Rev. J. W. Dunn on War'kivorth. 43 



and cover and without amendment will in short tyme utter- 

 lye decay ; yt shall be therefore very requisite that the towre 

 be with all speed repaired, and the gates hanged up, which 

 shall be a great savety and comoditye for the towne." 



Passing beneath the time-worn archway of this tower, 

 leaving the church to the right and reserving it for future 

 notice, a few steps convey us to the steep street, on the 

 highest elevation of which the ruined, but yet proud re- 

 mains of the Castle of Warkworth attest the old-time glories 

 of its noble and lordly owners. 



Before proceediug further, I must request you to imagine 

 yourselves seated around the cross* of a market which dates 

 from the time of King John, and, whilst you fix your eyes 

 and thoughts upon yonder gloomy battlements, I shall claim 

 a few moments to give you somewhat of their history. 



* It would appear, prima facie, that this portion of the town must be the 

 site of the houses of the New Town or New Borough, which was created by the 

 Lords of Warkworth after their acquisition of the ancient Borough. This is a 

 curious subject, and I offer no apology for giving the evidences chronologically. 



Inq. p. m. Rogeri filii Johannis, 32 Hen. III. " Also in respect of the 

 farm rent of the Borough of Warkworth with the farm rent of the New Town 

 (novoe villse) yearly 78s, 84d., and they ought, in respect of every house of the 

 Borough and Neiv Town, to find one man to reap in autumn for the lord's 

 board, or to give one penny for two days." 



Placita de quo warranto, 21 Ed. I. Robert Fitz Roger put to proof of his 

 title to " the manor of Wercwrth with the appurtenances, except the advowson 

 of the Church of the same manor." Produces Henry II.'s grant to Roger 

 Fitz Richard of the " Castle of Werliewrd and the manor, with tol and team and 

 soc and sak and infangenthef and with all liberties and free customs." Also 

 put to proof of his claim to " wreck of the sea in Werkwrth" — "free warren 

 in all his demesne land in Werkwrth, Qualton, and Newburn, market and fair 

 in the New Town of Werkwrth {mercatum et fer'iam in Nova Villa de Werk- 

 wrth,") &c. Comes and claims wreck and warren by user from before the time of 

 legal memory. " He claims also a market on Monday of every week in his 

 manor of Newton near (juxta) Werlturth ;" and one fair there to last for three 

 days in every year, viz : " on the eve, the day, and the morrow, of St. Lau- 

 rence." Claims these liberties and also " weyf, infangenthef, and gallows at 

 Warkworth," by user before the time of legal memory. Verdict by the jury in 

 accordance with his claims, 



Inq. p. m. Roberti filii Rogeri, 3 Ed. II. " Held the castle and vill of 

 Werkewrth by service of one knight's fee. The vill of Werkeworth is a 

 borough de antiquo, and the farm rent thereof is worth yearly £2 7s. 7fd. 

 There are certain tenements arrented de novo, which are called the town of the 

 New Borough [villa Novi Burgi) and the farm rent thereof is worth 

 £1 16s. 4d. 



In later times the two boroughs or towna seem to have become fused, and 

 we simply have " the castle and manor of Werkworth," the only trace of the 

 early division being found in the application of the name of the New Town 

 to certain strips of freehold land, and other land of ancient tenure adjoining, 

 held by the burgagers under the lord, and lying between the village and the 

 sea. " All the burgesses of the vill of Warkworth hold one parcel of land 

 called Tenterhughe and New town, containing 119 seliones of land, rent 

 37s 5d."—Hiimbertson's and Hall's Survey. 



