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New Cottages School 1865 to 1909 / Dawdon Mission Room

Photograph courtesy of Seaham Family History Group

 

Extract from Durham at War ( durhamatwar.org.uk )

Dawdon Mission Room


Used as a canteen in the First World War


 

Type: Canteen

The Former Dawdon Mission Room underwent multiple phases of occupation before its demolishment in circa. 1980, but its role as a key hub for socio-religious life in Seaham remained prominent throughout the structure’s use.

Phase I:
As part of the wider plans to modernize Seaham, the Marchioness of Londonderry, Frances Anne, built the New Cottages School on Queen Alexandra Road in 1864. Primary education was provided there until it became a renowned Sunday School under the Parish of St. Hild and St. Helen by circa. 1890s. Services were held there regularly as well until the Parish Church was constructed on Melbury Street in 1912. 
New Cottages School was officially closed in 1909 and transformed into the Dawdon Mission Room. One of the last services held there was by senior curate E. Walter Bolland, to celebrate the laying of the foundation stone for the new Parish Church on Melbury Street, in 1910. 

Phase II:
The Dawdon Mission Room was one of two mission rooms under the Parish of St. Hild and St. Helen, the other being in the “Bottleworks area” called Navvies Mission. Navvies Mission took in labourers working on the New South Dock, and closed when its senior curate passed away. 

Phase III:
When the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry entered Seaham during the First World War, Dawdon Mission Room was occupied and believed to be used as a canteen between January 1915-1918. As the Mission Room bore an educational function, local schoolchildren had to travel outside the parish to attend school at Seaham Colliery – an issue that stirred great debate amongst the parish and the Urban District Council of Seaham Harbour and district. It was ultimately resolved that the children went to school in nearby, temporary facilities, such as the Presbyterian Schoolroom.

Phase IV:
After the war, the Mission Room was gifted freely by the 7th Marquis of Londonderry to the Parish as a church institute – the building was then valued at £1000, in 1922. The Mission Room was renovated and renamed the Parish Hall, and a schoolroom was built at the front of the structure.

Phase V:
The military reclaimed use of the Parish Hall during the second World War, where it was used as a first aid post.
During this time, the parishes of Seaham and Dawdon were nominally merged into one, meaning residents from surrounding areas such as Parkside were attending service in Dawdon.

Phase VI: 
Post-war North East saw rapid developments that the Parish Hall could not keep up with. The nationalization of coal mines meant that maintenance costs were on the rise, as coal from the Londonderry mines were no longer free. The structure was disused by circa. 1970s as repair fees were estimated at £6000. Therefore, it was sold instead for £7389 in 1978. The schoolroom at the front of the building was demolished while the main hall became a Chapel of Rest. 

The building was absent from the 8th edition epoch Ordnance survey map of 1980, and hence suspected to be demolished.

Note: Dawdon Mission Room Charity
Affiliated with the Dawdon Mission Room was the Charity of the same name. It was believed to be set up in accordance with the Deed of Grant, dated 12 July 1922 between the 7th Marquis of Londonderry and Rev. Graham White. It was managed by the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Hild and St. Helen as trustees. Included in the Charities Act of 1960, the Charity likely operated until after 1982. 

Sources cited:
EP/Daw 12/1
Order of the Charity Commissioners establishing a scheme, including appointment of trustees and vesting, for the Dawdon Mission Room Charity, 5 July 1962
EP/Daw 14/2
Dene Park – the “Jewel” of Dawdon
Sunderland Echo
22 July 1965 Thursday
EP/Daw 14/16
The Parish Church of St. Hild and St. Helen
75th Anniversary 1912-1987
EP/Daw 12/2
Order of the Charity Commission establishing an amended scheme for the Dawdon Mission Room Charity, 18 March 1982
UD/Sea 64 
Urban District Council Records of Seaham Harbour (1916-1920)

Relevant Sources:
CHA/527
Dawdon parish Hall Mission Room accounts: 1935-1937, 1939
CHA/674
Mission Room/Parish Hall Charity, Dawdon, accounts for 1938-1939, 1946-1948
CJA/746
Mission Room/Parish Hall Charity, Dawdon, accounts for 1949-1952
EP/Daw 4/57
12 June 1913 (1) Charles Stewart, Marquis of Londonderry (2) Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England Conveyance by (1) to (2) of 3005 sq. yds. of land in the parish of Dawdon, St. Hild and St. Helen, with the house erected on it, for use as a parsonage house 
Plan attached
Keys to the Past
http://www.keystothepast.info/article/10339/Site-Details?PRN=D47221

Civil Parish: Dawdon

Contributed by Tullia Fraser | Durham County Council Archaeology Section