# High Coniscliffe

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**High Coniscliffe** is a [parish](/source/Civil_parish) and village in the borough of [Darlington](/source/Darlington_(borough)) and [ceremonial county](/source/Ceremonial_counties_of_England) of [County Durham](/source/County_Durham), England. The parish includes [Carlbury](/source/Carlbury) and [Low Coniscliffe](/source/Low_Coniscliffe). It is part of Heighington and Coniscliffe [ward](/source/Wards_of_the_United_Kingdom), and is situated approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of [Darlington](/source/Darlington). At the 2011 Census the population of this civil parish was 242.[1]

It is now a [linear village](/source/Linear_village), with most houses along the north side of the [A67](/source/A67_road), but is also a doubly nucleated village as it has a [village green](/source/Village_green) and church on the south side of the road, and a history of a community focus at the T-junction of Ulnaby Lane and the A67, where the [Methodist](/source/Methodism) church and post office once were, and where a public house remains. It has always been a small village, but its history goes back to [Anglo-Saxon](/source/Anglo-Saxons) times, and the earliest part of St Oswald's church is [Norman](/source/Norman_architecture). The Duke of Wellington [pub](/source/Public_house) is notable for having had a portrait of [Napoleon](/source/Napoleon_I), [Wellington's](/source/Arthur_Wellesley,_1st_Duke_of_Wellington) defeated enemy, on its [sign](/source/Pub_names) from 1975 to 1988.[2]

## Geographical and political

High Coniscliffe covers 3,008 acres (12.17 km2)[3] and is located between Coniscliffe Moor to the north with its [ridge and furrow](/source/Ridge_and_furrow) meadow, and the [River Tees](/source/River_Tees) to the south. It has a [village green](/source/Village_green) on the south side of the [A67](/source/A67_road), but most of the village is along the north side of the road which is called The Green at that point. St Edwin's church is on the south side of the road, backing on to a small cliff and the River Tees, and facing the green and the road.[4] The cliff itself is walled, towered and [crenellated](/source/Battlement) in places,[5] and in the mid−19th century the village was surrounded by quarries.[6] Another focus of the village is the T-junction where Ulnaby Lane meets the A67, and where the A67 is closest to the river. The [Teesdale Way](/source/Teesdale_Way) follows the north bank of the river at the south of the village. The name, Coniscliffe, means *king's cliff*, first recorded in 1040 as *Cingcesclife*, from the [Old English](/source/Old_English) *cyning* and *clif* together with the [Old Norse](/source/Old_Norse) *konungr*.[2][7] It is on a ridge or cliff of [limestone](/source/Limestone), and closer to the river at the west end than the east end of the village, due to the river bend.[3][8] The village is in Heighington and Coniscliffe ward under [Darlington Borough Council](/source/Darlington_(borough)), and Gerald Lee and Eric Roberts are the [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) [councillors](/source/Councillor) for the ward.[9] Wildlife found in the area includes the [barn owl](/source/Western_barn_owl), [garden warbler](/source/Garden_warbler), and [tawny owl](/source/Tawny_owl); a [rookery](/source/Bird_colony) is also located nearby.[10]

## Demographics

Main article: [Demographics of Tees Valley](/source/Demographics_of_Tees_Valley)

## History

The parish once belonged to the [wapentake](/source/Wapentake) of [Sadberge](/source/Sadberge_(wapentake)), which was part of [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland) until 1189.[11] [Æthelwald Moll of Northumbria](/source/%C3%86thelwald_Moll_of_Northumbria), who may have previously murdered [Oswulf of Northumbria](/source/Oswulf_of_Northumbria) for the succession, killed Oswin, a [Bernician](/source/Bernicia) nobleman here in 761. In the year 778 [AD](/source/Anno_Domini) a [high sheriff](/source/High_Sheriff_of_Durham) called Elduf was killed here.[2] Later there was a coup in which [Æthelred I of Northumbria](/source/%C3%86thelred_I_of_Northumbria), Moll's son, was ousted by [Ælfwald I of Northumbria](/source/%C3%86lfwald_I_of_Northumbria), and several royal nobles were killed in this same village.[12] Richard Thirkeld, a [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church) [missionary](/source/Missionary) priest from the village, was executed at York on 29 May 1583 for high treason due to his Catholicism. On 4 March 1590 another local Catholic priest, Christopher Bayles, was similarly executed.

In 1734 the [churchwardens](/source/Churchwarden) of the village were given a house and 6 acres (0.024 km2) by Robert Bowes of [Thornton Hall](/source/Thornton_Hall,_High_Coniscliffe). The rent from the house was donated to the poor at Christmas and midsummer.[13] A venerable native of the village was carpenter Matthew Greathead (23 April 1770−31 December 1871), who became the oldest living [Freemason](/source/Freemasonry) of his time. His lodge commemorated him with a [column](/source/Headstone) at the gate of St Mary's church, [Richmond](/source/Richmond,_North_Yorkshire).[14]

Edward Liddell, who later became [chief constable](/source/Chief_constable) of [Newark](/source/Newark,_Cambridgeshire), was born in the parish in 1826.[15] The population has always been low: in 1801 220; in 1811 234; in 1821 245; in 1831 234; in 1841 244; in 1851 248; in 1861 234; in 1871 318; in 1881 355; in 1891 349. In 1893 the village was worth £4,259.[8] From 1590 to 1836 the village had sufficient population to support at least two or three marriages per year.[16] A school was built here in 1830, and that building is now the church hall.[17] The [national school](/source/National_school_(England_and_Wales)), which may have used the same building but no longer exists, was founded in 1848 for 87 pupils.[13] There is a local legend set at the time when the national school was being built. A native man called Dickenson returned to his village on 28 June 1848 to attempt a cure for paralysis. He asked to be buried up to his neck in the riverbank for four hours, and after much pain his health was improved.[13]

## Archaeological finds

Smotherlaw [barrow](/source/Tumulus) at [Carlbury](/source/Carlbury) is in the parish of High Coniscliffe.[18] A small, copper, [Bronze Age](/source/Bronze_Age) tool was found in the village in 1991. [Roman](/source/Roman_Britain) pottery, thought to be related to [Piercebridge Roman Fort](/source/Piercebridge_Roman_Fort), has been found scattered on fields, possibly as fertiliser from a Roman [midden](/source/Midden). There is a carving in St Edwin's church of two winged figures on either side of a calf or ram; this is thought to be an [Anglo-Saxon](/source/Anglo-Saxons) re-carving of a Roman dedication stone.[19][20][21]

## Significant buildings

Old Hall Farm incorporates a farmhouse, at 23 The Green, whose north-west wing could be a 13th-century [bastle house](/source/Bastle_house), built as sanctuary during raids from Scotland. Most of the building dates from the 17th century.[19] Mill house is considered old but has been restored with a heron [weather vane](/source/Weather_vane). The Spotted Dog [pub](/source/Public_house) is named after a [foxhound](/source/English_Foxhound) called *Blue Cap* which won a race at [Newmarket](/source/Newmarket_Racecourse) for a wager with a stake of 500 [guineas](/source/Guinea_(British_coin)) in 1792.[2][22] The village's Methodist chapel was built in 1827 where Ulnaby Lane meets the A67, and demolished in the 1940s.[13] There is an old dovecote in the village. The Duke of Wellington pub had a picture of [Napoleon](/source/Napoleon_I) on its sign from 1975 to 1988.[2] The pub's car park is the site of the old post office which doubled as the [hackney carriage](/source/Hackney_carriage) station, and where an [Elizabethan](/source/Elizabethan_era) stone [sundial](/source/Sundial) was found in the garden. It was near the old golf club and opposite the [Methodist](/source/Methodism) chapel at the southern end of Ulnaby Lane.[13] A recent development of twelve houses called Lawson's Court was built in the village in 2009. following the closure of Lawson's Garage.The Duke of Wellington closed in 2010 to become a domestic home with 2 new Houses built in the car-park.[23]

### St Edwin's church, vicarage and hall

The church is dedicated to [Edwin of Northumbria](/source/Edwin_of_Northumbria), who declared himself *overking* of all England and converted to Christianity on 11 April 627 [AD](/source/Anno_Domini).[24] It is thought that there could have been an earlier church on the site;[19] the present St Edwin's church dates from 1170. It is built of limestone, it is dedicated to [Edwin of Northumbria](/source/Edwin_of_Northumbria) and has a [Norman](/source/Norman_architecture) carved and arched doorway under the north porch. It has a nave, chancel, north aisle, square tower and octagonal spire. The [embattled](/source/Battlement) tower was built between the Norman and [medieval](/source/Middle_Ages) eras. The chancel arch is [Gothic](/source/English_Gothic_architecture), and supported on [corbels](/source/Corbel_arch) with carved [capitals](/source/Capital_(architecture)); the south corbel appears to be Norman. The east window has rich [stained glass](/source/Stained_glass). The building was upgraded in the 13th century when the [spire](/source/Spire) was added, and it was restored in 1892. In that year it was reseated, the floor relaid, and a new screen, altar and tower clock added; all at a cost of £600.[8] Another source gives the restoration date as 1844.[25] As of 2009 it has a [stainless steel](/source/Stainless_steel) roof.[2]

The [vicarage](/source/Rectory), next to the church and on the edge of the limestone ridge,[3][8] was remodelled around 1850 and is said to contain [secret passages](/source/Secret_passage). It has a well in the garden and a [coat of arms](/source/Coat_of_arms) on the exterior wall on the west side of the building.[2][13] In 1848 the vicar had the benefit of the vicarage, a [glebe](/source/Glebe) of 60 acres (0.24 km2) and local [tithes](/source/Tithe) to the value of £7 18s 1½d. The glebe may be associated with the [ridge and furrow](/source/Ridge_and_furrow) field to the north of the village.[6] The church hall was built of stone and slate in 1830 as a school, and it has a later, flat-roofed extension.[17] It was the village school until the early 1960s, then was renovated in 2000 with a grant of £57,000 from Cleartop, a waste management company. [Low Coniscliffe](/source/Low_Coniscliffe) and [Merrybent](/source/Merrybent) share the hall with High Coniscliffe.[26]

## High Coniscliffe Primary School

High Coniscliffe CE Primary School is the only school in the village. It opened in 1963 with 40 children, and now has about 100. It has achieved the *sustainable* level of the national School [Travel plan](/source/Travel_plan) accreditation scheme, which attempts to make it easier and safer for children to reach school without wasting resources.[27] It achieved an [Ofsted](/source/Ofsted) *outstanding* rating, the top of its four-point scale, in 2007–2008.[28]

## References

1. ["Civil Ward population 2011"](http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11124555&c=high+coniscliffe&d=16&e=62&g=6377591&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1454497554422&enc=1). Retrieved 3 February 2016.

1. ["Walks around the borough of Darlington"](http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/documents/Development%20and%20Environment/Countryside/coniscliffemoorandteesdaleway.pdf). *No. 5: Coniscliffe Moor and Teesdale Way (leaflet)*. Darlington Borough Council. 2 August 1999. Retrieved 31 March 2010.

1. Joiner, Paul R. (13 March 2005). ["Genuki"](http://www.joinermarriageindex.co.uk/pjoiner/genuki/DUR/Coniscliffe/index.html). *Coniscliffe*. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. Thorpe, H. (1949). "The green villages of County Durham". *Transactions and Papers (Institute of British Geographers)*. '***(15): 155–180. Royal Geographical Society. [doi:10.2307/621036](https://doi.org/10.2307/621036). [JSTOR 621036](https://www.jstor.org/stable/621036)***

1. ["Darlington Borough Council"](http://www.durham-pa.gov.uk/durhamcc/DRE.nsf/DREPicture?readform&PIC=dre/m/09682.jpg&NAME=High+Coniscliffe&IMGID=M9080&PLACE=High+Coniscliffe). *High Coniscliffe: 1981 photograph of walled cliff*. Retrieved 3 April 2010.[dead link]

1. Conhope – Cooknoe (1848). [*A Topographical Dictionary of England*](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50894#s6). Samuel Lewis (ed.). Institute of Historical Research. pp. 679–682. Retrieved 3 April 2010.

1. ["Encyclopedia.com"](http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-ConiscliffeHighConsclffLw.html). *Coniscliffe, High*. 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. Whellan (1894). [*History, Topography and Directory of Durham*](http://www.joinermarriageindex.co.uk/pjoiner/genuki/DUR/Coniscliffe/index.html). London: Whellan.

1. ["Darlington Borough Council"](https://archive.today/20060520073336/http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Democracy/Wards/Heighington+and+Coniscliffe+ward.htm). *Heighington and Coniscliffe*. 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Democracy/Wards/Heighington+and+Coniscliffe+ward.htm) on 20 May 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["This is the North-East: Communigate"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110612013427/http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc/page31.phtml). *2008 Annual Report*. 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/dtnfc/page31.phtml) on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. William Page (ed.) (1928). ['*Stockton ward: Introduction and map', A History of the County of Durham*](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42619). Vol. 3. Victoria County History. pp. 191–194. Retrieved 6 April 2010.

1. ["Brnard Cornwell"](https://bernardcornwellbookgroup.blogspot.com/2009/08/history-of-northumbria-anglo-saxon-era.html). *History of Northumbria: Anglo-Saxon Era*. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["High Coniscliffe CE Primary School"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120305131521/http://www.highconiscliffe.darlington.sch.uk/about.htm). *About Us*. 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.highconiscliffe.darlington.sch.uk/about.htm) on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. Cooper, Jan (2010). ["Greathead.org"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090707152222/http://www.greathead.org/greathead2-o/p147.htm). *Worldwide Greathead family my One-Name Study*. Archived from [the original](http://www.greathead.org/greathead2-o/p147.htm) on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2010.

1. ["Claims to fame"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121023081354/http://www.freewebs.com/free-tree/claimstofame.htm). *Newark chief of police, Edward Liddell (1826–99)*. 2005. Archived from [the original](http://www.freewebs.com/free-tree/claimstofame.htm) on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2010.

1. Rounce, Bill; Pears, Brian; Bell, George; Bell, Sandra Hope (17 October 1996). ["Genuki"](http://genuki.cs.ncl.ac.uk/Transcriptions/DUR/Coniscliffe.html). *Marriages from the Coniscliffe Registers (1590–1837)*. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. Snaith, John (2003–2010). ["Tees Valley Village Halls"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111006171140/http://www.tvvh.org.uk/listing.php?node=62). *High Coniscliffe Church Hall*. Archived from [the original](http://www.tvvh.org.uk/listing.php?node=62) on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2010.

1. Crawshaw, Timothy & Grimshaw, Heather (March–June 2009). ["Darlington Borough Council"](http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100403133410/http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/Documents/Development%20and%20Environment/Development%20and%20Regeneration/Planning%20Services/Conservation/SAMAudit.pdf). *Scheduled monuments audit 2009*. DBC. Archived from [the original](http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/Documents/Development%20and%20Environment/Development%20and%20Regeneration/Planning%20Services/Conservation/SAMAudit.pdf) on 2010-04-03. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["Keys to the past"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110616201617/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D6822). *Local History High Coniscliffe (County Durham)*. 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D6822) on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["Medieval Archaeology"](http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-769-1/ahds/dissemination/pdf/indexes-vol01-45/016_020_001_058_index.pdf). *Index of Volumes XVI-XX, 1972–1976: vol 20 (1976), fig.47*. London: The Society for Medieval Archaeology. 1978. p. 143. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["Keys to the past"](http://www.durham-pa.gov.uk/DURHAMCC/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D5394). *High Conniscliffe; Re-used Roman Carving. (High Coniscliffe) with photo*. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council. 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.[dead link]

1. Dave, Fox (11 April 2008). ["The Blue Cap, Sandiway – Into the blue"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080907220024/http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/entertainment-chester/restaurants-chester-cheshire/2008/04/11/the-blue-cap-sandiway-into-the-blue-59067-20761648/). *Chester Chronicle*. Archived from [the original](http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/entertainment-chester/restaurants-chester-cheshire/2008/04/11/the-blue-cap-sandiway-into-the-blue-59067-20761648/) on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2010.

1. ["Kebbell Homes"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101010141626/http://www.kebbell.co.uk/lawsons/index.html). *Lawson's Court*. 2009. Archived from [the original](http://www.kebbell.co.uk/lawsons/index.html) on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2010.

1. Simpson, David (1991–2009). ["Anglo-Saxon and Viking Northumbria (400–1066)"](http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/KingdomofNorthumbria.html). *History of Northumbria: Anglo-Saxon era 450AD-866AD: Edwin's conversion to Christianity*. Retrieved 6 April 2010.

1. ["Keys to the past"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110616201700/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D258). *High Coniscliffe, St Edwin's; church. (High Coniscliffe)*. 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D258) on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["Encyclopedia.com"](http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-19117357.html). *Northern Echo: 57,000 cash grant to repair village hall*. 19 October 2000. Retrieved 6 April 2010.

1. ["Start a walking school bus"](http://www.walkingschoolbus.org/). *The basics*. 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

1. ["High Coniscliffe CE Primary School"](http://www.highconiscliffe.darlington.sch.uk/). *Homepage*. 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2010.

## External links

- [Coniscliffe map](http://www.british-towns.net/en/level_4_display.asp?GetL3=280) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100619023713/http://british-towns.net/en/level_4_display.asp?GetL3=280) 19 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- [Walks around Darlington: Online leaflet No.5, Coniscliffe Moor and Teesdale Way](http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/documents/Development%20and%20Environment/Countryside/coniscliffemoorandteesdaleway.pdf) (pdf file)
- [The Spotted Dog](http://www.spotteddogcountrypub.co.uk)
- [Walks around Darlington: Online leaflet No.5, Coniscliffe Moor and Teesdale Way](https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:WQ4eMzLSnRsJ:www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/documents/Development%2520and%2520Environment/Countryside/coniscliffemoorandteesdaleway.pdf+duke+of+wellington,+high+coniscliffe&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESi0_P3yelDO9SX5mkFSoHdhxeozilQUVi0py4UZApuCNkbbSOGgv0WrTEcUdzpWXgc0atGF3XGPsAgDer8J86_EGO09JbU7VEMDWeJhUqyANCISXn8ulnIN-WtZDeDJistV7Wt4&sig=AHIEtbT7F4jaiznlrmreFlR6KahAVA4FkA) (Google document version)

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