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Pastures
a.k.a. North Desmesne. A demesne was land retained and managed by the lord of the manor, for their own use: i.e. not let to tenants.
The earliest record of the Alnwick Shrovetide Football Match dates from 1762. It was originally played through the streets of the town, but this was discontinued in the 1820s. The Town Improvement Act of 1821 banned the game on the streets, but this was ignored for six years. Then in 1828 the third Duke of Northumberland provided a pitch in the North Demesne. Originally between married and unmarried Freemen it has been contested by parishes of St Michael’s and St Paul’s since 1858.