Northumberland Yesterday and To-dayTerry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
History
Northumberland Yesterday and To-day
Terry, Jean F. (Jean Finlay)
Northumberland (England) -- Guidebooks; Northumberland (England) -- History
This brings our thoughts to days comparatively modern, for when
Admiral Collingwood was raised to the peerage of Great Britain, it
was by the title of “Baron Collingwood of Caldburn and Hethpoole,
in the county of Northumberland.” The brave Admiral was fond of
planting an oak tree whenever he found an opportunity, to secure
the continuance of those wooden walls which in his hands, and in
those of his life-long friend, Nelson, had proved such a sure
defence to his country. In a letter dated March, 1806, he wrote to
his wife, “I wish some parts of Hethpoole could be selected for
plantations of larch, oak, and beech, where the ground could best
be spared. Even the sides of a bleak hill would grow larch and
fir.” In another letter some months later he told her what
“agreeable news” it was to hear that she was taking care of his
oaks, and planting some at Hethpoole; and saying that if he ever
returned he would plant a good deal there; adding, however, that he
feared before that could take place both he and Lady Collingwood
might themselves be planted in the churchyard beneath some old yew
tree.
Hethpoole presents us with a link not only with history, but with
romance as well. An ivied ruin near at hand, with walls of enormous
strength, is said to be the remains of the castle where the final
tragedy in “The Hermit of Warkworth” took place. Here, it is said,
the distracted lover came upon his lady and his brother, who had at
that moment effected her escape, and not recognising the youth,
rushed upon the pair with drawn sword, only to discover too late
his terrible mistake, and lose both brother and bride—for the lady
received a mortal wound in trying to save her rescuer.
Turning our eyes now northward across the Glen from Yeavering Bell,
we are looking towards Coupland Castle, and the fact that it was
built so late as the reign of James I. bears eloquent testimony to
the insecurity of life and property on the Borders even at that
period. The barony either gave its name to, or took its name from,
a well-known Northumbrian family, of which one of the most
prominent members was that Sir John de Coupland who succeeded in
capturing David of Scotland at the battle of Neville’s Cross—not,
however, before he had lost some of his teeth by a blow from the
mailed fist of that doughty monarch!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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