West Rainton

West Rainton
West Rainton Former Post Office
West Rainton West Rainton shown within County Durham
Population	2,316 (2011)
OS grid reference	NZ3246
Civil parish	West Rainton
Unitary authority	County Durham
Ceremonial county	County Durham
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HOUGHTON LE SPRING
Postcode district	DH4
Dialling code	0191
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	City of Durham
List of places UK England County Durham

Coordinates: 54°48′50″N 1°29′49″W / 54.814°N 1.497°W / 54.814; -1.497

West Rainton is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated between Durham and Houghton-le-Spring. Leamside is about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) to the west, and the south-western end of the village is known by the separate name of Rainton Gate. The village straddles a ridge parallel to the A690 with extensive views to the west. At the 2001 census it had a population of 2,255,^[1] inceasing to 2,316 at the 2011 Census.^[2]

History

The naming of the township was for one of the seven monks who followed the body of St. Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham. Spellings of this name Reingwald have included Reynington, Reynoton, Reynton, and Rayntona.^[3] The area belonged to the Prior and convent of Durham and was densely wooded, a park keeper being recorded as appointed in 1338. In 1657 Richard Marshall assigned a tenement and farm holding in West Rainton to Marmaduke Allenson. It then passed into the hands of West Rainton’s more famous son – Sir John Duck, Baronet – a Dick Whittington of the North East of England. He owned and built Rainton Hall around the year 1688.

The following is from 'History, Topography and Directory of Durham, Whellan, London, 1894; "The village of West Rainton is about four miles north-east of Durham, and formerly contained an ancient chapel with chantry dedicated to the Virgin Mary; some of the old stones may be seen in the different buildings in the village. The Old Hall, situated in the centre of the village, was built about 1690, by Sir Jno. Buck, now in a state of dilapidation, and let in tenements occupied by pitmen. There is a library, reading, and news-room here. There are two batteries of the Second Durham Artillery Volunteers, having a drill-hall here, built by the Marquess of Londonderry in 1880, the headquarters being at Seaham Harbour.

St. Mary's Church

Saint Mary's church built 1864 has a 130 feet (39.6 m) spire added in 1877 that is a prominent feature of the area visible for many miles. The spire was gifted by Sir George Elliot in memory of his daughter Elizabeth. A large granite tablet was used to record this donation and was of special interest being taken from the great pyramid of Ghizeh in Egypt with the permission of the Khedive at that time.^[4] The church is a substantial building able to seat 500 worshippers. Previously an ancient chapel stood near.

Coal mining

Coal mining in the area is mentioned as early as the 12th century. In Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham some 1185 men and boys were employed in the Adventure, Alexandrina and Meadow pits sunk between 1817 and 1824. The coals produced were Londonderry Wallsend, Pittington Wallsend, and Londonderry Primrose, for household purposes, and the Hartley for steam purposes. The "Adventure" pit employed 389 people at its peak in 1940. Much of the newer housing in the village dates from the 1950s and was built to house the workforce for the pit as there was little other employment available locally. Although no "disasters", (i.e. pit accidents resulting in five or more deaths) were reported at Adventure, 23 lost their lives there.^[5] The pit was closed in 1978.^[5]

Nearby, the Leamside line railway, now disused, is still in place.^[6]

Local facilities

A mile to the west can be found the remains of Finchale Priory sacked by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the Monasteries.

To the south, in a wooded area is an area owned by the Moor House scouts group. It is a 15-acre (61,000 m²) site providing accommodation and adventure challenges and sleeps up to 38 youngsters.^[7]

Gallery

St Mary's church
The Common
North Street Cottage
St Mary's church from south
West Rainton Primary School
Former chapel on Hall Street, now a private residence. The stone reads "Ebenezer 1922"

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to West Rainton.

Census information

Parish Council Web Site

http://parishes.durham.gov.uk/westraintonleamside/Pages/default.aspx

References

↑ "Parish Headcounts: Durham". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
↑ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 20 July 2015.
↑ "A Potted History of West Rainton". Retrieved 2008-12-14.
↑ "Villages around Durham". Retrieved 2008-12-14.
1 2 "Adventure Pit". Retrieved 2008-12-14.
↑ "Running an Edwardian Railway". Retrieved 2008-12-14.
↑ "Moor House Adventure Centre". Retrieved 2008-12-14.

Civil parishes in County Durham

including Stockton on Tees (north of the river)

Darlington	Parishes Archdeacon Newton Barmpton Bishopton Brafferton Coatham Mundeville Denton East and West Newbiggin Great Burdon Great Stainton Heighington High Coniscliffe Houghton le Side Hurworth Killerby Little Stainton Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent Low Dinsdale Middleton St George Morton Palms Neasham Piercebridge Sadberge Sockburn Summerhouse Walworth Whessoe Unparished areas The former Darlington County Borough

Durham	Towns Barnard Castle Bishop Auckland Chilton Ferryhill Great Aycliffe Greater Willington Peterlee Seaham Sedgefield Shildon Spennymoor Stanley Tow Law Parishes Barforth Barningham Bearpark Belmont Bishop Middleham Bolam Boldron Bournmoor Bowes Bradbury and the Isle Brancepeth Brandon and Byshottles Brignall Burnhope Cassop cum Quarrington Castle Eden Cleatlam Cockfield Cornforth Cornsay Cotherstone Coxhoe Croxdale and Hett Dalton le Dale Dene Valley Easington Colliery Easington Village Edmondbyers Edmondsley Eggleston Egglestone Abbey Eldon Esh Etherley Evenwood and Barony Fishburn Forest and Frith Framwellgate Moor Gainford Gilmonby Great Lumley Greencroft Hamsterley Hamsterley Common Haswell Hawthorn Headlam Healeyfield Hedleyhope Hilton Holwick Hope Horden Hunderthwaite Hunstanworth Hutton Henry Hutton Magna Ingleton Kelloe Kimblesworth and Plawsworth Lanchester Langleydale and Shotton Langton Lartington Little Lumley Lunedale Lynesack and Softley Marwood Mickleton Middleton in Teesdale Middridge Monk Hesleden Mordon Morton Tinmouth Muggleswick Murton Nesbitt Newbiggin North Lodge Ouston Ovington Pelton Pittington Raby with Keverstone Rokeby Romaldkirk Sacriston Satley Scargill Seaton with Slingley Shadforth Sheraton with Hulam Sherburn Village Shincliffe Shotton South Bedburn South Hetton Staindrop Stanhope Startforth Streatlam and Stainton Thornley Toft Hill Trimdon Trimdon Foundry Urpeth Waldridge Wackerfield Weather Hill Wood West Auckland West Rainton Westwick Wheatley Hill Whorlton Windlestone Wingate Winston Witton Gilbert Witton le Wear Wolsingham Wolsingham Park Moor Woodland Wycliffe with Thorpe Unparished areas The former Chester le Street Urban District Consett Durham Municipal Borough Parts of the former Bishop Auckland Urban District Crook and Willington Urban District Stanley Urban District

Hartlepool	Towns Headland Parishes Brierton Claxton Dalton Piercy Elwick Greatham Hart Newton Bewley Unparished areas Part of the former Hartlepool County Borough

Stockton on Tees	Towns Billingham Parishes Aislaby Carlton Egglescliffe Elton Grindon Longnewton Newsham Preston on Tees Redmarshall Stillington and Whitton Wolviston Unparished areas Part of the former Teesside County Borough

For further information about the above parishes, see List of civil parishes in County Durham. For the part of Stockton-on-Tees (borough) south of the River Tees, see List of civil parishes in North Yorkshire.

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