HEXHAM, is a market-town of England, in the county of Northumberland, finely situated on the south side of the river Tyne, at the confluence of the north and south Tyne. The two long streets, of which the town consists, are nar row, and not well built ; but the town contains some good houses. The road from Newcastle to Hallwhistie passes through one of the streets, and the other principal street runs at right angles to this. At the intersection of these streets stands the spacious market-place in a large square, with a convenient piazza for the butchers' market, which has moveable stalls, and which is well supplied with water from a fountain. The church of Hexham, which forms a part of its ancient monastery, founded in 1112, is highly ornamented in the inside, and contains many fine sepul chral monuments. This church was dedicated to St Andrew, and was much celebrated for its beauty and extent by an cient historians. It is in the form of a Greek cross. The tower, which is in the centre, appears low and broad, though it has a height of 102 feet. The architecture is Gothic and A double gallery runs round the whole structure, opening with Saxon arches, each opening being composed of three arches, the middle circular, and the others pointed, with very light pillars. The nave was burnt down by the Scots in 1296, and nothing remains of it but part of its western door. The choir now forms the
parish church, and is crowded with inelegant pews and galleries. The priory stood at the west end of the church ; and not many years ago its cloister and chapels were to be seen. There are two ancient stone towers at Ilexham, one of which is used as a session-house, and formerly be longed to the priors of Hexham. The other is situated on the top of a hill near the Tyne.
It appears from two Roman inscriptions, found in a crypt of the church, that the Romans had a station, or town, at this place ; for it is obvious, that this was not the Epiacum of the ancients, as Horsley supposed. The crypt, where they were found, is a place fifteen feet by nine, and con tains a number of carved stones, which seem to have once formed part of a Roman fortress.
The town is governed by a bailie chosen annually. The principal employment of the inhabitants consists in tanning leather, and in making shoes, hats, and gloves.
The following is a statistical abstract of the parish for 1811 : See Pennant's Tour in Scotland, vol. iii.; Hutchinson's History of Northumberland ; and the Beauties of England and Wales, vol. xii. p.