Last Updated: Thursday 13th July, 2000

A HEXHAM DATE-LINE

(More significant dates are given one or two asterisks.)

c71-98 Roman invasion and occupation of Tynedale. Death of the standard-bearer Flavinus
c634* Oswald, exiled prince, rallied his army at ‘Heavenfield’ and defeated the Welsh Cadwallon at ‘Denisesburn’ (Rowley Burn). He became King of Northumbria, and a saint. Perhaps his brother Oswiu became ‘Hagustald’
c671** Queen Æthelthryth granted Bishop Wilfrid the Hagustald’s Land (Hagustaldes ei) to found a church.
678* The Hagustaldian Church (Ecclesia Hagustaldensis)became the cathedral of northern Northumbria, seat of a bishop and centre of Christian conversion.
c709-732 Acca as bishop completed and beautified the Church, making it a centre of faith, art and music.
c821*: The bishopric came to an end. The Hagustaldian Church was in decline.
c820-918* Civil conflict and Viking attackers disrupted Northumbria, at a time when little was recorded. The Hexham hoard of 8,000 bronze stycas in a bucket was buried (c855)
c883 Land between the Tyne and Wear, probably including Hexham, was granted by King Guthred (or Guthfrith) to the Community of St Cuthbert.
c995-c1070 Bishops of Durham, who headed the Community, appointed provosts (or thegns) and hereditary priests to administer the Hagustaldian Church. The settlement by now had a separate name, Hagustaldesham
c1035-55 Alfred Westou as priest revived memories and found relics of the early bishop-saints.
1070 The Norman army passed through Hexham on its ravaging of the North.
c1071* Thegn Uhtred transferred the administration of Hexhamshire to the Archbishop of York.
c1079* Malcolm III’s Scottish army threatened Hexham, which was saved by the prayers of Eilaf the elder and the flood and mist generously supplied by Saints Wilfrid and Cuthbert.
c1083* The priest Eilaf the elder placed his Hagustaldian Church under the Archbishop of York.
c1110-67 Aelred of Rievaulx, grandson of Eilaf, became Cistercian abbot, author, diplomat, saint.
1113** Archbishop Thomas II of York sent the first Augustinian canons to revive and rebuild the church at Hexham, and endowed the new priory with lands and properties.
c1115 Edric the canon revealed curative properties of the bishops’ bones buried near the church, and they were recognized as saints
1138 King David I’s invasion. He respected Hexham rights and gave generously to the priory
c1141 Richard of Hexham became prior and wrote his history of the Church and its saints.
c1150-1200* The settlements of Cockshaw, Priestpopple and Hencotes, with properties in the Market Place, became known as ‘Hextildesham’. The name was derived from the priory benefactress, Hextilda, Saxon/Scots heiress of Tynedale.
c1150 Priory wall and gatehouse (‘St Wilfrid’s Gate’) built
1154-5 The Translation of saints’ relics into the canons’ new church, which made Hexham a centre for pilgrims.
c1180* The Building of an extended Priory church (the present chancel) was begun in Early English style.
1201 King John stayed at the priory while investigating Roman remains at Corbridge. There were more visits later.
1239 Henry III granted the Archbishop a fair at Hexham, which was then at its peak as a market centre.
1256 The Bailiff asserted the rights of the Regality, denying access to royal coroners or sheriffs.
1263 The Abbot of Holme Cultram claimed free passage of the bridge at Hexham
1273 Royal justices enquired into maladministration by Bailiff Roger de Saxton.
1294 Archbishop Romanus (Romeyn), visiting Hexham, appointed Thomas de Wervilton master of the school.
1296** Scots Wars began. Attack by Scottish army, descending Redesdale and North Tynedale. They burned the priory and school buildings, with (it was claimed) 200 scholars shut inside. Flight of most canons to Yorkshire.
1297* William Wallace’s raid. He made the priory his HQ and granted an ineffectual safe- conduct to the canons.
1298* Edward I’s Inspeximus listed and confirmed the canons’ land-holdings.
1307 The Archbishop ordered the bridge to be rebuilt, though apparently it never was.
1311 A dispute between the canons and the Archbishop over his appointment of Gilbert of Boroughbridge as prior reached its climax in their excommunication.
1311-21 Robert Bruce and his Scots army several times ravaged Hexham, usually came to terms with the canons.
1312 Truce concluded at Hexham between ‘King’ Robert and ‘the people of the community of Durham
1315-18* Devastation in the Shire; no rents paid and much unrest
1319 Cattle plague further devastated the tenantry, mass desertion of the land.
1330-1332** Archbishop ordered the building and equipment of the Gaol.
1346 David II’s army occupied Hexham as a base on its way to disaster at Neville’s Cross.
1355* The Gatehouse tower reported as ruinous.
c1370* Black Book survey of priory lands (dated 1479) refers to priory holdings of about this time, pictures town and estates in decline.
1378 St Giles’ Hospital reported as ruinous
c1379* Gatehouse (Moot Hall) built.
1397 An Archbishop’s visitation condemned scandal and misbehaviour at the priory.
1408 The Prior tried to make a separate peace with the Scots and the rebellious Earl of Northumberland
1414, 1422 Parliament tried to curtail liberties and lawlessness in the Regality.
1421 Hexham reported so battered by famine and disease that much was waste, hardly any able-bodied men left.
1429 Roger Thornton of Newcastle left 400 marks for rebuilding the nave.
1441 Archbishop Kemp’s Hexhamshire levies involved in fighting against the Percys in Yorkshire.
1464* Battle of Hexham, defeat of Lancastrians and execution of Duke of Somerset at Hexham
1469 Sir Humphrey Neville, former bailiff outlawed after 1464, caught and executed at York.
c1470 The priory paintings of the Hexham bishop-saints.
1487* Henry VII disclaimed any intention of interfering with Regality privileges and franchises.
1491* Death of Prior Rowland Leschman, whose chantry chapel and tomb are in the Abbey, and whose monogram occurs several times.
1491-1524 Prior Thomas Smythson, who had the present pulpitum screen built and painted.
1515* Thomas, Lord Dacre, Bailiff, and Christopher Dacre, deal with disorders in Hexham, imprisoned offenders and caused a riot.
1536** Royal commissioners for dissolving the Priory visited Hexham and met opposition at the priory gatehouse. They were forced to withdraw and report to Thomas Cromwell
Sir Thomas Percy encouraged local rebellion, but most Hexham people kept clear of the Pilgrimage of Grace.
1537* The Priory surrendered to the Duke of Norfolk. The canons were probably protected by Reynold Carnaby
1538* Most of the Priory buildings and lands granted to Sir Reynold Carnaby.
Outlaws broke into the Gaol to free a priest and fellow rebels
1545 Archbishop Holgate gave up the Manor of Hexham to the Crown.
1569 The Rising of the Northern Earls. Both rebel and royal armies passed through Hexham.
1572* An Act of Parliament abolished the Regality, merging Hexhamshire with Northumberland
1599* The Charter of the grammar school
1613 The Rules of Skinners and Glovers Company were registered.
1625 Roger Fishbourne’s will provided for Lecturers to serve the church (from 1628).
1634* The Borough Court issued orders to constables and other officials about providing pounds, watching bakehouses, safeguarding water supplies from pollution, etc. The Court and the Four-and-Twenty now administered town affairs.
‘Three Soldiers’ published a report on their visit to Hexham
1640 Capt Lloyd and Lord Ernle inspected Hexham’s two towers, reported them defensible
1653* Thomas Tillam formed a Baptist congregation from his Abbey parishioners, quarrelled with the Newcastle Baptists and claimed to have converted a rabbi, but was shown to have been deceived by a ‘False Jew’, to widespread pamphlet scandal.
1662 Grant of cattle market, to be held in Hencotes and Priestpopple
1672 Local brick-making began; Henry Roberts was permitted to trade in bricks.
1680 The Borough Court fixed hiring of farm servants on 1st Tuesday after Martinmas
c1684 New grammar school building erected on Hallgate.
1698 Celia Fiennes’ visit and description of Hexham
1703 Sir Robert Allgood provided the Market Pant
1715* Jacobite Rebellion, Earl of Derwentwater involved. James III was proclaimed in the Market Place.
1718 Jacobite riot in Hexham. Jacobites assaulted loyalists.
1728 Buck’s drawing of Hexham was the first general view of the town
1739-74 William Hewson, leading surgeon and haematologist, born Hexham
1744* Lancelot Allgood, High Sheriff and Hexham resident, concerned over recusancy and rebellion; quarrelled with the Cooks of the ‘Black Bull’ over their Assembly Rooms and the racing on Tyne Green.
1745* Wade’s army, on its way to stop the Jacobites at Carlisle, camped on Kingshaw Green; but further progress was stopped by bad weather.
The Cooks left Hexham. Anne Cook later published her ‘cookery’ book attacking Allgood and his family.
1752 Glenwelt turnpike began much-needed improvement of road links with outside.
1753 Sir Walter Blackett opened the Seal to Hexham people.
1761** Hexham Riot. JPs meeting in the Moot Hall to ballot for militia recruits were threatened by a 5,000-strong mob. The North Yorkshire militia fired, killing about 50. Local clergy preached outraged sermons.
1767-1770* Sir Walter Blackett had the first Tyne Bridge built to link with Alnmouth turnpike.
1771* The Great Tyne flood swept away the bridge and ruined market gardens on Tyne Green.
1778-82 John Smeaton built a Tyne Bridge on a new site (the present one). Opened in 1780, it was swept away by a blizzard.
1789-95** Robert Thompson and William Johnson, the County Surveyors, rebuilt Smeaton’s bridge.
1794-97* Three plans prepared for canals to link Hexham to Newcastle, but all were abandoned.
1818 Abbey (House) destroyed by fire, rebuilt partly by John Dobson.
1823* Dispute over proposal to carry a new road to Carlisle across the Seal. Petitions and poetry persuaded the Beaumonts to refuse permission.
1829-39** The Newcastle & Carlisle Railway authorised and built; Hexham to Blaydon stretch opened in 1835. Hexham Station
1830-1902 Dr Joseph Parker, inspirational leading Congregationalist clergyman, Pastor of the City Temple
1830* St Mary’s RC Church built and opened
Hallstile Bank Primitive Methodist chapel opened
1835 Gas lighting of streets introduced
1836-1839* Elected Board of Guardians took over care of the Poor, built the Union Workhouse
1853** Public Health Report (by Robert Rawlinson) criticised every aspect of living conditions in Hexham
1854* Local Board of Health elected.
1858-60 Destructive ‘Restoration’ of the Abbey. John Dobson rebuilt its east end.
1859 The Abbey churchyard closed, replaced by new cemetery on the Carlisle Road.
1864* Hexham Courant started by Joseph Catherall
1864-66* Beaumont Street laid out across the Abbey Grounds by Wentworth Blackett Beaumont MP. 1865-66 Building of Town Hall and Corn Exchange
1864-65* New water works and Wydon Burn reservoir.
1867 Market Place Pant removed
1868 Hexham Herald started
1874 First School Board elected
1878-79 The Hydro (Hydropathic Establishment) opened
Sewerage and drainage system laid.
1878-1962 Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, poet
1887 W B Beaumont presented Tyne Green to the town
1888 Water supply brought from the Ladle Wells
1894* Urban and Rural District Councils took over local government
c1896 on* Development of suburban estates began, at first west and south of the town centre
1901 Market Place (Temperley Memorial) Fountain, with Gibson verses
Lt Col G E Benson killed in S Africa. Monument erected 1904
1908 Lord Allendale presented The Seal to the town
1908 The new nave of the Abbey, organized by Canon Savage and designed by Temple Moore, was consecrated.
1910 New Grammar School building opened
1912 The Abbey Grounds opened as a public park, with Henry Bell bandstand.
1914-19* The First World War drained town of manpower. War memorials in the Abbey Grounds.
1921 The War Memorial Hospital opened.
1937 The Forum Cinema replaced the Gem
1939-45 The Second World War. Emergency hospitals on Corbridge Road (later the General Hospital) and in the Queen’s Hall
1974 Local government reorganization replaced UDC and RDC by Tynedale District Council, and gave Hexham its first town council and mayor.
Henry Bell wool warehouse rebuilt as swimming baths
1975 Manor Office converted into Tourist Office and Middle March Centre museum, later (c1990) renamed Old Gaol.
1983 Town Hall & Corn Exchange reopened as new Queen’s Hall Arts Centre
1985-90 Wentworth and Tynedale Park developments created new retail centre around Alemouth Road
1996 The Cattle Mart moved to Tyne Green
2003 New General Hospital opened
2005 Tesco supermarket replaced Tynedale Park