biker, containing a carucate of land, an hundred acres of wood, and 17s. 7d. ob. annual rent, of the King in chief, by the service, among others, of payment to the King, by the hand of the sheriff for the time being, 10l. yearly, for castleward, to the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^h.

A. D. 1341, Lord John Nevil, of Hornby, occurs as captain of this castle; when Earl Murray appears to have been confined in it as a prisoner ⁱ.

In the years 1342 and 1343 ^k, William de Felton appears to have been sheriff of the county of Northumberland, and governor of this castle ^l.

A. D. 1346, Robert Lord Bertram occurs as sheriff and governor of this castle ^m.

December 27th, 1351, the King appointed William de Watford keeper of the gate of this castle, with the same salary that Nicholas de Ufton, deceased, had, and his predecessors in that office ⁿ.

[Page 153]A mandate occurs from the King to John de Coupeland, sheriff of Northumberland, to keep the person of David Brus safely and se­curely in this castle, unless Henry de Percy, and Ralph de Nevill, should agree at Berwick upon Tweed to deliver him up for certain hostages of Scotland ^o.

A. D. 1357, Castle-Moor and Castle-Field, anciently annexed to the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne, were granted by the crown, and made parcel of the corporation of that town ^p.

In the year 1360, Richard de Cramlington, brother and heir of John de Cramlington, occurs as paying for his lands in the village of Cramlington (amongst other things), three shillings and four-pence for ward to the castle of Newcastle ^q.

A. D. 1361, the King granted the custody of the gaol, and of the gate of the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne, to Thomas Rote, for the term of his life, and with such fees as his predecessors in those offices, William de Watford and William Fox, had been accustomed to re­ceive ^r.

May 20th, 1362, a mandate occurs from the King to Henry del Strother, late sheriff of Northumberland, to deliver up John Gray and Thomas de Hay, hostages of Scotland, to Roger de Wyderington, then sheriff of Northumberland, by whom they are directed to be kept safe in the King's castle at Newcastle upon Tyne.

A similar mandate occurs, dated June 20th, 1363, to the above Roger de Wyderington, to deliver up Thomas del Hay to Richard de Horsley, then sheriff of Northumberland, to be safely kept in the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^s.

Among the petitions in parliament, A. D. 1377, there occurs one [Page 154] for the reparation (among other northern castles) of that of Newcastle upon Tyne, and for the placing of a proper constable to reside in the same ^t.

In the year 1384, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, had the sherissalty of that county, and the custody of Newcastle upon Tyne, committed to his trust ^u.

A. D. 1390, Sir Ralph Eure, Knt. occurs as sheriff of Northum­berland, and governor of the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne ^v.

In the year 1399, King Henry IV. granted a charter to separate the town of Newcastle upon Tyne from the county of Northumberland, and make it a distinct county of itself: it is observable, that there is no express mention of any exception of this castle, or the limits thereof, called Castle-Yard, in the above charter ^w.

An extraordinary grant, and which was afterwards most ungrate­fully [Page 155] repaid ^x, of the wardenship of the north marches, together with the castles, towns, lordships, customs, and fee-farms of Carlisle and Newcastle upon Tyne, &c. &c. to be held of the King by knight's service, was made by King Edward the Fourth, in his 20th year, to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and confirmed by the parliament at Westminster, in the year 1482 ^y.

September 21st, 1485, King Henry VII. granted, by letters patent, to William Case, Esq. during life, the office of constable of the castle of Newcastle upon Tyne, with the accustomed wages and fees ^z.

February 15th, 1494, the office of constable of this castle, then vacant by the death of Sir Robert Multon, Knt. was granted, by let­ters patent of the same, to Roger Fenwick, Esq. with the wages and [Page 156] fees of 20l. per annum, out of the revenues of the county of North­umberland, with other emoluments ^a.

By a clause in a charter of the 31st of Queen Elizabeth, to the cor­poration of Newcastle upon Tyne, the supposed private act of parlia­ment, whereby this castle and its precinct had been restored ^b to the county of Northumberland, after the charter of the 1st of Henry IV. had constituted the town of Newcastle a county of itself, was in a great degree invalidated, and the same power given to the magistrates of Newcastle in this place, the dungeon only excepted, as in all others under their peculiar jurisdiction ^c.

[Page 157]From the year 1605 to 1616, this castle, no longer a fortified place, was farmed, for I know not what purpose, by the incorporated com­pany of taylors of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the annual rent of one pound sterling—part of the keep, however, still continued to be used as a prison ^d.

King James I. by letters patent, dated April 14th, 1618, granted, and let to farm, at the rent of forty shillings per annum, for the term of fifty years, to Alexander Stevenson, Esq. one of the pages of his bedchamber, "all that his old castle of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne and the scyte and herbage of the said castle as well within the walls of the same as without, with the rights, members, privileges, &c. thereto belonging." The county prison for Northumberland, with the [Page 158] Moot-Hall ^e, and other conveniences for keeping the assizes and sessions for the use of the county of Northumberland, were excepted in this grant, at the time of the date of which the castle-ward rent amounted to 32l. per annum ^f.

August 18th, 1620, an inquisition was taken concerning the bounds [Page 159] of this castle, and the lands thereto belonging, and there was an in­formation thereupon in the exchequer chamber ^g.

In the year 1643, Sir John Marley, Knt. then mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, covered the keep of this castle with planks ^h, and placed cannon thereupon for defence of the town against the Scots: he retired to it, with some others, after the enemy had taken Newcastle by storm, October 19th, 1644, and held it out against them for eight days with great gallantry ⁱ.

[Page 160]An information occurs in the House of Commons' Journals, Nov. 17th, 1646, concerning the moat of this castle, and the wall thereof, which appears to have fallen and destroyed many houses ^k.

There is remaining in the Augmentation-Office the original of "A survey of the farme of the old castle of the towne of Newcastle upon Tyne with all the rights members and appurtenances therof lyeing and being in the countie of Northumberland late parcell of the possessions of Charles Stuarte late King of England made and taken by us whose names are hereunto subscribed 29 October 1649 by virtue of a commission grounded upon an Act of the Commons assembled in Parliament for the sale of the honors mannors and landes heretofore belonging to the late Kinge Queene and Prince under the hands of seaven of the trustees in the said acte named and appointed."

The description and boundary are as follows: "All that the old cas­tle being a stronge and greate tower of free stone situate in the midst of the Castle-Garth in the county of Northumberland and bounded with stronge workes of stone and mudde is now garrisoned by the parlia­ment's forces and used by them as a magazeene of ammunicion for the garrison of Newcastle and therefor we have not surveyed nor valued the same.

[Page 163]A. D. 1652, the corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne purchased of Mrs. Jane Langston, relict of John Langston, groom porter, for the sum of 300l. her right and title to this castle, and the precincts thereof ^m.

About the year 1662, the King was petitioned to grant this castle and its precincts, the lease whereof to Stevenson was within a few years of expiring, for the use of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Upon this a dispute arose, whether a grant thereof were not more proper for the county of Northumberland than for the town, because it was alleged, though the said castle and garth stand in Newcastle, yet they belong to the county of Northumberland.

Lord Ogle, on behalf of that county, having had a conference with those who appeared for Newcastle, was convinced that it was more proper for the town of Newcastle to have them, on being assured that the gaol, &c. should still continue for the service of the county as heretofore.

In the interim of this dispute, Lord Gerard prevented the corpo­ration of Newcastle, and obtained a grant under the seal of the ex­chequer, dated August 13th (or 30th) 1664, for 99 years in rever­sion, [Page 164] determinable on three lives, at the annual rent of forty shil­lings ⁿ.

In the year 1668, we find the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of Newcastle, petitioning the King to revoke Lord Gerard's grant, as it was only under the exchequer seal, was at an under value, and had been obtained by surprise. The matter was referred to the lords commissioners of the treasury, but they could obtain no redress for the present ^o.

The matter of annexing the Castle-Garth to Newcastle, and dismem­bering it from the county, having been referred by the lords commis­sioners of the treasury to the attorney-general, it was by him reported, that he conceived it might be more fit for the government of the inha­bitants of Castle-Garth, if that place was put within the limits and jurisdiction of the town of Newcastle, which might be done by the King's letters patent, with a proviso that the assizes and sessions be kept there for the county, as formerly: whereupon, after great consi­deration had of the matter by the right honourable the lord high trea­surer, a grant passed the great seal, by way of indenture, between his majesty, on the one part, and the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle, on the other part, dated June 17th, 1685, for the term of 31 years, and at the annual [...]ent of one hundred chaldrons of coals, London measure ^p, to be delivered in the pool of London. The King's rents in the said castle, of the yearly value of 32l. were excepted in this grant; as also, "All that great hall called the Moot-Hall within the walls of the said castle where his majestyes justices heretofore used to hold the assizes, sessions and gaol-delivery and now do yearly from [Page 165] time to time use to sitt for the handeling and ordering matters and businesses concerning the service of the Kinge's majesty and the state and good government of the said county of Northumberland and also all other houses and buildings and other fitt and usuall places as well within the said castle as without where his majestye's people and sub­jects of his highnesses said county of Northumberland use to come reside and be att the assizes sessions and gaol-delivery and other such like causes and matters whereto they shall be called for the better dis­patch and performance of their several services and offices and dutyes in that behalf due unto the King's majesty, his heirs and successors according to the custom of the place aforesaid and the lawes of his ma­jestyes kingdom. And also except all those lower places within the said castle now used for the common prison and gaol by the sheriff of the said county of Northumberland for the time being."—The grant is "of all that his said majestye's old castle of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne and the seite and herbage of the said castle as well within the walls of the same as without with the rights members and appur­tenances of what nature or kind soever scituate lying and being or to the said premises in any wise belonging or appertaining in the county of Northumberland or in the county of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne or either of them—And all those his majestye's lands, closes of meadow or pasture called or known by the name or names of the Castle-Fields and the Fryth with their and every of their appurte­nances lying and being in the county of Northumberland or the said county of the town of Newcastle upon Tyne aforesaid or either of them ^r."

[Page 166]In Trinity Term, 1690, the Earl of Macclesfield caused a scire facias to issue out to revoke the letters patent, pretending that the King had not power to take the Castle-Garth out of the county of Northumber­land, and annex it to the town of Newcastle: the corporation of that town retained Mr. Thomas Pingrey, a clerk in the petty Bag, to appear to the above, and give notice to them the defendants when to plead: but he neglecting to give such notice, judgment was afterwards signed on the said writ by default.

On a petition of the corporation of Newcastle to the lords com­missioners of the great seal, dated December 6th, 1690, to set aside the judgment obtained by default, their lordships after a hearing, December 19th, 1690, declared that it should be set aside, and that the defendants (the corporation of Newcastle), by the 13th January, 1691, should plead in chief to the above scire facias.

Proceedings at law between the contending parties appear to have been continued till July 18th, 5th of William and Mary, when, Mac­clesfield, plaintiff, against the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle, de­fendants, the lord keeper ordered that an injunction should be awarded for stay of the defendants' proceedings against the said plaintiff and his tenants ^s. And also to quiet them in such their several pos­sessions of the premises in question, as they had at the time of filing the bill, and for three years before, until the defendants should appear and answer the same plaintiff's bill, and the further order of the court to the contrary, unless cause should be shewn to the contrary, at the next ge­neral [Page 167] seal, Mr. Solicitor Rawlingson praying a day till then to be heard therein.

July 24th, 5th William and Mary—No cause being then shewn to the contrary, it was therefore upon the motion of Mr. Hollis, being of the plaintiff's council made at the rising of the court, ordered that the said former order be made absolute ^t.

October 2d, 1704, the mantle-wall in the Castle-Garth is mentioned as either having fallen down, or as being in such a state as rendered it necessary it should be immediately repaired ^u.

September 23d, 1734, the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle pe­titioned the King for a farther term of the Castle-Garth, their former grant thereof from King James II. having expired ^v.

October 27th, 1735, Colonel George Liddell petitioned his Majesty on the same subject, but with more success, for July 2d, 1736 ^w, on the payment of a fine of 150l. the King granted the Castle and Castle-Garth for the term of 50 years to George Liddell, Esq. on condition of his paying annually to the Royal Hospital of Chelsea, an hundred chal­drons [Page 168] of good Newcastle coals, and of keeping all the buildings, as well those excepted in the lease as granted, in good repair.

March 26th, 1739, George Liddel, Esq. occurs as demanding a sum of money of the corporation of Newcastle, for dilapidations in this Castle-Garth ^x, the great gate whereof had fallen down on the 13th of the preceding January ^y.—Dec. 2d, 1740, they agreed to pay him 250l. on the above account.

In the year 1741, the rental for Castle-Garth amounted to 224l. 7s. 6d. ^z —Nov. 19th, 1777, the Castle and Castle-Garth were demised from the crown to Henry Lord Ravensworth, for the term of 40 years and an half—from the 13th of July, 1786, at the same rents, under the same description, and with the like exceptions and covenants as in the above grant to Colonel Liddell, dated July 2d, 1736 ^a.

May 19th, 1779, the above leasehold estate of the Castle-Garth, af­ter having been advertised to be sold by auction on that day by Mess. Christie and Ansell, in Pall Mall, London, was purchased by John Chrichloe Turner, Esq. one of the agents for the Greenwich Hospital estates in the northern counties of England ^b.

[Page 169]Among several rents and revenues arising to this castle, Bourne men­tions the subsequent as payable from the twelve following baronies:

1. The barony of the Herons ^c, which contained Haddeston, Chir­ton, Little-Benton, Coldwell, Swinburne and Flatford, paid for castle­ward ^d,13s. for cornage ^e, 5s. 10d.

[Page 170]2. The barony of Dilstone, containing Devilstone or Dilston, Cor­brigg, Togeston, &c. paid for castle-ward, 13s. 4d.—for cornage, 10s.

3. The barony of Walton, given by King John to Robert son of Roger, and confirmed by his charter, contained Walton, Ripplingdon, Newham, Denton, Newbigging, Kenton, Gosford and Fawden: and also Oggle, Burndon, Horton with Sticklaw and Hereford and Wod­rington, paid for castle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 10l.

4. The barony of Bolbeck, containing Stifford, Brumhall, Slavely, Shotton, Heddon of the Wall, Hedwin East, Thornton, Whitchester, Haughton, Benwell, Elswick, Angerton, Hertbourne, Middleton, Morel, Burneton, Beril, Fenwick, Matifin, East Hawkwell, Shalow, Middleton South, Cambhow, Hertweigh, Hawick, Kirkherle, Rocheley, Newton Grange, and the moiety of Bywell, paid for castle-ward, 3l. 6s. 8d. for cornage, 1l. 12s.

5. The barony of Bolam, containing Bolam, Litedon, Burneton, Thornbury, Cupum Parvam, Wittington, Hayden, Belsow, Brade­ford, Denum, Trewick and Tunstall, paid for castle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 8s.

6. The barony of Gaugye, containing Ellingham, Cramlington, Heaton, Hartelaw, Jesemuth and Whitley, paid for castle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 7s. 2d.

7. The barony of Marley, alias Morlaw, alias Morpeth, containing Morpeth, Grimnest membrum suum, Newham, Hebscot, Shillington, Tuysell, Saltwick, Dudden East, Dudden West, Clyfton, Caldwell, Stannington, Shotten, Blakeden, Wetteslade North, Wetteslade South, Killingworth, Benton and Walker, paid for castle-ward, 2l. 13s. 4d. for cornage, 7s. 8d.

8. The barony of Bothall, containing Bothall cum membris suis, viz. Whetworth, Newmore, Oldmore, Peggesworth, Hebborne, Fen­rother, Tricklington, Fresdon, Longhirst cum membris suis, et Nishen­den, Veter' Morae or the Old Moor, and Eringdon, paid for castle-ward, 2l. for cornage, 8s. 8d.

[Page 171]9. The barony of Delaval, containing Blackalladay, Seton cum membris suis, Neusum et Dissington, paid for castle-ward, 2l. 6s. 8d. for cornage, 3s. 3d.

10. The barony of Rosse, containing Werk, Mindram, Karham, Prestfen, Manilawe, Dunum, Palwister, Shotton, Killom, Holthall, Newton and the other Newton, Langeton, Lilleburn, Hilderton, We­perden, Russenden, Tithington, Butlisden, and the moiety of Glat­tendon.

11. The barony of Bywell ^f, containing Newbigging, Woodhorn, Lynmouth, Hyrste, Hallywell, Lynton, Ellington, cum Cresswell and Ayden membris suis, Bychefield, Inghym, Black Heddon, Samford­ham, Newton West, Newton East, Scheellinge, Ovington, Ovingham, Milkylleye, Whitlye, Falderlye, Bromley, Appleby, the moiety of By­well, Stokefield, Swynburne East, Swynburne West, Ryhill.

12. The barony de Copun paid 13s. 4d.

Thus far the baronies—But besides these rents, there were houses, yards, and gardens, &c. which paid to it ^g.

The liberties and privileges of the castle extend northwards to the river of Tweed, and southward to the river of Tees ^h."

[Page 172]The subsequent observations on the present remains of this once famous and important fortress were made July 9th, 1778.

The Keep, or Great Tower, measured 28 yards and a quarter in height: it appears anciently to have been somewhat higher, and had, no doubt, a kernelled battlement.

The ichnography of this keep would describe nearly a square, the lines of two sides of which bear to the north-west. That front how­ever, which, properly speaking, ought to be called the south-west front, is generally styled the south one. The others are named the west, north, and east sides, with the same little impropriety.

The grand entrance, originally, no doubt, the only one, is at a great height from the ground ⁱ. Two portals, as it were, must be passed before we can arrive at it ^k.—From the first of these, which is on the south, and in a great wall ^l, which, at a few yards distance, has in­closed [Page 173] the whole keep, we mount by eleven steps to the second one, which is of prodigious strength, and from the top of it the be­sieged appear to have had great power to annoy the assailants.

From this second portal to the grand entrance are eighteen steps, part leading from south to north, and part from east to west. No grooves for portcullises ^m are discoverable in either of the portals, but so much appears to have been demolished that one cannot from thence infer that there have never been any.

The grand entrance which is towards the east, has had its arch adorned in a superb manner, with zig-zag, and other Saxon or semi-Saxon ornaments.

The wall here measured four yards and a quarter in thickness ⁿ.

Near this grand entrance, and in front as you ascend to it from south to north, is a door-way leading into a little apartment, which has been richly adorned on the inside.—It stands over a crypt or vault of consi­derable height, on two great arches that intersect each other, of beauti­ful [Page 174] Gothic masonry.—This had a distinct roof, and the whole forms a projection eastward at the north-east angle, against the east end of which a modern house has been built. From the garret of this house there is at present an entrance into it through an arched passage, where there must have been anciently a window. At present it is a currier's shop. From the richness of its interior ornaments I suspected it to have been the chapel, to which supposition its direction from east to west is not unfavourable. It must however have been but a very small one. Bourne supposes the chapel to have been within the walls of this keep, on the ground floor, in a place which at present composes a part of Mr. Fife's very curious and extensive cellar.

The great entrance seems to have led immediately into the state apartments ^o, which have been lighted from the east, by the most mag­nificent window in the whole great tower. Near this, and in the body of the wall, is an apartment with a curious draw-well in it—at sixteen yards depth ^p we reached the water. The depth in all is thirty-one yards and a quarter. The water is hard and very cold. There are square cavities in the wall on each side of this well, in which are round holes for pipes, used anciently to convey the water to the several apart­ments. It measures eleven yards to the ground from the window of the apartment that contains the well.

There is no way at present to the top of this keep, where one is sur­prised [Page 175] to find a little artificial garden, producing apple-trees, rose-bushes, &c. except by one great winding stair-case, about two yards wide, in the north-east angle. There is another stair-case ^q in the south-east angle, but it is now built up at the top. It has come down to the ground floor, at which place also the communication is now closed up.

By the rows of square holes in which the beams have rested, there must have been five stories of apartments, of which the great hall and state rooms were the lowest, from the present flagged floor to the top of this tower.

There is a gallery of communication in the center or thickness of the wall, and on all four sides of it, about five yards and a half^r from the top. This passage is about two yards and a half high, and has three or four loup holes on each side, all widening gradually inwards.

Below this in the south front is a gallery in the center of the wall, about fifteen yards and three quarters from the ground, in which there have been two large ornamented windows—nearly on a level with which on the north front is another window of the like sort.

Two great windows have let in light to the great hall ^s of this keep; that in the south front, near the south-west angle, having had the pillar or division in it broken away, has now the appearance of a door-way. A door hardly half its size is at present hung in it. The other window is very observable: it is on the west side near the south-west angle.

The kitchen of this great tower has been in the north wall: it con­tains a much larger fire-place than any other of the apartments. The chimney appears on the outside of the wall by a square projection, [Page 176] ending abruptly, and yet I know not with any degree of certainty whether ever it has been carried up any higher: one of its windows has been enlarged with great labour, to give more light to a joiner's shop, into which it has been converted.

The north-west angle of this tower is of an hexagonal form ^t, and projects in a manner different from any of the others ^u. In the wall of the western front have been several necessary-houses, communicat­ing with the great drains.

All the apartments of the ground-floor, and the county-prison itself, except when used at the assizes, have been converted into cellars: a pur­pose for which their great coolness renders them very fit.—There is a place here, into which if water be poured in the largest quantities, it im­mediately disappears.—It probably communicates with one of the large drains.

In the center of the present county prison is a remarkable pillar, from which arches branch out very beautifully on all sides. This co­lumn is hollow, and a pipe has ^v conducted water down through it from the well before-mentioned. There is a very observable window ^w in [Page 177] this place, with an arch turned in the inside to repel missile weapons, &c. See an account of many similar ones in King's ingenious ac­count of ancient castles, ut supra.

Great alterations must have been made in the appearance of the low parts of the south front, when the temporary prison of the county was made in this keep. The present entrance, to which we descend by four or five steps, must have been first made on that occasion, for there is no arch over it in the wall. Another similar kind of entrance on the eastern side of the south-east angle, which is now built up, with a swine-stye before it, is also, without doubt, of a date much posterior to that of the original building.—

If there has been a dungeon in this keep, as there probably was, I mean that dreary kind of mansion, to which the only entrance was by a square hole in the top, it must have been filled up, as no traces thereof can be discovered at present.

NEWGATE-STREET.

NEWGATE-STREET has plainly had its name from the New-Gate which bounds it on the north.

Bourne mentions a tenement on the east side of this street, given by Mrs. Alice Belaysis to University-College in Oxford ^x.

The same writer tells us that a tradition remained in his time, that [Page 178] there had been anciently several markets between New-Gate and the White-Cross ^y.

An ancient street, called Darne-Crook, runs westward to the town-wall, at the bottom of St. Andrew's church-yard. In this, says Bourne, were some wastes and houses that belonged to the nuns of St. Bartholomew.

Almost contiguous to New-Gate stands St. Andrew's church.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

THIS building appears to have retained more of its original masonry than the other churches, and, from the style of its architecture, has been generally thought to be the oldest in the town ^z.

Mention of it occurs, A. D. 1218, in the time of King Henry III ^a.

Bourne is of opinion that it was founded by the townsmen and reli­gious houses.

[Page 179]A. D. 1280, the justices itinerant appear to have held their courts in this church ^b.

The oldest writing that I have seen belonging to this church is dated 1281 ^c.

John, Bishop of Durham, granted an indulgence of forty days to those who should contribute any thing to the reparation of St. Andrew's Church, in Newcastle, and to the chapel of the Holy Trinity in the same, &c. dated at Gateshead, July 19th, 1387 ^d.

Oswald, Bishop of Galloway, granted an indulgence of forty days to such persons as should say their prayers devoutly at this church. It is dated in the year 1392 ^e.

[Page 180]This church received so much damage during the siege of Newcastle, A. D. 1644, that no service was performed therein for a year after­wards ^f.

A. D. 1652, this church was repaired by an assessment upon the houses and lands in the parish ^g.

In the year 1678, the parishioners of St. Andrew's petitioned the common-council of Newcastle to assist them in repairing this church ^h.

A. D. 1707, the floor of this church appears first to have been co­vered with flag stones ⁱ.

In the year 1708, the corporation of Newcastle gave 10l. towards the reparation of this church: a cess of 6d. per pound on all the lands and tenements in the parish having been found insufficient for that purpose ^k.

CHANTRIES IN ST. ANDREW'S.

THERE were three chantries here in the times of popery—one [Page 181] dedicated to St. Mary, another to the Holy Trinity, and a third to St. Thomas.

St. Mary's chantry is supposed to have been founded in the reign of King Edward the First, as mention of it occurs in a charter dated in the latter part of his reign.

It was of the yearly value of 6l. 12s. 10d. ^l.

Sir John Sadler was priest thereof at the suppression ^m.

The church-wardens of St. Andrew's appear to have been patrons of this chantry ⁿ.

The following account of it occurs in a certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of oure Ladie in the parishe church of Saynt An­drewe in the towne of Newcastel upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynd a prieste for ever for the mayntenaunce of God's service and to pray for all Christen sowlis and the saide prieste to have the revenues of the same for hys servyce which is so continued hitherto and ther is no dede of foundacion to be shewed—Yerely value 4l. 13s.—Accordyng to this survey 6l. 12s. 10d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is to be de­ducted [Page 182] 17s. 8d. for decay of certen rents charged in the summe afor­said, for rents resolut. 2s. 6d. for one obytt, 3s. and for the tenthes 9s. 5d. paid to the Kinges majestie as apereth in the said rentall, 32s. 7d. and remayneth clerly 100s. 3d. whiche ar employed to the sustentacion and relief of John Sadler, prieste, incumbent ther as hathe ben accus­tomyd hertofore.—Ornaments &c. 20s. 2d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

The second chantry was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and is thought to have been founded by Sir Adam de Athol ^o, knight, sheriff of Northumberland, 1383.

The yearly value thereof was 4l. 2s. 10d.—Thomas Westhe was the last incumbent, and had a pension of 2l. 1s. 5d. per annum ^p.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate above­cited, of the 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Of­fice:

"The chauntrie of the Trinitie in the parishe churche of Saynt An­drewe in the towne of Newcastel upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynde a prieste for ever for the mayntenance of Godd's service and to pray for all Christen fowles which is so continued hitherto but ther [Page 183] is no dede of foundacion to be shewed.—Yerely value 64s. 2d.—Ac­cording to this survey 4l. 2s. 10d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid out for rents resolut' 18s. and for the tenthes 6s. 5d. paid to the Kinges majestie, 24s. 5d. and remayneth clerely 58s. 5d. which ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of Davy Sympson prieste incum­bent there.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 10d. as apereth by a perticler inven­tory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c ^q."

The third chantry in this church was dedicated to St. Thomas ^r. No mention occurs of it in the certificate above-cited, of the 37 Hen. VIII. in the Augmentation-Office.

THE ALTAR.

A RENT-CHARGE of five shillings per annum to the sustentacion or support of the altar of the church of St. Andrew, occurs about A. D. 1251, issuing out of certain lands near the street leading to Pilgrim-Street ^s.

The altar here (as was the whole church at the same time) was beau­tified [Page 184] in the year 1781. A new service of silver-plate was subscribed for, and procured, with a beautiful altar-cloth, on the occasion.

THE STEEPLE.

THIS steeple has probably had the name and arms of Robert Rodes in the center, under the belfry, as in the other churches of the town ^t.

It appears to have been battered down by the cannon of the Scots army, during the memorable siege of the town in 1644 ^u.

It contains six bells, of a soft melodious sound.

PARISH REGISTER.

THE register of this church begins about 1597. Some few leaves of a prior date appear to have been lost.—Bourne, very unjustly, complains that this register has been badly kept ^v.

From January, 1688, to January, 1708, there were baptized, at this church, 1531 children—married 348—buried 1671.

From January, 1729, to January, 1749, there were baptized here 1866—married 516—and buried 2224.

[Page 185]From January, 1759, to January, 1779, there were baptized here 1751—married 731—buried 1931 ^w.

CHARITY-SCHOOL.

THIS was founded by Sir William Blackett, Bart. ^x and the first boy entered the school in January 1708.—It was for thirty boys.— The last Sir William Blackett, the son of the founder, about the year 1719, made an additional endowment for the purpose of clothing them ^y.

ORGAN.

AN organ, purchased by a voluntary subscription of the parishioners, was erected in this church, A. D. 1783. An order of the common-council was made in 1776, to establish a salary of 20l. per annum, for the organist of the organ intended to be set up in this church ^z.

In 1783, the parishioners of St. Andrew's parish purchased a piece of waste ground, lying on the west side of the church-yard, to enlarge [Page 186] their burial ground. This was consecrated by the Bishop of Clonfort, in the month of September, 1786.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ST. ANDREW'S.

IN the year 1592, Christopher Chaitor, of Butterbye near Dur­ham, by his last will, gave to the poor of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the parish of St. Andrew's, where he was born, fortie shillings ^a.

Left by Mr. William Carr, 1l. 2s. as a legacy to the church ^b.

To be distributed amongst poor householders.

Left by Henry Hilton, Esq. 4l. per annum ^c.

Mr. Robert Anderson, 5l. ^d

Dr. Aldworth's land in Akewell-Gate, in Gateshead, 1l. ^e

Left by Sir Alexander Davison, to be paid out of the town-chamber, upon Lady-Day, March 25th, 2l. ^f

Left by Mr. Thomas Davison, to be paid yearly, in December, out of the merchants' company, besides another legacy out of three tene­ments, 3s. each.—In all, 1l. 9s. ^g

Left by Mr. Timothy Davison, to be paid yearly, in December, at Christmas, for 15 poor freemen, or widows, not merchants, out of the merchants' company, 1l. ^h

Paid out of the town of Newcastle, at two payments, Michaelmas and Lady-Day, 4l.ⁱ

Left by Sir Mark Milbank, 3l. per annum ^k.

"Sir William Blackett, Bart. alderman, and sometimes mayor, also [Page 187] a burgess for this towne departed this life May 16th 1680. By his last will did bequeath to the poor of the parish of St. Andrew's forty shillings yearly for ever^l"—(out of a house at the Bridge-End.)

"Sir William Blackett, Baronet, alderman, twice mayor and also burgesse for this towne departed this life the 2d of December 1705. He in his life time gave an out-rent of 13s. 4d. to this church of St. Andrew's and also a close of three pounds a year and by his last will gave one thousand pounds to purchase an estate for the use of this pa­rish for ever ^m."

Madam Margaret Allgood gave 100l. the interest to be given to the poor of this parish, on Christmas day, yearly, for ever ⁿ.

Richard Gibson, who died January 22d, 1718, gave 30l. the in­terest to be divided on Christmas day, yearly, for ever ^o.

Dame Jane Clavering, by her will, dated Dec. 11th, 1734, gave 50l. the interest to be yearly distributed by the church-wardens ^p.

George Mallabar, Esq. who died August 20th, 1734, gave 50l. the interest to be yearly divided, on Christmas day, for ever ^q.

Mrs. Isabel Wrightson, who died March 13th, 1716, gave 50l. the interest to be paid yearly for the poor of St. Andrew's^r.

John Rumney, Esq. who died February 3d, 1694, gave 260l. a fifth part of the interest of which to be given to the poor of this parish ^s.

Mr. William Harrison, who died July 10th, 1721, gave 50l. the interest whereof to be yearly distributed, on St. Andrew's day, for ever ^t.

[Page 188]John Scafe Slayter left 20l. the interest to be given to the poor of St. Andrew's^u.

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH AND CHURCH-YARD.

TRINITY Chapel. Sir Adam de Athol, and his wife Mary, un­der a very large stone, which has originally been plated very curiously with brass. The remains of their effigies are still to be seen.—He is pictured at length in armour, having a sword on his left side, and a dagger on his right.—Her effigy hath nothing remaining of it but from the shoulders upwards.—The arms of both their families are still to be seen on the tomb-stone.

What remains of the inscription is this: "Hic jacent Dominus Ada­marus de Atholl miles & Domina Maria uxor ejus quae obiit quarto decimo die mensis ..... anno Domini millesimo tricentesimo...... Animarum propitietur."—The remaining part of the date is broken off: Grey, however, in his account of this stone, tells us, it was in the year 1387, which is very probably the time that his wife died; for it is a mistake that he died then, as appears by the indulgence above­mentioned.—Bourne.

There was, very lately, on this stone, inlaid with brass, a shield with arms, as quartered at this day by the Dukes of Athol.

Joshua Twizell, June 23d, 1718.

Thomas Winship, tanner, September 2d, 1695.

Christopher Rutter, baker and brewer, March 17th, 1714.

Mrs. Elizabeth Davison, mother of Mr. Thomas Davison, January 20th, 1724, aged 84 years.

Nicholas Fenwick, merchant, 14th December, 1725.

Mr. John Dawson, taylor.

Mrs. Barbara Davison, January 8th, 1730.

In the chancel near the altar.

James Ogle, of Causey-Park, Esq. upon whose tomb-stone, which is of marble, is the following inscription: "Hic jacet Jacobus Ogle de Causey-Park in comitatu Northumb' armiger, antiquitate domus utpote ex prenobili baronia Ogle de Ogle stirpe recta linea oriundus, vere [Page 190] clarus. sed invicta in perduelles, grassantibus nuperis civilibus bellis, animi magnitudine, constantia in regem etiam in tristissimo authoritatis deliquio. Fidelitate, in superiores observantia, in pace comitate, in in­seriores benignitate, quae omnia justissimo titulo sua vocare poterat, multo illustrior. Obiit Dec. 4^o. die annoque Domini 1664."

Thomas Harrison, barber surgeon, who died Feb. 24th, 1679.

Thomas Bednel, 14th July, 1701.

Christopher Barker, Oct. 26th, 1718.

Robert Tod, October 5th, 1730.

Within the rails of the communion lie interred the bodies of Cuthbert Lambert, M. D. and of Cuthbert his son—as yet without any inscription.

—Tanner—Rutter—Romaine—Younger—Mills—Drum [...]nd.

William Reed, 1683—David Cooper, 1748—Christopher Barker, 1705.—Thomas Beadnell, 1715.—Thomas Harrison, 1675.

North-Isle.

Robert Mills, house-carpenter.

South-Isle.

Dorothy Harrison, May 27th, 1702.

West-End.

William Milburn, 1772—R. Bates, Esq.—Richard Ward of Wall­cott in Norfolk, Esq.—Joseph Richmond, 1763—Henry Cowell, 1761.

Church-Yard.

On a table monument opposite the porch door: ‘"H. R. I. P. Car. Avison denati 9 Maii, 1770. a^o aetatis 60. Cath. uxor denati 14 Octob. 1766. —53. Simul cum filia Jana conjugi moestissimo Roberto Page immaturè erepta 14 Julii, 1773, annos nata, 28." [Page 191] On an adjoining table monument, ibid. "In memory Of Edward Avison and Margaret his wife, who were eminent for piety and primitive simplicity of manners: Having each borne a lingering disease, with the most exemplary patience and resignation; They rejoiced at the approach of death, and expired with hopes full of immortality. He died in October, 1776, aged 29. She in November, 1777, aged 33."’

On an upright head-stone in St. Andrew's church-yard: ‘"Here lieth the body of Jane Murray, the Daughter of George Murray and Margaret, his wife, who died 29th September, 1765, aged 22 years. Also of Margaret Murray, his wife, who died March 19th, 1772, aged 57. Also the above George Murray, who did 30th January, 1779, aged 68. Also James Murray, son of the above George and Margaret Murray, who died 19th April, 1779, aged 39."’

January 12th, 1376, Thomas, Bishop of Durham, granted leave to the parishioners of St. Andrew's to build in their church-yard, saving the episcopal rights and those of the parish-church of St. Nicholas in Newcastle upon Tyne.—Register Hatfeld, p. 119. Randall's MSS.

CURATES, LECTURERS AND ASSISTANT-CURATES OF ST. ANDREW'S.

THE vicar of Newcastle pays to the minister or lecturer of this church, as curate, 3l. per annum—The corporation of Newcastle pays him as lecturer, 100l. per annum, and the King pays him 5l. 2s. 6d. aliter 5l. 5s. 5d. per annum.—Randall's MSS.

[Page 192]William Hydewyn occurs as parish-priest here, A. D. 1378 ^w.

William Hunter occurs 1424 ^x.

Bartram Cowghram, February 1st, 1578 ^y.

Thomas Maislete occurs as curate, January 23d, 1580. Also July [...]th, 1586 ^z.

Robert Askewe occurs A. D. 1589 ^a.

Robert Bonner, A. B. licensed Dec. 17th, 1636. See afterwards 1669 ^b.

Francis Gray about 1622, buried January 14th, 1641 ^c.

In 1641, Mr. Ander occurs as minister of this church ^d.

March 7th, 1641, John Clark, A. M. and free burgess of Newcastle upon Tyne, was on the petition and recommendation of the parishion­ers, appointed by the common-council to succeed Mr. Gray, with a salary of 40l. per annum ^e. He was sequestered and plundered— Buried April 5th, 1667, at St. Nicholas.

April 5th, 1647, there is an order of common-council, to six Mr. [Page 193] Stephen Dockray at St. Andrew's, where he had been for some time upon trial—salary 80l. per annum. June 20th, 1660, he was established there by the same authority, to preach forenoon and afternoon—salary 80l. per annum.—He was buried August 11th, 1660, at St. Andrew's ^f.

In September 1660, Dr Wishart was appointed in the place of Mr. Dockray by the common-council, by a letter from the King—salary 80l. per annum. He was removed from thence to St. Nicholas.

August 27th, 1662, John Clark, A. M. was reinstated at St. An­drew's—salary 80l. "to begin since Mr. Dockray's decease."

Henry Ashburnham occurs, A. D. 1668 ^g.

John Weld A. B. curate, occurs September 19th, 1669 ^h; when A. M. confirmed by the common-council at St. Andrew's to preach and read prayers both forenoon and afternoon, and do all other duty at St. An­drew's—salary 40l. per annum; raised January 18th, 1674, to 60l. per annum, and 10l. for lecturing at St. Nicholas. He was buried October 19th, 1677.

October 29th, 1677, Mr. Robert Roddam, son of the mayor of New­castle, was appointed by the common-council, on the death of Weld ⁱ.

April 7th, 1684, Daniel Potenger, minister, was appointed by the common-council, in the place of Mr. Robert Roddam, who had re­signed—salary, in all, 100l. ^k.

Dec. 2d, 1687, Mr. John Leigh was appointed by the common-council on the resignation of Potenger—salary, in all, 100l. ^l.

August 27th, 1688, Mr. Charles Maddison in the place of J. Leigh ^m.

October 8th, 1688, Mr. William Drake, and Mr. Andrew Bates, were [Page 194] presented to the parish for their probation, in case Mr. C. Maddison should refuse to officiate ⁿ.

July 25th, 1689, Mr. William Richards was appointed by the com­mon-council to this church—salary, in all, 100l.—Mr. William Drake ordered 20l. for having officiated at the same time ^o. He was buried in the chancel of St. Andrew's, 22d August, 1705.

March 7th, 1693, Mr. Peter Strachan, curate—removed to All Saints ^p.

July 3d, 1695, Mr. William Aynslay, curate ^q.

July 30th, 1696, Mr. Charles Stoddart, curate ^r.

August 6th, 1702, Mr. Richard Musgrave, curate ^s.

April 18th, 1704, Mr. John Perkin, curate ^t.

September 25th, 1705, Thomas Shadforth, M. A. minister—salary, in all, 100l.—He died September 11th, 1724, and was buried at Brans­peth, com. Dunelm', where he had before been curate ^u.

A. D. 1705, Mr. George Pie, curate ^v.

February, 1706, Mr. Thomas Pie, curate ^w.

February, 20th, 1707, Mr. John Potts, curate, removed to St. John's ^x.

May, 1707, Mr. George Lyon, curate, removed to Earsdon ^y.

1714, Mr. John Mitcalfe, curate ^z.

1718, Mr. William Hall, curate, removed to All Saints ^a.

1772, Mr. James Farin, curate ^b.

1722, Mr. William Simcoe, curate ^c.

1724, Mr. William Wilkinson, curate, removed to St. Nicholas, 1739 ^d.

[Page 195]John Ellison, A. M. of University College, Oxford, was appointed minister of this church, on the death of T. Shadforth—licensed Sept. 16th, 1725. He was the eldest son of Dr. Nathanael Ellison, vicar of Newcastle. September 29th, 1766, he resigned in favour of his son Nathanael Ellison, A. M ^e.

Richard Brewster, A. B. of St. John's College, Cambridge, curate, li­censed Sept. 12, 1741, in the place of W. Wilkinson ^f.

Anthony Munton, A. M. curate, head-usher of the grammar-school. He died January 9th, 1755, and was buried at St. John's ^g.

George Stephenson, clerk, curate, on the death of A. Munton—re­moved to All Saints ^h.

John Ellison, clerk, curate, 1756, removed to the second curacy at St. Nicholas ⁱ.

John Askew, A. B. curate, December 1756. George Stephenson, clerk, appears to have officiated as deputy to J. Askew, for several years ^k.

John Scott, curate, March 1763. Buried at St. Andrew's, December 2d, 1764.

Bryan Leeke, A. M. curate, 1765, occurs here, Bishop's visitation, August 6th, 1766. Removed afterwards to the living of St. John-Ley near Hexham.

September 29th, 1766, Nathanael Ellison, A. M. formerly of Lin­coln-College, afterwards fellow of Merton-College, Oxford, one of the White-Hall preachers, was appointed lecturer of St. Andrew's, on the resignation of his father ^l.

[Page 196]June, 1773, John Brand, A. B. of Lincoln-College, Oxford,—cu­rate—removed hither from the curacy of Bolam in Northumberland— presented to the perpetual curacy of Cramlington, October 6th, 1774; when A. M. removed, in 1784, to the rectory of St. Mary at Hill and St. Andrew Hubbard, London. In 1786, appointed one of the domestic chaplains to the Duke of Northumberland.

Thomas Ellison, A. B. on the resignation of J. Brand.

Mr. Hague on the removal of T. Ellison.

ST. JAMES' CHAPEL IN THE PARISH OF ST. ANDREW'S.

BOURNE supposes this chapel, on the north side of the Barrows Bridge, to have been a chapel of ease to St. Andrew's, for the out parts of the parish ⁿ.

It seems rather to have belonged to the lazar house that once stood near it, and was an appendage to St. Magdalen's Hospital ^o.

The western end of this chapel has been converted into a cow-house: in the east end is at present a dwelling-house, the fire-place of which stands on the site of the communion table. Old arches built up with brick are still observable, and the eastern window may be traced [Page 197] out from the stairs of an adjoining house. The whole building is called at present "The Sick-Man's House."

ST. MARY'S CHAPEL AT JESMONT IN THIS PARISH ^p.

THE founder of this free chapel at Jesmont, dedicated to St. Mary, is unknown.

June 12th 1351, Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, instituted Sir William de Heighington chaplain to the free chapel of Jesmuth, within the parish of Newcastle, on the presentation of Sir Alexander de Hilton and Matilda his wife, patrons ^q.

A. D. 1379, one Staynley died seized of the presentation of the chapel of Jesmond ^r.

It appears that, A. D. 1399, Bertram Mumboucher held the advow­son of this chapel ^s.

[Page 198]A. D. 1426, William Harbottle died seized of the advowson of this chapel ^t.

A Mr. Lumley appears to have been chaplain at Jesmond, before A. D. 1483 ^u.

In the year 1483, King Richard the Third presented Dr. Roby to this chapel, vacant by the death of Mr. Lumley ^v.

March 4th, 1549, King Edward the Sixth granted to the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne the free chapel of the blessed Mary at Jesmont, in the parish of St. Andrew in Newcastle upon Tyne, with all its walls, stones, timber and lead, together with an annual rent of 3s. 4d. out of lands at Old Heaton, and whatever else belonged to the said free chapel ^w.

Opposite Darne-Crook ^x is a little running water which goes into Lork-Burn.

[Page 199]See the account of Ficket-Tower Ward—The debtors not confined to close prison in Newgate have liberty to walk as far as this runner, which at present is arched over, and is generally known by the name of Execution-Dock ^y.

A little way beyond this, towards White-Cross, stood a row of houses, nearly in the middle of the street, called the Hucksters Booths —they were pulled down several years ago, having been repeatedly complained of as a nuisance to the street ^z.

I find mention of the White Cross, A. D. 1410 ^a.

Newgate-Street, from the Scotch Inn ^b (a place where anciently the kings, nobility, &c. of Scotland lodged in time of truce or league with [Page 200] England, the arch of the great gate-way of which remained till Octo­ber 1783), takes the name of Bigg-Market and Oat-Market ^c.

NUNNERY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE.

A LITTLE above the Scotch Inn, on the opposite side of the street, there still remains part of the arch of the great entrance to the Nunnery of St. Bartholomew.

The account of this, evidently the oldest of the monastic buildings here, of which any vestiges are now to be found, cannot be impro­perly prefaced with a short history of the first introduction of Christi­anity into this part of the island.

Bede, the father of our church history, who was born in this north­ern extremity of England, fixes this great event to A. D. 627 ^d.

The place now called Newcastle upon Tyne he mentions, 26 years afterwards, as the scene of occurrences instrumental, in no common degree, to the general propagation of our religion throughout the whole island, by the name of "Ad Murum ^e" (i. e. At Wall), as the re­sidence of the then Christian King of Northumberland, and where two other royal converts became such by the initiatory rite of baptism.

A. D. 653, Peada ^f, son of Penda, King of Mercia, being here on [Page 201] a visit at the court of Oswy, King of Northumberland, to demand his daughter Alchfleda in marriage, could on no other conditions obtain her father's consent but by being baptized himself, and promising that all his subjects should become Christians. Struck with the excellence of the doctrines of this new faith, which were warmly recommended to him on the occasion by his friend Alchfrid, the natural son of Oswy, who had married Cyniburga his sister, he declared himself a convert by conviction; and having been baptized, together with his retinue, by Finan, Bishop of Lindisfarn, obtained a bride, with whom he may be said to have received a truly royal dower, and who would, doubtless, encourage him in the promulgation of the Christian faith, throughout his extensive dominions. There accompanied him on this mission of conversion from the court of the Northumberland King, four priests, Cedda, Adda (brother of Uttanus, abbot of Gateshead), Betti and Dinmi, to teach and baptize his Mercian subjects, on their return home.

About ^g the same time the zealous Oswy, as well by argument as friendly persuasion, recovered to the faith of Christ, Sigebert, King of the East Angles, who had apostatized after a former conversion, and who, after having been baptized, together with his attendants, by the bishop aforesaid, was accompanied home by two priests, whom Oswy, at his own request, deputed to preach the gospel to the East Saxons^h.

[Page 202]As no account of any building appropriated to baptism, or any other rite of Christian worship, which in that age appear to have been of the rudest and most simple architecture, is given in the relation of the above very important events, we may suppose the ceremony to have been performed in the river Tyne, if some temporary structure, inclosing a baptistery, had not previously been provided, as had before been done at York, where King Aidun was baptized, on Easter-Day, A. D. 627, in a church of wood, which he himself had hastily erected for the occasion.

To the ancient name of our town, "Ad Murum," succeeded the ap­pellation of Monk-Chester: it is uncertain at what period this new title took place, which has generally been interpreted "The fortified resi­dence of persons of the monastic order,ⁱ" who may have crowded into it for reasons impossible to be known at this very distant period of time.

On the introduction of monastic orders, with whom not only the reliques of saints, but also the scenes of events of great consequence to religion, were held in the highest estimation, it seems no very impro­bable conjecture that a place consecrated to the warm imaginations of these well-meaning zealots, by circumstances so remarkable as have been just related, should be accounted sacred in more than a common degree: if we farther unite the idea of personal safety expected in what had been so recently a Roman fortification, and so often wanted in the times of the Danish invasions, with that of sanctity affixed to it by something not unlike superstition, it seems natural to suppose that those ancient devotees would prefer it on both accounts. However this may have been, we are certain, from the clearest testimony of historians, that monks, in more than ordinary numbers, resided at it, and learn farther that neither the idea of local sanctity with which we have pre­sumed its then inhabitants to have been impressed, nor the military [Page 203] works left in it by former owners, could preserve it from destruction in the predatory incursions of foreign or neighbouring barbarians ^k.

The monasteries of Monk-Chester having fallen, almost with every memorial of them, in the common destruction of sacred edifices, by the infidel Danes, the ruins of that place seem to have been unnoticed till about the middle of the eleventh century, when they were visited on motives of religious zeal, similar to those by which we have supposed the Town had before been rendered famous, but when scarce any vestiges of the habitations or religious houses of its former monastic orders could be found. Aldwine^l, monk and prior of the monastery of Winchelsea, having gathered from ancient monuments, which he ap­pears to have studied both from motives of christian piety and literary curiosity, that Northumberland had been particularly distinguished for its sacred edifices, formed a resolution of visiting their remains. He was accompanied in what was then a perilous journey by Elfwius and Rein­fridus, two monks of Evesham. The holy travellers performed it on foot, in all the plainness of pristine simplicity, leading a little ass car­rying some books and sacred vestments necessary for the performance of divine service. This happened A. D. 1073. On their arrival at Northumberland their residence was for some time at Monk-Chester: but finding there no vestige of the former monastic orders, and having been invited by Walcher, then Bishop of Durham, to place themselves under the jurisdiction of the church, rather than accept an habitation under the power of secular persons, they removed from thence a little way down the river to Jarrow, which before that time had been a famous monastery, and, though then in ruins also, was fitted up a [Page 204] second time for the reception of these devout strangers. Thus was a revival given to monkery in this part of the island, after it had been extinguished and unknown here for about two hundred years, that is, from the time when the Danes had destroyed the convents^m.

Mention occurs of a small Benedictine nunnery at Newcastle upon Tyne, A. D. 1086ⁿ. Hither Agas, the mother of Margaret, Queen of Scotland, and Christian, her sister, after King Malcolm was killed at Alnwick, retired and took the sacred veil.

If we may credit a manuscript in the Bodleian library^o at Oxford, this nunnery owed its origin to an ancient baron of the name of Hilton. This family was of distinction in the north in times of the most re­mote antiquity. It has lately become extinct, and experienced at last the fate of all human greatness.

Speed, on I know not what authority, ascribes to King Henry the First the foundation of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, for nuns, at Newcastle upon Tyne^p.

[Page 205]David ^q, King of Scotland, who resided at this town soon after A. D. 1135, is reported, by some historians, to have been the founder of this nunnery^r. It appears by a charter of King John, that the Scot­tish King endowed it with some land^s.

King Henry I. may have done the same, and for one common reason both these royal benefactors may have been reputed the original founders.

Some time before A. D. 1149, William de St. Barbara^t, Bishop of [Page 206] Durham, with the prior and convent there, granted Stellingley (now called Stella), to God and St. Bartholomew, and the nuns of New­castle.

King Henry II. granted a general charter of confirmation to this nunnery^u.

Between A. D. 1153 and 1194, Hugh Pudsey, Bishop of Durham, confirmed the former grant of Stellinglei to the nuns of this house; giving them by the same, in pure and perpetual alms, "Twille," in exchange for Olworthe^v.

[Page 207]There remains, in the Augmentation-Office, a very ancient original grant, by one of the prioresses of this house, of six acres of arable land, in Haliwell, to Roger of Backworth, on the annual payment of five shillings to the light of St. Mary ^w.

In the same invaluable repository is preserved an original very an­cient grant of Robert de Dyveltune, of four shillings of rent, in Mil­burn, to God and St. Mary, and St. Bartholomew, and the nuns of this house, in pure and perpetual alms ^x.

[Page 208]About A. D. 1190, Sir Roger Bertram, for his health, and for the souls of his father and mother, and all his ancestors, gave to the nuns here two acres and a half of his pasture in Merdesfen—an acre and half next the road, with a toft in the town of Merdesfen, in free, pure, and perpetual alms.—Also pasture for their oxen, during the half year they drew in carts ^y.

Between A. D. 1195 and 1208, Philip de Poictou, Bishop of Dur­ham, confirmed the grant made of Stellinglei, by his predecessors, William and Hugh, to the nuns of this house^z.

[Page 209]About the time of King John, who began his reign A. D. 1199, Mermaduke de Tueng, and Margaret his wife, bequeathed a house and some land at Hartlepool, in the county of Durham, for the sin­gular purpose of purchasing smocks for the nuns of this priory^a.

Before A. D. 1223, Germanus, prior, and the convent of Tinmouth granted a charter to the nuns here, to receive eight quarters of wheat, yearly, from the granary of Tinmouth ^b.

About A. D. 1230, Sir Robert de Neuham, for the health of his soul, and that of the souls of his wife and ancestors, and successors, [Page 210] granted and confirmed to the house of St. Bartholomew, and the nuns therein, all the grants and sales which William his father had made to them, or conferred upon them^c.

A. D. 1233, there was a release of a messuage in fee, from Peter, son of Hawys de Pert, and Matilda and Wincey, his sisters, to the nuns of Newcastle, after a writ of right had been brought for it against John Miller, and Emma his wife ^d.

The same year Christian, prioress of this house, demised twenty acres of land, in the village of Halliwell, with two tofts and houses therein standing, to Gilbert Claviger of that place, for twenty years, at the an­nual rent of 12s. 6d.^e.

Milisand Godefray, by his will, bequeathed his body to be buried in the church-yard of the church of St. Bartholomew, in Newcastle upon Tyne, and to the nuns there a booth, situated between the booth of the West-Spital, and the street towards the Ghylde-Hall in the said town ^f.

[Page 211]Some time between 1249 and 1260, Walter de Kirkham, Bishop of Durham, granted a confirmation of Stellinglei to the nuns of this house ^g.

In a very old deed, preserved in the Augmentation-Office, witnessed, among others, by "Stephano Capellano de Thinem'," Roger de Hal­liwell granted six acres of arable land to God and St. Bartholomew, of Newcastle, to procure a light at the altar of St. Mary, "ad procuran­dum luminare ad altare Sancte Marie."

Some time in the reign of Henry III. Sir Roger de Merley con­firmed to the nuns of this house, an annual and perpetual rent of four quarters of London wheat, given them by John Deaconson ^h, and [Page 212] Isouda his wife, in frankalmoigne, out of land in Great-Benton, which they possessed by gift of the said Sir Roger.

On the vigil of St. Michael, 1257, Roger de Whytcester, for the health of his soul, and those of his father, mother, brother Nicholas, and sister Mabil, and his ancestors and descendants, gave and con­firmed to the nuns here, to the support of a certain chaplain perform­ing divine service in their conventual church, at Newcastle, for the souls aforesaid, and especially for his own after his death, and all faithful souls, five bovates of lands, with their appurtenances, in Du­nington, with tofts and crofts belonging to the same ⁱ.

This was confirmed 1268, by Dame Johan de Rihil, heiress of the above Sir Roger de Whytcester ^k.

[Page 213]About 1286, Hugh, son of Nicholas Brun, occurs, as letting to farm to John Elgi, all his land in the Market-Street of Newcastle, on condition of paying to him and his heirs, yearly, 7s. 6d. and to the nuns of Newcastle upon Tyne, 18d. at the stated terms ^l.

A. D. 1291, mention occurs of the nuns of this house, and those of Nesham, as enjoying a pension of 13l. 6s. 8d. from the church of Wesington ^m, to each 10 marks.

This appears to have been given them by Richard, Bishop of Dur­ham ⁿ, confirmed by Thomas, the prior ^o, and convent there, and by a bull of Pope Gregory ^p.

[Page 214]It appears from a MS. remaining in the Exchequer, that in the year 1292, the yearly revenue of this nunnery was 17l. 10s. 7d. ^q.

A. D. 1293, mention occurs of several rolls of the pleas in the county of Northumberland, at the assizes there, concerning this nun­nery ^r.

In the year 1299, Henry Droys, with Philip and Reginald his bro­thers, appears to have fled for felony, and taken sanctuary in the church of this house ^s.

[Page 215]A. D. 1320, Philippa de Wolteby, prioress, and the convent of this house, confirmed to Robert de Halliwelle, clerk, and Alicia his wife, 14 acres of arable land, in Halywell, at the yearly rent of six shillings sterling for ever ^t.

August 1st, 1322, the sisters of this nunnery received 6s. 8d. for their pittance of one day, of the King's alms, and September 14th following, on the King's arrival at Newcastle, for the same, 6s. 8d. by the hand of the King's almoner ^u.

[Page 216]A. D. 1331, Sibilla Gategang, prioress of this house, granted and confirmed to John de Wedirhall, and his heirs and assigns for ever, a booth in the Market-Place of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the annual rent of six shillings ^v.

May 9th, 1355, Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, confirmed to the nuns of this house their election of Alice Davill, to be their pri­oress.—The former election of this prioress, having been irregular, had been set aside, but being a person much approved of by the convent, the Bishop, by special favour, permitted her to preside over them ^w.

In the week of Pentecost, 1360, Dame Isabelle Russell, prioress of this house, and the convent of the same, granted to Richard de Kirke­by, tailor, that for arrears of rent due to them from a burgage in the city of Durham, for the first year ensuing, he should pay them one shilling, and four shillings for each of the nine following years ^x.

[Page 217]Tuesday after the feast of St. Gregory, 1363, Amisia, prioress, and the convent of nuns of Newcastle upon Tyne, released to Thomas de Loksyde part of rent due to them from a burgage at that time lying waste in the city of Durham, from which they had an annual rent of eight shillings, and which the said Thomas de Loksyde held in see ^y.

January 3d, 1365, a commission was granted by Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, to Alan de Shutlyng and William de Farnham, to visit this nunnery, in order to punish and reform such excesses and crimes as they should discover the nuns to be guilty of, in the course of their visitation ^z.

[Page 218]A. D. 1366, the same bishop, pitying the miserable estate of this house both as to spirituals and temporals, and dreading the immediate ruin thereof, unless some speedy remedy should be applied, committed it to the care ^a of Hugh de Arnecliffe, priest, in the church of St. Nicholas in Newcastle upon Tyne, strictly enjoining the prioress and nuns to be obedient to him in every particular, and trusting to his [Page 219] prudence to find relief for those whom he calls "The poor servants of Christ" here, in their poverty and distress.

May 10th, 1367, a second commission was granted by the same bishop to the said Hugh de Arnecliffe to proceed against Amisia de Bel­ford (who is charged with having intruded into this priory) in a cause moved against her concerning intrusion, dilapidation, incontinence, and other crimes. It does not appear that she was convicted of the several crimes laid to her charge—but by an order of the above bishop, dated at Aucland, May 21st following, this Amisia, who affirmed that she was prioress, was warned to permit two nuns, Emma del Hill, and Joan de Farneleye, whom she had expelled from this house, to return to it, and was commanded at the same time to treat them in future with becoming affection ^b.

[Page 220]March 24th, 1377, Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, granted a licence for one year to Margaret York, a sister of this house, to choose herself a confessor, from whose hands she might receive absolution and salutary penance ^c.

There was a monition dated the 2d of the nones of November, A. D. 1377 ^d, from the same Bishop of Durham to the prioress and nuns of [Page 221] this house in behalf of Idoma de Staunford their sister, who after hav­ing been some time absent, though on just and reasonable cause and in good company, had, against the express request of the bishop, been refused admittance at the said nunnery on her return: This monition threatened them with the sentence of the greater excommunication if they persisted to exact punishment for such absence, or continued ob­stinate in their refusal to reinstate her.

[Page 222]A commission was granted at the same time to the bishop's suffragan, he himself being absent in London, to proceed against the said prioress and house ^e.

November 4th, 1379, Raymund, master-general of the friars preachers, granted to the prioress and nuns of this house, a special par­ticipation of all the masses, sermons, preachings, vigils, fastings, &c. &c. &c. of his order ^f.

September 21st, 1403, mention occurs of Katherine prioress of this house ^g.

October 7th, 1448, Robert Nevill, Bishop of Durham appropriated the chapel of St. Edmund in Gateshead to the nuns of this house, on their representing to him in a petition their misfortunes by fire, the [Page 223] non-payment of their pensions, &c. so that without speedy relief their ruin would shortly ensue. The conditions of the above union were to the following effect: the nuns to find two chaplains for the hospital, and repair the chapel and other edifices thereof—the bishop reserving to himself and successors, from this nunnery, an annual pension of 6s. 8d. as also another of 3s. 4d. per annum, to the prior and chapter of Durham. For the payment of which last, a bond occurs, signed by the above nuns in their chapter-house, October 20th, 1448 ^h.

May 1st, 1449, William Hilderskelfe, master of St. Edmund's Hos­pital in Gateshead, granted the same hospital, with all the possessions thereof, to Margaret Hawkswell, prioress, and the convent of this house, on condition of their finding for ever a chaplain to perform di­vine service at that hospital: as also another sit priest to celebrate di­vine service in the church of St. Bartholomew, either at the death or upon the promotion of the said William to any benefice of the clear value of ten pounds per annum; and also of their paying yearly to the said William the sum of ten marks ⁱ.

Robert Nevill, Bishop of Durham, confirmed the above donation made to this priory, in frankalmoigne, by his deed, dated October 7th, 1449 ^k.

Pope Pius, by his bull, dated at Rome, November 16th, 1458 ^l, [Page 224] after reciting the above-mentioned episcopal confirmation, strengthened it with the sanction of the papal authority, threatening, as usual, those [Page 225] that should rashly infringe it, with the indignation of Almighty God, and that of his apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul.

[Page 226]Dame Anne Danby, prioress of this house, with the assent and con­sent of the convent of the same, granted, for six years, from Whit-sunday, 1470, to Robert Schyplaw Smith, a tenement of theirs, bounded by a waste of theirs on the north, and a tenement of theirs on the south, stretching from the Nolt-Market to the Convent-Orchard, at the rent of eight shillings per annum ^m.

May 1st, 1471, some property in Durham was granted to this Anne, alias Agnes Danby, and the convent of St. Bartholomew, as appears by an original deed of that date, given at Newcastle upon Tyne, and now remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

October 9th, 1471, John Hilton, chaplain, released an annuity of forty shillings, out of the hospital of St. Edmund, in Gateshead, to Agnes Danby, prioress, and the convent of this house; which an­nuity appears to have been granted to him by Margaret Mytford, late prioress of this nunnery of St. Bartholomew ⁿ.

[Page 227]August 20th, 1486, Joan Baxter, prioress of this house, granted in fee-farm to Thomas Lokwood, merchant, of Newcastle upon Tyne, a parcel of waste ground, with a croft in Gateshead, at the yearly rent of six shillings and eight-pence ^o.

September 6th, 1500, Johan, prioress of this house, granted some property belonging to the same, in Hertlepool, to Percival Lamp­ton ^p.

March 27th, 1501, Richard Dinsforth was admitted into holy orders on the title of priest of the nuns of St. Bartholomew in Newcastle upon Tyne ^q.

A. D. 1513, the prioress and convent of this house granted to the mayor and corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne, a lease of part of their property, called Nun-Moor, near the said town, for an hundred years, at the annual rent of three shillings and four-pence ^r.

A. D. 1520, there was an award between this house and William Bennet, Esq. proprietor of the adjoining village of Kenton, concerning the boundaries of Nun-Moor ^s.

John Brandlyng, of Newcastle, merchant, let to Dame Johan Bax­ter, prioress of this house, and the convent of the same, for 99 years, from Whitsunday, 1521, at the yearly rent of seven shillings, cer­tain [Page 228] ground called the Magdalen-Deen, which had been granted to him by the master of the Magdalen-Hospital of Newcastle upon Tyne ^t.

About A. D. 1523, or 1524, great differences occur concerning the right of creating an abbess, or prioress, in the nunnery of this house. A prioress, it seems, had been elected to it by the abbot of Newminster, which Wolsey, then Bishop of Durham, as the ordinary, thought an infringement of his power.

Lord Dacre, warden of the marches, had interested himself in fa­vour of the prioress and the claim of the abbot; but numerous prece­dents, found in the bishop's registers, fully established the justice of the episcopal pretensions.

The personal worth of the lady, then not quite thirty years of age, conciliated favour on this occasion, and she was re-instated by a new and proper election; the vicar-general advising her friends to procure a dispensation for her non-age, and promising, in consideration of the poverty of the house, a mitigation of the fees of election and insti­tution ^u.

On the feast of St. Martin the bishop in winter A. D. 1529, Dame Agnes Lawson, prioress, and the nuns of this house, let to farm [Page 229] to James Lawson, merchant, of Newcastle upon Tyne, a parcel of ground, beside the town of Gateshead, in the bishoprick of Durham, for twenty years, at the yearly rent of thirty-three shillings and four-pence sterling ^v.

The nunnery of Newcastle upon Tyne was one of those religious houses, which, by letters patent of King Henry VIII. was sounded anew, and preserved from the dissolution of lesser monasteries, March 30th, 1537 ^w.

It resigned afterwards, and was fully suppressed, January 3d, 1540, and appears to have consisted of a prioress, a prioress that had resigned, probably on account of her age and infirmities, and nine other nuns, at the time of its dissolution ^x.

[Page 230]It has been supposed that all the hospital lands and revenues of St Edmund's Hospital, in Gateshead, were comprised in Agnes Lawson's surrender in 1540, as above, and that they continued in the hands of the crown from that time till the year 1610, when King James I. by letters patent, refounded the hospital in Gateshead ^y.

The annual revenue of this house, 26 Hen. VIII. was about 36l. 10s. according to Dugdale, but Speed makes it 37l. 4s. 9d.

Stevens, in his Continuation, vol. ii. p. 25, values it thus: "Summa inde 37l. 4s. 2d.—summa clara 36l. 0s. 10d. ^z."

[Page 231]The subsequent very curious rental of the possessions of the nuns here is copied from that on parchment, remaining in the Augmen­tation-Office, and inscribed dorso (in the hand writing of Mr. Madox): "Rentale prioratûs Sancti Bartholomei in Novo Castro super Tin'."—It must be of a date between 4 Hen. VII. and the dissolution.—"A rentale of all the landes and tenements belongyng to the pryores and nunnes of the howse of Sancte Bartholomewe.

[Page 232]

The house of this nunnery, after its dissolution, was granted to Wil­liam Barantyne, Kenelme Throgmorton, Gen. and Henry Annetson, by letters patent of King Henry VIII. dated at Hampton-Court, Au­gust 4th, in the 36th year of his reign^a.

[Page 233]It became afterwards the property of Lady Gaveere, who sold it to Robert Anderson ^b: after this it became so great a receptacle of Scots, and others not free burgesses of the town, persons who, during the odium that prevailed at that time against foreigners, were not accounted the most respectable neighbours, that Mr. Anderson thought proper to pull it down, in order to dislodge them. He purchased the garden also, and having filled up the dene ^c, or hollow, that intersected it, and cleared it of all the rubbish, converted it into a very pleasant field.

Within our own memory it belonged to the late Sir Walter Blackett, Bart. and after his death was sold, A. D. 1783, to Mr. George An­derson ^d.

The exact site of this nunnery is now unknown ^e: Bourne, as I [Page 234] think, erroneously supposes, that the passage still called Nun-Gate was not the grand entrance to it. Here very lately remained part of a great arch, that once formed a gateway, very unlike that of a back passage; especially when we consider the general poverty of style in building that prevailed at the time when this was erected.

The popular tradition, of a subterraneous communication with a neighbouring monastery, prevailed here also ^f: this was said to have been made for purposes that we shall but hint at, and to have ended at the house of Black-Friars. Some large vaulted drain has probably given rise to the charge against our fair and, as it should seem by this account, frail sisterhood, and it has owed its support to the ill-nature of religious party, than which no species of rancour has been found to be more malignant.

Among Fairfax's Views, published in the time of the civil wars, and now extremely rare, there occurs a small one of the then remains of this nunnery, inscribed at bottom, the "Nunns Newcastle ^g."

Nearly at the end of the Pudding-Chare, the street called Bigg, or Oat-Market, is separated into three divisions; of which that next to West-Gate is called the Meal, or Groat-Market ^h; that next to Pil­grim-Street, the Flesh-Market; and the street between the two former is properly called the Middle-Street.

Mention occurs of a messuage called "Pold-Hall, in the Mele-Mar­ket-Gate," [Page 235] in a deed, dated Thursday after the feast of St. Michael, 20 Ric. II. and in another dated 12th February, 1414 ⁱ.

Bourne tells us, that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, a house in this street, belonging to one William Penrith, the site of which is now lost, paid an annual rent to the chantry of our Lady, in the parish-church of Long-Benton ^k.

Horseley, in his Romana Britannia, p. 132, informs us of a house in this street, in the laying of the foundation of which (about fifteen or sixteen years before he wrote), the masons struck upon the Roman wall, at each of the side walls, so that the building stands across it.

Towards the lower end of the Groat-Market is a wide communi­cation with the Middle-Street, where a market is held every Saturday for wool ^l.

The continuation of this street, beyond the east end of Denton-Chare, was the ancient Iron-Market ^m, opposite to St. Nicholas' church.

ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH.

THIS very capacious and superb structure, dedicated to St. Ni­cholas ⁿ, is styled, in the earliest accounts of it, "The church of New­castle upon Tyne ^o:" a circumstance which seems to prove it to be the oldest, as having been at that time the only church of the town.

[Page]

[Page 237]Bourne supposes it was built by King Henry I. but on the authority of a book remaining in the vestry of this church in his time, it is said to have been founded in the year 1091, and, as it farther appears, by Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury ^p.—This Osmund, who was canonized after his death, which happened in 1099, was a Norman by birth, came over with William the Conqueror, was created Earl of Dorset, and afterwards, according to some, made Chancellor of England ^q.

Between the year 1115, and 1128 ^r, King Henry I. gave the church of Newcastle ^s, with that of Newburn and others, held of him [Page 238] by Richard de Aurea Valle, to the church of Carlisle, at that incum­bent's death. By this charter the above Richard, and the clergymen that served the other churches, were ordered to acknowledge of the canons of Carlisle, and to do them such service as had been usually done to himself.

The churches, on the demise of each of their respective incumbents, were to revert to the above canons, and the clerks that served them were to have necessary subsistence out of their several revenues, and the said canons the remainder.

In the year 1193, Hugh Pudsey, Bishop of Durham, confirmed to the prior and convent of Carlisle, all the churches that belonged to them in his diocese. Among the usual yearly pensions to be paid to the incumbents, there occur 26 marks to be paid from this of St. Ni­cholas: on the respective deaths of each of these incumbents, the above prior and convent were to take the churches into their own hands, and severally present vicars to them, paying to the Bishop, an­nually, forty marks, in lieu of aids for the whole ^t.

[Page 239]January 24th, 1194, the above Hugh Pudsey, Bishop of Durham, with the consent of the prior and convent of Carlisle, who held the vicarage of this church, appointed, for the support of the vicar thereof for the time being, all fruits, annual profits, oblations, and obventions whatsoever belonging thereto, except the great tythes ^u.

[Page 240]The church of Newcastle occurs, A. D. 1197, as standing indebted sixty shillings to the King, for an aid, set in charge upon several churches and parsons ^v.

In the year 1216, the church of St. Nicholas is said to have been destroyed by fire ^w.

Richard de Marisco, who was consecrated Bishop of Durham on the 9th of the kalends of August, 1218, ratified the churches of Newcastle, Newburn, Werkworth, Corbridge, and a moiety of that of Whittingham (no mention occurs of Rothbury on this occasion), to the bishop, prior, and convent of Carlisle, and their successors, for ever ^x.

[Page 241]Nicholas Farnham ^y, who resigned the bishoprick of Durham in 1249, or 1250, in consideration of the poverty of the church and see of Carlisle, granted them their several churches in his diocese, to be equally divided amongst them, reserving out of their revenues a com­petence to the respective vicar of each church, and excepting forty marks which had been granted from thence by Silvester, Bishop of Carlisle, during his life; and after his death forty pounds sterling, to be paid by the bishop, prior, and convent of Carlisle, at a certain term for ever, at the exchequer of Durham, out of the possessions of the above churches.

[Page 242]A. D. 1280, the justices itinerant occur, as holding their courts in this church ^z.

In the year 1290, King Edward I. by his charter of inspeximus con­firmed the charters of Henry I. and Henry II. of the above churches to the Bishop and Canons of Carlisle ^a.

In a valuation of benefices, &c. in the diocese of Durham, made in the year 1291, the following are the entries concerning this church ^b:

"The Rector of St. Nicholas at Newcastle upon Tyne,

In the year 1293, King Edward I. brought an assize before H. de Cressingham and his companions, the itinerant justices at Newcastle upon Tyne, against the Bishop and Prior of Carlisle, for the advowsons of the churches of St. Nicholas of Newcastle upon Tyne, of Roth­bury, Corbridge and Warkworth.

In this trial, where the jury gave a verdict against the King, the [Page 243] bishop and prior pleaded that they held this church of St. Nicholas in common ^c.

In a valuation of the temporals and spirituals of the clergy of the bishoprick of Durham, A. D. 1318, the portion of the Bishop of Car­lisle in the church of St. Nicholas at Newcastle upon Tyne is men­tioned as being an hundred shillings—the portion of the Prior of Carlisle as a like sum—that of the Prior of Tinmouth in the same forty shillings, and that of the vicar ten pounds sterling ^d.

[Page 244]September 18th, 1322, a mass was celebrated in St. Nicholas' church in Newcastle upon Tyne, at the interment of the body of Peter le Mareshal, an officer of the King's household^e.

John Craggs, of Newcastle upon Tyne, by his will, made on the Tuesday after the Nativity of St. John Baptist, 1349, gave to the high altar of the church of St. Nicholas, for his tythes and oblations not duly paid, 6s.^f.

In the year 1359, the church of St. Nicholas in Newcastle upon Tyne is said to have been rebuilt^g.

This year also an indulgence of forty days ^h was granted by twelve fo­reign [Page 245] bishops, and confirmed by Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, to such persons as should frequent the church of St. Nicholas in New­castle upon Tyne, at several festivals, and upon several occasions therein specified, and should also pray for the soul of Katherine de Camera, and for the health of John de Camera, Gilbert de Dukesfield, and Agnes his wife, while they lived, and after their respective deaths for their souls.

[Page 246]June 6th, 1360, Thomas Hatfield, Bishop of Durham, confirmed by a charter of inspeximus, the ordering of the vicarage of this church, made by Hugh Pudsey, a former bishop of that see ⁱ.

Nicholas Coke, of Newcastle upon Tyne, by his will, dated Septem­ber 3d, 1379, gave to the high altar of St. Nicholas' church twenty shillings; also to the fabrick of the window in the choir there twenty shillings, and to chaplains to celebrate for his soul in that church thirty pounds ^k.

In the ordinary of the company of coopers in Newcastle upon Tyne, dated January 20th, 1426, part of their fines is directed to go to "Sancte Nicholas kyrke warke," which probably means "to the reparation of this edifice ^l."

Roger Thornton, senior, merchant, by his will, dated Thursday be­fore Christmas day, A. D. 1429, gave to the church of St. Nicholas, to the "reparation and enorments thereof," forty marks ^m.

August 13th, 1451, a ratification of the truces of Scotland was made in the vestry of St. Nicholas' church in Newcastle upon Tyne ⁿ.

King Henry VIII. by his charter, dated May 6th, 1541, granted to the Dean and Chapter of Carlisle, among other things, "a moiety [Page 247] of the rectory of Newcastle upon Tyne," enjoining the payment of "eight pounds to the Bishop of Durham out of the said moiety ^o."—

July 26th, 1777, the church of St. Nicholas was opened by a ser­mon for the benefit of the infirmary, after having been shut up for se­veral weeks, for the purpose of having it thoroughly cleaned and re­paired.

A. D. 1783, a subscription was opened, which produced a very large sum of money, to defray the expences of a plan for converting this church into a kind of cathedral ^p, which is now completed with great taste and elegance, but the antiquary must for ever lament the altera­tion, as almost all the ancient funeral monuments have been destroyed.

CHANTRIES IN ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH.

IT was a fashion in the times of the papal superstition for lords of ma­nors, and other persons of great wealth and importance, to build small chapels ^q or side iles in their parish churches, designed for burying-places for their families, and which they frequently endowed with lands, &c. for the support of chantry priests to pray daily at altars erect­ed therein for the souls of the founders, and those of their ancestors and posterity. There were nine (if not ten) chantries in this church. [Page 248] One of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Apostle—two of St. Catherine—one of St. Peter and St. Paul—one of St. Thomas—one of St. Mary—one of St. Margaret—one of St. Cuthbert, and one of St. Loy. The total valuation of which amounted to 48l. 4s. 6d. per an­num. A certificate in the Augmentation Office makes a second chan­try of St. Mary in this church.

1. The chantry of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Apostle, which was situated on the north side of the church ^r, is said to have had for its first founder Laurentius, Prior of Durham, A. D. 1149 ^s. It was refounded in the year 1333, by Richard de Emeldon ^t, an eminent ma­gistrate of the town, for three chaplains.

[Page 249]This chantry is said to have been founded a third time by Robert de Rhodes ^u, and Agnes his wife, and licensed by Henry VI. A. D. 1428 ^v, for one chaplain, with an annual allowance of 7l. 7s. 10d. with an house for his residence, given by the corporation of Newcastle, out of respect to the memory of this R. de Rhodes, to whom they owed the greatest obligations.

Before the year 1540, George Lighton occurs as chaplain of this chantry, to which he had been presented by James Lawson, mayor, and the gild brethren of Newcastle, its true patrons ^w.

March 12th, 1540, William Clerke was instituted chaplain of this chantry, on the death of G. Lighton ^x.

The subsequent account of this chantry is copied from a record re­maining in the Augmentation-Office, containing the answer of the fol­lowing commissioners, i. e. Cuthbert, Bishop of Durham; William, Lord Evers; Thomas, Lord Wharton; Sir Robert Bowes, Knight; Sir Francis Lecke, Knight; Robert Mennell, Esq. Henry Whitereason, Esq. and Humphrey Warren, gentleman, to certain articles of in­quiry, concerning colleges, chantries, &c. in Northumberland and [Page 250] Durham. The King's commission for this purpose is dated at West­minster, February 14th, the 37th of King Henry VIII.

"The chauntrie of Saynt John Baptiste and Saynt John the Evan­geliste in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by one Robert Roodes and Agnes his wyffe by licence of King Henry the 6th to fynd a preist for ever to say masse dayly and pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles as by the said licence shewed before the said commissioners more largely dothe appere and is so used hitherto by reporte—Yerely value 100s. —value accordyng to this survey 7l. 7s. 10d. as appereth by a rentall of the same wherof is to be deducted for the charge of an yerely obytt 10d. and for the tenthes paid to the Kinge's majestie 10s.— 10s. 10d. and remayneth clerely 6l. 17s. whiche ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of William Clarke, priest, incumbent there ac­cordinge to th'ordynnance of the said foundacion.—The said chauntrie is within the parishe church of Saynt Nicholas aforesaid.—Ornaments, jewells, plate, goodes and catalls 113s. 4d. as doth appere by a per­ticler inventorye of the same.—Ther wer no other lands nor yerelie profits &c. belongyng to the said chantric syns the 14th day of Febru­arie in the 27th yere of the sayd Kinges majesties reigne more than is before mencyoned."

One of the chantries of St. Catharine, said to have been anciently founded by Alan Durham^y, appears to have had a second foundation or augmentation, in the reign of Edward III. by William Johnson and Isabel his wife ^z. The yearly value of this was 6l. 15s.

^aSir Peter Angrym was confirmed in the chaplainship of this chantry [Page 251] August 27th, 1378, on the presentation long before of the mayor, bailiffs, &c. of Newcastle upon Tyne, its true patrons.

^bRobert Mitford succeeded the above P. Angrym as chaplain of this chantry.

On an inquisition taken at Newcastle upon Tyne, September 2d, 1557, a house and waste near St. Nicholas' church is said to have be­longed to this chantry, of the annual value of 3s. 4d.^c.

[Page 252]The following account of this chantry is copied from the above-cited certificate of colleges, chantries, &c. remaining in the Augmen­tation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Katheryne in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by one Willyam Johnson and Isabella his wyffe by a licence obteined of Kynge Edwarde the 3d for thentent to fynde one priest to say masse dayly and to pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles as apereth by a dede of the same foundacion exhibited before the said commission­ers whiche is so usyd hitherto by reporte—Yerelie value 112s. 10d. —value according to this survey 6l. 15s. as aperethe by a rentalle of the same whereof is to be deducted for rentes resolut' 13s. 4d. and for the tenthes 11s. 3d. ob. paide to the Kinges majestie—24s. 7d. ob. and remayneth clerely 110s. 4d. ob. whiche ben employed to the sus­tentacion and relief of Wyllyam Johnson ^d priest nowe incumbent ther for his service according to the tenour of the said foundacion.—Orna­ments &c. nil.—bycause all the ornaments of this chauntrie doo serve also for the other chauntrie of Saynt Katheryne within the same churche here under written and be charged in the same within the summe of 79s. 2d. as playnly doth appere." &c.

Another chantry of St. Catharine is said to have been founded in this church by Nicholas and John Ellerker, the deed of the foundation of which was embezzled by Richard Wallas, one of its chaplains. The yearly value of this second chantry of St. Catharine was 3l. 14s. 8d. which arose out of certain tenements situated in the Close, Castle-Mote, in the Side and in Sandgate ^e.

The following account thereof is copied from the above-cited certifi­cate remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"One other chauntrie of Saynt Katheryn in the parish church (aforesaid) was founded by one Nicholas Ellerker and John Ellerker as it is sayd to fynde a priest to pray dayly for their sowles and all Christen [Page 253] sowles which is so used hitherto by reporte but the dede of the founda­cion was imbecilled away by one Robert Walles late incumbent ther as it is said—Yerely value 73s.—value according to this survey 74s. 8d. as apereth by a rentall of the same whereof is to be deducted for the tenthes paid yerly to the K. majestie 7s. 5d. and remayneth clerely 67s. 3d. which ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of Edwarde Walker clerke nowe incumbent ther for his service according to the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 79s. 2d. for all maner of ornaments ther apperteynyng as well to the other chauntrie of Saynt Katherine above written as to this chauntrie as apereth by a perticler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes, &c."

4. The chantry of St. Peter and St. Paul is said to have been founded by Adam Fenrother and Alan Hilton, and licensed by King Henry IV. The annual value of this chantry was 4l. 13s. 4d. which arose out of some tenements in the Close, the Side, and Westgate ^f.

At the dissolution, A. D. 1547, Edward Fyffe was incumbent of this chantry, and had a yearly pension allowed him of 4l. 4s. 6d. which he enjoyed in the year 1553 ^g.

The following account thereof is copied from the above-cited certifi­cate of colleges, chantries, &c. remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

"The chauntrie of Saynt Peter and Saynt Paule in the parishe church of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by one Adam Fenrother and one Alan Hilton by a licence obteyned of King Henry IV. to thentent to fynde a priest to pray for ther sowles and all Christen sowles for ever as by the dede of founda­cion exhibited before the said commissioners doth apere which is so used hitherto by reporte—Yerely value 4l. 7s. 4d.—yerely valew accord­ing to this survey 4l. 13s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall of the same wherof is to be deducted for the yerelie tenthes paid to the Kinges majestie 8s. 8d. ob. quad. and remayneth clerely 4l. 4s. 7d. quad. whych ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of Edwarde Fyffe [Page 254] clarke now incumbent ther accordyng to the foundacion.—Orna­ments &c. 78s. 10d. as doth appere by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c.

5. The chantry of St. Thomas appears to have been founded by John Shapecape, and licensed by King Edward the Third ^h, having an annual revenue of 4l. 12s. 6d. The following account of it is ex­tracted from the above-cited certificate, remaining in the Augmenta­tion-Office:

"The chauntrye of Saynt Thomas in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by a licence obteyned of K. Edwarde 3^d by one John Shapecape to fynde a priest to say masse and to pray for his sowle and all Christen sowles for ever as by the dede of the foundacion exhibited befor the said commissioners dothe appere which is so used hitherto by reporte— Yerely value 4l. 2s. 2d.—value by this survey 4l. 12s. 6d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is to be deducted for rents resolut' 6s. 2d. for an yerely obytt 5s. 4d. and for the tenthes 8s. 2d. ob. paide to the Kinges majestie—19s. 8d. ob. and remayneth clerely 72s. 9d. ob. which are employed to the sustentacion and relief of Charles Newton incumbent ther accordyng to th' ordynnaunce of the foundacion.— Ornaments &c. 18s. 6d. as doothe appere by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

6. The chantry of our Lady, styled also the altar of our blessed Virgin Mary, is said to have been sounded in the reign of King Ed­ward I. ⁱ It is uncertain who was the founder, as the deed of foun­dation was embezzled by Thomas Ireland, one of its chaplains ^j.

[Page 255]It is supposed to have been what is now called the south cross of the church, where a figure in stone, cross-legged, lies in a niche in the wall, conjectured by some to be that of its founder ^k.—Weekly prayers are now read in this place.

The yearly value of this chantry was 5l. 16s.^l

John Coke, of Newcastle, by his will, dated — 1379, left to the altar of St. Mary, in this church, the sum of 6s. 8d. ^m

The following account of this chantry is copied from the above-cited certificate, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of our Lady in the parishe church of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by reporte to fynd a preest to say masse dayly and to pray for all Christen sowles which is so used hitherto but the dede of the foundacion was imbe­cylled by one Thomas Ireland late incumbent ther.—Yerely value 105s.—value accordyng to this survey 116s. 10d. as appereth by a rentall of the same wherof is to be deducted for the yerely charges of two obits 12s. and for the tenthes paide to the Kinges majestie 22s. 6d. and remayneth clerely 4l. 14s. 4d. which are employed to the susten­tacion and relief of Robert Baker prieste incumbent ther.—Ornaments &c. 6l. 2s. 10d. as apereth by a perticuler inventorie of the same.— Ther wer no other landes &c."

7. The chantry of St. Margaret, situated on the south side of St. Nicholas' church, and now called Bewick's Porch, was founded by Stephen Whitgray, and Mary his wife, A. D. 1394 ⁿ. The annual [Page 256] value thereof was 5l. 8s. John Cowper, clerk, was the last incum­bent.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate above-cited, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynte Margarete in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by the licence of King Richard the Second by one Stephane Whit­grave and Mary his wyffe to fynd a priest to say masse ther dayly and to pray for ther sowle and all Christen sowles as appereth by the dede of the foundacion exhibited before the said commissioners which is so used hitherto.—Yerelie value 106s. 8d.—value according to this survey 108s. as apereth by a rentall of the same wherof is to be de­ducted for rents resolut. 3s. 6d. and for the tenthes paide to the Kinges majestie 10s. 8d.—14s. 2d.—and remayneth clerely 4l. 13s. 1 [...]d. which ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of John Cowper, clerke, incumbent ther accordinge to the tenour of the said foundacion. —Ornaments &c. 58s. 10d. as doothe appere by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

8. The chantry of St. Cuthbert was founded in the reign of Richard II. by Thomas Harrington and William Redmarshall. The yearly revenue of this chantry, arising out of tenements in the Sand-Hill, [Page 257] Side and Close, in Newcastle, amounted to 7l. 3s. 2d. ^o. Ralph Watson was the last incumbent, and had an annual pension of 5l. which he en­joyed A. D. 1553 ^p.

The subsequent account of this chantry is copied from the certifi­cate, cited above, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Cuthbert in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by a licence obtayned of King Richarde the 2^d, by Thomas Herington and William Redmarshill to fynde a prieste ther to say masse and pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles for ever as by the dede of the foundacion shewed befor the saide commissioners it doth appere and also to find one obytt yerely which is so used hitherto—Yerelie value 110s. 2d.—value accordyng to this survey 7l. 3s. 2d. as apereth by a rentall of the same wherof is to be deducted for rents resolut' 7s. 4d. going out of the same for an yerelie obytt 4s. for an yerelie almes 6s. 8d. and for the tenthes paide to the Kinges majestie 11s. quad— 29s. quad.—and remayneth clerelie 114s. 1d. ob. quad. whiche ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of Rauffe Watson, clerk, in­cumbent ther.—Ornaments &c. 4l. 20d. as dooth appere by a per­ticler inventorye of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

9. The chantry of St. Loy was founded by Robert Castell. The annual revenue of this, amounting to 4l. 10s. arose out of tenements in the Close, West-Gate, and a little field situated without the West-Gate, called Goose-Green-Close ^q.

A licence was granted, May 22d, 1498, to John Galile, chaplain of this chantry, to take annual service ^r for three years, on account of the lowness of its revenues.

[Page 258]Thomas Hollyman, alias Holman, was the last incumbent of this chantry, and had a pension of 4l. 1s. 2d. which he enjoyed A. D. 1553 ^s.

The following is the account of it in the certificate so often cited, remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of St. Loye in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by one Ro­bert Castell by a licence obtained of King Edward 3^d to fynd a priest for ever to pray for the sowles of the said Robert, Johanne his wyffe and all Christen sowles and to thentent that th' incumbent should be ther daily resident by report but the dede of the foundacion was lost or imbecilled away long syns and Thomas Hollyman, clerk now incum­bent ther is not resident but giveth to one other olde priest 46s. 8d. to supplye his rometh.—Yerely value 4l. 8s.—value according to this survey 4l. 10s. as apereth by a rentall wherof is to be deducted for the yerelie tenths paid to the King's majestie 8s. 9d. ob. quad. and remayneth clerly 4l. 14d. qua. which ar employed to the sustentacion & relief of the incumbent aforesaid.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 6d. as dothe appere by a perticuler inventory.—Ther wer no other lands &c."

10. The following account of a second chantry of our Lady, in St. Nicholas' church, occurs in the certificate so often above-cited, remain­ing in the Augmentation-Office:

"One other chauntrie of our Lady in the parishe churche of Saynt Nicholas within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by one George Carre merchant of Newcastell to fynde a prieste for ever by reports which is discontinued and dissolvyd as hereafter doth appere —Yerely value nil—for it dooth not appere to be charged in the certifi­cate [Page 259] taken out of the courte of the first fruits and tenths delivered to the said commissioners—Value accordyng to this survey 106s. 8d. to be paid yerely by the heires of George Carr founder of the said chaun­trie out of the manors of Irby, Madomysley and Evington in the countie of Yorke and the bishoprick of Durham by way of a rent-charge as by a feoffment thereof made and a wylle declared upon the same beringe date the 16^th day of September (16 Hen. VII.) remain­inge at present in the custody of Henry Whitereason Esquire to the Kinges majesties use and behofe more plainly is specified and declared to the fyndyng a chauntrie priest which is deteyned by one Thomas Carr as hereafter is declared—Ornaments &c. nil—for that suche goodes and ornaments as were apperteynyng to this chauntrie ar charged be­fore in the value of the goodes and ornaments of the other chauntrie of our Lady beinge within the same parishe church in the sume of 6l. 1s. 10d. whiche doo serve for the use of booth the saide chauntries. —The said chauntrie hath ben dissolved & the service therof discon­tinued syth the 4th day of Februar' in the 27th of (Hen. VIII.) now being of a late time by one Thomas Carr without any licence obteyned of the Kinges majestie in that behalfe and by what title or colour we knowe not."

ST. GEORGE'S PORCH.

GREY, for what reasons I know not, has supposed this to have been built by one of the kings of England ^t.

Bourne, without giving his authority, says that it was one of the chantries of St. Nicholas' church ^u.

[Page 260]This place would unquestionably be made use of when the feast of St. George was celebrated in Newcastle upon Tyne, A. D. 1617 ^v.

July 28th, 1710, there was an order of the common-council of Newcastle to give 100l. towards the rebuilding and reparation of this porch ^w.

ST. NICHOLAS' STEEPLE.

NO ideas of the elegance of the design of the forgotten architect, or lightness of the execution of the masonry of the pinnacle or upper part of this steeple, can be conveyed by descriptions of the pen: Mr Pennant ^x

[Page 261] allows it to be very justly the boast of the inhabitants, being a subject truly worthy of the pencil of a Sandby or the burin of a Rooker. It is generally thought to be a superstructure ^y, and to have been raised upon the original tower in the time of Henry the Sixth.

The original tower appears to have had a battlement of open stone work and embrasures like those still remaining on the top of Durham Abbey. At present this part is built up with bricks, which probably was done at the erection of the upper structure. However that may be, it is plainly an after-work, which, whatever it may have added to the strength, most certainly in some degree impairs the general beauty of the fabrick. Some have ascribed the building of this steeple to David ^z, the first king of Scots of that name, but I think very erro­neously, and that those have much more probability on their side who suppose it to have been raised by Robert Rhodes ^a, a most munificent [Page 262] friend in general of St. Cuthbert, the great tutelar saint of the diocese, and more particularly of the churches in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he resided.

This steeple contained originally but five bells: the peal at present consists of eight ^b. The three latter additional ones were given by the corporation of Newcastle, who appear to have been charged with the reparation of this structure from time immemorial ^c.

A former great bell or common bell, so called, it should seem, from [Page 263] convening the burgesses to guild or other publick assemblies at the an­nual election of officers, appears to have been cast in the year 1593 ^d.

In the year 1608, some of the higher part of this steeple was taken down and rebuilt ^e.

A. D. 1615, the great bell here, which weighed 3129 pounds, was sent to Colchester to be new cast ^f.

There is a tradition that during the siege, and before the town was taken in the month of October, 1644, the general of the Scottish army sent a threatening message to Sir John Marley, then mayor, in­forming him, that if he persisted in his refusal to deliver up the town, they would direct their cannon so as to demolish this beautiful steeple.

The mayor, upon this, instantly ordered the chief of the Scottish pri­soners to be taken up to the top of the tower, below the lanthorn, and returned him an answer, that if that structure fell, it should not fall alone, as their countrymen were placed in it with a view either to pre­serve it from ruin, or be destroyed with it.—This spirited reply is said to have had the desired effect in preventing its demolition ^g.

A. D. 1723, this steeple was repaired at the expence of the corpo­ration of Newcastle upon Tyne ^h.

About 1754, the great bell of this steeple having been broken, was sent up to London to be new cast. The present one weighs 36 hun­dred weight ⁱ.

In the month of October, 1761, a new clock with chimes, made by Mr. Walker, of Newcastle, was finished and put up in this steeple ^k.

[Page 264]In the year 1777, a conductor was affixed to this steeple to preserve it from lightning.—One of the pinnacles was rebuilt, and several other necessary reparations were made at the same time, at the expence of the corporation of Newcastle ^l.

GALLERIES AND PEWS.

STAVELEY ^m is of opinion, that before the reformation there were no pews in churches, but such as were appropriated to persons of dis­tinction.

"Stall Room" and "Stalls" are mentioned in an old parish book of All Saints in this town, of the date of 1488 ⁿ; and Dr. Ellison's MSS. take notice of an old pew-book belonging to this church, of the date of 1579, containing references to a still older one ^o.

A. D. 1620, the gallery commonly called the School-Gallery, on the north side of the church, was built ^p.—It has been removed ^q, in con­sequence of the late alterations, to the front of St. George's porch.

Some time between the year 1632 and 1645, an order having been received from the King to remove the gallery, which obstructed the chancel (the rood-loft in times of popery), and the church-wardens re­fusing to comply therewith, Dr. Morton, then Bishop of Durham, wrote to Mr. Alvey, vicar of this church, to inforce their obedience to the royal edict ^r.

[Page 265]An organ appears to have been erected upon it afterwards.—See ac­count of the organ of this church.

A. D. 1635, some new pews or seats were built in this church ^s.

A. D. 1785, an entirely new set of pews were erected in this church ^t.

CHANCEL OF ST. NICHOLAS.

THE holy table or altar, which in the primitive and in the late re­forming times was made of wood, in the middle corrupted times was generally composed of stone, "as more corresponding with the import of an altar, whereon the sacrifice of the mass was and is still offered up in the Roman church ^u."

This, to distinguish it from the smaller altars dedicated to saints in chantries, was styled in the papal times the high altar ^v.

It appears to have been placed anciently in different parts of the church, sometimes in the middle and sometimes in the eastermost part of the chancel, according to the different fashions of the building ^w.

[Page 267]In the year 1712, the chancel of this church was wainscotted, &c. at the expence of the corporation of Newcastle ^x.

By the late alteration of this church, the chancel has been thrown en­tirely open, and the communion table removed close under the great eastern window.

FONT.

IN primitive times the rite of baptism was performed in rivers and fountains. Fonts were at first erected in private houses, and afterwards placed in the church porch, and lastly in the church itself, near the en­trance, as subservient to the sacrament of initiation or admittance ^y.

The font of this church, with a wooden cover to it of very light and elegant workmanship, has either been made or repaired by Robert Rhodes, the builder of the upper part of the steeple: for his coat of arms, with another, probably his wife's, is sculptured on the basis ^z.

WINDOWS.

"IN this church" says Bourne, "are many sumptuous windows, but that in the east surpasseth all the rest in height, largeness and beauty." Grey says, that there were in this window the twelve apostles, and the seven deeds of charity painted in the glass. He tells us also, that this window was built by the beneficent Roger Thornton the elder, [Page 268] and that there was this inscription on it: "Orate pro anima Rogeri de Thornton & pro animabus filiorum et filiarum." At present there is nothing remaining of these pictures but fragments—two heads, &c. &c.

The windows of this church have many of them been entirely new built on the late alteration.—The figure of our Saviour in modern stained glass, of very miserable execution, has been happily concealed by it.

ORGAN.

STAVELEY is of opinion that organs ^a are of eastern invention, and tells us that the first used in the western church was sent out of Greece to Pepin, King of France, about the year 766. I have found no account of any organ in this church during the times of popery, though it is very probable there has been one ^b.

About the year 1676, the corporation of Newcastle contributed 300l. towards the erection of the present organ. ^c. They added a trumpet stop to it June 22d, 1699 ^d.

A. D. 1710, the back front of this organ was finished, which cost the said corporation 200l. together with the expence of cleaning and repairing the whole instrument ^e.

June 26th, 1749, the common-council of Newcastle ordered a sweet stop to be added to this organ ^f.

LIBRARY.

BOOKS, chained in the choirs, and other convenient places, where the parishioners might come and read them, constituted the ancient li­braries of our churches ^g.

Such a collection has originally, no doubt, been in this ^h.—No ac­count has been transmitted at what time they were first shut up in a private and separate apartment.

A. D. 1661, John Cosins, draper, and alderman of Newcastle, be­queathed 100 volumes (60 folios and 40 quartos) to the library of this church ⁱ.

A. D. 1677, there is an order of the common-council of Newcastle, for three pounds per annum, for a librarian to superintend this col­lection ^k.

[Page 270]In the year 1736, Walter Blackett, Esq. was at the expence of erect­ing an edifice on the south side of the church of St. Nicholas, the un­der part whereof to be the vestry, and the upper apartments to con­tain the original library, together with a great and valuable collection of books bequeathed to this church library by Dr. Thomlinson. The following inscription is on the front:

"This library was built by Walter Blackett, Esq. for the books of the Rev. Dr. Robert Thomlinson and other benefactors."

The ground floor of this edifice is the present vestry of St. Ni­cholas ^l.

In the vestry are preserved the parish registers.

That of baptisms begins A. D. 1558. That of marriages and burials in 1574.

Parochial registers were first appointed in the year 1538.

CHURCH-YARD.

IN the year 1761, St. Nicholas' church-yard was inclosed with a brick wall, with rails upon it. There was left a convenient passage all around it on the outside for foot people. This was done by sub­scription ^m.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ST. NICHOLAS.

HENRY Hilton, of Hilton, Esq. by his last will, dated February 26th, 1640, bequeathed, for 99 years, commencing A. D. 1640, the sum of six pounds per annum, interest money, to the poor of St. Ni­cholas' parish. This was reduced, by the interest act, to four pounds per annum ⁿ.

Robert Anderson, Esq. alderman of Newcastle, who died May 9th, 1640, left, by deed, five pounds per annum to the poor of this parish. This was lost in the grand rebellion ^o.

Andrew Aldworth, of Newcastle, physician, by his will, dated No­vember 16th, 1648, left the sum of one pound per annum, issuing out of property in Gateshead, to the poor of this parish, for ever ^p.

Thomas Davison, Esq. by his will, dated November 25th, 1675, left to the poor of this parish the sum of two pounds three shillings and six-pence, yearly, payable in December, issuing out of property in the town of Newcastle ^q.

[Page 272]Left by Sir Alexander Davison, 2l. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi­chaelmas.

— Sir Thomas Davison, 1l. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi­chaelmas.

— William Carr, Esq. 1l. 10s. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi­chaelmas.

— Mark Milbank, Esq. 3l. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi­chaelmas.

— John Rumney, Esq. 2l. 10s. per annum Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi­chaelmas.

— Sir Mark Milbank, 6l. per annum ^r Paid half yearly, at Lady-Day and Mi­chaelmas.

Left by Mr. Robert Ellison, the sum of 33l. 6s. 8d. the interest whereof to be paid yearly to the vicar and church-wardens.—This was lost ^s.

William Carr, Esq. by his will, dated 11th of April, 1660, left to the poor of this parish the sum of two pounds per annum, out of pro­perty in the town of Newcastle ^t.

Sir William Blackett, Bart. who died May 16th, 1680, left to the poor of this parish, out of a house at the Bridge-End, to be paid in the month of December, the sum of two pounds per annum ^u.

Left by John Jefferson, to be paid yearly, in March, the sum of two pounds ^v.

Left by Timothy Davison, Esq. to be paid yearly, in December, out of the merchants company, one pound five shillings ^w.

Left by Mrs. Jane Brokesby a quit-rent of twenty shillings per an­num, out of houses in Trinity-Chare, now held by Mr. Fenwick and others. Also fifty pounds out of her lands in Forest-Hill, to secure the payment of three pounds per annum. The said sum of four pounds per annum to be distributed at twenty shillings per quarter ^x.

Left by Nicholas Ridley, Esq. out of grounds in Heaton, to be paid yearly, in the month of December, one pound ten shillings ^y.

Left by Joseph Atkinson, Esq. the sum of fifty pounds, the interest to be paid yearly, on the 30th of September, two pounds ten shillings ^z.

[Page 273]Left by Matthew White, Esq. to be paid yearly, in December, out of a house in Pilgrim-Street, one pound ten shillings ^a.

Left by Isabel, wife of William Wrightson, Esq. the sum of fifty pounds, the interest to be paid yearly, on the 30th of September^b.

Left by Leonard Wetherly, Gent. the sum of twenty pounds, the interest to be paid yearly, on the 11th of September, one pound^c.

Left by Mr. Richard Randal the sum of seven pounds ^d.

Left by Mrs. Ann Davison the sum of two hundred pounds, the in­terest of which to be distributed at two doles, five pounds each, viz. on St. Thomas's Eve, and on the 7th of February ^e.

Left by Mr. William Harrison, the sum of fifty pounds, the interest to be paid yearly on St. Andrew's Day ^f.

Left by Mrs. Margaret Ramsey, the sum of twenty pounds, the in­terest to be paid yearly, for ever, one pound ^g.

Left by Mr. James Coward, the sum of twenty pounds, the interest to be paid yearly, for ever ^h.

William Grey, of Backworth, Esq. by his will, dated May 26th, 1714, in case of failure of issue, male and female, of his own body, charged his estates in Durham and Northumberland, among other charities, with the payment of one hundred pounds to the church of St. Nicholas, in Newcastle, the interest of which to be given to poor widows and necessitous house-keepers of the parish, at Christmas, for ever.—He left one son, Ralph William Grey, living in 1749. Marga­ret and Ann, his daughtersⁱ.

Elizabeth Rogers, of Newcastle upon Tyne, by her will, dated De­cember 15th, 1733, gave the sum of fifty pounds to the poor of this parish, the interest of which to be given annually, on the day of her death, for ever ^k.

[Page 274]George Mallabar, Esq. who died August 20th, 1734, appears to have left some benefactors to the poor of this parish^l.

Dame Jane Clavering, relict of Sir John Clavering, Bart. and who died February 21st, 1735, left, by her will, fifty pounds to the poor of this parish ^m.

Mrs. Timothia Davison, sister of Thomas Davison, Esq. of Ferry-Hill, who died June 4th, 1757, aged 88, among other charities, left twenty pounds to the poor of St. Nicholas' parish, in Newcastle, to be distributed immediately after her death ⁿ.

William Moulton, of Newcastle upon Tyne, skinner and glover, by his last will, dated February 26th, 1771, bequeathed an annuity of fifteen pounds, to be divided by his executors (and their successors), in rotation, at the parish church of St. Nicholas, upon the first Sunday in every month, and on Easter-Day, Whit-Sunday, and Christmas-Day, for ever, immediately after the celebration of the sacrament, amongst twenty of the poorest persons who shall then and there have attended divine service, and been partakers of the holy communion. A flaw has been discovered, it seems, in the will, so that Mr. Moulton's pious intentions have never been fulfilled. The annuity was charged upon houses in the Ship-Entry, in the Flesh-Market ^o.

CHARITY-SCHOOL OF ST. NICHOLAS.

CHARITY-SCHOOLS, founded with the view of opposing and defeating the pernicious effects of the seminaries set up by the Papists during the reign of King James the Second, first began in this king­dom about the year 1688^p.

[Page 275]Mrs. Eleanor Allan, of Newcastle, February 20th, 1705, founded this school for forty boys and twenty girls, born in this parish, and in the chapelry of St. John's ^q.

A. D. 1708, an annual subscription was entered into by the pa­rishioners of this parish, to clothe the children of this school ^r.

In the year 1723, Mr. Gilbert Campel, innholder, left, by will, the sum of twenty pounds, and Mr. Samuel Nichols, organist, ten pounds, to be put out at interest for the benefit of this school.

The interest of five hundred pounds was left to this school, for ever, by Mrs. Chisholm, relict of the Rev. Mr. Chisholm, of Wooler, in Northumberland ^t.

Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, of the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne, by her will, dated December 15th, 1733, bequeathed the sum of fifty pounds to this school^u.

John Hewit, alias Huet, of Newcastle, goldsmith, by his will, dated September 9th, 1738, bequeathed to this school of St. Nicholas, the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, which was lent to the cor­poration of Newcastle at four per cent ^v.

[Page 276]John Fenwick, of Newcastle upon Tyne, Esq. gave in perpetuity fifty pounds to the corporation of that town, for the annual payment of twenty shillings ^w to the charity-school of St. Nicholas, and twenty shillings to the prisoners in New-Gate, to be made seven days before Christmas, for ever.

A. D. 1786, the corporation of Newcastle built a new charity-school for this parish, in the Manor-Chare ^x.

SHRINES, MONUMENTS, AND MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS, FORMERLY IN ST. NICHOLAS' CHURCH, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN REMOVED BY THE LATE ALTERA­TION IN THE INSIDE OF THAT EDIFICE.

IN the north part of this church of St. Nicholas, was a shrine of Henry, the fourth Earl of Northumberland, who, on the day of St. Vitalis the Martyr, i. e. April 28th, 1489, fell a victim to the unre­lenting avarice of King Henry VII. to whom the parliament, in that year, had granted a subsidy, for carrying on the war in Bretagne, which fell heavy on the people, and put the whole country in a flame.—The good Earl, then Lord Lieutenant, wrote to inform the King of the discontent, and prayed an abatement.—The King's answer was, that not a penny should be abated. This message being delivered by the Earl with too little caution to the populace, who had come in a tu­multuous manner to complain of the grievance, they supposed him to be the promoter of their calamity, and instantly breaking into his house at Cock's-Lodge, near Thirske, in Yorkshire, murdered him, and several of his attendants. He was buried in Beverly Minster, where

[Page 277] a very magnificent monument, some vestiges of which remain, was erected to his memory ^y.

Grey, in his Chorographia, tells us, that in this part of the church there was such a monument in his time, "that was made in memory of him in his own country, he having a house in this town and pa­rish ^z;" and that part of the inscription upon it was, "Orate pro anima Henrici Percy 4 (com') Northumbriae qui per rebellium manus occubuit &c."

"The Milbank manuscript," as we read in Bourne's History, "says that it was in the north corner of the church: that it was a monu­ment of wood, on which was painted an old man, our Saviour on his right hand, and the Virgin Mary on his left. There came a label from her mouth, but what it was this authority had forgot; but that from our Saviour's was Quaeso Pater, fac, quod rogat mea mater. Then followed some Latin verses, done in the rhyming way of the monks, but they are so dark and obscure, that little can be made of them." The MS. goes on: "When Mr. William Selby was buried, this monument was removed out of that corner, and Sir George Selby did set his magnificent tomb there."—"After that it was placed against the wall, next to Sir George's tomb, and so continued till Mr. Lanc' Hodshon got leave of Vicar Nailor to remove it, and place his father; where it is now I know not."—At present, 1787, no vestiges of this ceno­taph remain.

In the north-east corner of this church was the tomb of Sir George Selby. His effigies, and that of his lady, were at length, resting upon pillows, with uplifted hands—On the south of the tomb were the ef­figies of his children, in a posture of prayer, kneeling, with raised hands.—Upon a marble stone, placed in the wall, a little above the [Page 278] tomb, was the following inscription: "Georgius Selby eques auratus ab antiqua et clara Selbeiorum de Selby in comitat' Ebor' familia oriun­dus, quater hujus villae praetor, vicecomes comitat' palat' Dunelm' sere­nissimi Regis Jacobi hospitio et servitio nobilitatus. Ob lautum certè & affluentem perpetuo apparatum et liberalissimae mensae communica­tionem merito passim celebratissimus. Margaretae uxoris Joannis Selby de Twifell militis filiae consortio apprimè faelix. Ex qua suscepit quin­que filius, immatura morte sublatos, et sex silias superstites. Quatuor ante illius obitum nuptas Margaretam primam Gulielmo Balasys de Morton, Elizabetam secundam Joanni Delavale de Dissington equitibus auratis. Barbaram tertiam Roberto Delavale haeredi Radulphi De­lavale de Seaton equitis aurati. Isabellam quartam Patricio Curwen de Workington armigero. Et duas innuptas Dorotheam & Mariam, per totum vitae cursum lautissima usus fortuna. In hoc vere beatus quod sub indubitata spe plenae peccatorum omnium remissionis et suae ad aeternam vitam resurrectionis spiritum in manus Domini commen­davit, in coque placide obdormivit 30^o Martii 1625, an. aetatis 68. Corpus sepultum jacet in crypta sub hoc tumulo charae uxoris cura extructa.

Under the coat of arms—"Mortuus vivo."

Within the palisadoes, upon a flat marble stone—"Jesu have mercy of the sowlle of George Selbe merchant-adventurer, some­time alderman of this town, and Margaret his wife and their children." In the margin, on his side, anno 1542; on her side, 1562.

In the north side of the middle porch, under the great eastern win­dow, were the remains of a monument on which statues had been inlaid, but taken away, probably, for the sake of the brass. On the south side of it was the monument of George Carr^a, with this inscription: [Page 279] "Orate pro anima Georgii Car quondam majoris istius ville qui obiit anno Domini millesimo cccc Cujus animae propitietur Deus."

The effigies of him and his wife at length, resting on pillows, with their hands raised. Above them an arched canopy, with a defaced inscription; but a MS. in this church gave the following words: "For George Car's sawll his wyffes & childers sawlls all and to make a so­lem dyrge-mass with all his bruthern in the qwyre and to sing as aperyth in his writing of Rimae."

At the feet of the effigies were the ruins of a large image of our Sa­viour upon the Cross, with an inscription equally dark as the other, but said to be this: "Our Lady prays him to say at the day."

When the Scots took the town they plundered the churches, and these, and many more, were defaced; for they broke down the carved work thereof with axes and hammers.

On the north side of the south-east porch was a small monument, commemorating the wife of William Wrightson, Esq. "Near this place lies the body of Isabel the wife of William Wrightson, Esq. one of the burgesses in several parliaments for this town and county. She died. the 13th of March 1716."

Almost contiguous was the beautiful monument of Mr. Matthews, the first husband of Isabel above-mentioned, with this inscription: ‘"Underneath lie interred Mr. Francis Burton, merchant-adventurer, and Ann his wife. Mr. Burton died Sept. 16, 1682 His wife died August 11th, 1676. They had issue one son and three daughters, viz. Francis, Isabel, Elizabeth and Ann. [Page 280] Elizabeth died January 25th, 1675 Anne died April 9th, 1681 Francis died December 17th, 1684. Thomas Matthews, Gent. married Isabel, in memory of whom she erected this monument. They had issue a daughter named Anne, Who died March 6th, 1684 Mr. Matthews died April 6th, 1697."’

"The burial-place of Timothy Davison, alderman, some time mayor of this town, and governor of the merchants company, and Elizabeth his wife, by whom he had issue sixteen children, of which survived them six sons and four daughters: she departed this life the 10th day of September, 1694; and he the 20th day of December, 1696, in the 55th year of his age."

"Here lyeth the body of Robert White, merchant. He departed Oc­tober 1644."

"The burial-place of Sir Ralph Jennison, of Elswick, in the county of Northumberland, Kt. some time mayor of this town. Obiit 3 die Aprilis, anno 1701, aetatis suae 88."

"The burial-place of Mr. John Stephenson, merchant-adventurer, who died 20th April, 1725."

"Robert Bulman, felt-maker, 16th May, 1716. Rachel, his daugh­ter, who was wife of William Henderson, upholsterer, died 22d of Au­gust, 1730."

"The burial-place of John Ogle, Esq.—his daughter Mary Lisle, re­lict of Robert Lisle, of Hazon, Esq. died 19th December, 1728."

"Roger Rawe, twice mayor of this town, 1596."

"Robert Barker, sometime mayor of this town, and his four wives. He departed 4th of August, 1588."

"Ralph Cocke, Esq. alderman, and sometime mayor of this town, 27th Jan. 1652. His four daughters survived him, and Judith his wife, viz. Dorothy, Jane, Ann, Barbara. The wives of Mark Mil­bank, William Carr, Thomas (Alexander) Davison, Henry Marley, merchants."

[Page 281]"Robert Jennison, merchant, 27th October, 1668."

"Francis Brandling."

"William Carr, merchant-adventurer, and Jane his wife, by whom he had issue eleven children. He departed April 14th, 1660. She departed Jan. 31, 1666."

"Bartram Anderson, merchant-adventurer, June 24th, 1605."

"Jesu have mercy on the sawlles of Hendry Anderson, M. A. some­time mayor of this town, 1562."

"Isabell Anderson, his wife, was buried under the next stone to him. She died in August 1582."

"Bertram Anderson, merchant-advent'. August 1606."

"Mark Shafto, merchant-adventurer, sometime mayor of this town, April 1593."

"Under the same lie — Shafto, who died December 1581. And Robert Shafto, alderman of this town, who died September 1623."

"Jesu have mercy on the soul of Mark......."

"Sir Peter Riddell, knight, twice mayor of this town, 18 April 1593." On a table monument, near where the tomb of Sir George Selby stood.

"Lancelot Hodshon, son of John Hodshon, Esq. departed this life the 4th of May, 1677. And Margaret his wife, daughter of Sir Tho­mas Haggerston, Bart. departed this life August 18th, 1663. Adelm his 2^d wife, daughter of James Cholmley, Esq. departed this life March 19th, 1672 ^b."

In the quire.

"The burial-place of Nicholas Ridley, Esq. twice mayor of this town, and governour of the merchants' company, and Martha his wife, [Page 282] by whom he had issue 9 children, viz. John, Mary, Richard, Ann, Nicholas, Edward, Ann, Martha and John. He departed this life the 22d of January, 1710. John their eldest son dyed April 14th, 1686."

"Sept. 8, 1787. We are favoured with the following description of the elegant monument, lately erected in St. Nicholas' church, in this town, to the memory of Matthew Ridley, of Blagdon and Heaton, in the county of Northumberland, Esq.—A figure in statuary marble, as large as life, bearing a resemblance of the features and person of the late Mr. Ridley (at the period to which the medallion and inscription allude), is represented in a Roman habit, sitting in the curule chair, the seat of magistracy, with a serious, but placid countenance, as con­sidering of the general welfare of the people over whom he presided; under the chair are placed the scales and fasces, as emblems of justice and authority; beneath this is the entablature, containing the follow­ing inscription: "To the memory of Matthew Ridley, Esq. of Blag­don and Heaton, in the county of Northumberland, senior alderman of the corporation of this town, and governor of the company of mer­chant-adventurers. He four times served the office of mayor, in which station, in the year 1745, he rendered essential service to his country; averting, by his prudence and activity, the attack meditated against this town, by the enemies of the House of Brunswick, and thereby materially checking the progress of their arms. He was unanimously elected by his fellow burgesses to represent them in five successive par­liaments, and retired from that situation when the declining state of his health rendered him incapable of conscientiously fulfilling the duties of it. He lived respected and beloved, and died unfeignedly lamented, April 6, 1778. Aged 66."

"The base of the monument is formed by a medallion, on which the town of Newcastle is represented by a female figure, crowned with turrets, having a shield by her, bearing the arms of the town; near her is an urn, from which are seen issuing salmon, the peculiar attribute of the river Tyne, attacked by Rebellion, who, treading on the crown and sceptre (ensigns of royalty), bears in one hand the torch of sedi­tion, [Page 283] in the other the sword of destruction: in an attitude of suppli­cation she inclines herself towards an armed figure, who protects her with his shield, and with a sword in his right hand resists the figure of Rebellion; on the shield are represented the arms of the family of Ridley; the helmet is ornamented with a bull, which is the crest. As a finishing, under the medallion two cornucopias are introduced, representing the general effect of plenty (attendant on the care of active magistrates), connected by a civic crown, the reward amongst the Romans of civil virtue. The figure is placed against an obelisk of white marble, eight feet high, on the top of which is a very elegant urn, bearing the family arms emblazoned; and on the foot of it is engraved the motto, "Constans Fidei." The whole is relieved by a ground of dove-coloured marble.

"We feel it a justice we owe to the superior abilities of the artist, to add, that this elegant monument was executed by John Bacon, Esq. of the Royal Academy, whose natural genius, unassisted by foreign travel, has raised him decidedly to the first rank in his profession, and has enabled the present day to vie with the most celebrated ages of antiquity in works of sculpture. The many invaluable proofs of ex­cellence with which this artist has enriched his native country, as well as foreign lands, it is unnecessary here to enumerate; until the magni­ficent monument in Westminster-Abbey, designed and executed by him, to the memory of the late Earl of Chatham, shall moulder into dust, his fame will be had in remembrance ^*."

"Radulphus Jennison quondam major hujus oppidi qui tempore prae­fecturae suae e vivis decessit anno Domini 1597, hoc tumulo sepultus jacet.

"Here lieth the body of Sir William Blackett, Bart. alderman and sometime mayor of this town, and burgess in parliament for this [Page 286] corporation, and Dame Elizabeth his wife, by whom he had issue nine children, of which survived him three sons and three daughters, viz. Edward, Michael, William, Elizabeth, Isabel and Christian: she de­parted this life the 7th of April, 1674, and he the 16th of May, 1680. Michael, his son, sometime alderman, departed this life the 26th day of April, 1683, who had Elizabeth only. She departed this life the 12th day of January, 1677."

"William, Isabel, Edward, Christian, Michael, John, William and Christian, the children of William Blackett, alderman, and Elizabeth his wife.—John buried 4th May, 1654; William buried 9th August, 1654; Christopher buried 8th July, 1678."

There was an escutcheon of Sir William Blackett, Bart. who died in 1728. He married Barbara, daughter of the Earl of Jersey. A sup­porter to her arms.

"The burial-place of John Rumney, merchant."

"The burial-place of William Jennison, merchant-adventurer."

Arms on the grave-stones: Cookson—Liddell—Ridley.

On white marble, against one of the pillars.

"Near this place lie interred the remains of Thomas Dockwray, A. M. many years lecturer of this church, who, after a life worn out in learned and religious employments, departed to the mercy of God on the 15th of May, 1760, in the 71st year of his age. He had an able head, and an upright heart. As a preacher he was instructive, nervous, eloquent. In private life he was adorned with those virtues which distinguish the worthy man and the good Christian.—His ne­phew, Thomas Dockwray, placed this monument of his gratitude to the memory of the best of friends."

"Memoriae Edwardi Man, vere generosi, verissimè christiani, cum in transmarinis mercator emporiis, in publico ecclesiarum senior con­sultissimus moderamine: in secretioribus nobilis hujus Novi Castri con­ciliis sidelissimè diu laborasset ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΥΣ. Decemb. 9, anno 1654, requievit in Domino.

ST. MARY'S PORCH:

Now converted into a place where the daily prayers are read.

"P. M.

Alexandri Davison Equitis Aurati et Annae siliae Radulphi Cocke ejus conjugis charissimae: Ex qua filios quinque Thomam Equitem Auratum, Radulphum Davison de Thornley, Samuelem Davison de Wingate-Grange, Josephum centurionem cordatum (in hujus oppidi contra Scotos rebelles propugnatione strenuè ad mortem usque dimicantem hic juxta tu­mulatum) Edwardum mercatorem caelibem defunctum; filias etiam binas, ‘Barbaram primo Radulpho Calverley, Deinde Thomae Riddell de Fenham in comitatu Northumbriae Equiti­bus Auratis, Ac Margaretam Henrico Lampton Armigero enuptas, suscitavit. Qui quidem Alexander, grassante tunc conjuratione perfidissima, optimo Regi, causaeque regiae semper fidelissimus’

Gravem rei familiaris jacturam maximo animo perpessus, tandemque in hujus Novi Castri obsidione cum Scotorum rebellium exercitu irruenti magnanimiter confligens, novissimum spiritum (octo­genarius fere) fortiter effudit, undecimo die mensis Novembris anno ab incarnatione Domini 1644.

Hoc monumentum posuit Thomas primogenitus Eques Auratus."

"M. S. Egregio adolescenti Thomae Hamiltono, animi indole, forma corporis & robore prae caeteris insigni, Domini Patricii Hamiltonii a Preston filio dignissimo a nobilissima familia Haddingtonia oriundo, centurioni sub Domino Alexandro Leslaeo exercitus Scoticani foederis imperatore, excellentissimo Domino Alex. Hamiltono rei tormentariae praefectus, avunculus moerens posuit. Cum totius exercitus planctu maximo obiit anno Domini 1640, Octobris 29. Aetatis suae 20."

The motto of the coat of arms above. "Mihi palma cupressus."

The arms of Wallis on a stone in the east wall of this porch.

ST. MARGARET'S CHANTRY.

Burial place of Bewick Family.

On a monument of variegated marble.

"Hic sepultum jacet corpus Gulielmi Bewicke, filii Roberti Bewicke, Armigeri, primogeniti, qui cum Elizabetha Henrici Maddison, Armi­geri, filia matrimonio conjunctus binos filios filiasque tres ex illa susce­pit: Et postquam ad tricesimum octavum aetatis suae annum pervenisset animum suum 22 die Februarii religiose expiravit anno Domini 1636." —Arms, Bewick, with the difference of eldest son, impaling Maddison.

"Here lieth interred the bodies of Robert Bewicke, merchant-ad­venturer and twice mayor of this towne, and also high sheriff of the county of Northumberland, and Ellenor his wife.—He departed this life the 15th day of March, 1641. She departed this life the 1st of June, 1661."

"Jane Bewicke, the wife of Thomas Bewicke, Esq.—She departed this life the 9th of August, 1682. Thomas Bewicke, Esq. departed this life the 17th of November, 1690. Robert Bewicke, Esq. departed this life the 9th of January, 1703-4."

Near Bewick's porch.

"The burial place of John Butler, merchant-adventurer, and some­times sheriffe of this towne, and his wives Ann and Isabel, and their children. He departed January 12th, 1695-6. Ann his wife, 14th June, 1655."

Henry Lord Borthwick was buried near the south-west door of this church. See "Annals and Historical Events."

[Page 298]West end of the church.

"The burial place of William Errington, master and mariner."

"John Gill."

"William Boutflower."

In the middle isle.

"The burial place of William Rutter, merchant-adventurer."

At the east end of the middle isle.

"Richard Wright, merchant-adventurer, and sometime sheriff, de­parted this life 5th of May, 1671."

"Cuthbert Ellison, merchant-adventurer." "Now" (says Bourne) "the burial place of Mr. Richard Wall, descended from the elder brother of Robert and Benjamin Ellison."

"The burial place of Robert Ellison, merchant-adventurer, sometime sheriff: he died January 12th, 1677."

"The burial place of Benjamin Ellison, who departed this life 25th June, 1676."

"Abraham Anderson, merchant."

"Joseph Ellison, merchant, who dyed 21st of January, 1686."

Cross isle.

"Richard Wright, sheriff, ob. May 5th, 1671."

ST. GEORGE'S PORCH.

"Samuel Gill, Esq. who died 26th October, 1720."

"William Warriner 1706."

"— Marlay, Esq. 1676." "Now" (says Bourne) "Mr. Perith's."

"Another of John Marlay, merchant, who departed October 16, 1561.

"Under which lies also William Marlay, who departed 16th Jan. 1609.

"And also Sir John Marlay, Knight, son of William, who had been five times mayor, and departed anno 1673, aged 83 years and 3 days."

"Jesu have mercy on George Byrdes soul" on the border of Matfen's stone.

"Matthew Matsen, merchant-adventurer, died 1st October, 1697."

[Page 299]"Timothy Robson, alderman, twice mayor, departed 30th Decem­ber, 1700."

"The burial place of George Heron, merchant."—On the top of which stone was "Jesu have mercy on the soul of John Ord."

On the wall a handsome marble monument, with the following in­scription:

"Matthew Jefferson, sometime mayor of this town, departed March 1st, 1687."

"Matthew Newton obiit 1668."

On a mural monument.

"To the memory of William Peareth, Esq. of Uzworth-House in the county of Durham: a man of abilities and worth, whose ami­able qualities endeared him to his family and friends. He served this corporation with great assiduity and integrity as clerk of the town's chamber and alderman, near fifty years, always declining the office of mayor. He married in 1731 Ann, youngest daughter of Richard Jennens, Esq. of Warwickshire, by whom he had issue fifteen chil­dren: of these two sons survived him, William, and Richard Thomas; and six Daughters; Susannah, married to Henry Wight, Esq. of North­amptonshire; Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, Henrietta and Barbara. He died May the 20th, 1775, aged 72 years.

His widow, in testimony of her affection

And gratitude, caused this monument to be erected."

The arms are, quarterly, those of Peareth and Jackson (his mother [Page 300] having been a Jackson, of Chaitor's Haugh, com. Dunelm.), and on an escutcheon of pretence the coat of Jennens.

Monument—quarterly—Riddell or Grey and Surtees—Supporters, a mermaid with a looking-glass, and a naked man with a club.—On the old carved benches—Grey and Vescy—arms of Archdeacon—Creagh— Rogers—Archdeacon—and Whitaker in surtout.

In the north isle.

"Thomas Partis, tobacconist, who died 9th of May, 1684."

"The burial place of Roger Ive, citizen and stationer of London, who died 6th August, 1675."

"Roger Proctor, merchant-adventurer, who died 20th Nov. 1664." (Now, says Bourne, Mr. Malliburne's burial place.)

"John Winship, tanner, 1607."

Against the north wall a monument of Major Robert Bugg, citizen and haberdasher of London, who died 22d of May, 1688.

"George Winfield, merchant-adventurer, alderman and twice mayor, died 18th Nov. 1684."

"Michael Hall, gentleman, 25th July, 1647."

"Nicholas Stricker, who died August 5th, 1689."

"Barbara Riddell, wife of William Riddell, merchant, and some­times mayor, 1627."

"Mark Shafto."

Mural monument, north-wall. "In St. George's porch lie interred the remains of Mrs. Barbara Dawson, the widow of Mr. Thomas Dawson. She died in the year 1736, aged 38 years. And of Mrs. Susannah Peareth, her sister, who died in the year 1769, aged 71 years. Both were the daughters of Henry Peareth, Esq. by Elizabeth Jackson his wife. This monument of filial duty and respect for one of the best of mothers, and a sincere regard [Page 301] for an affectionate aunt, was erected by Dorothy, daughter of the said Barbara Dawson, and wife of Matthew Duane, Esq. in the year 1776." Arms—Dawson impaling Peareth.

Escutcheons of arms affixed to north wall: Mrs. Davison—Mr. Weatherly—Mrs. Wrightson—Mrs. Brookesby—Mr. Procter.

VICARS OF ST NICHOLAS IN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE ^h.

RICHARD de Aurea Valle, or Goldburn ⁱ, was parson of this church in the time of King Henry the First, as was

Gilbert de Lacy in the time of Henry the Third ^k.

[Page 302]William de Burdone was vicar in the year 1316—He occurs also in 1327 ^l.

Master John de Herlaw was vicar in 1342 ^m.

Matthew de Bolton was vicar in 1353 ⁿ.

Henry Headlam was vicar here 10 Ric. II. A. D. 1386 ^o.

Nicholas de S ....... occurs as vicar October 10th, 1401 ^p.

Roger de Thresk was vicar before 1418 ^q.

William Glyn was instituted to this vicarage January 20th, 1418. He exchanged with the above Thresk for the vicarage of St. Michael's, Coventry ^r.

John de Heyworth was made vicar A. D. 1436, on an exchange with Glyn ^s.

Thomas Harelred was vicar before 1494 ^t.

[Page 303]John Deye, D. D. succeeded T. Harelred.—He occurs as vicar at the feast of St. Cuthbert, in March, 1494 ^u.

William Fell was vicar before 1499 ^v.

John Sanderson was vicar before the year 1532 ^w.

John Heryn, L. L. D. occurs as vicar in 1536. Also in 1541. He had obtained a licence, which never took effect, to resign his vicarage to Nicholas Morrey, L. L. B. with a pension reserved to himself. He died A. D. 1543 ^x.

Henry Aglionbye, S. T. P. was instituted to this vicarage Novem­ber 15th, 1543, on the death of Heryn.—He was deprived on account of his not paying his tenths to the King ^y.

William Purye, A. M. was instituted July 15th, 1549, on the va­cancy occasioned by Aglionby's deprivation ^z.

William Salkeld, A. M. was vicar about 1553.—He was buried in the chancel of this church, August 25th, 1568 ^a.

John Magbrey, clerk, was instituted to this vicarage November 13th, 1568.—He was buried here, November 16th, 1584 ^b.

[Page 304]Richard Holdsworth, clerk, was instituted to this vicarage August 10th, 1585, and buried in the church of St. Nicholas, September 5th, 1596 ^c.

William Morton, S. T. P. was preferred to this vicarage on the death of R. Holdsworth, and was buried in St. Nicholas' church, July 26th, 1620. In St. Nicholas' Register, January 1601, he occurs with the title of "Archdeacon of Northumberland;" and in the same re­gister, April 1604, he is called, "Archdeacon of Durham ^d."

Henry Power, A. M. was inducted to this vicarage September [Page 305] 23d, 1620 ^e. He was buried in this church September 3d, 1623 ^f.

Thomas Jackson, S. T. P. was instituted to this vicarage November 27th, 1623, which he resigned in 1630. He was sworn president of Corpus-Christi College, Oxford, February 17th, 1630.—He died September or December 21, 1640, and was buried in the inner-chapel of that college ^g.

Yelderd Alvey, S. T. P. was preferred to this vicarage on the re­moval of Dr. Jackson to Oxford, in 1630. By the title of A. M. of Trinity-College, Oxford, a licence was granted him to preach in the town of Newcastle.—He was collated to the vicarage of Eglingham December 10th, 1627.—He was deposed from this vicarage May 26, 1645, by an order of the Lords and Commons, and was buried in this church March 19th, 1648 ^h.

[Page 306]Robert Jennison, D. D. by a resolution of the House of Commons, dated Dec. 5th, 1644, was appointed to the vicarage of Newcastle, in the place of Y. Alvey, removed for his delinquency ⁱ.

By an order of the common-council of Newcastle, dated July 21st, 1645 ^k, Dr. Jennison, who had been called from Dantzick, and placed as vicar here, was allowed a salary of 100l. per annum, and ap­pointed Thursday's lecturer.—By an order of the same body, February 20th, 1645-6, his salary was augmented to 140l. per annum ^l.

Dr. Jennison died November 6th, 1652, and was buried in this church on the 8th following.

He wrote a book "concerning the Idolatry of the Israelites;" also, "Newcastle's Call to her Neighbour and Sister Townes and Cities throughout the Land," &c. London, 1637, 12^mo, occasioned by the pestilence.—He had been suspended from a lectureship at All-Saints ^m.

November 5th, 1652, there was an order of common-council to appoint Mr. Samuel Hammond to preach at St. Nicholas' on Sunday forenoons, and to lecture on Thursdays, with an annual salary of 150l. He was of the sect called "The Congregational Judgment." [Page 307] He would not conform at the restoration ⁿ. S. Hammond is said to have been succeeded here by John Knightbridge ^o.

Thomas Nailer, A. M. was instituted to this vicarage, February 9th, 1662 ^p, with the salary of 100l. per annum. By an order of the common-council, January 18th, 1675, the vicar's stipend from the corporation of Newcastle was settled to be, in future, 60l. per annum, with 10l. more for sermons on Thursday's lecture.

Mr. Nailer was buried in this church April 15th, 1679.

John March, B. D. occurs June 25th, 1679 ^q; salary from the cor­poration [Page 308] 60l. per annum, with 10l. for his turns on Thursday's lec­tures, "by the unanimous consent of the patron and others concerned in the donation." March 30th, 1682, this salary from the corpora­tion was increased to 90l. per annum.

Mr. March died December 2d, 1692, and was buried, on the 4th following, in this church. There is an engraved portrait of him.

Leonard Welstead was inducted to this vicarage in February, 1693. He came in by option ^r. Mr. Welstead died November 13th, 1694, and was buried on the 15th following, in the chancel of this church^s.

Nathanael Ellison, D. D. was appointed vicar of this church April 30th, 1695. With consent of the patron, his salary from the corporation to be 80l. per annum, with 10l. more for Thursday's lectures ^t.

He had been installed archdeacon of Stafford July 14th, 1682. He was besides rector of Whitburn in the county of Durham, had a [Page 309] prebend in the church of Durham, and was also a prebendary of Litchfield.

In the year 1700 he published, at London, a sermon preached be­fore the mayor and magistrates of the town of Newcastle, in this church, October 8th, 1699, on the Sunday after the election of the mayor, intitled, "The Magistrate's Obligation to punish Vice."

A. D. 1701, his sermon on confirmation, preached June 23d, 1700, before the Lord Crew, Bishop of Durham (who made him his chap­lain), at St. Nicholas' church in Newcastle, was printed at London.

In the year 1710 he printed a sermon at London, which was preached at All-Saints church in Newcastle, on All-Saints day, 1709, at the opening of a charity-school in that parish. It is intitled, "The Obligations and Opportunities of doing good to the Poor," quarto; with an appendix, giving an account of some charities to the poor.

October 7th, 1712, Henry Reay, Esq. mayor, with the recorder and aldermen of Newcastle, wrote a letter of thanks to Lord Crew, Bishop of Durham, on his Lordship's promoting Dr. Ellison to a pre­bend in the church of Durham^u. He died May 4th, 1721, aged [Page 310] sixty-four years, and was buried on the 7th following, under the east window of the south isle of this church.

William Bradford, A. M. and aged twenty-five years, was inducted to this vicarage August 2d, 1728 He was fellow of Bennet-College, Cambridge, and was presented by his father, Samuel, Bishop of Car­lisle. A little before his death, which was occasioned by a fever, and happened at Bromley in Kent, he was preferred to the archdeaconry of Rochester. He died July 15th, 1728, in the thirty-second year of his age, and was buried in Westminster-abbey ^v.

Thomas Turner, A. M. ^w of St. John's College, Cambridge, was inducted to this vicarage August 2d, 1728. He came in by option, having been presented by the executors of Sir William Dawes, Arch­bishop of York.

He married Martha, daughter of Francis Winnington, of Broadway, in the county of Worcester, Esq. who survived her husband, and was buried in this church September 22d, 1771, aged 74 years.

He died in the 57th year of his age, June 1st, 1760, and was bu­ried in the chancel of St. Nicholas'.

There is a portrait of him in the possession of Mr. Thomas Gaul, wine-merchant in Newcastle, who married his niece.

John Brown, D. D. was inducted to the vicarage of Newcastle upon Tyne January 6th, 1761. He had been collated, in 1752, to the vicarage of Lazonby in Cumberland, by Dr. Osbaldiston, Bishop of Carlisle: this he resigned in 1756 or 1757, on being presented to the [Page 311] rectory of Horksley, in Essex, by Jemima Campbell, Marchioness de Grey, and the Honourable Philip Yorke, Esq. afterwards Lord Viscount Royston. This too he vacated on becoming vicar of Newcastle ^x.

This ingenious writer both in verse and prose died by an act of sui­cide, September 23d, 1766, at his lodgings in Pall-Mall, London. He was on his way to the court of Petersburgh, whither he had been invited by the Empress of Russia, to frame a new code of laws for that great empire.

See his life, with an account of his writings, in Dr. Kippis's new edition of the Biographia Britannica.

Richard Fawcett, D. D. was inducted to this vicarage January 3d, 1767 ^y. He was the son of John Fawcett, Esq. late recorder of Dur­ham, who died October 20th, 1760, aged above 80 years.—Dr. Faw­cett had been fellow of Corpus-Christi College, Oxford—A. M. Feb. 7th, 1737—B. D. April 29, 1745—D. D. November 17th, 1748. —Also rector of Ingelstree and Church-Eyton, in the county of Staf­ford—one of the King's chaplains in ordinary—chaplain also to John, Lord Bishop of Durham, by whom he was collated, A. D. 1772, to the rectory of Gateshead, which he held by a dispensation with this vicarage.

He was also a prebendary of Durham, where, at his house in the college, he died, April 30th, 1782.

Dr. Law, son of the Bishop of Carlisle, was appointed, on the death of Dr. Fawcett, to the vicarage of Newcastle, but was never [Page 312] inducted, as he was then in Ireland, attending as chaplain to the Duke of Portland, where, having been promoted to the see of Clonfort, Ste­phen Lushington, A. M. his brother in law, was nominated to this vicarage, and inducted Saturday, August 10th, 1782.

AFTERNOON LECTURERS AT ST. NICHOLAS'S.

WILLIAM PEIRSON occurs A. D. 1604^z.

Thomas Stephenson is mentioned as lecturer here Aug. 31st, 1634 ^a.

—He resigned his lectureship December 9th, 1639 ^b.

John Bewick, A. M. was appointed to succeed him^c.

May 12th, 1643, Dr. Wiseheart, or Wishart, was appointed to this lecture^d.

There is an order of common-council, May 30th, 1645, for ap­pointing [Page 313] Mr. Cuthbert Sydenham and Mr. William Durant^e to this lecture, the former with a salary of 100l. and the latter with one of 80l. per annum^f.

July 5th, 1647, Mr. Sydenham was settled singly at St. Nicholas on Sunday afternoons, with a salary of 100l. per annum^g. April 5th, 1648, there was an addition of 40l. more to his stipend from the cor­poration ^h.

March 20th, 1656, there was an order of common-council for Mr. John Tilsley, "of the presbyterian judgment," to preach here every Lord's day in the afternoon, and once a month in the forenoon, at the monthly sacrament, with a salary of 150l. per annumⁱ.

March 2d, 1657, Mr. Tilsley having removed into Lancashire, and "the elders and others of Nicholas' having given a call to Mr John Knightbridge, fellow of Peter-House, Cambridge," there is an order of common-council appointing him to preach on Sunday afternoons, and once a month in the forenoon at the monthly sacrament, also on other solemn days, with a salary of 150l. per annum ^k.

Dr Wiseheart occurs again about 1660^l.

[Page 314]August 27th, 1662, on the removal of Dr. Wiseheart to the bishop­rick of Edinburgh, John Bewick, A. M. was appointed to this lecture, with a salary of 150l. per annum, for preaching on Sunday afternoons and holidays ^m.

July 27th, 1671, Mr. William Mair or Mayer, was appointed to this lecture, on the death of J. Bewick—salary only 80l. for the same duty.—This was advanced, January 18th, 1674, to ninety pounds per annum ⁿ.

August 30th, 1676, Mr. John March, a conformist, afterwards vicar, was appointed to this lectureship on the removal of W. Mayer to All Saints ^o.

June 25th, 1679, Mr. John Rawlett was appointed to this lecture­ship, on the removal of Mr. March to the vicarage, with a salary of 90l. but raised March 30th, 1682, to 120l. per annum. He died Sept. 28th, and was buried Sept. 30th, 1686, in this church—aged 44 years ^p.

[Page 315]October 4th, 1686, Jonathan Davison, B. D. was appointed to this lectureship, with a salary of 120l. per annum, on the death of J. Rawlett ^q.

Dec. 2d, 1687, George Tully, A. M. was appointed to this lecture­ship.—He died April 24th, 1695 ^r.

In the year 1695 Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Robert Thomlinson was ap­pointed to this lectureship, on the death of G. Tully—the salary 120l. per annum. He was rector of Whickham A. D. 1712, and preben­dary of St. Paul's.—He died March 24th, 1748, aged 79 years ^s.

March 7th, 1724, Thomas Dockwray, A. M. of St. John's Col­lege, Cambridge, was appointed lecturer of St. Nicholas', on the re­signation of Dr. Thomlinson ^t.

A. D. 1752 Thomas Dockwray, A. M. (afterwards D. D.) fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, was appointed to this lectureship on the resignation of his uncle, Dec. 20th, that year, with a salary of 100l. per annum, and March 26th, 1753, to the holiday lecture, with a salary of 20l. per annum.—He died Sunday, December 14th, 1783 ^u.

[Page 316]Dec. 17th, 1783, Henry Ridley, A. M. late fellow of University College, Oxford, was appointed afternoon and holiday lecturer of St. Nicholas', on the death of Dr. Dockwray. The brother of Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart.

CURATES OF ST. NICHOLAS' ^v.

THE vicar's assistant, or curate, is styled in an ancient writing, "The Parish Priest ^w."

Sir Hugh of Arnecliffe occurs as curate here April 18th, 1366, and June 10th, 1367 ^x.

Alan Whitehead, A. D. 1369 ^y.

John de Skyndilby, 1380 ^z.

John Mitford, 1424 ^a.

Sir Thomas Arthur occurs October 8th, 1499 ^b.

Thomas Key, curate, is mentioned in the parish register A. D. 1577.—He died January 25th, 1585 ^c.

Mr. Cuthbert Ewbancke, curate, occurs May, 1595. (Ibid.)

William Peirson is mentioned May 20th, 1604. Ibid. See account of Lecturers.

Christopher Forster occurs A. D. 1622 and 1633 ^d.

Thomas Turner—ejected A. D. 1645 ^e.

[Page 317]Nicholas Stote occurs A. D. 1663 ^f. Cuthbert Stote is mentioned in the parish register, March 2d, 1660. Quaere if different persons?

Ralph Astell, A. M. occurs A. D. 1667 ^g.

William Drake, A. M. occurs A. D. 1678 ^h.

Francis Woodmass, A. M. was appointed June 27th, 1693 ⁱ.

Michael Fenwick, A. M. occurs as curate of St. Nicholas' A. D. 1697 ^k.

Edmond Lodge, A. D. 1706.—Removed, Sept. 26th, 1715, to the mastership of the grammar-school ^l.

John Cowling, A. M. of Peter-House, Cambridge, was appointed Sept. 26th, 1715, on the removal of E. Lodge ^m.

[Page 318]William Wilkinson, A. M. of Christ's College, Cambridge, was ap­pointed on the death of J. Cowling, A. D. 1739 ⁿ.

December 20th, 1756, Richard Brewster, A. M. was appointed on the removal of W. Wilkinson.—He was afterwards made vicar of Heighington in the county of Durham ^o.

June 17th, 1762, Cuthbert Wilson, A. M. of Queen's College, Oxford, on the resignation of R. Brewster ^p.

CHAPELS OF EASE TO ST. NICHOLAS. BRIDGE-END CHAPEL.

FOR the ancient account of this place, see the history of St. Thomas' Chapel and the Magdalen Hospital.

After having been beautified and pewed, it was on Sunday, Sept. 10th, 1732 (the whole body of the magistrates of Newcastle coming to it with the usual solemnities and formalities), set apart by the corpo­ration of that town for a chapel of ease to the church of St. Nicholas ^q.

There is an order of common-council, June 15th, 1732, appoint­ing Mr. Richard Cuthbert and Mr. N. Clayton to read prayers and preach alternately in this chapel, in the Sunday afternoons ^r. The [Page 319] Rev. Mr. Cowling was appointed to have the master of the hospital's share of the revenues for reading prayers and preaching at the said chapel every Sunday in the forenoon, and reading prayers there every Wednesday and Friday ^s.

May 6th, 1736, Mr. T. Maddison, on the removal of R. Cuthbert —same alternate duty—salary 10l. ^t.

At the same time Mr. John Thompson appointed on the removal of N. Clayton—same duty and salary as above ^u.

October 8th, 1739, Mr. Henry Featherstonehaugh morning lecturer, on the death of J. Cowling ^v.

Dec. 20th, 1756, Mr. John Ellison, of St. Nicholas', appointed to read weekly prayers here, on the resignation of R. Brewster, who had been Mr. Featherstonehaugh's deputy ^w.

Dec. 21st, 1761, Richard Brewster, A. M. appointed alternate af­ternoon lecturer on the death of J. Thompson ^x.

June 21st, 1764, Mr. Cuthbert Wilson, of Gateshead, was appointed alternate afternoon lecturer, on the resignation of T. Maddison ^y.

Dec. 17th, 1772, on the death of R. Brewster, and resignation of C. Wilson, Mr. William Hall was appointed sole afternoon lecturer at St. Thomas' chapel—salary 20l. per annum ^z.

July 7th, 1773, Mr. Emanuel Potter was appointed sole afternoon lecturer at St. Thomas's, on the removal of W. Hall to St. Ann's ^a.

Mr. Nathanael Clayton was appointed morning lecturer at this cha­pel, on the death of H. Featherstonehaugh ^b.

SOUTH-GOSFORTH, OR GOSFORD, A CHAPEL OF EASE TO ST. NICHOLAS'.

ROBERT LISLE, of Gosford, gave to his son, Otwell Lisle, with Isabel his wife, in frank marriage, South-Gosford, with the advowson of the church and the miln, &c.

This Robert Lisle married the daughter of Richard Canvill, who, with consent of his wife, gave him Gosford in Northumberland, and King Henry II. by his charter, confirmed the gift ^c.

In the year 1377 disputes occur concerning the advowson of the church of South-Gosford, between the King, the Bishop and Prior of Carlisle, and Matthew Bolton, clerk, vicar of Newcastle ^d.

A. D. 1391 Sir Robert Lisle was presented with the lordship of Gosford, with the advowson of the church, with the mill, &c. by his elder brother Thomas Lisle. This Sir Robert Lisle, Knt. married Mary, one of the daughters and heirs of Aymer of Athol, uncle to David Strabolgie, Earl of Athol. This Adamar, or Aymer, of Athol lived at Jesmond, and was buried with his lady in the Trinity chapel, in St. Andrew's church, in Newcastle ^e.

March 20th, 1494, an agreement was made between Humphrey Lisle, Esq. and the vicar of Newcastle upon Tyne, when the former appears to have quitted his claim to the advowson of South-Gos­ford ^f.

Sir Edward Maxwell occurs as curate of South-Gosforth, August 5th, 1564 ^g; also March 5th, 1563.

Humphrey Sicomer occurs Feb. 1st, 1577; also in 1578 ^h.

[Page 321]Thomas Maslet occurs as curate July 6th, 1579 ⁱ.

Michael Frisell, A. D. 1580, and 1586 ^k.

Alexander Lighton in 1605 ^l.

Richard Cockburne, A. M. 1626 ^m.

— Thompson, 1658 ⁿ.

Henry Garnett, A. M. occurs as curate here A. D. 1665 ^o.

Master Alex. Reed before 1670. He was buried February 8th that year, at St. Nicholas' ^p.

William Musgrave occurs in September 1674 ^q.

Rev. Mr. Ellison—Mr. Clark ^r.

William Wilkinson, A. M. occurs July 18th, 1754.—Bishop's Visi­tation.

Richard Brewster, A. M. ibid. August 10th, 1758.

George Stevenson, clerk, present curate—on resignation of the above. —Duty every other Sunday morning.

NORTH-GOSFORTH CHAPEL.

THIS has been pulled down.—The chapel-yard remains, with se­veral grave-stones.

[Page 322]A clergyman, now alive at Newcastle, remembers to have read the burial service in it.

John Graunger occurs as curate February, 1577 ^s.

Umfrid' Sicomer, 1578.—He appears to have officiated at both Gosforths.

Tho. Maslet occurs July 6th, 1579 ^t.

Mich. Frisell, January 23d, 1580, and July 7th, 1586 ^u.

CRAMLINGTON CHAPEL ^v.

THIS is a chapel of ease to St. Nicholas', about eight miles distant from Newcastle.—It is dedicated to St. Nicholas ^w.—A perpetual cu­racy. Patrons by turns—Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. and — Lawson, formerly of Cramlington, Esq.

[Page 323]Chri. Palmer occurs as curate February 1st, 1577, and January 19th, 1578.— Barnes' Visitation.

Alex. Lighton, 1586.—Ibid.

Humphrey Green, clerk, licensed October 19th, 1621.

— Dickenson, — 1663.

John Potter, clerk, licensed September 1722. Died October 30th, 1763, aged 78. His patron was — Lawson, Esq.

George Stephenson, clerk.

William Alderson, clerk, occurs August 6th, 1766.—Bishop's Visita­tion.—Died October 2d, 1774, of an apoplectick fit at Cramlington.

John Brand, A. B of Lincoln-College, Oxford, presented October 6th, 1774. Patron, Matthew Ridley, Esq. of Heaton, pro hac vice.

John Falcon, A. B. curate of Gateshead, sub-curate, with a salary of 20l. per annum.

CHARITY OF THE SONS OF THE CLERGY.

THE charter of King Charles II. for erecting a corporation for the relief of the poor widows and children of clergymen, is dated July 1st, 1678. By this they are not permitted to purchase to above the value of 2000l. per annum. King George I. granted his royal licence, dated December 16th, 1714, to enable this corporation to make far­ther purchases, not to exceed the sum of 5000l. per annum. This is a general charity ^x.

The society of the Sons of the Clergy, belonging to the diocese of Durham, which is at present of so considerable extent, was in its origin a private appointment of a few gentlemen, who lamented the necessities of the descendants of this order, and thought a subscription would be a partial alleviation.

April 7th, 1709, an agreement was entered into by a number of gentlemen at Newcastle upon Tyne, to subscribe annually no less than [Page 324] five shillings each to this charity. They styled themselves the Society of Clergymen's Sons. Mr. Nathanael Clayton, merchant, and Mr. Deodatus Therlkeld occur among the first promoters of this very pious design, and were appointed the first stewards. They fixed their an­nual meetings to be on the first Monday in September in every year ^y. —The first was on September 5th, 1709, when the subscription amounted but to five pounds: so slender were the beginnings of this institution, the seeds of which may truly be said to have fallen on good ground, and produced an hundred fold.

September 14th, 1709, an attempt of the like kind appears to have been made in Northumberland, for the benefit of the two deaneries of Alnwick and Bambrough ^z.

September 10th, 1711, Dr. John Smith, prebendary of Durham, preached a sermon before them at St. Nicholas' church, in Newcastle upon Tyne, which was printed.—This was called their first solemn meeting, and the subscription this year amounted to 13l. 11s. ^a.

[Page 325]September 19th, 1712, Nicholas Burton, A. M. lecturer of St. Nicholas', Durham, preached before the society at Newcastle, and his sermon also was printed. A collection, for the first time, was made at church, amounting to 7l. 14s. 7 [...]d.—The subscription in all this year, 25l. 11s. 6d. ^b.

George Ritchell, clerk, lecturer of Hexham, by his will dated 14th June, 1717, lest forty shillings per annum to this society, payable out of lands at South-Nun-Bush, near Newbrugh in Northumberland ^c.

In 1725 the society at Newcastle, and the above, for the benefit of the two deaneries of Alnwick and Bambrough, were united ^d.

September 6th, 1731, Thomas Turner, A. M. vicar of Newcastle, preached before the society. The sermon was afterwards printed. The subscription this year, 213l. 18s. 6d. ^e.

Mrs. Elizabeth Rogers, by her will dated 15th December, 1733, be­queathed 10l. to the use of this society; as also 50l. more by an addi­tional clause ^f.

September 22d, 1737, Edmund Tew, D. D. rector of Boldon in the bishoprick of Durham, preached before this society in St. Ni­cholas' church, Newcastle, a sermon which was afterwards printed. The subscription this year was 251l. 14s. 3d. ^g.

October 23d, 1746, Thomas Sharp, D. D. archdeacon of Northum­berland, and prebendary of Durham, preached before this society at St. Nicholas', Newcastle, a sermon which also was afterwards printed. The subscription this year amounted to 195l. 14s. 10½d. ^h

September 6th, 1750, John Ellison, A. M. vicar of Bedlington, and lecturer of St. Andrew's in Newcastle upon Tyne, preached be­fore [Page 326] this society, ibid. a sermon which was afterwards printed. The subscription this year amounted to 242l. 8s. 3d. ⁱ.

September 4th, 1766, John Darch, B. D. fellow of Baliol-College in Oxford, and vicar of Long-Benton in Northumberland, preached ibid. before this society, a sermon which was afterwards printed. The subscription this year amounted to 298l. 16s. 7d. ^k.

In the year 1773 it was agreed upon that the anniversary meetings of this society should in future be held alternately at Durham and Newcastle. The first meeting held at Durham was in 1774 ^l.

Margaret Dongworth, of Old Elvet, Durham, spinster, by her last will, dated October 11th, 1775, bequeathed a thousand pounds to this charity, to be paid within twelve calendar months after her death, which happened on the 5th of July, 1779 ^m.

In the year 1780 this society appears to have had a fund of 1500l. put out at interest with the corporation of Newcastle at 4l. per cent. As also the farther sum of 500l. lent to the same body at 3½ per cent. the interest of both sums amounting to 77l. 10s. per annum ⁿ.

MIDDLE-STREET.

THIS street appears to have been called anciently Glover-Gate ^o, alias Middle-Street: Bourne says it bare formerly three names. The upper part of it was called Skinner-Gate, the lower Spurrier-Gate and Sadler-Gate.

Part of Flesh-Market, anciently inhabited by the principal mer­chants ^p of the town, was called Cloth-Market ^q, part of it Flesh-Mar­ket, and part Fish-Market ^r.—See account of Morden-Ward.—Many houses in it paid an annual rent to University-College in Oxford ^s.— Mention occurs of one A. D. 1304, near the church-yard, paying six shillings a year to that seminary.

Bourne tells us, that towards the south end of the Flesh-Market was a large cross, with a lead cistern at the top, to hold the water called the New-Water, which was pulled down about three years before he wrote his history ^t.

There is a narrow passage, leading from the Flesh-Market to Mosley-Street near the new play-house, called Drury-Lane.

At the foot of the Flesh-Market stands the cordwainer's meeting-house, called formerly "The spinn, or workhouse ^u."

[Page 328]A very great market for flesh is held in this street every Saturday, as are also two fairs, each for eight days every year, at Lammas and St. Luke's Mass ^v.

There has lately been a new street made to communicate with Pilgrim-Street, from the foot of the Flesh-Market, called, in compli­ment to the very worthy alderman of that name, "Mosley-Street," in which have been built a new play-house and a new post-office ^w.

Before A. D. 1688, the place of worship for Roman Catholicks at Newcastle was in a chapel down a court-yard in the Flesh-Market, adjoining to what is at present the White-Hart-Inn.

On the accession of King James II. the magistracy of Newcastle was composed of papists and protestants, conformists and non-con­formists; the cap, the mace, and the sword were one day carried to the church, another day to the mass-house, and on a third to the dis­senting meeting-house^x.

[Page 329]January 28th, 1746, about one o'clock in the morning, a popish chapel at Gateshead was set on fire by the mob, assembled there to wait for the arrival of his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, on his way to meet the rebel army.

An attack, equally cruel and unjustifiable, appears to have been made on the same occasion upon another Roman-catholic chapel at the Nuns, in Newcastle ^y.

A Mr. Walsh is said to have been priest at the chapel in Gateshead, which was afterwards removed to a house that once belonged to Sir John Marley, the celebrated loyalist, in the street called the Close.

The chapel in the Nuns was removed to a place, the entry to which is near the Black-Horse-Pant, in the Bigg-Market, where Mr. Cordell at present officiates.

The chapel in the Close has also been removed since that time to a house near the foot of West-Gate, at which Mr. Warilow is the present officiating priest.

From the head of the street called the Side, to about the middle of it, there is a very steep descent: this name is plainly derived from the cir­cumstance of its being erected on the side of a hill. About half-way down it becomes more than double its breadth in the steep descent. [Page 330] Bourne tells us, that the east side of the wider part was anciently called "Cordiner, or Cordwainer-Rawe ^z."

There was a postern, called the Eastern-Postern of the Castle, that communicated by a very narrow and steep flight of steps with the Side, a little above the middle of that street.—See account of the Castle.

A little above, on the opposite side, we descended by a small flight of steps into a short narrow lane, which communicated with the bottom of the street called Painter-Hugh. Bourne supposes that this was an­ciently called Swinburn-Place ^a. At the north end of this lane there was a place called Pencher-Place ^b. He adds, "perhaps the whole lane was called so."

It went up as far as the late Nether-Dean-Bridge ^c.

"Under this very high and ancient arch," he continues, "I am told the rings are still to be seen that the boats were fastened to, which [Page 331] brought up the merchant-goods, when the merchants had their shops in the Flesh-Market." This arch was lately taken down.

Lort, or Lork-Burn, up which, for a considerable way, the tide flowed formerly, made a division anciently in the lower part of the Side. This runner of water was covered over with stone, A. D. 1696 ^d.

On the north side of Lork-Burn, near the Sand-Hill, stood the Cale-Cross ^e, which Grey, in his Chorographia, describes as a "fair one, with columns of hewn stone covered with lead."

There was a cistern at the top of it within my remembrance, to hold what was then called the New-Water. It was taken down about No­vember 1773 ^f. It is sometimes, but erroneously, called Scale-Cross.

This cross was rebuilt, A. D. 1783, after a design of Mr. David Stevenson, architect.—The inscription as follows: "Sir Matthew White Ridley, Bart. mayor, Richard Bell, Esq. sheriff." Here conti­nue to be sold eggs, milk, cheese, butter, &c.

High-Friar-Chare, which leads from Newgate-Street, near the New-Gate, to Pilgrim-Street, has had its name to distinguish it from the other called the Low-Friar-Chare, lower down the street, and commu­nicating with West-Gate.

Adjoining to this street stood the house of Grey-Friars, or Minors, called also Franciscan-Friars.

[Page 332]They were one of the most eminent of the four orders of mendicants ^g. St. Francis, their founder, gave them one of their names.—They were called Grey Friars from the colour of their habit, and Minors through humility ^h. Their house in Newcastle is said to have been founded by the Carliols ⁱ, wealthy merchants in the time of King Henry III ^k.

Bourne, on the authority of ancient writings, observes that they were a regular and settled body, A. D. 1267.

At a general chapter of this order held at Narbone in France, A. D. 1258, it appeared that the English province had seven custodies, where­of the custody of Newcastle, containing nine convents, was one ^l.

A. D. 1284 Hugh of Newcastle, commonly called the Scholastic Doctor, flourished in this house ^m.

In the year 1299 the brethren of this house received of the King [Page 333] for their pittance of one day on his passing through Newcastle, by the hands of Walter de Whitborne, at Berwick, 15th of December, eleven shillings and four-pence, and for their pittance of two days on his coming to that town in the January following, by the hands of Thomas de Dunholme, twenty-two shillings and eight-pence ⁿ.

Dr. John Scot, usually called Duns Scotus, and the Subtle Doctor, entered the order of Minors in this house before A. D. 1300 ^o.

August 1st, 1322, the brethren of this house received eight shillings for their pittance of one day, and on the 14th of September following, eight shillings for the same by the King's almoner, on the King's arrival at Newcastle ^p.

[Page 334]A. D. 1336 Friar Martin of Alnwick died, and was buried in this convent, where he had taken the habit of a Franciscan, and from whence he was sent to Oxford, where he took a doctor's degree ^q.

December 6th, 1342, on a representation to King Edward III. then at Newcastle upon Tyne, by the warden and friars of this house, that they and their predecessors had long held a conduit of water, running to their convent, from a fountain called Seven-Head-Wells, which they had inclosed with stone, and put a door to, of which they were in possession of the key; but the fountain abounding with water, they had granted a part of it to the use of the public of that place, who abus­ing their favour had broken the conduit, diverted the course of the wa­ter, and hindered them from recovering it: the King granted them the sole use of this fountain, and empowered them a second time to inclose it, lock it up, and keep the key thereof, in the same manner as before the infringement of their exclusive right^r to the same.

[Page 335]A. D. 1350 Henry de Huda, an Englishman, occurs as provincial of England, and of the custody of Newcastle upon Tyne ^s.

March 23d, 1497, Thomas Baxter was ordained priest, John Cooke, John Esby, and William Hudson, subdeacons, and John de Macklinia and Francis de Macklinia, acolythists. They all belonged to this order and house—the two last are styled of the order of Friars Minors de ob­servancia^t.

King Henry VII. who died A. D. 1509, some time in his reign ap­pears to have expelled the conventuals of this order from this house, and filled it with observants in their stead ^u.

In the year 1536 the house of Friars Minors in Newcastle was again made conventual ^v by King Henry the Eighth ^w.

[Page 336]It was prevailed ^x upon to surrender January 9th. 1539, at which time it consisted of John Crayforth, prior, eight friars and two no­vices ^y.

[Page 337]James Rokesby occurs as the keeper after the suppression^z.

The Franciscans having enjoyed nothing either in propriety or com­mon but a subsistence depending upon the charity of others, their house here had accordingly no rents, and there is on that account so small a value of it recorded at the suppression ^a.

Tanner informs us, in his Notitia Monastica, that this house, in 1545, was granted to the Earl of Essex, James Rokesby, and others.

The street called Upper-Dean-Bridge, or High-Bridge, to distin­guish it from the Nether or Low Bridge, conducts from the foot of the Bigg-Market to Pilgrim-Street. The corporation of Newcastle have lately made on the south side of part of it a covered place for a poultry market, which is held there accordingly every Saturday.

A meeting-house for dissenters was erected not many years ago in this street, of which Mr. James Murray was minister.—He published Sermons to Asses, The History of the American War, &c.—Died Ja­nuary 28th, 1782, and was buried in St. Andrew's church-yard.

The Low or Nether Dean-Bridge conducted from St. Nicholas' [Page 338] church-yard into Pilgrim-Street, and has plainly had its name from its situation lower down in the town than the Upper or High-Bridge ^b. The Roman Wall, it is said, went along it.

Formerly there was a small descent by stone steps from the church­yard into the Low-Bridge, and at the foot of these steps was an alms-house, for two or three poor women, which lately remained, but has at present no allowance, nor is the founder known.

Dr. Ellison's MSS. call it "an hospital in the Nether-Deen-Bridge." It often is mentioned in St. Nicholas' old registers—1579, 1581, 1650, &c.

The Painter-Hugh, by a steep descent, conducted from the bottom of Pilgrim-Street to the middle of the Side.—There is a flight of stone steps on one side, for the convenience of foot passengers. Bourne de­rives the name of it from "painter," a rope by which boats are moored; and "hugh," a steep hill or bank.—The latter is clear, but I should suspect the former to have been the sirname of the owner of the property^c.

Pilgrim-Street ^d, on I know not what authority, is said to have had its name on account of pilgrims who came from all parts of the king­dom to worship at our Lady's chapel at Jesmond, in the vicinity of Newcastle.

[Page 339]There was an inn ^e in this street, says Bourne, which the Pilgrims in their journey were wont to call at, which occasioned their constant coming up this street, and so it got its name of Pilgrim-Street, as the inn did that of Pilgrim's Inn.

[Page 340]The meeting-house of the inoffensive sect called Quakers is in Pil­grim-Street, nearly opposite to the site of the Pilgrim's Inn.

Adjoining to it is a burying-ground for persons of that denomina­tion.

In Corbridge's Plan of Newcastle upon Tyne, of the date of 1723, a dissenters meeting-house is marked hereabouts, and not far from the Manor-Chare.

The first place of meeting ^f which this sect had in the vicinity of Newcastle upon Tyne, was in the street called Pipewell-Gate, in Gateshead, in a house not many years ago the property of a Mr. Swift, who kept a tavern in it, with the sign of the Fountain.

On the same side of Pilgrim-Street, a little higher up, there is kept, at present, a dispensary, which was opened October 2d, 1777 ^g for the humane purpose of "administering advice and medicines to the poor confined to their own habitations by sickness."

The corporation of Newcastle subscribed 40l. per annum ^h to this [Page 341] charitable institution, which is a very necessary appendix to the infir­mary.

The limits for visiting patients were appointed as follows: Shield-Road-Bridge to the eastward, and the utmost extent of the town to the west, north, and south. Gateshead to become a district for medical practice, as soon as a sufficient subscription should be raised. John Baker, Esq. was the first president; Lord Ravensworth was afterwards patron.

In November, 1785, the Duke of Northumberland was chosen pa­tron of this charity.

In September, 1786, the present Duke of Northumberland was elected patron.

Near the head of this street, on the left hand in going up, stands a princely mansion, the main body whereof is said to have been built out of the ruins of the house of the Grey-Friars.—The two wings were added by Sir William Blackett, Bart. whose grand-daughter married its late lamented owner and inhabitant, Sir Walter Blackett, Bart ⁱ.

[Page 342]The alms-houses built by Christopher Brigham, merchant, and after him called Brigham's alms-houses, stood at the head of this street, near the Grey-Friars' House, and almost contiguous to Pilgrim-Street-Gate.

The founder was sheriff of Newcastle A. D. 1495, and mayor A. D. 1504 and 1505.

This place is mentioned as having been inhabited, in the year 1556, by poor religious women. The site of this place is marked in Speed's Plan of Newcastle, A. D. 1610.

Leland mentions this little hospital, which appears by Speed's Plan to have consisted of several houses, occupying all, or most of that space, separated by a little lane near the head of Pilgrim-Street, and then at a right angle turning northward into the High-Friar-Chare. They were bounded on the east and north by Pilgrim-Street and the said Chare ^k.

Between Pilgrim-Street and the town's wall on the east, is a little field ^l that formerly belonged to the family of Carlels, or Carliols, from whom it was called the Carle, or Carliol-Croft. There is a runner of [Page 343] water through it near the garden walls, the ancient name of which was Ayrekeburn ^m.

Near the foot of this street is held a market for wheat and rye every Tuesday and Saturday.

Lord Scrope had a house in this street A. D. 1456, near some pro­perty of Sir John Heron, of Ford, Knt ⁿ.

The house of Laurence Acton, who was mayor of Newcastle in the year 1433, was in this street.

Pilgrim-Street, growing narrower as it approaches to All-Saints church, winds down the hill towards the foot of the Side, taking the name at present of Butcher-Bank, as being chiefly inhabited by persons of that trade, but it was formerly called All-Hallow-Bank ^o.

There was an alms-house near All-Saints church, which was founded about the beginning of the sixteenth century, by Elizabeth Nykson, widow ^p. Two houses adjoining were given with it, to the use of the poor of All-Saints parish—Four women, who were allowed twenty shillings per annum for coals, lived in it.—Bourne tells us, that in his time it was going fast to ruin, and that the then sole inhabitant was al­lowed [Page 344] eight chaldron of coals by the year, and three shillings a quarter by the church-wardens of All-Saints.

It was opposite to the west stairs of that church.

It appears, by an inquisition taken September 2d, 1577, that a waste in Pilgrim-Street belonged to the nuns of Lamlaye, whose lands were purchased by Albayne Fetherstonehaugh at the dissolution.

Manor-Chare ^q, which leads from Pilgrim-Street to Jesus' Hospital, and from thence to the head of the Broad-Chare, by a part ^r of it an­ciently called Cow-Gate, was formerly styled Austin-Chare, as conduct­ing to the house of Austin, or Augustine-Friars.

The first appearance of this order of mendicants in England was, ac­cording to some accounts, in 1250; others place it in 1252.

This house is said to have been founded by William, Lord Ros, Baron of Wark upon Tweed, about the year 1290 ^s.

A. D. 1291 King Edward I. granted a licence to John de Capella, to give and assign a messuage in Penrith to the prior and brethren of this house ^t.

[Page 345]A. D. 1299 King Edward I. gave to the brethren of this monastery 8s. 4d. for a pittance of one day, on his passing through Newcastle in the month of December, and for their pittance of two days, on his coming to that town on the 8th of January following ^u.

In the year 1306 the King granted a licence of mortmain to Bar­tholomew Patun, of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Christian his wife, to assign to the prior and brethren of St. Augustine, of that town, a cer­tain place contiguous to their convent, 200 feet in length, and 24 feet in breadth, for the purpose of enlarging their burial-ground ^v.

A. D. 1309, there was a patent containing a confirmation of land [Page 346] lying in Cow-Gate, which had been granted by William Ros to the brethren of this house; as there was also another of the same date, by which King Edward II. granted some messuages in Newcastle, late parcel of the possessions of Robert de Middleton, who had been at­tainted, for the enlargement of this convent ^w.

Tanner, in his Notitia Monastica, mentions a patent to this house, of the date of 1319 ^x.

August 1st, 1322, the brethren of this house received eight shillings for their pittance of one day; and September 14th following, on the King's arrival at Newcastle, eight shillings for the same, by the hands of the King's almoner ^y.

About this time one Elias was prior of this house ^z.

In the year 1323 a patent was granted to this convent, concerning a piece of ground contiguous thereto, 28 feet in length, and 160 feet in breadth, to be procured of John Denton to enlarge their house ^a.

[Page 347]Tanner, in his Notitia Monastica, mentions a patent of this fraternity, dated A. D. 1330, which cannot now be found ^b.

September 23d, 1331, King Edward III. after an inquisition made by John de Bolingbrok, his eschaetor north of Trent, granted a licence of mortmain to Adam de Colewell, chaplain, to assign three roods and an half of land in Newcastle, contiguous to this house, to the prior and brethren thereof, in order to enlarge it; with a proviso that the mayor and community of that town should have sufficient space between this convent and the town's wall to ride in, for the custody and defence thereof, as they had in other places in the circuit of the said town, within the above wall. This land was held of the King in chief, and paid three-halfpence per annum for all service ^c.

[Page 348]A writ of King Richard II. of a date posterior to A. D. 1389, the 12th of his reign, is preserved in Fitzherbert's Natura Brevium, and appears to have been sued forth by this convent. It is directed to the bailiffs of Newcastle upon Tyne, who were ordered to make proclama­tion to prevent the casting of filth into rivers, ditches, streets, &c. se­veral persons having thrown excrements, filth, and garbage, in a cer­tain way that led near to the house of the Austin-Friars, to their great annoyance and peril, and contrary to the tenor of a late statute.

July 24th and 25th, 1503, Margaret, eldest daughter of King Henry VII. was entertained at this house. This princess was at that time affianced to the King of Scotland, and upon her journey thither ^d.

By an ordinary of the fraternity of weavers in Newcastle upon Tyne, dated 31st of August, 1525, every brother of that society is enjoined to be "at the Sante Augustines in the daye of the Exaltacion of the Holy Crosse," in every year, and on the "none of the same to go to the dirige and sowle masse to be done for the brederes & susters of the said fellowship ^e.

December 23d, 1531, Cuthbert Jordayne and John Ruther.... (probably Rutherford), brethren of this house, were ordained priests ^f.

Andrew Kel, prior, with seven brethren and three novices, surren­dered this house January 9th, 1539 ^g.

[Page 349]A. D. 1540, this place occurs as having been reserved to the use of the King, for his council in the north to reside in ^h.

[Page 350]A. D. 1551, the house of Austin-Friars is said to have been granted to John, Duke of Northumberland, "as parcel of Tinmouth monastery ⁱ."

August 1st, 1553, Richard Benson occurs as keeper of the house of Augustine Friars in Newcastle, with a fee of forty shillings per annum, under the crown ^k.

The Milbank MS. informs us, that King James I. gave it to a person of his own nation, who had begged it of him ^l

The same authority tells us, that it afterwards belonged to one Cap­tain Sykes ^m.

This place occurs in Speed's Plan of Newcastle, 1610, under the title of "The King's Manour."

A. D. 1648, it is mentioned as being in the possession of the corpo­ration of Newcastle, who had either recently purchased it, or claimed it as a waste ⁿ.

March 15th, 1648, the company of barber chirurgeons petitioned the common-council of Newcastle upon Tyne for a grant of part of the Manors, whereon to build themselves a meeting-house ^o.

[Page 351]The Manors has since that time continued in the possession of the corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne. A division of it, still called the artillery ground, was used by the townsmen as a place where they performed the exercise of the pike and gun. Part of it was turned in­to a house of correction. Part of it the butchers company converted into a tallow ^p house, and at different periods of time the hospital of the holy Jesus, Blackett's hospital, and the hospitals of the two Davisons, the charity-school of All-Saints parish, a work-house, and lastly a pe­nitentiary house, have been erected on distinct parcels thereof.

The present work-house or general hospital ^q, out of which the old [Page 352] windows were taken about fifty years ago, has formed, it should seem, one of the quadrangles of the convent. In what is called now the cellar of that building, two ancient arches still remain over the door­ways, near the hall or common eating-room.

Jesus' Hospital, commonly called the Town's Hospital^r, situated near the foot of the Manor-Chare, was founded, erected, and endowed, at the charge of the corporation of Newcastle upon Tyne, A. D. 1681.

It is mentioned in the common-council books, Dec. 18th, 1682, under the title of an alms-house or hospital, lately erected for poor people in the Manors, at which time some rules (which, afterwards, April 16th, 1683, were revised with some alterations) were confirmed by that body.

March 26th, 1683, this hospital was incorporated by the name of the master, brethren and sisters of the Hospital of the holy Jesus, founded in the Manors in the town and county of Newcastle upon Tyne, at the charge of the mayor and burgesses of that town, for sup­port of poor impotent people, being freemen and freemen's widows, or their sons and daughters that had never been married, for ever.

Thomas Lewen, merchant, was appointed the first master, with thirty-nine others, to have power to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded—purchase and hold lands, and have a common seal, with a cross graven thereon, and in the circumference, "Sigillum Hospitalis Sancti Jesu in Novo Castro." The mayor, aldermen and common-council of Newcastle, for the time being, were appointed visitors, and to give rules and laws to this hospital^s.

The rules dated at a common-council, April 16th, 1683, were sealed on the 3d of October following^t.

[Page 353]March 27th, 1683, a messuage, key or quay, and garden, in the street called the Close, in Newcastle, was purchased by the mayor and burgesses of that town for 700l. and settled on the master, brethren and sisters of this hospital^u.

November 6th, 1683, an estate at Edderley, in the county of Dur­ham, was purchased by the mayor and burgesses aforesaid for 1610l. and settled in the above master, brethren and sisters: the inheritance thereof to be in fee simple ^v.

Sept. 25th, 1685, an estate at Whittell in the county of Northum­berland, was purchased by the above mayor and burgesses, for 1300l. and settled as above on this hospital ^w.

September 18th, 1695, mention occurs of Mr. John Rumney, as having bequeathed 250l. to the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle; the interest whereof to be yearly distributed to this hospital, and the poor of the several parishes of Newcastle ^x.

December 19th, 1716, the mayor and common-council of New­castle petitioned parliament for leave for the master, &c. of this hos­pital to sell their lands at Edderley and Whittell aforesaid, which they alleged were not a sufficient fund for their support.

The said mayor and common-council were desirous, on this occasion, of charging certain lands and tenements within the manor of Walker, in the county of Northumberland, of the yearly value of 250l. with a yearly rent-charge for ever of 185l. (105l. more by the year than the annual produce of Edderley and Whittell), but they were unable to complete the purchase of the said manor of Walker^y, unless they ob­tained [Page 354] leave to dispose of Edderley and Whittell, to raise part of the purchase money.

Mr. John Ord, by his will, proved at Westminster, A. D. 1721 or 1722, devised to this hospital a rent-charge of 1l. 6s. 8d. from a mes­suage on the west side of the Bigg-Market in Newcastle: also a rent-charge of 6s. 8d. out of another messuage in the Side there for ever: these sums to be divided by his heir at law in the presence of the mayor of Newcastle for the time being ^z.

January 2d, 1752, there was an order of common-council for giving forty fothers of coals annually to this hospital, at the festival of Christmas^a.

December 18th, 1769, there was an order of common-council for [Page 355] the master of this hospital to be paid 8l. and each brother and sister 6l. per annum ^b.

March 22d, 1779, the mayor and common-council of Newcastle, in consequence of a resolution to prefer, in future, the most aged claim­ants to the places that should fall vacant in this hospital, made an order that the several candidates should produce certificates of their respective ages, to be regularly filed in the town-clerk's office ^c.

Here also an hospital for matrons, for a governess and five sisters, to be widows of protestant clergymen, merchants, and freemen of the town of Newcastle, endowed by the charity of Mrs. Anne Davison ^d, widow of Mr. Benjamin Davison, merchant, was erected by the cor­poration of that town in a field near the hospital of the holy Jesus, in the year 1725.

George Grey, Esq. surviving trustee, founded this hospital ^e March 25th, 1748.

[Page 356]A. D. 1754, the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle having been appointed the patrons of this charity, by the above surviving trustee, erected a handsome new set of apartments for the governess and five sisters of this hospital, nearly on the same site with the former house^f.

March 21st, 1771, there was an order of common-council for each woman in Mrs. Davison's hospital to have 8 carts of coals in every year ^g.

Here also Sir Walter Blackett's hospital for six unmarried men, to be poor and decayed burgesses of the town, was founded in 1754; the worthy baronet, on the receipt of a bond given him by the corpo­ration, having deposited 1200l. in their hands for that purpose ^h.

The foundation-stone of this house was laid July 29th, 1754 ⁱ.

March 21st, 1777, there was an order of common-council to give an allowance of eight carts of fire-coal, yearly, to every man in this hospital ^k.

[Page 357]There is a stone put up over the door of their apartments, inscribed as follows:

Here also is an hospital for six unmarried women, to be the daugh­ters or widows of free burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne, indebted for its foundation and support to the charity of Thomas Davison, Esq. of Ferry-Hill in the county of Durham, and his two sisters Timothia and — Davison ^l.

A. D. 1754, the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle erected here, on their ground, and at their common expence, an elegant set of apart­ments for the above six unmarried women, under the same roof with those intended for the two former hospitals of Mrs. Anne Davison, and Sir Walter Blackett, Bart ^m.

March 21st, 1771, there was an order of common-council, to give [Page 358] an allowance of eight carts of fire-coal, yearly, to every woman in this house ⁿ.

The following inscription is on a stone over the door: ‘"This hospital for six unmarried women, to be daughters and widows of burgesses, built on the ground and at the common charge of the corporation of this town, was founded by Thomas Davison, Esq. of Ferry-Hill in the county of Durham, A. D. 1754."’

Ward's alms-house ^o stood near the above, founded in the reign of Edward the Fourth, by John Warde, a rich merchant of Newcastle, for twelve poor men, and the like number of poor women. The site of this building is marked, in Speed's Plan of the town, in what is now called the Manor-Chare, where an old wall towards the street, with a door-way built up in it, is still remaining.

SILVER-STREET.

SILVER-STREET, which leads down a very steep hill from the foot of Pilgrim-Street to Pandon, was anciently called All-Hallow-Gate^p, as also Temple-Gate ^q, it should seem from the circumstance of its communicating with All-Saints church. It occurs too in old writings with the name of Jew-Gate^r.

There is a presbyterian meeting-house in Silver-Street, of which Mr. George Ogilvie, who died April 21st, 1765, aged 57 years, was minister.—He was succeeded by Mr. Sheilds.

CHURCH OF ALL-SAINTS, OR ALL-HALLOWS.

THE conjecture of Grey ^s, in his Chorographia, that this church was dedicated to All-Saints, or All-Hallows, from the ancient name of that part of the town, Pampedon, which, he adds, was so called from the Pantheon at Rome, appears to be too ridiculous to deserve either to be considered or refuted.

It is not known at what period this church was built. Bourne met with an account, of the date of 1286, in which it is mentioned as erected at that time ^t.

[Page 360]A deed preserved in the vestry of this church, dated October 29th, 1319, describes the street now called Butcher-Bank, as leading from the Cale-Cross to the church of All-Saints ^u.

In the years 1651 and 1655, this church appears to have undergone some material alterations ^v.

In the year 1728 a lecture was founded at All-Saints, and settled upon Mr. Henry Bourne, the curate, for instructing the people in the rubrick and liturgy of the church ^w.

A. D. 1776 this church was thoroughly cleaned and repaired.

In the year 1786 an act passed for the taking down and rebuilding of All-Saints church, several of the inside pillars of that structure hav­ing given way, and it being hazardous to assemble any longer therein. See Appendix.

The foundation stone of the new edifice was laid by the Rev. James Stephen Lushington, vicar of Newcastle, on the 19th of the kalends of September, A. D. 1786^x.

CHANTRIES.

THERE were seven chantries here in the papal times—one dedi­cated to St. Thomas—one to the Virgin Mary—one to St. John the Evangelist—one to St. Peter—one to St. Catharine—one to St. Loye— and one to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist ^y.

1. That of St. Thomas is said to have been founded by John Pul­hore, clerk ^z, about 1356. The yearly value was 4l. 8s. 4d.—Wil­liam White was the last incumbent, and had a pension of 3l. 10s. or 18s. 6d. per annum.

The following account of it occurs in the certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Thomas in the parishe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by one John Pulhore clarke, to fynde a preiste to say masse and to pray for hys sowle and all Cristen sowles as by a dede of the foundacion therof exhibited before the said commissioners dothe appere and is so used hitherto by reporte—Yerely value 4l. 7s. 8d.—value accordyng [Page 362] to this survey 4l. 8s. 4d. as dothe apere by a rentall whereof is paid yerely to the Kinges majestie for the tenthes 8s. 9d. ob. and remayneth clerely 79s. 6d. ob. which ar employed to the sustentacion and relief of Wyllyam White priest incumbent there accordyng to th' order of the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 106s. 6d. ob. qua. as dothe apere by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

2. The foundation deed of our Lady's chantry in this church ap­pears to have been lost. Its yearly value was 4l. 5s. 10d.

September 25th, 1334, Thomas de Karliol, of Newcastle upon Tyne, granted to Peter, son of Peter Draper, and to Cecily his wife, and their heirs, his patronage of the chantry of the Virgin Mary, in All-Saints church, reserving to himself one turn of presentation ^a.

Robert Manners, chaplain, the last incumbent of this chantry, oc­curs April 29th, 1518 ^b; also July 17th, 1527 ^c.—He had a pension of 4l. 6s. 4d.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of col­leges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. cited above:

"The chauntrie of our Lady in the parishe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne. Ther is no dede of foun­dacion to be shewed but it hath ben of olde tyme accustomyd to fynde a preeste ther for the mayntenance of Godd's service and so it is used at this present by reporte—Yerely value 63s. 4d.—value accordyng to this survey 4l. 5s. 10d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid yerely to the Kinges majestie for the tenthes 5s. 4d. and remayneth clerely 4l. 6d. whiche Roberte Maners clerke now incumbent ther hath to­wardes hys lyvynge as it hath accustomably ben used hertofore.—Orna­ments &c. 4l. 3s. 6d. as dooth appere by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther were no other landes &c."

3. The chantry of Saint John the Evangelist was founded by Richard Willeby and Richard Fishlake.—It was supported by some tenements in the Sand-Hill and the Side.—The yearly value was 4l. 15s. 4d.— [Page 363] The last incumbent, whom one account, I think erroneously, makes Anthony Hexham, alias Houghton, had a pension of 3l. 3s. 1d. ^d.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. cited above:

"The chauntrie of Saynt John the Evangelist in the parishe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcastle upon Tyne was founded by one Richard Willeby and one Richard Fishelake to fynde a prieste for ever to pray for their sowles and all Christen sowles and to kepe two obitts yerely for the founders sowles as it is reported and is so used at this present but the dedes of the foundacion wer lost long syns—Yerely value 72s. 5d.—value accordyng to thys survey 4l. 15s. 4d. as apereth by a rentall whereof is paid yerely for rents resolut' 13s. 8d. for two perpetual obytts 8s. 8d. and for the Kynges majesties tenthes 7s. 3d. —29s. 7d. and remayneth clerly 65s. 9d. which ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of John Musgrope incumbent therof.—Orna­ments &c. 112s. 2d. ob. qua. as dothe apere by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

[Page 364]4. St. Peter's chantry was founded about A. D. 1411, by Roger de Thornton, when he also founded St. Catharine's hospital on the Sand-Hill^e.—The yearly value was 6l.—See account of that hospital, called also Maison-Dicu.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. cited above:

"The chauntrie of St. Peter in the parishe churche of All-Saynts ibid. was founded by reporte to fynde a priest for ever to the maynte­naunce of Godds service ther and to pray for all Cristen sowles and the said priest to have for his stipend or salary 6l. yerely to be paid out of all the possessions of the hospital of Saynt Katheryn called La Mai­son-Dieu in the towne of Newcastell and the same order is observed ther at this present by reporte.—Yerely value 6l.—value accordyng to this survey 6l. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid to the Kingis majestye for the tenthes 12s. and remayneth clerly 108s. which ar employed to the sustentacion of William Teisdale clerk now incum­bent ther accordyng to th' order of the foundacion.—Ornaments &c. 8s. 5d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

5. The chantry of St. Catharine was founded in the time of King Edward III.—A copy of the foundation deed is still preserved in All-Saints vestry^f.—The King, by his charter, having granted licence to [Page 365] Robert de Chirton, burgess of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Mariot his wife, daughter and heiress of Hugh Hankyn, burgess of that town, to give a stipend to a certain chaplain, to perform divine service in the church of All-Saints, for the souls of the said Hugh, and Beatrix his wife, Gilbert Hankyn his father, &c. they, out of their devotion to Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary his mother, the blessed Virgin Ca­tharine, &c. granted to Sir Ada Nynepenys, chaplain at the altar of St. Catharine in All-Saints, 100s. annual rent, out of tenements in Russel-Chare, near "Olle-Crosse ^g." Failing the founders' heirs, the mayor and bailiffs of the town, for the time being, were to be the pa­trons.—The above Mariot appeared in full court, between the four benches, and was there sworn, before the mayor and bailiffs, never to contradict her husband's act.

The yearly value of this chantry was 5l. 3s. 8d.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office:

"The chauntrie of Saynt Katheryne in the parishe churche of All-Saynts within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne was founded by a licence of King Edward 3^d to one Hugh Hawking and Betteresse his wyffe to fynd one prieste ther for ever to say masse and to pray for their sowles and all Cristen sowles as by a dede of the foundacion therof bering date 20 January A. D. 1335, more playnly dothe appere and it is so used at this presente by reporte.—Yerely value 118s. 18d.—value accordyng to this survey 103s. 8d. as apereth by a rentall wherof is paid owt for a rent resolut' 3s. and for the Kinges majesties tenthes 10s. 9d. ob. qua. and remayneth clerely 4l. 5s. 10d. qua. whiche ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of Myles Swalwell prest now incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnaunce of the said foundacion.—Ornaments [Page 366] &c. 119s. 4d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same.—Ther werno other landes &c."

6. The chantry of St. Loy, or Saint Elgie, was founded by Richard Pykeryng, in the reign of King Edward III.—The yearly value was 3l. 8s. 4d. ^h.—William Browne was the last incumbent, and had an annual pension of 3l. 2s. 8d.

John Ward, of Newcastle, merchant, by his last will, dated June 24th, 1461 ⁱ, left certain lands in trust, for finding a priest to perform divine service at the altar of St. Loye, in All-Hallows church. The priest's salary to be eight marks.

The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate of colleges, &c. 37 Henry VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

"The chauntrie of Saynt Loye in the parishe churche of All Saynts ibid. was founded by one Richard Pykering by a licence obteyned of K. Edward III. to fynde a priest for ever to say masse and pray for all Christen sowles by reporte which is so used at this present, but the dede of the foundacion was loste many yeres syns as it is sayd.— Yerely value 60s.—value accordyng to this survey 68s. 4d. as aper­eth by a rentall wherof is paid yerely to the Kinges majestie for the tenthes 6s. and remayneth clerely 62s. 4d. which ben employed to the sustentacion and relief of William Browne priest incumbent ther accordyng to the ordynnance of the said foundacion—Ornaments &c. 71s. 8d. as apereth by a perticuler inventorie of the same as well for the goodes and ornaments of this chauntrie as of the chauntrie of St. John Baptist and St. John the Evangelist next ensewyng because the said two chauntries be both founded at one aulter the said ornaments doo serve for theym boothe indifferently.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

7. The chantry of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist was founded by John Warde—yearly revenue 7l. 15s. 8d. William Hepson, alias Hixsonne, was the last incumbent, and had a pension of 5l. per annum. The following account of this chantry occurs in the certificate 37 Hen. VIII. remaining in the Augmentation-Office.

[Page 367]"The chauntrie of St. John Baptist and St. John Evangelist in the parishe churche of All Saynts ibid. was founded by one John Warde to fynde a preest for ever to say masse and pray for all Cristen sowles as by the dede of the foundacion exhibited before the said commission­ers dothe appere and is so used at this present by reporte —Yerely value 106s. 8d.—value accordyng to this survey 7l. 15s. 8d. as aper­eth by a rentall whereof is paid owt for a rent resolut' 38s. 6d. and for the Kinges majesties tenthes 10s. 8d.—49s. 2d. —and remayneth clerly 106s. 6d. whiche ar employed to the sustentacion and relief of William Hepson priest incumbent ther accordyng to the said founda­cion—Ornaments &c. nil here because all the goodes and ornaments of this chauntrie be charged before in the value of the goodes and orna­ments of St. Loye's chauntrie within the sum of 71s. 8d. as is ther de­clared.—Ther wer no other landes &c."

For the "altar of the Trinity" in this church, see account of the Trinity-House.

STEEPLE OF ALL-SAINTS.

THE steeple of this church, of somewhat remarkable form as to the spire rising from its square tower, was of mean height, and no very elegant design. Robert Rhodes, the great benefactor to the churches of this town, who lived in this parish, and was buried in the chancel of this church, had his name and arms also under the belfry in this steeple, in which he probably made great alterations ^k.

The bells of this church ^l were founded anew, or increased in num­ber, A. D. 1696.

The clock was made in 1691 ^m.

GALLERIES AND PEWS ⁿ.

THE ancient gallery, which divided the chancel from the nave of the church, on the site of which the butcher's gallery lately stood, and which had been the rood-loft in the times of popery, appears to have been taken down, by the chancellor's special directions, A. D. 1639, although great interest had been made with the bishop to suffer it to remain. There were two other galleries in the late church, one be­longed to the Trinity-House, the other held the organ seats for the children of the charity-schools, &c.

Pews or stalls are mentioned to have been in All-Saints church A. D. 1488^o.

CHANCEL ^p.

THE chancel of this church stood upon a large vault or crypt ^q.

[Page]

[Page 369]It had been beautified some time before Bourne wrote his history.

The communion table was of marble, presented February 6th, 1684, by John Otway, merchant. There was a prothesis, or side altar ^r. In the year 1776 a miserable painting, which represented the disco­very by the breaking of bread, was put upon the altar-piece.—It was a copy from a print in Ryder's Bible.

FONT.

THERE was a very observable font, with eight shields of arms on it, in this church ^s.

WINDOWS ^t.

SEVERAL curious fragments of painted glass, that had survived the Reformation, remained dispersed about in the several windows of the late church.

There was a figure of St. Barbara in one of the south ones. There were also several skin-marks.

ORGAN.

THE organ of this church is mentioned to have been repaired A. D. 1631 ^u.

LIBRARY.

A. D. 1631, mention occurs of books chained in the choir of this church, where they were placed undoubtedly for the general use of the parishioners ^v.

LEGACIES LEFT TO THE POOR OF ALL-SAINTS.

BENEFACTIONS to a very considerable amount appear to have been given, at different periods, to the poor of this very extensive and populous parish.

[Page 371]Mr. Thomas Smith, shipwright, by his will, dated Dec. 22d, 1585, lest the sum of 4l. 18s. 10d. to the poor of this parish, payable out of several houses yearly, at Easter for ever ^w.

Mr. Cuthbert Woodman, weaver, by his will, dated August 22d, 1636, left the sum of 12 shillings, to be paid out of a house in Pilgrim-Street, yearly, for ever ^x.

A. D. 1640, Henry Hilton, Esq. left to this parish as to St. Ni­cholas ^y.—See St. Nicholas.

Robert Anderson, Esq. left, by deed, 5l. per annum. See St. Ni­cholas ^z.

A. D. 1644, Sir Alexander Davison left to the poor of this, as to the poor of St. Nicholas' parish, 2l. per annum ^a.

A. D. 1644, Sir Thomas Davison left to the poor of this, as to St. Nicholas' parish, 1l. per annum.

November 16th, 1648, Mr. Andrew Aldworth left, as to St. Ni­cholas ^b, 1l. per annum.

April 11th, 1660, Mr. William Carr, merchant-adventurer, left to the poor of All-Saints, several rent charges, amounting in all to 1l. 6s. 6d. per annum ^c.

Mr Mark Milbank, 1677, as to St. Nicholas, 3l. per annum ^d.

Mr. William Carr, 1675, as to St. Nicholas, 1l. 10s. per annum ^e.

July 17th, 1661, Mr. John Cosyns, draper, left to be distributed in bread, at two shillings worth per week, to the poor of this parish, 5l. 4s. per annum.—Also 5l. per annum for the repairs of the church ^f.

Mr. William Gibson, merchant, left a rent-charge of 1l. per annum, out of a house in Cowgate, October 2 [...]th, 1662 ^g.

March 23d, 1673, Mr. David Shevil, barber surgeon, left 4l. per an­num out of several houses ^h.

[Page 372]Left by Mr. Leonard Carr, out of several houses in the Butcher-Bank, 5l. ⁱ.

November 25th, 1675, Thomas Davison, Esq. alderman, left 1l. 10s. to be distributed yearly for ever ^k.

March 9th, 1679, Sir William Blackett, Bart. left 2l. per annum out of a house at the end of Tyne Bridge ^l.

A. D. 1680, Sir Mark Milbank left, as to St. Nicholas, 6l. per an­num ^m.

A. D. 1690, Mr. John Collier, shipwright, left 3l. per annum ⁿ.

May 12th, 1693, Mr. Richard Hutchinson, roper, left 5l. per an­num ^o.

February 7th, 1694, Mr. Timothy Davison left 1l. 10s. to be paid to poor freemen or freemen's widows of this parish ^p.

A. D. 1694, Mr. John Rumney left 2l. 10s. per annum ^q.

A. D. 1698, Mr. George Collingwood, carpenter, left 2l. to be given annually to two poor widows, who are to have it but once, so that all the poor widows in the parish may enjoy the same ^r.

In the year 1707, Henry Holme, Esq. left 6l. per annum ^s.

A. D. 1710, Nicholas Ridley, Esq. 1l. per annum ^t.

A. D. 1711, March 14th, Robert Fenwick, Esq. 4l. per annum ^u.

June 5th, 1711, Mr. John Bee, master and mariner, left 6l. per an­num ^v.

A. D. 1716, Matthew White, Esq. 1l. 10s. per annum ^w.

A. D. 1717, Mrs Isabel Wrightson, 2l. 10s. per annum ^x.

Mr. William Harrison, hoastman,—150l. interest to be distributed yearly on St. Andrew's day ^y.

Mrs. Margaret Ramsay, 20l.—Interest to be distributed yearly ^z.

Mr. Edward Ports, shipwright, 20l. interest to be divided yearly ^a.

[Page 373]Mrs. Ann Handcock, 50l. interest to be distributed by the church-wardens to such poor people as were constant frequenters of divine worship ^b.

John Scaife, slater, about 1764, left 20l. the interest to be given an­nually to the poor of the parish of All-Saints. (Common-council books, Sept. 24, 1764.)

The corporation of Newcastle gave a bond for the money, to pay at the rate of 4l. per cent.

Thomas Leamon, of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gent. Sept. 20th, 1779, bequeathed 3l. a year for ever to the poor of All-Saints. (From a copy of the will communicated by Mr. Davison, of High-Bridge.)

"Mrs. Mary Buck, who died 21st of May, 1781, left to the poor of the parish the interest of 100l. now lent to the corporation of Newcastle, at four per cent. to be distributed by the curates, church-wardens and overseers, at Christmas, yearly, for ever." (On a compartment on a pillar near the organ.)

CHARITY SCHOOL OF ALL-SAINTS.

THE charity-school of this parish for 41 boys and 17 girls, the former of whom are taught to read and write and cast accounts; the latter, to read, knit, few, &c. both of them being provided with clothes, was founded by a voluntary subscription, A. D. 1709, by which, with the addition of several accidental contributions, it has been supported ever since ^c.

The corporation of Newcastle contributed a piece of ground in the Manors, whereon to build a school-house ^d.

PARISH REGISTERS.

THE register of baptisms, marriages, and burials, belonging to this church, begins in the year 1600.

There is an hiatus in the register of baptisms from March 1635 to March 1637, as also from March 1643 to January 1644.

There are supposed to be buried communibus annis, at the Ballast-Hills burying ground, about 350 persons, two-thirds of whom belong to this parish ^e.

From 1688 to 1707, there were baptized at this church 6818 chil­dren—married, 1311 persons, and buried, 6046 ^f.

From 1730 to 1749, there were baptized ibid. 6953—married, 1358 —buried, 5913.

From 1760 to 1779, baptized 6470—married 2305—buried 3480 persons.

Quota, furnished to the triennial service of the national militia, from All-Saints parish, 23 men ^g.

MONUMENTS AND MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN THE LATE CHURCH OF ALL-SAINTS.

East end, on a mural monument: ‘"To the memory of Maria Henrietta Airey, of Benwall, near this place, who died June 10th, A. D. 1779, aged 31, whose character in all the important relations of daughter, sister, wife and parent, made her life truly valuable, her loss irreparable; whose manners in social intercourse were amiable and elegant; whose religion was piety and charity, directed by good sense. But, after all, her best encomium is engraven on the hearts of all who knew her."’

"Henry Rawlin, merchant-adventurer, alderman, and sometime mayor of this town, May 8th, 1666."

"Sepulchrum Richardi Burdus. Obiit 20 Dec. 1719."

"Jesus be merciful to the souls of Richard Borrel, his wife and chil­dren. [Page 376] He obiit 20 Nov. 1508. This is also the burial place of Mr. Abraham Dixon, master and mariner, who dyed Nov. 11th, 1700."

"Thomas Andrew, 5 Oct. 1708."

"Thomas Wallis' burial place, shipwright."

"Matthew White, Esq. twice mayor of this town, governor of the merchants' and hostmen's companies. He had issue 10 children, Ni­cholas, Margaret, Elizabeth, Martha, Nicholas, Matthew, Mary, Isabel, Robert and Jane. He departed October 10th, 1716."

"William Aubone, Esq. merchant-adventurer, alderman, and some­time mayor of this town, Sept. 20th, 1700."

On marble on the wall:

"Under the adjacent marble is interred the body of Thomas Wrang­ham, the famous and beloved ship-builder of this town: he married Jane the daughter of Mr. Robert Carr, by whom he left issue two sons and one daughter, Thomas, William and Jane. He built five and forty sail of ships, and died of a fever in the 42d year of his age, May 26th, 1689. He was a man of a most generous temper, of a plain and unaffected conversation, and a sincere and hearty lover of his friend. Statutum est omnibus semel mori."

This stone of the Wranghams belonged formerly to the family of Mr. Robert Babington, and had his arms on it.

About a blue stone was inscribed:

The date worn off, but Bourne met with him in the quality of church-warden of All-Hallows, in the year 1578.

Thomson. Escutcheons: White, Davison, Malabar, Milbanke, Romney, Dame Jane Clavering and Wrightson, as in St. Nicholas' church. Arms on grave stones: Forster—Baxter—Grey—Jefferson —Whiney—Anderson.

LECTURERS OF ALL-SAINTS.

ROBERT JENNISON, S. T. P. occurs about A. D. 1622 ^m. He was suspended in 1639 for non-conformity. There had been a sub­scription set on foot for his better encouragement, December 26th, 1631 ⁿ.

October 18th, 1639, Dr. Wiseheart was appointed lecturer of All-Saints, upon Sundays, by order of the King, in place of Dr. Jen­nison ^o.

July 5th, 1641, Mr. William Morton was invited to be pastor of this church ^p.

Dec. 17th, 1643, Mr. John Shawe occurs as afternoon lecturer ^q.

July 5th, 1647, Mr. Richard Prideaux was appointed afternoon lecturer, and Mr. William Durant morning lecturer, at All-Saints ^r.

[Page 388]March 20th, 1656, by an order of common-council, Mr. Richard Prideaux was appointed morning lecturer, and Mr. William Durant afternoon lecturer of this church ^s.

August 9th, 1663, Mr. Thomas Davison was appointed lecturer of All-Saints, with a salary of 150l. per annum ^t.

March 23d, 1664, Mr. William Cock ^u was appointed on the resig­nation of T. Davison.

January 26th, 1666, Mr. William Bickerton was appointed, with a salary of 100l. on the resignation of W. Cock ^v.

May 8th, 1671, Leonard Shaftoe, A. M. was appointed, on the death of W. Bickerton, both forenoon and afternoon lecturer, with a salary of 70l. per annum ^w.

[Page 389]August 30th, 1676, William Mayer, A. M. was removed from St. Nicholas' lectureship to All-Saints, where he was to preach both fore­noon and afternoon; salary 90l. ^x

November, 1686, on the death of W. Mayer, Mr. Nathanael Ellison was appointed, with a salary of 130l. to preach both forenoons and af­ternoons, and in his turn on Thursday's lecture.—To allow 20l. per annum out of his salary for an assistant ^y.

Dec. 2d, 1687, Mr. Thomas Knaggs ^z appointed afternoon lecturer; salary 70l.

About April 30th, 1695, Nathanael Chilton, A. M. morning-lecturer, on the removal of N. Ellison to the vicarage ^a.

July 14th, 1698, on the death of N. Chilton, Mr. Leonard Shaftoe, son of the above morning lecturer of the same name; salary 100l. and 10l. for Thursday's lecture ^b.

Sept. 21st, 1697, on the removal of T. Knaggs, Ralph Emmerson, A. M. afternoon lecturer; salary 80l. ^c

[Page 390]Charles Ward, A. M. occurs as afternoon lecturer. He died A. D. 1715 ^d.

A. D. 1715, Hugh Farrington, A. M. afternoon lecturer; afterwards forenoon lecturer.—He died September 3d, 1739 ^e.

September, 1731, on the removal of H. Farrington to the morning lecture, Henry Fetherstonhaugh, B. D. late fellow of St. John's Col­lege, Cambridge, was appointed afternoon lecturer ^f.

September 24th, 1739, Robert Swinburne, A. M. morning lecturer, on the death of H. Farrington; salary 100l. ^g

April 24th, 1761, Hugh Moises, A. M. morning lecturer, on the death of R. Swinburne ^h.

June 14th, 1779, Henry Ridley, A. M. on the death of H. Fe­therstonhaugh, afternoon lecturer ⁱ.

December 17th, 1783, Cuthbert Wilson, A. M. afternoon lecturer, on the removal of H. Ridley to St. Nicholas' ^j.