Editing Churnsike Lodge

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox building
|name = Churnsike Lodge
|location = [[Greystead]], west [[Northumberland]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]
|pushpin_map = United Kingdom Northumberland
|image =Churnsike Lodge - geograph.org.uk - 528422.jpg
|caption =Churnsike Lodge
|grid_name = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
|grid_position = {{gbmappingsmall|NY664771}}
|coordinates = {{Coord|55.087|-2.528|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Churnsike Lodge''' is an early [[Victorian era|Victorian]] hunting lodge situated in the parish of [[Greystead]], west [[Northumberland]], England. Constructed in 1850 by the Charlton family, descendants of the noted [[Border Reiver]]s family of the English Middle March, the lodge formed part of the extensive Hesleyside estate, located some 10 miles from [[Hesleyside Hall]] itself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/55998f21-89e3-48b1-ad83-53a011f5c8f1|title=Hesleyside|publisher=National Archives|access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

Consisting of the main house, stable block, hunting-dog kennels and gamekeepers bothy, when the property was acquired by the [[Chesters (Humshaugh)|Chesters Estate]] in 1887 the 'Cairnsyke' estate consisted of several thousand acres of moorland, much of which was managed to support [[Driven grouse shooting|shooting]] of the formerly populous [[black grouse]]. Although much of this land has now reverted to [[fell]]side or has been otherwise managed as part of the commercial timber plantations of [[Kielder Forest]], areas of heather moorland persist, dotted with remnants of the shooting butts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/fd9409d0-ae3d-4bd7-8c65-65d76020f2a3|title=Extensive and Valuable Portions of the Chesters Estate}}</ref> It is with reference to these fells that the 1887 sale catalogue described the estate as being the "Finest grouse moor in the Kingdom".

Historically, the Lodge was home to the Irthing Head and Kielder hounds, regionally renowned and headed by the locally famed fox hunter William Dodd. Dodd, and his hounds, are repeatedly referenced in the traditional [[Border ballads|Northumbrian ballads]] of James Armstrong's 'Wanny Blossoms'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://woolshed1.blogspot.co.uk/2008_12_01_archive.html|title=Woolshed 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.forgottenbooks.com/download_pdf/Wanny_Blossoms_1400046091.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924014844/http://www.forgottenbooks.com/download_pdf/Wanny_Blossoms_1400046091.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=live|title=Wanny Blossoms: a book of song|first=James|last=Armstrong|year=1879|publisher=Forgotten Books|page=136}}</ref>

Having fallen into ruin by the 1980s, the property fell into the care of the [[Forestry Commission]] and was slated for demolition, as many properties in the area were, until being privately purchased. The former gamekeepers bothy now serves as a holiday-home.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.churnsikelodge.co.uk/ Churnsike Lodge]
* {{Commons category-inline|Churnsike Lodge}}

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[[Category:Country houses in Northumberland]]
[[Category:Hunting lodges in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1850]]


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