in the borough-court, serving on the borough-juries, or whatever else may be judged the duty of those who are thus circumstanced. Beyond the line which constitutes the borough, (sometimes called the town) the tenure of the property is copyhold; that is, holden by copy of courtroll in the court of the lord of the manor, here, the Bishop of Durham, whose steward regularly holds a halmotcourt; or leasehold, under the vicar and vestrymen of the parish of Stockton. Constables and surveyors of the highways are separately appointed for each district: churchwardens and overseers of the poor serve for both. The townships of Hartburn and Preston (both within the parish) have their own officers for the poor and the highways; but have not had the appointment of separate churchwardens for their townships. The court leet and court baron is holden in the court-room at the town-hall, by the recorder or steward of the court, before the mayor and burgesses; the halmot court, at a house near the church. A greve or bailiff for the copyhold is regularly appointed by the court. The magistrates of the county for the district hold their meetings on the first and third Wednesdays in every month, in the court-room of the town-hall.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Of the Public Buildings-the Alms-houses-the
Poor-house-Charitable Institutions.

HE late alms-houses, "for the convenient lodging of poor impotent persons, belonging to the township of Stockton," were erected at or about the year 1682, as appears by the license of Bishop Crewe for that purpose. The place where they were to be erected, by an order of Sessions, dated July 13, 23rd Charles II, was referred to the Right Worshipful Sir Robert Eden, Bart., George Morland, Esq., and William Atkinson, Esq., mayor of Stockton. Mr. T. Rudd, the then curate of Stockton, was the promoter of this benevolent design. Speaking of himself in a memorandum, he says, "In his time, and by his procurement, was the hospital built: the principal benefactors were Margaret Bailey, (who was grandmother to the present Mr. William Raisbeck) Mr. John Stope, Mr. Matthew Wiggoner, but especially Mr. James Cooke, alderman, son of James Cooke, alderman; he finished the same, and at his death gave 1007. to be lent at interest toward maintaining the poor yearly which shall be placed therein." This interest was regularly paid till 1725, when Mr. John Cooke, son and one of the executors of the above Mr. James Cooke, died insolvent; and soon after

that time Mrs. Lucy Dalston, of Acorn-bank, in the county of Westmorland, widow, the other executor and daughter of the said James Cooke, that "the charity intended by her said father might not altogether be defeated, (as it is expressed in a deed for securing the money on the charity-school lands, dated November 27, 1732) gave the sum of 50%. to be applied in the same manner, so as the same be accepted in lieu of all claims," &c.

The alms-house is now a handsome building, in the Gothic stile, which occupies a conspicuous situation on the east side of the High-street, near the church. It was erected in the place of that above described, A. D. 1816, which was a very mean building, and, at the time of its removal, in a state of great decay. This structure derives its origin from the benevolence of George Brown, Esq., of Stockton, and of Threadneedle-street, London, who bequeathed 30007. for this purpose. Soon after his decease, his intention was carried into execution by his executors, Sir Robert Preston, Baronet, Robert Welbank, Esq., and Robert Clarke, Esq., from a plan by Wyatt. The building consists of a centre and wings, 123 feet in length. It is built of brick, surmounted with stone. A spacious arched entrance leads, on the right hand, to a committee-room, where the business of the poor is transacted, and where the trustees for the bank for savings are permitted also to do the business of that institution; over the chimney-piece of this room is a portrait of Mr. Brown, from a painting by Sir William Beechy; on the left hand is a commodious apartment appropriated as a Dispensary for the poor. The rest of the building, both on the ground floor and in the upper story, which is approached by a covered gallery running