HEXHAM, a town in Northumberland, England, 21 m. west from Newcastle on the L.N.E. railway. Pop. (1931) 8,888. It lies on the Tyne, and its market square and narrow streets bear many marks of antiquity. It is famous for its great abbey church of St. Andrew. In 1536 the last prior was hanged for being concerned in the Pilgrimage of Grace. The church is a fine monument of Early English work, with interesting Transitional details. There are also fragments of the monastic buildings remaining, and west of the churchyard is the monks' park, known as the Seal. In the town are two strong castellated 14th century towers, known as the Moot Hall and the Manor Office. Aydon castle near Corbridge is a fortified house of the late 13th century; and Dilston or Dyvil ston, a typical border fortress dating from Norman times. There is an Elizabethan grammar school. Manufactures are leather gloves and other goods. In the neighbourhood are barytes and coal mines and extensive market gardens.
The church and monastery at Hexham (Hextoldesham) were founded about 673 by Wilfrid, archbishop of York. The church in 678 became the head of the new see of Bernicia, united to that of Lindisfarne about 821; after which the bishop of Lindisfarne held the lordship until it was restored to the archbishop of York by Henry II. In 1545 the archbishop exchanged Hexhamshire with the king for other property. Hexham was a borough by pre scription, as early as 1276, and the same form of government continued in force until the year 1853. In 1227 a market on Monday and a fair on the vigil and day of St. Luke the Evangelist were granted and in 132o Archbishop Melton obtained the right of holding two new fairs on the feasts of St. James the Apostle lasting five days and of SS. Simon and Jude lasting six days. The market day was altered to Tuesday in 1662, and there was a grant of a cattle market on the Tuesday after the feast of St. Cuthbert in March and every Tuesday fortnight until the feast of St. Martin. The market rights were purchased by the town in 1886.