Harbottle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Harbottle | |
  Harbottle shown within Northumberland |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| District | Alnwick |
| Shire county | Northumberland |
| Region | North East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MORPETH |
| Postcode district | NE65 |
| Dialling code | 01669 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Northumberland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| European Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | Berwick-upon-Tweed |
| List of places: UK • England • Northumberland | |
| River Coquet Settlements |
|---|
Harbottle is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England. Harbottle is 15 km south-east of the Scottish border, nestled among the Cheviot Hills and inside Northumberland National Park. The village is the site of Harbottle Castle built by order of Henry II. Now in ruins, the castle was constructed by the Umfraville family to protect against invaders from Scotland. Another ancient landmark in Harbottle is the Drake Stone, a massive sandstone boulder believed in times past to be endowed with supernatural powers.
The National Gazetteer (1868) comments as follows.
HARBOTTLE, a township in the parish of Alwinton, W. division of Coquetdale ward, county Northumberland, 8 miles W. of Rothbury, and 24 W. of Morpeth, situated on the river Coquet. Here was anciently a strong castle, the seat of the lords of the marshes. It was built anterior to 1075, and was twice taken by the Scots, in 1173 and 1314, after the battle of Bannockburn. Queen Margaret retired here in 1518, on her marriage with Lennox. The English Presbyterian church is a stone structure, and was rebuilt in 1854. There are parochial and Sunday schools. The former has an endowment of £16 per annum, for the education of 12 children. At the E. end of the village on the banks of the river Coquet, is Harbottle Castle, the seat of Percival Fenwick Clennell, Esq. A cattle fair is held on the 19th September.
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[edit] Surname
The "Harbottle" surname refers to the occupation of the Harbottles during the Middle Ages (Dark Ages). It means "House of the Hirelings" which means they were hired to fight battles and wars for kings, queens and other such people.
[edit] Sources
- The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868). London: Virtue & Co.
