University of Nottingham: Portland (London) Collection: Catalogue of Deeds and Documents from the Esttes of the Dukes of Portland, 1304-1933 (part 2)
Pl E11/2/10/3 29.11.1757-30.11.1757 Conveyance of tithes on Tughall Moor,
Northumberland to the Duke of Portland; 29-30
Nov. 1757
(1 + 1 membranes, parchment)
First Party: Isabel Bates of Newbottle co.
Durham, widow; and Ralph Bates of the same
place, Esq. (devisees in trust of Ralph Bates of
the same place, Esq., deceased).
Second Party: John Forster of Heigham Dikes,
Northumberland, gentleman (brother and heir at
law of Edward Forster of the same place,
gentleman, deceased, and son and heir of Edward
Forster late of Hamburg, merchant, deceased).
Third Party: William, Duke of Portland, KG.
Lease and release by (1) and (2) to (3) of a one
third part of the tithes of corn and grain from
a parcel of 161a. of land, formerly part of
Tughall Moor, Northumberland, and allotted to
the owners of Higham and Low Brunton upon the
inclosure of the moor. Covenants for further
assurance.
Consideration: £ 73 6s 8d by (3) to (2).

John Forster’s will dated 5 July 1764 reads:
In the Name of God Amen I John Forster of Higham Dykes in the County of Northumberland Esquire being of Sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following / that is to say / First I order that my Body be decently Interred by and at the discretion of My Executrix hereinafter mentioned And that all my just Debts owing upon Mortgage Bond or otherwise howsoever be paid and Satisfied out of my messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Situate at Higham Dykes aforesaid. And I hereby Charge the same to and [....] payment thereof Accordingly And I give and Devise Unto My Daughter Mary Laidman Wife of Francis Laidman of Morpeth in the said County of Northumberland Surgeon her Heirs and Assigns All Those my Tythes of Tuggal ^Hall^ and Crooklatch Tuggal Town and Tuggal Moor in the Parish of Balmbrough [Bamburgh] in the said county of Northumberland To hold the same Unto and to the use of my Daughter Mary Laidman her Heirs and Assigns for ever and to and for no other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever Subject ot the payment of My Dear wifes Thirds and one Third part of Forty Pounds a Year payable to my Sister Frances Forster during her life And also to one Third part of Thirty Pounds a year payable to my Sister Elizabeth Forster during her life And I give and Devise unto my Daughter Catherine the Wife of ... [there follow several illegible words due to destruction of the MS] ... and Assigns All those my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments...Situate and being at Higham Dykes Aforesaid or elsewhere in the Parish of Ponteland in the said County of Northumberland with their and every of their appurtenances To hold the same Unto and to the Use of My said Daughter Catherine Blake her Heirs and Assigns for ever and to and for no other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever Subject Nevertheless and Charged and Chargeable with the payment of my Debts as Aforesaid And also to my Dear Wifes Third and one Third Part of Forty Pounds a Year Payable to My Sister Frances Forster during her life And also to one Third Part of Thirty Pounds a Year payable to My Sister Elizabeth Forster during her life And I give and Devise Unto my Daughter Frances Forster her Heirs and Assigns All [an illegible line follows, due to destruction of the MS] both in the County of Durham with their and every of their appurtenances To hold the same to My said Daughter Frances Forster her Heirs and Assigns for ever and to and for no other Use intent or Purpose whatsoever Subject ot the payment of My Wifes Thirds And also one Third part of Forty Pounds a Year payable to my Sister Frances Forster during her life And one Third Part of Thirty Pounds a Year payable to My Sister Elizabeth Forster during her life Provided always and My Will and Mind is Notwithstanding anything herein Contained to the Contrary That my Dear wife Alice Forster shall have the use of My House and All the Offices therto belonging at Higham Dykes where I now live And also the Use of the Garden thereto belonging for and during the term[?] of her Natural life And as to all my personal Estate I give and bequeath the same Unto my said Dear Wife her Executors Administrators and Assigns She Paying my Funeral Expenses thereout And I do hereby appoint her My said Dear Wife Sole Executrix of this My last will and Testament hereby revoking All other and former Wills by me at any time Made I declare this to be and Contain my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto (and to other three equal parts hereof) Set my hand and Seal this Fifth day of July -- in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty four--
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator John Forster for and as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto
Ann Renwick
William Barkas[?]
Nath: Fenwick

One Ralph Fenwick of Ulgham Grange was the executor of the will of Francis Johnson, who married the grandaughter of John Forster.

John Forster inherited Higham Dykes (Higham: ‘the high homestead’) from his brother Edward, who died childless. The earliest mention of the then township of Higham Dykes dates from 1288, when it was held by Newminster Abbey. The location appears on the map 2 1/2 miles north-west of Ponteland on the road to Jedburgh.

The house now appears to be completely isolated apart from a few cottages nearby: all the country around is level pasture land. Higham Dykes is one of the most beautiful houses in the county. It is a late 17C five-bay brick house with shaped gables, reminiscent of Dutch houses of this period. The property is sizeable, with the addition of later wings. The current owners (1998), David and Sylvia Harrison, bought the house in 1997 from the previous owners, the Joblings, who had held it since the end of the 19C. Together with the cottages they paid £400.000 and when I visited, they had already poured in another £150.000 in renovations, for the house was in a sad state of disrepair.

There is a great lawn in front of the house, with a pretty square summerhouse of the early 18C with a pyramid roof. There is also a wonderful, operating early 19C lavatory, and a late 17C staircase with thick turned balusters.

Tuggal Hall lies in the parish of Bamburgh, on the B1340 between Beadnall and Embleton, 10 miles north east of Alnwick. It is now an hotel.

The Forster family ultimately fell on hard times and sold their estates to Lord Crewe, whose trust sold them in turn to the First Lord Armstrong, founder of Vickers.