Longhorsley, Northumberland Genealogy

= Parish History =

Longhorsley St Helen is an Ancient Parish and includes: Bigge's Quarter, Carlisle's Quarter, Chirn, Freeholders' Quarter, Garrotlee, Longhorsley Moor, Longshaws, Moresley Moor, Riddell's Quarter, Stanton, Todburn, Wholm, Wingates, Wingates Moor, and Witton Shields. The Norman church, now in ruins although the churchyard is still in use, is half a mile south of Longhorsley village and possibly replaced a wooden Saxon building. The earliest record of a vicar here is from 1299.In 1783 the church was entirely rebuilt on the old foundations. It was a plain structure, the main feature being an attractive trefoil chancel arch. Lack of facilities and the need for extensive renovation made it necessary to abandon it in 1966 The old Church of England school in the village (West Road) was then taken over, adapted, and is now the church. It was built in 1848. In 1981 the porch of the old church was dismantled and rebuilt on the west end and is now the main entrance.

= Parish Records =

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections Reference number: DDR/EA/PBT/2/170 Date: 1769-1830 Parish Register transcripts are available to search free online at Record Search.

The dates of the post-1760 transcripts have been noted in detail and sometimes only cover years. For most parishes in the collection there are gaps in the sequence of transcripts. It is advisable to consult the original parish registers for these years and events.

Longhorsley, St Helen: Records of baptisms 1667-1959, marriages 1695-1978 and burials 1695-1981 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. Bishops' Transcripts for the period 1769-1830 are deposited at Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections, Palace Green, Durham City. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes baptisms 1694-1875 and marriages 1668-1876 for this parish, and Boyd's Marriage Index includes marriages 1694-1706. A transcript of monumental inscriptions at Longhorsley (microfiche TN78) is published by Northumberland and Durham Family History Society and these records are also available in book form at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Department.

= Nonconformist Records =

Longhorsley, St Thomas Of Canterbury (Roman Catholic): Records of baptisms 1848-1950 and marriages 1848-1865 are available at Northumberland Collections Service.

Witton Shields (Roman Catholic): Records of baptisms 1789-1803 and deaths 1796-1801 are available at Northumberland Collections Service.