Hallowell Wood

An agreement of 1250 mentions the 'woode of Hallewell' (SH J/vii/4a). In 1291 eighty acres of wood were held in common (SS vol. cxvii, 304, 314). In 1293 Robert of Throckley declared that tenants were accustomed to taking timber when he was caught cutting oaks in the wood of Helley without the permission of the forester (SS vol. cxvii, 276). A document held by the Public Record Office relates to the woodreve or woodward of the Radcliffe's manor of Throckley. The name Hallowell could potentially relate to a holy well perhaps connected with the lepers of Newcastle who held land in Throckley in 1379 (SS vol. xlvi, ii, 55-6). The same Hallowell Wood is shown on the plan of the manor of Newburn dated 1620, occupying 40 acres. A further 32 acres is listed as 'Hallowell Wood ascending and descending'. The name Throckley could derive from the act of woodland clearance, ley or leah meaning a clearing. Hallowell Wood would have been planted with native trees such as ash, maple, hazel, lime, elm, birch, alder, sallow, oak and hawthorn. Woods had names because they were valuable property. The boundaries of the wood were probably defined by a bank and ditch with a hedge or fence to prevent encroachment and keep out livestock which would eat young shoots. Today the Wood is gone. It is not shown on any plans after 1620.