HEXHAM, a town of Northumberland. It is commonly reckoned to be the Alexodunum of the Romans, where the first cohort of the Spaniards were in garrison. It was made a bishop's see by Etheldreda, wife of king of Egfred, in the year 675. Its first bishop, St Wilfred, built here a most magnificent cathedral and monastery, and it was possessed by seven bishops successively; but being very much infested by the Danes, the see was removed to York. The town is at present well built, and its market is pretty good for corn. There was a remarkable and bloody battle fought near this town, between the houses of Lancaster and York, wherein the former were defeated, chiefly by the extraordinary bravery and conduct of John Nevil, lord Montacute, who was for that reason created earl of Northumberland. W. Long. 1. 37. N. Lat. 55. 5.