136 ANTIOJJiTIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



Halton-Totver is fmall, and fquare, having four fpeculating tui> 

 rets at top, and is covered with lead. It (lands on the eaft fide of 

 a fmall flream, above a bank of tall forefl-trees. About a mile 

 fouth from it, is 



Ayden-CaJlle, fo called from its fituation on the brink of a high 

 or fteep den or gill ; the borderers pronouncing high, Ay. It was 

 the feat of Emma de Ayden, a rich heirefs, i K. Edward I, who 

 was difpofed of in marriage by that King to Peter de Walles (n), 

 who had it for the term of his own life. He alfo had Burneton, 

 i. e. the town by the burn, or brook, and Little Whittingtm, for 

 the fame term (o). His name was local, from Walles in France, 

 the callle and vill of Sir Richard de Walks, 34 K. Henry II, 1187, 

 fituated between Erie and Gifors ; whofe fon, Ralph de Walles, was 

 ilain, and many of his father's fervants wounded, in an encoun- 

 ter with Henry Verc, conflable of Gifors, under the Engliflj general, 

 William Earl of Albermarle, in the defence of his workmen, forti- 

 fying his caflle of Walles. One of the three itinerant judges ap- 

 pointed by K. Henry I, 1176, for the northern counties, w r as Robert 

 de Walles (p). The orthography of the name of the celebrated 

 Scotch patriot, Sir William de Walks, or Wallafe, and that of Peter 

 and Robert de Walles, are alike in our old annals (q) ; and it is not 

 improbable, but that Sir William was derived from the fame 

 {lock ; and that their anccflors came into Britain at the Norman 

 conquefl. 



fn) Ftnma&t Ajdm fuit feifita do Aldcn, cum Caflro ; eft de dono dom. rcgis, et marriata 

 c-:fc Petn de IVallcs. Efcact. de anno i Ed. I. 



(o) Pftrusde Walks tenet Ay den, cum caftro, Burneton, et parva Wblttlngtan, Id. 



(p) Hil. Chron. vol. ii. p. 98; and p. 103. (q) Id. 



The 



