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Old 03-01-2018, 09:05 PM
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Coquet Coquet is offline
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We did mention some of this 2013:

http://www.coquetandcoast.co.uk/ambl...th+town&page=3


On the subject of the Warkworth fishing village, the survey in 1567 is very interesting.

As far I can interpret it, the village or settlement at the river mouth, east of the site of the 'New Town' was eventually abandoned due to meanderings and flooding of the river. Most of the occupants were fisherman and sailors. Occupation of the New Town was itself abandoned pre 1567, and the Duke allowed the land at the bottom of the hill on the North side of the castle to be occupied (around the church?)

In the last part the writer is pointing out how well the defensive situation of Warkworth could be, especially if a wall was constructed to the south between the loops of the river. He appears to mention a Kiln House on his wall site which assume actually existed in 1567???


A survey made about the year 1567 possesses, besides its intrinsic value, a special interest in the side-lights cast upon the district and it inhabitants. The violence of the Coquet in flood time, and its changing course, the old haven at the foot of the New-town, and the traditional settlement of the latter with fishermen, are noticed, as is the export trade of coal and grindstones. In the town the old tolbooth lay waste ; there had been a moot-hall, but even its site was forgotten, and for want of a more suitable place the manorial courts were customarily held within the parish church, though it was inconvenient for such a purpose ; the bridge masters (custodes pontis) still survived and possessed a freehold burgage as an endowment.

"At the first situation of the said borowghe, before the same was inhabited, yt was thought that in all the lordship of Warkworth there was not one so mete a place to be founde like the scyte of a borowghe as it is wher nowe the same is situate and builded for divers considerations, first beyng situate upon the said ryver Cockett wherein the sea hath course to ebbe and flowe, and also not farre from the haven or water mowthe, which at that tyme ranne forthe at on parcell of grounde nowe called th' old haven to the sea, and not farre from the iland Cockett, which was not onely one greate streinght for the haven diverse wayes but also betwext the said iland and the land, shippes, crayers or boates might and yet may well have place called a rode-stead to rydde in by auncre in saveftye unto such tyme the tyde did serve to goo into the said haven or abyde the wynde to serve them in the vyadge, in fishinge or else where, and for that at that tyme, as nowe, were also requisite was thought good for diverse causes those persons which sholde trade ther traffique by sea as maryners or fishermen (owners of shippes and merchaunts onely excepted) sholde inhabyte and dwell together, evene so was sett forthe one parcell of grounde for theme to inhabit upon, as this daye called the Newe-towne, and nowe, althoughe not inhabited, the grounde or rigge therof is nowe used and occupyed by the burgesses of Warkeworth (althoughe at the lord's will as herafter appeareth yet) in like sorte as they occupye their burrowe garthes, parcell of ther said browghe, and burgages, and as the same parte of that browghe which is betwixt the castell and the bridg was appoynted for th' inhabytinge of such as was merchaunts and other handye-crafts-mene, as well for the utteringe and sale of ther wares, as also for lodging of such persons as had or shold have occasion to resort they, even so suche as sholde occupye and trade the seas, dwellinge at the sayd place called Tenter-hewghe and the New-towne, sholde alwayes be nere the haven, and see ther ships and . . . . .. . . . [line missing]. . . . . . . . . Within this lordship, verie nighe the said castell and browghe, is diverse things to be had for the comodety of suche persons as used ther traffique or trade of gettinge ther livinge by sea, as coale mynes, grynde-stone quarells, with diverse others which neadeth not here to be resyted, besyde suche thinges as by th' industrye of persons which bathe knowledge therm might be had, and as the premyss did gyve unto suche as wer of gret wysedom at the begynnynge to plante ther borowes in such apte and mete places as this borowghe of Warkworth is sett and planted in. Evene so as yt ys all togethers as well to the lord's comodetye of that lordship, the welth of the inhabiters ther, the profite and comforts of th' inhabitors of the whole countrye, likewise we, consideringe our duety to God and neighbor, may be ashamed-not to go thorowe and accomplishe those things founde owte for our welth by suche as before us hath bene, but rather abolyshinge and neglectinge the same we permytt and suffer ourselves throughe idlenes to be noiated N and called th' abject of this lande and continually livinge in penury and distress.
The said borowghe of Warkworth is strongely situate in ane angle as befor. If the course of the sayd water of Cockett wer at the west syde of the sayd borowghe stayed, as yt easily may be, so that the grounde of the burgage ther nor of any place adjoininge to the same would not by vyolence of the sayd water be worne awaye, in likwyse the water having the course to the west syde yt sholde growe so deph, there shold be no passage ther, nor lykwyse one no parte of the back syde of the sayd borowghe yf the passage at the bridgesend were stopped, and also at Helsaye forde, and one stone walle and on good payre of gates in the same for the passadge from the . . . [illegible]. . . .towardes the sowth the sayd walle to be mad from the kilne howse to the castell moyte then sholde the tow" . . . [illegible]. . . .
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