Chatton, with its attractive grey stone houses, lies on the River Till approximately half way between the Cheviot Hills and the coast at Bamburgh. The village benefits from being designated a Conservation Area and has many listed structures.

Chatton Parish Hall link

As part of the Millennium celebrations it was decided to produce a book reflecting village life in the year 2000 . The project was taken in hand by a resident and, in 2003, "Chatton, A Portrait" was produced . Amongst other things, the book contains many photographs and views on life in the village from children and adults, accounts, in poetry and prose, of the natural history and local environment and maps of local walks.

Copies may still be available for purchase from Chatton Village Shop.

A little bit of history

The enclosure of Chatton Park occurred towards the end of the
13th Century and, in 1634 was the subject of a dispute between the inhabitants of Chatton and Sir Ralph Grey, who was accused of enclosing land at Chatton Common into Chillingham Park! In the 18th and 19th Centuries Chatton was a thriving community with many and varied occupations - shepherds, cowkeepers, tailors, dressmaker, joiner, cartwright, farmers, blacksmith, as well as work at the Chatton Brick and Tile Works.

As the nineteenth century drew to a close, there were 5 shops in the village including a tailor, post office and sweet shop. A blacksmith traded here as well as a carpenter and undertaker. Villagers had use of a reading room, and there was a brewery operating.

Nowadays, the area supports one public house hotel, a village shop and post office, an art gallery, church, and first school, with nursery class.

In 1795 they purchased Akeld estate for £24000; in 1801 Easington Grange for £13000 and Fowberry Tower from Sir Francis Blake in 1807 for £45000.

Further information, archive material and photographs can be obtained accessed on communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Chatton.

The church was rebuilt in 1763 and restored in 1844, at about the same time as the vicarage was being rebuilt by John Dobson. It has a Victorian belfry but the single bell is located outside halfway up the wall of the tower.

Within the church is a marble monument to Matthew Culley, a famous Northumbrian agriculturist who died in 1819. Together with his brother George, he transformed the agricultural scene in north Northumberland by their example and teaching. They were acknowledged experts on improving livestock, especially sheep-breeding, and were consulted regularly by large estate owners, prospering greatly as a result.

Please click here to access an online version of a pamphlet about the Culley brothers produced for the Glendale Gateway Trust by Bill Grisdale Design.