Romaldkirk Explained

Country:England
Static Image Name:Romaldkirk.jpg
Static Image Caption:Romaldkirk village main street
Coordinates:54.5936°N -2.0105°W
Official Name:Romaldkirk
Population:169
Population Ref:(2011)[1]
Unitary England:County Durham
Region:North East England
Lieutenancy England:County Durham
Constituency Westminster:Bishop Auckland
Post Town:Barnard Castle
Postcode District:DL12
Postcode Area:DL
Os Grid Reference:NY994220

Romaldkirk is a village in Teesdale, in the Pennines of England. The village lies within the historic boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire, but has been administered by County Durham since 1974.

It is thought that the name might be derived from St. Rumwold (also spelt Romald or Rumbold), a little-known Saxon saint who is said to have preached the Gospel after his baptism as an infant; his resting place is recorded as being in Buckingham.

The village was formerly served by Romaldkirk railway station.

Thomas Page, the engineer, grew up in Romaldkirk.[2]

The architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew, and famous farmer Hannah Hauxwell are buried near the village church.

The church is a Grade 1 listed building, containing surviving sections of Anglo-Saxon walls either side of the chancel arch, as well as a late medieval rood stair, a stone tomb effigy of Hugh Fitz Henry (who died on campaign with Edward I in 1305) in chain mail, a 12th-century font, and a pulpit (originally part of a three decker) from the early 18th century.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parish population 2011. 7 July 2015.
  2. Stanley Smith, ‘Page, Thomas (1803–1877)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 2 May 2011
  3. Web site: Church of St Romald, Romaldkirk, County Durham . www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk . 3 March 2016. en.