Old Customs of Morpeth. By Wm. Woodman. 133 



the town on Tuesday, from Scotland by Messrs Humble and 

 Elliott, great dealers ; and from Cumberland by Messrs Curwen 

 and Blamire. The Greys, Oulley. Adam Atkinson, Johnson, and 

 Fenwick, large farmers of Northumlierland, brought their own 

 stock to market, most of them arriving on Tuesday nij^ht, as did 

 the principal butchers — Mr Radcliff of North Shields, Messrs 

 Hewison, Swan, and Forster of Newcastle ; others came in 

 coaches from Sunderland, Shields, and Newcastle, reaching the 

 town at the commencement of the market, almost as soon as it 

 was light in summer, and in winter before the sun rose. Every 

 I)urchaser, after ''handling" the stock, took from his pocket a 

 shilling, which he spit* upon and offered to the seller, who if he 

 accepted the bid, took the shilling or ' arles,' and the bargain was 

 binding. The buyer then marked his purchase by cutting a 

 few hairs from the animal's riip. A man stood at the north end 

 of Morpeth bridge to levy the tolls for the lord of the manor, 

 viz. for every head of cattle Id, for a score of sheep 4d, and 

 for a pig or calf ^^d. 



At eleven o'clock the market bell rang, sacks of wheat being 

 pitched on the north side of the market place ; barley, rye, and 

 oats on the east : Lord Carlisle, by the hand of freemen's wives, 

 dipped a wooden dish holding more than a quart, into each 

 'poke,' which the lord was entitled to as toll. 



Anyone buying, and selling again at the same market, was 

 guilty of regrating ; and anyone buying before the market bell 

 rang, was guilty of forestalling. In 1719 the Treasurer of the 

 county paid £2 5s. for prosecuting forestallers. 



The Bailiffs were Judges of the court of Pied poudre, and many 

 disputes were settled by them. 



Lord William Howard, when at Naworth, bought and sold 

 at the market. t Wooden milk bowls, creaming dishes, and 

 spoons were, until recently, made at Lightwater House, near 

 Mitford, and sold in the market. 



* The spitting was a protection from witchcraft. 



t 1620, June 8th. Received of George Clematson for xx ewes sold 

 at Morpeth, iiijl. 



1652, September 21st. Received of William Grayme for 40 sheep 

 sold at Morpeth, xli. vis. viijd. 



1629, December 5th. For bringing a horse load of trenchers from 

 Morpeth, vs. — Lord Wm. Howards Household Book, pp. 120, 121, 

 156, 158, 270, 346. 



