Seaton Sluice and Old Hartley, 1855

HARTLEY is a township and village in this parish, comprising, along with Seaton Delaval, 4,219 acres. Population in 1801, 1,639; in 1811, 1,872; in 1821, 1,795; in 1831, 1,850; in 1841, 1,911; and in 1851, 1,627 souls. The manor of Hartley was held of the barony of Gaugy, by knight's service in the reign of King John, by Adam de Jesmont, and a mediety of it by Henry Delaval, in the reign of Richard II. The Delaval family afterwards acquired. possession of the entire manor, and it is now the property of Lord Hastings. On Bate's Island, nearly opposite Hartley, there was formerly a chapel and hermitage dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. THE VILLAGE of Hartley is situated five miles and a half north of North Shields, and is principally inhabited by colliers, sailors, and fishermen. There is a Primitive Methodist Chapel here, and one belonging to the Wesleyans at Seaton Grove, a hamlet in this township, four and a half miles south of Blyth.

SEATON SLUICE, OR HARTLEY PANS, is a village in the above township, containing in 1851, a population of 802 souls. It is situated about half a mile north of Hartley village, and four miles south of Blyth. It was formerly the property of the priors of Tynemouth, and afterwards of the Delaval family, from whom it passed to Lord Hastings, and subsequently to the Marquis of Waterford. Here are extensive bottle-works, in which many persons are employed. A Reading Room was established in this village by the operatives of the place, in April, 1853. The proprietors of the bottle-works gave them a suitable building, rent free, and encouraged, by every means in their power, the workmen in their praiseworthy efforts at self-improvement. Mr. W. Marshall, secretary, and Mr. John Taylor, treasurer. 

The harbour here is one of great curiosity, having been cut through a solid rock. Its entrance is nine hundred feet long, thirty feet broad, and fifty-two feet deep, and it is well worthy the attention of the stranger. The haven was formed by Sir Ralph Delaval, and was originally a short distance to the north, of small extent, dry at low water, and difficult of access. The river also made its cow-se due east, until it was within a little way of the sea, and then by a sudden turn discharged itself due north. At the point of this angle the haven was made, and in its construction Sir Ralph found plenty to exercise his skill and patience. The Stone pier which protected it from the north-east wind, was several times carried away by the sea, and when this difficulty was overcome, a new inconvenience arose, by the port becoming filled with mud and sand, though a pretty sharp rill ran through it. In order that this mischief might be removed, he placed a strong sluice, with flood-gates upon the brook, and these being closed by the coming in of the tide, the back water col1ected into a body and forcing a passage at the ebb, carried all before it, which, twice in twenty-four hours, scoured the bed of the haven. The cut through the solid freestone rock above-mentioned, and forming the present entrance to the harbour, was effected by the late Lord Delaval, from the plans of Thomas Delaval, Esq. The word Sluice was added to the name of this place, from the sluice and flood-gates at the entrance of the port. The harbour here was in great danger of being destroyed by the dreadful hurricane which took place on the 2nd of February, 1825. The wind blew a heavy gale from the northward, and the sea was tremendously high, which, with the tide, threatened the entire demolition of the harbour. A breach was made by the sea through one of the piers, but, by very great exertions, it was repaired before the next tide. The whole of the east side of the stone pier was destroyed, and the entrance to the old harbour blocked up. The vessels in the port, did not, however, sus- tain any damage. The Seaton Bum rivulet which falls into the sea at Seaton Sluice, rises near the Six Mile Bridge, on the Newcastle and Morpeth road, and flows in an eastern direction to the sea at this place 

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POST OFFICE, SEATON SLUICE, James Chrisp, Postmaster. Letters arrive from North Shields at 10-20 a.m. and are despatched thereto at 3 p.m.