Heathery Cleugh (parish)

"Heathery Cleugh is a parochial chapelry in Forest Quarter, forming the most western portion of Stanhope parish, and adjoining the parish of Alston in Cumberland. It is situated about three miles from St. John's Chapel, Weardale; and is bounded on the north by a portion of the county of Northumberland, on the west by Cumberland, on the south by Middleton-in-Teesdale, on the east by St. John's ciiapelry, and on the north-east by that of Rookhope. 

The Chapel is a plain stone structure, erected in 1825, as a chapel of ease, and will accommodate about 400 persons. It consists of a nave and chancel, with a spacious southern porch, and is lighted by double pointed windows. The pews are all open, the pulpit stands in the middle of the church, and the font is situated at the west end. The church is surrounded with a suitable burial ground, adjoining which is a commodious parsonage house and garden. The net income of the living, which is in the patronage of the rector of Stanhope, is stated at ????. Rev. George Thompson, incumbent." 

From History, Topography and Directory of Durham, W. Whellan , 1856

"Heathery Cleugh was formed a chapelry in 1825, in Forest Quarter, and in 1866 it was constituted a separate parish, forming the north-western boundary of the old parish of Stanhope, and adjoins the parish of Alston in Cumberland. It is bounded on the north by a portion of the county of Northumberland, on the west by Cumberland, on the south by Forest and Frith in Teesdale, on the east by St. John's Chapel, and on the north-west by Rookhope. This parish comprises the villages of Cowshill, Burtree Ford, and Wearhead, and the hamlets of Killhope, Lane Head, Burnhope, and Wellhope, with a population in 1891 of 1139.

"There is really no village of Heathery Cleugh, though there are a few cottages near the church. Cowshill is a village about half a mile from the church, and three miles west-north-west from St. John's Chapel, and is a posting-station for the coach which runs from Stanhope, the nearest railway station. Burtree Ford is another village adjoining Cowshill. Wearhead Village stands on the north bank of the Wear, at the confluence of the Killhope and Burnhope Water. It is two miles from St. John's Chapel, and is entered by an iron bridge erected in 1892. Here are chapels belonging to the Wesleyans and Primitives, several shops, and a post office. Lane Head is a hamlet half a mile west from the church, containing a Primitive and a Wesleyan chapel. The inhabitants of this district, which is wild and little cultivated, are principally engaged in the mines, making a livelihood by having a few acres of fell land upon which they graze a cow or a few sheep."

From History, Topography and Directory of Durham, W. Whellan , 1894