Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/216

HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAin). 189 Surtees further says " that the above Geoffirey Wren was the collateral ancestor, and, probably, in some measure the founder, of the family of Wren, afterwards of Binchester, viz., uncle of William Wren, of Billy Hall, whose grandson. Sir Charles Wren, Enight, purchased Binchester. The name of GeojSrey Wren occurs also as a trustee, 20 August, 1534, on the marriage of Jerrard, son and heir of Jerrard Salvin, of Croxdale, Esq., with Catherine Wren, his great niece, viz., daughter of William Wren, of Billy HalL" In the registers of St Andrew's Auckland for christenings we find the following entries : — 1561.— Dec. 4.— A child of Mr. Wm. Wren's, called Rowland. 1562. — Jan. 1. — ^A child of Anthony Wren's, called Mary. 1563.— Jan. 1.— A child of Mr. Wm. Wren's, caUed Mary. 1564. — June 10. — A child of Mr. Anthony Wren's, called Charles. The above families appear to have resided in the town of Bishop Auckland, as we generally find the place of abode given when it is at any of the surrounding placea In the register for burials we find the following : — 1570. — May 24. — Old Mrs. Wren, of Newtonne, buried. 1572. — June 8. — Greory. Wren buried in the Church. 1595. — ^Nov. 11. — Mr. Anthony Wren, of Binchester, buried. 1614.— Nov. 1.— Elizabeths Wren, filia Caroli Wren, de B. Aukland. 1616. — ^Dec. 4. — The Ladle Wren, of Binchester, buried in the Church. 1620. — ^March 16. — Sir Charles Wren, of Binchester, buried. 1642. — Nov. 27. — Gertrude, ye Daughter of Mr. Lindley Wren. 1652.— March 8. — Mrs. Barbary Wren, buried. 1656. — July 19. — Lindley Wren, of Binchester, Esqr., burd. in the quire. It would appear that the Wren family had very strong Royalist proclivities, and during the Civil wars took part with the King. For this oflfence the above named Lindley Wren was attainted, and he compounded for his estates for £300. His wife Barbary, it will be remembered, had an adventure with the soldiers of Cromwell when they brought the unfortunate Monarch, Charles L, through Auckland a prisoner. The following further extracts axe taken from the register for burials : — 1722. — July 10. — Charles Wren, Esq., de Binchester. 1753._May 28.— Mary, Daughter of Farrer Wren, Esq., Binchester. 1756. — ^Dec. 1. — ^Mary, Wife of Farrer Wren, Esq., Binchester. 1756. — Dec. 13. — Barbara, Daughter of Farrer Wren, Esq., Binchester. 1781. — April 25. — Elizabeth, Wife of Farrer Wren, Esq., Binchester. 1794. — ^Dec. 27. — Farrer Wren, Esq., Binchester. The mansion house, first built by the Wrens at Binchester, is described as being a fine old building, of the style used in Queen Elizabeth's time, and was composed of a centre and two wings, the south wing having a noble semicircular window, which projected from a bracket. The hall was furnished with old armour, and various antiquities which had been foimd at that place. Behind the house, on the brink of the hill, was a short but delightful terrace, commanding a view of the picturesque vale of the Wear, with a side view of Bishop Auckland. The estates and Hall of Binchester subsequently became the property of the Honourable Thomas Lyon, by his marriage with Mary Wren, daughter of Farrer Wren, Esq., who pulled down the old Hall, and rebuilt it on a most beautiful and modem plan, and adorned the declivities around it with hanging plantations. It was for some time the residence of Thomas Wilkinson, Esq., who married Mary Jane Lyon, daughter of the above-named Thomas Lyon. The following extracts from the Parish Registers of St. Andrew's will sufficiently explain this family connection : — 1799. — Dec. 29. — Thomas Wilkinson, son of Thomas Wilkinson, of Binchester, Esq., native of Bartlett's Buildings, parish of St. Andrew, London, by his wife Mary Jane Lyon, bom at Streatlam Castle, but late of Hetton House, and daughter of the late Honourable Thomas Lyon and Mary Wren, daughter of the late Farrer Wren, of Binchester, Esq. — [Baptised.] Digitized by Google