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Borough and Corporation of Gateshead, 1855
Extract from: History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland...Whellan, William, & Co, 1855.
GOVERNMENT AND FRANCHISE. From the earliest period of its records till the year 1695, Gateshead was governed by a bailiff appointed by the Bishop of Durham. Since that year and previous to the passing of the new municipal act, it was governed by two stewards, chosen by the borough-holders and freemen, but they exercised no jurisdiction or municipal authority over the borough, and received no tolls or dues of any kind within it. There is no charter in existence, but a belief exists that the borough was once incorporated, and some faint traces remain of corporate titles, offices, and customs; a common seal, and considerable borough property descending in perpetuity. The ancient deeds and papers deposited in a chest kept by the stewards, were surreptitiously removed many years ago, but one of the remaining documents bearing the date 1696, contains allusions to the “town and borough of Gateshead,” and to a grant, made by Queen Elizabeth,“of Bensham and Harps-Head to the town and borough of Gateshead." Bishops Cosin and Tunstal, and Oliver Cromwell, incorporated a number of trading companies here, but they have, almost all become extinct. By the Municipal Corporations Act, the borough was divided into three wards, called respectively East, West, and South Wards, and incorporated under the style of "The Borough-holders and Freemen of the Borough of Gateshead, Six aldermen and eighteen councillors were appointed for its government, and a commission of the peace was also granted to it. The borough of Gateshead consists of the parish of Gateshead, and part of the chapelry of Heworth in the parish of Jarrow, containing in 1851, 763 inhabitants. This borough was also enfranchised by the Reform Act, and now returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. The boundaries of the Municipal and parliamentary boroughs are coincident. William Hutt, Esq. is the present member.
BOROUGH OF GATESHEAD. CORPORATION IN 1854-5.
RICHARD W. HODGSON, Mayor.
| WILLIAM KELL, Town Clerk. | SAMUEL PEARSE, Treasurer. |
ALDERMEN.
|
JAMES SMITH JOHN LISTER JOSEPH ROBSON |
THOMAS CUMMINS GEORGE HAWKS CHARLES J. PEARSON |
COUNCILLORS
|
EAST WARD. James Hewitt. Frederick P. Ionn. William Aspdin John Skelton. George Brinton Joseph A. Hymers. |
WEST WARD. Bryan J. Prockter. William Douglas. George Crawshay. Peter Haggie. George Hunter. William Cook. |
SOUTH WARD. Richard W. Hodgson. Thomas Welford. Alexander G. Grey. Christian Allhusen. George Patterson. James Wilson. |
BOROUGH MAGISTRATES.
|
The Mayor. John Lister. Thomas Cummins. George Hawks, John Barras. |
William Hymers. John Grace, jun. James Pollock. Ralph Wake. William H. Brockett. |
Also in this Directory (Whellan, 1855) for Gateshead:
- Description of Gateshead
- Churches of Gateshead
- Schools in Gateshead
- Public & Civil Buildings etc in Gateshead
- Manufacturers & Trade
- Borough and Corporation of Gateshead
- Charities
- Gateshead District
- Post Office
- Gateshead and District Directory
