STANHOPE, a parish in the north-western division of DARLINGTON ward, county palatine of DURHAM, comprising the townships of Forest-Quarter, Newland- Side, Park-Quarter, and Stanhope-Quarter, and containing 7341 inhabitants, of which number, 1584 are in the township of Stanhope-Quarter, 5 miles (W. N. "W.) from Walsingham. The village is situated on the north bank of the river Wear, and many of the inhabitants are employed in the adjacent lead mines, which are very extensive. The magistrates hold here petty sessions every alternate Friday; and at Frosterley, in this parish, a court baron is held occasionally. In 1421, a charter was obtained from Bishop Langley for a market and two annual fairs: fairs only are now held on the Wednesday before Easter, the second Friday in September, and December 21st, the last for the sale of cattle. A savings' bank has been established. Adjacent to the western extremity of the village is Stanhope hall, formerly the mansion of the Fetherstonhaugh family, an ancient edifice, regularly protected by a curtain. The living is a rectory, with the perpetual curacy of Weardale St. John's annexed, in the archeaconry and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at £67. 6. 8., and inthe patronage of the Bishop of Durham: The church,- which stands on elevated ground to the north of the town, is dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists, with' a Sunday school attached. Stanhope school was endowed, in 1681, by Richard Bainbridge, which was increased in 1724, by the Rev. William Hastwell, for theeducation of ten poor children: the income is about £'25 per annum, and one hundred boys and girls are educated; the latter likewise bequeathed a small estate. to supply funds for apprenticing two poor boys. A National school, with which a subscription library is. connected, was erected at the expense of Bishop Barrington, and endowed with a portion of the interest of £2000 given by that prelate for the support of six schools in this parish; it is further supported by annual subscriptions and a small quarterage from the children. On the incursion of the Scots, in the reign of Edw. III., that sovereign encamped his forces inthis neighbourhood, but the enemy retired without coming to an engagement: the remains of an ancient fortress are visible to the west of the village, on a lofty eminence one hundred and eighty-eight feet above the river. Several altars and Roman antiquities have been dug up here. A little northward are some natural excavations, called Hetherburn Caves, and> except on the banks of the Wear, the neighbourhood is rugged and mountainous; on this river, a little above the town, are the extensive lead-works of the London Company. A tenth of the produce of the mines belongs to the rector, which renders the living exceedingly valuable. This parish also abounds with limestone.