Bush Blades or Bursblades. Gilbert the Chamberlain held the service of Ralfe Caunt of Bursebred in exchange for

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1 Bush Blades or Bursblades by John Milburn Gilbert the Chamberlain held the service of Ralfe Caunt of Bursebred in exchange for the Isle of Bradbire (As per the Boldon Buke) In 1350 Thomas de Gildefors died seizes of the vill of Bursblades held by homage, fealty, and suit of court (with the wood of Smethestrother and the pasture of Depeden), leaving three sisters or there representative coheirs. Under the Hatfield Survey, William Grome held the whole vill once belonging to Gilbert the Chamberlain, by military service and 10s rent. The descents of this family may be seen with that of Gildeford under Collierley. In 1403 William Grome (son of Robert and Joan, who had alienated her manor of Bursblades to her son the same William before 1395), died seize of the vill, except a small portion held by Julian de Cornwalle, leaving Thomas Grome his son and heir under age, who was living in In 1370 John de Birtley with Isabel his wife held Eighty Acres in Bursblades of William de Ferrie (perhaps William Neuhusbond, who married Joan Gildeford) by the fourth part of a pond of pepper; and in 1386, John de Gildeford held ninescore acres of Robert Grome. per unum quartionem cumini At an earlier period Simon de Bursblades gave a small parcel of land to the Almoner of Durham; and a single inquest on the same local family states, that John son of John, son of Philip de Bursblades, held a message and sixty acres by homage, fealty,

2 and rent of 11s; and eleven acres of the Lord of Bursblades by service of third part of the pound of Cumin. In 1517 Richard Hedworth of Whickham, acquired lands in Bursblades by marriage with Margaret heiress of Alexander Newton, of Pokerley. Extract form: The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham, by Robert Surtees, Volume II Bushblades Colliery The colliery at Bushblades was sunk in 1754 by Benjamin Hodgson; he was paid 200 for sinking the shaft, plus 400, as a share of the projected revenue. One of the famous sons of the area, John Buddle, born 1773, in Kyo, began his working career at Bushblades (he was a well educated man mostly by being the son of a Schoolmaster). He moved to work in the collieries along the river Tyne, where he rose to the post of engineer and then viewer. He was noted for his scientific advances in mining techniques, he died in 1843 at the age of 70, he left the sum of 150,000, in his will. I had family connection with Bushblades Colliery, my ancestors the Oswalds, worked at this pit, John Oswald my G G G G Grandfather, was an engineman (as were all of his sons). Robert Oswald my G G G Grandfather was also an engineman here, as were his sons, as can be seen in the 1841 census. No Name Age Occupation No Name Age Occupation

3 1 William Smailes 23 Ag Labourer 8 William Ann Smailes 22 William George Smailes 1 Elizabeth 50 Ag Labourer 9 38 Jane 7 2 James Dixon 22 Coal Miner Isabella Jane Dixon 23 Jonathon 5 3 Mary Dixon 9mth 9 Ann Oswald 35 Widow 3 Thomas Wilkinson Elizabeth Wilkinson 52 Ag Labourer Mary Oswald Isabella Oswald 9 Adam Wilkinson 5 Jane Oswald 8 Elizabeth Oswald 6 4 Richard Dixon 50 Ag Labourer Robert Oswald 4 Richard Dixon 15 John Oswald 2

4 Ann Dixon 45 Ann Dixon Robert Oswald 60 Engineman Margaret Dixon 15 Robert Oswald 30 Engineman John Dixon 15 Elizabeth Oswald Hannah Dixon 9 Elizabeth Oswald Elizabeth Dixon 7 William Oswald 30 Engineman Hannah Oswald 18 5 Thomas Turnbull Hannah Turnbull William Turnbull 25 Ag Labourer James Oswald Joseph Gardiner 35 Coal Miner Joseph Gardiner 15 6 Catherine Oates 60 Widow Mary Gardiner 35 Elizabeth Oates 38 John Gardiner 15 George Oates 33 Coal Miner Daniel Gardiner 10 Jane Oates 16 George Gardiner 10 Thomas Oates 13 Ann Gardiner 8 Margaret Oates 8 Jane Gardiner 6

5 Sarah Hennsey 10 Elizabeth Gardiner 4 John Hennsey 2 Catherine Hennsey 2 12 William Porter 68 Corvor Jane Porter 70 7 Joseph Smailes 33 Ag Labourer Jane Porter 39 Barbara Smailes 30 Anna Porter 26 Elizabeth Smailes 8 Mary Smailes 6 13 John Urwin 29 Corvor Robert Smailes 4 Jane Urwin 4 Edmund Smailes Jane Smailes 1mth 2 Ester Urwin 1 As you can see there were 6 Agricultural Labourers and 8 mineworkers living in Bushblades. Also in the census there is a widow Ann Oswald, her husband John Oswald , (the son of Robert Oswald ), was by family information killed in the Bushblades pit, however there is no documented evidence is available to verify this tale. Although no exact date for the colliery closing is available, it must have been closed prior to 1856, when the first Ordinance Survey Map was published, for the pit is

6 marked as disused. But nearby there was the Tanfield Moor pit, which had several shafts; it is possible that the coal from the Bushblade seams was being extracted through this pit. However the area is still crossed by the Bushblades Wagonway, on its way to the Tyne. These wagonways are mention back in the early 1700 s, in books by the likes of Surtees, and Fawcett, and are shown on the enclosed maps. Digitised by John Milburn Note: The views that are expressed on the website are the contributors own and not necessarily those of Durham County Council. This is a community website so no guarantee can be given of the historical accuracy of individual contributions