Seal and cartouche of Elizabeth 1 - 1582

Nathaniel, Lord Crewe was born in 1633 at Stene, Northamptonshire. He had a successful career at Court, was friendly with the future James II and when the Diocese of Durham fell vacant in 1672 he asked James to intercede with the King and he became Bishop of Durham in 1674 until his death in 1721. He married Dorothy Forster in 1700, buying her family lands and premises in Blanchland and Bamburgh in 1709.

In his will Lord Crewe left all property in Northumberland and Durham acquired from his wife in trust to 5 men, all clergymen, creating the Lord Crewe Trust. From the revenues of this property the trustees were to make certain payments. The charity records are very interesting and many contain names, addresses and other family details of Lord Crewe Trust tenants.

Among the Lord Crewe Charity papers are records relating to Bamburgh and Blanchland prior to 1709. This deed of 1582 grants certain lands to Sir John Forster by Elizabeth 1. Sir John Forster was Warden of the Middle Marches, a Justice of the Peace and an active and apparently successful member of the local gentry. He died in 1602 aged nearly 90.