Monk Hesleden
Encyclopedia
Monk Hesleden is a village in County Durham
, in England
. It is situated a short distance to the south of High Hesleden
, to the north-west of Hartlepool
.
of Durham
. This had been a common feature, throughout the Palatine
of Durham
, before the Reformation
. The Prince Bishops, later Bishop
s, had a Archdeacon
ry in nearby Easington
, and it is recorded that a great deal of land in the area lay under their ownership.
The Church of St. Marys, at Monk Hesleden can be dated as far back as the 13th century, though by the time it was photographed in the 19th century, it had been greatly altered, giving the impression, externally at least, of a much later structure, almost Georgian
in style. For a long time, St. Marys' was the only local church, until the construction of St. James at Castle Eden
, in the 1760s. Even with the advent of the collieries at Blackhall
, Hesleden
, and Horden
, for a great deal of time, St. Mary's was the only local Anglican church, and with Castle Eden
, the only local cemetery, so despite the village's dwindling population, the church had survived. Unfortunately the church received some minor vandalism in the 1960s, and the council demolished the structure, leaving us today with only the Graveyard and a post, somewhat like a tombstone, marking the site. Despite the disappearance of the church, the parish lives on in name, and following the reorganisation of parishes in the 1980s, now includes the churches of St. James at Castle Eden, St. Andrews at Blackhall
, St Marys in Horden
, St. Cuthbert in Peterlee
, and the Church at Hesleden
.
On the first Ordnance Survey
Maps, the village appears under the name of "Church Hesleden", and in fact it is High Hesleden
, that has the name of Monk Hesleden.
Today only one cottage (once part of a row of cottages, as you enter by the one road, into the village), Browns' Farm, the former Rectory, as well as, a couple of more recent bungalows, are all that remain of the village.
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated a short distance to the south of High Hesleden
High Hesleden
High Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a few miles north of Hartlepool, between Blackhall Rocks and Hesleden....
, to the north-west of Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
.
Etymology and history
Hesleden is believed to be derived from the local word Dene(den) meaning a deep forested Valley, and Hesle a corruption of Hazel, so the original meaning may have been, "Forested Valley of the Hazel trees", which are common in the, Nesbit, Crimdon and Hessleden Denes, that border the village. As for the "Monk", that may either refer to the Church which, once existed, or perhaps some earlier monastic foundation. Or that more likely, the lands around it may have once belonged to the BishopricDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. This had been a common feature, throughout the Palatine
Palatine
A palatine or palatinus is a high-level official attached to imperial or royal courts in Europe since Roman times...
of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, before the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. The Prince Bishops, later Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, had a Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
ry in nearby Easington
Easington, County Durham
Easington is a town in eastern County Durham, England. It comprises the ancient village of Easington Village and the ex-mining town of Easington Colliery, which are separate civil parishes. It is located at the junction of the A182 leading north-west to Hetton-le-Hole. Seaham Harbour and...
, and it is recorded that a great deal of land in the area lay under their ownership.
The Church of St. Marys, at Monk Hesleden can be dated as far back as the 13th century, though by the time it was photographed in the 19th century, it had been greatly altered, giving the impression, externally at least, of a much later structure, almost Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
in style. For a long time, St. Marys' was the only local church, until the construction of St. James at Castle Eden
Castle Eden
For the similarly named castle in Aberdeenshire, see Eden Castle.Castle Eden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a short distance to the south of Peterlee, Wingate, the A19 and Castle Eden Dene...
, in the 1760s. Even with the advent of the collieries at Blackhall
Blackhall
Blackhall can refer to* two adjoining villages in County Durham, in England:** Blackhall Colliery** Blackhall Rocks** Blackhall Gaels* Blackhall, Edinburgh, in Scotland* Blackhall townland near Clane, County Kildare...
, Hesleden
Hesleden
Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south of Peterlee. It has a large pond situated at the bottom next to the Hart to Haswell Walkway. Hesleden also has a park and Dene to walk through and explore....
, and Horden
Horden
Horden is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the North Sea coast, to the east of Peterlee, approximately 12 miles south of Sunderland. Horden was a mining village until the closure of the Horden Colliery in 1987. Main features include the Welfare and Memorial Parks and St...
, for a great deal of time, St. Mary's was the only local Anglican church, and with Castle Eden
Castle Eden
For the similarly named castle in Aberdeenshire, see Eden Castle.Castle Eden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a short distance to the south of Peterlee, Wingate, the A19 and Castle Eden Dene...
, the only local cemetery, so despite the village's dwindling population, the church had survived. Unfortunately the church received some minor vandalism in the 1960s, and the council demolished the structure, leaving us today with only the Graveyard and a post, somewhat like a tombstone, marking the site. Despite the disappearance of the church, the parish lives on in name, and following the reorganisation of parishes in the 1980s, now includes the churches of St. James at Castle Eden, St. Andrews at Blackhall
Blackhall
Blackhall can refer to* two adjoining villages in County Durham, in England:** Blackhall Colliery** Blackhall Rocks** Blackhall Gaels* Blackhall, Edinburgh, in Scotland* Blackhall townland near Clane, County Kildare...
, St Marys in Horden
Horden
Horden is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the North Sea coast, to the east of Peterlee, approximately 12 miles south of Sunderland. Horden was a mining village until the closure of the Horden Colliery in 1987. Main features include the Welfare and Memorial Parks and St...
, St. Cuthbert in Peterlee
Peterlee
Peterlee is a new town in County Durham, England. Founded in 1948, Peterlee town originally mostly housed coal miners and their families.Peterlee has strong economic and community ties with Sunderland and Hartlepool.-Peterlee:...
, and the Church at Hesleden
Hesleden
Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south of Peterlee. It has a large pond situated at the bottom next to the Hart to Haswell Walkway. Hesleden also has a park and Dene to walk through and explore....
.
On the first Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
Maps, the village appears under the name of "Church Hesleden", and in fact it is High Hesleden
High Hesleden
High Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a few miles north of Hartlepool, between Blackhall Rocks and Hesleden....
, that has the name of Monk Hesleden.
Today only one cottage (once part of a row of cottages, as you enter by the one road, into the village), Browns' Farm, the former Rectory, as well as, a couple of more recent bungalows, are all that remain of the village.