>My gg grandparents Thomas robert Cavanagh and Hannah Tweedle, both worked and lived at Harrington Hall, Silksworth. They married 14 May 1884 at the Houghton-le-Spring Registry Office. Hannah was a domestic servant and Thomas an Agricultural labourer at the hall. >My main question is has anyone ever heard of Harrington Hall at Silksworth? The place you are referring to may be Herrington Hall, which used to stand near the Sunderland to Durham road (A690) at Middle Herrington, which is not far from the original Silksworth (as opposed the New Silksworth). I can't recall where I obtained the following information, but you might find it interesting. If I can be of any further help... give me a shout. Regards... David Allan. ================================================================= General William Beckwith, who it is said, was noted for his part in putting down the Bristol Riots, following the defeat of the Reform Bill in October 1831, lived for a time at Herrington Hall until his wife Priscilla (nee Hopper) inherited Silksworth Hall. Herrington Hall was situated on the south side of Crow Lane in Middle Herrington. The rather splendid-looking Georgian two-storied mansion, with its bow windows and impressive staircase hid earlier foundations which dated back to around 1570. Large conservatories had also been a later addition. You may already be aware that the Vaux family rented the Hall in the early years of the 20th century, Colonel Edwin Vaux, son of Cuthbert, was in command for 44 years of a gunnery volunteer company. He married in 1875, Mary, sister of Sir Theodore Doxford of Silksworth Hall and had one daughter who married Major Cheke. Their son Sir Marcus Cheke, who often came to the Hall, was British Minister to the Holy See. He died in 1961 in Rome. Colonel Vaux died in 1908 leaving a fortune of £86,000. The last residing occupant was a building contractor called Harry Bell, who lived there during the 1930’s. After the WWII the property was acquired by the NCB in 1947 who had originally had plans to convert it into a miners' convalescent home. The plans remained as such and towards the end of the 1950’s the decision was taken to demolish Herrington Hall. General Beckwith was High Sheriff for the county, and apart from his army rank, was also Knight of Hanover, a Guelphic Order now obsolete. He spent a great deal of his time over-wintering in Paris with his wife. Priscilla was a convert to Catholicism in the days of the Oxford Movement. It was Priscilla who provided the funds to build St Leonard’s RC Church in New Silksworth and she was well known for her grand arrival in her carriage for Mass each Sunday. In 1871 Mrs Beckwith owned 792 acres with £2,133 in rents. They had no children and a nephew inherited Silksworth. Beckwith Road in Herrington was named after General Beckwith. The parkland, a green oasis, with the remnants of the stream that traversed it and century-old trees was the site of many local sporting events. Before the First World War an annual cricket match between East and West Herrington took place. The bothy men from the Hall once held boxing matches organised by the Rev Knight of Ryhope, then Curate of New Herrington. The Durham County Show was held here twice in the 1940s. With the opening of the 5 acre playing field at the top of the parkland a telegram of congratulations was received by officials from the Duke of Edinburgh as President of the National Playing Fields Association. The parkland is a heritage of open space and was given to the people of Herrington in perpetuity as a place of recreation although a main road now crosses through it. It is to be resolutely preserved and defended. Another account of Herrington Hall records... Herrington Hall was demolished in 1957-58 when the cellars, dating from 1570, were exposed. It is thought that the house had been a dwelling continuously from that date, although it was added to and altered over the years. A long line of Robinsons, maltsters on the quayside at Southwick and owners of various properties in Whitburn, Cleadon, Houghton and Hetton, lived in the hall, and one of the Robinson daughters, Anne, married the famous Durham county historian Robert Surtees. In 1795, the hall was sold to General William Beckwith, High Sheriff for the county and Knight of Hanover. He moved out when his wife, Priscilla, inherited Silksworth House Estate. A number of businessmen occupied it during the 19th century until it was bought by the Earl of Durham as a dwelling for his local colliery manager (somewhat better than the usual line of tied pit housing!). The Vaux family then rented the hall. Colonel Edwin Vaux, son of Cuthbert of the brewing family, was commander of a gunnery volunteer company for 44 years, and married Mary, sister of Sir Theodore Doxford of Silksworth Hall. He died in 1908 and in 1926, the contents of the hall were put up for auction by his widow and disposed of in a two-day sale. The last occupant of the hall was the builder Harry Bell. In 1947, it was taken over by the National Coal Board, but plans to convert it to a convalescent home never materialised. It stood empty, and after a fire, subsidence and dry rot, it was demolished in 1957-58. And so another piece of Sunderland's fine built heritage bit the dust. Its parkland, with the remnants of a stream, century-old trees, and playing field at the top, is well used by the local community.