The Physical Aspect of Northumberland in the 16th century

The following extract is taken from the 1897 book by W.W.Tomlinson entitled Life in Northumberland During the Sixteenth Century.

" A large portion of the county, especially in the central and western parts, consisted of waste ground, which is described as 'very cold, hard, and barren for the winter' (1569). The lower grounds were in several places mere bogs and swamps. Till 1857 there were 1,100 acres of marshy ground, covered in places with large pools of water, within seven miles of Newcastle. This spot - known as Prestwick Car [sic] - has been drained, and is now for the most part under cultivation. Middleton Bog, Embleton Bog, and Newham Bog have also ceased to exist within recent times. Sheldon Lough, near Corbridge, at the present day is but a name, and Grindon Lough, near Housesteads, has shrunk under the process of draining to a mere pool.

" Previous to the sixteenth century the country had been denuded very largely of its woods. Leland, the Royal Antiquary of Henry VIII, who was in Northumberland in 1538 or soon after, wrote as follows:-

In Northumberland, as I heare say, be no Forests exept Chivet Hills, where is much Brushe wood, and sum Okke. Ground over growne with Linge [?] and some with mosse. There is greate Plenty of redd Dere and Roo Bukkes ... The great wood of Cheviot, he adds, is spoyled now and crokyd old trees and scrubs remayne.

" The explanation of the disappearance of this famous wood is given by Bowes and Ellerker in their Report of 1541:

The Scottes, as well by night tyme secretly, as upon the dai tyme with a more force, do come into the said forest of Chevyott div'se tymes and steale and carrye awaie muche of the said woode, whiche ys to them a greatte proffyte for the maynte'unce of their houses and buyldinge, and a small redresse thereof can be hadd by the lawes and customes of the M'ches, wherefore we thinke yt expedient that some greatter correcc'on and punyshemente were devysed for suche as steale and take awaie the said woode.

" Sir Robert Carey, also, in a letter to Burghley, dated August 4, 1598, makes allusion to this timber-stealing which went on along the Borders: Besides their hunting, their custom is to bring in 100 men at these times, to cut and carry away wood, and they have thus clean wasted 'one of the goodlyest woodes' in the middle March.

" Leland further tells us that there was very little wood between Newcastle and Tynemouth, Newcastle and Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick. Almost none in Bamburghshire and Redesdale and along the Tweed. Between the two branches of the Tyne there was the 'Forest of Lowes', which Belted Will is said to have afterwards cut down as it harboured freebooters, and between Morpeth and Alnwick there might be seen 'good Plenty of wood in certayne Places and many Parks'. Between Newcastle and Hexham, there were woods at Benwell and Wylam, from which timber was procured for Berwick Bridge in Henry the Eighth's time, and at Bywell.

" In a survey taken in 1569 it is stated that to the Barony of Bywell belongeth a fforest of red deer well replenished with game, 6 miles E. by W. and 5 N. by S. And the ffarmes and Tenants in the said Baronies (Bywell and Bulbeck) are well planted with coppice wood for the preservation of the red deer, and in the wastes also are divers woods.

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