Editing Low Coniscliffe

{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country              =England
|static_image_name    =Low Coniscliffe 003.jpg
|static_image_caption =West end of village
|coordinates          = {{coord|54.519|-1.617|display=inline,title}}
|label_position       =bottom
|official_name        =Low Coniscliffe
|population           = 716
|population_ref       = (2011)
|unitary_england      =[[Darlington (borough)|Darlington]]
|lieutenancy_england  =[[County Durham]]
|region               =North East England
|constituency_westminster =[[Sedgefield (UK Parliament constituency)|Sedgefield]]
|post_town            =DARLINGTON
|postcode_district    =DL2
|postcode_area        =DL
|dial_code            =01325
|os_grid_reference    =NZ247137
}}

'''Low Coniscliffe''' is a village in the [[civil parish]] of Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent, in [[County Durham]], England. The population of the civil parish taken at the 2011 Census was 716.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126111&c=Low+Coniscliffe&d=16&e=62&g=6377592&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1454500898516&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=3 February 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref> It is situated {{convert|3|mi|km}} west of [[Darlington]]. Its present built-up area is confined in practice between the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]], the [[A67 road|A67]] and the [[River Tees|Tees]], but its old boundaries probably extend much further. The village contains a couple of [[listed buildings]] and the probable site of a [[Middle Ages|medieval]] [[manor house]]. There was once a [[gallows]] in the village.<ref name="KeysGallows"/> A rare fungus ''[[Rhodotus]] palmatus'' was found nearby.<ref name="TheVasculum1993">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-vasculum.com/definitive_vasculum_archive/1993/1993.pdf |title=New and significant records of fungi from VC66 1992–1993 |last=Legg |first=A.&nbsp;W.|date=October 1994 |work=The Vasculum|issn=0049-5891 |access-date=18 March 2016 }}</ref><ref name="VasculumOct94">{{cite journal|url=http://www.the-vasculum.com/vasculum_archive/793.doc |journal=The Vasculum |volume=79|number=3 |last1=Coles |first1=A. |first2=L. |last2=Jessop |date=October 1994 |title=RUSSULALESBASIDIOMYCOTINA: AGARICALES, BOLETALES, CORTINARIALES |publisher=Sunderland Museum and Art Gallery |access-date=6 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716215959/http://www.the-vasculum.com/vasculum_archive/793.doc |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>

==Geographical and political==
[[File:Coniscliffe Grange Farm - geograph.org.uk - 137044.jpg|thumb|left|Coniscliffe Grange Farm]]
The local geology of [[Permian]] rocks includes [[limestone]], [[chalk]], [[gypsum]] and [[Sodium chloride|salt]]: all liable to be soluble or [[Karst topography|karstic]], and these can cause [[subsidence]] and caves in some places, although not necessarily in Low Coniscliffe.<ref name="BGSsolublerocks">{{cite web|url=http://www.bgs.ac.uk/science/landUseAndDevelopment/shallow_geohazards/dissolution.html|title=British Geological Survey|year=2010|work=Caves, subsidence and soluble rocks|publisher=BGS|access-date=6 April 2010}}</ref> The village is situated along the north bank of the [[River Tees]], {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} east of its parish church at [[High Coniscliffe]] and {{convert|3|mi|km}} west of Darlington. Apart from the Baydale Beck pub on the A67, Low Coniscliffe is now mostly a fairly new estate within a small triangle formed by the River Tees to the south and east, the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1 road]] to the west and the [[A67 road]] to the north. Beyond these boundaries to the east is Broken Scar [[Water supply|waterworks]] and [[Darlington]], and fields and small villages in other directions.<ref name="Streetmap1"/>[[File:Rhodotus palmatus2.jpg|thumb|left|''[[Rhodotus]] palmatus'' was seen locally, 1993]] Possible earlier boundaries could have been the Tees to the south, Ulnaby Beck to the west, Baydale Beck to the east and Cocker Beck to the north. Cocker Beck encloses [[Thornton Hall, High Coniscliffe|Thornton Hall]] in the parish.  The inhabitants of the hall, the Tailbois, Thorntons, Bowes and Honeywoods, have been associated with Low Coniscliffe in the past.<ref name="SamLewisLowCon1848"/> The nearest village is [[Merrybent]] to the north−west,<ref name="Streetmap1">{{cite web|url=http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=424500&y=513500&z=120&sv=Low+Coniscliffe&st=3&tl=Map+of+Low+Coniscliffe,+Darlington+%5BCity/Town/Village%5D&searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf|title=Streetmap.co.uk|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe|access-date=6 April 2010}}</ref> and the highest point is Coniscliffe Grange at the north end of the parish.<ref name="MyWainwrights">{{cite web|url=http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/250509/250509.htm|title=My Wainwrights|date=25 May 2009|work=The Coniscliffes|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501135206/http://www.mywainwrights.co.uk/2009walks/250509/250509.htm|archive-date=1 May 2011}}</ref>

In 1762 the village had a [[Toll road|turnpike]] gate.<ref name="Raine2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.rainegenealogy.com/RaineOther.html|title=Raine genealogy|last=Raine|first=Jo|date=1 July 2007|work=Other Raine info: Burials and Memorial Inscriptions|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930101237/http://www.rainegenealogy.com/RaineOther.html|archive-date=30 September 2009}}</ref> In the 1891 census Low Coniscliffe included Coniscliffe Grange, Dublar Castle and East Farm,<ref name="1891censusStreetIndex">{{cite web|url=http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Place:Darlington_Registration_District,_1891_Census_Street_Index_C-F|title=Your Archives|year=2010|work=Place:Darlington Registration District, 1891 Census Street Index C-F|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918022054/http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Place%3ADarlington_Registration_District%2C_1891_Census_Street_Index_C-F|archive-date=18 September 2011}}</ref> and there was a Badle Beck Inn which is probably the current Baydale Beck Inn.<ref name="YourArchivesStreetnames2">{{cite web|url=http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Place:Darlington_Registration_District,_1891_Census_Street_Index_P-R|title=Your Archives|year=2010|work=Place:Darlington Registration District, 1891 Census Street Index P-R|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110918050156/http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Place%3ADarlington_Registration_District%2C_1891_Census_Street_Index_P-R|archive-date=18 September 2011}}</ref> The village was not affected by the flooding of 2007, but lost power for one morning.<ref name="NorthernEcho30jun07">{{cite web|url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/search?q=closures&o=70&l=10&ob=newest&dr=|title=The Northern Echo|date=30 June 2007|work=Emergency teams on standby for flooding|access-date=6 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414215404/http://www.newsquest.co.uk/?q=closures&o=70&l=10&ob=newest&dr=|archive-date=14 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Chenopodium]] glaucum'', or ''oak−leaved goosefoot'', was found here in 1930, and ''[[Gagea|Yellow Star of Bethlehem]]'' was found in 1942.<ref name="BritishFlora1960">{{cite web|url=http://www.bsbi.org.uk/vc_66_Durham.pdf|title=bsbi.org.uk|last=Simpson|first=N.&nbsp;D.|year=1960|work=Bibliographic index to the British Flora|pages=122|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717004409/http://www.bsbi.org.uk/vc_66_Durham.pdf|archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> The rare fungus ''[[Rhodotus]] palmatus'' was found in the area in 1993.<ref name="TheVasculum1993"/><ref name="VasculumOct94"/>

==History==
[[File:Darlington Cubs and Boy Scouts Low Coniscliffe Durham 1920s.jpg|thumb|left|[[Scouting|Scouts and Cubs]] picnicking possibly at Broken Scar {{circa|1920}}]]
A foundling was abandoned on 31 January 1602 on the window ledge of a house in Nether Cunsley which was occupied by Cuthbert Smith. The child, who lived for 69 years until 21 December 1671, was baptised Tychicus, with no surname.<ref name="HCschoolAboutUs"/> The inhabitants of Thornton Hall were associated with Lowe Coniscliffe.<ref name="SamLewisLowCon1848"/> Sir Francis Bowes, who was born in 1648 and became [[High Sheriff of Northumberland]], lost most of his family during his lifetime and left a memorial to them in the parish church at [[High Coniscliffe]].<ref name="PeileBiogReg1505-1905">{{cite book | last=Peile | first=J. | last2=Venn | first2=J.&nbsp;A. | title=Biographical Register of Christ's College, 1505–1905, and of the Earlier Foundation, God's House, 1448–1505 | publisher=University Press | year=1910 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=woo8AAAAIAAJ|page=608}}</ref> In 1848 the village had 134 inhabitants.<ref name="SamLewisLowCon1848">{{cite book|title='Conhope – Cooknoe', A Topographical Dictionary of England: Low Coniscliffe|editor-first=Samuel |editor-last=Lewis|publisher=Institute of Historical Research|year=1848|pages=679–682|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50894#s7|access-date=6 April 2010}}</ref> Arthur Pease of Darlington gave instructions in 1877 for the building of the [[British and Foreign School Society|British School]] for 105 pupils.<ref name="HCschoolAboutUs">{{cite web|url=http://www.highconiscliffe.darlington.sch.uk/about.htm |title=High Coniscliffe CE Primary School |year=2010 |work=About Us |access-date=2 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305131521/http://www.highconiscliffe.darlington.sch.uk/about.htm |archive-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref> [[Scouting|Scouts and Cubs]] used to come to the banks of the Tees near here in the 1920s for picnics.<ref name="DBCscoutsandcubs">{{cite web|url=http://www.durham-pa.gov.uk/durhamcc/DRE.nsf/DREDetail?readform&IMGID=M10027&KEYWORD=Youth+organisations |title=DBC Leisure and Culture |year=2007 |work=Low Coniscliffe, Darlington Boy Scouts and cubs |access-date=6 April 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Archaeological sites and finds==
[[File:High Coniscliffe 065.jpg|thumb|right|Bowes memorial]]
[[File:Low Coniscliffe 010.jpg|thumb|right|Baydale Beck Inn]]
A [[Paleolithic|Palaeolithic]] [[knapping|axehead]] was found somewhere in the area.<ref name="KeysAxehead">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D7800|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe; Axehead (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616201839/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D7800|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> [[Roman currency|Roman coins]] were found in 1856 and 1978 in Cocker Beck, and the later finds were dated 308–346&nbsp;AD.<ref name="KeysRomancoins">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1531|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe, Cocker Beck; Roman coins found. (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616201902/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1531|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> [[Antony Bek (bishop of Durham)|Bishop Bek]] ordered a tower to be built in Low Coniscliffe in the 13th century; the site is unknown, but it may be the site of the [[manor house]].<ref name="KeysTowersite">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1582|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe; site of tower. (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616201926/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1582|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> There is an unknown site of a [[gallows]], pre−1293&nbsp;AD, south of the [[River Tees|Tees]], and west of Howden Hill Farm.<ref name="KeysGallows">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D7801|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe; Gallows (Low Coniscliffe)|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616202005/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D7801|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> The extreme south−west end of the present built−up area of the village is probably the site of the old [[Middle Ages|medieval]] manor house, 1066–1540. The site includes [[Earthworks (archaeology)|earthwork]] enclosures, and a 1960s excavation revealed a 15th–16th century round [[dovecote]].<ref name="Keysmanorhouse">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1580|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe; site of manor house. (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616202125/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D1580|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> There is supposed to be another dovecote here; location unknown.<ref name="KeysDovecote">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D7799|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=High Conniscliffe; Dovecote (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616202203/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D7799|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> The house at the south−west end of the village, numbers 55–57, is a 17th-century [[listed building]]: a roughcast [[brick and rubble]] structure with a [[Tile#Roof tiles|pantiled]] roof. This is a pair of houses; once a farmhouse with a cottage on the right.<ref name="KeysListedbuilding">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11295|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Low Coniscliffe, 55–57; Listed building (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616202237/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11295|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> Well Bank House, number 20 near the south−east corner of the village, is a listed building dated around the late 18th to early 19th century. Like numbers 55–57 it is built of roughcast rubble with a pantiled roof, and this building contains a 19th-century iron [[kitchen stove|range]].<ref name="KeysListedBuilding2">{{cite web|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11106|title=Keys to the past|year=2010|work=Well bank house; Listed building (Low Coniscliffe)|publisher=DCC|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616202301/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=D11106|archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref>

==Low Coniscliffe today==
It is now a [[commuter town|dormitory village]] for Darlington, and there is no school; the nearest post office is at Mowden Park in Darlington. The Baydale Beck Inn serves [[Cask ale#Realale|real ale]] and permits dogs in the bar.<ref name="Doggiepubs07">{{cite web|url=http://www.doggiepubs.org.uk/print/England/Durham|title=Doggie pubs|last=Crosby|first=E.&nbsp;K.|year=2001–2007|work=England: Low Coniscliffe: The Baydale Beck|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714080539/http://www.doggiepubs.org.uk/print/England/Durham|archive-date=14 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="Beerintheevening">{{cite web|url=http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/28/28255/Baydale_Beck_Inn/Low_Coniscliffe|title=Beer in the evening|year=2010|work=The Baydale Beck Inn, Low Coniscliffe|access-date=6 April 2010}}</ref>

Just to the east of the village is [[Tees Cottage Pumping Station]], a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] pumping station now opened as a museum containing a 1904-built [[rotative beam engine]], and a 1914 gas engine, believed to be the largest working preserved example in Europe.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Low Coniscliffe}}
*[http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=424500&y=513500&z=120&sv=Low+Coniscliffe&st=3&tl=Map+of+Low+Coniscliffe,+Darlington+ Map of Low Coniscliffe]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Low Coniscliffe
|North     = [[Archdeacon Newton]]
|Northeast = Hummersknott<br />[[Darlington]]
|East      = [[Darlington]]
|Southeast = ''[[River Tees]]'' / Blackwell<br />[[Darlington]]
|South     = ''[[River Tees]]'' / [[Cleasby]]
|Southwest = ''[[River Tees]]'' / Howden Hill<br />[[Cleasby]]
|West      = Greystones<br />[[Manfield]]
|Northwest = [[Merrybent]]
}}

{{Civil parishes in County Durham}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in County Durham]]
[[Category:Places in the Borough of Darlington]]
[[Category:Places in the Tees Valley]]