46 ilEl'ORT OE^ MEETINGS FOR 1906 



Wooler has become more accessible through the opening of 

 a new line of Railway between Coldstream and Alnwick, 

 conferring an appearance of prosperity on the town, which, 

 though unable to boast any longer of a weekly market, 



can now lay claim to a commodious Sale-yard, 

 Wooler. in which an auction is held every fortnight. 



Its streets converge towards the market-place, 

 in which a drinking-fountain, erected in 1879 to the memory 

 of William Wightman, used to serve as a market-cross. 

 Prominent in the main street stands a time-honoured hostelry, 

 named the Black Bull, which before the coach-road was 

 diverted to a lower level near Wooler Water was doubt- 

 less a landmark in the district to dust-stained and weary 

 passengers. The remains of an early fortress or castle may be 

 seen on an artificial mound above the river, consisting of a 

 few large fragments of masonry, overthrown to all appearance 

 by gunpowder. The building belongs to an early period, 

 mention being made of it in 1254 as "a certain waste- 

 fortress, not of any value " ; but it does not seem to have 

 played any important part in Border history. The Parish 

 Church of St. Mary presents no special features of archeeo- 

 logical interest, having been erected by subscription in 1765, 

 near the site of an earlier sanctuary, which was thatched, 

 and destroyed by fire in 1722. 



Leaving Wooler on the right and proceeding South, the 

 party journeyed towards Middleton Hall, where a halt was 

 called to examine the grounds and Conifers. On their way 

 they passed Earle, or Yer-ill, formerly Yerdhill, the property 

 in 1244 of John Viscount III.^' As witnessed by the ridge- 

 and-balk system of cultivation which distinguishes the top and 

 middle face of the whin hill, beneath which nestle the modern 

 farm-buildings, this had been the scene of early British hus- 

 bandry, traces of which are by no means infrequent on the 

 spurs of Cheviot in this district. On their arrival at Middleton 



Hall, the members, in the absence of Mr George 

 Middleton P. Hughes, were escorted through the grounds 

 Hall. by the gardener, who did his utmost to direct 



attention to the numerous objects of interest. 



* Archaeologia ^liana, Series ii., Vol. xviii., p. 26. 



