Place:Hett, Durham, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

Hett is now a large hamlet in County Durham, England. It is situated a few miles south of Durham. Hett is largely surrounded by farmland. To the south, rape fields are predominant while at the northern end, cattle are grazed year round. It is believed to derive its name from its topography - the village sits on a low rounded hill shaped like a hat (Hætt in old English).

A Vision of Britain through Time provides the following description of Hett from John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72:

"HETT, a township in Merrington parish, Durhamshire; near the river Wear, 4 miles S of Durham. Acres: 1,256. Real property: £1,533; of which £601 are in mines, and £17 in quarries. Population: 241. Houses: 54. There is a paper mill."

Hett was originally a township in Merrington ancient parish. It became a civil parish in 1866 and part of the Durham Rural District from 1894 until 1974. It was transferred to the City of Durham non-metropolitan district in 1974 when it was renamed Croxdale and Hett and also covered the former township and civil parish of Sunderland Bridge. Since 2009 County Durham has been a unitary authority.

Research Tips

• County Durham Archives. Durham County Record Office is located on the Lower Ground Floor of County Hall, the administrative headquarters of Durham County Council, in Durham City.
• Northumberland and Durham FHS covers both Northumberland and the northern part of County Durham. The Family History Society have a research centre in Percy House in central Newcastle upon Tyne (full address on website), open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Browse the website to see what else the society can provide.
• The Cleveland, North Yorkshire & South Durham Family History Society covers the southern part of County Durham as well as the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire on the south side of the River Tees. Their homepage includes a map to show the society's coverage. (Once again, full address and other details on the website)
• Further information from GENUKI
• Ordnance Survey map of Durham 1832 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time. This map includes the boundaries of the various Wards (or "hundreds") in existence at that time.
• Ordnance Survey map of Durham 1900 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• Ordnance Survey map of Durham 1944 provided by A Vision of Britain through Time
• English Jurisdictions 1851, a parish finding aid provided by FamilySearch, particularly helpful in large towns and cities.
• Unfortunately, the Victoria County History for Durham is limited in its coverage. It only includes the cathedral city of Durham, including an account of the cathedral itself. Also covers Stockton Ward in the south-east of the county (bordering North Yorkshire) including Hartlepool and Stockton on Tees.