Paradise Row, Darlington

[john franks]

According to the 1841 census one of my ancestors was a pupil at a boarding school in Paradise Row, Darlington at that time. I would be grateful if anyone can give me the name of the school, tell me anything about it or give me a reference.

Many thanks.

John

[stanmapstone]

There was a Ladies Seminary, or a private school for girls, in  Paradise House, Darlington. Was your ancester female?The pupils in Paradise Row were all boys.

Stan

[Pels.]

Just for reference - I believe the part of Coniscliffe Road which is nearest the town, was originally known as Paradise Row, John :

http://www.aeiou.co.uk/darlington/town-centre/coniscliffe-road.htm

There also appears to be a boys school there in 1841, run by a Samuel Gething.

HO107/303/23, Folio 12, Page 19     

Pels.

[Pels.]

Living in the next property was a William Hogarth who was a Catholic Priest.
I'm wondering if could have been a Catholic School ?

There's a slight mention of it here :

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0shq/

Pels.

[Pels.]

According to the Poll Book for the County of Durham in July 1841, the property occupied by Samuel Gething in Paradise Row was a Freehold House.

Pels.

[stanmapstone]

An Historical, Topographical, and Descriptive View of the County Palatine of Durham, Volume 2, 1834.
"A large Seminary, connected with the Catholic chapel, has recently been opened in Paradise Row."


In Hagar & Co.'s Directory of the County of Durham, 1851 it lists "Paradise Row, Coniscliffe Lane" and "Paradise Terrace, Coniscliffe Lane"
In Slater's Commercial Directory of Durham, Northumberland & Yorkshire, 1855 there is a Roman Catholic School in Coniscliffe Lane, Patrick M'Guire, master.
In the Post Office Directory of Northumberland & Durham, 1858 there is a Roman Catholic School in Paradise Lane, Thomas McKenzie, master.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

The School is shown on the 1856 Town plan at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html?coords=428593,514376 next to St. Augustine's RC Chapel.
Paradise Row is on the north side of Coniscliffe Lane, and Paradise Terrace on the south side.

Stan

[john franks]

Thanks Stan and Pels for your replies. The school had 22 pupils, all boys. As well as the schoolmaster, Samuel Gething, there was a ten-year-old Samuel Dupuy Gething, three adult females with occupation "F S" (?) and a French teacher. From the information you have provided it looks very much to me that this was the  Roman Catholic School referred to. The French teacher was born in France and the name Dupuy is French, I believe, which is supportive of the Catholic connection even if it doesn't prove anything.

As far as I know none of my family were Catholic (surname Mellanby) but I shall now look into this more closely. Just thought of another French connection; the pupil at this school, Joseph Mellanby, or his father had hand-bills printed in French, advertising the quality of South Durham coal and offering to sell it at West Hartlepool to any French mariner who could find his way into the port. Perhaps there was a linguistic reason for going to this school?

You have given me quite a lot to chew on but if any more information comes to light I would be grateful for it.

John

[stanmapstone]

three adult females with occupation "F S" (?) John

Female Servant

Stan