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According to A History of Northumberland, in Three Parts by John Hodgson (1827) Part II, Vol.1, p.134:
"Rattenrow formerly consisted of a straggling row of miserable dwellings, situated on the march dyke, between the enclosed lands and the fell. It belonged to several proprietors, and only a few years since was divided into five or more farms, the successive occupiers of which were so wretchedly poor, that they brought a heavy burden on the land. At present the whole of it is the property of John Davidson of Otterburn, esq. and is occupied as one farm."

There is a detailed discussion of the origin of the placename which is shared by other places in the county and further afield.
Link

The poor farming situation here is said to have led to the phrase:
"Rattenraw Burn will not make a crowdy after May Day."
That is, each farm raised only a small quantity of corn scarcely sufficient to re-sow the ground and support the family till the succeeding harvest. Crowdy (or crowdie) refers to a dish of meal, especially oatmeal and water, or sometimes milk, stirred together (i.e. gruel; brose; porridge).
The Denham Tracts, vol.1, p.338 (1892) Link