40S 



Notes on the Manors of Akeld and Coupland. By Matthew 

 Culley, Junr., of Coupland. 



The Manors of Akeld and Coupland are situated in the parish 

 of Kirk-Newton, in the north-west corner of Northumberland, 

 on the very Border-land between England and Scotland. They 

 are within the territory of the Barony of Wooler, of which they 

 were originally held along with most of the adjoining 

 Manors. 



The history of the Barony of Wooler and its dependencies, 

 begins with the 12th century, when Henry I. of England gave 

 the Barony 1 to Robert de Muschamp. In the f olio wiag century, 

 Robert de Muschamp held "in capite" (viz. of the king) Wooler \ 

 Coupland, Akeld, etc., etc., de veteri feoffamento ; 2 that is, under 

 the original grant of Henry I. At the same time William de 

 Akeld held Akyld, Coupland, etc., from Robert de Muschamp, 3 

 also de veteri feoffamento ; which probably shews that his family 

 had been enfeoffed by the Muschamps at the time of the original 

 grant in the preceding century. 



Of these first lords of Akeld and Coupland, under the 

 Muschamps, we have but scanty notice. In an Inquisition 34 

 Henry III. (1249) on the death of Robert de Manners, Thomas 

 de Akilde occurs as one of the jurors. 4 Six years later, 39 Henry 

 III., Thomas de Akilde again occurs as a juror in an Inquisition 

 at Wooler, on the death of Isabella de Ford. In the same 

 reign, that of Henry III., Robert de Akeld, and William, son of 

 Robert de Akeld, occur as witnesses to a charter of Robert de 

 Muschamp, of Trowhope, granting a right of pasture in the 

 territory of Heathpool, to the Monks of Melrose, for the souls of 

 his lords Henry, Richard, and John, kings of England, and for 

 his father and mother, and all his ancestors, and for the salvation 

 of his lord King Henry, and for his own and his wife's 

 salvation. 5 



About the same period William de Akilde witnessed a charter 

 of Hugh, son of John de Haggardeson, granting land in Bowsden 

 to the Prior and Monks of Holy Island. 6 And again we find 

 "William de Acle " witnessing a confirmatory charter of William 



1 Ped. of Muschamp. Raine's North Durham. • Testa de Nevill. 

 3 Testa de Nevill. 4 Inq. p.m. Hodgson's Hist, of Northumberland. 

 5 Liber de Melros. 6 Holy Island Charters. Raine's North Durham. 



