DURHAM. 



DURHAM. 



842 



The cattle bred iii the couuty of Durham are in great repute all 

 over England and Scotland. The Teeswater or Holderness breed is 

 the finest of the short-horns. The cows are remarkable for the 

 quantity of milk which they give, as well as for their aptitude to fatten. 

 The oxen are considered aa the most profitable breed for stall-feeding, 

 as they become fit for the butcher at an earlier age than most other 

 breeds. The Durham cow came originally from Holland, but it has 

 been much improved by careful breeding. The milk, although abund- 

 ant, is not so rich in cream as that of some of the smaller breeds. 



The horses bred in this county are of a superior description, both 

 for draught and for the saddle. The Cleveland bays are preferred for 

 their vigour and activity. Hunters of superior power are produced 

 by crossing strong active mares with blood horses which have great 

 bone as well as spirit ; or better, by having a breed produced by 

 selected half-bred stallions and mares. The young stock are kept in 

 rich and extensive pasture, where they have plenty of food and good 

 water. The dry pastures on the limestone rock are peculiarly adapted 

 to rear horses, the sound soil being advantageous to the proper hard- 

 ness of the hoof. The Leicester breed of sheep is generally preferred 

 in this county. On the heaths and moors a small and hardy species 

 of sheep is found in considerable numbers. 



Diririom, Towns, <kc. The county of Durham is a county palatine 

 that is, a county within which some lord had a jurisdiction " as 

 fully aa the king had in his palace;" but the palatine jurisdiction 

 having been transferred by Act of Parliament from the Bishop of 

 Durham, by whom it was long held, to the crown, the distinction has 

 ben for most practical purposes abolished. The county of Durham 

 if divided into four wards, as follows : 



I. Chester ward, in the northern part of the county. II. Darlington 

 war 1, which extends from the boundary of Chester ward to the 

 boundary of the county on the west and south. III. Easington ward, 

 which is bounded on the north by Chester ward, on the west by 

 Darlington ward, on the east by the sea, and on the south by a line 

 drawn from Croxdale beck eastward to the sea. IV. Stockton ward, 

 which occupies the remaining portion of the county. Chester and 

 Darlington wards are further subdivided into three divisions each 

 Easington and Stockton are subdivided into two divisions each. 



The county includes one city, DURHAM on the Wear ; seven borough 

 towns, namely, BISHOP AUCKLAND, on the Wear, in Darlington ward ; 

 BARNARD CASTLE, on the Tees, in Darlington ward; DARLINGTON on 

 tho Skerne, in Darlington ward ; GATESHEAD on the Tyne, in Chester 

 ward ; HARTLEPOOL on the Sea, in Stockton ward ; STOCKTON on the 

 Tees, in Stockton ward ; and SUNDERLAND at the mouth of the Wear, 

 in Easington ward. To these we may add the new parliamentary 

 borough of SOOTH SHIELDS on the Tyne, in Chester ward. These 

 with the market-town of SEDOEFIELD are described under their 

 respective titles. Of the market-towns of Staindrop, Stanhope, and 

 Wolsingham, an account is here subjoined. 



fitaindrop, population of the township 1429, situated in a beau- 

 tiful vale about 19 miles S.W. by S. from Durham, is an ancient town, 

 and was originally a royal demesne. The houses, many of which are 

 well-built, form one wide street ranging east and west. Staindrop 

 beck runs at the east end of the town. The church, which was 

 formerly collegiate, is in the early English style, and consists of a 

 nave, side aisles, and chancel, with an embattled tower. In the 

 church are several interesting monuments. The market is held on 

 Saturday for provisions. There are congregations of Wesleyan 

 Methodists, Independents, and Quakers, an Endowed Charity school, 

 and an Infant school. Close to Staindrop is Raby Castle, the seat of 

 the Duke of Cleveland. The castle is on the east side of the park, 

 which is very extensive. The principal part of the building was 

 erected by John Nevill, earl of Westmoreland, in the 14th century; 

 a portion is still more ancient. The general effect of the building, 

 from its extent and grandeur, is very imposing. Its situation is fine : 

 it occupies a rising ground, with a rocky foundation, and is inclosed 

 with an embrasured wall and parapet. 



Klanltope is situated on the left bank of the Wear, 21 miles W. by 

 S. from Durham. The parish, which comprehends 55,030 acres, is 

 one of the largest in England : the population of Stanhope quarter or 

 township in 1851 was 2545, chiefly engaged in the lead mines. The 

 church is a plain old building. There are in the town a ohapel for 

 Wesleyan Methodists; the Hart well Endowed school, founded in 

 1724 ; a National school, and a savings bank. About a mile from 

 Stanhope are the extensive works of the Weardale Iron Company. 

 There are also important lead mines and lime works. On the west 

 "id-! of the town is an eminence called the Castle Hill, rising to the 

 height of 108 feet perpendicular from the bank of the Wear. On the 

 Rummit are remains of some ancient fortifications. The market is on 

 Friday : there are three annual fairs. 



Witltinyham is pleasantly situated on a point of land formed by the 

 confluence of the Wear and the Wescrow on the left bank of the 

 Wear, about 15 miles W.S.W. from Durham. The parish had in 

 1851 a population of 4585. The church contains a finely executed 

 font of Weardale marble. The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists 

 and Baptists have places of worship, and there are National schools. 

 The Free Grammar school, founded in 1614, had 55 scholars in 1851, 

 of whom 31 were on the foundation. The income is about 8W. pei 

 nmi'iui. Woollen cloth, spadi*, and edge tools are manufacture' 1 hure 



Several iron blast furnaces have been recently opened, and coal mines 

 are worked on an extensive scale. The population has consequently 

 :>een more than doubled in number since 1841. The market is on 

 Tuesday. The views from the hill above Wolsingham are extensive 

 and diversified. Two chalybeate springs rise near the town. 



Monk Wearmouth and Bishop Wearmouth are included in the 

 parliamentary borough of SUNDERLAND. 



The following are some of the more important villages, with their 

 population in 1851, and a few other particulars : 



West Auckland, 13 miles S.W. by S. from Durham : population of 

 the township, 2303. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in manufac- 

 tures and mining works. Here are a Primitive Methodist chapel, an 

 Endowed school, and a mechanics institute. Great Aycliffe, an ancient 

 village on the Great North road, 14 miles S. from Durham : popula- 

 tion of the township, 812. Besides the parish church there is a chapel 

 for Wesleyan Methodists. There are several corn-mills, a flax-mill, a 

 tannery, and a rope-work. The York and Newcastle railway has a 

 station at Ayclifle. Birtley, 10 miles N. from Durham : population of 

 the township 1833 ; chiefly occupied by persons employed in coal- 

 mines and at the Birtley iron-works. Salt is made here from a salt 

 spring. There are in Birtley chapels for Wealeyau Methodists and 

 Roman Catholics, and a school. Jilaydon, on the right bank of tho 

 Tyne, 18 miles N.N.W. from Durham, has grown into importance, 

 chiefly from the formation of the Newcastle and Carlisle railway, 

 which has a station here. The population is not given separately 

 in the returns. Coal is extensively sent down to Shields by the 

 river Tyne. A suspension-bridge crosses the Tyne at Blaydon. 

 There are here a district church ; chapels for Wesleyan, Primitive, 

 and New Connexion Methodists, and National schools. Fire-bricks, 

 glass, white-lead, coke, and lamp-black are manufactured; there 

 are an extensive iron-foundry and a steam-engine factory. Brance- 

 peth, about 5 miles S.W. from Durham : population of the township, 

 470. This village is interesting on account of its castle, formerly 

 the seat of the Nevills, which has recently undergone a thorough 

 restoration. The church, a cruciform structure in the perpendicular 

 style, erected by the Nevills, is at the east end of the castle. The 

 grounds of Brancepeth Castle are well wooded, and are stocked with 

 deer. In the village is a National school. Castle Eden, population of 

 the parish 491, about 10 miles E. by S. from Durham, is inhabited 

 chiefly by persons employed in the neighbouring coal-mines. The 

 colliery company have established schools for boys and girls. An 

 extensive engine-foundry is in the neighbourhood. Several local 

 mineral railways converge at Castle Eden and join the line to Hartle- 

 pool, which is the shipping port for this district. Eaylesdiffe, popu- 

 lation of the township 493, on the left bank of the Tees, about 10 

 miles E. by S. from Darlington. The village occupies an elevated site 

 on the bank of the Tees, which is here crossed by a handsome cast- 

 iron bridge of one arch 180 feet in span. Besides the parish church, 

 which is ancient, there is a National school. Ford and HyUon, 

 contiguous townships on the river Wear, about 4 miles W. from 

 Sunderlaud, have gradually increased so as conjointly to form an 

 important village : population of Ford township, 1922 in 1851 ; of 

 Hylton township, 546. The principal occupation is ship-building ; 

 there are also earthenware, copperas, and paper manufactories, and an 

 iron-foundry. At Ford is a chapel built and endowed in 1817 by 

 Captain Malin, R.N. Greatham, on the road from Stockton to Hartle- 

 pool, 6 miles S. from Hartlepool : population of the township, 651. 

 The principal object of iiftereat is Greatham Hospital, founded in 

 1272 by Robert de Stichill, bishop of Durham ; the present commo- 

 dious building was erected by the late Earl of Bridgewater, who also 

 laid out the grounds and plantations. The institution supports 13 

 brethren and a master. The parish church is modern. Parkhurst's 

 Hospital is an institution for six poor widows or spinsters. There is 

 an Infant school. Heighington, 6 J miles N.N.W. from Darlington, on 

 the road to Bishop Auckland : population of the township, 685. The 

 parish church, an ancient gothic structure, has a fine Norman tower. 

 There is a Wesleyan Methodist chapel. The Grammar school, founded 

 in 1601, has an endowment of about 70Z. a year, and had 72 scholars 

 in 1851. The village is chiefly dependent on the trade arising from 

 the residence of several wealthy families in the vicinity. Hetton-le- 

 Hole is pleasantly situated hi a vale about 6 miles N.E. from Durham : 

 population of the township, 5664. The coal raised from the Hetton 

 collieries is carried by railway to the river Wear, and thence by water 

 to Sunderland for shipment. There is also railway communication 

 with Suuderland. The Methodists have places of worship, and there is 

 a National school. Heworth is a chapelry in the parochial chapelry of 

 Jarrow : population, 8869. It is divided into Upper and Nether or 

 Low Heworth. The chapel at Low Heworth is a modern building. 

 Some very ancient coins of the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria were 

 some years since dug up in the chapel-yard. One corner of this 

 chapel-yard contains a monument, a neat plain obelisk nine feet high, 

 fixed on a stone base, to the memory of 91 persons killed in tho 

 explosion of Felling colliery in 1812. There is a parish school-house, 

 built by subscription in 1815. At Heworth Shore, on tho Tyne, are 

 manufactories of Prussian blue and other colours, one for coal tar, 

 and works for preparing alkali for soap-boilera ; also ship-building 

 yards, a pottery, a glass house, and wharfs for the shipment of grind- 

 stones. Freestone of a porous character, called from its excellence in 



