When the new road (the current A697) was constructed in 1831 and the old Morpeth to Breamish Turnpike went out of use, the coaching inn known as Moorhouse, near to the crossing of the Rimside Burn, was no longer needed. It was previously known as the Half-way House, a stopping point for drovers on the route south from the Scottish Border. The straighter line of an even older route, partially lined by beech trees, can still be seen behind the wood and the enclosures nearby were probably used for stock. The inn was renamed Old Moorhouse and the former Swinburne Arms at the road junction to the north became the New Moorhouse Inn. It is now a private house.
The name of this ruin has been left off recent large scale maps. Much of the site to the east is now a sheepfold probably on the remains of one of the old stock enclosures.
The inn on Rimside, known successively as The Swinburne Arms and
Rimside Moor House seems to have had an evil reputation, whether because of the reputed ghosts, ghouls or murders is unclear. The writer of 'Border Bye Paths', Geordie Bell, described the inn as a house of ill-repute, opposite which stood a gibbet. The medieval route was also an ancient drove road from Scotland to Morpeth. There are records of herds and flocks resting among the
heather near the Rimside Inn and Farmhouse, while their drovers enjoyed a good breakfast supplied by Mrs Wardle, the innkeeper’s wife. Tales of ghosts and highway men are common here. It is still an atmospheric and lonely place, often shaded by dark clouds even when sun shines all around.
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