Crook Durham Family History Guide

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Crook is an Ecclesiastical Parish in the county of Durham, created in 1845 from a chapelry in Brancepeth Ancient Parish.

Other places in the parish include: Crook and Billy Row, Willington, and Billy Row.

Parish registers begin:

  • Parish registers: 1843
  • Bishop’s Transcripts: None

Nonconformists include: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Methodist New Connexion, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan Methodist.

Adjacent Parishes

Crook Parish Registers

Baptism Records

Crook Baptisms 1843-1914

Marriage and Banns Records

Crook Marriages 1845-1914

Death and Burial Records

Crook Burials 1841-1848

Bishops Transcripts

Explore the Bishops’ Transcripts for the Diocese of Durham (1639–1919) – This collection offers parish register copies submitted annually to the Bishop, covering baptisms, marriages, and burials across Durham, Northumberland, and parts of Yorkshire and Cumberland. Ideal for tracing ancestors when original registers are missing or incomplete.

Crook Bishops Transcripts 1843-1848

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

CROOK, a township and a chapelry in Brancepeth parish, Durham. The township bears the name of Crook and Billy-row; lies on an affluent of the river Wear, and on the Weardale Extension railway, 5½ miles NNW of Bishop-Auckland; and has a station on the railway and a post-office under Darlington, both of the name of Crook. Acres, 4, 008. Real property, £25, 981; of which £15, 603 are in mines, and £500 in gas-works. Pop., 5, 134. Houses, 954.

The chapelry is more extensive than the township; and was constituted in 1845. Pop., 8, 603. Houses, 1, 609. The property is divided among a few. Crook Hall belonged to the Hiltons and the Bakers; was the birthplace of Baker, the historian of St. John’s college, Cambridge; and passed to the Williamsons. Coal is largely worked.

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Durham. Value, £300. Patron, the Rector of Brancepeth. The church is tolerable; and there are chapels for Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, New Connexion Methodists, and Roman Catholics. The New Connexion Methodist chapel was built in 1860; and a mechanics’ institute was built in 1869.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Historical Directories

Kelly’s Directory of the Leather Trades 1880

CROOK

Boot & Shoe Makers & Dealers
Blackett Robert 62 Hope street
Hughes Charles 12 Church st
Lax George 11 Church street
Lax Joseph 10 Hope street
Longstaff James Commercial st
Longstaff Robert 16 Church st
Marriner M & Co 24 Hope st
Martin Henry & Co 71 Hope st
Miller William Heads, Church st
Pinnington Chas Wheatbottom
Smith George Mount Pleasant
Smith John 60 Commercial st

Clog & Patten Dealers
Hemsley Thomas Commercial st
Hughes Charles 12 Church st
Martin Henry & Co 71 Hope st

Curriers Leather Cutters & Sellers
Anderson Joseph Commercial st
Varley Charles 63 Hope st

Saddler & Harness Maker
Campbell Peter 11 Hope street

Administration

  • County: Durham
  • Civil Registration District: Auckland
  • Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Durham (Episcopal Consistory)
  • Diocese: Durham
  • Rural Deanery: Darlington
  • Poor Law Union: Auckland
  • Hundred: Darlington Ward
  • Province: York