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THE

PAROCHIAL HISTORY

AND

ANTIQUITIES OF

STOCKTON-UPON-TEES.

Part the First.

OF THE ANCIENT HISTORY.

CHAPTER I.

Conjectures on the origin of the town of Stockton, with some account of the neighbourhood at the

same period.

HOUGH early history be in many cases founded on conjecture, yet, if it be supported by rational argument, it will neither be esteemed fabulous or incredible; at least it will admit of an apology for bringing circumstances together, which, in a local view, may not be without interest. The settlement of towns generally arises from the accident of convevenience; they therefore seldom attain a local habitation and a name till they are distinguished by some mark of greater, or less, celebrity and prosperity. For this reason the names

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they do acquire, and the distinction which is given them, are derived from the first settlers, and may often be traced in the aboriginal language of the country. This indeed has frequently led to a wilderness of etymological fancy, which doubtless may sometimes have been right, but is often decidedly wrong; and the ingenious conjecture has, like the unsubstantial vision, dissolved into thin air.

The writer of this parochial history has no hypothesis to sustain, no wish to take his readers back to an era of fancy and conjecture. The object of his present attention resigns all the hoary honours of antiquity, for the life and vigour of a more recent age; and would rather be distinguished by the notice of the future antiquary than assume a doubtful place among the venerable of former ages.

But as I would not wholly forego the pleasure of conjecture, I must, for the present, rest upon other's researches rather than my own. Some information respecting the settlement of a country is always desirable, and, to the contemplative mind, is always interesting. Improvement, both in mind and body, becomes visible at this point; and when we behold the intellectual progress of society, it is more than conjecture to see the arm of an over-ruling power spreading wide his curtain, and a willing people accepting his protection.

I have before me the remarks of a learned antiquary, communicated to me many years ago; and though they extend beyond the limits of Stockton, and indeed its immediate neighbourhood, and are written rather in a desultory manner, yet, as they are connected with the settlement of this country, they are deserving of attention.

At the same time I must remark, that I do not hold myself responsible for all the ingenious conjectures of this learned writer.*

"Stockton derives its name from the stocks or stumps of trees with which the scite was formerly overspread. It may be presumed the country from Egglescliffe towards Norton was a forest of oaks (similar to that where Acklam is situated) in the time of the Britons. The Roman station was at Thornalby (namely, the dwellings in the great camp, as translated from the Saxon) on the opposite side of the Tees; and no doubt the conquerors of the old world, at an early period, denuded a district from whence they were subject to frequent sallies and dangerous

encounters.

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Eggescliffe, or more properly Agger-cliffe (the fortified cliff) declined in consequence of the neighbouring

* John Cade, Esq. F. A. S.

+ There is reason to suppose that Egglescliffe was a place of great antiquity, and an ancient mart. There is a field which retains the name of Castle-field, or Castle-holme, though no traces of a castle are to be found, nor any history denoting one. The shaft of an ancient stone cross remains in an open part of the village where the mart might have been holden. Egg is a British or Celtic term, and denotes a fortress: this interpretation seems preferable to that of Eagle's-cliffe, as the Cleveland hills offer a better airy for an eagle than the promontory at this place: or, Ecclescliffe ecclesiæ clivus, as probably the fortress preceded the Church. As there are many differences of opinion on the etymology of the word, I will add the varia lectiones as I have met with them.

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Wherever Aix occurs in the names of towns in France, &c. it im

town, Yarm, being more commodiously situated for navigation and commerce; and from the occupation of the inhabitants, this latter town appears to derive its

name.

"The subsequent inconveniences attending this new settlement to the palatinate certainly induced the Bishops of Durham to encourage their vassals to migrate, and settle at Stockton, where they built a castle, and made it their temporary residence, granting the inhabitants a charter and other immunities, as the place increased in population and commerce.† It would be in vain to adduce any plea that Stockton can claim an origin prior to the thirteenth century.

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'Billingham was assuredly the old mart, and Portrack the harbour for trading vessels." [This is confirmed by certain articles of agreement between Richard Poor, Bishop of Durham, and the Prior and Convent of Durham, when it was agreed that-All customs touching the

plies the presence of waters, particularly mineral waters-See the fullowing note and Bakewell's Travels.

* Yarm, or Yarum, or Yare-ham, derives its name from the Saxon word ea, aqua, water, or insula, from its almost insular situation, being washed on three sides by the river Tees. The pronunciation of ea easily resolves itself into that of the letter y at the beginning of a word. Thus, Yar-mouth, &c. In some words the original letters are retained; as Ea-ton; and in the celebrated phænomenon of some rivers, the ea-gre, or tide, or rather tide upon tide, in the Humber. In modern Swedish, a pronounced as the French eau signifies water.

+ May we not imagine this to have been the principal cause of Shirlaw, Bishop of Durham, building a bridge at Yarm, and endowing it with funds for its perpetual maintenance?

navigation of the river Tees, except for the passage of the batelli (boats) of the prior and convent to Billingham, shall be reserved to the bishop for ever.]*

"Bellasis, a celebrated name, in the parish of Billingham, situated near the Tees, was an exploratory station both of the Britons and Romans. The house stands within a fortification, and probably derives its name from Bellatucardus, the Mars of ancient Britons, to whom several altars, discovered in Cumberland, have been dedicated.

A long series of years must be allowed to elapse before we meet with any thing in the page of history to bring us acquainted with Stockton: nor do I know one record to connect it with the Anglo-saxon annals. If it be said that the town of Stockton is more ancient than the village of Norton, and that the latter takes its name from its situation, the inference will not hold; for I conceive Norton to have been vicus Normanorum, a settlement of Normans; as Billingham, most decidedly was a villa of the Anglo-saxons.†

By the Boldon-buke, at the time of the conquest, Alan de Normanton held one caracute of land. By Hatfield's survey, at a subsequent period, Roger de Fulthorpe then held Alan de Normanton's lands; as also John of Nor

* Hutchinson's History of Durham.

+ According to Surtees, many Saxon villas remain uninterrupted to the present day. The neighbouring hamlet of Wolviston was of the same era. It does not derive its name from Wolf's-town, but from Wolphere its Saxon owner, as Billingham from Billinge its ancient chief: and also, Elwick, Ellæ vicus.

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