Shildon, Durham

Description
Shildon, a market-town, a township, and an ecclesiastical parish in Auckland St Andrew parish, Durham. The town stands on the Stockton and Darlington railway, 1 1/2 mile E. of Watling Street, and 3 miles SSE of Bishop Auckland, and has a station on the railway, and a post, money order, and telegraph office under New Shildon (R.S.O.) The township contains also the village of New Shildon, and comprises 598 acres; population, 7870. The ecclesiastical parish was constituted in 1834, and comprises the townships of Middridge and Middridge Grange. Population, 6819. There are Conservative and Liberal clubs, and a police station. A market is held on Fridays. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are lords of the manor. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham; gross value, £300 with residence. Patron, the Bishop of Durham. The church was built in 1834, and rebuilt and much enlarged in 1881-82; it is in the Gothic style, and consists of chancel, nave, aisles, and western tower. There are Wesleyan, Congregational, Primitive, New Connexion, and United Free Methodist chapels.