298 ON THE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE OF 



' ' Chipchace " as a "praty toun* and castle hard on the east 

 part of the arm of the North Tyne which divided Tynedale from 

 Northumberland. ' ' 



In its early days, the Lords of Prudhoe Castle had only a small 

 fort or enclosure here, (the rude foundations of which may be 

 seen a little to the south of the castle within the present park), 

 which would be of use for the defence of the ancient vill or 

 hamlet, f 



The private chapel of the castle, now standing to the south- 

 east, also within the park, and used for Divine Service, the writer 

 being the present chaplain, was rebuilt by Mr. John Reed, who 

 bought Chipchase in 1732. It does not occupy, however, the 

 site of the very old religious edifice, which was erected more 

 than a century, at least, before the great Tower, and formerly 

 stood near the front of the castle. Odonel de Umframville, 

 18 Henry II., gave the chapel of Chipchase J to the Canons of 

 Hexham Abbey, on whom would devolve the duty of serving 

 this and the other four chapels of Birtley, Gunnerton,|| East 

 Swinburn, and Colwell, in the immediate neighbourhood, and 

 within the old parish limits of Chollerton, the Mother Church. 

 This gift was in the year 1172 ; but, at the same time, he care- 

 fully reserved the Manor to Robert de Umframville, his son and 



* Chap, vii., fol. 75., p. 507. In Eschaetae, 10th Queen Elizabeth and 14th Charles I , 

 ; ' Chipches cum Villa" occurs. In Sir R, Bowes 1 Survey of 1552, Hodg. Hist., Part III., 

 Vol. II. "Chypchase and Symondburne Castles" are stated to be the fittest residences for 

 the Keeper of Tynedale, and preferable, for strength, to Haughton. A bridge is suggested 

 to be made over the North Tyne, "under the towne of Chypchace," for mutual help in 

 time of war. But this excellent ad vies was never carried into effect. In 1553 the village 

 had its Bailiff in William Ledell or Liddell. See Bishop Nicholson's " Border Laws," p. 

 259. By the " Statute of Barwicke" fifty horseman and twenty foot soldiers were to be 

 placed at Chipchase. 



t This enclosure has only a slight resemblance to the numerous ancient British camps 

 or towns near Birtley and Barrasford. See Archieologia JEliana, New Series, Vol. VII., 

 p. 4., etc. 



% The Abbot of Newminster tested the deed by which the Prior and Canons of Hexham 

 granted to Peter de Insula and Robert his son to have a Chantry in the Chapel of Chip- 

 chase every other day of the week, at the expense of the Mother Church of Chelverton 

 (Chollerton). Hodgson's Hist, of Northumberland, Vol. II., Pt. ii., p. 416. 



|| Of this chapel no trace exi Its, but it stood a little to the east of and on higher 

 ground than the site of the old castle of Gunnerton, of which only part of the wall in 

 ruins now remains. The former inn was built within the ancient churchyard. 



