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January 1. — The discovery of ironstone in Cleveland has given a great impetus to the manufacture of iron in the neighbourhood. A company was formed at Darlington, under the name of the "South Durham Iron Company," some time ago, who purchased of R. H. Allan, esq., about fifty acres of land (at a cost of £10,000) adjacent to the town, upon part of which two blast furnaces have been erected, as well as a forge, and large waggonbuilding shops. One of the furnaces was successfully "tapped," and afterwards a large party sat down to an elegant entertainment at the King’s Head Inn. Henry Pease, esq., presided, and several interesting addresses were delivered. [LRF]

March 7. — Died, at Ravensworth Castle, aged 80, the Right Honourable Thomas Henry Liddell, Baron Ravensworth. The deceased nobleman was the eldest son of Sir George Henry Liddell, bart., by the daughter of Thomas Steele, esq., of Hampsnet, Sussex. He was born in 1775, and married in 1796 the daughter of John Simpson, esq., of Bradley, Durham, who died in 1845, leaving a numerous issue of whom the Honourable Henry Thomas Liddell was the eldest son and succeeded to the title and estates. It appears from authentic records that the first baronet was an active supporter of Charles I, and was raised to that dignity for his defence of Newcastle in 1642. The fourth baronet was created a peer, but, dying without male issue, the title became extinct, but was revived in his grandson the late Lord Ravensworth. The deceased was a tory in politics, and of the Pitt school, and in his day, though he took no prominent part in public affairs, yet he moved in the highest and most distinguished circles, and was honourably noticed at court by the successive sovereigns who reigned during his life. In private he was firm in his attachments, while his suavity of manners, upright deportment, and amiable disposition, endeared him to all who had the honour of his acquaintance. His attention to the claims of the poor was constant, his charities were unostentatious and large, and his memory will long be revered by numerous parties who were the recipients of his bounty. The funeral took place at Lamesley, on the 16th, in a very private manner, and was attended by all his children then in England, by his sons-in-law the Earl of Hardwicke, Viscount Barrington, and Sir Hedworth Williamson; and by Earl Vane, the Earl of Mulgrave, John Bowes, esq., and N. Wood, esq. (who officiated as pall bearers.) His lordship’s numerous tenantry, as well as a number of persons from Newcastle and Gateshead, also followed the remains to the grave. [LRF]

October 8. — A terrible boiler explosion took place at Walker Iron Works, near Newcastle, the property of Messrs. Losh, Wilson, and Bell, by which five men and two boys were killed, and several others injured. The body of the boiler, at the time it burst, unfurled like a sail, was blown upwards, carrying with it two roofings of the sheds, and blowing down two furnaces, with their chimneys, and scattering the molten metal and red hot bricks around, while one end of it was hurled into the midst of the works, and the other about 200 yards over the hill top, into the lumber-yard. The following is a list of the sufferers :— John James, Patrick Donnoley, Joshua Jenkins, Abraham Dixon, Martin Broderick, Thomas Griffith, and John Porter. [LRF]

 

 

 

• LRF — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by T. Fordyce, Published in 1867