Tate: Much of the river banks too was open accessible ground traversed by footpaths and roads The Haugh anciently called Lowther's Haugh on the south side of the Aln west ward of the Lion Bridge was even during the present century something like public ground where young men and boys played and fished and bathed Young boys bathed in the shallow water above the bridge on both sides of the river those a little older bathed and learned to swim at the Island and those who could trust themselves in deep water resorted to Barbara's Bank on the opposite side At that time almost all the youths of the town could swim A public road led across this Haugh parallel with Walkergate the street of the Walkers or Fullers Even as late as 1682 there was still one fulling mill there In 1680 the parish of Alnwick was at the baronial court amerced 20d for not repairing the highway leading from Alnwick Bridge to Low ther's haughes but this small fine not having the desired effect the parishioners were in 1682 amerced 5 for not amending the highway that leads from Alnwick to Lowther's haugh and in the same year Matthew Alnwick had to amend this way which is worn away at the end of Lowther's haughes by reason of a damm lately made in the river to his fulling mill These haughs roads ancient bathing places and Barbara's Bank are now enclosed as part of the Dairy Grounds.