AUCKLAND (ST-ANDREW), a parish, county palatine of DURHAM,
comprising the townships of Byers-Green, Counden-Grange, Eldon,
Middlestone, Midridge-Grange, Old-Park, Sunderland-
Bridge, Westerton, and Windleston in the south-eastern
division, and the market-town of Bishop-Auckland,
the chapelries of St. Helen Auckland and Hamsterley,
and the townships of St. Andrew Auckland, West
Auckland, North Bedburn, South Bedburn, Barony, Binchester,
Coundon, Evenwood, Hun wick with Helmington,
Lynesack with Softley, Newfield, Newton-Capp,
Pollards-Lands, Shildon and East Thickley, in the
north-western division, of DARLINGTON ward, county
palatine of DURHAM, and containing 8253 inhabitants,
of which number, 119. are in the township of St. Andrew
Auckland, 1 mile (S.) from Bishop Auckland.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Durham, endowed with £800 private benefaction,
and £800 royal bounty, and in the patronage
of the Bishop of Durham. The church, a spacious
cruciform structure, was made collegiate for Secular
canons by Bishop Carileph; and in 1292 was endowed
by Bishop Beck for a dean and nine prebendaries: three
or four additional prebendaries were founded by Bishop
Langley, in 1428. At the dissolution the deanery was
valued at £100. 7. 2.,.and the prebends at £79. 16. 8:
the dean's house and some of the prebendal houses
have been converted into residences for farmers. The
parish abounds with coal and limestone, and its surface
is varied with highly interesting and romantic scenery.
The Stockton and Darlington rail-road passes
through it.