Muggleswick, County Durham: People and Places of 1879

 

The Post Office Directory of Durham and Northumberland

by Kelly and Company

Published in 1879

MUGGLESWICK is a parish in the Northern division of the county, west division of Chester ward, union of Lanchester, county court district of Shotley Bridge, rural deanery of Esh, officialty of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, and diocese of Durham. The place was noticed in records in Bishop Pudsey's time, who granted it to the convent of Durham in exchange for Hardwick; in the thirteenth century the prior of Durham had a park here, and there are still some slight remains of a residence or castle, also of the fishpond. The river Derwent flows through this township, in one part in a deep and singularly contorted ravine, clothed with oak, birch, and firs; but the southern portion of the parish, stretching westward, is a region of rough hills and moors, rich in minerals, but having a very rugged aspect. Rowley and part of Castleside are in this parish. The village of Muggleswick contains only three farms and a few cottages, and is about 20 miles south-west from Newcastle by turnpike road, and nearly the same distance north-west from Durham, and 9 north from Stan-