West Rainton is a village in the civil parish of West Rainton and Leamside,[1] in County Durham, England. It is situated between Durham and Houghton-le-Spring. Leamside is about one-half mile (0.80 km) to the west, and the south-western end of the village is known by the separate name of Rainton Gate. The village straddles a ridge parallel to the A690 with extensive views to the west.[2] At the 2001 census it had a population of 2,255,[3] increasing to 2,316 at the 2011 Census.[4]
The naming of the township was for one of the seven monks who followed the body of St Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham. Spellings of this name Reingwald have included Reynington, Reynoton, Reynton, and Rayntona.[5] The area belonged to the Prior and convent of Durham and was densely wooded, a park keeper being recorded as appointed in 1338. In 1657 Richard Marshall assigned a tenement and farm holding in West Rainton to Marmaduke Allenson. It then passed into the hands of West Rainton's more famous son – Sir John Duck, 1st Baronet – a Dick Whittington of the North East of England. He owned and built Rainton Hall around the year 1688.
The following is from History, Topography and Directory of Durham, Whellan, London, 1894; "The village of West Rainton is about four miles north-east of Durham, and formerly contained an ancient chapel with chantry dedicated to the Virgin Mary; some of the old stones may be seen in the different buildings in the village. The Old Hall, situated in the centre of the village, was built about 1690, by Sir Jno. Buck, [sic] now in a state of dilapidation, and let in tenements occupied by pitmen. There is a library, reading, and news-room here. There are two batteries of the Second Durham Artillery Volunteers, having a drill-hall here, built by the Marquess of Londonderry in 1880, the headquarters being at Seaham Harbour."[6]
St Mary's ChurchEdit
Saint Mary's church built 1864 has a 130-foot (39.6 m) spire added in 1877 that is a prominent feature of the area visible for many miles. The spire was gifted by Sir George Elliot, 1st Baronet in memory of his daughter Elizabeth. A large granite tablet was used to record this donation and was of special interest being taken from the Great Pyramid of Giza, obtained in 1876 with the permission of the Egyptian Khedive, Isma'il Pasha; Elliot was a financial adviser to the Khedive.[7] The church is a substantial Grade II* listed building, able to seat 500 worshippers. It contains a reredos by Antonio Salviati. Previously an ancient chapel stood nearby.
Coal miningEdit
Coal mining in the area is mentioned as early as the 12th century. In Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham some 1185 men and boys were employed in the Adventure, Alexandrina and Meadow pits sunk between 1817 and 1824.[6] The coals produced were Londonderry Wallsend, Pittington Wallsend, and Londonderry Primrose, for household purposes, and the Hartley for steam purposes. The "Adventure" pit employed 389 people at its peak in 1940. Much of the newer housing in the village dates from the 1950s and was built to house the workforce for the pit as there was little other employment available locally. Although no "disasters", (i.e. pit accidents resulting in five or more deaths) were reported at Adventure, 23 lost their lives there.[8] The pit was closed in 1978.[8]
Nearby, the Leamside line railway, now disused, is still in place.[9]
To the south, in a wooded area, is land owned by the Moor House scouts’ group. It is a 15-acre (6.1 ha) site providing accommodation and adventure challenges, and sleeps up to 38 youngsters.[10]
GalleryEdit
St Mary's church
The Common, locally named 'The Rec'
North Street Cottage
St Mary's church from the south
West Rainton Primary School
Former chapel on Hall Lane, now a private residence. The stone reads "Ebenezer 1922"
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Rainton.
^"The Durham County Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (West Rainton and Leamside) Order 2019" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Retrieved 15 May 2019. note that only the introduction is shows there but [1] shows the name and [2] has the plan
^"Running an Edwardian Railway". Retrieved 14 December 2008.
^"Moor House Adventure Centre". Retrieved 14 December 2008.
October 16, 2023
west, rainton, village, civil, parish, leamside, county, durham, england, situated, between, durham, houghton, spring, leamside, about, half, mile, west, south, western, village, known, separate, name, rainton, gate, village, straddles, ridge, parallel, a690, . West Rainton is a village in the civil parish of West Rainton and Leamside 1 in County Durham England It is situated between Durham and Houghton le Spring Leamside is about one half mile 0 80 km to the west and the south western end of the village is known by the separate name of Rainton Gate The village straddles a ridge parallel to the A690 with extensive views to the west 2 At the 2001 census it had a population of 2 255 3 increasing to 2 316 at the 2011 Census 4 West RaintonWest Rainton Former Post OfficeWest RaintonLocation within County DurhamPopulation2 316 2011 OS grid referenceNZ3246Civil parishWest Rainton and LeamsideUnitary authorityCounty DurhamCeremonial countyCounty DurhamRegionNorth EastCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townHOUGHTON LE SPRINGPostcode districtDH4Dialling code0191PoliceDurhamFireCounty Durham and DarlingtonAmbulanceNorth EastUK ParliamentCity of DurhamList of places UK England County Durham 54 48 50 N 1 29 49 W 54 814 N 1 497 W 54 814 1 497 Contents 1 History 2 St Mary s Church 3 Coal mining 4 Local facilities 5 Gallery 6 External links 7 Parish Council Web Site 8 ReferencesHistory EditThe naming of the township was for one of the seven monks who followed the body of St Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham Spellings of this name Reingwald have included Reynington Reynoton Reynton and Rayntona 5 The area belonged to the Prior and convent of Durham and was densely wooded a park keeper being recorded as appointed in 1338 In 1657 Richard Marshall assigned a tenement and farm holding in West Rainton to Marmaduke Allenson It then passed into the hands of West Rainton s more famous son Sir John Duck 1st Baronet a Dick Whittington of the North East of England He owned and built Rainton Hall around the year 1688 The following is from History Topography and Directory of Durham Whellan London 1894 The village of West Rainton is about four miles north east of Durham and formerly contained an ancient chapel with chantry dedicated to the Virgin Mary some of the old stones may be seen in the different buildings in the village The Old Hall situated in the centre of the village was built about 1690 by Sir Jno Buck sic now in a state of dilapidation and let in tenements occupied by pitmen There is a library reading and news room here There are two batteries of the Second Durham Artillery Volunteers having a drill hall here built by the Marquess of Londonderry in 1880 the headquarters being at Seaham Harbour 6 St Mary s Church EditSaint Mary s church built 1864 has a 130 foot 39 6 m spire added in 1877 that is a prominent feature of the area visible for many miles The spire was gifted by Sir George Elliot 1st Baronet in memory of his daughter Elizabeth A large granite tablet was used to record this donation and was of special interest being taken from the Great Pyramid of Giza obtained in 1876 with the permission of the Egyptian Khedive Isma il Pasha Elliot was a financial adviser to the Khedive 7 The church is a substantial Grade II listed building able to seat 500 worshippers It contains a reredos by Antonio Salviati Previously an ancient chapel stood nearby Coal mining EditCoal mining in the area is mentioned as early as the 12th century In Whellan s 1894 Directory of County Durham some 1185 men and boys were employed in the Adventure Alexandrina and Meadow pits sunk between 1817 and 1824 6 The coals produced were Londonderry Wallsend Pittington Wallsend and Londonderry Primrose for household purposes and the Hartley for steam purposes The Adventure pit employed 389 people at its peak in 1940 Much of the newer housing in the village dates from the 1950s and was built to house the workforce for the pit as there was little other employment available locally Although no disasters i e pit accidents resulting in five or more deaths were reported at Adventure 23 lost their lives there 8 The pit was closed in 1978 8 Nearby the Leamside line railway now disused is still in place 9 Local facilities EditA mile to the west can be found the remains of Finchale Priory sacked by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries To the south in a wooded area is land owned by the Moor House scouts group It is a 15 acre 6 1 ha site providing accommodation and adventure challenges and sleeps up to 38 youngsters 10 Gallery Edit nbsp St Mary s church nbsp The Common locally named The Rec nbsp North Street Cottage nbsp St Mary s church from the south nbsp West Rainton Primary School nbsp Former chapel on Hall Lane now a private residence The stone reads Ebenezer 1922 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Rainton Census informationParish Council Web Site Edithttp parishes durham gov uk westraintonleamside Pages default aspxReferences Edit The Durham County Council Reorganisation of Community Governance West Rainton and Leamside Order 2019 PDF Local Government Boundary Commission for England Retrieved 15 May 2019 note that only the introduction is shows there but 1 shows the name and 2 has the plan Google West Rainton Map Google Maps Google Parish Headcounts Durham Neighbourhood Statistics Office for National Statistics Retrieved 7 February 2012 Parish population 2011 Retrieved 20 July 2015 A Potted History of West Rainton Retrieved 14 December 2008 a b Whellan William amp Co 1894 History Topography and Directory of Durham a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Villages around Durham Retrieved 14 December 2008 a b Adventure Pit Retrieved 14 December 2008 Running an Edwardian Railway Retrieved 14 December 2008 Moor House Adventure Centre Retrieved 14 December 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Rainton amp oldid 1160088664, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
