Armstrongs of Haltwhistle Northumberland

[robbie414]

Hi,
researching my family’s history I’ve discovered my branch of the Armstrong clan owned a farm in Haltwhistle Northumberland back in 1861, and I wondered if anyone else (perhaps a distant relative) have been looking into the same family? The farm was called Holms in the 1861 census and head of the house was Edward Armstrong.
Would love to hear from anyone looking into Armstrong’s of the same area


Thanks,
Rob

[Michael Dixon]

 Rob,

 I think your man on 1861 census was within the Parish/district of Allendale, not Haltwhistle, where he was born.

 The Parish of Allendale comprised 9 townships ( uniquely called grieveships)
 Park was one of the nine. The farm Holms lay within Park.

Web site www.geographia.org.uk  hold many modern photos of north east.

On search page enter NY8352  ( full co-ords are NY830 520) This produces 48 photos . Several are shots of area around Holms)

On web site communities.northumberland.gov.uk    enter the Allendale community ( there is also a section on Haltwhistle) From left hand menu choose "Plans", then see Armstrongs map ( nice one) of 1769. You should see HOLMS near bottom, just east of the River Allen.

Did edward own the farm, or just rent it ?


Michael Dixon

[robbie414]

Thanks very much for the info Michael. I'd been on the Northumberland Communities web site before but not seen Armstrong's map. I had thought Holm farm was a little further North West. According to Google the farm is still there just South of Scotch Hall. I'm planning a short trip down there for a look around when we get some better weather

I've no idea if he rented the farm or not. I've tried to find land records but not had much success yet.

Thanks again,
Rob

[garstonite]

Hiya Rob....you could check the 1830`s TITHE SURVEY....this was a survey of Land Owners / Tenants to see who owned land.....google tithe survey Northumberland and see if you can find the farm......good luck....allan

[Michael Dixon]

 " To be sold two farms of land in Allendale, one called the Hindlew-wree with good and large mansion house and the other called the Holmes with good housing.

Common right belonging to each farm.

A good spring of oak, ash alder and birch wood.

The Holmes is of yearly value of £24 and has twenty cattle gates upon Rookhope Fell in Weardale.

John Bacon esq of Staward and Mrs Elizabeth Richmond of Crossgate near Durham will treat with purchasers. "

From Newcastle Courant 12 October 1723 and 6 August 1726.
                               --------------------------------


" At the Holmes was an old Quaker burial ground          "
                              ------------------------------------
All the above from the "History of Northumberland" volume IV, part II-~~~~~~~~--------------------------

 The HOLMS shows up nicely on the first Ordnace Survey map ( taken 1864) in the vicinty of Holmes Haugh, Holm Bank, Holms Bank Plantation and Holms Hill
and just west of Synderhope Burnfoot. ( Older Parish record record this place as Cinderhope)



Michael

[robbie414]

HI Michael.
Thanks very much for spending the time looking for that info.
 Does this mean though that John Bacon and Mrs Elizabeth Richmond actually owned the land? I’m not sure what “will treat with purchasers. " means.   

Thanks,
Rob

[robbie414]

Hiya Rob....you could check the 1830`s TITHE SURVEY....this was a survey of Land Owners / Tenants to see who owned land.....google tithe survey Northumberland and see if you can find the farm......good luck....allan

Thanks Allan.
I'll try to find some searchable indexes n' see what i can come up with.

Cheers
Rob

[WolfieSmith]

An adjacent farm to Holmes was High Studdon. In 1851 and 1861 while the Amstrongs were at Holmes farm, the occupants of High Studdon were the Hall family, including a JW Hall aged 9 then 19.

This is link to some extracts from JW Halls memoirs. 

http://www.btinternet.com/~denison/cinema/hall.htm

"I will describe a day, going to school at Planting End.   We had to be at school by 9 o’clock.   Next to High Studdon was the Holmes farm, the house was near to the Waterside close to the Holmes Lynn, a semi-circular waterfall which was a fine sight in flood.   There are 30 to 40 acres of meadow land by the Waterside and on rising ground were 30 acres of pine woods joining the road the whole length of the dale;  and across the road very hilly pasture land about 400 acres,   The farmer kept a number of black polled cattle and with these cattle was regularly kept a black bull, who took strict charge of the herd, anyone appearing in sight could be at once followed by terrible roars and often a gallop.   I had to cross each morning this field ¼ mile across from wall to wall, if I could get half way across before I was seen I would run with all speed and climb the wall before the bull could gallop up; if not, then I had to make a long detour and get into the old high road and so back to the footpath. The return journey was also to be considered."   

Alan.

[WolfieSmith]

Reading it a bit more, it looks like JW Halls father Isaac Hall, down as Farmer and Landed Proprietor in 1851 and 1861, owned and let out most of the surrounding farms and properties, including Holmes.

"When my grandfather bought High Studdon the property included the Throstle Farm so that it extended from the Allen to the fell.   My father bought the Holmes Lot of Mr. Lowe also the Far Lot of someone else.   He let off the Throstle to John Graham.... My father also let a portion of the property, with house attached, to John Grieve, his brother-in-law."

Alan.