32 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



Tyne, the floping fields, woods, and little dwellings on its 

 oppofirc banks, and the villa of Hayden-bridge, are agreeable 

 objects. 



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Oppofitc to Kingswood, and a mile and an half from the Raven- 

 Cragg, on the eaflern banks of the Allen, is the rum of 



St award le Pee!, or SttnvardCaftle. It flands on the ridge of a 

 rocky peninfula or promontory, between the Allen and Harfing- 

 dale-Burn, a fmall rill; entered to the eaft by a narrow, lofty 

 terrace, whofe fides arc cloathed with trees ; rocks and precipices 

 appearing through them ; under it is a triangular area in tillage, 

 with a hint in the midftof fome fcattered trees, the Allen paffing 

 by in broken murmurs, enlarged by the flreamlet of Kingswood, 

 the northern boundary of the Lordfhip of Whitfield ; a femicir- 

 cular hanging wood adorning its weftern margin ; the rocks of 

 Shewing-Jtjeels, and the villa of Thorngrafton, in view to the north. 

 A fragment of the gateway is ftill {landing, where was a draw- 

 . bridge, an iron-gate, and port-cullice. There are alfo nine 

 courfes of it Handing at the weft end, of the white rag-ilone, 

 and hewn work ; the cement fo flrong, that one ft one can hardly 

 be feparated from another without breaking them; guarded by 

 u Fofs, and a Vallum of earth and ftone. It belonged to the friers 

 Eremites of Hexham ; granted, with its dcmefncs, by Edward Duke 

 of York ; to hold by the annual payment of five marks (s). It 

 is in fight from High, but not from Low, Staward; as are many 

 of the beauties of the Allen, whofe banks from its Oft turn to its 

 affociation and union with Eaft Allen, prefent us with fuch 

 groups of rural imagery, as are not to be furpafled by any fpot 



(s) Le Peyle de Stawsrth dimifia. Prior, de HcxtilJeJljam per Edvardum ducem Eborad pro 

 fermino annorum reddend. per annum 5 Marc. Pat. 10 Ricardin. p. 2. m. 9. 



in 



