264 On Stamfordham Church, by Rev. J. F. Bigge, M.A. 



' ' To ornament his feathered nest, 

 And screen him from the northern wind, 

 A row of trees he proudly placed, 

 In time will put the parish blind." 



The style of architecture is early English, or first pointed, and 

 the present Church was probably built about 1220, though there 

 must have been a more ancient one, for when it was rebuilt many 

 carved stones of an earlier date were found built up in the walls ; 

 among others part of the shaft of a Saxon Cross, which is now in 

 the Dean and Chapter Library in Durham. The Church consists 

 of a nave, with north and south aisles, and is 66 feet long, and 

 37 feet wide. The chancel is of great beauty, 42 feet long by 

 18 wide. At the west end there is a large square massive tower, 

 40 feet high, with one bell, a modern one made in Newcastle. 



In 1245, Nicholas, Bishop of Durham, appropriated to Hex- 

 ham, the tithes of East Matfen, Nesbit, Ulkeston (now Ouston), 

 Hawkwell, and Bitchfield, townships in the parish ; a payment of 

 50 marks a year to be made out of them to the Bishops of Durham.* 

 In the 33d of Ed. I., the King granted the adowson to the 

 Priory, having recovered it in a Court of Law against the Bishop 

 of Durham, and Ed. II. confirmed his father's gift. In 1340, 

 Bishop Bury, in a time of emergency, reduced the annual pay- 

 ment to himself out of the living from 50 to 40 marks. This 

 Vicarage was usually held by a Canon of Hexham. 



In the Foundation Charter of the Hospital and Chapel of St. 

 Mary's, in Newcastle, Eichard, parson of Stamfordham, was a 

 witness to Aselacke, of Killinghowes, about the year 1190.f 

 Hugo de Stambrig was rector 1245, Eobert Avenel 1260, and 

 Eichard de Derlyngton 1354, Vicar Alex, de Ulkeston 1326, 

 Will, de Derlyngton 135 4, Eichard Holmeswell 1385, John Lange 

 1416, John Golen 1501, John Hog — , Arthur Shaftowe 1547. 



* Hodgson Hist. vol. ii., part iii., 105. 



[ t " Dno Hug de Normanvill persona de Stanfordham," is a witness to a 

 Composition made between the Abbacy of Melrose and the Baptismal Church 

 of Makerston, about the tithes of Maxton and Morhus, by which the Melrose 

 monks agree to pay annually at Whitsuntide to the church of Makerston, 

 four silver marks "pro bono pacis." The date 1227 occurs in the deed. 

 The other two witnesses are Master Hugo, Archdeacon of Glasgow, and 

 Master William, Archdeacon of Dunkeld. (" Liber de Melros," No. 246). 

 "Hug. de Normanville persona de Stamfordham" also witnesses a settle- 

 ment of some disputed claims to lands between the monks and John, the son 



