Possible deserted medieval village, chapel and stone cross at East Lilburn (Tillside)
(Area centred NU 03482248). (2)(3)
The existence of a chapel at East Lilburn is known only by the statement in 1577-87, that it was one of the chapels which had no incumbent and was served by a stipendary priest, and by its appearance on Blaeu's map (c.1648). It seems to have been deserted before 1650 although it is shown on Blaeus's map as complete with a conventional steeple.
Chapel in ruins (2) Fair Cross (3) (Symbols on maps and occur in the same position. Accurate siting not possible owing to small scale).
In East Lilburn, on the east side of the main road, there was formerly a heap of stones known as the Devil's Apronfull. These stones were removed in 1768, when the base of a medieval cross was found under them (1). (Symbol shown on map (1a) is that of a village and a church as stated. (1)(2)(3)(6a)
There is no local knowledge of this chapel and/or village, and no surface indication of their sites. The 'Devil's Apronfull' is not known of by name, and enquiries revealed no knowledge of the find of the alleged old cross base. The classification of 'cross base' is queried, for this area abounds with early 'creeing' troughs - used for barley pounding - which are very similar in appearance to cross bases, and, in other cases, have been assigned incorrect descriptions. The present location of this find was not discovered. (4)
NU 043236 East Lilburn was a dependent vill of Bewick manor and granted to Tynemouth Priory in c.1105. 1295 survey recorded 15 bondmen holding 450 acres of land. 1296 Lay Subsidy Roll lists four taxpayers. At the Dissolution in 1538/9 there were 13 tenants at will in East Lilburn. Armstrong's map of 1769 shows a hamlet and in 1825 Mackenzie described the settlement as one farmhold and 12 cottages. (5)
The existence of a chapel at East Lilburn is known only by the statement in 1577-87, that it was one of the chapels which had no incumbent and was served by a stipendary priest, and by its appearance on Blaeu's map (c.1648). It seems to have been deserted before 1650 although it is shown on Blaeus's map as complete with a conventional steeple.
Chapel in ruins (2) Fair Cross (3) (Symbols on maps and occur in the same position. Accurate siting not possible owing to small scale).
In East Lilburn, on the east side of the main road, there was formerly a heap of stones known as the Devil's Apronfull. These stones were removed in 1768, when the base of a medieval cross was found under them (1). (Symbol shown on map (1a) is that of a village and a church as stated. (1)(2)(3)(6a)
There is no local knowledge of this chapel and/or village, and no surface indication of their sites. The 'Devil's Apronfull' is not known of by name, and enquiries revealed no knowledge of the find of the alleged old cross base. The classification of 'cross base' is queried, for this area abounds with early 'creeing' troughs - used for barley pounding - which are very similar in appearance to cross bases, and, in other cases, have been assigned incorrect descriptions. The present location of this find was not discovered. (4)
NU 043236 East Lilburn was a dependent vill of Bewick manor and granted to Tynemouth Priory in c.1105. 1295 survey recorded 15 bondmen holding 450 acres of land. 1296 Lay Subsidy Roll lists four taxpayers. At the Dissolution in 1538/9 there were 13 tenants at will in East Lilburn. Armstrong's map of 1769 shows a hamlet and in 1825 Mackenzie described the settlement as one farmhold and 12 cottages. (5)
N3503
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1955; A S Phillips
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