Ford, Northumberland

Description
Ford, a village, a township, and a parish in Northumberland. The village stands on the river Till, 6 1/2 miles ESE of Cornhill railway station, and 7 1/4 NNW of Wooler; was once a market-town, consists of neat modern cottages in one irregular street, and commands a fine view along the valley of the Till. It has a post office under Cornhill (R.S.O.); money order and telegraph office, Crookham. The parish comprises Berryhill, Crookham, Etal, Kimmerston and New Etal. Acreage, 11,727, including 106 of water; population, 1435. The manor belonged anciently to the Fords, passed to the Herons, the Blakes, and the Delavals, and belongs now to the Marquis of Waterford. Ford Castle stands on the west side of the village, was built in 1287 by Sir William Heron, rebuilt in 1764 by Lord Delaval, and restored in 1861-63 by the late Marchioness of Waterford. It retains two towers of the original edifice, was a place of strength and a scene of conflict in the Border warfare, and was taken by James IV. of Scotland before the battle of Flodden. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Newcastle; net yearly value, £93,') with residence. Patron, the Marquis of Waterford. The church is ancient, was restored in 1852, and the tower thoroughly repaired in 1884, and has several memorial windows and a fine reredos erected to the memory of the late Lady Waterford, who died in 1891, and was buried in Ford churchyard. There is a reading-room and a lending library.