Witton Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Witton Gilbert ˈdʒɪlbərt is a village
and civil parish in County Durham
, England
. It is situated to the north-west of Durham
.
The village once had a railway station on the
Lanchester Valley Line,but this was closed in the early 1960s, with passenger service withdrawn in the late 1930s. However, the station building survives as a private residence, along with one of the platforms.
Witton Gilbert is a medieval town originally Saxon. Witton was originally spelled Witun (Wit meaning white house and Tun meaning fortified place). Gilbert was added later and could be derived from the Norman lord Gilbert de la Ley or a later lord Gilbert de la Latone. In medieval times Witton Gilbert was very central being important to churchmen of Durham and contains a retreat where the great Churchmen resided. Other occupants who visited included royalty such as, King Edward III and queen Phillipa also Edward I.
The hospital continued to be of service throughout the centuries. They had their own chapel and so were still able to worship. The hospital continued to run until the dissolution of the monasteries when the inmates were dispersed to fend for themselves. From then on the hospital
was renovated to a farmhouse and is still intact. The old carved window of the hospital can still be seen from the road and the original entrance is now a doorway inside. The hospital was built around the late 11th century and so is around the same date as Durham Cathedral.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish 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...
, 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 to the north-west 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...
.
The village once had a railway station on the
Lanchester Valley Line,but this was closed in the early 1960s, with passenger service withdrawn in the late 1930s. However, the station building survives as a private residence, along with one of the platforms.
Witton Gilbert is a medieval town originally Saxon. Witton was originally spelled Witun (Wit meaning white house and Tun meaning fortified place). Gilbert was added later and could be derived from the Norman lord Gilbert de la Ley or a later lord Gilbert de la Latone. In medieval times Witton Gilbert was very central being important to churchmen of Durham and contains a retreat where the great Churchmen resided. Other occupants who visited included royalty such as, King Edward III and queen Phillipa also Edward I.
Notable people
- Birthplace of former England national soccer team captain Bryan RobsonBryan RobsonBryan Robson OBE is an English football manager and a former player. He is best known for playing in midfield for Manchester United, where he was the longest serving captain in club history. He was the manager of Sheffield United, being relieved of his first team duties at the club in February 2008...
. - The 1980s pop band Prefab SproutPrefab SproutPrefab Sprout are an alternative English pop rock band from Witton Gilbert, County Durham, England who rose to fame during the 1980s. Eight of their albums have reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart, and one of their singles, "The King of Rock 'n' Roll", peaked at number seven in the UK...
were based around Witton Gilbert.
External links
Beau Repaire
It was a retreat for the great churchmen of Durham built around 1170AD. The land was given by the Norman lord Gilbert de la Ley. The name Beau Repaire is French and means 'beautiful retreat'. During the following centuries the mansion fell in and out of repair. For example Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries or the Scottish - English war of Neville's Cross which involved destroying the retreat and its animals. The vast lands were consumed with game and tenants with huge walls due to deer. in modern times the mansion is now a ruin with crumbling walls next to the old railway line now turned public footpath.Leper Hospital
Gilbert de la Ley also completely financed the building of a leper hospital. The hospital took in five lepers originally which then increased to eight. Wealthy lords often funded hospitals for the lepers because many Christians were deeply concerned for their suffering.The hospital continued to be of service throughout the centuries. They had their own chapel and so were still able to worship. The hospital continued to run until the dissolution of the monasteries when the inmates were dispersed to fend for themselves. From then on the hospital
was renovated to a farmhouse and is still intact. The old carved window of the hospital can still be seen from the road and the original entrance is now a doorway inside. The hospital was built around the late 11th century and so is around the same date as Durham Cathedral.