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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: dustfairy on Thursday 03 August 06 16:50 BST (UK)

Title: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: dustfairy on Thursday 03 August 06 16:50 BST (UK)
Hi

I have found a family on the census records and they are living in Walkerfield, Durham, can anyone tell me where abouts it is please

Janette
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: Candma on Thursday 03 August 06 20:20 BST (UK)
It could be Wackerfield, a small hamlet, 2 miles north east of Staindrop.
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: dustfairy on Friday 04 August 06 07:41 BST (UK)
Hi

Thanks for the info.  On all the census records I have found it did say Walkerfield, apart from one which said Wackerfield.  Now I know it is Wackerfield. 

Janette
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: oldkiwi on Friday 02 February 24 01:19 GMT (UK)
Hi all
Not sure how ago this post has been running, I have just discovered Walkerfield on a memorial on Ancestry  and agree Wakerfield seems most likely.  Think the stone mason must have to much red
I will share a link.   https://www.ancestry.com.au/mediaui-viewer/tree/71388504/person/402550363492/media/51079db6-f139-4319-b8e8-e49b9104f8df?usePUBJs=true
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: Jillity on Saturday 11 October 25 08:18 BST (UK)
I'm glad to have found this thread as I have an ancestor from Walkerfield/Wackerfield.
In Kelly's Directory it says,
'Walkerfield township is 2 miles north-west from the church. The Duke of Cleveland K.G. is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The area is 690 acres; rateable value, £1,085; the population in 1881 was 128.
— Kelly's Directory of Durham (1890)'

I think either the place was called Walkerfield, but it was changed to Wackerfield, or there are a large number of misspellings.
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: MollyC on Saturday 11 October 25 08:35 BST (UK)
I think the directory was trying to gentrify the name, or else it reflects pronounciation.
The Ordnance Survey gives it as Wackerfield in 1856 and 1973.

https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341722#zoom=4.7&lat=8402&lon=13548&layers=BT

https://maps.nls.uk/view/188864419



Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: Jillity on Saturday 11 October 25 10:19 BST (UK)
I wonder how local people actually pronounced it. People often just wrote down what they heard without much regard to spelling.
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: AlanBoyd on Saturday 11 October 25 12:24 BST (UK)
Reminds me of one of my late grandfather's jokes. (This is east Durham.)

Quote
George, a miner, goes to the doctor to obtain a sick note.

Doctor: Can you walk? (in standard English pronunciation)

George: Whork? Aa cannut even waark.  (meaning Work? I can't even walk.)
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: Jillity on Saturday 11 October 25 13:56 BST (UK)
 ;D That explains a lot. There was an interesting discussion once on how to pronounce Houghton Le Spring. The people who were from that area said it was pronounce Horton Le Spring. That has probably been written down a few times.
Wackerfield it will be then.
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: ChrissieL on Saturday 11 October 25 17:10 BST (UK)
We visited Wackerfield earlier this year where my Raine ancestors lived. Not many houses there now but it was definitely signposted as Wackerfield

Chris
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: Jillity on Saturday 11 October 25 17:17 BST (UK)
I have Raines in my family tree as well.
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: ChrissieL on Saturday 11 October 25 17:25 BST (UK)
Thomas Raine was my 3 X great grandfather, baptised 1802 at Staindrop but but gives their abode as Wackerfield. Raine seems to be a common surname in that area

Chris
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: MollyC on Saturday 11 October 25 17:36 BST (UK)
Reply #8  "... how to pronounce Houghton Le Spring"

Near Barnsley, south Yorkshire, there are villages named Great Houghton and Little Houghton,
pronounced Horton.

I had a friend from Cannock, Staffordshire with surname Houghton - pronounced Howton.

(Something changes as you cross Derbyshire!)
Title: Re: Walkerfield - Durham
Post by: Jillity on Saturday 11 October 25 20:38 BST (UK)
Thomas Raine was my 3 X great grandfather, baptised 1802 at Staindrop but but gives their abode as Wackerfield. Raine seems to be a common surname in that area

Chris
Jonathon Bowman Thornton Raine and his siblings were my 1st cousins twice removed. My grandmother was a Thornton and my 2nd great grandmother was a Bowman.