History of County Durham - England

Image right - Flag of Durham County Council since 1974, based on the council's coat of arms. This flag was used as an unofficial flag of County Durham until 2013. CC BY-SA 3.0, Wiki Commons

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The purpose of this project is to give a historic background to County Durham, to provide information about those individuals of Historic importance linked to the county and to add links to any profiles of significant people linked to County Durham who have profiles on GENi.

See also Main Page

Battles

Castles

• Auckland Castle
• Barnard Castle
• Castle Eden
• Durham Cathedral and Castle
• Lumley Castle
• Raby Castle

Historic Houses

History - over view

The territory that became known as County Durham was originally a liberty under the control of the Bishops of Durham. The liberty was known variously as the "Liberty of Durham", "Liberty of St Cuthbert's Land" "The lands of St. Cuthbert between Tyne and Tees" or "The Liberty of Haliwerfolc"

Timeline

Pre-history

7th Century

• 684 King Ecgfrith of Northumbria granted a substantial territory to St Cuthbert on his election to the see of Lindisfarne.

11th Century

• 1069 Durham city was captured by a Norman army resulting in a rebellion against the new Norman earl Robert de Comines, who was killed.

12th Century

15th Century

References, Sources and further reading

• Pedigrees recorded at the visitations of the county palatine of Durham made by William Flower, Norroy king-of-arms, in 1575, by Richard St. George, Norroy king-of-arms, in 1615, and by William Dugdale, Norroy king-of-arms, in 1666
• The Registers of Durham Cathedral

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Members of Parliament

For Biographical articles go to - http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/research/members

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Lord Lieutenants of County Durham

• Henry Neville, 5th Earl of Westmorland 1552–?
• Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon 2 August 1586 – 1595
• Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset 4 February 1615 – 20 November 1617
• Richard Neile, Bishop of Durham 20 November 1617 – 10 December 1627
• John Howson, Bishop of Durham 13 October 1628 – 6 February 1632
• Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham 30 July 1632 – 1642
• [Sir Henry Vane, the Elder, PC, MP Sir Henry Vane the Elder 1642 (Parliamentary)
• Thomas Belasyse, 2nd Viscount Fauconberg 27 July 1660 – 1661
• John Cosin 13 September 1661 – 15 January 1672
• In commission 18 April 1672 – 19 November 1674

• Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Carlisle
  
• William Widdrington, 2nd Baron Widdrington
  
• Edward Villiers
  
• Sir Christopher Conyers, 2nd Baronet
  
• Sir Ralph Cole, 2nd Baronet
  
• Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet
  
• Sir George Vane
  
• Sir James Clavering, 1st Baronet
  
• Henry Lambton
  
• John Tempest
  
• William Blakeston
  
• Cuthbert Carre
  
• Ralph Davison
  
• Sir Francis Bowes
  

• Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew, Bishop of Durham 19 November 1674 – 1689
• Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough 27 February 1690 – 1712
• Nathaniel Crew, 3rd Baron Crew, Bishop of Durham 8 May 1712 – 1714
• Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough 16 December 1714 – 17 December 1721
• William Talbot, Bishop of Durham 10 January 1722 – 10 October 1730
• Edward Chandler, Bishop of Durham 11 December 1730 – 20 July 1750
• vacant
• Henry Vane, 1st Earl of Darlington 21 March 1753 – 6 March 1758
• Henry Vane, 2nd Earl of Darlington 11 July 1758 – 8 September 1792
• William Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland 26 November 1792 – 29 January 1842
• Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry 7 April 1842 – 6 March 1854
• George Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham 31 March 1854 – 27 November 1879
• George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry 15 January 1880 – 6 November 1884
• John Lambton, 3rd Earl of Durham 2 December 1884 – 18 September 1928
• Charles Stewart Henry Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry 14 June 1928 – 1949
• John Lawson, 1st Baron Lawson 28 April 1949 – 1958
• Christopher Vane, 10th Baron Barnard 20 October 1958 – 19 October 1964
• Sir James Fitzjames Duff 18 February 1964 – 24 April 1970
• John Vane, 11th Baron Barnard 1 October 1970 – 21 April 1988
• David James Grant 21 April 1988 – 30 January 1997
• Sir Paul Nicholson 30 January 1997 – 7 March 2013
• Susan Snowdon 8 March 2013 – present

High Sheriffs of County Durham

15th century

• 1401–06: John Conyers of Sockburn Hall
• 1438: Robert Ogle
• 1470–1475: Sir Geo Lumley
• 1476–1481: Robert Tempest
• 1482–1493: Ralph Bowes
• 1494–1502: Sir Ralph Bowes

16th century

• 1503–15: Sir William Bulmer of Wilton Castle,(near Redcar)
• 1516–1517: Roger Lumley
• 1518–1522: Sir William Eure
• 1523–26: Sir William Bulmer of Wilton Castle,(near Redcar)
• 1527: Sir William Bulmer and John Bulmer jointly
• 1528–32: Sir John Bulmer
• 1533-?: William Hilton
• 1561: Robert Tempest of Holmside Hall
• 1569: Robert Bowes
• 1576: George Bowes
• 1576–1591: Sir William Hilton
• 1592–1594: George Conyers
• 1595–1616: Sir John Conyers of Sockburn Hall

17th century

• 1617–1624: Sir George Selby of Whitehouse, Ryton.
• 1625–1640: Sir William Belasyse of Morton House
• 1641: William Collingwood
• 1642: Sir William Darcy
• 1645: Henry Vane the Elder
• 1646: Sir George Vane of Barnard Castle
• 1647: Richard Belasyse of Morton House
• 1648: Clement Fulthorpe
• 1649: Sir James Clavering of Axwell House, Blaydon on Tyne
• 1651: Thomas Shadforth
• 1652: Christopher Fulthorpe of Tunstall Manor
• 1653: Francis Wren[2]
• 1654: Rowland Place of Low Dinsdale Manor
• 1655: Thomas Bewick
• 1656: George Lilburn
• 1657–58: Timothy Whittingham
• 1659: Robert Ellison
• 1660-7: Sir Thomas Davison of Blakiston Hall.
• 1667–73: Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton
• 1673: Sir James Clavering of Axwell House, Blaydon on Tyne
• 1674: Sir Gilbert Gerard, 1st Baronet of Fiskerton
• 1675–85: Nicholas Conyers
• 1686–1708: Hon. Charles Montagu

18th century

• 1709–1720: Mark Shafto of Whitworth Hall
• 1721–23: Sir Henry Liddell, 3rd Bt of Newton Hall
• 1723–47: Sir William Williamson, 4th Bt of Whitburn
• 1747–89: Sir Hedworth Williamson, 5th Bart. of Whitburn
• 1780: Andrew Robinson Stoney-Bowes of Gibside
• 1789–1810: Sir Hedworth Williamson, 6th Bart. of Whitburn

19th century

• 1810–1814: Adam Askew of Redheugh
• 1815–1818: William Hutchinson
• 1819–1826: William Keppel Barrington
• 1827–1828: Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn Hall
• 1829–1833: Charles John Clavering of Axwell House
• 1833–1836: William Lloyd Wharton of Dryburn
• 1837: Anthony Wilkinson, of Coxhoe Hall
• 1838: Sir Robert Johnson-Eden, Bart., of Windlestone Hall
• 1839: Sir William Chaytor, Bart., of Witton Castle
• 1840: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. of Whitburn
• 1841: William Russell of Brancepeth Castle
• 1842: Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto of Whitworth Park
• 1843: Edward Shippersden of Durham
• 1844: Henry Witham of Lartington Hall
• 1845: John William Williamson of Whickham
• 1846: Ralph Stephen Pemberton of Barnes and Usworth House
• 1847: John Fawcett of North Bailey
• 1848: Sir William Eden Bt of Windlestone Hall
• 1849: John Eden of Beamish Park
• 1850: Robert Hilyard of Horsley Hall
• 1851: Robert Henry Allan, of Blackwell Hall and Blackwell Grange
• 1852: John Bowes, of Streatham Castle
• 1853: Frederick Acklom Milbank, of Hart
• 1854: Henry John Baker Baker, of Elemore Hall
• 1855: Robert Surtees of Redworth House
• 1856: Robert Smith Surtees of Hamsterley Hall
• 1857: William Beckwith, of Silksworth House
• 1858: Timothy Hutchinson, of Eggleston Hall
• 1859: Sir William Aloysius Clavering, Bart., of Axwell House
• 1860: Henry John Spearman, of Burn Hall
• 1861: Richard Lawrence Pemberton, of Barnes
• 1862: Henry George Surtees of Dinsdale Hall[
• 1863: John Richard Westgarth Hildyard, of Horsley Hall
• 1864: John Harrison Aylmer of Walworth Castle
• 1865: William Peareth, of Usworth House
• 1866: William Edward Surtees, of Seaton Carew
• 1867: William Scurfield Grey, of Norton
• 1868: Anthony Wilkinson, of Hulam
• 1869: Thomas Charles Thompson, of Sherburn Hall
• 1870: William Briggs, of Hylton Castle, Sunderland
• 1871: James Cookson, of Neasham Hall
• 1872: Rowland Burdon, of The Castle, Castle Eden
• 1873: Charles Freville Surtees, of Mainsforth, Ferryhill
• 1874: John Fogg Elliot, of Elvet Hill, Durham
• 1875: Anthony Wilkinson, of Durham
• 1876: Henry Edward Surtees, of Redworth House and Redforth Grove
• 1877: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart., of Whitburn Hall
• 1878: John Joicey, of Newton Hall, Stocksfield, Northumberland
• 1879: James Laing, of Thornhill, Sunderland
• 1880: George John Scurfield, of Hurworth House
• 1881: Matthew Kearney, of the Ford, Lanchester
• 1882: Robert Anthony Burrell, of Fairthorne, Botley, Hants
• 1883: Alfred Backhouse, of Pilmore, Darlington
• 1884: Isaac Lothian Bell, of Rownton Grange, Northallerton
• 1885: Christopher John Foyle Fawcett, of The North Bailey, Durham
• 1886: Joseph Richardson, of Potto Hall, Swainby, Northallerton
• 1887: Gerald Percy Vivian Aylmer, of Walworth Castle, Darlington
• 1888: David Dale of West Lodge, Darlington
• 1889: Lindsay Wood, of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street
• 1890: William James Joicey, of Urpeth Lodge, Chester-le-Street
• 1891: Joseph Henry Straker, of Willington House, Willington
• 1892: Sir William Gray, of Greatham Cottage, West Hartlepool
• 1893: Edward Joicey, of Whinney House, Low Fell, Gateshead-on-Tyne
• 1894: Colonel Charles John Reed CB, of Springwell Hall, Durham
• 1895: Hugh Bell of Redbarns, Coatham, Redcar
• 1896: Major Robert Ropner, of Preston Hall, near Stockton-on-Tees
• 1897: Colonel Lancelot Allgood Gregson, of Burdon, Sunderland
• 1898: Samuel Peter Austin, of Cocken Hall, Fence Houses
• 1899: Utrick Alexander Ritson, of Calf Hall, Muggleswick Park, Consett, and

• Jesmond Gardens, Newcastle upon Tyne
  

20th century

• 1900: John Arundel Hildyard, of Horsley House, Eastgate, Darlington
• 1901: George Frederick Boyd of Moorhouse, Leamside
• 1902: Sir William Henry Edward Chaytor Bt of Croft, Darlington
• 1903: John Ewer Jefferson Hogg of Elm Park Gardens, SW London
• 1904: Sir Hedworth Williamson, Bart. of Whitburn Hall, near Sunderland
• 1905: John Edwin Rogerson of Mount Oswald, Durham
• 1906: Frank Stobart of Biddick Hall
• 1907: Rowland Burdon of The Castle, Castle Eden
• 1908: Slingsby Duncombe Shafto of Beamish Park
• 1909: William Cresswell Gray of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool
• 1910: Hon. James Arthur Joicey of Longhurst, Morpeth (later Baron Joicey)
• 1911: Lieut-Colonel John Henry Ropner, of Ragworth, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees
• 1912: Frederick Stirling Newall, of Castle Hill, Wylam-on-Tyne
• 1913: James Westell, of The Cloisters, Sunderland
• 1914: Francis Priestman, of Shotley Park, Shotley Bridge
• 1915: Sir Alfred Molyneux Palmer, Bart., of Walworth Castle, Darlington
• 1916: William Hustler Hustler, of Acklam Hall, Middlesbrough
• 1917: The Honourable Cyril Arthur Liddell, of Ravensworth Castle, Gateshead
• 1918: Brodrick Dale, of Apperley Dene, Stocksfield
• 1919: John Wood, of Coxhoe Hall, Coxhoe
• 1920: Arthur Francis Pease, of Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas
• 1921: Col. Maurice Bell (later Sir Maurice Bell, Bt.) of Rounton Grange, Northallerton
• 1922: Sir John Storey Barwick, Bt., of Ashbrook Grange, Sunderland
• 1923: Capt. Rowland Burdon Webster, of Wolviston Hall, Stockton-on-Tees
• 1924: Sir Frank Brown, Kt., of Norton Priory, Stockton-on-Tees
• 1925: Lieut.-Col. George Herbert Stobart, CBE, DSO, of Harperley Park, Harperley
• 1926: Sir Thomas Garmondsway Wrightson, Bt., of The Manor House, Eryholme, near Darlington
• 1927: Brigadier-General Herbert Conyers Surtees, CB, CMG, DSO, MVO, of Mainsforth Hall, Ferryhill
• 1928: John Henry Bacon Forster, of Whitworth House, Spennymoor
• 1929: Major Henry Siward Balliol Surtees, of Redworth Hall, Darlington
• 1930: John Stapylton Grey Pemberton, of Ramside, Durham
• 1931: Capt. Geoffrey Stirling Newall, of Shepherds Dene, Riding Mill, Northumberland
• 1932: Henry Peile, CBE, of Broomshiels Hall, Satley, Tow Law, Co. Durham
• 1933: Sir Arthur Nicholas Lindsay Wood, Bt., of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street
• 1934: Standish Robert Gage Prendergast Vereker of Hamsterley Hall
• 1935: Col Frank Robert Simpson Bt. of Bradley Hall, Wylam
• 1936: Major Johnathan Lee Priestman of Shotley Park
• 1937: Leonard Ropner, of Preston Hall, Stockton-on-Tees
• 1938: Sir William Gray, Bt., of Tunstall Manor, West Hartlepool
• 1939: Frank Nicholson, CBE, of Southill Hall, near Chester-le-Street
• 1940: Col Robert Chapman, CMG, DSO, TD, of Undercliff, Cleadon, Sunderland
• 1941: Col. Harold Edward Kitching, MBE, of Elmwood, Hartburn, Stockton-on-Tees
• 1942: Col. Sir Thomas Andrews Bradford, Kt, DSO, of Aden Cottage, Durham
• 1943: Col. Hereward Sprot, of St. John's Hall, Wolsingham
• 1944: Captain Edward Ramsden, MC, of Sands Hall, Sedgefield
• 1945: Colonel Charles Edwin Vickery, CMG, DSO, of Whorlton Grange, Whorlton, Barnard Castle
• 1946: Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Laurence Stapylton Pemberton, MC, of Hawthorn Tower, Seaham[
• 1947: Edward John Westgarth Hildyard, of Horsley Hall, Eastgate
• 1948: Major Frank Douglas Nicholson, TD, of Quarry Hill, Brancepeth
• 1949: Captn Sydney Riley Lord of Newbus Grange, Neasham
• 1950: Lt Col. Robert Appleby Bartram of Broomshiels Hall, near Bishop Auckland
• 1951: Colonel Thomas George Greenwell, TD, of Thornley Cottage, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham
• 1952: Philip Ivan Pease, of Sledwick, Barnard Castle
• 1953: Major Sir (Lawrence) Andrew Common, DSO, of Hunter House, Shotley Bridge
• 1953: Thomas Hawksley Summerson, of Hall Garth, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington
• 1954: Brigadier Leslie Harrison McRobert, CBE, TD, of Meadowcroft, West Hartlepool
• 1955: Major Sir Basil Robert James Simpson, Bt, OBE, of Bradley Hall, Wylam
• 1956: Maurice Oliver Pease, TD, of Eldon House, Heighington, Darlington
• 1957: Major Aubone Bryce Surtees, of Hurworth Hall West, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington
• 1958: John Raymond Ropner, of Middleton Lodge, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, Yorks
• 1959: Sir John Gamrondsway Wrightson, Bt., TD, of Neasham Hall, Darlington
• 1960: Lieut-Colonel Robert Macgowan Chapman, TD of Cherry Tree House, Cleadon, near Sunderland
• 1961: Richard Boys-Stones, MC, TD, of Kyo Close, Wylam-on-Tyne
• 1962: Roger Trelawny Backhouse, of The East House, Great Smeaton, Northallerton, Yorkshire
• 1963: Commander Shannan Stevenson, RN (Retd.), of White Hall, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington
• 1964: John Charles Hedley Booth, of Meadow Bank, Castle Eden
• 1965: Christopher William Drewett Chaytor, MBE, of Croft Hall, Croft, near Darlington
• 1966: James Kenneth Hope, CBE, of West Park, Lanchester
• 1967: Colonel James Wadham Grant, MBE, TD, of Northolme, Moor Lane, Whitburn
• 1968: Peter Guy Edwards, of Low Walworth Hall, near Darlington
• 1969: Norman Carse Marr, of Belle Vue, East Boldon, County Durham
• 1970: Ralph Meredyth Turton, TD, of The Hall, Kildale, Yorkshire
• 1971: William Talbot Gray, of Eggleston Hall, Barnard Castle
• 1972: Sir James Steel, Kt, CBE, of Fawnlees Hall, Wolsingham
• 1973: Colonel Hugh Kirton, TD, of Plawsworth House, Plawsworth, Chester-le-Street
• 1974: Elizabeth Scylla Riley Lord, of Low Dinsdale Old Rectory, Neasham, near Darlington
• 1975: Thomas Richard Featherstone Fenwick, of Bishop Oak, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland
• 1976: Lieut.-Colonel Michael Radcliffe Kerens, MBE, TD, of The Old Vicarage, Bolam, Darlington
• 1977: Major William Kemp Trotter, of The Deanery, Staindrop, near Darlington
• 1978: Colonel Sir William Allison Lee, Kt, OBE, TD, of The Woodlands, Woodland Road, Darlington
• 1979: Captain Gerard Maurice Salvin, of Croxdale Hall, Durham
• 1980: Paul Douglas Nicholson, of Quarry Hill
• 1981: Lieut-Colonel Robert Benjamin Humphreys, of Peppermires Cottage, Brancepeth, Durham
• 1982: George Christopher Bartram, of Eldon House, Heighington Village, Newton Aycliffe
• 1983: Frederick Guy Beadon, of Little Newsham Hall, Winston, Darlington
• 1984: John Wood Snowdon, of The Old Rectory, Brandsby, York
• 1985: David James Grant, CBE, of Aden Cottage, Whitesmocks, Durham
• 1986: Rosemarie Hume Gray, of Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, Barnard Castle
• 1987: Ian George Bonas, of Bedburn Hall, Hamsterley
• 1988: Robert Patrick Thompson, of The Old Rectory, Wycliffe, Whorlton, Barnard Castle
• 1989: James Tyrell Brockbank, of The Orange Tree, Shincliffe, Durham City
• 1990: Captain John Hubert McBain, of Westholme Hall, Winston, Darlington
• 1991: Sir Anthony Frederick Milbank, Bt., of Barningham Park, Richmond, North Yorkshire
• 1992: Elizabeth Ann Jennings, of Broomshiels Home Farm, Saitley, Bishop Auckland
• 1993: Desmond Walker
• 1994: Nicholas David Barclay Straker, of Sough Hill, Caldwell, Darlington
• 1995: Robert Sale, of Eryholme Grange, Hurworth, Darlington
• 1996: James Allan Marr, of Brancepeth
• 1997: Michael Philip Weston, Prebends Gate, 3 Quarryheads Lane, Durham City
• 1998: Sir William Gray, Bt., Eggleston Hall, Eggleston, Barnard Castle
• 1999: Frank Nicholson, Cocken House, Chester-le-Street

21st century

• 2000: Elizabeth Ann Smyth, Greenbank, Heighington, Darlington
• 2001: Thomas Macklyn Swan, The Old Hall, Bedburn, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland
• 2002: Andrew Martell, Shotley Hall, Shotley Bridge, Consett
• 2003: Peter Morrison Cook, Broomsheils Hall, Satley, Bishop Auckland
• 2004: Richard Louis Coad, The Glebe, Thorpe, Barnard Castle
• 2005: Simon Jonathon Henry Still[
• 2006: Sareth Ann Nainby-Luxmoore
• 2007: Ian Roberts Dewhirst
• 2008: Paul Francis Adrian Townley of Barnard Castle
• 2009: Alasdair MacConachie OBE DL HonDBA FRSA of Darlington.
• 2010: B Robinson OBE DL of Cotherstone, Barnard Castle.
• 2011: Roger SP Howell of Castle Eden.
• 2012: The Hon Henry (Harry) Francis Cecil Vane DL of Selaby Hall, Gainford, Darlington.

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