Whitfield, Northumberland

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Whitfield
Northumberland
Location
Grid reference: NY775585
Location: 54°55’12"N, 2°20’56"W
Data
Post town: Hexham
Postcode: NE47
Dialling code: 01434
Local Government
Council: Northumberland
Parliamentary
constituency:
Hexham

Whitfield is a village in southern Northumberland, about ten miles southwest of Hexham. It has a farming community and is set against beautiful scenic Pennine background such that ithas been called a 'Little Switzerland'.

The village sits beside the River West Allen which joins with the River East Allen less than a mile away to form the River Allen. The village is serviced with a village shop, pub, school and two churches.

Landmarks

Whitfield Hall is the home of the Blackett-Ord family. The Manor of Whitfield was granted, in the 12th century, by William King of Scotland to the Whitfield family, who retained it until 1750 when it was sold to William Ord of Fenham. When a later William Ord died in 1855, the estate fell to his son's widow and then to her heir, her niece, who married Rev John Blackett, a son of Christopher Blackett of Wylam. As a condition of the marriage and inheritance he changed his name to Blackett-Ord.

Parish church

interior of Whitfield's church

Holy Trinitiy is the parish church of today, which replaced the mediaeval parish church, St John's, rebuilt by William Ord in 1785. Holy Trinity was dedicated in 1860 and was the gift of the Rev'd and Mrs. J. A. Blackett-Ord in memory of William Ord Esq. from whom Mrs. Blackett-Ord had inherited the whole estate. Many of the stones from St. John's were used in the building of Holy Trinity. The registers start in 1612 and the list of Rectors in 1180 with Robert de Quitfield which confirms the existence of a church at that time.[1]

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Whitfield, Northumberland)

References

  1. A guide to the Anglican churches in Newcastle and Northumberland. Newcastle Diocesan Bishop's Editorial Committee. 1982.