Lambton Park

Lambton Hall is situated to the north-east of Chester-le-Street. Work began in the late 1790s, when William Henry Lambton had an old castle on the site dismantled. The new Hall was designed by Italian-born architect Joseph Bonomi, and was enlarged and completed by his son Ignatius.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

Lambton Hall was castellated and enlarged in about 1833, after which it became known as Lambton Castle. However, in 1854 the paint was hardly dry when it suffered severe structural damage caused by mining subsidence. The rebuilding was undertaken by John Dobson and Sidney Smirke.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the coal industry dominated the area, and the Lambton family rose to prominence through wealth founded on coal. Ironically, shortly after being enlarged and castellated in about 1833, the castle suffered severe structural damage caused by mining subsidence. Local legend tells of the Lambton Worm, which was slain by a bygone Lambton heir after he took advice from a local witch. The witch then cursed him because he refused to kill the first living thing he met after his victory, and it is said that all subsequent Lambtons will die a violent death because of this curse.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".

This wonderful photograph shows a beautiful convertible car, probably belonging to one of the landed gentry; the two delivery men enjoy a break whilst their horses tuck into their nosebags; and the little boy watches the cameraman at work. The spire of St Nicholas’s dominates the Market Place. In 1857 this Victorian church replaced an earlier church of St Nicholas, which dated from the 12th century - it had a tower. On the left, next to the Prudential Assurance building, is the Market Tavern, where the Miners Union was formed in 1871. In the foreground is the statue of Neptune on top of the octagonal pant (a northern word for a public fountain). Neptune was placed here in 1729 to symbolise an ambitious plan to turn Durham into an inland sea port; this would have resulted in the unthinkable - the joining of the rivers Tyne and Wear! Neptune’s neighbour is the statue of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, who owned collieries around Durham and also constructed Seaham Harbour in 1828. The statue was sculpted by Raphael Monti, who reputedly committed suicide following the discovery of a flaw in his creation. According to legend, Monti had boasted that his statue was perfect, but a blind beggar man was feeling in the mouth of the horse and discovered that it had no tongue.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".

Once a vital part of the city’s defences, the river in recent times has been used for more pleasurable purposes. Boating is a popular pastime, and the river is used by a variety of pleasure and competitive craft. In the foreground we see a couple of moored rowing boats that would be used to take lady friends for a gentle meander along the river on a fine, sunny afternoon, whereas on the river are a couple of skiffs that would be used for more competitive purposes.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".