Kilham Township And Kirknewton Parish

The 19th Century township of Kilham, formed the basic framework for the historical summary set out in volume XI of the Northumberland County History, edited by K. H. Vickers (NCH XI (1922), 158-69).

It was one of 15 townships incorporated in the huge, 38,000 acre parish of Kirknewton, which embraced the bulk of the north Cheviot massif.  Kilham township itself contained 2871 acres and comprised two main components.

The valley of the Kilham Burn occupies the south side of Glendale with Kilham at the mouth of the valley and the farm of Longknowe higher up. Opposite Kilham, on the north side of the dale, lies Thornington with adjacent hills on the north side of the dale. The modern civil parish covers a much wider area embracing the former townships of Howtel, Paston and Coldsmouth and Thompson's Walls.