West Allen, Northumberland Genealogy

= Parish History =

West Allen is an Ecclesiastical Parish in the county of Northumberland, created in 1826 from chapelry in Allendale Ecclesiastical Parish and includes: High West Allen and Low West Allen.

Allen High West alias for Carr Shield The ancient parish of Allendale originally served the village of Carr Shields. In 1764 a chapel to Allendale church was built at Ninebanks. Three years later in 1767 the chapelry was created a parish. Carr Shields formed part of this new parish. In 1822 a chapelry of Ninebanks was built at Carr Shields for the use of the leadmining families that populated the area. Mrs. Diana Beaumont, the lady of the manor, provided the funding for the building.

When the new chapel was opened in 1822 the existing chapel building was converted into a schoolhouse. In November 1877 a Board School was established in the village. This school closed in July 1968 with only five pupils.

There is a strong history of religious non-conformity in the Allendale valley. There were no Methodist chapels at Carr Shields but there were several in West Allen township. There were Wesleyan Chapels at Limestone Brea (built in 1824); Hesleywell (built in 1827); High House (built in 1829); Shield Ridge (built in 1854) and Mohope (built in 1858). There were also Primitive Methodist chapels at Corryhill (built 1844) and Whitley Shield (built 1857). Allen Low West alias for Ninebanks Refer to Ninebanks parish