Report of Meetings for 1885. By Jas. Hardy. 53 



For the accompanying cut of Haughton Castle I am indebted 

 to my friend Mr Robert Blair, F.S.A., Secretary of the Society 

 of Antiquaries of Newcastle. As I have to notice in a summary 

 manner the other buildings visited during the day, I will intro- 

 duce here what Mr Hartshorne has said about Haughton Castle : — 



" In point of situation this castle is pre-eminently fortunate. At the 

 first view it appears to have arisen by enchantment in the sweetest spot 

 amongst the many lovely ones of this lovely district. A nearer examina- 

 tion discloses its architectural importance. The figure is a double square, 

 with two parallel vaults of a simple construction running on the basement 

 from end to end. The south front has been the most ornamental ; though 

 at present the north side, with its projecting garderobes and corbelling, is 

 the most picturesque. It is simple in its internal arrangements, and offers 

 but little detail for examination. Judging from the configuration and 

 general characteristics, it is possible that it was erected very early in the 

 reign of Edward I. An ornamental doorway on the south side, partially 

 concealed, gives countenance to this supposition. There is much about 

 this castle that resembles the features of Acton Burnell, though it is a 

 little less florid in style. 



" According to charters which have been printed by Hodgson, in his 

 History of Northumberland — from the originals in the possession of Sir J. 

 E. Swinburne — William, king of Scotland, in 1177, granted to Reginald 

 Prath of Tyndale, a third part of the vill of Haluton [Haughton], which 

 Ranulph, the son of Huctred, had granted to the said Reginald in free 

 marriage with his daughter, to be holden by the payment of a sparrow- 

 hawk or sixpence annually at Were in Tyndale. This Reginald re -granted 

 all these lands and their appurtenances to William de Swyneburn, betwixt 

 the years 1236 and 1245, by the payment of two gilt spurs or twelve-pence 

 annually to the said Reginald, and one sparrow-hawk to the king, on the 

 feast of St. Michael of Were. Reginald, in 1256, covenanted to put 

 William de Swyneburn in full possession. The business was confirmed by 

 Alexander III. in 1267, and at the instance of Queen Margaret, his consort, 

 a grant was made to him of Haluton, Strother in Tyndale, and the other 

 adjoining lordships, for the annual payment of one pair of white gloves or 

 twopenoe at Werk in Tyndale, in 1273. Having now got full possession, 

 there is no doubt he immediately commenced building his castle." * 



Swinburne Castle, and the Gunnerton Hills with yellow sand- 

 stone quarry and basaltic crag, were within sight of Haughton 

 Castle, or the subsequent part of the drive. For Gunnerton and 

 its pre-historic graves, and groups of hut-circles, reference must 

 be made to the Rev. G. R. Hall's contributions to the Archceologia 

 JEliana. Much of the hilly waste ground hereabout has had 

 distributed over it the settlements of the aboriginal race of people 

 who then occupied the Tyndale district. 



* Feudal and Military Antiquities of Northd. ii., pp. 74, 75. 



