Sedgefield (St. Edmund)
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £73. 18. 1½., and in the gift of the Bishop of Durham. The tithes have been commuted for £1481. 7., with a glebe of 385 acres in Sedgefield township; the glebe of Bradbury comprises 60 acres, that of Fishburn 69, and of Embleton 2. The church is a handsome cruciform structure in the early and later English styles, with a square embattled tower crowned by pinnacles; the interior has many features of interest, and a fine old organ. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans. A free grammar school here has an income of about £50 per annum, for which eight children are instructed; and six children are educated and clothed at another school from a benefaction of £400 three per cent. Bank annuities, by Richard Wright, Esq., in 1790. The grammar school and master's house were lately rebuilt, partly from the accumulated funds of a school at Bishop Auckland, and partly by subscription, towards which £600 were given by the trustees of Bishop Barrington, £100 by the Rev. Viscount Barrington, and £150 by the trustees of Lord Crewe. In 1782, John Lowther, Esq., bequeathed £600 three per cent. Bank annuities, for the instruction and clothing of girls. An almshouse for ten men and women was founded, and endowed with £44 per annum, by Thomas Cooper; and additional benefactions were made by William Wrightson and Thomas Foster, the latter of whom bequeathed the interest of £3435 three per cent. consols. for the inmates. Upwards of ninety-one acres of land belong to a charity instituted by Lady Frevill, in 1630. The union of Sedgefield comprises 23 places, containing a population of 6113. The pious and erudite Bishop Lowth was rector of Sedgefield prior to his elevation to the see of London.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.