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WILLINGTON STREET
Willington's main street, which encompassed both Commercial and High Streets, was potholed and muddy. High Street was not paved with flagstones until 1883 and Commercial Street until 1893. The condition of the main thoroughfare was wretched, especially after a good rainfall. The pavement was uneven and remained as such into the twentieth century
MINERS
In 1840, the Northern Coal Mining Company found coal at Sunnybrow and named the site Willington Colliery. Within the same year coal was discovered to the north of Willington. To avoid confusion with Willington, or Sunnybrow Colliery, this new mine was called Brancepeth Colliery.
Special mention to the 20 killed at Brancepeth Colliery on the 13th of April 1896. The Brancepeth A Pit Disaster had caused twenty deaths, creating eleven widows and twenty-six orphans. A public subscription raised over £2,000. Subscribers included Straker and Love (£500), Viscount Boyne (£500) and the Bishop of Durham (£25). The money extended over fourteen years to provide an income for the bereaved families. The explosion cost the Durham Miners' Permanent Relief Fund £3007, and Straker and Love £2863 in funeral, transportation, livestock (30 ponies died in the explosion) and labour costs.
ST STEPHENS CHURCH
In 1855, Viscountess Boyne laid the foundation stone of St Stephen's Church, Willington. Despite the council's objections on the grounds that a consecrated cemetery would give Anglicans rights and privileges over other congregations, the Home Secretary approved the site and the Bishop of Durham consecrated the cemetery that October.
WILLINGTON HOUSE
The exact date of the first building is not known. It was later occupied by the Wills family. In c.1600 Robert Bowes disposed of the residence of his family estate. The colliery owners preferred to live in large houses situated in Low Willington called Willington House (Love and Ferens) and the White House (Strakers). Both houses had large lawns and servants quarters.
WILLINGTON RAILWAY
The line between Bishop Auckland and Durham opened to freight in 1856 and to passengers from 1857 with three intermediate stations at Hunwick, Willington and Brancepeth. Freight services were ceased from Brancepeth, Willington and Brandon Collieries from 10 August 1964. The line remained in place until 1968, when contractors removed the residual track.
This video clip is taken from Bob Dylan`s 1967 documentary film "Don't Look Back". I`ve edited it to about 24 seconds long to show WILLINGTON STATION, INFANT'S & JUNIOR SCHOOL, Part of DENE ESTATE & STEPHENSON CRESCENT as viewed from the train. https://www.facebook.com/100067684511276/videos/535171719895509
