Pittington Parish, 1848

PITTINGTON (St. Lawrence), a parish, in the S. division of Easington ward, union, and N. division of the county, of Durham, 3½ miles (E.N.E.) from Durham; containing, with the townships of Shadforth and Sherburn, 4,577 inhabitants, of whom 2,295 are in Pittington township. This parish, also called Pittington Hallgarth, from the church being situated at the hamlet of Hallgarth, comprises by computation 6,330 acres, of which about 2,750 are in the township. There are several coal-mines, and the produce of them is abundant: the Belmont colliery, near the turnpike-road leading from Durham to Sunderland, yields coal of excellent quality, which is shipped at Sunderland for the London market. Limestone also abounds. A railroad, eight miles long, extends from the Hallgarth colliery to the river Wear at Painshaw. The village is about half a mile to the north of Hallgarth. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £14. 14. 2.; net income, £469; patrons and appropriators, the Dean and Chapter of Durham. The church is an ancient structure, principally in the Norman style, and had formerly two chantries, in honour of St. Mary and St. Katherine: in the churchyard, among other memorials, are, the effigy of a cross legged knight, and a coffinshaped stone with a Saxon inscription. At Shadforth is a separate incumbency.

Extract from: A Topographical Dictionary of England comprising the several counties, cities, boroughs, corporate and market towns, parishes, and townships..... 7th Edition, by Samuel Lewis, London, 1848.