114 Amhle and Hawxley. By J. C. Hodgson. 



all along the coast of Northumberland, off ' Colour-coats,' Blyth, 

 Newbiggin, Cresswell, Hauxley, New-Town, Boulmer, etc., and 

 that he had agreed with Kirton for the landing of his boats on 

 Kirton's land. Kirton was apparently involved in financied 

 difficulties, for in 1730 we find that he raised £200 on 

 mortgage of his lands to Anne, daughter of Eobert Lisle of 

 Weldon. He died in 1736, after which his son and successor, 

 Edward Kirton, withdrew from the suit; and 26th June 1736, 

 so far as he was concerned, admitted Widdrington's claim ; 

 accordingly the Master of the Rolls made his decree 5th May 

 1737. The decision was not contested by the other freeholders. 

 As before related, Widdrington subsequently purchased 

 Kirton's lands from the mortgagees. Some 20 years ago 

 the fishers' cottages, which until then stood in the village, 

 were pulled down by Mr Widdrington and removed to the 

 Sea-houses, a hamlet near the haven erected on lands, formerly 

 Kirton's. Here reside some 1 6 families, who with 5 line boats 

 work the fishery. The lobsters caught are of the finest in quality 

 and quantity. Hauxley is a lifeboat station, and possesses a 

 boat-house built by Algernon, Duke of Northumberland, which 

 houses the Royal National Lifeboat Society's lifeboat, the 

 Algernon and Eleanor. 



Village. — Besides the two mansions, there may be seen on 

 the north side of the village street, in a one story cottage, all 

 that remains of the original mansion house of the Widdrington®' 

 family, a window — with strong massive mouldings — a heavy 

 door head, and a stone with the date 1600. If this be the date 

 of the building, we may venture to think that its builder was 

 that Robt. Widdrington, who in 1598 was executor to his uncle. 



An alehouse, under the sign of the ' Plough,* was long kept 

 by a family of Lockey, but was closed in 1860. 



®^ The following? note, omitted from its place in chronological order, 

 is the Order of the Watch, 6th year of Edward VI. 



The watch [was] to be kept from Wetherington-park-nook to Cokket, 

 with fourteen men nightly, and thereto is appointed inhabitors of 

 Wetherington, Drereghe, Est Chevingtone, Hadston, A.iklington, Toxden, 

 Haxlaye, Warkworthe, Ambell, Gloster-hill, and Moryke : Setters and 

 Searchers, John Fenwyke, Edward Tremble, John Harford, Edward 

 Clark, John Wilson, and Perseval Wylkynsone. Overseers of these 

 Watches, Ser John Wetherington, Knight, John Heron, John Wetherington, 

 and Thomas Finche. — Bishop Nicolson's Border Laws, p. 197- 



