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Castle Eden Parish -
County Durham c1891
Castle Eden Parish, which comprises no dependent townships, is
bounded on the north by Easington parish, on the west by the
chapelry of Wingate (formed of portions of the parishes of
Castle Eden and Kelloe), and on the south and east by Monk
Hesleden. It comprises an area of 1935 acres, and its annual
value is £8473. The number of inhabitants in 1801 was 362; in
1811, 257; in 1821, 281; in 1831, 260; in 1841, 558; in 1851,
491; in 1861, 535; in 1871, 693; in 1881, 880; and in 1891, 1257 souls.
The
Hartlepool branch of the North-Eastern Railway extends into this
parish, and has a station near the village. Eden is twice
mentioned, under the name of Joden or Yoden, before the
Conquest; and after that period it became the lordship of Robert
de Brus, who granted the chapel to the monks of St. Cuthbert,
with all tithes and parochial dues, upon condition that, within
four years, the prior of St. Cuthbert should build a chapel
within the village, and procure its consecration. This is
supposed to be the origin of the parish church of Eden; and that
a castle or manorial residence supplied the addition to the
name. About the year 1150, William de Sancta Barbara, Bishop of
Durham, demised half of the tithes of Castle Eden to Guisborough
priory, and the manorial rights were bestowed upon that
institution by the son of Adam de Seton. By virtue of these
grants, the prior and convent of Guisborough possessed this
parish till the Dissolution, after which Henry VIII., in 1512,
presented to the church here as to a vicarage; but the church
and manor were subsequently granted out by the Crown, and
afterwards purchased from Mr. Bromley, of Warwickshire, by
Rowland Burdon, Esq., and are now the property of Rowland
Burdon, Esq., who is also lord of the manor.
The
village
of Castle Eden is situated two and a half miles from the sea, a
little off the main road from Stockton to Sunderland, about
fifteen miles north of the former, and twelve miles south of the
latter place. It consists of about seventeen cottages, with
flower gardens in front. Here is a school for girls and infants,
with an average of 78 scholars.
The Parish Church,
dedicated to St. James, is situated north of the
village, and was erected, in 1764, by Rowland Burdon, Esq. It is
a neat and commodious structure, capable of accommodating about
350 persons; and has been enlarged, and otherwise improved, at
various periods. The spire contains a clock, and forms a
pleasing object in the surrounding scenery. The font, an oval
basin of marble, with a Bible by Baskerville, two folio Prayer
Books, a silver chalice and paten, were all the gifts of the
patrons. In the churchyard is a sculptured effigy of an
ecclesiastic, but now much worn, which is supposed to represent
one of the Setons. The living, formerly a curacy, but now a
rectory, is in the patronage of Rowland Burdon, Esq. The Rector
is Rev. Frederick G. J. Robinson, M.A.
The Castle,
the seat and property of Major Rowland Burdon, J.P., is a
noble mansion, pleasantly situated in a spacious park to the
north-east of the church. Its exterior is plain, but the
dimensions and arrangement of the interior are chaste and
elegant, while the surrounding plantations and pleasure-grounds
are extensive, and include a magnificent conservatory.
The Dene.
Great improvements have been effected here of late years, and
Castle Eden Dene has been rendered one of the most romantic
spots in the north of
England.
A recent writer, speaking of the dene, says,
" A
winding and safe road, throughout the whole extent of the
defile, serves admirably the purpose of displaying its endless
beauties to the many hundred visitors who, during the summer,
are admitted by the liberal proprietor to the enjoyments of this
magnificent region, containing some of the finest scenery in the
County of Durham. Seen from the upper part of the dene, not far
from where a stream of water springs from the crevice of a rock,
and, forming a natural cascade, falls into the Gunner's Pool,
the road can be traced to a considerable distance through the
valley below. Snake-like, and in broad coils, it rushes down the
deep/sides towards the bottom of the dell, which is too much
steeped in gloom to reveal its own secrets. Here and there the
road is seen for a moment to right itself upon a level in the
shape of a platform, or to wind round a steep bank covered with
brushwood; but it soon again takes a downward course, and
proceeds to its destination, caves gloomy and unfathomable ;
masses of rock, detached and rolled down precipices
among which a stream of water frets and murmurs—and trees of every
species that place themselves in the soil of
Great Britain."
A
tubular bridge has been placed across Gunner's Pool, rustic
bridges erected, the grounds laid out, and many improvements
effected by the owner, Mr. Burdon.
Castle Eden Colliery
in this township is the property of the Castle
Eden Coal Company, Limited, and was sunk in 1840. The following
seams have been proved here in descending order: Five Quarter, 4
feet; Main Coal, 4 feet 3 inches; Low Main, 3 feet
6 inches; Hutton, 3 feet 2 inches; and
the Harvey, at a depth of 194 fathoms, 1 foot 8 inches. At
present the Five Quarter, Main Coal, and Low Main Seams are
being worked, the latter most extensively; and the average
output is above 1000 tons per day, the greater portion of which
is shipped at the Hartlepools as best household coal, the small
coals being converted into coke. This colliery affords
employment to men and boys, all of whom reside in the
village of Castle Eden Colliery.
Foundry is the name of a village in this parish, about
three-quarters of a mile southwest of Castle Eden, and derives
its name from the Engine Works (Messrs. Richardson's) which were
first started here, but afterwards removed to
Hartlepool.
The
National School
(boys) is chiefly supported by Rowland Burdon, Esq., and has
accommodation for 100, with an average attendance of 70.
Castle Eden Police Station and Court House
adjoins the school, in which the Petty Sessions for the South
Division of Easington ward are held fortnightly on Saturdays.
The police force consists of one superintendent, four sergeants,
and twenty constables. In this village is a cattle auction mart,
at which sales are held once a fortnight, on Mondays, from
December until June. Castle Eden railway station is on the
Hartlepool
and Ferryhill branch of the North-Eastern Railway.
Factory is a group of houses about half-a-mile west of Castle Eden,
and is so called from an extensive cotton mill which was
formerly in operation here. Close by is the extensive brewery of
Messrs. Nimmo & Sons. About half-a-mile distant is Wellfield
Station, a junction on the
Sunderland and Hartlepool branch of the North-Eastern Railway.
Rowland Burdon,
a man of conspicuous ability, was born at Castle
Eden in 1757. He was remarkable alike for his inventive powers,
public spirit, and practical benevolence. He designed and built
the high-level bridge which crosses the Wear at
Sunderland, and amongst other works of public utility,
caused the high road from Thirsk to
Newcastle to be constructed. He represented the
county
of Durham in Parliament from 1790 to 1806. Whilst possessing
great force and firmness of character, he was no less remarkable
for his self-denying disposition and works of unpretending
benevolence. On his retirement from Parliamentary life, he
devoted his energies to the service and welfare of his poorer
neighbours, and ended a life of usefulness, September 17, 1838. |
