Rev. Wm. Procter, jun., on Doddington. 151 



closed by the Lord of the Manor. Thus the holdings became 

 insufficient to maintain their owners — who were glad to give 

 them up for a consideration to the Lord of the Manor. In 

 some cases, a slight change made in the " rent" was enough 

 to break through the u custom" by which the land was held. 



Tn 1834 there were eight of these customary freeholders 

 in Doddington, not all resident ; and still there is one. 



A few short notes may illustrate the former condition of 

 Doddington : — 



1. — In the fifth year of Richard II., 1382, Adomarus de 

 Athol and Radulphus de Eure were elected to Parliament 

 for Northumberland. Glendale Ward contributed to their 

 expenses 74s. 4d., of which Doddington and Nesbit paid 4s, 

 Wooler 3s. 4d., Homildon 2s. 



2. — In 1734, George Mark, in his survey, says — "Dod- 

 dington (Parish) comprehends 202 families and 7 villages, 

 the principal of which is Doddington, situate at the foot of a 

 hill called Doddington Dod Law, quarter of a mile from the 

 River Till, and on the east side thereof. It is remarkable 

 for its largeness and badness of its houses, and low situation, 

 and perhaps for the greatest quantities of geese of any of its 

 neighbourhood, and is distinguished from all the rest of the 

 county, except Branxton, for having the chapel covered with 

 heather and straw. It stands at the distance of a gunshot 

 from the towne, and has a very good Bell. Here is one of 

 the largest and best springs of this county, which sends out 

 a current sufficient to turn a mill." 



3. — A weekly cattle market was once held here, and a 

 market cross stood behind the old Pele Tower, opposite to 

 the road to Nesbit. 



4. — The population of the village, in 1801, was 339, of 

 whom 80 were employed in agriculture, and 29 in trade. 

 In the days of hand-loom weaving, the village was noted for 

 the number of its weavers. The number of houses occupied 

 in 1801 was 76, by 78 families. In 1870, the population is 

 272 ; 100 are employed in agriculture, 17 in trade, 8 as 

 grooms, road-makers, &c. The number of houses occupied 

 is 56, by 57 families. There are five townships in the 

 Parish, viz. : Doddington, Nesbit, Ewart, Humbleton, and 

 Yearle. The population of the whole Parish, in 1801, was 

 734 ; in 1870 it is 787. 



The Pele Tower. — There is no mention of a tower at Dod- 

 dington in a list of " Nomina Castrorum et Fortaliciorum 



