Witton Gilbert

Human settlement in England

Witton Gilbert

Witton Gilbert

Location within County Durham

Population| 2,419 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference| NZ235459
Unitary authority|

* County Durham

Ceremonial county|

* Durham

Region|

* North East

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| DURHAM
Postcode district| DH7
Dialling code| 0191
Police| Durham
Fire| County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance| North East
UK Parliament|

* City of Durham

List of places

England
County Durham

54°48′29″N 1°38′06″W﻿ / ﻿54.808°N 1.635°W﻿ / 54.808; -1.635

Witton Gilbert /ˈdʒɪlbərt/ is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England.

## Geography

[edit]

Witton Gilbert is situated about 3.7 miles (6.0 km) to the north-west of Durham. River Browney passes to the south of the village, while Dene Burn, one of its tributaries, runs through it. Parts of the Prior of Durham's Park of Beaurepaire are within the bounds of Witton Gilbert.

The village once had a railway station on the Lanchester Valley Line, but this was closed in the early 1960s, with passenger service withdrawn in the late 1930s. However, the station building survives as a private residence, along with one of the platforms. The former railway line has been turned into a foot and cycle path and is part of National Cycle Route 14.

## History

[edit]

There is archaeological evidence of the area having been populated in the late Neolithic and in the Bronze Age periods. A small Roman settlement at Crookton across the River Browney existed as a settlement until the 13th century.[2]

Witton Gilbert is a medieval town of Saxon origin. Witton was originally spelled Witun (Wit meaning white house and Tun meaning fortified place). The designation "Gilbert" was added later and could refer to the Norman lord Gilbert de la Ley, a major landowner in the 12th century, or a later lord Gilbert de la Latone. In medieval times Witton Gilbert was very important to the churchmen of Durham and became the place of a retreat or residence of the latter. Other occasional occupants included visiting royalty such as King Edward III and Queen Philippa and also King Edward I.

Methodist Chapel

In the early 14th century, coal mining started in the parish from bell pits, however, the deposits were soon worked out. The first school in the village is known from the 1660s, a schoolhouse was built on Front Street in 1720. In 1875, the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built. From 1894 to 1937 Witton Gilbert and neighbouring Sacriston formed a joint civil parish. Nearby collieries employed numerous workers, many of whom settled in Witton Gilbert, so that the population reportedly increased to about 4,400 people in 1896. Coal was again extracted in a small drift mine from after World War I until shortly after the nationalisation of the coal industry. Some of England's first council houses were built at the beginning of the 20th century, further housing estates were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s. A road bypass to the south of the village was opened in 1996.[2]

## Beaurepaire Priory

[edit]

Ruins of Beaurepaire Prior's House

The manor house of Beau Repaire (French for 'beautiful retreat') was built near Witton Gilbert in the mid-13th century and became a retreat for the priors and monks of Durham Cathedral. The name was later corrupted to Bearpark, which is also the name of the village south of Witton Gilbert. During the following centuries the mansion fell in and out of repair. After Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries it was still occasionally used by the deans of Durham, but during the English Civil War it suffered major damage by Scottish troops. Since then, it has fallen into ruin, although it attracted antiquarian attention. Beaurepaire was the centre of a large hunting park.[3] Tenants built walls to keep the game off the fields.

## Leper Hospital

[edit]

Around 1175, Gilbert de la Ley, Lord of the Manor and tenant of the Bishop of Durham, financed the building of a leper hospital.[2] The hospital originally took in five lepers, their number later increased to eight. Wealthy lords often funded hospitals for the lepers out of Christian concern for their suffering and as an act of piety. The hospital had its own chapel for worship and continued to operate until the dissolution of the monasteries when the inmates were dispersed to fend for themselves. Afterwards, the hospital was converted to a farmhouse and is still in use. A medieval window frame carved out of stone can still be seen from Coach Lane, and the original entrance is now a doorway inside.

## St. Michael and all Angels parish church

[edit]

Hugh Pudsey, Bishop of Durham in the late 12th century, felt the need for a church in Witton because St. Oswalds in Durham was too far away. The church was built around 1175 AD[2] and still retains some of its medieval features. It was later extended so that it offered room for about 70 people. Originally priests travelled to Witton church once a fortnight to hold services, however after the Reformation the church became independent and conducted its own services.

## Notable people

[edit]

* The 1980s sophisti-pop band Prefab Sprout were based around Witton Gilbert.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 13 July 2015.
2. ^ a b c d "History". Witton Gilbert Parish Council.
3. ^ "Chapel of Beaurepaire, Bearpark, Witton Gilbert (Bearpark)". Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council. 11 September 2012.
4. ^ "Paddy McAloon and Thomas Dolby: How we made Prefab Sprout's Steve McQueen". 30 June 2020.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witton Gilbert.

* Community website
* Subterranea Britannica entry on Witton Gilbert station.

* v
* t
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Civil parishes in County Durham

* including Stockton-on-Tees (north of the river)

Darlington|

Parishes
Archdeacon Newton
Barmpton
Bishopton
Brafferton
Coatham Mundeville
Denton
East and West Newbiggin
Great Burdon
Great Stainton
Heighington
High Coniscliffe
Houghton le Side
Hurworth
Killerby
Little Stainton
Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent
Middleton St. George
Morton Palms
Neasham
Piercebridge
Sadberge
Summerhouse
Walworth
Whessoe

Unparished areas
The former Darlington County Borough

County Durham|

Towns
Barnard Castle
Bishop Auckland
Chilton
Ferryhill
Great Aycliffe
Greater Willington
Peterlee
Seaham
Sedgefield
Shildon
Spennymoor
Stanley
Tow Law

Parishes
Barforth
Barningham
Bearpark
Belmont
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Bolam
Boldron
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Bowes
Bradbury and the Isle
Brancepeth
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Cassop-cum-Quarrington
Castle Eden
City of Durham
Cleatlam
Cockfield
Cornforth
Cornsay
Cotherstone
Coxhoe
Croxdale and Hett
Dalton-le-Dale
Dene Valley
Easington Colliery
Easington Village
Edmondbyers
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Eggleston
Egglestone Abbey
Eldon
Esh
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Evenwood and Barony
Fishburn
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Framwellgate Moor
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Hilton
Holwick
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Ingleton
Kelloe
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Lartington
Little Lumley
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Lynesack and Softley
Marwood
Mickleton
Middleton in Teesdale
Middridge
Monk Hesleden
Mordon
Morton Tinmouth
Muggleswick
Murton
Nesbitt
Newbiggin
North Lodge
Ouston
Ovington
Pelton
Pittington
Raby with Keverstone
Rokeby
Romaldkirk
Sacriston
Satley
Scargill
Seaton with Slingley
Shadforth
Sheraton with Hulam
Sherburn Village
Shincliffe
Shotton
South Bedburn
South Hetton
Staindrop
Stanhope
Startforth
Streatlam and Stainton
Thornley
Toft Hill
Trimdon
Trimdon Foundry
Urpeth
Waldridge
Wackerfield
Weather Hill Wood
West Auckland
West Rainton and Leamside
Westwick
Wheatley Hill
Whorlton
Windlestone
Wingate
Winston
Witton Gilbert
Witton-le-Wear
Wolsingham
Wolsingham Park Moor
Woodland
Wycliffe with Thorpe

Unparished areas
The former Chester le Street Urban District
Consett
Parts of the former Durham Municipal Borough
Parts of the former Bishop Auckland Urban District
Crook and Willington Urban District
Stanley Urban District

Hartlepool|

Towns
Headland

Parishes
Brierton
Claxton
Dalton Piercy
Elwick
Greatham
Hart
Newton Bewley
Wynyard

Unparished areas
Part of the former Hartlepool County Borough

Stockton-on-Tees|

Towns
Billingham

Parishes
Aislaby
Carlton
Egglescliffe
Elton
Grindon and Thorpe Thewles
Longnewton
Newsham
Preston-on-Tees
Redmarshall
Stillington and Whitton
Wolviston
Wynyard

Unparished areas
Part of the former Teesside County Borough

* For further information about the above parishes, see List of civil parishes in County Durham.

* For the part of Stockton-on-Tees (borough) south of the River Tees, see List of civil parishes in North Yorkshire.

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