Place:Medomsley, Durham, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

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

Medomsley is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated to the northeast of Consett, near the village of Ebchester; the River Derwent and the Northumberland border.

Like nearby Ebchester, Medomsley's church served many inhabitants of Shotley Bridge for christenings, marriages and burials until the creation of Shotley Bridge in the 19th century. Again this meant that sword-makers of Shotley Bridge were regular visitors of the church for such purposes, and many accounts of such events in their lives can be found in the parish registers.

There were two collieries near the village. Medomsley Colliery to the south west; Derwent Colliery to the north east. Medomsley Colliery (also known as the Busty pit, and not to be confused with South Medomsley Colliery near Annfield Plain) opened in 1839 and closed in 1972. The Derwent Colliery opened in 1856 and closed in 1964.

end of Wikipedia contribution

Medomsley was originally a township in the ancient parish of Lanchester, Durham. The township contained the villages of Benfieldside and Conside and Knitsley, both of which became separate civil parishes alongside Medomsley in 1866. From 1894 it was part of Lanchester Rural District. In 1937 it was abolished and absorbed into Consett. (Source: A Vision of Britain through Time)

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.