position which it occupies, is one of the most conspicuous landmarks in the entire county; its steeple was one of the points of triangulation adopted during the ordnance survey in 1851. It is a cruciform structure, with a square tower, sixty feet in height, rising from the intersection of the nave and transepts. The venerable edifice underwent a thorough renovation in 1849, when the restorations were made, as nearly as possible, in a style of architecture similar to the original. The cost of the restoration, &c. amounted to upwards of £1,380. When Cumin usurped the see of Durham, his nephew seized this church, filled it with armed men, and began to fortify it with a ditch and vallum. In the churchyard is an altar-tomb in memory of John, Jane, and Elizabeth, the children of John Brass, who were murdered by their father's servant, Andrew Mills, who was executed for the crime, and afterwards hung in chains, A.D. 1683. The parish register commences in 1578. The living, a vicarage in the deanery of Darlington, is a peculiar, belonging to the dean and chapter of Durham, valued in the Liber Regis at £14 48. 9d. The glebe consists of fifteen acres. Some years ago, the living was augmented by the dean and chapter with a portion of Merrington tithes, annual value £50; and in August, 1846, it was endowed by the ecclesiastical commissioners with the remainder of those tithes, annual value £88 18s. 6d. The gross income of the living, in 1835, was £221. Rev. John Tyson, vicar. The Parsonage, which has a small garden attached, is situated west of the churchyard. Charities. It is not recorded how the farm called "Poor's Land," was acquired by this parish. It consists of between 18 and 20 acres, held by lease under the dean and chapter of Durham, at 11s. per annum with a fine for renewal, and is let at £16 per year. The rent is received at Easter; and after setting aside £6 to prepare for the renewal fine, and to pay 15s. 64d. the reserved rent and land tax, £1 is given to the vicar for his private distribution, and the remainder is divided amongst the four original townships of the parish, according to the proportions in which they contributed to the church-rates; viz.-to Merrington 15 parts, Hett 12, Ferryhill 18, and Chilton 18; in all, 63 parts. The share received by the township of Merrington, is given away, in sums of 2s. 6d. and 5s. each, to about ten poor persons not in receipt of parochial relief. In 1728, Ann Morgan left £20, and the Rev. Mr. Simons in 1739, gave £3 15s. to the poor of Merrington township, which sums were laid out in leasehold tenements, now occupied by paupers. John Smith, of Holstone House, near Stockton, who died August 3rd, 1832, left £200 to the minister and churchwardens of Merrington, upon trust to invest the same in the public funds, or on other good security, and to pay the proceeds thereof on New Year's Day in every year, to ten poor widows residing in the parish. This sum, less 10 per cent legacy duty, was invested in the funds in 1833, and the dividends are applied in accordance with the expressed wishes of the donor. POST OFFICE, FOX AND HOUNDS INN: Mary Dawson, post mistress. Letters arrive from Bishop Auckland at 11 10 a.m., and are despatched thereto at 2 10 p.m. Dodds William, iron and brass founder, nison, manager Dunn Mr. Thomas French James, blacksmith Grieve Thomas, schoolmaster Hunt Michael, stone mason, Fairbeck MIDDLESTONE, a township in Merrington parish, the property of the dean and chapter of Durham, comprises 879 acres; and the property was valued for the county-rate, in 1853, at £1,534 15s. The population in 1801 was 78; in 1811, 88; 1821, 117; in 1831, 92; in 1841, 113; and in 1851, 451 souls. Sir W. Eden, Bart., holds the lands here by leasehold tenure. Leasingthorne Colliery in this township is worked by Messrs. N. Wood & Co. The Village of Middlestone is situated on the road between Bishop Auckland and Merrington, about 24 miles east-north-east from the former place; and comprises a few farm-houses, an inn, and several cottages. SHILDON PAROCHIAL CHAPELRY. This chapelry comprises the townships of East Thickley, Eldon, Midridge, and Shildon, which were separated from the parish of St. Andrew's Auckland, in June 1837. Its boundaries, commencing at the Deanery estate, in the above named parish, runs eastward between the southern verge of that estate and the township of Shildon, up to the western extremity of Eldon township; thence north and north-east between that township and Deanery to the township of Coundon Grange; thence east-north-east and north between that township and Eldon to the township of Windlestone; thence east, south, and south-east between the two latter townships to the township of Woodham, in the parish of Aycliffe; thence south and south-west to the township of Midridge, the eastern verge of which it separates from the township of Great Aycliffe; thence west and north-north-west between the townships of Midridge, East Thickley, and Shildon on the north, and Midridge Grange and West Thickley, in the parish of Heighington, on the south, up to the western boundary of the chapelry of St. Helen's Auckland; and thence north-west, north, and north-east to the Deanery estate. EAST THICKLEY, Or Thickley Punchardon, is a small township, 34 miles south-east from Bishop Auckland, and consists of a single farm, whose area is 260 acres. The property was valued for the county-rate in 1853, at £1,092 105. 1 The population in 1801 was 13; in 1811, 13; in 1821, 11; in 1831, 35; in 1841, 452; and in 1851, 622 souls. The south-western extremity of this township is occupied by a portion of the village of New Shildon, containing the Shildon station of the Stockton and Darlington Railway There are some lime works in the township. East Thickley was, in ancient times, a portion of the manor of Redworth, from which it was severed, and rendered a mark yearly at the feast of St. Cuthbert for cornage. Bishop Beck gave it to his chief huntsman, Hugh de Punchardon, from whom it received its additional designation. It afterwards belonged for several generations to the family of Lilburn, and was an object of litigious contention between Ralph Claxton and Richard Lilburn, in the year 1638, when, in a writ of right, prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas at Durham, battle was waged, and, after much litigation, the champions appeared in court, in array, and cast down their gauntlets; their weapons were batons with sand bags: such were the barbarous customs of those days, that the decision of a title to lands was left to a quarter staff. In 1717, the estate came, by purchase, into the possession of Mr. Thomas Gower; it afterwards passed to the Thorps and Hildyards, with the latter of whom it still remains, Robert Hildyard, Esq., being the present possessors. Biography. Major-general Robert Lilburn, who was so conspicuous a character during the period of the Commonwealth, was born at Thickley in 1613. During the civil wars he fought on the side of the parliament, and in 1647, became governor of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In the following year, he sat as one of the judges on the trial of the king, and was one of those who signed the warrant for the execution of the unfortunate monarch. He afterwards became commander-in-chief in Scotland; and, in 1654, was elected, along with his relative, George Lilburn, of Sunderland, to represent the county of Durham. He subsequently represented Malton. On the restoration of the regal power, Major-General Lilburn was tried for regicide, and offering no defence, was banished to the island of St. Nicholas, near Plymouth, where he died in 1665. ELDON township contains 1,540 acres, the property of the Earl of Eldon. The number of its inhabitants in 1801 was 101; in 1811, 86; in 1821, 94; in 1831, 129; in 1841, 186; and in 1851, 238 souls. The property was valued for the county-rate, in 1853, at £1,815. This township was one of the places given by Canute to the church of Durham. The manor, with the whole vill, was subsequently possessed by the Nevilles, from whom it passed to Lady Kenmure. It afterwards became the property of the Earl of Seaforth, but was eventually purchased by John Scott, Earl of Eldon, who held for twentysix years the distinquished office of Lord High Chancellor of England; and it was from this estate he took his title when raised to the peerage. Here are limeworks which belong to Mr. Thomas Sutton, and are managed by Mr. Thomas Thwaites. The Village of Eldon is situated about 3 miles south-east of Bishop Auckland. Eldon Colliery is worked by Messrs. Joseph Pease & Co; the coals are conveyed by the Black Boy branch of the Stockton and Darlington Railway to the shipping places at Stockton and Middlesborough. Directory. George Holmes, farmer, Eldon Blue House; John Reed, farmer, Moor House; William Thompson; James Thwaites, agent for Thomas Sutton, Eldon Lime Works; Thomas Oliver, smith and vict. MIDRIDGE, a township, adjoining that of East Thickley, comprises an area of 1,118 acres. In 1801, it contained 198 inhabitants; in 1811,199; in 1821, 201; in 1831, 307; in 1841, 345; and in 1851, 300. In 1853, the property was valued to the county-rate at £1201 14s. A small detached portion of this township is situated in that of Midridge Grange, in Heighington parish. A portion of the Stockton and Darlington Railway is in this township. From Boldon Book we learn, that there were fifteen villains and four cottagers in Midridge, who held their lands by the usual contributions of grain, money, &c. besides the customary labour. It afterwards became the property of the Fulthorpes, del Stanes, and Scropes; but it is now possessed by Captain Agnew, Miss Halhead, Mr. Burton, and others. The whole of the royalty belongs to the dean and chapter of Durham. Here are stone and lime works, which are carried on by Mr. Jacob Deans, of Shildon. The Village of Midridge is 44 miles east-south-east from Bishop Auckland, and comprises the customary public houses and shops. Here is a chapel in connection with the parish church, in which service is performed every Sunday afternoon, and it also serves as a day-school. The school is supported by the following yearly donations; viz.-£7 from the Bishop of Durham, £5 5s. from the Earl of Eldon, £2 from Miss Holland, £1 from the Rev. James Manisty, and the weekly payments paid by the scholars. Mr. George Bunney is teacher. Here is also a Primitive Methodist Chapel. SHILDON, a township, in the parochial chapelry of the same name, contains 552 acres, and is intersected by the Weardale and Black Boy branches of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. The Shildon tunnel, on the former line, was constructed in order to supersede the Black Boy and Brusselton inclines, and is 1,300 yards in length. This tunnel is constructed for two lines of railway, and cost £100,000. The population of this township in 1801 was, 101; in 1811, 124; in 1821, 115; in 1831, 867; in 1841, 2,631; and in 1851, 2,144 souls. This rapid increase is attributed to the employment of labourers on railway works. The value of property assessed to the countyrate in 1853 was £11,269 10s. This township, with Henknoll, was formerly the property of the Bellasis family. The priory of Neasham had lands here, and we find that estates were also held of the Lilburns, and the Earls of Westmoreland. The principal proprietors at present are, Thomas Marley, Esq., Robert Surtees, Esq., and Samuel Southern, Esq. It con The Village of Old Shildon is situated three miles south-south-east from Bishop Auckland, and since the formation of the various lines of railway in the neighbourhood, it has rapidly increased in size and population. tains a post office, a rural police station, several public-houses, and a number of shops. The Shildon Iron Works are extensively carried on by Messrs. Bond and Co., engine builders. A neat and uniform range of buildings, called Chapel Row, on the eastern side of the Black Boy branch of railway, was erected about twenty years ago. There is a neat square, called the Market Place, a name which it obtained from an attempt being made a few years ago, to establish a market in the village. The village, as well as that of New Shildon, is lighted with gas, from works belonging to the colliery proprietors. A more copious supply of water is much to be desired. The Church, erected principally by Bishop Van Mildert, assisted by the Society for the Enlargement, Building, and Repairing of Churches, was opened in 1834. It is a neat building, consisting of nave and chancel, with a square tower. The windows and porch are faced with polished stone, and the interior is lighted with gas. A gallery is situated over the entrance, and a small organ near the pulpit. The living is in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham, and incumbency of the Rev. James Manisty. There is a parsonage house and grounds, and the endowment is stated to be £225 per annum. The burial ground was considerably enlarged in 1853, at an expense of nearly £170. Here is also a Wesleyan Chapel, erected in 1830. The National School is situated on a portion of ground attached to the churchyard. New Shildon, a considerable village, partly in this township, and partly in that of East Thickley, is situated a little to the south of Old Shildon, and is intersected by the Stockton and Darlington Railway. A portion of this village is in the township of Thickley. Here are extensive works for the manufacture of locomotive and permanent engines for the Stockton and Darlingtor. Railway Company. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have chapels here, and a few of the Society of Friends' have a place of meeting. There is also a Mechanics' Institute, held in premises belonging to the railway company. It comprises a library and news-room, the former of which contains about 900 volumes. In the village is a school, which is partly supported by the Shildon Iron Works Company. Charities. See Bishop Auckland Charities, page 282. The school master at Shildon, in consideration of the income derived from Walton's Charity, instructs 25 children in reading, writing, and accounts. By will, dated July 19th, 1675, Edward Metcalfe gave his house and his lands in Shildon to four poor persons during their lives, and after their death to other four in like manner. The land consists of about three acres of meadow, and is let at £6 6s. per annum. £60 having been received some years ago, on account of the railway passing through it, two cottages were erected on the site of the original one, which had fallen down. The rents arising from these premises, instead of being appropriated to four persons, are distributed to the poor of the township of Shildon not receiving parochial relief, or, in some cases, in addition to their weekly pay, chiefly in sums of 10s. or 20s. POST OFFICE, SHILDON: Elizabeth Davison, postmistress. - Letters arrive from Darlington at 8 15 a.m., and are despatched thereto at 4 25 p.m. Bouch William, locomotive manufacturer Brown William, colliery viewer Clarkson W. school master Coates Arthur, traffic and locomotive manager, New Shildon Coates William, farm bailiff Deans Jacob, lime and stone merchant Downing Nicholas, ironfounder Fielden J. surgeon Forster Edward, builder Glass John, station master, New Shildon Golightly William, colliery engineer Graham J. viewer Manisty Rev. James, incumbent Moore Robt. railway inspector, New Shildon Newby William, blacksmith, horse shoer, Robinson Mr. John Russell John, mineral agent, New Shildon |