408 Notes on A held and Coupland. By M. Culley. 



who no longer finding a vent for their feelings in the once frequent 

 wars and skirmishes between the two nations, now amused them- 

 selves by picking personal feuds with their neighbours, and 

 harrying their gear on every possible occasion, and on the 

 slightest pretext. Bands of mosstroopers or robbers swarmed 

 through the wild west parts of Northumberland, and the equally 

 wild districts of Roxburghshire and Cumberland ; and the 

 debatable lands lying here and there along the mountainous 

 border-line, still formed havens of refuge for the "broken" 

 people or clans, who from these retreats could make descents 

 upon the more peaceful inhabitants on both sides, whenever they 

 felt inclined. In these raids cattle, sheep, and horses were carried 

 off, houses and towers were burned, and loss of life was common. 

 This state of affairs was perhaps at its height in the year 1619, 

 and in spite of " Belted Will Howard's " iron rule, continued to 

 flourish all through the 17th century, and was by no means 

 extinguished by the beginning 1 of the 1 8th. Thus long after the 

 inhabitants of the rest of England were enjoying domestic 

 security, the gentlemen of Northumberland were still building 

 fortified houses and places of defence like Coupland, for the 

 protection, not only of their goods and possessions, but often of 

 their own lives. 



The Survey of 1552 mentions " a lytell (little) fortlett or castle 

 house without a barmeykn" at Akeld — belonging to the Greys. 

 The remains of this pele still exist, and are in good repair. 



In 1642, James Wallis of Coupland, gent., 1 executed a Deed 

 with Henry Orde, of Wetewood, Henry Wallis of Knaresdale, 

 and Richard Wallis of Humbleton, settling Coupland (and his 

 lands at Humbleton) on his own issue in tail-male, and failing 

 them, on those of the said Richard Wallis, George Wallis of 

 Learmouth, and James Wallis of Wooler. The same year we 

 have a notice of the Halls' property at Coupland, (styled "the 

 four nobles' lands, of ancient yearly rent") in an Indenture 

 between John Hall of Otterburn, Esq., and Thomas Trotter of 

 Kirk-Newton, gent — apparently a Deed of Mortgage. 



Again in 1654, Thomas Trotter of Helmington, Co. Durham, 

 gent., and William Hall of Otterburn, Esq., covenanted with 

 William Ashburn of Chillingham, gent., Edward Rochester of 

 Chillingham, Clerk, and Ralph Grey of Akeld, gent., to levy a 

 fine on the " four nobles' lands, of ancient yearly rent." Soon 

 1 Coupland Title Deeds 



