Bolam, Northumberland

Description
Bolam, a township and a parish in Northumberland. The township lies between the rivers Blyth and Wansbeck, near the Devil's causeway, a branch of Watheng Street, on the Morpeth and Hexham railway, near Angerton station, and 8 miles WSW of Morpeth. Acreage of township, 1119; population, 98; population of civil and ecclesiastical parish, 585. The parish includes also the townships of Bolam Vicarage, Trewick, Gallow Hill, Shortflatt, Harnham, Bradford, and Belsay, the last of which has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Newcastle-on-Tyne. Bolam Manor belonged anciently to the De Bolams, passed to the Horsleys, and went from them to Lord Decies, who is lord of the manor. Harnham Manor belonged in the time of Charles II. to Colonel Philip Babbington, governor of Berwick. Belsay Hall is the seat of the Middletons, and the ruins of the interesting ancient castle are still to be seen in the park surrounding it. A stone coffin was found in a tumulus on Bolam Moor. Coal and limestone occur. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Newcastle; net value, £215. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church is ancient, in good condition, and contains the effigy of a Knight Templar, supposed to be Sir Walter de Bolam, and a tomb of the Middletons.