Black Cleugh, Carrshield, West Allendale
There are two possible locations for Black Cleugh on the modern map - Black Cleugh Farm at NY798484 and Blackcleugh, one field away to the north west at NY796485. However the 1861 and 1865 maps shows another set of buildings, probably the original farm, named Blackcleugh actually on the Black Cleugh stream at NY 799481. On the 1865 map the farm now called Black Cleugh Farm was called Pry Nook. The 1841 census lists Far Black Cleugh and High Black Cleugh and 2 uninhabited dwellings (but not Pry Nook) All three dwellings may have been inhabited at the end of the eighteenth and during the nineteenth century providing accommodation for workers in the mines at Wellhope, Barney Craig and Coalcleugh although only the current location of Black Cleugh Farm is shown as a building on the 1793 inclosure map.
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1865 6" to 1 mile map (Click map for better image) |
The modern Black Cleugh Farm from the west. |
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The ruins of old Blackcleugh |
Steps leading to Blackcleugh from the the West Allen opposite Whitley Shield |
In 1770 John Armstrong inherited Blackcleugh from his father Robert. In turn it passed to John's son Robert in 1779 3. In 1811 Robert Armstrong and William Whitfield paid tithes for Blackclough.
John and Sarah Swindle moved to Blackcleugh from East Allendale after the birth of John in 1767. Peter was born to John and Sarah at Blackcleugh in 1769 but they then moved to Farneyshield, half a kilometer to the north-west, until at least 1775, but had returned by 1787 when Elizabeth married. John died in 1790 followed by his son Thomas in 1791.
John's youngest brother George Swindle married from Black Cleugh in 1776 but went to live in East Allendale.
John's son Peter and and his wife Nancy were living at Blackcleugh by 1794 when their daughter Nancy was born, followed by John, Malley and Sarah (1799). Peter and Nancy then moved to Nenthead by 1802.
John's son Christopher was living at Black Cleugh when his son Christopher was baptised in 1806. It appears that this grandson Christopher brought his wife back to Black Cleugh for the birth of their first two children before moving to Whiteley Shield and then Limestone Brae.
In 1830 Margaret Whitfield (who was born at Blackcleugh) married George Swindle from Limestone Brae
John's brother Peter Swindal died at Black Cleugh in 1829 followed by his wife Susannah in 1831. Their daughter Jane died there in 1840 and their son Christopher died at Black Cleugh in 1843.
Their daughter Susannah had her (illegitimate) daughter Rachael at Farneyside in 1822 but returned to live at Black Cleugh until her death in 1849 but by 1851 the only Swindle left at Black Cleugh was Rachael. (At that time there were six other households at Black Cleugh.) Rachel had an illegitimate son, John, at Black Cleugh in 1851 and a daughter Susanna in 1855 before having to go to the workhouse in Hexham ending five generations and nearly a century of Swindles living at Black Cleugh.
Further notes
1 1760 "Surrender by Edward Charlton of Reedsmouth and Thomas and Isabella Boutflower of Apperley, of property entitled Black-cleugh in West Allendale" A2A Northumberland Quarter Sessions QRD/3, p96 1760
2 1770 17 Feb Robt Armstrong of BlackClough cap Ninebank to John A his son & Executor (?Raine's Test Ebor Administrations and Probates Vol V 1727-1772)
3 Private communication from Fred Proud