Hexhamshire

Hexhamshire was a county in northern England from the early 12th century until 1572 .

The county probably came from a district of the Kingdom of Northumbria around the city of Hexham , which was a bishopric. Hexham later lost its privileges and was considered part of County Durham .

In the early 12th century, King Henry I decided to curtail the power of the Prince-Bishops of Durham by downsizing their dominion. He raised Hexhamshire to a county whose capital was Hexham.

Hexhamshire retained county status until 1572 when its territory was assigned to the traditional county of Northumberland .

The term Hexhamshire is occasionally used to this day to refer to the area of ​​the parishes of Hexham , Allendale and St. John Lee .

Coordinates: 54 ° 55 ′  N , 2 ° 7 ′  W