Description

Bothal, a village a township, and a parish in Northumberland. The village is pleasantly situated on the Wansbeck river, near the N.E.R., 3 miles E of Morpeth. It has a post office under Morpeth, which is the telegraph office; money order office, Ashington. Area of Bothal Demesne township, 3174 acres of land and 33 of water; population, 5426 ; of the ecclesiastical parish, 2316. The parish includes the townships of Oldmoor, Pegswood, Sheepwash, Bothal Demesne, and Morpeth. The manor belonged in the time of Henry II. to the Bertrams, passed by marriage first to the Ogles, then to the Cavendishes, and belongs now to the Duke of Portland. Remains of a castle of the Bertrams, and of an ancient chapel of the Virgin, still exist. Coal is worked in the neighbourhood. The living of Bothal, with Hebburn, is a rectory in the diocese of Newcastle-on-Tyne; gross value, £1218. Patron, the Duke of Portland. The church, which is a fine one, contains tombs of the Ogles.