Acomb, Northumberland
| Acomb | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Acomb rooftops | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NY931664 |
| Location: | 54°59’31"N, 2°6’32"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,184 (2001) |
| Post town: | Hexham |
| Postcode: | NE46 |
| Dialling code: | 01434 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Northumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hexham |
Acomb is a village in the south of Northumberland, to the north of Hexham, not far from the junction of the A69 road and A6079 road.
The name of the village is form the Old English acum, 'at the oak trees'.
History
Some Bronze Age cists have been discovered in this vicinity.[1] Hadrian's Wall runs to the north Acomb, and a mile to the northeast of the village is the site of Chesters Roman wall fort.
In this area there was much mining and quarrying. The coal mine at Acomb in 1886 employed 200 workers and 51,000 tons of coal a year were raised. It was good coking coal and 41 coke ovens were in use. At Fallowfield then still working was another lead mine, where the Romans had mined and quarried. In 1886 the mine employed 120 men, mining lead and barites.[2]
Parish church
The pleasing parish church, St John Lee, stands on the hillside amid the trees. It is dedicated to St John of Beverley, a local hermit and supposedly worker of miracles. There was a mediæval church, but it was rebuilt in 1818 by Dobson and in 1885 enlarged by Hicks, so that it has a tower with spire — a landmark that can be seen from Warden, Hexham and all around.
In 1765 at St John Lee Church a most remarkable wedding was celebrated. The bridegroom was Robert Scott, a well-known Northumbrian piper. He was 90 years old and for 26 years he had moved about on crutches. His bride, Jean Middlemas, was only 25 years old and might be regarded as destined to be a nurse to an antique husband. But on his wedding day, he threw his crutches away and walked from the village of Wall, where he lived, to the church. He walked back again among a group of fellow pipers. At the conclusion of the wedding, they were regaled with cakes and ale.[2]
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Acomb, Northumberland) |
References
- ↑ http://www.keystothepast.info/Pages/pgDetail.aspx?PRN=N12976
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rowland, T. H. (1994). Waters of Tyne (Reprint ed.). Warkworth, Northumberland, England: Sandhill Press Ltd. ISBN 0-946098-36-0.