ANTIQUITIES OT NORTHUMBERLAND. 249 



Heaton (p) ; a mediety of the manour of which was held of 

 the Barony of Guagy, by Sir Ralph La-wfon, Knt. 10 (^Elizabeth (q), 

 and now belongs to Sir Harry Laivfon, Bart. The other mediety 

 was in the pofieffion of John Mitford, of Seghill, Efq; 10 Q. Eliza- 

 beth (r), and of his ion Robert Mitford, Efq; 14 K. Charles I ; and 

 is now in the pofieflion of Matthew Ridley, Efq; a younger branch 

 of the antient family of the Ridley s of WilKmotefwick (s) y a repre- 

 fentative in parliament for Newcajlle upon Tyne, and father of Sir 

 Matthew White Ridley, of Blaigdon, Bart. His feat is at the fouth 

 end of the village, modern, and handfome. Before the fouth 

 front is a large park-like enclofure, fmall clumps of young 

 foreft-trees, extending to the Shield's road, which is in fight ; alfo 

 an artificial ruin on the hill at Biker. On the fouth-weft and weft 

 fide, are fhrubberies, flower-borders, and groves of trees, with a 

 tempiato. 



From the porter's lodge, we go by an eafy afcent for a quarter 

 of a mile to Biker-hill, where a road branches off to the village 

 of 



Biker, the manour of which was held by grand Serjancy, by 

 carrying the king's Writs between the rivers Tyne and Coquet, and 

 making diftrefles of goods for the king's debts, and keeping and 

 difpofingof them for his ufe; by which fervice it was held by 



(p) Heton. Efcaet. Narthumbr. 



Heaton. Autographis nctntlor. 



(q) Vld. Biker. (r) V'td. Seghill. 



(s) Ex informat. Matth. Ridley, Arm. de Htaton. 



See Wiltimotefwick. , 



VOL. II. Kk M- 



