STAINDROP, a parish in the south-western division of DARLINGTON ward, county palatine of DURHAM, comprising the market-town of Staindrop, and the townships of Hilton, Langley-Dale with Shotton, Raby with Keverstone, Wackerfield, and Woodland, and containing 2047 inhabitants, of which number, 1273 are in the town of Staindrop, 5 miles (N.E. by E.) from Barnard-Castle, and 244 (N.N.W.) from London. This place, formerly called also Stainthorp, or the stony town, is of great antiquity, having been granted by King Canute, who had a mansion at Raby, in this parish, to the monastery at Durham. The town is pleasantly situated in a valley, and consists chiefly of one long well-built street. Here is a subscription library and news-room. In Langley-dale are very extensive works for smelting lead-ore. A weekly market on Saturday, and fairs annually on the Vigil of St. Thomas the Martyr and the two following days, were granted in 1378, by Bishop Hatfield, which, after a time, fell into disuse, but the market has been revived, and is well supplied with provisions. The magistrates hold petty sessions every alternate Saturday; and a court leet and court baron for the lordship of Raby are held at Michaelmas by the lord of the manor, at which consta- bles are sworn in at the former, and debts under 40s. are recoverable at the latter; the jurisdiction extends over the other townships in the parish. The living is a perpetual curacy, annexed to the rectory of Cockfield, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Durham, endowed with £400 royal bounty, and £400 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Marquis of Cleveland. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, was formerly collegiate: it is a handsome structure, exhibiting portions in the early, decorated, and later styles of English architecture, with a square embattled tower rising from the centre, and contains some ancient and handsome monuments. The Society of Friends, Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, and Presbyterians, have each a place of worship here. A charity school, for the education of thirty poor children, is endowed with £15 per annum, arising from land left by Mr. Granger. A collegiate establishment was founded here, in the reign of Henry IV., by Ralph Nevill, Earl of Westmorland, in honour of the Virgin Mary, for a master, six priests, six clerks, six decayed gentlemen, six poor officers, and other poor men: its revenue at the dissolution was estimated at £170. 4. 6.