GAINFORD, a parish, county palatine of DURHAM, comprising
the chapelry of Denton, and the township of Houghton-Lee-Side,
in the south-eastern division; and the chapelries of Barnard-
Castle and Whorlton, and the townships of Bolam,
Gainford, Headlam, Ingleton, Langton, Marwood, Morton-
Tynemouth, Pierse-Bridge, Stauntonwith Streatlam,
Summerhouse, Westwick, and a part of Cleatlam, in the
south-western division of DARLINGTON ward, county
palatine of DURHAM, and containing, including the
whole population of Cleatlam, 6508 inhabitants, of
which number, 500 are in the township of Gainford,
7 miles (w, by N.) from Darlington. The living is a
vicarage, in the, archdeaconry and diocese of Durham,
rated in the king's books at £39. 6. Oj., and in the patronage
of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College,
Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, was
bxiilt by Egfrid, Bishop of Lindisfarne; it has been
frequently repaired, and a gallery was erected on the
GAI
north side by the late John Walton Elliot, Esq. There
is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. In
1691, the Rev. Henry Greswold left £100, directing the
interest to be applied to the education of children.
This place was anciently a seigniory, endowed with special
liberties. In 1293, Agnes de Valentia had lands and
free warren here, a place of execution, and various
other privileges of a royal franchise. There are some
mineral springs in the parish, and an abundance of
coal and limestone. The village is pleasantly situated
on the north bank of the Tees, and consists of one
spacious street of good buildings, extending along the
high road, parallel with the river. The Marquis of
Cleveland, as lord of the manor, holds courts leet and
baron monthly, in the court-house at Barnard-Castle.
On the road between Gainford and Pierse-Bridge is a
stone deeply buried in the earth, of a form very like
that of a Roman altar, called the White Cross. In
digging on Gainford Green, many human .skulls were
discovered, the supposed remains of some Scots who
suffered decapitation.