KNOW YOUR PARISH

HETTON-LE-HOLE, COUNTY DURHAM

June Watson

Though a superficial glance at the Hetton-le-Hole of today might lead one to think that it is a place with little or no history, this is not in fact the case; the history of the area can be traced back a thousand years. Hetton-le-Hole derives its name from two Anglo-Saxon words which were spelt together: `Heppedune' or Bramble Hill. Various other spellings were `Hepedon', `Hepden', and `Hepton'. The name was taken by a local landowning family, the Le Hepdons, who owned part of the manor in early medieval times. The parish comprises the small townships of Hetton-le-Hole, Great Eppleton and Little Eppleton, including the hamlets of Easington Lane, Downs and Lyons. It is situated 5 1/2 miles East-North-East of Durham and is bounded on the South and East by the parishes of Pittington, Dalton-le-Dale and Seaham. The parish was formerly part of the extensive parish of Houghton-le-Spring, from which ten new parishes were formed between 1830 and 1884, these being Penshaw (in 1830), Rainton (1838), Hetton (1847), Newbottle (1865), Burnmoor (1866), East Rainton (1866), Lyons (1869), Chilton Moor (1882), Eppleton (1883) and Herrington (1884).

The ancient manor of Hetton was divided into two parts known as Hetton on the Hill and Hetton in the Hole, the second and more sheltered part being that in which the present village ultimately developed. Until the early 17th century however the two sections formed one integral estate. Records exist of many holders of the manor right back to the 14th century. William de Hepden held half of the Manor by Deed in 1363, and in 1380 William de Dalden held the other half. At some early period the de Hepdons sold part of the estate to the de Latons of Sedgefield, ancestors of the Musgrave familywhich held much of the land from about 1600 onwards. In 1390 William de Latons' daughter Elizabeth married Piers Tylliol and from the descendants of this marriage may be traced the Colville, Morsely and Musgrave families all of whom were landowners in the parish. The part of the estate held by the Musgraves was later purchased by the family of Bishop James of Durham and subsequently passed to John Spearman, Gentleman, who lived at Hetton Hall. In 1746 the estate was again sold, this time to the Countess Dowager of Strathmore - whose sons and grandsons lived in Hetton Hall - finally passing to the Hon. Frances Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother's Uncle.

For nearly three centuries the manor of Eppleton was held by a family of that name, from whom it passed in 1391 to the warlike family of Heron. William Heron of Ford, Captain of Berwick, Governor of Norham and twice Warden of the East March, sold the estate to a tenant named Todd, from whom a large part of it passed in 1592 to Sir Cuthbert Collingwood of Dalden. One half of the manor afterwards belonged to the Shadforths, of whom Thomas Shadforth, brother-in-law to John Blakiston, was a zealous supporter of the Parliament during the Civil War. In 1692 the estate was purchased by Francis Mascall, gentleman, of Durham.

Coal mining in the Hetton district began in the 18th century, mostly from drifts rather than deep mines, but none of the early collieries were very successful. However in 1819 the Hetton Coal Company was formed and three new pits were developed; Eppleton Hetton pit (the only one still working), Elemore pit and Hetton Lyons pit, where the first sinking began in 1820. The first shipment of coal from Hetton Lyons was loaded at Sunderland Staithes in November 1822. Hetton Lyons Colliery suffered few explosions, though one occurred in 1836 and another in 1860, both resulting in the loss of 22 lives. The success of the new pits and improved transportation attracted miners from other areas and the growth of Hetton through industrialisation is evident from the census returns.

The first census in 1801 gave the population as 212; in 1811 it was 264 but by 1821 it stood at 919 and was growing at an enormous rate. It was interesting to note that despite its modest population Hetton had in 1821 no less than 30 public houses and 5 breweries! During the year 1852 great numbers of the mining community emigrated, perhaps as a result of the many serious strikes at the time. On Sunday, 21 August 1852, nine families left the village, followed on the next Tuesday by another nineteen families, most of them sailing to America. The exodus caused a sensation and large numbers witnessed the departures. During the following week seven more families left for Australia.

The parish church of Hetton-le-Hole is St. Nicholas. The original church was built in 1831, but owing to the rapidly expanding population and the amount of repairs needed, it was rebuilt on the same site in 1901 with the help of generous donations. The present curate tells me that the story is that they built the new church around the old one and when it was finished pulled the old one down. Parish registers for St. Nicholas begin in 1832 and exist to the present day; the early registers are deposited with Durham County Record Office.

The principal inhabitants of the Hetton-le-Hole area in 1828, according to Parson and White's Trade Directory, were as shown below; principal inhabitants of Easington Lane are not included due to lack of space.

HETTON COLLIERY HETTON COLLIERY: CONT GREAT EPPLETON

William Liddle Blacksmith Thomas Forster Coal viewer Ralph Mowbray Farmer; Joseph Smith Engine-wright John Graham Overman Thomas Walton Farmer; Anthony Stark Storekeeper Eliz. Elliott Day Academy Nicholas Willis Farmer; Thomas Walker Joiner

LITTLE EPPLETON - Philip Miller Farmer

HETTON-LE-HOLE

Inkeepers Butchers Day Academies; Henry Walker (Bee Hive) Wm Greenweld Thomas Greener; Ann Armstrong (Board) Martin Hardy William Gretrex; William Chambers (Board) John Harrison Ann Oswald ; Thomas Mills (Coach & Horses) Wm. Huscroft; Joseph Billsborrow (Cross Keys) John Hutchinson Blacksmiths; Thos. -Hardy (Downs Inn) John Ison Robert Alder; Thos. Lamb (Fleece) Wm. Robinson Joseph Dawson; Joseph Dawson (Fox & Hounds) Wm. Thompson; Nathl. Carr (Golden Lion) Brewers; John Hutchinson (Hetton Colliery) Shopkeepers & Flour Dealers James Armstrong; Joseph March (King's Head) Michael Hope John Cleatham; Thos. Willeys (Queen's Head) Mary Lamb Joseph March; Thomas Harrison (Rose & Crown) Jane Thompson; Wm. Huscroft (Shoulder of Mutton) Wm. Waddle Druggists & Grocers; Thomas Day (White Lion) Jane Watson Michael Anderson; Joseph Wright Old Humphrey; Grocers & Drapers; Wm. Armstrong Boot & Shoe Makers Joiners & Cartwrights; Ralph Day Collin Atkinson Geo. Carr; Francis Love Thomas Hudsgith Thomas Fenwick; Matthew McIntosh Matthew Mackintosh Geo. Johnson; James Stark Joseph Neel Thomas Robson; Isabella Stokoe Wm. Vasey; James Waters Tailors; Stone Masons Thomas Crofton; Ralph Day Hairdresser Edward Spencer; Thomas Dunlop John Elliott Wm. Summers; John Thompson; Surgeons Milliners; Edger Phillipson Rt Eliz De Magistris Bakers & Flour Dealers; John Meggeson Jane Thomson Wilson Lowes; Wm. Phillips

Editors Notes

Parish records at Durham archives 1832-2006

On-line resources

History of Hetton  www.hettontowncouncil.gov.uk/history.html

Parish Church History and Parish Records  www.durhamrecordsonline.com/literature/south_hetton.php

South Hetton Village website  www.durhamweb.org.uk/SHP/HISTORY.HTM

Hetton le Hole History www.mymarras.co.uk/pages/hetton.htm

Hetton Colliery  www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/h027.htm

Google map of area http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&safe=off&newwindow=1&q=hetton%20le%20hole&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Google books

“The history and antiquities of the county palatine of Durham”

By William Fordyce, John Joicey page 578-581

“An historical, topographical, and descriptive view of the county palatine of Durham”

by Eneas Mackenzie  368-369