Fishburn

Fishburn is a village and civil parish in County Durham, in England. It is situated about 12 miles west of Hartlepool. It had a population of 2, 454, increasing to 2, 588 at the 2011 Census. LocationThe village lies scattered along a dry swell of magnesian limestone rising north from the River Skerne (known locally as the "beck") to approx. 500 ft above sea level. The beck is one of the parish boundaries, as the township of Sedgefield begins on the other side of the river. HistoryThe earliest proprietors of the village on record were the family of "Fissebourne". There are a number of theories on how the village got its name. In one book it is stated that the name derives from the Saxon words "Fisc" meaning fish and " Bourne" meaning brook. Another theory is that it was derived from the monks who used to fish at this spot in early days; hence "fish in the burn", Fishburn. However it is more likely that the family of Fissebourne gave its name to the manor. It could also be a Flemish name associated with the Norman Conquerors, i. e. Ranulf de Fishbourne. Old maps suggest that the village was named "Fissebourne" at one time, and then some considerable years later, it became "Fishbourne", later adopting its present name "Fishburn". Coal miningBetween 1910 and 1973 coal mining here was a major industry, Fishburn Colliery employees peaking at over 1500 in the 1950s.

Fishburn is a village and civil parish in County Durham, in England. It is situated about 12 miles west of Hartlepool. It had a population of 2, 454, increasing to 2, 588 at the 2011 Census. LocationThe village lies scattered along a dry swell of magnesian limestone rising north from the River Skerne (known locally as the "beck") to approx. 500 ft above sea level. The beck is one of the parish boundaries, as the township of Sedgefield begins on the other side of the river. HistoryThe earliest proprietors of the village on record were the family of "Fissebourne". There are a number of theories on how the village got its name. In one book it is stated that the name derives from the Saxon words "Fisc" meaning fish and " Bourne" meaning brook. Another theory is that it was derived from the monks who used to fish at this spot in early days; hence "fish in the burn", Fishburn. However it is more likely that the family of Fissebourne gave its name to the manor. It could also be a Flemish name associated with the Norman Conquerors, i. e. Ranulf de Fishbourne. Old maps suggest that the village was named "Fissebourne" at one time, and then some considerable years later, it became "Fishbourne", later adopting its present name "Fishburn". Coal miningBetween 1910 and 1973 coal mining here was a major industry, Fishburn Colliery employees peaking at over 1500 in the 1950s.