Darlington

Darlington, a parliamentary and municipal borough in the south of the county of Durham, on a slight elevation overlooking the Skerne near its junction with the Tees, 23 miles S. of Durham, and 45 NNW. of York. The chief industry of the place is connected with the extensive locomotive works, which give employment to many workers. There are iron and steel works in the north end of the town; brewing and tanning are carried on; and there are wool-mills. Pop. (1821) 6551; (1851) 11,228; (1881) 35,102; (1891) 38,060, of whom many are connected with the Society of Friends, long a prominent and influential element amongst the inhabitants. Darlington was created a parliamentary borough, sending one member to parliament, in 1867. Its prosperity dates from the opening, on 27th September 1825, of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which was the first passenger-line on which a locomotive-engine was employed; and that locomotive now stands on a pedestal outside the station. From the 11th century onwards the town belonged to the bishops of Durham, and till 1867 a borough bailiff, appointed by the bishop, managed its affairs; in that year it obtained a charter of incorporation. St Cuthbert's collegiate church, a very fine specimen of Early English, was founded in 1160 by Bishop Pudsey, and was restored by Sir G. G. Scott in 1869. It has three beautiful sedilia, and a tower 180 feet high. Among the chief modern erections are the other churches (Anglican, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and Non-conformist), the spacious new railway station (1887), a grammar-school, a high school for girls, a British and Foreign School Society's college for female teachers, and the banks of Backhouse & Co., and Pease & Co. A free library was opened in 1885, for which Mr Edward Pease had bequeathed £10,000. At Oxen-le-field, 3 miles from Darlington, are curious cavities of unknown origin, called Hell Kettles; and near Darlington was the seat of George Allan the antiquary (1736-1800).