Place:Kilham, Northumberland, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

Kilham is a hamlet and civil parish in the English county of Northumberland, located 8.0 miles (12.9 km) west of Wooler, 12.0 miles (19.3 km) east of Kelso, 17.0 miles (27.4 km) southwest of Berwick upon Tweed and 38.9 miles (62.6 km) northwest of Morpeth. The hamlet, which consists of a small group of agricultural dwellings, is overlooked by Kilham Hill and the northern limits of the Cheviot Hills. The parish had a population of 131 in the 2001 UK census, and included the hamlets of Howtel and Pawston, along with the former upland township of Coldsmouth and Thompsons Walls. The population fell to less than 100 at the 2011 UK census. Because it is such a small place, details are now included in the parish of Branxton.

Situated on the border with Scotland, Kilham had a turbulent history. It suffered from repeated Scottish incursions, and was often destroyed and laid waste. The situation was considered serious enough for a report to be made to the Privy Council of England, about a raid in 1597 which had resulted in the death of several villagers. In later, more peaceful times, the area developed into an agricultural backwater, which was gradually opened up by the construction of roads and railways.

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Kilham. This is a very good article on the social history of the community.

A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Kilham from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:

"KILHAM, a township in Kirk-Newton parish, Northumberland; 7½ miles N W by W of Wooler. It includes the hamlet of Thornington. Acres: 2,855. Population: 209. Houses: 39. The manor belongs to the Earl of Tankerville. The Kilham hills here are an offshoot of the Cheviots, bordering on Scotland.

Kilham was a township in the ancient parish of Kirknewton and became a separate civil parish in 1866. From 1894 until 1974 the parish was part of Glendale Rural District. In 1955 it was enlarged by the abolition of the parishes of Howtel and Paston, and the former upland township of Coldsmouth and Thompsons Walls. In 1974 rural districts were abolished and Kilham became part of the Berwick upon Tweed District until 2009 when Northumberland became a unitary authority.

Research Tips

• Northumberland Archives previously known as Northumberland Collections Service and Northumberland County Record Office. Now based within Woodhorn Museum in Ashington and providing free access to numerous records for local and family historians alike.

Full postal address: Museum and Northumberland Archives, Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9YF; Phone: 01670 624455

There is a branch office in Berwick upon Tweed.

• Northumberland and Durham FHS covers both Northumberland and County Durham. The Family History Society have a research centre in Percy House in central Newcastle upon Tyne (full address on website), open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Browse the website to see what else the society can provide.
• Further information from GENUKI
• Ordnance Survey map of Northumberland 1832 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time. This map includes the boundaries of the various Wards (or "hundreds") in existence at that time.
• Ordnance Survey map of Northumberland 1900 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• Ordnance Survey map of Northumberland 1944 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• English Jurisdictions 1851, a parish finding aid provided by FamilySearch, particularly helpful in large towns and cities.
• Unfortunately, there is no Victoria County History for Northumberland.