Mordon Township, 1848

MORDON, or Morden, a township, in the parish and union of Sedgefield, N. E. division of Stockton ward, S. division of the county of Durham, 8½ miles (E. by S.) from Bishop-Auckland; containing 161 inhabitants. This place gave name to a resident family, of whom mention occurs in the 14th century; and among other landed proprietors of former times were the Trollops, who ceased to possess any interest in the estate in the reign of James I. The name was perhaps originally Moredun, or "the moorish hill," from the elevation of the place above a marsh. The township comprises 1,537 acres, the greater part of which is arable, and of good quality. The village is surrounded with rich low pasture grounds; and to the south, the slow waters of the Skerne and its numerous feeders form the wide morass just referred to. The York and Newcastle and the Clarence railways pass through the township. The tithes have been commuted for £122.