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About Wolsingham
Wolsingham sits at the confluence of the River Wear and Waskerley
Beck. It is a Saxon settlement and one of the first market towns in
County Durham deriving its name from Waelsingas or Sons of Wael an
ancient Saxon family that once resided there. The earliest known record
of the town is to be found in Reginald the Monk’s Life of Godric where
it is stated that the Saint lived there for almost 2 years about 1120 AD
with Elric the hermit .
According to the Domesday Book of Durham Wolsingham was a thriving
community holding land by servile tenure. There were shepherds , plough
makers, beekeepers, forest keepers, wood turners, carters etc. They
toiled for two purposes-producing corn and other foodstuffs for
themselves and supplying the larder of the Bishops Castle. The Bishop
and his friends indulged in hawking but hunting for red deer in the
parks of Wolsingham and Stanhope was their principal pastime.
It is traditionally reported that Edward 111 on return from an
expedition against the Scots in April 1327 rested at the Pack Horse Inn
then situated in the High Street.
In 1615 a market charter was granted to the bailiff and inhabitants
of Wolsingham and in 1667the charter was confirmed with the appointment
of a piece of land to hold the market and fairs. The market was of
considerable importance and offered great facilities to the neighbouring
district.. There were several looms in the town ,table linens, drapers,
weaving materials and clothes etc. were always in demand. Yorkshire and
Newcastle drapers frequented the market as did hatters hatters from
Hexham . Barnard Castle spice and gingerbread was also in evidence.
Unfortunately, despite revival attempts , the market has long ceased to
exist.
A Market Cross was erected in 1782 although in all probability there
was an earlier one. It was customary for funerals to pass round the
market cross on the way to Church evidently with the idea of respecting
the cross as an emblem of christianity. The stocks were adjacent to the
Market Cross . Next
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