Romaldkirk

Situated six miles northwest of Barnard Castle, the village takes its name from St Romald, the son of a Northumbrian king; he was born in Buckingham in about 800, his mother having taken refuge there during a war between Northumbria and Mercia. Apparently, though Romald lived for only a few days, he was said to already have the power of speech and was possessed of profound and miraculous wisdom.
An extract from from"English Villages".

Situated six miles north-west of Barnard Castle, Romaldkirk in 1898 was not in fact in County Durham but in the North Riding of Yorkshire. The village takes its name from St Romald, the son of a Northumbrian king; he was born in Buckingham in about 800, his mother having taken refuge there during a war between Northumbria and Mercia. Apparently, though Romald lived for only a few days, he was said to already have the power of speech and was possessed of profound and miraculous wisdom.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

The parish church features a 12th-century nave and north aisle, and a 15th-century tower. The area around the chancel arch includes some stonework from the village’s Saxon church. In 1898 the rector of Romaldkirk also held the title of Lord of the Manor.
An extract from from"County 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".