WEARMOUTH (BISHOP), a parish adjoining the town of Sunderland, in the northern division of EASINGTON ward, county palatine of DURHAM, comprising the townships of Bishop-Wearmouth, Bishop-Wearmouth- Pans,.Burdon, Ford, Ryhope, Silks worth, and Tunstall, and containing 11,542 inhabitants, of which number, 9477 are in the township of Bishop-Wearmouth. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at £89. 18. If., and in the patronage of the Bishop of Durham. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, was rebuilt in 1807, on the site of the ancient edifice, which existed from the time of Athelstan. There is a place of worship for Methodists of the New Connexion. This parish derived its distinguishing appellation from having been appropriated by King Athelstan, about the year 930., to the church of St. Cuthbert at Durham. It is situated on the south-western side of Sunderland, having, prior to 1719, comprised that town within its limits: the two places are now connected, and may be said to form one large town and port, a regular and continued street, nearly a mile long, with others of uniform character branching from it, having been constructed on the vacant plot of ground that formerly intervened. The rector is lord af the manor, for which he occasionally holds courts. On the side of an eminence, called Building Hill, is a quarry of stone, which, on ihe division of lands in 1649, was reserved for the free, use of the copyholders within the manor; and the inhabitants, from time immemorial, have enjoyed the privilege of bleaching their linen, &c., on a small piece of ground, called Burnfields, a little westward. For a more detailed account, See SUNDERLAND.