LANDOWNING IN NORTHUMBERLAND 139 



of villages, are obliged to reside thereon. Somewhere, about 

 fifty years ago, the late Dr Gilley, then vicar of Norham, 

 drew attention to the state of the cottages upon the Borders, 

 which were then old and dilapidated ; in fact relicts of former 

 days, when the occupier, afraid of Border raids, was in the 

 habit of carrying with him the doors and windows necessary 

 for the dwelling. With security from disturbance came the 

 desire for improvements, and Dr Gilley's views were soon 

 taken up by Lord Grey, followed immediately by the Duke 

 of Northumberland, then by other proprietors, large and 

 small, until the cottages of Northumberland could compare 

 favourably with those of any other county. These improve- 

 ments are still going on, the cottage of thirty or forty 

 years ago being found too small for the requirements of 

 the present day. 



Attempts from time to time have been made to induce the 

 farm labourers to give up their migratory habits, and to 

 settle down in villages similar to what we find in southern 

 counties, where the small farmers are supplied from the 

 neighbouring villages. Those attempts have, however, not 

 been successful in Northumberland ; the size of the farms 

 would, of necessity, have placed any such village at a 

 distance, while the men having charge of the horses and 

 cattle must be at hand. Village cottages have to a certain 

 extent induced men to remain longer at a place, but so 

 long as the cottages are included, in the farm, and are a 

 part of the yearly wages appertaining to his employment, 

 so long, more or less, will the yearly migration from farm 

 to farm go on. 



The tendency of the present time would appear to be that 

 the squire and yeoman class are decreasing, the holdings of 

 the large proprietors are increasing, while round our cities 

 and towns a large number of small holdings of the suburban 

 class have arisen. In former days the old yeoman was looked 

 upon as the backbone of the country in time of need, and we 

 cannot without regret note the fact that he is disappearing, 

 and should he not become extinct, will exist only to farm 

 the land which himself or his forefathers once owned. 



[Note. — It has not been found possible to add the 

 Appendix contemplated.] 



