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| The name means a farm belonging to a churl - a person of low birth. The
word churlish is derived from the name. The family originated in
Northumberland and is associated with the village of Charlton, near
Bellingham, in Northumberland. They were a very active reiving family.
Hesleyside Hall, near Bellingham was the seat of the Charltons.
They are the subject of a Northumbrian melody 'The Hesleyside Reel.' A n English family originally located in Tynedale. They were a very active riding family.
At
Wallington Hall, near Belsay there is a huge fresco depicting the Charlton
family assembled at lunch. The lady of the house has produced a salver for
the family, but when the lid is lifted it contains a riding spur. It was
time for the men to be off reiving to replenish the family larder. In 1711, a certain William Charlton was involved in a quarrel with Henry Widdrington of Buteland and the latter as killed. His body was taken to the church and buried by the door of the Charlton’s pew which would require Charlton to step over the grave every time he attended church. That he was put off entering church may have been no great sacrifice.
See also Villages and Country/Charlton
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