Ancroft, a village and a parish in Northumberland. The village lies in a pleasant vale, 4 miles E of Windmill railway station, and 5 1/2 S of Berwick, and has a post office under Beal (R.S.O.), which is the money order and telegraph office. The parish, which comprises the villages and hamlets of East and West Allerdean, Cheswick, and Haggerston, lies along the coast, and is traversed by the N.E.R. Acreage 11,427 of land and 1359 of water and foreshore; population of the civil parish, 1526; of the ecclesiastical, 617. Earl Grey, K.G., is lord of the manor. The chief residences are Haggerston Castle and Cheswick House. The castle was thoroughly restored in 1893. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Newcastle; net value, £300 with residence. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Durham. The church is a 12th century edifice. It belonged formerly to Holy Island, was restored in 1870, and is in good condition. There is also an English United Presbyterian chapel at Allerdean.