138 REPORT 01^ THE MEETIJJGS I^OR 1897 



or benefice of Morpeth (et sectam curise de Morpath) and 

 was valued in time of peace at twenty pounds." 



At this place the main road was left for Cockhill and 

 Shilvington ; this latter now consists of two cottages, all that 

 is left of a town with a weekly market and a yearly fair. 

 The site of the ancient mill was pointed out, and the outlines 

 of a considerable building in the Chapel garth were examined. 

 The old cockpit also, which is well preserved and easily 

 recognised, was not forgotten. The scyldingas (the scyldings) 

 are mentioned in Beowulf. Hugo de Gobyon held Shilvington 

 by a half fee of the new feoffment from Roger de Merlay, 

 1067, of the Lord of Morpeth. 



Hence the road, leaving the Watchhill on the right, leads 

 to the south by Black Bog, into the basin of the River Blyth, 

 which is crossed by a high-pitched stone bridge as we ascend 

 the south bank of the river to Ogle and Ogle Castle. Here 

 a halt was made, and by the kind permission of the tenant, 

 Mr John Crawford,* all that is left of this ancient seat of the 

 Ogles, received attention. The present farmhouse dates from 

 the reign of Charles I. It was apparently built on to a small 

 portion of the old castle which forms now the west gable, on 

 which a small brass plate with the following inscription was 

 placed in 1849 by the then owner of the Kirkley and Ogle 

 estates: — "Ogle Castle for building whereof a patent was 

 granted anno 15th Edward III., Anno Domini 1341, which 

 together with the baronry of Ogle, now belongs to the Ogles 

 of Kirkley, who are descended from the third baron Ogle." 

 Robert de Ogle of Ogle had married Helen, daughter and 

 sole heiress of Robert Bertram, the heiress of the last Bertram 

 of Bothal, and became the first Baron of Bothal and Ogle. 



There is a double moat which is well marked on the west 

 and north, where it forms a pond, but which has been filled up on 

 the south and east. The kitchen is probably part of the old 

 castle, and tradition has it that this was the room in which 

 David Bruce of Scotland was imprisoned for one night after 

 the battle of Neville's Cross, 17th Oct. 1346. There are 

 many mounds in a field to the west of the Castle, which 

 appear to indicate the site of the ancient town. The village 

 now lies more to the south — on the road from Newcastle to 

 Whalton. The present population of the township is 100, 

 * Died shortly afterwards. 



