Muggleswick, Durham

Description
Muggleswick, a village and a parish, Durham, on the river Derwent, at the boundary with Northumberland, 3 miles WNW of Rowley station on the N.E.R., and 8 1/2 N of Wolsingham. Post town, Blackhill (R.S.O.); money order office, Castleside; telegraph office, Blackhill. The parish includes the hamlet of Waskerley. Acreage, 12,432 of land and 38 of water; population, 362. The manor belongs to the Dean and Chapter of Durham. An ancient hunting-seat of the priors of Durham stood here in the valley of the Derwent, and a picturesque fragment of it still remains. A park 3 miles long and 2 wide was enclosed in the 13th century by Prior Hugh. An extensive upland tract in the S and the SW bears the name of Muggleswick Common. Lead ore containing some silver is plentiful. All the lead mines within 12 miles of Muggleswick Church were .granted for 21 years by Charles I. to the Duke of Buckingham. The south-eastern border of the parish is traversed by branches of the N.E.R., and shares in the mining industry of the Consett region. The reservoirs of the Consett Water Company are in this parish. The living is a vicarage in thediocese of Durham; net value, £310 with residence. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Durham. The church was rebuilt in 1869 on the site of the former one, and is a small building in the Early English style.