this monument is said to be that of the Collingwoods, who became possessed of Dawdon Hall and Dalden Tower, as previously mentioned, by the marriage of Sir Cuthbert Collingwood with one of the co-heiresses of Sir George Bowes, Knight.

In the chancel is an effigy, very much mutilated, of a nun with her veil, said to be Lady Matilda Collingwood, Lady Abbess of a nunnery unknown, but there is no inscription.

The old woman who used to clean the Church a few years ago told with great pride that she had done her best to make the place clean and comfortable, saying, "the Tombs are very much improved, I've done them over with pipe clay!"

The railings in front of the Communion Table were brought from the Baptistry of Durham Cathedral, in the 15th Century, the Font of which place went to Pittington Church at the same time.❤

In the Churchyard the only burial place worthy of note is that of the Mascall family under the south wall of the Church, having a stone sunk level with the ground bearing Arms and Crest, with inscriptions and dates from 1758 to 1777.

The succession of Vicars beginning with Gilbert de Bellingham, 1180, continues in an unbroken line to the present day.

The Register begins 1640, and has been regularly kept.

In the village eastward of the Church is the old Vicarage, now used as a private dwelling. In 1871, it was bought from the Dean and Chapter and extensively repaired, when an oak beam was found giving the date of building 500 years before that time. The east end is the original portion. Thomas Sharp (who was appointed Vicar in 1665), enlarged the Vicarage by adding the west end in 1670, a communication being made through the gable from the old house. Up to this time an outside flight of steps was the only communication with the upper rooms. The framework of the doorway which led to these steps is still in use, and

A detailed description of the architecture of the Church is given in the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Vol. VIII., PP. 49-52.

The Vicarage has now been removed, first to a house on the Stockton turnpike built about 60 years ago, and afterwards to Murton, on the opening of the new Church at that place, which became the Parish Church; on account of this removal it was discovered a few years ago that the marriages in the old Church could not be considered legal, the license having lapsed; a special Act of Parliament had to be passed to legalise the marriages which had taken place in the interval.

In 1337, the Vicar complained to his patrons that the Parish was wasted and depopulated by the effects of the Scottish War; the population being reduced to five poor inhabitants possessing no stock.

The income of this living in 1794 is given as £40 175. 111d., with glebe consisting of two small orchards north of, i.e. behind the Parsonage, about 21 acres lying a quarter of a mile south of the Church, the Churchyard, and a small garden in front of the house adjoining a waste called the Dog Leap. My grandfather could remember this, and he had seen the Vicar's son ploughing on the hilly slope to the south with a cow and pony drawing the plough; being unable to afford help, they were obliged to till the glebe land themselves.

The following is an extract from some MS. notes written at the time the Rev. W. S. Temple was Vicar, say about 1828, "The Parish has in former times been much more populous than at present, there being no part of the Churchyard free from the

mortal remains of men, and now funerals are rare, but marriages much more so, the average being about one or sometimes two in the year." The Clerk is referred to as "a fine, respectable looking little man, and serves the offices of Clerk, Sexton, and Schoolmaster, he has been here about ten years."

The population of the Township in 1891, was only 134.

By a will dated 1627, Henry Smith, who died 1628, among certain charitable bequests, directed a portion of the income of the Longstock Estate, Harrington, Southampton, to be paid to this Township for charitable purposes; this charity is still continued, called the "Henry Smith's Charity," the sums being disposed of by the Parish Officers among the poor, chiefly in provisions and clothing, or sometimes in money; originally the total amount paid was £15 per annum, but the actual sums paid during the years 1895-99, were as follows:

There is much of interest in this district to Antiquarians that I have not dealt with. The subterranean stairway, and the position of other foundations at the Tower, to which I have only referred in passing, call for further investigation; and a close examination of the Parish Records will throw much light on the history, manners and customs of the neighbourhood.

Situated as it is in such a charming and romantic spot, it forms the object of a delightful visit.

Thanks are due to Mr. R. Brydon for his kindness and courtesy in allowing uninterrupted visits to the Tower, which is now enclosed in private grounds.

EXTRACTS FROM WHITBURN PARISH REGISTERS.

BY JAMES PATterson.

Read on 4th November, 1902.

INTRODUCTION.

I am indebted to the Rector of Whitburn, The Rev. Canon William Moore Ede, for permission to make these extracts, to Mr. Herbert M. Wood, for the use of his transcripts of the Registers and for valuable assistance with the list of Rectors, and to Mr. B. R. Hill, for the accompanying extracts from "The Papal Letters," and "Patent Rolls."

The Registers of Whitburn Parish, which include that of Cleadon, commence with Burials in 1579, Marriages in 1579, and Baptisms in 1611; they are complete and in good preservation. A portion only of the Banns Books is missing.

These Registers are of more than usual interest, as in addition to the ordinary entries of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, there are many relating to the various rectors, and to pews, ratings, &c., which are in some cases of considerable interest.

Like nearly all Parishes, Whitburn has a number of names which constantly appear, century after century. One of these, Chambers or Chamber, has a pedigree given in "Surtees," beginning from Charles Chamber, of Kendal, who died 1556. It was a member of this family, Sarah, who became the first wife of Alderman George Lilburn, of Sunderland. These names occur many times in the Registers with the prefix of "Mr.," and are mentioned amongst Churchwardens, "The twenty-four" and "The twelve," and a "Chambers" was the first named defendant in the law suit of Kepier Grammar School, versus certain persons at Cleadon, mention of which is made later on in this paper. The present descendants of this old family are Mrs. Barnes, of Whitburn, and Mr. G. Pollard, of Cleadon.

Other families often mentioned, sometimes as Wardens and "The twenty-four," and sometimes as "poor men," such as Maxwell, Pattison, Rippon, Letteny, and Gowland, I know

nothing of, nor do I know if the Roxby's are any connection of the well-known actors of that name, or if the Hutchinsons, so frequently mentioned, belong to the family of whom John Hutchinson, Shipbuilder, was so well-known.

The following extracts from "The Papal Letters" and "Patent Rolls" are of interest :

1252.

Perugia. (f. 183.)

INNOCENT IV.

Confirmation, with exemplification, to the prior 2 Non. Mar. and convent of St. Andrew's, Heghtildesham, in the diocese of York, of the ordinance of Nicholas, sometime Bishop of Durham, by which, with the consent of the Chapter of Durham, and Hugh, rector of Stanford, the tithes of certain places in that parish were assigned to them. The grant of Bishop Nicholas is dated 15th March, 1245, that of Hugh de Staynbrige, on the feast of St. Mark, 1246. The witnesses to the former were G. Abbot, of Waverley; S. Abbot, of Newminster; Master John de Reygate, Rector of Witeborne, etc. (Regesta, vol. 22.)

1297. 15 Kal. Aug. Orvieto. (f. 315.)

1302.

BONIFACE VIII.

Dispensation to Master Adam de Duffield, pastor of Pontelande, in the diocese of Durham, who has held also the Church of Quicham, and on resigning this that of Whiteberne, without papal dispensation, to retain the same, the cure of souls not being neglected. (Kegesta, vol. 48.)

BONIFACE VIII.

Dispensation to Master Adam de Driffeld 10 Kal. Oct. to hold the rectories of Witebern and Pontelande, and on resigning either of them, to accept that of Stamfordham, in the diocese of Durham. (Regesta, vol. 50.)

Anagni.

(f. 244.)

1309.

4 Id. July. Avignon. (f. 243.)

CLEMENT V.

To William de Bordis, sub-deacon and papal chaplain, Indult, at the request of his kinsman, Bertrand, Bishop of Alby, to hold, besides other benefices out of England and the Parish Church of