At the time of the 1851 census the majority of the working population was employed locally,
primarily in coal mining and agricultural work. Before this time few traces of coal mining
activity were evident and the scattered farms were characteristic of the predominant occupation
in the area.
Early in the 19th century there were three local pits in operation, owned by the Stobart family, these being
the Mary Ann Pit, the Jane Pit and the George Pit. The Mary Ann is said to be the oldest of the three collieries.
At that time transportation of coal was expensive and inefficient and in 1821 an act of parliament was
authorised to begin construction of what was to become the World’s First Passenger Railway: The Darlington/Stockton Railway. In 1825 the Jane Pit was used as the terminus for the line which started at
Witton Park Colliery, followed the inclines at Etherley and Brusstleton, continued via Shildon and Darlington and ended on the banks of the River Tees at Stockton.
Shortly after 7.00a.m. on 27th September 1825, twelve wagons of coal left the Phoenix Pit and were hauled up Etherley Incline by a stationery engine at the top. They were then lowered to St.Helens and joined by a further wagon loaded with sacks of flour. The wagons were led by horses across the flat and hauled up to the Brusstleton Engine House and finally lowered into Shildon.
Waiting at the Masons Arms Level Crossing was ‘The Locomotion’ and the wagons from Phoenix Pit and
Witton Park were added to the train. Although provision for only 300 passengers was made, upwards of 500 people boarded the train. On arrival at Darlington, six wagons were detached and coal was distributed to the poor of the town, two further wagons were added to the train and it continued to Stockton to complete the day’s festivities.
By 1843 the rail line had extended in such a way that coal was then transported by locomotives via Bishop
Auckland therefore the need for the original inclines no longer existed and Etherley Incline was finally closed.
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An interesting tale……In the 17th Century, Etherley
had an evil reputation down to the activities of a
certain ‘Sir William’. During this time Sir William led
a resident band of marauders both male and female -
this band were in the habit of blackmailing
neighbouring landowners and actually ventured to
despoil some of the burgesses of Bishop Auckland. It
would appear that Sir William imitated the ways of
‘Robin Hood’ and frequently ensured that property
taken from poorer inhabitants of the parish was
returned to them. After being imprisoned for a time,
Sir William returned to Etherley where he was again
captured, tried at Newcastle and was finally brought
to the gallows for his deeds
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On 15th August 1940 residents of the Parish had first
hand experience of the Second World War when the
German Luftwaffe visited the region. During the
exercise 60 explosive bombs and 100 incendiary
bombs were dropped in the area. Sadly one person
was killed and one house hit and a number of cattle
killed in the surrounding field
