Blanchland, Northumberland

Description
Blanchland, a village a township, and an ecclesiastical parish in Northumberland. The village stands in a deep, narrow green vale, flanked by heathy hills, on the N side of the Derwent river, 7 miles from Rowley station on the N.E.R. Riding Mill, 10 miles distant, is, however, the station most used. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Riding Mill (R.S. O.) The township, united with Newbiggen, together form Shotley High Quarter. The ecclesiastical parish consists of the S portion of Newbiggen, and the part of Hexhamshire S of Devil's Water. Area, 7411 acres of land and 39 of water; population of the township, 276; of the ecclesiastical parish, 288. A Premonstratensian convent was founded here in 1165 by Walter de Bolbeck; raised to the rank of a mitred abbey in the time of Edward I.; given at the dissolution to John Bellow and John Broxholm, passed by purchase to Bishop Crewe, and was bequeathed, by him, along with other estates, for charitable purposes. Some of the scenes of Besant's historical novel "Dorothy Forster" are laid here. Much of the surface is moor and morass. The living is a titular vicarage in the diocese of Newcastle ; gross value, £319 with residence. The church has been properly restored; the conventual buildings have been turned to secular uses, such original parts of them as. remain are merged in the modern superstructures.