GATESHEAD, a parish
in the eastern division of
CHESTER ward, county palatine
of DURHAM, 1 mile
(S. S. E.) from Newcastle,
and 14 (N. by E.) from
Durham, containing, with
the seamen of registered
shipping, 11,767 inhabitants.
This place is situated on
the southern bank of the
Tyne, opposite to Newcastle,
with which it has a communication by a stone bridge.
It is supposed by some antiquaries to have been a
Roman station, called Gabrosentum, which signifies Goat's
Head, this having been the sign of the principal inn,
and corresponding with the appellation of Caput Capra
referred to by Bede; but the only indication of Roman
residence here arises from the discovery of Roman
coins, and from the vicinity of the Watling-street.
The earliest authentic notice of this place is connected
with the account given by Simeon of Durham, of the
insurrection of the Northumbrians, and the murder of
Seal.
Bishop Walcher, who was slain whilst endeavouring-
make his escape from the church of Gateshead, which
had been set on fire by his assailants, in 1080. Hugh
Pudsey, Bishop of Durham, in 1164, granted to the btugesses
a charter of privileges nearly similar to those
enjoyed by the burgesses of Newcastle. The subsequent
history of Gateshead relates to the frequent contests
between the bishops of Durham and the corporation
of Newcastle, concerning the navigation of the Tyne,-
and the right of building quays on its banks, which ultimately
terminated in favour of the latter. On the dissolution
of the see of Durham, in 1552, an act of parliament
was passed for annexing this town to the borough of
Newcastle; but the rights of the bishoprick having been
restored soon after by Queen Mary, Gateshead reverted
to its former jurisdiction. From the earliest period of
authentic record, this town was governed by a bailiff
appointed by the Bishop of Durham, till 1695, since
which the supreme municipal authority has been exercised
by two stewards, who are annually elected by the
borough holders and freemen. The borough contains
one hundred and forty-four burgage tenements, but, atf
more than one of these may be held by the same individual,
the number of borough-holders seldom exceeds
one hundred, and in addition to these, are ten or eleven
freemen. The town comprises a line of irregular edifices
distinguished by the appellations of High-street and
Bridge-street, from which diverge Hillgate, formerly
St. Mary's Gate, and several streets of inferior importance.
Some local improvements have been effected
under the authority of an act of parliament for cleansing,
lighting, and watching the streets, passed in 1814; and an
act passed in 1824, empowering the trustees, under the
Durham and Tyne Bridge road act, to form a road from
the eastern side of the High-street to the southern gate
of the church-yard. In 1818, a company was formed
for the purpose of lighting the town with gas. The
inhabitants are plentifully supplied with water from a
reservoir at a short distance from the town, whence it
is brought by means of pipes. There were anciently
several incorporated trading companies, similar to those
of Newcastle, but they have long since become extinct.
The principal manufactories at present are those for cast
and wrought iron and glass, which are very extensive;
there are also collieries, chemical laboratories, and
whiting manufactories. A market formerly held here,
on Tuesday and Friday in each week, was discontinued
about the commencement of the sixteenth century.
Two fairs for the hiring of servants were established
in 1822, and are held on the second Monday in April,
and the first Monday in November. A halmote court
is held annually before the steward of the manor 5 and
petty sessions for the district are held here every Saturday.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and
diocese of Durham, rated in the king's books at
£27 13. 4., and in the patronage of the Bishop of
Durham. The church, dedicated to St. Mary,
a cruciform structure, appearing to have been founded
at a remote period, but considerably altered by
modern reparations. The tower and part of the western
end of the nave were rebuilt in 1740, and the roof was
altered in 1764; but there are some decorated piUaW
and arches remaining, and a Norman south door-way
under a modern porch. A handsome window of pamte
glass, representing the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin,
and adorned with armorial bearings, was presented
by Mr. Joseph Price, in 1819, and put up in the southern
transept; and an organ, which cost five hundred
guineas, raised by subscription, was completed in January
1824. The chapel of St. Edmund was built by
subscription in 1808; divine service is performed in it
on Sundays, and it is used for a National school on the
other days of the week. The hospital of St. Edmund,
to which it belongs, was founded in 1248, by Bishop
Farnham, who endowed it for a master and three chaplains;
this establishment survived the Reformation,
but its charters having been lost, and its revenue partly
converted to purposes of private advantage, it was refounded
by James I., in 1610, for a master and three
poor brethren, the master to be the rector of Gatesheadt
In 1810," an act of parliament was procured, which
altered the constitution of the hospital, and the brethren
are now thirteen in number, three elder, and
ten younger, who are all appointed by the master.
The annual revenue is about £455, of which sum, the
master receives one-third, the chaplain £40, each of
the elder brethren £25 with a house, and each of the
younger £12. The ruins of the old chapel of St. Edmund,
affording a beautiful specimen of early English
architecture, are still remaining, as is also a portion
of the old house of the brethren. Here are two
places of worship for Methodists of the New Connexion,
four for Wesleyan Methodists, and one for Presbyterians.
The Anchorage school, held in an apartment
over the -vestry-room of St. Mary's church, is stated
to derive its name from the circumstance of anchorage
dues of that part of the Tyne which formerly belonged
to the Bishop of Durham having been paid here. Its
establishment took place previously to 1658, and its
endowment arises from the interest on £300, given by
Theophilus Pickering, D.D., in 1701, towards the support
of a free school, for instruction in English and
classical literature, and navigation: the master, besides
his salary, receives one shilling a quarter from each of
the fifteen boys who are upon the foundation, and is
permitted to take as many other pupils as the schoolroom
will accommodate; the master and free scholars
are appointed by the rector. The National school was
formed in 1808, and removed in 1810 to St. Edmund's
chapel, whence it is called the Chapel school. An almshouse
in the High-street, founded in 1731, through the
bequest of Thomas Powell, is now used as the poor-house
for the parish; and there is an unendowed almshouse
in Hillgate for six poor women, given to the parish by
John Bowman, in 1689. A subscription news-room
was established in 1820; there is a society for the prosecution
of felons, the oldest institution of the kind in
Great Britain.