CASSOP IN THE ANCIENT COUNTY OF DURHAM     (  A  HISTORY )

 

Cassop along with the hamlets of Kelloe , Coxhoe , Quarrington , Tursdale , Thornley , Wheatly Hill ,

Wingate , Deaf Hill , Greenhill's ( known as Wellfield ) and Hurworth ( West of Wellfield ) , was the

District known as Kelloe Parish , until the mid nineteenth century . In about the thirteenth century

A Forrest covering an area of land from just north of Cassop and extending unbroken to the boundary

Of Durham City was known as the Bishop of Durhams Forrest , it was preserved for the hunting of deer among other things .

 

In 1389 anno Domini a statute was made which censured the artificers , labourers and servants of the Parish for the use of harrier  ( hounds ) for the hunting of game in the Forrest . This nearly always occurred while their masters attended church , having been the set pattern for many years in and around Cassop i.e. while the masters prayed in church the labourers played in the Forrest  , many gambling while others had a successful time hunting .

 

There were other groups who were often seen within the Forrest , groups who would be armed during their assemblies , conspiring to rebel and disobey their allegiance to the Durham Palatine , this was about the same time as the WaT Tyler rebelellion of 1381 anno Domini . In France the same rebellious programme was also occurring under the leadership of a man called Jacquerie .

 

Although no major battle engagements ever took place within the parish between kings cavaliers and Cromwell's Roundheads , there was still much involvement within the district . In the main , the  parishioners of the Kelloe parish supported the Kings cause and in doing so suffered when the Roundhead soldiers under the leadership of Leslie  , who for sometime was encamped on the slopes of Quarrington . 

 

The Roundhead Commissioners held their courts at Kelloe Hall (Town Hall ) , and their judgements often confiscated the estates of many of the well known Royalists within the parish . One such man to suffer was John Reed of Cassop who’s judgement was decided at Kelloe Hall .

 

Cassop in those early days consisted of a large area of open countryside and was mainly used for the purpose of hunting by the bishop of Durham in order to provide food for his household and retainers in those days the village of Cassop comprised only three or four farms and a few cottages .

 

The Durham palatine was never mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086 a.d. but in the Boldon book ,It is recorded that William de Kent of Cassop held four oxgangs  ( a measure of land as much as an ox can plough in one day ) , he also served on many embassies . Another man who held land in Cassop about that time was Thomas Clerk of Elvet .

 

In the fifteenth century the Busby family were land owners for many years in Cassop . In 1587 a.d. , William Busby was an householder and Annie the wife of his son Anthony was buried at Kelloe on May9^th 1633 . Annie’s eldest son married John Lively’s daughter , who was the vicar of Kelloe and a man who also held land in Cassop along with John Davidson .

 

Both these men were strong supporters of the parliament cause during the civil war and were later to be appointed to help confiscate the property of their Royalist neighbours .

 

Henry Busby of Cassop was later appointed High Constable for Easington by the victorious roundhead’s charged with watching over the interests of parliament within the district . Another man bearing the same surname in Cassop , Anthony Busby , held the position of parish clerk in 1756 . George Reed was another well known Cassop landowner , and an ardent supporter of the royalists , he suffered much on account of his beliefs , having his lands and goods taken from him on more than one occasion . George Reeds daughter married the son of Robert Bromley of Heart , who as a roundhead supporter plundered the goods and land of the kings supporters .

 

These actions occurring within the community of this small village showed the tragedy and upheaval which was taking place throughout the country . Later in the 18^th century a farmer who spoke of the raids which were made from time to time in the neighbourhood to press men into the service of the Kings Navy , spoke of witnessing farm hands and labourers being forcibly taken away .

 

In 1865 a.d. Cassop and Quarrington  were distinct parishes being made up mainly of the parish of Kelloe , and partly of the parish of Bishop Middleham , along with Cassop , Old Cassop , Cassop Colliery Heugh Hall , Cassop Moor and Cassop Vale. Then in 1809 a.d. Bowburn and Quarrington . The total Population at that time was 1100 people . The townships of Cassop cum Quarrington were until 1887 a.d. separate , then in March of 1887 a.d. they united into one parish covering an area of 3258 acres , with a  rateable value in 1890a.d. of  10,782 pounds .In 1871 a.d. the population of Cassop alone was 783 .

 

By the late 19^th century the landowners in Cassop cum Quarrington were William Hopper , James Fowler , William Eggleston , Anthony Wilkinson , Hilton Philipson , the executors of the late Mrs Blackett and the ecclesiastical commissioners  . The school under the jurisdiction of the Cassop cum Quarrington board was erected in 1875 , constructed of iron and provided schooling for 238 children.

The Wesleyans Methodists and primitive Methodists each had a chapel in Cassop . The Wesleyans place of worship , erected in 1842 a.d. was built of stone and cost 200 pounds .

 

By the late 19^th century mail arrived daily on weekday’s , routed from Trimdon Grange via Quarrington  it arrived at 8.25am and outgoing mail was collected at 15.35pm . The postal service at that time provided the primary commercial and banking needs of the community ;

        

                                                                                        Post Money Order Office , Cassop Colliery . 

                                                                                        Postmaster William M. Stokoe .

 

Mrs Dorothy Cook ( Victualler of Cassop Moor Inn )

Miss Elizabeth Dunn . of Cassop

Thomas Hall ( Shopkeeper of Cassop )

George Hardy ( Grocer of Cassop )

William Raine ( Victualler of Cassop Victoria Inn )

Mrs Stokoe of Cassop

William M. Stokoe ( Grocer & Draper ) Post Office .

Thomas White ( Victualler ) of Cassop Prince Albert Inn .

W. J. Atkinson ( Farmer of Old Cassop .

Henry W Bell ( Farmer of Old Cassop .

Robert Young (Farmer of Old Cassop .