Notices of Chation, by Messrs. Procter and Hardy. 63 



in every comfort, and handsome in appearance — very different 

 from the embattled "Turris" of 1460 and 1550, reared in 

 dread of the marauding Scots. 



On the 6th March, 1814, " as the sexton was digging a 

 grave, on the north side of Chatton Church, he found a stone 

 coffin about ten inches below the surface. It was securely 

 and neatly covered with three stones. In the coffin were 

 the remains of a human body. The skull was nearly perfect, 

 and the teeth of the upper jaw were a full set ; the thigh 

 bone measured eighteen inches ; but the skull was nearly 

 full of water. The adjacent earth being carefully dug up 

 and trindled, one of Robert Bruce's silver pennies was found, 

 also a steel spur, and several relics of ornamental brass and 

 iron work, supposed to be the remains of the helmet of the 

 warrior who had been interred in the coffin."* It was con- 

 jectured by the Rev. J. Cook, that it might have been one 

 of the followers of Robert Bruce, who had fallen in 1318, 

 during an invasion of Northumberland ; and being, like the 

 Scots of that period, under papal excommunication, his 

 remains had been interred in what was then considered the 

 least hallowed spot of the churchyard. Mr. Bell, the present 

 vicar of Chatton, says that the stone coffin " for some time 

 was placed in the chancel, but was removed some years ago 

 and buried in the churchyard." 



The Parish Registers of Chatton are complete from 1715. 

 All before that date have been lost. Tlie parish school and 

 school-master's house are provided by the Duke of North- 

 umberland, and are well managed and efficient, under the 

 superintendence of the vicar, the National Society, and 

 Government Inspectors. 



The population of Chatton parish in 1801, was 1,135 , in 

 1811, it was 1,378 ; and in 1821, it had increased to 1,460 : 

 consisting of 744 males and 716 females, distributed in 280 

 families, occupying 274 houses-}*. The population in 1831 

 was 1,362 ; and the inhabited houses, 285. In 1851 there 

 were 305 inhabited houses, and 1,765 inhabitants. In 18G1, 

 310 inhabited houses, and 1,651 inhabitants. In 1871, 286 

 inhabited houses, and 1,538 inhabitants. In 1867, there 

 were 68 duke's cottages, each with about five acres of land 



* « Archfeologia JEliana," Vol. i., p. 100.— Mackenzie's "History of 

 Northumberland," i., p. 387. 



f See Parson and White's " Northumberland," ii., 449. 



