YEOGLE - RESEARCH

A pre-construction phase came before work could commence building the railway. For example, Parliament had to pass an act to allow such construction. An early mention was in the Durham County Advertiser’s gossip column – in March 1821. Specifically, the Bill enabling the building of the railway is progressing through Parliament. The gossip column writer is in favour of the project. A month later, in April 1821, the Bill was accepted and given Royal Assent.

The locals already knew the benefits of having a railway nearby. For instance, The Durham County Advertiser published a notice of an auction. One of the lots was a land packet that used its proximity to the new railway as a selling point.

Similarly, the Durham Chronicle advertised for the sale of coal mining rights. Highlighting its proximity to the Stockton and Darlington Railway under construction.

Commentary

There do not seem to be any references to people protesting and complaining about the railway building. Local newspapers seemed to have ignored any protest, if any. Other blogs have mentioned, “Farmers and landowners protested that they would blight the land, and could frighten the livestock, turning milk sour and stopping hens from laying”, but have not provided a source.

The railway mainly crossed privately owned land where the landowner would profit from having the railway nearby. As most of the building seems to be across private estates, this would probably explain the minimal protests.

Acknowledgements

• Map: Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons