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Saturday 23 January 2021

Durham Records Office

Following an everyday Google search I stumbled upon some documents from Clayton & Gibson (solicitors) held by Durham Records Office.   That below outlines & refers to the agreement of the Grand Allies underlying establishment & use of the Tanfield Waggonway:


27 June 1726 (1) The Hon. Sidney Wortley of Wortley, Yorkshire, Esq. and Edward Wortley, Esq., his son, Thomas Ord of Newcastle upon Tyne, gent. (2) Sir Thomas Liddell of Ravensworth Castle, Baronet, an infant, and George Liddell of Ravensworth Castle, Esq., his guardian (3) George Bowes of Gibside, Esq. (4) William Cotesworth of Gateshead Park, Esq. Copy of the partnership agreement of the Grand Allies to run for 99 years from 11 November 1726. All collieries lying above Newcastle Bridge to be held in thirds by (1) (2) and (3) reserving to (2) the present Liddell family collieries and collieries within the townships of Ravensworth, Lamesley, Eighton and Kibblesworth; reserving to (3) the Bowes family collieries at Gibside, Marley Hill, Hollinside, Fryerside, Lamesley, Ravensworth and Kibblesworth and also the Parkhead Collieries; reserving to (1) the Wortley and Ord share in the Stella Grand Lease Colliery and reserving to (3) and (4) the Liddell and Cotesworth collieries of Farnacres and Whickham for 15 years; covenant for the mutual granting of wayleaves for waggonways with reservations as to distance from Ravensworth Castle etc and denying the use of the said waggonways to outsiders without mutual consent. 5s. per ten to be paid to (4) for certain coals led through his lands, those from collieries west of the River Derwent excluded; covenant by (4) not to work any collieries in Durham or Northumberland other than his interest in Bucksnook, Farnacres, Whickham, Stella and Winlaton Collieries during the various terms of 15 years and the life of William Widdrington and also except Gateshead Park Colliery; (4) covenants to forbid use of wayleaves through his lands without the consent of (1) (2) and (3) excepting existing agreements as to Bucksnook and Lintz Collieries, Gateshead Fell Colliery, Dipton Colliery and as to staithes at Winlaton and Stella for the Winlaton, Stella Grand Lease and Clavering's Stella Collieries. Penalty of 40s. per ten payable by (4) for breaking these agreements; general arrangements for colliery working, payments of rentals; (4) to be allowed to lead 600 tens p.a. from Bucksnook and Lintz Collieries over the waggonways of (1) (2) (3) contributing only the maintenance costs for the said waggonway; option for the partners to take a lease of Whickham and Gateshead Fell Collieries from (4); agreement to be void if not ratified by Liddell on his majority or by (4) within seven days of first seeing these articles.

There are many references to our history at the Durham Records Office.   By chance I ended up at  http://www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk/article/11111?SearchType=Param&Variations=Y&Keywords=baptist&ImagesOnly=N&ItemID=165304

then used Windows search CTRL-F & entered a term of interest, eg Tanfield, Bowes, Brandling, coal, etc to bring notes on historical documents into focus.   For sight of the actual documents, we'll have to wait until Durham Records Office is accessible.

Searching for wayleave yields, for example:

21 February 1885 (1) The Rt. Hon. George, Earl of Ravensworth (2) James Joicey of Dissington Hall, Northumberland, coal owner and William James Joicey of Urpeth Lodge, Durham, coal owner, trading as James Joicey and Company Draft lease by (1) to (2) of a wayleave over the Tanfield Branch of the North Eastern Railway for 21 years from 1 November 1879 Rent: £300 p.a.

Searching for Marley gives:

1 May 1857 (1) The Rt. Hon. Henry Thomas, Lord Ravensworth, and others (2) John Bowes of Streatlam Castle, Esq.; William Hutt of Gibside, Esq.; Nicholas Wood of Hetton, Esq.; and Charles Mark Palmer of Newcastle upon Tyne, Esq. (John Bowes and Partners) Draft lease by (1) to (2) of railways from Kibblesworth Colliery to Eighton Banks and Birtley, from Kibblesworth across Black Burn Fell to Marley Hill and from the River Team to Gibraltar Bridge near Marley Hill Rent: £250 p.a. plus a tentale rents as specified

Searching for Brandling shows several results, including:
Ref: D/CG 16/1124

1840 (1) The Rt. Hon. Thomas Henry, Baron Ravensworth (2) William Martin Seppings of Norwich, banker, John Botcherby of Darlington, coal owner, and others Draft grant by (1) to (2) of a wayleave along the Brandling Junction Railway in the parishes of Lamesley and Whickham to lead coals from the Andrew's House, Beckley, Barcus Close, Crook Bank and Byer Moor collieries of Sir T.J. Clavering, Bart to the staithes at Team with three keel berths there Rent: £100 per route mile per annum plus tentale rents as specified

1 comment:

Michael Denholm said...

Many thanks. This is what the Waggonway's history is all about! The origins and people involved in the coal industry 200 (+) years ago. During these dreadful 'Loch Doon' days, I'm going to see if I can find out anything however minute, about Gellesfield Hole pit, Sunniside (off the present Hoke Lane). It may have had a waggonway connection through Whickham. Thanks again.