Place:Witton Gilbert, Durham, England

source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Witton Gilbert is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England.

end of Wikipedia contribution

Witton Gilbert was an ancient parish in the Chester Ward of County Durham until 1829 when it was transferred to the newly-formed Durham Ward. It was made a civil parish in the 19th century and became part of the Chester le Street Rural District from 1894 until 1937. In 1937 it was moved to Durham Rural District. At the same time its area was reduced with the formation of Sacriston civil parish. Between 1974 and 2009 it became part of the larger City of Durham non-metropolitan district. Since 2009 County Durham has been a unitary authority. (Source: A Vision of Britain through Time)

In the 2011 UK census it had a population of 2,419.

A nineteenth century description

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

"WITTON-GILBERT, a village and a parish in Chester-le-Street district, Durhamshire. The village stands near the Consett railway, 3¼ miles NW by W of Durham; took the latter part of its name from Gilbert de la Ley, the owner of the manor in the time of Bishop Pudsey; and has a post-office under Durham, and a [railway] station. The parish includes five hamlets, and comprises 2,535 acres. Real property: £10,544; of which £4,300 are in mines, and £1,351 in railways. Population in 1851: 1,758; in 1861: 2,098. Houses: 421. The property is divided chiefly among four. A lepers' hospital was founded here by Gilbert de la Ley; and is now represented by only a fragment in a farmhouse. The living is a rectory, united with Kimbleworth, in the diocese of Durham. Value: £303. Patrons: the Dean and Chapter of [Durham]. The church was rebuilt in 1859. The vicarage of Sacristan is a separate benefice. There are several Methodist chapels, two national schools, and charities £15."

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.