Rock Hall nr Alnwick

[gayleclutter]

I am looking for information regarding Sir James Greer (born circa 1604; died in 1666), Knt., of Capenoch, Dumfriesshire & Rock Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, the 4th son of Sir William Grier. Sir James removed to Cumberland & changed his surname to Grier. His son Henry Grier, of Rock Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland. Henry married MARY TURNER, daughter of Robert & Debora Turner, of Turnerstown,& removed to Newton, Parish of Sheelbiller, Northumberland, England (which is south of Alnwick)They were married in 1652 in Newcastle-u-Tyne, Newcastle, Northumberland.

[joe.c]

im wondering if anyone can help me please, my granmother is a swinhoe she gave me some information on rock hall and swinhoes of goswick which only goes up to the mid 1600s, i traced her ancestory back as far as william swinhoe (born 1720) northumberland, who married a margaret richardson i wonder if someone knows of any direct family preceding this particular william swinhoe. thankyou for reading.

[gayleclutter]

In 1655, Sir James Grierson of Capenoch Dumfriesshire Scotland removed to Alnwick, Northumberlandsaid to have lived in Rock Hall there. However, I have found no evidence to support that he lived in Rockhall, but he definitely lived in Northumria. Two of his children marred children of Robert Turner of Turnerstead, and settled in Newtown Parrish of Shilbottle,Northumberland County, England before moving to Ireland.
 
This is my research on the area. 
After the Roman withdrawal from Britain, Cumberland became part of a British kingdom. In 945 it passed to Scotland, but in 1157 it went to England, and the region became the scene of frequent battles between the two countries until the union of the English and Scottish crowns in 1603.

Alnwick  is a small market town in north Northumberland, in the NE of England. The town of Alnwick, historically known as the County town of Northumberland, lies in the centre of the county, 33 miles N of Newcastle and 30 miles S of Berwick. Lying on the south bank of the Aln river, the town has stood on its present site since the Norman invasion. It has a long and colourful history, with the Percy Dukes of Northumberland being the principal landowners for the past 7 centuries.

Alnwick Castle is the 2nd  largest inhabited castle in England, the 1st being Windsor Castle, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. The earliest mention of Alnwick Castle in the history books appears soon after 1096 when Yves de Vescy became baron of Alnwick and erected the earliest parts of the Castle. The Castle was first restored by the 1st  Lord Percy of Alnwick in the early 1300's and portions of this restoration remain today, including the Abbot's Tower, the Middle Gateway and the Constable's Tower.

1600s in Northumbria
•   1603 James VI of Scotland accedes to the throne of England, Wales & Ireland, (Union of crowns under James I)
•   1606 James I transports Border Reivers to Ireland in the Plantation of Ulster.
•   1640 Scottish Covenanters defeat English force in the Battle of Newburn
•   1649 14 women are convicted and executed in Newcastle witch trials.

[TriciaK]

Rock Hall was also used as a youth hostel (YHA) before becoming a private school. I stayed there with some friends in the 1950s. We were cycling.

[gayleclutter]

More about Rock Hall: Rock Hall is a privately-owned 18th -century country house, now occupied by a school, at Rennington, near Alnwick, Northumberland. The Manor of Rock was owned by several Northumbrian families, Rock, Swinhoe, Lawson, Salkeld (1620-1705), Proctor and Holford, until the marriage of Charlotte Holford, heiress of Rock, brought the estate into the Bosanquet family There was a house on the estate from the 14th century which was possibly converted to a tower house in the 15th century and which was remodelled by the Salkelds in the 17th century.The house was badly damaged by fire in 1752 but was restored about 1820 by Charles Bosanquet (High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1828) when architect John Dobson created a new and unusual south front with two semi-octagonal bays A new north-west wing was added by architect F.R. Wilson in the mid 19th centuryMembers of the Bosanquet family born at Rock include scientist Robert Bosanquet, Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet and philosopher Bernard Bosanquet. In 1881 the estate comprised 1,130 acres (4.6 km2) employing 44 staff on the land and 11 in the house.From the mid 20th century the house was let out for use as a Youth Hostel and more recently as a Preparatory School.

The Manor of Rock formed a small part of the barony of Alnwick, and the boundaries of the village have not changed since the early 12th century.  In the late 13th century the manor was held by William de Rok, who paid "half a knight's fee" annually to his overlord.  However, Robert de Tuggal and his family held Rock Hall, and their coat or arms showing three swine can be seen on the north wall of the chancel in the village church.

[sportacus]

" I have found no evidence to support that he lived in Rockhall, but he definitely lived in Northumria."

Hi Gayleclutter, what evidence do you have that James Greer(Grierson) the descendant of The Lag definitely lived in Northumbria? I have been unable to find any substantial link between the Griersons of Lag and James Greer of The Rock Alnwick and I'd be grateful if you can help.

[belfordian]

Just to inform
 you that Rock Hall school closed a couple of years ago and has reverted to a private residence.