Seaham, County Durham: People and Places of 1879

 Enjoy a glimpse of history about Seaham in County Durham, England, UK.


The Post Office Directory of Durham and Northumberland

by Kelly and Company

Published in 1879


SEAHAM is a parish situated on the coast, about 5 miles south of Sunderland, on the road from Sunderland to Stockton: it consists of part of the township of SEAHAM, in the Northern division of the county, Easington ward and union, and within the district of the Seaham Harbour petty sessions and county court, rural deanery of Easington northern division, diocese and archdeaconry of Durham. The railway from Sunderland to Seaham Harbour passes through it. The church of St. Mary is a stone building of the early part of the twelfth century, consisting of chancel, nave and tower with 2 bells. The register dates from the year 1646. The living is a rectorial vicarage, the vicar holding the great tithes and being bound to repair the chancel; it is of the yearly value of £350, in the gift of the Marquis of Londonderry and held by the Rev. Angus Bethune, M.A. of King's College, Aberdeen. There is a charity in this parish called Bryce's charity, being the interest of £10 left to the poor. Lord Byron, the poet, was married at Seaham and his autograph is to be seen in the register. Seaham Hall is a large stone building, pleasantly situated at a short distance from the church; it is the seat of the Marquis of Londonderry, K.P. lord of the manor and chief landowner. The soil is clayey; the subsoil, clay and limestone. The whole of the land in the township of Seaham is under tillage or plantation. The acreage of the whole township of Seaham (including New Seaham) is 2,244; rateable value, £10,953; the population of the parish of Seaham in 1871 was 313.

New Seaham is a colliery village in the township of Seaham. Here is a handsome church with residence for the clergyman, built by the late Marchioness of Londonderry: it has a small tower with 2 bells and organ; a south aisle was added by the present vicar in 1852, at a cost of about £600. New Seaham was, in 1864, created into a separate ecclesiastical parish, and endowed from the income of the parish of Seaham. It is now a vicarage, in the gift of the Marquis of Londonderry, yearly value £450, and held by the Rev. W. A. Scott, M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin. Attached to the church are two Sunday schools, with lending libraries; there are also two reading rooms for the use of the colliers.

POST OFFICE.—William Young, receiver. Letters from Seaham Harbour at 8.30 a.m.; dispatched at 4.45 p.m. Seaham Harbour is the nearest money order office

SEAHAM COLLIERY, the property of the Marquis of Londonderry, with two shafts, giving employment to a population of 3,000, is situated in this part of the township of Seaham; it is one of the deepest pits in the coalfield, being 290 fathoms deep. There are chapels for Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists in the village.

Colliery National School (boys), Edward J. Armstrong, master; (girls) Mrs. Elizabeth Armstrong, mistress; (infants), Miss Sarah Green, mistress

Seaton and Slingley form a township in the parish of Seaham, from which it is 1½ miles west, 5 south-by-west from Sunderland, and 1 mile from the Seaham Harbour station of the Sunderland and Seaham railway. The chief centre of population in the township is the village of Seaton, containing about 25 inhabited houses, where the parish school is situated, and where there is a mansion called Seaton House, the property of T. Thompson, esq. and occupied by Vincent Corbett, esq. Messrs. Brough and Thompson and John Gregson, esq. are the chief landowners. The soil is clayey; subsoil, magnesian limestone. The whole of the township is in tillage or plantation. The area is 1,392 acres; rateable value, £3,950; the population in 1871 was 228.

Letters through Seaham Harbour, which is the nearest money order office

Parish School, Seaton, Miss Hannah Maria Patterson, mistress

Seaham.

Londonderry The Most Hon. the Marquis of, K.P. Seaham hall

Bethune Rev. Angus, M.A., J.P. [vicar], The Vicarage

Clark John, farmer, East Cherry Knowle

Draper Robert, head gardener to the Marquis of Londonderry

Dryden William, farmer, Field house

Rutter Thomas, farmer, Seaham grange

Stothard Richard, farmer, Cherry Knowle

New Seaham.

Scott Rev. William Armstrong, M.A. [vicar & surrogate]

Brereton James Barry Brough John, sen. Seaham Park house

Brereton James Barry, surgeon

Brough John & Co. blacking & chemical works

Davison John, Colliery inn Davison Robert, butcher

Greenwell Mary Jane & Dorothy (Misses), grocers

Johnson Robert, grocer

New Seaham Colliery (John Brett Eminson, general manager)

Potts Thomas, farmer

Rowell Wilkinson, engineer

Stratton Henry, resident colliery viewer

Turnbull George, colliery viewer

Wallace John, New Seaham inn Wells John Barrett, Mill inn ### Seaton.

Corbett Vincent, c.s.w. Seaton house

Turnbull Mrs Willey Mrs Holland Thomas, farmer

Brough John, sen. farmer

Burton Edward, farmer, High Sharpley

Eggleston Joshua, farmer, Heatherley ho

Elliott Geo. & Jhn. farmers, Seaton moor

Hodgson Bryan, shoe maker

Jackson Joseph, beer retailer

Johnson Wm. farmer, Sharpley hall

Kirtley George, shoe maker

Richardson Elizabeth (Mrs.), farmer

Tate Wm. farmer, Chaff Robins

Taylor William, farmer, Seaton moor

Willey George, Dun Cow ### Slingley.

Miller Andrew, farmer

Thompson Mary (Mrs.), farmer


SEAHAM HARBOUR is a seaport town, distant 275 miles from London, 6 south from Sunderland, 12 north-east from Durham, and 15 north from Hartlepool; it was formed into an ecclesiastical parish in 1843 from the parish of Dalton-le-Dale; it is in the rural deanery of the northern division of Easington, the officialty of the Dean and Chapter of Durham, and diocese of Durham, and in the township of Dawdon; it is also the head of a county court district. Seaham Harbour and town were begun on the 28th November, 1828, by Charles William, third Marquis of Londonderry, proprietor of the manor of Seaham; the harbour, which consists of two wet docks and one dry dock, and one tidal basin, allowing room for about 300 coasting ships, was designed to facilitate the shipment of the coals from his lordship’s collieries. The lighthouse forms a prominent feature, being built upon a rugged piece of rock, and at the base of the lighthouse is a red light, revolving every half minute, to distinguish this port from others. The progress of the town has been remarkable; begun on one of the most desolate spots of the coast, where not a single habitation stood before, it has grown into a considerable place, with 1,150 inhabited houses. The life boat was presented by the Misses Carter, of Harrogate. The town is governed by a Local Board of Health, who are carrying out extensive improvements. Petty Sessions are held here every month at the police station, where also the County Court sittings are held. A company was formed in 1855, by which the town has been abundantly supplied with water; the works have been sold to the Sunderland and South Shields Waterworks Co.; it is also lighted with gas and well paved. There are three railways terminating at Seaham Harbour—the Londonderry, Seaham and Sunderland, opened in 1855, for passengers, general traffic, and coals; the Rainton and Seaham, and the South Hetton and Seaham, for coals. The police arrangements are under the chief constable of the county. The church of St. John the Evangelist is a stone building, consecrated in 1841: it is in the Perpendicular Gothic style, with stained windows; it has a chancel, nave, tower with 1 bell, clock, porch, and organ; and had a large north aisle added in 1860, at the east end of which a handsome stained window was afterwards placed by the parishioners as a memorial to Frances Ann, Marchioness of Londonderry. The register dates from the year 1845. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £260, with vicarage house, in the gift of the Marquis of Londonderry, and held by the Rev. James Colling, M.A. of Christ's College, Cambridge. There is a handsome National school, including rooms for boys, girls and infants, partly built in 1847 and in 1856, at a cost of £1,000, and the infants’ school added in 1868 at a cost of about £700: these buildings can accommodate 560 children; the Marchioness of Londonderry's school will hold 187 children. The cottages can contain 235 children, and the Ropery Walk 347. The Catholic chapel, built in 1870, is a plain brick building, with terra cotta facings, with house for the priest. The schools, which are attached, have been enlarged, and will hold 165 children: these schools are under Government inspection. The Congregational chapel erected in 1856, is a handsome Gothic building. There are also Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan, Wesleyan Association, and United Methodist Free Church chapels. There are Sunday schools at the National schools and Cottages school, and also in connection with each of the chapels. A Horticultural Society, has its annual flower shows. There are baths, both hot and cold, and salt water bathing. A newspaper called the 'Seaham Weekly News,’ is published every Friday. The Londonderry Literary Institute is a handsome Grecian-Doric structure of freestone, built in 1855 at a cost of £1,200, and placed at the disposal of the inhabitants by the third Marquis of Londonderry; it consists of a library, reading-room and lecture hall. The Infirmary is a handsome Gothic stone edifice, originally built by the late Frances Ann, Marchioness of Londonderry, in 1849 (with the proceeds of a book published by her ladyship), and added to at different periods, especially in 1857, when it was greatly enlarged: it is supported by payments by the shipping under the title of ‘Hospital money,’ and the seamen of any ship entering the port are entitled to its benefits: it is capable of containing twenty-five beds, and has the requisite offices. The Marquis of Londonderry's Harbour and Colliery office is a large stone building with a cupola, containing the requisite offices for his lordship’s extensive works. The town depends principally on the coal trade. There are large bottle works, employing upwards of 200 hands; likewise a foundry, and anchorsmith’s and chain works, where a large number of hands find employment; also chemical works. There is a branch of Woods and Co.’s Bank of Newcastle, likewise a Savings Bank. The acreage is 1,088; rateable value, £22,830: its population, which in 1841 was 2,036, in 1851 was 4,642; in 1861, 6,137, and in 1871, 9,031.

Parish Clerk, George Rewcastle.

POST, MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Savings Bank & Annuity & Insurance Office (Railway Sub-office), Rutherford’s buildings, Robert Sample, postmaster. Letters—First arrival, 8.30 a.m.; second arrival, 6.45 p.m. First dispatch to the North, 12.15 p.m.; first general dispatch to all parts, 4.45 p.m.; second dispatch to all parts, 7.45 p.m. Money orders granted & paid from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. & on saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m

INSURANCE AGENTS:—

Imperial Fire, T. Elliott, Rutherford's buildings

London Assurance Corporation, J. Watson, Marlborough street

London & Liverpool & Globe, J. Richardson, 3 North ter

Royal, W. Forster, Londonderry offices; R. Sample, Rutherford's buildings

Scottish Equitable Life, D. Scott, Rutherford's buildings

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS:—

Stamp Office, North terrace, John Richardson, distributor

Custom House & Shipping Office, Hunter’s buildings, William Robert Arkless, sub-collector

County Court Office, Tempest place, Edgar John Meynell, esq. judge; Henry B. Wright, registrar. The County Court district comprises :—Burdon, Dalton-le-Dale, Easington, Eppleton, Haswell Colliery, Haswell Lane, Haswell Moor, Hawthorn, Seaham Harbour, Seaham Warden Law, Cold Hesledon, East Murton & Murton Colliery

Coast Guard Station, James Cogger, chief officer

Infirmary, Tempest place, T. C. Beatty, resident surgeon

Local Board of Health Office, Marlborough street, Henry Brougham Wright, clerk & solicitor; Thomas Gibbon, M.R.C.S. Marlborough street, medical officer; John Nicholson, surveyor, inspector of nuisances & collector

Odd Fellows’ Hall, John street & Caroline street

Police Station, Tempest place, John Smith, res. sergeant

Light House, John Newton, keeper

Seaham Artillery Volunteer Corps, Marquis of Londonderry, commander; Richard Hardcastle, adjutant

Township Office, Marlborough street, John Watson, assistant overseer

PUBLIC OFFICERS:—

Harbour Master, William Sheridan, Sebastopol terrace

Receiver of the Droits of the Admiralty, William Robert Arkless

Deputy Registrar, T. C. Beatty, M.R.C.S., L.S.A. 1 Sebastopol terrace

Town Surveyor, John Nicholson, 67 Marlborough street

Vestry Clerk, Henry B. Wright, Tempest place

Vice-Consul for Sweden, Norway, Holland & the Netherlands, Thomas Elliot, Rutherford’s buildings

Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages, John Dote

Tax Collector, Alexander Ford Hunter, 12 Blandford ter

PLACES OF WORSHIP:—

St. John’s Church, Rev. James Colling, M.A. vicar

Catholic Chapel, Dene street

Congregational Chapel, Tempest place

Primitive Methodist Chapel, Tempest place

Wesleyan Chapel, Tempest place

Wesleyan Association Chapel, Church street

SCHOOLS:—

New Cottages’ (mixed), Miss Mary Ann Doherty, mistress

St. John’s National, Church street, Robert Clark, master; Miss Elizabeth Lambert, mistress; Miss Kate Richardson, infants’ mistress

Catholic, Dene street, Mrs. Honoria Kirk, mistress

The Ropery (mixed), Mrs. Elizabeth Alder

NEWSPAPER.—Seaham Weekly News (published on friday), John Richardson, publisher, North terrace

Londonderry, Sunderland & Seaham Railway Station, Matthew Wuister, engineer & manager

CARRIER TO SUNDERLAND.—John Stamp, daily.

PRIVATE RESIDENTS.

Aird George Henry, Cornelia terrace

Armstrong Miss, Marlborough street

Beatty Thomas Carlyle, M.R.C.S., L.S.A. 1 Sebastopol terrace

Boulton Arthur Geo. Marlborough st

Brough Mrs. Rock house

Brown John, 11 Tempest place

Brydon Robert, The Dene

Candlish Robert, 1 Bath terrace

Chilton Thomas, Tempest house

Colling Rev. Jas. M.A. [vicar], Vicarage

Ditchfield Samuel James, 3 Bath ter

Elliot Thomas, 4 Sebastopol terrace

Eminson John Brett, J.P. Dene house

Foster William, 4 Bath terrace

French William, Marlborough street

Gibbon Thomas, M.D. Marlborough st

Greene Rev. Michael [Catholic], Dene st

Gardner Mrs. Marlborough street

Hardcastle Richard, Marlborough street

Hubbard Charles, Sophia street

Hunter John, Hunter's buildings

Jarrett Mrs. Marlborough street

Jollve Rev. Albert Palmer [curate], 24 Marlborough street

Lambert Miss, Marlborough street

Mann Miss, Thistle cottage

Morris Charles, 4 Church street

Park John, Tempest place

Pattison Mrs. Vane terrace

Petrie James B. 34 Marlborough street

Petrie John, 18 Marlborough street

Phillips Edward A. Bank house

Potts Robert, Marlborough street

Scholefield Henry, York villa

Sheridan William, 2 Sebastopol terrace

Simpson Robert, Pilot row

Sinclair John, Bradyell ho. Adolphus st

Smith David George, Adolphus street

Stevenson Teesdale, Sophia street

Stokeld George, Sea view

Thorman Robert, Dawdon house

Wuister Matthew, 2 Bath terrace

Wallis Rev. John [curate], 18 Marlborough street

Warren Rev. Martin, Frances street

Watson John, P.R.A.S. Vane house

Watson John, 26 Marlborough street

Watson Robert, Marlborough street

Wright Hy. Brougham, 3 Sebastopol ter









Comments