Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for MATFEN

MATFEN, a village, two townships, and a chapelry, in Stamfordham parish, Northumberland. The village stands 1 mile N of the Roman wall, 5½ NE by N of Corbridge r. station, and 7½ NE of Hexham; and has a postoffice under Newcastle-on-Tyne, and an inn. The townships are East M. and West M. Acres, 2,067 and 1,905. Pop., 147 and 345. Houses, 28 and 72. The manor belonged to the Feltons; passed to the Lawsons, the Fenwicks, and the Douglasses; went, by marriage, in the last century, to the Blacketts; and, with Matfen Hall, belongs now to Sir Edward Blackett, Bart. The Hall was built in 1832-5; is a very imposing edifice, in the Gothic style; has a grand entrance-hall, rising to the entire height of the edifice, and surrounded by open arcaded galleries; contains some valuable pictures, and so me curious relics; and stands in a very fine park. Fine ancient carved stone pillars are at the Wodge, and were brought from Halton Castle. An ancient standingstone, probably Druidical, is on a green before a house called the Standing Stone Farm. Kistvaens were found in a barrow near that house. Matfen Piers is a meet for the Tindale hounds.—The chapelry is larger than the two townships, and was constituted in 1846. Pop., 751. Houses, 150. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham. Value, £150.* Patron, Sir E. Blackett, Bart. The church was rebuilt in 1862; and is a hand some edifice, with a lofty tower.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a village, two townships, and a chapelry"   (ADL Feature Type: "populated places")
Administrative units: Stamfordham CP       Northumberland AncC
Place: Matfen

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