Miscellaneous documents - Darlington
Reference: D/XD 117 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents - Darlington Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Joseph Fryer's Smelt House Estate, North Bedburn, Witton le Wear
Covering Dates: 1773-1966
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- Miscellaneous documents - Darlington
Catalogue Contents
Smelt House Estate (Ref: D/XD 117/1-13)Ref: D/XD 117/1
General ledger (indexed) for an unidentified person or business, containing personal, domestic, estate and business accounts, 1904 - 1923
(1 volume, leather bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/2General ledger for an unidentified person or business, containing personal, domestic, estate and business accounts, 1933 - 1961
(1 volume, leather half-bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/3Account book of the executors of Joseph Fryer, deceased, containing balance sheets, investments, particulars of mortgages, plan of Smelt House Estate, North Bedburn, profit and loss accounts, particulars and summary of real property, reports and a copy of Fryer's will of 1896, 1904 - 1915
(1 volume, leather half-bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/4Cost book for production of coal from an unidentified coal mine, giving details of the cost of labour and equipment for different seams, 1898 - 1904
(1 volume, leather half-bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/5Copy of the directions of Edward Fairless, solicitor for the division of Witton-le-Wear and North Bedburn Common, to draw up an award, containing the names of proprietors and the yearly rent or value of their estates for which they have allotments on Witton-le-Wear and North Bedburn Common, with details of public roads, roads to be made and repaired by the owners of allotments, public bridle roads, private roads, common wells, quarries and watering places, drains, water courses, foot roads and allotments, April 1775
(1 volume, paper bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/6Farm stock book for an unidentified farm, 30 June 1927 - 31 December 1934
(1 volume, plastic-bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/7Notes and memoranda of coal seams, drifts, and other matters, at Bitchburn Colliery, Witton-le-Wear, May 1884
(1 volume, leather bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/8List of wedding presents given to an unidentified bride, June - July 1896
(1 booklet)
Ref: D/XD 117/9Diary of domestic events and occurrences at Smelt House, North Bedburn, 1885 - 1897
At back: list of fruit given away, 1887, 1888, 1897
(1 booklet)
Ref: D/XD 117/10The Friends in Council, a satirical account of the Friends' First Day School Conference, n.d. [c. 1870]
(1 booklet, printed)
Ref: D/XD 117/11Cutting from The Northern Echo , describing The Friends in Council [D/XD 117/10], a copy of which was to be auctioned at Sotheby's, 11 March 1966
Originally enclosed in D/XD 117/10
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/12Particulars and conditions of sale of Manor House, Burnopside, Newbiggen, Woodside, Foldhouse and Whitehouse Farms and strata of coal, in the parishes of Lanchester and Auckland, St. Andrew, containing 12,000 acres, 1835
(1 booklet)
Ref: D/XD 117/13Copy valuation of woods and plantations on Foldhouse and Whitehouse Farms taken by John Nicholson, July 1835, and valuation of Foldhouse and Whitehouse Farms by George Coates and Son, 1835
Originally enclosed in D/XD 117/12
(1 paper)
Records relating to Smelt House (Ref: D/XD 117/14-117 /80)Ref: D/XD 117/14Catalogue of a herd of pure-bred shorthorn cattle, the property of the late Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, Beechburn, 1904
(1 booklet)
Ref: D/XD 117/15'Tracing [of] Smelt House Estate from 6" Ordnance', 1913
Shows field numbers
Scale: 6 inches to 1 mile [1:10560]
(1 plan, 37 cm. x 34 cm., tracing paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/16'Copy plan of Smelt House Estate, in the township of North Bedburn, in the County of Durham', prepared by William Mason, 1835
Gives field names and acreages
No scale
(1 plan, 50 cm. x 38 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/17Drawing of Smelt House by R. Coates, 1835
(1 paper, 33 cm. x 23 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/18Drawing of Old Smelt House by M.M., 1839
(1 paper, 25 cm. x 18 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/19'Ground plan of Smelt House', n.d.
Scale: 3 feet to 1 inch [1:36]
(1 plan, 32 cm. x 25 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/20Drawing of a woodland scene, sent to Miss Fryer, Smelt House, Howden near Darlington, November 1869
(1 paper, 19 cm. x 26 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/21Correspondence, and memorandum, re the shares of Joseph Fryer, deceased, in The Woodland Collieries Company, Ltd., 30 May - 1 June 1905
(3 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/22The Woodland Collieries Company Ltd., share certificates of Joseph Fryer, esq., Smelt House, Howden-le-Wear, numbers 709-724, 1880
Endorsed: 'Shares fully paid up; 11 April 1890, £5 repaid, 30 October 1903, 30 May 1905'
(16 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/23Schedules of coke costs, n.d.
(3 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/24The Woodland Collieries Company Ltd., share certificates of Joseph Fryer, esq., of Smelt House, Howden-le-Wear, numbers 559-708, 1880
Endorsed: 'Shares fully paid up; 11 April 1890, £5 repaid, 30 October 1903, 30 May 1905'
(119 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/25The Woodland Collieries Company Ltd., share certificates of Joseph Fryer, esq., of Smelt House, Howden-le-Wear, numbers 725-1048, 1880
Endorsed: 'Shares fully paid up; 11 April 1890, £5 repaid, 30 October 1903, 30 May 1905'
(323 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/26Abstract of title, 27-28 March 1732 - 21 January 1817, of David Bevan, esq., to a messuage or tenement, lands and hereditaments called Bitchburn Green, otherwise Whitehouse, County Durham, 1835
Annotated: part of Lot 9
(1 file)
Ref: D/XD 117/2715 April 1844
(1) The Right Revd. Father in God, Edward, Lord Bishop of Durham.
(2) Thomas Spark Preston of Sedgefield, gent., administrator of the personal estate and effects of Jane Preston, late of Sedgefield aforesaid, widow, deceased.
Lease for 21 years, from (1) to (2), of a parcel of ground now divided into 2 small fields or closes, containing together 3.5 acres., heretofore part of the waste or common within the township of North Bedburn in the chapelry of Witton-le-Wear, [boundaries specified]; a piece of land which was allocated to the above premises on the enclosure of moors or commons in the chapelry of Witton-le-Wear, containing 3r.9p. [boundaries specified], reserving to (1) woods, underwoods and trees, mines, quarries, beds of coal, stone, clay, sand and minerals
Rent: 3s.6d. for parcel of land and 4 3/4d. for the allotment
(Parchment, 1 membrane)
Ref: D/XD 117/288 May 1854
(1) The Right Revd. Edward, Lord Bishop of Durham
(2) George Hutton Wilkinson of Harperley Park, esq.
Lease for 21 years, from (1) to (2), of 2 pieces or parcels of ground, heretofore part of the township of North Bedburn in the chapelry of Witton-le-Wear, 1 piece containing 3r., and 1 piece containing 2a.3r. [boundaries specified]; a piece or parcel of ground which was allotted to the above lands on the division and enclosure of moors or commons in the chapelry of Witton-le-Wear, containing 2r.35p [boundaries specified], reserving to (1) woods, underwoods, trees, mines, quarries and beds of coal, stone, clay, sand and minerals
Rent: 3s.6d. for the 2 parcels of land; 4 1/4d. for the allotment
(Parchment, 1 membrane)
Ref: D/XD 117/29Letter from A.A. Douglas Gresley, Bishop Auckland, to P. Hood, Quarry House, Harperley, Darlington, acknowledging receipt of the counterpart of Mr. Wilkinson's new lease of property at North Bedburn and the old lease, and payment, 22 May 1854
Originally enclosed in D/XD 117/28
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/3015 December 1853
(1) Thomas Firth of Toothill in Rastrick, Halifax, Yorkshire
(2) Benjamin Barrowclough of Mirfield, Yorkshire, coal proprietor
Duplicate lease for 21 years, from (1) to (2), of bed, vein or seam of coal, commonly called the Blocking Bed, being the first or top bed lying under several closes of land at Northorpe, in Mirfield, aforesaid, called the Near Upper Ackroyd, the Far Upper Ackroyd, the Near Low Ackroyd, the Far Low Ackroyd, the Top Grave Ing, the Low Grave Ing, the Horse Pasture, the Long Close and so much of the Low Ing, as lay to the north east side of a throw existing therein, with a south western inclination; which closes contain 30 acres, now in the occupation of (2); with licence to mine and carry away coal.
Rent: £65 p.a., the price of 1 acre of so much of the said bed of coal as is good and saleable; and £65 for all such further quantity, more than 2 acres, of good saleable coal
(Parchment, 2 membranes)
Ref: D/XD 117/31Drawing of coal seam, 7 February 1871
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/32Additional abstract, 22 - 23 November 1836 - 1 July 1861, of George Coates, esq., to hereditaments and premises called Bitchburn Green, otherwise Whitehouse and Fold House in the township of North Bedburn, 1868
(1 file)
Ref: D/XD 117/3312 June 1871
(1) The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England
(2) Rev. Thomas William Wilkinson of Thistleflat, near Crook
Conveyance, from (1) to (2), of all (1)'s estate and interest in 3 closes of land, containing 3a.2r.19p., in the township of North Bedburn, chapelry of Witton-le-Wear, parish of St. Andrew Auckland; and all reversionary estate and interest in 3 other closes, containing 5a.1r.35p., in the township of North Bedburn, aforesaid, reserving all mines, minerals, quarries, metals, ores and other sub-strata
Endorsed: plan showing location of closes
Consideration: £350
(Parchment, 2 membranes)
Ref: D/XD 117/345 December 1873
(1) William Standish of West Auckland, commercial traveller
(2) Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, near Crook, and Henry John Grieveson of Darlington, and Edward Robert Whitwell of Darlington, coal owners
Lease for 30 years of a piece or parcel of land and 4 cottages or dwelling houses thereon, at Burnt Houses and New Copley Colliery, in the township of Cockfield; mineral rights reserved
Rent: £40 for first 21 years; £34 13s.4d. p.a. for the last 9 years
(Parchment, 1 membrane)
Ref: D/XD 117/35Counterpart of D/XD 117/34
(Parchment, 1 membrane)
Ref: D/XD 117/366 April 1897
(1) Rt. Rev. Thomas William Wilkinson, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
(2) Alexander Mackay, of Crook, doctor of medicine
(3) Joseph Fryer of Howden-le-Wear, colliery owner
Conveyance, from (1) and (2) to (3), of a close of land in the township of North Bedburn, containing 5a.26p.; a close or parcel of land in the township of North Bedburn on the north side of the aforesaid hereditament, containing 2a.3r.34p., with messuage or dwelling house and all other erections on the last mentioned piece of land
Consideration: £700
(Parchment, 1 membrane)
Ref: D/XD 117/37List of presents [possibly for a wedding], n.d.
(1 volume, leather bound)
Ref: D/XD 117/38List of acknowledgements received for encroachments, 1862 and 1872
(1 booklet)
Ref: D/XD 117/39Description of Tanfield Church, n.d.
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/40Sale particulars and plans of freehold estates, containing 800 acres, extensive coal royalties, minerals and wayleaves at, and near, Crook, in the parishes of St. Andrew Auckland and Brancepeth, 1862
(1 file)
Ref: D/XD 117/417 March 1832
(1) George Coates of Norton, land agent, as agent for and on behalf of Thomas Richardson of Stamford Hill, Middlesex; Henry Birkbeck of Norwich, Norfolk, banker; Joseph Pease, the younger, of Darlington, merchant; Simon Martin of Norwich, Norfolk, banker; Edward Pease, the younger, of Stockton, merchant; and Francis Gibson of Saffron Walden, Essex, brewer
(2) Robert Manners of Stockton, innkeeper; Joseph Hardy of Hartburn, farmer; and Matthew Brewster of Middleton-One-Row, innkeeper
Agreement for the lease, from (1) to (2), of messuage or dwelling house with outbuildings and several closes or parcels of ground, containing 94a.1r.17p. in the township or parish of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire
(1 file)
Ref: D/XD 117/42The Weardale and Shildon District Waterworks Act, 1866
(1 file, printed)
Ref: D/XD 117/43An Act for D ividing and Enclosing Moors or C ommons in the T ownships of Witton-le-Wear and North Bedburn, chapelry of Witton-le-Wear, in the Manor of Wolsingham, 1773
(1 file, printed)
Ref: D/XD 117/4430 May 1900
(1) Sir Lindsay Wood of The Hermitage, Chester-le-Street, bart., and Francis John Greenwell Ford, Lanchester, judge of County Courts
(2) Arthur Pearson Davison of Broughton Grange, Banbury, Oxfordshire
(3) Thomas Finley of Harperley, farmer and colliery owner
Counterpart lease for 14 years of all minerals, under lands (81a.) in the parish of Fir Tree
Plan endorsed
Covenants as specified
Rent: £20 pa.; 6d. p.a., per ton of coal; 4d. p.a. per ton of fireclay or plateclay; 3½d. p.a. per ton of coal from any mine other than those demised
(Parchment, 9 membranes)
Ref: D/XD 117/45Report concerning the case of Butterknowle Colliery Company v Bishop Auckland Industrial Co-operative Flour and Provision Society, in the House of Lords, 5 - 6 March and 7 May 1906
(1 file)
Ref: D/XD 117/46Estate and colliery accounts, showing balance sheet and profit and loss account, 1891, 1893 - 1896
(6 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/47Estate and colliery accounts, showing balance and profit and loss, 1888 - 1890
(3 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/48Estate, colliery and personal profit and loss accounts, 1886-1887
(2 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/49Colliery and estate accounts, showing balance and profit and loss account, 1895
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/50Estate and colliery accounts, with balance sheet and probable profit and loss account, n.d.
(3 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/51'Notes on the clearing out of the Wellfield Drift, and deepening of drain up to it, during search for water in the summer of 1864 and 1865 (with plan to accompany), by Geo. Coates Fryer, Smelt House, revised Geo. Coates and Joseph Fryer'; and notes as to work done in the autumn of 1874 by D. Calvert, 5 October 1865, 11 August 1875
(5 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/52Plan of part of Witton and North Bedburn Common, with area delineated in red, endorsed 'Commissioners' coal', n.d.
Scale: 6 inches to 8 miles [1:84480]
(1 plan, 46 cm. x 47 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/53Correspondence re the provision of allotments at Howden-le-Wear, from the estate of the late Mr. Fryer, 15 January - 13 April 1917
(4 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/5427 October 1881
(1) Catherine Snowdon of Helme Park, widow, administratrix of the personal estate and effects of Thomas Snowdon, deceased; and John Kellett of Crook
(2) Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, near Howden-le-Wear
Agreement for the purchase, by (2), of a lease of coal mines under north west portion of Smelt House Estate; agreement for grant of wayleaves; lease of Abbots Close Royalty; lease of coal mines and fireclay under lands called Old Woodfield, parish of Brancepeth; seams of coal under Old Woodfield aforesaid; all machinery, buildings and colliery effects, some plant at West Woodfield Pit
Consideration: £935
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/55Calculations, notes and sketch plan re the Crook Drainage Scheme and North Eastern Railway Company, 1895
(5 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/56Agreement between George Coates, of Norton, and Michael Atkinson, for the letting to the latter of Smelt House Farm, township of North Bedburn, containing 100a.1r.4p., at a rent of £110 pa., 1839
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/57Woodlands Collieries Co. and New Copley Colliery accounts and memoranda, 1877 - 1880
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/5830 July 1864
(1) Henry William Ferdinand Bolchow and John Vaughan, both of Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, coal owners
(2) Thomas Snowdon of Elm Park, parish of Wolsingham, and John Kellett of Crook, builder
Copy agreement for the lease, for 21 years, to (2), of coal mines in land called Old Woodfield, parish of Brancepeth; power to work coal from adjoining Royalty called Abbots Close; power to erect machinery and buildings; to use ground for heap room and pit room; to build coke ovens and brick kilns; to manufacture coal from adjoining mine called Abbots Close; to make railways or waggon ways, and all other usual and necessary powers and liberties
Rent: £10 p.a. for the equivalent number of tons of coal, calculated at the tonnage prices thereinafter mentioned; 4d. per ton of coal over the equivalent quantity worked from a pit top seam and 3d. for every ton of coal above the said equivalent worked from any other seam; 6d. per ton of fireclay p.a.; 1 1/4d. per ton of coal from Abbots Close Royalty Rent: £10 p.a. for the equivalent number of tons of coal, calculated at the tonnage prices thereinafter mentioned; 4d. per ton of coal over the equivalent quantity worked from a pit top seam and 3d. for every ton of coal above the said equivalent worked from any other seam; 6d. per ton of fireclay p.a.; 1 1/4d. per ton of coal from Abbots Close Royalty
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/59Correspondence re lease of land from the estate of the late Mr. Joseph Fryer, for use as allotments, 15 September - 2 October 1916
(2 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/60Accounts and notes re Woodlands Coal Company, Woodland capital account and Fryer and Co., n.d. [post 1880]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/6114 March 1893
(1) Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, near Howden-le-Wear
(2) Charles Marriott of Darlington, trading as 'Wilkinson and Company', coal owner
Counterpart agreement, from (1) to (2), for lease of coal and fireclay remaining unwrought in the Two Feet or Busty Seam of coal, underlying lands at Woodfield near Crook
Rent: £5 per month; tonnage rent of 1s. per 20 cwt. of coal and 6d. per 20 cwt of fireclay
(1 paper; 1 plan)
Ref: D/XD 117/62Estate and colliery accounts, including balance and profit and loss, 1892, 1894
(4 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/63Estate and colliery accounts, showing balance and profit and loss, 1897 - 1902
(12 papers)
Ref: D/XD 117/641 August 1888
(1) Joseph Fryer of Smelt House
(2) James Henderson of Cold Knott Colliery Cottages, near Crook, farmer
Memorandum of agreement between (1) and (2) for the letting to (2) for 1 year of two grass fields called Haswell Close and Rainy Field, (21a. 1r. 13p.) portion of Smelt House Estate, parish of North Bedburn
Covenants as specified
Rent: £41 pa.
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/65'Smelthouse Estate, comprising the Smelthouse, Foldhouse and Whitehouse Farms, in the township of North Bedburn, County of Durham, belonging to G. Coates Sen.; also Beechburn Farm, belonging to G. Coates Jun.', surveyed and drawn by J.A. Mason, 1847
Shows field names and acreages
Scale: 1 inch to 8 chains [1:6336]
(1 plan, 72 cm. x 64 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/66Plan showing Firth House, Bradley Wood, Shepherd's Thorn and Lamb Cote, [Yorkshire], n.d.
No scale
(1 plan, 58 cm. x 52 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/67Plan of Shepherd's Thorn estate and Upper North Wood, [Yorkshire], with field names and acreages, n.d.
Scale: 1 inch to 3 chains [1:2376]
(1 plan, 70 cm. x 61 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/68Inland Revenue Form No. 1, for assessment of Legacy/Succession Duty on legacy to Edwin Hodgson Bigland, from the personal estate of Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, Howden-le-Wear, n.d. [ post 2 June 1904]
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/69Stockton and Middlesbrough Water Works Company Transfer Certificate 392, transferring shares from Hannah Fryer of Smelt House, deceased, to Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, farmer, 12 February 1869
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/70Plan of High Beechburn showing Whitehouse, Foldhouse, Smelt House and Beechburn farms, n.d.
Gives acreages of fields and lists ancient freeholds
Scale: 1 inch to 8 chains [1:6336]
(1 plan, 47 cm. x 34 cm., coloured)
Ref: D/XD 117/71'Freehold estate at Bradby [Yorkshire], left to Joseph Fryer by Thomas Firth and transferred in mortgage to J.B. 30/12/86', n.d.
Shows field names and acreages
Scale: 1 inch to 3 chains
(1 plan, 68 cm. x 57 cm., coloured)
Ref: D/XD 117/7220 January 1921
(1) The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England
(2) Edwin Hodgson Bigland of Bishop Auckland, solicitor, and Reginald Joseph Mounsey of Blackwell Hill, Darlington
Licence from (1) to (2) to sub-let to Thomas Finley of Allotment House, Fir Tree, Harperley, coal owner; John Thomas Hird of The Gables, Fir Tree, aforesaid, coal owner; and Thomas Dove of The Grey House, Martin-in-Cleveland, Yorkshire, coal owner, the mines, seams and beds of coal and fireclay under lands at Howden-le-Wear, parish of North Bedburn
(1 file, printed)
Ref: D/XD 117/73Letter from Joseph Bigland Fryer, authorising Messrs. E.H. Bigland and R.J. Mounsey, present trustees of the will of Joseph Fryer, deceased, to draw up necessary documents for the sub-letting of coal and fireclay underlying part of Smelt House estate, and coal under further part of the estate, to the Cold Knott Colliery Company Ltd. for 21 years, 25 February 1921
Originally enclosed in D/XD 117/72
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/7423 December 1881
(1) Joseph Fryer of Smelt House, gent.
(2) The Weardale and Shildon District Waterworks Company
Grant from (1) to (2) of an easement to lay, re-lay, renew, maintain, enlarge, alter, examine, regulate, cleanse, drain and repair all mains and pipes necessary for the conveyance of water for the purposes of the said company, through the lands of (1) in the township of North Bedburn, parish of Witton-le-Wear
Rent: £1 16s.8d p.a.
(Parchment, 1 membrane)
Ref: D/XD 117/75List of accounts due to estate of Joseph Fryer, deceased, 1 June 1904
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/76List of cottages on Smelt House Estate, the terms of occupation, and list of cottages with tenants paying rent, 26 July 1904
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/77Gross estimated rental of the property of the late Joseph Fryer, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, n.d.
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/78North Brancepeth dividends to Joseph Fryer's estate, 1905
(1 paper)
Ref: D/XD 117/79Plan of Busty Seam at Cold Knott Colliery, sketched by H.J.M., 27 November 1884
Scale: 3 chains to 1 inch [1:2376]
(1 plan, 93 cm. x 63 cm.)
Ref: D/XD 117/80Plan of Smelt House Estate with list of persons from whom land was purchased, with dates, n.d. [ post 1922]
No scale
(1 plan, 129 cm. x 102 cm.)