FEATHERSTON FAMILY ORIGINS

by

Edward F. Featherston

In a small secluded vale, near the confluence of the Hartley Burn and South Tyne rivers. against the backdrop of the heath moor lands of Northern England, sits the eventual destination of all who find themselves tracing the family surname of Featherston (1) .Even today, more than 7 centuries after the central tower was first constructed, it stands watch over the haugh (a local term for valley) it protected for so many years. The tower. said by many, to be the loveliest in the county. was even the subject of a picture by the English artist. T.M. Richardson. The place of which I am speaking is. of course, Featherstone Castle.

Featherstone Castle is located in the county of Northumberland, near the Scottish border. It can be found 3 miles southwest of the tiny village of Haltwhistle. along the road to AIston. This attractive castellated mansion. with its luxuriant covering of English ivy. is an amalgam of architectural styles from over the centuries. The main building and an old square pele tower (which serves as the nucleus of the castle), both part of the original structure, were built no later than the year 1200 (2) .Over the centuries other buildings. towers, and battlements were added (3) .Each addition and renovation was skilfully blended with the existing structure so as to complement the whole. One renovation, the dining hall, which boasts ~ beauty- fully timbered roof with heraldry, included some 15th century woodwork taken from the choir of Carlisle Cathedral. While no longer belonging to a member of the Featherstone family (4), the halls still echo with the legacy and tales of they who lived and died within this great castle.

The Featherston family is considered to be Saxon in origin, and the sur- name to be a topographic (5) .The land was part of the county allotted to a Saxon officer for his bravery and gallant conduct against the Britons. The first house the family was said to reside in was built upon the high ground. On this high ground were two stones. referred to as Fetherstones or Feuder- stones. It was around these stones that the feudal tenants of the manor would be assembled. In time, the residence began to fall into decay (or perhaps was destroyed in the many battles with the Scots) .A new tower, the central piece of what is now Featherstone Castle. was built in the haugh (valley) below the high ground, thus the name Featherstonehaugh.

The earliest recorded occupant of Featherstone Castle was one Helios de Featherstonehalgh in the year 1212. The Featherston name continues to appear in the early history of this area. A century later. there is a record of a Thomas de Featherstonehaugh in the year 1330. He was said to hold great power in the area. being the guardian of Hexham, Wark, and the barony of Tindale. 200 years later another resident of the Castle. Sir Albany Fetherstonehaugh, was immortalized in a famous poem by R.S. Surtees. Sir Albany was High Sheriff of Northumberland in the year 1530. ~He was killed by Nicholas Ridley of Unthank. Hugh Ridley of Harden, and others during a border feud at Greenshilhaugh. near the farmhouse of one Wydon Eals. on the 24th of October, 1530. The ballad could still be heard in the 1800's and was said to be "sung at merrymakings till the roof rang again". cont...