This is part of a list of the property (including lands and buildings) that belonged to Newminster Abbey, Morpeth. The property recorded here was in the coastal settlement of Blyth. Today, the town of Blyth is about 12km (8 miles) from Morpeth to the south east.  Lists (or surveys) like this were made by the Court of Augmentations under instruction from Henry VIII before dissolution.  

Newminster Abbey was a Cistercian abbey that was founded in 1137 and closed in 1537. The Abbey buildings were bought by the Grey family who reused the stone for their own building projects. 

James Rokeby – auditor (someone who looks at and analyses financial records) for the Court of Augmentations 

Robert Collingwood – knight and High Sherriff of Northumberland (1551) 

Lionel Grey 

William Greene

There is at Blith nooke vii salt pannes furneshede with one house 

called the garner and other edifices and house unto the same pannes 

belonginge and also the ferme of a myne of cooles of the Bishopp 

of Durrelhm for the mayntennce of the said pitts and ii Cobulls or 

keelis for the caryage of the same cooles to the pannes, the occupiers 

of the same pannes shall bere and sustayne all manner of reperacions 

and pay the rents yearlie unto the Bishopp for the mynes aforesaid 

of five merkes and so the same vii salt pannes be clere worthe 

by yere over all charges  

}xiiii li (pounds) 

There is at Blyth Nook* seven salt pans furnished with one house 

called “The Garner” and other edifices and house belonging to the pans 

and also the farm* of a mine of coals for the Bishop 

of Durham for the maintenance of the said pits and two cobles or 

keels* for the carriage of the same coals to the pans, the occupiers 

of the same pans shall bear and sustain all manner of reparations [repairs] 

and pay the rents yearly to the Bishop for the mines aforesaid 

of five marks* and so the same seven salt pans be clear worth 

by year over all charges 

}£14 

*Blyth Nook – old name for Blyth 

*farm – here it means a lease (from Old English). The abbey owned the coal mines that they leased or rented out to whoever rented the salt pans so that they would have fuel to heat the pans. 

*cobles or keels – traditional Northumbrian boats 

*five marks – “unit of account”, this was never a coin in England but used when making calculations.  Worth 13s 4d (13 shillings and 4 pence or 160 old pence).