Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/75

 54 HISTORY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. northerly direction, across such railway, and along a fence fonning the western boundary of a field belonging to the Auckland and Weardale Railway Company, and along a fence forming the west boundary of a field up to the river Wear ; then along the southern bank of the river Wear to the point where the river Gaunless fsJls into the said river ; then along the western bank of the river Gaunless up [through the Bishop's Park] to the south-east comer of a field adjoining the river Gaunless aforesaid, belonging to Messrs. William, Luke, and Robert Seymour, commonly called " Penny Bat-field f thence westerly along a fence forming the south boundary of the said field, and across a road called the  South Church Lane, leading from Bishop Auckland to South Church, and along fences forming the south boundary of the fields belonging to Richard Bowser, Esq., and along a fence forming the south boundary of a field belonging to the Bishop of Durham, and into the road leading from Bishop Auckland to Cabin-gate, and thence southerly along the centre of such road to the first-mentioned point. Such were the boundaries as defined by Mr. Ranger, in the year 1856, over which the Local Board of Health have jurisdiction. The putting in of the sewers, the flagging, and the establishment of the water- works,* have all been the work of later years. The following gentle- men constitute the present Local Board of Health, viz. : Messrs. W. D. Trotter (chairman), R Bowser, R Nelson, W. Edgar, J. Braithwaite, G. Moore, W. V. Thompson, J. Wilkinson, and J, Thompson. Mr. T. Thornton, clerk. Mr. R Lindsay, surveyor. Mr. J. Joplin, collector. Previous to the passing of the Poor-law Amendment Act, on August 14th, 1834, the Workhouse stood at the south end of Newgate-street, and generally contained from thirty to forty paupers. This old building was disposed of by public auction, and on April 16th, 1853, advertisements were issued for plans and specifications for a new workhouse, for the purpose of accommodating about one hundred persons — ^the cost to be about £2,200. The result was the erection of the present structure, which has, since that time, been both much enlarged and improved. We cannot here enter into a minute description of this large establishment which, under the control of Mr., Mrs., and Miss Wyld, we may say, ranks as one of the best conducted Unions in the North of England. It contains aU the requirements of a refuge for the old and infirm, and every care is taken in the instruction and well-being of the orphans sheltered under its roof. The following gentlemen represent the Township of Bishop Auckland at the Board of Guardians, viz. : Messra W. Edgar, J. Proud, R Nelson, and J. Lingford. H. S. Stobart, Esq., of Witton Tower, is chairman of the Board ; and Mr. W. D. Trotter, the clerk. The following gentlemen constitute the present Bench of Magistrates : Eev. G. P. Wilkinson (chairman). Rev. J. W. Hick, K E. Surtees, Esq., CoL Surtees, K Chaytor, Esq., CoL Hall, CoL Blenkinsopp, C. L. Wood, Esq., W. C. Stobart, Esq., S. Smithson, Esq., and J. Jobson, Esq. Bishop Auckland is now the centre of a great industrial population, and has its iron roads running to all the four quarters of the compass. Its two large banking establishments; its Iron Works ; its Board of Health ; its Mechanics' Institute ; its Music Hall ; its two weekly newspapers ; its Town HaU, and its many business places rivalling some of the largest in the North of England, make up a picture of material prosperity and progress seldom equalled Whether Auckland has seen its best days, as some desponding people seem to think, or whether, by the energy and enterprise of its rising generation, it may become the centre of the iron, as well as the coal trade, is a matter which may be left for the development of future ages. Hitherto the capital acquired in it, in its first stages of prosperity, does not seem to have fallen into the hands of men of much enterprise, and its old inhabitants, like many of the landmarks of its ancient streets, have now been swept away, or have " sought the chimney nook of ease." Our object, which was to trace the town's bygone history rather than to describe its present position, or ran a clear open stream of water nearly the whole length ot the street, and from which the inhabitants of that part of the town got their supply for washing and other domestic purposes ; and, also, two other wells, situate respectively in Durham and Wear Chares. Subsequently, a Public Pant was erected in the Market-place, adjoining an octagonal Market-house, which was erected in 1847, when the chapel of St. Ann's was rebuilt, the supply of water being conveyed to it in pipes from the Bishop's Park. This building— which was pulled down when the present Town-hall was erected^ccupied the site of the BuU-ring. We are not aware whether ever bull- baiting formed a part of the pastimes of the early inhabitants, but, certunly, they had their Bull-ring at this place^ marked by a circle of stones, in the centre of which was placed a large stone^ but no sign remainea (at least in modem times) of any ring or hold- fast to which an animal oonld be secored. Digitized by Google
 * In early times, the only pnblio supply of water was derived from a well in a field at the west end of the town, then called
 * < Pasture- well Field," and in which now stands St. Wilfrid's Church ; another at the lower end of Newgate-street, from whence
 * " "" '* 1 the Market-place, adjoining an octagonal Market-houe