Hesleyhurst

Hesleyhurst is a sparsely populated hamlet.[3] During the British Iron Age, there was a hillfort in the area but it had gone out of use after the Romans had invaded.[4] Due to constant raids from border reivers in the 13th century, defensive bastle farmhouses were constructed to defend the local population.[4] The modern hamlet is based around Embleton Terrace, which was constructed in 1926 to house lead miners at the nearby Lee Lead Pit, which had been abandoned a year prior due to flooding. The lease to the land was sold in 1929 with “TGR with 30 cotts and bldgs erctd thron” (30 cottages and building erected thereon) for £1,500 to colliery owner Charles Nelson who then sold it for £2,300 to John Snaith.[5]

Hesleyhurst was originally within Rothbury parish in the 19th century but eventually split to become its own independent parish.[6] Though Hesleyhurst is its own parish, it is governed by a joint parish council with neighbouring Brinkburn. Together they run the council which meets four times a year, with five members elected by Brinkburn residents and two elected by Hesleyhurst residents.[2] It is also within the jurisdiction of Northumberland County Council after Alnwick District council was dissolved.[6]

• Media related to Hesleyhurst at Wikimedia Commons