280 REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1905 



contifluous strip of land, stretching from the Tyne to the 

 Coquet. On the North bank of the former it began with 

 Walker, recently incorporated with the city of Newcastle, 

 and thereafter expanded Northward so as to include the 

 parishes of Longbenton, Stannington, part of Bedlington, 

 Morpeth, a portion of the lands North of Morpeth and now 

 in the parish of Mitford, and thereafter through the parish 

 of Longhorsley to the South bank of the Coquet in the 

 neighbourhood of Weldon Bridge. During the intervening 

 centuries, by gifts to religious houses, alienations by way of 

 marriage- dowries, grants to the burgesses of Morpeth, and 

 sales, the territorial extent of the barony dwindled to a 

 very small area of land lying within a mile or two of the 

 site of the Castle itself. The first authentic mention of it 

 occurs in the statement that Eanulph de Merlay, who 

 succeeded his father William in 1129, received into his 

 stronghold a company of monks from Fountains Abbey, for 

 whom at Newminster he had assigned territory, on which 

 to build a religous house for the redemption of his soul. 

 As a family the de Merlays appear to have occupied the 

 Castle for many consecutive years, and to have discharged 

 their military and other feudal obligations to their sovereigns 

 by accompanying them to their wars on the Continent, or 

 ruling their vassals and serfs according to law and custom. 

 To a member of this noble house, Roger de Merlay, II., 

 Morpeth is indebted for the privilege, granted by King John 

 in 1199, to hold a weekly market, which from that date 

 onward to a very recent period was held continuously in 

 the public thoroughfare. The same Eoger joined the barons 

 who wrung from the King the Great Charter, and in con- 

 sequence inflicted on his dependants the necessity of setting 

 fire to their town on the occasion of John's devastating 

 march Northward in 1216, rather than afford shelter to 

 him and his troops. In this incident may be found the 

 explanation of the record that "he improved the town of 

 Morpeth." He was succeeded by his son, Roger, the last of 

 the family, who left two daughters, the elder of whom married 

 William, Baron Greystock, whereby the Castle passed into 

 new hands. Through the lack of male heirs the inheritance 

 reverted to his aunt, Joan, wife of Lord Grimesthorpe, one 



