507 

 Low Buston. By J. C. Hodgson. 



In the Parish of Wark worth, between the Coquet and the A lu, 

 and washed by the sea, are the two ancient townships of High 

 and Low Buston. Their population is wholly agricultural, 

 dwelling around the different homesteads. They are crossed 

 lengthways by the main line of the North Eastern Railway. 

 Excellent freestone has been wrought for building : and coal 

 exists, but perhaps in unremunerative quantities. Each of 

 these townships maintained its own poor and highways ; and as 

 they are in different baronies, the history of each can be 

 separately traced. 



The lower township, formerly called Nether, now Low Buston, 

 contains 898 acres. (Ordnance Survey). Its rateable value in 

 1831 was £1520, and in 1889 it is £2395, (including the N.E.R., 

 rated at £1162). In 1831 the population was 103, and in 1881 

 it was 95. Under the old system of rating, Low Buston with 

 Spittle House was reckoned as containing 13 farms. (Church Books.) 

 The Rectorial tithes, formerly the possession of the Bishop of 

 Carlisle, now belong to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and are 

 commuted for £143 18s. 6d. The Vicarial Tithes commuted for 

 £71 4s., belong to the Vicar of Wark worth. 



Like the neighbouring township of Sturton Grange, Low Buston 

 is a reputed manor in the Barony of Wark-on-Tweed, which, by 

 King Henry I., was granted to Walter Espec, and held by two 

 Knight's fees. Walter Espec died about 1 153 (Hartshorn, vol. n., 

 pp. 31, 34), and his Barony ultimately devolved upon his sister's 

 grandson Everard de Eos, the giver of Sturton to Newminster. 

 His son, Robert de Ros, married Isabella, natural daughter of 

 William the Lion, King of Scotland, and had two sons, William 

 de Ros and Robert. William inter alia held of the King in cap. 

 the Manor of Butlisdon, (Testa de Nevillj, which of him was 

 held by his brother Robert, and we find " Ranulph de Butlisdon 

 and William hold a moiety of Butlisdon inferior, of Robert de 

 Ros for xs." in socage. The last named Robert de Ros was the 

 founder of Bolton Hospital, and a Chief Justice of King's Forests 

 in Northumberland, 1237-1244. Iu 1290 (Hodgson, part in., 

 vol. i., pp. 73, 80, 134), Robert de Ros claimed ' infangenthef ' in 

 his vills, and in 1293 his son of the same name was summoned to 

 show by what warrant he held Wark and its manors, including 

 Butlisdon : he rebelled ' for the sake of a fair Scotswoman,' joined 



