Harbottle : The Evidence For Early Medieval Settlement

Most previous discussion regarding the pre-Norman history of Harbottle has focussed on the possibility that it was the site of an early medieval fortress. This idea was first put forward in 1864 (Anon.) and subsequently found favour with many commentators (e.g. Dixon 1903, 177-8; NCH XV (1940), 472), to such an extent that it is now well-entrenched in virtually all the secondary literature, even though direct supporting evidence is lacking. The argument is well summarised in the County History (NCH XV (1940), 472):

The name Harbottle is Old English here-botl, meaning army building, i.e. barracks, and a garrison must have been maintained here before the Norman conquest as the ten towns of Coquetdale were bound to serve in the defence of Harbottle . . . but this service was ignored by the Normans, for after the conquest the ten towns were included in the barony of Alnwick, while Harbottle lay in the lordship of Redesdale. Therefore the service must be of pre-conquest date. In order to reunite the ten towns with the 'burh' at which the service was due, the Umfravilles held them from the lords of Alnwick.