The Allotment

This area of grazing or scrub land on Shire Moor was allotted to various villages and townships by the Duke of Northumberland as part of an enclosure act of 1788. As a result, it became known locally as the Allotment as various portions were held by Backworth, Chirton, Earsdon, Monkseaton, Murton, Preston, and Whitley. This allotted land was supposed to compensate them for common land within their parishes which had been enclosed by the Duke. These allocations are depicted on various historic maps up to and including the first edition Ordnance Survey (which labels the parcels by their allotted parish).