Lanchester, County Durham
Encyclopedia
Lanchester is a village
and civil parish
in County Durham
, England
, and was in the former district of Derwentside
(1975–2009). It is 8 miles (13 km) to the west of the city of Durham
and 5 miles (8 km) from the former steel town of Consett
, and has a population of slightly over 4,000 people.
Although there was a small drift mine
on the edge of the village which closed in the 1970s, Lanchester's economy was mainly based on agriculture. It is now a residential village in which a number of housing estates have been developed since the late 1960s. The village centre now has three pubs and a small shopping centre. Recently, thanks to the Lanchester Partnership, a cycle track was opened on the 25 April 2009.
was a Roman
fort situated about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) southwest of Lanchester. The fort guarded the Roman road Dere Street
, between York
and the large supply base at Coria (Corbridge)
just south of Hadrian's Wall
. The fort dates to AD140, covers almost 6 acres (2.4 ha), and held around 1000 foot soldiers and cavalry. The fort foundations are well preserved, but there has only been minor excavation work carried out in 1937. Stone from the fort was used in the construction of All Saints Church, which has a Roman altar (one of many found in or near the fort) which was found near the fort in 1893 in its porch,
and Derwentside College
's Sixth Form Centre. There are also two primary schools: Lanchester All Saints' RC Primary School and Lanchester Endowed Parochial (E.P) This latter has since relocated about 50 yards (45.7 m) to new premises and the old school is now the village hall. The school has a nursery, an infant department and a junior department.
The other churches within Lanchester are the All Saints Catholic church and the Methodist Church which is centered in the heart of the village.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was in the former district of Derwentside
Derwentside
Derwentside was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in County Durham, England.The district took its name from the River Derwent, which made up part of the northern border of the district. Its main towns were Consett and Stanley, with the district council offices on Consett's Medomsley...
(1975–2009). It is 8 miles (13 km) to the west of the city of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
and 5 miles (8 km) from the former steel town of Consett
Consett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town: below the ground was coking coal and...
, and has a population of slightly over 4,000 people.
Although there was a small drift mine
Drift mining
Drift mining is either the mining of a placer deposit by underground methods, or the working of coal seams accessed by adits driven into the surface outcrop of the coal bed. Drift is a more general mining term, meaning a near-horizontal passageway in a mine, following the bed or vein of ore. A...
on the edge of the village which closed in the 1970s, Lanchester's economy was mainly based on agriculture. It is now a residential village in which a number of housing estates have been developed since the late 1960s. The village centre now has three pubs and a small shopping centre. Recently, thanks to the Lanchester Partnership, a cycle track was opened on the 25 April 2009.
Landmarks
LongoviciumLongovicium
Longovicium was an auxiliary fort on Dere Street, in the Roman province of Britannia Inferior. It is located just southwest of Lanchester in the English county of Durham, roughly to the west of the city of Durham and from Consett.-History:Longovicium was situated between the forts of...
was a Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
fort situated about 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) southwest of Lanchester. The fort guarded the Roman road Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
, between York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
and the large supply base at Coria (Corbridge)
Coria (Corbridge)
Coria was a fort and town, located south of Hadrian's Wall, in the Roman province of Britannia. Its full Latin name is uncertain. Today it is known as Corchester or Corbridge Roman Site, adjoining Corbridge in the English county of Northumberland...
just south of Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The...
. The fort dates to AD140, covers almost 6 acres (2.4 ha), and held around 1000 foot soldiers and cavalry. The fort foundations are well preserved, but there has only been minor excavation work carried out in 1937. Stone from the fort was used in the construction of All Saints Church, which has a Roman altar (one of many found in or near the fort) which was found near the fort in 1893 in its porch,
Education
The schools at Lanchester include St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form CollegeSt Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College
St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College is a school in Lanchester, County Durham, England. The school has specialist school status as a language college...
and Derwentside College
Derwentside College
Derwentside College is a further education college based in Consett, County Durham, England. It is the major provider of post-16 education and training in the former district of Derwentside.The Principal and Chief Executive is Albert Croney....
's Sixth Form Centre. There are also two primary schools: Lanchester All Saints' RC Primary School and Lanchester Endowed Parochial (E.P) This latter has since relocated about 50 yards (45.7 m) to new premises and the old school is now the village hall. The school has a nursery, an infant department and a junior department.
Religious sites
There are three churches in the village including The Church of England, which overlooks the village green. It is predominantly Norman and Early English, with the tower dating from c. 1430.The other churches within Lanchester are the All Saints Catholic church and the Methodist Church which is centered in the heart of the village.
Notable residents
- Canon William GreenwellWilliam GreenwellCanon William Greenwell FRS FSA FSA.Scot was an English archaeologist.-Life:William Greenwell was born 23 March 1820 in the estate known as Greenwell Ford near Lanchester, County Durham, England...
(1820–1918), inventor of the 'Greenwell's Glory' fly-fishing fly. - Dorothy (Dora) GreenwellDora Greenwell-Life:Dorothy Greenwell was born 6 December 1821 at the family estate called Greenwell Ford in Lanchester, County Durham, England.Her father was William Thomas Greenwell and mother was Dorothy Smales ....
(1821–1882), poet, born at Greenwell Ford. - Henry Nicholas GreenwellHenry Nicholas GreenwellHenry Nicholas Greenwell was an English merchant credited with establishing Kona coffee as an internationally known brand.His family became major land-holders in the Kona District of the island of Hawaii....
(1826–1891), developer of Kona coffeeKona coffeeKona coffee is the market name for coffee cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Only coffee from the Kona Districts can be described as "Kona"...