Cocken

Cocken is located near the north banks of the River Wear, south of Great Lumley in County Durham. In the past the estate of Cocken Hall formed the nucleus of a township within the Parish of Houghton-le-Spring. Cocken Hall was built it the 17th century[1], and from 1804 was occupied for about 20 years by a convent of nuns of the Order of St. Theresa, who were driven from Lier, in Flanders (Belgium).[2] In the First World War the Hall was used by the military. Today, the Hall no longer exists, but the former Cocken estate remains evident in place and road names. The hamlet of Low Cocken is located by the Wear, near Cocken Bridge. Further east, along Cocken Road are Cockern Woods and Cocken Lodge; Cocken White House Farm is located close by. Cocken Lane runs south out of Great Lumley towards the area.