NORTH ROAD, MILLBURNGATE AND FRAMWELLGATE
The boroughs of Framwellgate and Millburngate are situated next to one another and were on the route north out of the city. This route north was used by the Pack Trains so many shops and trades existed in this area.
The Fram Wellhead was built in the 15th century and restored in the 19th century. It is a long stone structure with a slender buttress at each corner (now buried nearly to the top) and a pyramidical stone roof. A stone slab inside it records "This spring was given for the use of the inhabitants of the City of Durham for ever by Thomas Billingham, Esq by deed dated the 30 March 1450" and also records that it was rebuilt on the same site and of the original erection in 1847. Surtees view shows a second structure with a spout (a pant) a little lower down the hill, but this has disappeared [20].
A drinking fountain between Atherton street and the pier of the viaduct was 12' high and 8' wide and had a gargoyle from whose mouth the water flowed. The fountain is in the early French Gothic style, and was erected in 1833 on the site given by the North Eastern Railway Co. It had been moved to its present site in the course of alterations. The water is obtained from Flass Well Spring at the foot of Red Hills, sited in Ainsley Street adjacent to the Miners Hall [1, 5].
There are many streams in this area which are underground These caused a marshy area and are due to overflows from the wells in Crossgate. Millburn runs in a conduit below North Road [1], (and drains into the river north of Framwellgate bridge). This stream used to drive a number of mills, such as flour and corn mills, such as Clock Mill in Millburngate and a mill-race at Tenters Hill (it was reported to be 15’ - 20' in width)
In olden days, the residencies of the North Country nobility were situated here before modern transport enabled them to live in London mansions. The modern road north from Millburngate is called North Road and was built in 1840. After its building the north part of the city expanded. A sketch of 1846 shows the development of this new road [71].
Durham at that time was the county's focal point with regards to travelling. Due to the large number of Public Houses (estimated 120), the Shakespeare Hall was built in North Road to aid the spirit of temperance. Framwellgate was once a prosperous merchant area but became slums over time and most of the buildings were demolished. A 18th century house along Castle Chare with beautiful plasterwork was however saved. This house overlooks the new bypass roundabout and was once the Wheatsheaf Inn, it became a Convent and an Arts Centre at one time. The western end of Castle Chare is named “Parkside” still exists at the road from North Road up to the railway station. These houses stand on the earlier 19th century workhouse shown on the 1820’s map of the city [80].
The Ford to Walkergate from Millburngate was known as 'Horse Hole', along Lovegreen Street, named after the local family who operated the rowing boats. The fare was 2d in 1948 for a single trip [75]. Albany Theatre once stood on the hillside overlooking the river in the Millburngate area. Crook Hall looks over the river where the ferry and ford crossed the river to the Sands [19].
Crook Hall looks over the river where the ferry and ford crossed the river to the Sands [19].
The Five Ways Inn was situated in Framwellgate, and the name reflects the locality to the thoroughfares of North Road, Framwellgate, Millburngate, South Street, and Crossgate. Public houses around this area but no longer here are:
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Wheatsheaf Inn (was an Arts centre) [19].
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the Woolpack Inn, former coaching inn was close by, and
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the Tanners Arms at 48 69 Framwellgate on the site of where Highgate is now. This was demolished in late 1960’s when the new inner bypass was built, which also demolished Blagdon’s leather works, and the Palace Theatre in Walkergate [80].
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Station Hotel, (next to the railway viaduct on the opposite side of the viaduct to the current Station House PH)
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Three Horse Shoes at 64 Framwellgate, next to the railway viaduct on Framwellgate Peth, north west of the junction to Sidegate
Mustard was originally ground in Durham in 1720 and in 1879 it was reported that there was at one time 3 power driven mills in Durham [75], namely:
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Ainsley's at corner of Waddington Street [5] (the last one and sold to Colemans in 1897),
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John Balmbrough at the foot of Silver Street, next to Framwellgate Bridge, and
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Simpson and William at Station Lane, Gilesgate [41].
The Globe Cinema was the first in Durham in May 1913 [80] and was situated on the north side of North Road until it closed in August 1955 [ 81].
The separate Regal cinema opened on 27th March 1934 at the site of the old Miner Halls, which had stood empty since 1915 [81]. This cinema had numerous names over the ages, including the Essoldo [69] from 1947-72. Then renamed the Classic (1972-1979), then Cannon (1979-1990) and finally Robins (1991-2003) [80] [81]
St Godric’s church was built for the Irish workers who moved here in the 19th century 19 and it was opened on 15th November 1864 [5].
In 1875, the Miners Hall was built on the site of the Monks Building in North Road. Statues of four of the leaders were placed in front of the first-floor windows; Alexander MacDonald, William Crawford, W.H. Patterson, and John Forman. A new Durham Miners Hall was opened on the Redhills on 23rd October 1915. Just west of the Miners Hall on Redhills Lane, was a large white house built for Mr Blagdon, owner of the leatherworks on MIllburngate [80].