A little to the north of Hamsterley is Bedburn Hall, which, at the time of Hatfield's survey, was held by Robert Emmerson, who rendered 8s. It afterwards became the property of the Eures, lords of Witton, and subsequently we find it possessed by the Leaton family. Bedburn Park House is the property of the Bishop of Durham, and Hoppyland Hall belongs to G. T. L. Blenkinsopp, Esq. The estate called Shipley, adjoining the Wear, formerly belonged to a family called Blackden; it and Brekon Hill are now the property of George Hutton Wilkinson, Esq. The Monk Field which lies between Shipley and Brekon Hill, belongs to Durham University; and the whole occupy the north angle of the township. Shull, on the north-west of Hoppyland, is an extensive district almost covered by fir plantations, and the property of W. and J. Backhouse, Esqrs.

Bedburn Iron Works, is a small village on the Bedburn, adjoining Hoppyland on the south-west, and at which there is an extensive establishment for the manufacture of edge tools, spades, shovels, &c., and in connection with which there is a saw mill for general purposes. The works are carried on by Mr. Matthew Dodds.

Redford, situated near the Bedburn, was in ancient times the property of the Eures. Mayland occupies the south-west portion of the township; and at the time of Bishop Hatfield, was held by Hugh de Burninghall by foreign service, and 6d., and a pair of spurs at the feast of St. Cuthbert. Property was afterwards held here by the Brackenburys, and the Millots.

HUNWICK PAROCHIAL CHAPELRY.

Hunwick Chapelry was formed by an order in council, in 1845, and consists of the township of Hunwick and Helmington, with part of that of Newton Cap. It is bounded on the north by Brancepeth parish, on the west by the parish of Witton-le-Wear, on the south by the river Wear, and on the east by the river

Wear.

HUNWICK and HELMINGTON form a township, adjoining that of Helmington Row, in the parish of Brancepeth, and constitute the northern and principal portion of this chapelry. The township comprises an area of 1,560 acres, and the principal proprietors are Matthew Bell, Esq., the Rev. G. Fielding, Messrs. Fletcher, Mrs. Graham, Mrs. Booth, Mr. John Robson, Mr. Thomas Young, and Mr. Appleton. The value of property assessed to the county-rate in 1853, was £1,963 16s. 7d. The number of inhabitants in 1801 was 122; in 1811, 150; in 1821, 160; in 1831, 164; in 1841, 338; and in 1851, 486 souls. Hunwick was formerly held by the Binchester family, from whom it passed to the Burdons, Huttons, Eures, Nevilles, and other proprietors. We find a portion of it possessed, about the middle of the last century, by the Stephensons, who transferred it to Joseph Reay, Esq., of Newcastle, and it Hafterwards passed by marriage to Matthew Bell, Esq., above mentioned. The

moor or common called Hunwick Edge, was enclosed and allotted in 1761, e and again further divided in 1806. There are several collieries in this townprof ship, and extensive brick and tile works have lately been commenced on

i

the estate of Matthew Bell, Esq, where clay of a superior quality has been found. There are also stone quarries worked by Messrs. John Fletcher and John Robson, stone merchants, and a mine of ironstone, whose produce is in great request. HELMINGTON forms the northern part of the township.

The Village of Hunwick is pleasantly situated, about 24 miles west-northwest from Bishop Auckland, and contains a corn-mill, two public houses, and a few tradesmen's shops. The population are chiefly engaged in the collieries of the neighbourhood. There was formerly a medicinal well in the vicinity of the village; but, since the sinking of the collieries, its waters have ceased to flow. The plentiful supply of water for which Hunwick was so long remarkable, has lately been interfered with by the cutting of the Auckland and Durham Railway, though every effort has been made by the contractor, Mr. Cail, for a continuance of the supply.

The Church, dedicated to St. Paul, was erected in 1844, from designs furnished by Mr. Corry, of Durham, upon a site given by Mrs. Bell. It consists of nave and chancel, with a western bell-turret, and the cost of erection amounted to about £700. It was considerably enlarged in 1854, at an expense of £200. The church possesses a very haudsome stained-glass window, erected in 1853, by Mrs. Spencer, of Helmington Hall. The living is in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, and was originally endowed with £55 per annum, to which the ecclesiastical commissioners, in April 1851, granted an augmentation of £50. Rev. James Richards, M.A., incumbent.

Hunwick Colliery, to the east of the village, is worked by John Robson, Esq. and partners, and its produce is conveyed across a westerly reach of the Wear, from the principal shaft and the bell-pit to the main line of the West Durham Railway. North Bitchburn Colliery is worked by Henry Stobart, Esq., and partners. Its coals are transmitted by the Crook branch to the Weardale railway.

Low Bitchburn is a farmstead near the brook of that name, which here forms the western boundary of Hunwick township.

Helmington Hall is the property and residence of Mrs. Spencer, widow of the late Rev. Robert Spencer, a liberal contributor to the charities, &c. of the

district.

NEWTON CAP township comprises an area of 939 acres, and the value of property assessed to the county-rate, in 1853, amounted to £1,362 14s. 4d. The population in 1801 was 114; in 1811, 134; in 1821, 145; in 1881, 156; in 1841, 148; and in 1851, 280 souls. This township is inclosed by the river Wear on the south-west, the south, and the east, and may be thus said to form a kind of peninsula. Boldon Book informs us that there were formerly thirteen villains here, who held their lands by services similar to those performed by the villains of North Auckland. At the time of Hatfield's survey there were only two free tenants, and these held but small portions of land. In later time, we find the Bacons recorded as proprietors here, and they are said to have been a very learned as well as an ancient family. The last of the race, who commenced building a stately hall here, now in ruins, is stated to have led a profligate life, squandering his property in extravagance and gaming, and at length terminating his existence by suicide in his unfinished mansion. The tithe-free estate of Newton Cap and Needless Hall were purchased by William Russell, Esq., of Brancepeth Castle, who gave it as a portion to his daughter on her marriage with General Sir Gordon Drummond, the present proprietor. The other proprietors here are E. Smith, Esq., R. D. Shafto, Esq., The Bishop of Durham, Matthew Bell, Esq., Mr. James Bishopbridge, Mr. John Greenwell, Mr. Thomas Wilkinson, and others. The Bishop of Durham is possessor of the manorial rights and privileges. The scenery in the neighbourhood of Newton Cap is very beautiful. The unfinished and ruinous hall forming a striking and picturesque object from the opposite side of the Wear.

Birtley, which forms the eastern portion of the township, was, in ancient times, a forest and park belonging to the prince-prelates of Durham, and we find it occasionally referred to in the records of the palace at Auckland. It is now enclosed and cultivated. Newton Cap Flatts occupies the southeastern angle of the township. The Auckland and Durham Railway passes through this estate.

LYNESACK CHAPELRY DISTRICT.

This chapelry was formed in June 1850, and comprises portions of the several townships of Hamsterley, Lynesack and Softley, and South Bedburn, which formerly belonged to the parochial chapelry of Hamsterley. The

Haggerleazes branch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, five miles in length, connecting West Auckland with Cockfield and Butterknowle Collieries, skirts part of the southern boundary of this chapelry. It was formally opened on May 1st, 1830, and traffic was commenced in the October following. At the time of Hatfield's survey, the prior of Finchale held lands here. We subsequently find the Nevilles mentioned as proprietors, but their property was confiscated on the attainder of the last earl. The principal landowners at present are the Duke of Cleveland, the Corporation of Durham, R. Surtees, Esq., Rev. J. G. Milner, Mr. M. Gibbon, Edward Hodgson and Sons, Mr. F. D. Johnson, Mr. John Simpson, Mr. John Thackrey, Mr. Joseph Simpson, Mr. Christopher Middleton, the executors of Mr. Jonah Middleton, Miss Mary Bowlby, and others. The Bishop of Durham is lord of the manor.

The township of LYNESACK and SOFTLEY, or, as it is sometimes called, SOUTH SIDE, formerly constituted the southern portion of Hamsterley chapelry. It comprises an area of 5,946 acres, and its annual value is £2,793 13s. 6d. The population in 1801 was 517; in 1811, 602; in 1821, 732; in 1831, 795; in 1841, 910; and in 1851, 787 souls. Here are Butterknowle and Copley Collieries, Caike Scar and West Pits Colliery, and Lands Colliery, which, with other pits, occupy the south-western angle of the Durham coal-field.

The Village of Lynesack comprises a number of houses built without any regard to regularity; they are chiefly inhabited by agricultural labourers, and the workmen employed in the neighbouring collieries.

The Church, which is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, and situated near the centre of the village, was erected by subscription in 1847-8, from a design by Mr. Thompson, of Bishop Auckland. It is in the early English style, and consists of a nave and chancel, a south porch, a vestry, and a bellturret at the west end. The interior is commodiously fitted up with low deal benches, stained a dark oak colour; the roof is open, and the general appearance light and effective. The greater portion of the sittings are free. The living is a curacy, in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, and incumbency of the Rev. James Evans Jones.

The Parsonage is a neat building, situated near the church.
The Primitive Methodists have a chapel here.

The National School, a spacious structure, adjacent to the church, was erected in 1851-2, at a cost of £393 11s., which was defrayed by private subscription, aided by a grant from the Committee of Council on Education. It is attended by about fifty children of both sexes.

Lynesack Mechanics' Institute was established in 1850, and now numbers upwards of forty members, who have a library of about 220 volumes, on various subjects. Its meetings, &c. are held in the National School. Henry Byers, secretary; John Helmsley, schoolmaster and librarian.

Bell Margaret, blacksmith

Blackett Robert, vict. Malt Shovel
Brownbridge William, schoolmaster

Chapman William, joiner

Chapman John, shopkeeper

Dowson George, coal owner

Fenwick and mortgagees of W. L. Pratt

man, coal owners

Firbank William, blacksmith

Gibbon Mr. John

Hemsley John, schoolmaster

Hardy John, coal owner and innkeeper,
Edge House

Hymer & Hogg, fire-brick manufacturers
Jones Rev. Jas. E. incumbent, Parsonage
Kirkup John, relieving officer and registrar
of births and deaths for Hamsterley
District

Lamb Christopher, vict. Diamond Inn
Lamb Robert, corn miller

Lambert Atkinson, coal agent

Longstaff William, grocer and draper

This parish formerly included the townships of Merrington, Ferryhill, Hett, and Chilton, but on the formation of the parochial chapelry of Ferryhill, Chilton was included in its district; and Hett was constituted part of the chapelry district of Croxdale. Under the provisions of the Act 9 Geo. IV., for the better division of counties, the townships of Merrington and Chilton were transferred from the south-east to the north-west division of Darlington Ward, and Ferryhill and Hett were incorporated with Durham Ward. In April 1845, the township of Middlestone was transferred from the parish of St. Andrew's Auckland to that of Merrington. The parish is at present bounded on the north and north-west by the township of Tudhoe, in the parish of Brancepeth, and the chapelry of Whitworth; on the west by the township of Westerton, in the chapelry of Coundon; on the south by the township of Windlestone, in the same chapelry; and on the east by the townships of Chilton and Ferryhill. The parish is intersected by a high ridge of hills ranging east and west.

MERRINGTON township contains an area of 1,934 acres, and the value of property fixed for the county-rate, in 1853, was £2,068 5s. The number of inhabitants in 1801 was 228; in 1811, 242; in 1821, 290; in 1831, 339; in 1841, 431; and in 1851, 504 souls. A portion of the Stockton and Hartlepool Railway is in this township. The manor of Merrington was given by Bishop Carileph to the church of Durham; and up to the present time, the whole of the township, with the exception of a few isolated portions, about 100 acres, which belong to Sir William Eden, Bart., has been held by the dean and chapter. At the north-eastern extremity of the township Mr. William Dodds has an extensive iron and brass foundry.

The Village of Merrington is situated on the ridge of a lofty eminence, which commands a view of one of the most beautiful and extensive landscapes in the county, comprising the village of Westerton, the vale of the Wear, with its elegant scenery near Bishop Auckland and Witton; the castle of Brancepeth, Cockfield Fell, Ushaw College, the city of Durham, and a great part of Cleveland. It contains a corn mill, four public houses, and a few shops. The supply of water is very deficient.

The Church is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, and shows many marks of antiquity. It stands at the east end of the village, and from the elevated