Old Durham
Encyclopedia
Old Durham is a hamlet
in County Durham
, in England
. It is situated approximately 1 mile east of central Durham
and south of Gilesgate
.
The most northerly remains of a Romanised farmstead in the Roman Empire were excavated at Old Durham during the 1940s.
Old Durham's 17th century gardens became a popular attraction, which led to the opening of the Pineapple Inn to provide refreshments for local visitors. The gardens used to belong to a 17th century mansion belonging to the Heath family which was demolished in the 18th century.
In 1642 the marriage of John Tempest of the Isle (near Bradbury, County Durham
) to Elizabeth Heath daughter and sole heiress of John Heath (1604–1664) brought the property to the Tempest family. Their son William Tempest
, Member of Parliament for the City of Durham in 1678, 1680 and 1689 also resided here. The Tempests deserted Old Durham in favour of Sherburn and Wynyard
in 1742 and were ancestors of the Vane-Tempest-Stewarts, Earls Vane and Marquesses of Londonderry
Old Durham was the site of a colliery with the Marquis of Londonderry's Lord Ernest pit opening in 1849.
The remains of a railway embankment cut across the area, which featured two bridges, leading to the now-demolished Elvet Station at the end of the Durham Sunderland Line
.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in County Durham
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 approximately 1 mile east of central 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...
and south of Gilesgate
Gilesgate
Gilesgate is a place in County Durham, England. It is situated east of the centre of Durham.Gilesgate was originally the main street in a settlement associated with the Hospital of St Giles which was sited by the existing St Giles Church...
.
The most northerly remains of a Romanised farmstead in the Roman Empire were excavated at Old Durham during the 1940s.
Old Durham's 17th century gardens became a popular attraction, which led to the opening of the Pineapple Inn to provide refreshments for local visitors. The gardens used to belong to a 17th century mansion belonging to the Heath family which was demolished in the 18th century.
In 1642 the marriage of John Tempest of the Isle (near Bradbury, County Durham
Bradbury, County Durham
Bradbury is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated between Sedgefield and Newton Aycliffe, close to the A1 and A689, and is approximately from Middlesbrough. Bradbury is a small agricultural village. The moorland around it is of glacial origin....
) to Elizabeth Heath daughter and sole heiress of John Heath (1604–1664) brought the property to the Tempest family. Their son William Tempest
William Tempest (politician)
William Tempest was a Member of Parliament and a member of the Tempest family of Old Durham. The son of John Tempest and Elizabeth, the sole heiress of John Heath, he represented the City of Durham as Member of Parliament in 1678, 1680 and 1689...
, Member of Parliament for the City of Durham in 1678, 1680 and 1689 also resided here. The Tempests deserted Old Durham in favour of Sherburn and Wynyard
Wynyard Park, County Durham
Wynyard Park, sometimes known as Wynyard Hall is a large country house in County Durham, England. The house used to be the family seat of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, Marquesses of Londonderry, an Anglo-Irish aristocratic dynasty, but it was sold in the 1980s.-The house:Designed by Philip Wyatt...
in 1742 and were ancestors of the Vane-Tempest-Stewarts, Earls Vane and Marquesses of Londonderry
Old Durham was the site of a colliery with the Marquis of Londonderry's Lord Ernest pit opening in 1849.
The remains of a railway embankment cut across the area, which featured two bridges, leading to the now-demolished Elvet Station at the end of the Durham Sunderland Line
Durham Sunderland Line
The Durham to Sunderland Line was a railway line in the North East of England. The line no longer exists, but many features along its path are still visible.-History:...
.