Survey of English Place-Names

Etymology

This parish lies on the north bank of the winding Tees and consists of the townships of Hurworth and Neasham, the former having an area of 2,438 acres and the latter 1,636 acres making a total of 4,074 acres in all. The surface is mainly over 100ˈ OD but there is a large area of lower land between the two villages through which Cree Beck drains into the Tees.The soil is various with clay in some places. In the 1850s two-thirds of the land was arable but by 1928 there were only 1,015 acres of arable with 2,270 acres permanent grass and 279 acres woodland and plantations. Barley was the main crop with potatoes, turnips and fruit.Bricks were made near Croft and draining-tiles at Skipbridge, VCH III285–6.

Major Settlements

• Hurworth
• Neasham