Consett Durham Family History Guide
Conside-cum-Knitsley, generally known as Consett, is a township and small town, in the parochial chapelry of Medomsley and was in 1862 formed into an ecclesiastical parish from the parishes of Ebchester and Lanchester.
Alternative names: Conside-cum-Knitsley, Conside
Parish church: Christ Church
Parish registers begin: 1866
Nonconformists include: Wesleyan, Baptist, and Primitive Methodist
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History
Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895
Consett, a town in Conside-cum-Knitsley township and an ecclesiastical parish in Durham. The town lies at the terminus of the Consett branch of the N.E.R., near Shotley Bridge, on the river Derwent, 8¼ miles N of Wolsingham, and has a post, money order, and telegraph office (R.S.O.) It is governed by a local board of 12 members. Acreage of township, 3090; population, 8760. The ecclesiastical commissioners are lords of the manor.
This place besides having very extensive iron-works of its own, is the centre of a great coal-mining region, including Blackhill, Leadgate, Towlaw, Ebchester, Lanchester, Medomsley, Crook, Blanchland, and other places, and it publishes a weekly newspaper.
There are a large town-hall, erected in 1884, a theatre, an infirmary supported by the Consett Iron Company for the benefit of its employees, and a police station erected in 1877. County courts are held here monthly, and petty sessions on alternate Mondays.
The ecclesiastical parish was constituted in 1862, and has a population of 8071. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham; net value, £300. Patron, alternately the Crown and the Bishop.
There are Wesleyan, Baptist, and Primitive Methodist chapels.
Source: The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895 by Brabner, John Henry Fryden
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
CONSETT, a township and a chapelry in Lanchester parish, Durham. The township bears also the name of Conside-cum-Knitsley; lies at the terminus of the Lanchester branch of the Northeastern railway, near Shotley-Bridge, on the river Derwent, 8½ miles N of Wolsingham; and has a post office under Gateshead. Acres, 2, 617. Real property, £52, 239; of which £34, 700 are in iron-works, and £1, 000 in mines. Pop., 4, 953. Houses, 823.
This place, besides having very extensive iron-works of its own, is the centre of a great coal mining and iron-working region, including Blackhill, Leadgate, Towlaw, Ebchester, Lanchester, Medomsley, Crook, Blanchland, and other places; and it publishes a weekly newspaper.
The chapelry was constituted in 1862; and is more extensive than the township. Post town, Consett, under Gateshead. Pop., about 5, 500. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Durham. Value, £300. Patron, alternately the Crown and the Bishop.
There are two Methodist chapels.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
CONSIDE, or CONSETT, with Knitsley, a township, in the chapelry of Medomsley, parish and union of Lanchester, W. division of Chester ward, N. division of the county of Durham, 14½ miles (N. W. by W.) from Durham; containing 195 inhabitants.
This place, anciently Conkesheved, was successively in the possession of various families, and once belonged to the Halls, of whom several had a taste for literary pursuits, especially John Hall, born in 1627, who was a man of very considerable talent, and is commemorated by Antony a Wood.
The township comprises 2353 acres, of which 1561 are arable, 520 pasture, and 272 woodland.
Extensive iron-works are carried on at Consett, being a recent revival of the ancient manufacture of which this neighbourhod was the seat; the Romans, and, about two centuries ago, a colony of Germans who had settled at Shotley-Bridge, having worked the mines, the produce of which, known as the Derwent iron, is very superior.
Coal is also abundant, and, being the outcrop of the Durham coal-field, is probably worked at less expense than that of any other part of the kingdom. Fire-bricks are manufactured; and besides the coal and iron, a considerable traffic exists in lead, lime, and timber.
The Stanhope railway, in connexion with the Pontop and Shields railway, intersects the township.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Records
FamilySearch
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England, Durham, Conside and Knitsley
England, Durham, Conside-cum-Knitsley
Directories
Kelly’s Directory of the Leather Trades 1880
CONSETT
Boot & Shoe Makers & Dealers
Collinson John 14 Middle street
Longstaff Robert 11 Middle st
Scotter Edward Shakespeare st
Taylor Edwd 10 Sbakespeare st
Tyler Brothers 6a Middle st
Ward Newton Mount Pleasant
Leather Outter & Seller
Collinson John 14 Middle street
Saddlers & Harness Makers
Dodd Andrew New Market st
Nichol William 3 Trafalgar st