Heddon township
Based on an article by George Clark
The manor of Heddon was one of the six townships which comprised an isolated portion of the Barony of Styford and bestowed by Henry I on Hugh de Bolbec during the period 1100-1135, becoming known as the Bolbec Barony. Following the death of Hugh de Bolbec, an extent (inventory) of the manor of Heddon was made:
"There are in demesne 160 acres at 6d per acre, sum £4; 3 acres of meadow at 8d per acre, sum 2s; 5 bondmen each of whom holds 24 acres worth yearly 18s 2d and they hold between them 12 acres 9s 1d; of the fishery of the said manor, 5 marks; the mills are worth yearly 5 marks; 22 acres worth yearly 15s 2d for farm and works; 13 acres worth 11s 1d; 5 acres of land which a certain widow holds worth yearly 2s 6d; 14 cottages worth yearly 26s 2d; Office of the smith worth yearly 2s 0d; of the Brew-house 4s 0d; Rent in hens yearly is worth 21d; pannage is worth yearly 2s 8d; birds taken at Wydestokes yearly 2s 0d; herbage of the same close yearly 12d; sum of the sums of Heddon £18 5s 5d."
A very rare copy of a 13th century map of Heddon on the Wall can be seen here.
The division of the Bolbec Barony in 1335 devolved upon two surviving heiresses, Margery and Phillippa.
In 1796, the sixth Earl of Carlisle sold his share of Heddon to Nathaniel Clayton for £15,750. He was Town Clerk of Newcastle upon Tyne 1785-1822. His son, John Clayton, as Town Clerk (1822-1867), was responsible for the development of Grainger Town, and as an antiquarian, for the survival of many of the present sites of Hadrian's Wall.
In 1918, the widow of John Clayton, grandson of Nathaniel, sold the farms of Bays Leap, Heddon Mill and Towne House to Adam and James Hedley of Newcastle. East Town Farm and several other pieces of land were sold to Sir James Knott for £13,345.
In 1924, Sir James Knott sold East Town Farm to Adam and James Hedley for £2,800. A portion of East Town Farm was given over to the Ministry of Works to protect the Roman Wall as an Ancient Monument.
In 1957, the heirs of the Hedleys sold Bays Leap, Town House and Heddon Mill to the National Coal Board for open-cast mining. After the completion of the open-cast mining, Bays Leap was sold to Mr. J. Moffitt in 1965.
In 1959, James Hedley sold a portion of East Town Farm to Grady's the builders to build the Vallum housing estate.
In 1346/7, on the death of William of Harle, his son Robert gave their share of Heddon to the Abbey at Blanchland, as an endowment to the founding of a chantry in the church of St. Wilfrid at Kirkharle. The land was held by the Abbey until it's dissolution, being leased out to a variety of people. The Abbot of Blanchland appointed a bailiff of Heddon at a salary of 40s per year, this office was leased in 1538 to Edmund Claxton and Roger Mitford.
In 1590, the Great Tithes of Heddon Parish were leased to George Mason for 21 years:
"... at the old rent £14 17s 01/2d of the tithes of grain of Heddon on the Wall, Eachwick, Hedwin, Whitchester and Houghton Close and Grange together with the tithe barns of Heddon and Eachwick, and the tithes of salmon at Heddon, as they were lately held by Roger Mitford and Edmund Claxton at the rent of £5; also all the other possessions of the monastery of Blanchland at Heddon, which they have held at the rent of £7, including the right of digging and drawing coal and other ore with way-leave and staithe-leave; and likewise, the tithe of these premises amounting to £2 17s 01/2d."
This lease was later granted to John Eldred and others in 1611-12. Subsequent owners were Sir Robert Wingfield, Henry Deth, Ralph Carr, James Metham and Thomas Dent.
In 1717, Thomas Dent's two married daughters, Isabel Bigge and Julian Hindmarsh, shared in the division of the common lands of Heddon.
After the Dent family the lands passed through more owners before being split between:
The tithes were commuted by Act of Parliament in 1836. In 1844, the freeholders of Heddon township were Nathaniel Clayton, John Clayton, Michael Clayton, Rev. Leonard Shafto Orde, Edward Collingwood, Mrs Eliza Dutton (widow of John Dutton), Thomas Dutton (heir of John Dutton), George Bates, Watson Charleton, John Whitfield, and two trustees of the late William Johnson, Robert Nevins and Robert Johnson.
"There are in demesne 160 acres at 6d per acre, sum £4; 3 acres of meadow at 8d per acre, sum 2s; 5 bondmen each of whom holds 24 acres worth yearly 18s 2d and they hold between them 12 acres 9s 1d; of the fishery of the said manor, 5 marks; the mills are worth yearly 5 marks; 22 acres worth yearly 15s 2d for farm and works; 13 acres worth 11s 1d; 5 acres of land which a certain widow holds worth yearly 2s 6d; 14 cottages worth yearly 26s 2d; Office of the smith worth yearly 2s 0d; of the Brew-house 4s 0d; Rent in hens yearly is worth 21d; pannage is worth yearly 2s 8d; birds taken at Wydestokes yearly 2s 0d; herbage of the same close yearly 12d; sum of the sums of Heddon £18 5s 5d."
A very rare copy of a 13th century map of Heddon on the Wall can be seen here.
The division of the Bolbec Barony in 1335 devolved upon two surviving heiresses, Margery and Phillippa.
- Margery married Ralph, the son of William, the baron of Greystoke. The land was subsequently held by them and their heirs: Greystoke, Dacre and Howards (Carlisles).
In 1796, the sixth Earl of Carlisle sold his share of Heddon to Nathaniel Clayton for £15,750. He was Town Clerk of Newcastle upon Tyne 1785-1822. His son, John Clayton, as Town Clerk (1822-1867), was responsible for the development of Grainger Town, and as an antiquarian, for the survival of many of the present sites of Hadrian's Wall.
In 1918, the widow of John Clayton, grandson of Nathaniel, sold the farms of Bays Leap, Heddon Mill and Towne House to Adam and James Hedley of Newcastle. East Town Farm and several other pieces of land were sold to Sir James Knott for £13,345.
In 1924, Sir James Knott sold East Town Farm to Adam and James Hedley for £2,800. A portion of East Town Farm was given over to the Ministry of Works to protect the Roman Wall as an Ancient Monument.
In 1957, the heirs of the Hedleys sold Bays Leap, Town House and Heddon Mill to the National Coal Board for open-cast mining. After the completion of the open-cast mining, Bays Leap was sold to Mr. J. Moffitt in 1965.
In 1959, James Hedley sold a portion of East Town Farm to Grady's the builders to build the Vallum housing estate.
- Phillipa married Roger of Lancaster and the land passed first to his son John, and later to one of his descendants, William of Harle.
In 1346/7, on the death of William of Harle, his son Robert gave their share of Heddon to the Abbey at Blanchland, as an endowment to the founding of a chantry in the church of St. Wilfrid at Kirkharle. The land was held by the Abbey until it's dissolution, being leased out to a variety of people. The Abbot of Blanchland appointed a bailiff of Heddon at a salary of 40s per year, this office was leased in 1538 to Edmund Claxton and Roger Mitford.
In 1590, the Great Tithes of Heddon Parish were leased to George Mason for 21 years:
"... at the old rent £14 17s 01/2d of the tithes of grain of Heddon on the Wall, Eachwick, Hedwin, Whitchester and Houghton Close and Grange together with the tithe barns of Heddon and Eachwick, and the tithes of salmon at Heddon, as they were lately held by Roger Mitford and Edmund Claxton at the rent of £5; also all the other possessions of the monastery of Blanchland at Heddon, which they have held at the rent of £7, including the right of digging and drawing coal and other ore with way-leave and staithe-leave; and likewise, the tithe of these premises amounting to £2 17s 01/2d."
This lease was later granted to John Eldred and others in 1611-12. Subsequent owners were Sir Robert Wingfield, Henry Deth, Ralph Carr, James Metham and Thomas Dent.
In 1717, Thomas Dent's two married daughters, Isabel Bigge and Julian Hindmarsh, shared in the division of the common lands of Heddon.
After the Dent family the lands passed through more owners before being split between:
- The Clayton family, who already owned other property in Heddon.
- Thomas and George Bates of Heddon Hall. The major part, known as Heddon Haughs, formerly called Easter Haugh and Cow Haugh is now held by Mr J.G. Cheesbrough. The former home of the Bates, Heddon Hall, once known as Mount Pleasant, is now split in two and owned by Mrs Barrett and Mr D.V. Brims.
The tithes were commuted by Act of Parliament in 1836. In 1844, the freeholders of Heddon township were Nathaniel Clayton, John Clayton, Michael Clayton, Rev. Leonard Shafto Orde, Edward Collingwood, Mrs Eliza Dutton (widow of John Dutton), Thomas Dutton (heir of John Dutton), George Bates, Watson Charleton, John Whitfield, and two trustees of the late William Johnson, Robert Nevins and Robert Johnson.
