New Lambton 1834
Including Fencehouses
Is a village in the township of Bourn-moor about two miles from Houghton. Here are the salt works of Mathews and Parkinson which were established in 1815.
Another fugitive who arrived in the area in the eightieth century was the Earl of Perth, who found himself a resident of Fencehouses under a assumed name of Elliott, he had also lived for a time in Sunderland. He then moved to Rainton Bridge, where he became a tenant of the North Moor farm, under the Dean and Chapter of Durham. it is believed he was a kinsman of the Earl of Perth The North Moor farm was later known has the North Pit.
After the Earl had settled his Scottish sweet heart followed him to the farm, and they were married from the farm. The Elliott's had made a deal with the Dean and Chapter that as long as a Elliott lived on the farm the farm would remain theirs.
Morton House
It was revealed in Bishop Pudsey's property survey in the twelfth century, that there were fifteen farmers at Morton who had 12 acres each and paying rent of eight pence. They also ploughed the bishops land at Houghton and had to give 60 hens and 300 eggs to the bishop.
Cardinal Woolsey granted a lease for the manor to Richard Belasyse for £6 per year. From 1525 to 1678 the family occupied the manor. Morton house bears the Belasyse arms and the date 1709. The Belasyse's are commemorated in the parish church of Houghton. Margery Belasyse had eleven children, she died aged 90 years old in 1587, Sir William Belasyse died in 1641 aged 48, he was the High Sheriff of the county. The family moved to Yorkshire in 1678 and Morton House and the land was sold to the Smyth family from West Herrington, the next owner was Major John Lambton, Ralph Lambton also lived in the house.
The next owners were Nathaniel Ellison who died in the house in 1861. the Webster family who were rope makers, in 1908 R.C Thompson the Sunderland ship builders. In 1920 the house was owned by Lambton and Hetton and Joicey collieries, and Austin Kirkup was the occupier. Austin Kirkup held various senior positions in the Lambton Hetton and Joicey collieries Ltd.
Recorded Pit Disasters
August 22nd 1766
(6 killed) Explosion at Lambton pit caused by fire damp - the workmen, to the number of 100, had just left off work, and were making their way out bye, leaving behind them three masons and three labourers to build up a partition to secure the coals taking fire from the lamp - a large grate of burning coals, which was kept burning at the bottom of the shaft to "put the air in motion" and to ventilate the mine. the lamp was lowered down at the request of the masons, to rarify the air, and no sooner was this done than a terrible explosion occurred, making it's way up the pits, destroying men, horses, and all in it's passage. The noise was heard for three miles around, and the blast of fire from the shaft was as visible as a flash of lightning. The men below were driven by force up through the air shaft, or tube, like balls out of a cannon, and everything that offered any resistance to the progress of the fatal blast shared the same fate. the neighbourhood was alarmed, and collected to render assistance, but found only heads, arms, and legs thrown out to a great distance from the mouths of the pit.
The ground, for acres, was strewed with timber, coals etc; whilst all the partitions, trap-doors, corves, wood props, and linings, were carried away, together with the engine for drawing up coals, and all it's apparatus. Richard Fynes, 1873
Between 1793 and 1794
Lambton "A" pit 1 killed
Lambton "B" pit several killed
Lambton Lady Ann Pit 2 killed
The Duke of Wellington connection
1827
The "Wellington Railway Coach" was build at Chilton Moor, for the purpose of conveying the Duke of Wellington from Pittington to Penshaw over the colliery railway, the total distance was 8 miles. The duke had been the guest of the Marquis of Londonderry at Wynyard. This coach was to last a great number of years, kept in a shed at the limekiln in Seaham. It was used again in 1861 to ferry the Lady Londonderry around the works.
George Hardy railway manager for Londonderry's railway 1855 to 1902 he retired aged 77 years of age.