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Sedgefield in Durham County England History and GeographySEDGEFIELD, a parish in the north-eastern division of STOCKTON ward, county palatine of DURHAM, comprising the market town of Sedgefield, and the townships of Bradbury, Butterwick, Embleton, Fishburn, Foxton with Shotton, and Mordon, and containing 1955 inhabitants, of which number, 1268 are in the town of Sedgefield, 11 miles (S.E. by S.) from Durham, and 255½ (N. by W.) from London. The town, which rather presents the appearance of a large genteel village, occupying a gentle eminence commanding an extensive prospect to the south and south-east, is remarkable for the peculiar salubrity of its atmosphere, and the longevity of its inhabitants, attributable, in a great degree, to the openness of its situation, and the fine gravel soil on which it stands: the inhabitants are supplied with water from springs. The centre of the town forms a spacious square, where the market is held, on Fridays, which was granted in 1312, by the charter of Bishop Kellaw, and is well supplied with provisions: a large fair, provincially called the Month-day, is held on the first Friday in every month, for the sale of hogs, and there are fairs for cattle on the first Fridays in April and October. A parochial lending library, on the plan of those recommended by the Society for the promotion of Christian Knowledge, has been established, under the patrouage of Lord Barrington. This parish is a member of the great episcopal manor at Middleham, and is divided into seven constableries; that of Sedgefield includes the town itself, Hardwick, and Layton. A halmote court is held here, once in eighteen months, in rotation with those at Cornforth and Middleham, for the recovery of debts under 40s., at which the bishop's steward presides. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at £73. 18. 1½., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham. The church, which is dedicated to St. Edmund, is a handsome cruciform structure, combining the early and later styles of English architecture; the windows are principally in the decorated style: the nave is separated from the aisles by a row of pillars supporting pointed arches, and from the chancel by an oak screen of rich tabernacle-work; in the latter are some canopied stalls: the font is an octagonal structure of black marble; the tower, at the west end, is embattled and pinnacled; and the interior of the church contains several brasses and mural tablets. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A free grammar school, of unknown foundation and endowment, has an income of about £50 per annum, for which six poor children are instructed; six are also educated and clothed from a benefaction of £400 three per cent. Bank Annuities, by Richard Wright, Esq., in the year 1790: the master is appointed by the rector and the vestry. In 1782, John Lowther, Esq. bequeathed £600 three per cent. Bank Annuities, for the instruction and clothing of six poor girls. An almshouse for five poor men, and five poor women, inhabitants of this town, was founded and endowed with £44 per annum, arising from land, by Thomas Cooper: additional benefactions were made by William Wrightson, Esq. and Thomas Foster, the latter of whom bequeathed the interest of £2000 for the benefit of the inmates. Upwards of ninety-one acres of land, under the superintendence of eight trustees, belong to a charity, founded by Dame Eliz. Frevill, in 1630, for apprenticing poor children, and for purposes of general benevolence; in addition to which there are several minor charitable benefactions. Mrs. Elizabeth Elstob, the celebrated Saxon scholar, who died in 1756, was a native of Elstob, in this parish, of which the pious and erudite Bishop Lowth was rector, prior to his elevation to the see of London. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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