HISTOBY OF BISHOP AUCKLAND. 187 observed along the course of the road to Willington, where its round bank is still visible on opposite sides of the present lane. In several places where the road has intersected the line a section of the Watling Street road in its entirety is plainly visible. The road then crossed Willington bum, a little below MUkinghope Farm, where its ridge is still visible on each side of the brook and in the fields leading to the summit of Milkinghope bank From thence it kept a westward course straight to Oakenshaw Farm, and slight indications of its existence are still visible in descending the hill to Stockley Brook. It is also well defined on many of the imcul- tivated parts of the farm at Weather HilL Still following a straight course, the road crossed Brandon Hill, and on one part of the Hillhouse Farm the ridge, with the exception of the top stones, is perfect. Descending by Ragpath Wood, the road crossed the stream about 100 yards below the junction of the brooks forming the river Dearness, and, proceeding past Hugh Farm in a gentle curve, it crossed the road to Esh, about three quarters of a mile to the west of that villaga From thence it passed through some fields on the east of Will's Hill, and along the road towards Lanchester. Binchester was one of the vills assigned, along with Escomb and many other places in this neighbourhood, to the Earls of Northumberland, as compensation for defending the See of Durham against the inroads of the Scots. At the time of the compilation of the " Bolden Buke," however, it seems to have come again into the possession of the ChurcL This most probably took place during the episcopacy of Bishop Walcher, who combined the dignity of Bishop of » Durham with that of Earl of Northumberland, and at whose death the two offices were separated. According to the " Bolden Buke," " Binchester rendered to the Bishop 58. of comage, and one cow in milk, and one castleman, and four scachalders of malt, and as many of meal, and as many of oates, and each plough of the villan's ploughs and harrows two acres at Goundou, and each of them makes three precations in autumn, with one man for each oxgang, and carts one ton of wine and a millstone to Aukland. The dreng feeds a dog and a horse, and attends the great chase with two greyhounds and five ropes, and follows the pleas, and goes on messages." At the period of Bishop Hatfield's survey, Binchester was in the possession of, and seems to have given name to a resident family. In that survey it is noted that Robert of Binchester held Binchester and Hunwick by virtue of the grant of the Bishop by foreign service ; and it continued their property till the year 1420, when Balph, the great Earl of Westmoreland, purchased it of Eobert of Binchester, and it formed part of the forfeitures of that unfortunate EarL* During the reign of James I., the Wrens, a family of great affluence, who seem to have originally resided at Bishop Auckland, became the proprietors of the Newton Cap estates. After the attainder of the Earl of Westmoreland, a portion of his estates, including Binchester, WiUington, Crook and Billy Row, and Helmington Row, were mortgaged by Charles I. to the Goldsmiths' Company, from whom the four townships already named, with all their rights and royalties, were purchased by Mr. Wren, for the sum of £2,000 1 The first mansion built at Binchester is stated to have been erected from plans prepared by Sir Christopher Wren, the builder of St Paul's Cathedral Although there is no direct evidence of this circumstance, yet it is proved by the identity of the armorial bearings of the Wrens with those of Sir Christophei^ that he belonged to the same family. A square stone, sculptured with those arms, was found by Sir Thomas Lyon when the old Hall was pulled down, and was long preserved by Bishop Maltby, who presented it to the late Mr. Thomas Kilbum, of Bishop Auckland, by whom it was shown to the author. The love of distinguished ancestry seems to be a universal feature and failing in human nature,
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