Lynesack and Softley, Durham

Description
Lynesack and Softley, a township and an ecclesiastical parish in Hamsterley parish, Durham, on headstreams of the river Gaunless, 2 miles W by N of Cockfield station on the N.E.R., and 7 NNE of Barnard Castle. There is a post, money order, and telegraph office (R.S.O.) at Butterknowle. Acreage of township, 3743, besides 2042 acres of undivided moor, common to Lynesack and Softley, Hamsterley, and South Bedbum; population, 2835. The ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1851. Population, 2883. Part of the land is a barren hilly tract, called South Side. Many of the inhabitants are employed in coal mines at Butterknowle and Woodland. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham; gross value, £306 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Durham. The church was erected in 1848, is a plain building in the Early English style, and was renovated in 1892. There are also Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist chapels.