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To see what's on in Local Studies, please visit the Events Page
Local Studies catalogue 
Local Studies books and pamphlets have now been added to the online library catalogue, click onto the Catalogue link above.
Following 3 years of hard work by staff and volunteers the main card catalogue for Local Studies is available online.However if you are looking for photographs, maps, newspaper indexing or family history resources please ask staff to help you use the card catalogues when you visit.
From the collection Tea wrapper used by Jane Bryson
A very decorative tea wrapper used by Jane Bryson, grocer and tea dealer, 9 High Row, in the late 19th century.
From the collection Edward Pease Public Library, Crown Street, with bust of Edward Pease and Portrait of the first Librarian, Frank Burgoyne, Entrance of the Town Hall & Coniscliffe Road
by W. Walker Hodgson
This painting by W. Walker Hodgson who resided in Darlington for a while was given to the Library with the complements of Thomas Wood & Sons, November 1909
From the collection Thread Mill and Dam, Darlington by S. Fothergill
If you like this painting call in to the Centre for Local Studies to see other framed paintings and images on display around the walls.
From the collection Post House Wynd, Darlington by H.S. (attributed to)
We have no information about this artist. If you have further details, please contact us.
If you find this painting interesting why not call in to the Centre for Local Studies and see the other framed items on display around the walls.
From the collection Brigham's Bookshop, Coniscliffe Road
by S. Clark
From the collection James Atkinson by an unknown artist
James Atkinson, Oriental Scholar and Artist, born at Darlington, 1780, died in London, 1852. This painting was presented to this Library in 1893 and shows Atkinson in his uniform as surgeon in the army.
From the collection North Lodge Park Pond and Boat House, 1899
by P.P. Norman
Discover more of our collection On this page we will feature some of our most useful and interesting items of stock.
Some items you will be familiar with, others we hope to introduce you to!
January painting of the month 
The Market Tower by A. B. Dresser, 1912
January book of the month The Artists of Northumbria
by Marshall Hall
published 1973
This book does exactly what it says on the tin. It is an illustrated dictionary of the art of the North East covering the period 1625 – 1950. Northumbria is defined as extending from Berwick-upon –Tweed in the North to Bowes, Darlington and Yarm in the South, the whole of the East coast between these points and in the west taking in Wooler, Kielder, Haltwhistle and Middleton in Teesdale. It has colour plates as well as numerous black and white illustrations. The artists themselves are not just painters, but sculptors, engravers, stained glass designers, illustrators and cartoonists.
There is a useful opening introduction which discusses the different styles of art explored throughout, giving historical overviews of such topics as Marine, Landscape and Portrait painting, Historical, Religious and Subject specific works, Sporting and Industrial themes, as well as showcasing individual stylists, stonemasons, woodcarvers, caricaturists etc. It closes with some general remarks about influences on the output from the region, the opportunities offered by different art schools, galleries and teachers.
How best to use a book such as this? Of course for the subject specialist it amounts to an invaluable reference work – you would simply look up the name of the artist you wanted to research alphabetically. Searching through for references to Darlington artists for instance, we discover that in the seventeenth century Francis Place of Dinsdale is thought to be ‘the first British artist whose main preoccupation was landscape’. Local man John Priestman was one of the earliest professionals doing statuary on graves for the wealthy. One of the colour plates, ‘The Harvesters’ depicting shire horses at work, is by the extraordinary twins, Elizabeth and Dorothy Alderson of Neasham. They were long-lived, born in 1900 and had a very unusual way of working: ‘one sister starting at one part of a painting, and the other at another, with a complete fusion of their talents in the finished work.’ 
Other artists with Darlington connections who have entries in the dictionary are Mary Bigland, James Lindsay Bird, Alfred Dresser, John Dobbin, Edgar and Samuel Elton, George Fothergill, John Gibbs, Myles Meehan, Ralph Swinden, and Thomas Young.
For the interested amateur, why not begin with the colour plates, see what catches your eye and then trace back to the commentary on the artist whose work appeals to you. It could be the beginning of a whole new voyage of discovery. This reviewer discovered the work of the Spennymoor artist Norman Cornish through the dictionary and is happy to report that the Library also has a lending copy of ‘The Quintessential Cornish’, full of his paintings and an account of his life, there are also other books about Cornish, the Pitman Painters and Spennymoor in Local Studies.
An invaluable reference work for the subject specialist, but also a tempting gateway for the amateur enthusiast.
The book will be on display in the Centre for Local Studies during January.
Find previous books of the month here You might enjoy exploring previous books of the month. You can do this below. Just select a title you would like to find out more about and click on the link.
Remember you can come in to the Centre for Local Studies anytime to see the original book. Just call in and ask the staff. They will find the book for you.
If you have used a book in Local Studies which you have found useful or interesting and you think should be featured here, do let us know.
Enjoy finding out more!
Dreaming of Babylon, The Life and Times of Ralph Hodgson by John Harding Find out more
Sleigh Ride to Russia by Griselda Fox Mason
Ghosts of the North by Melanie Warren & Tony Wells
Eric's War, Experiences of a Far Eastern Prisoner of War 1941-1945 by Eric Walter Markham
Find out more
The Friends in Council by Samuel Tuke Richardson 
Find out more
Lady Fry of Darlington by Eliza Orme 
Explore here
Darlington Half-Holiday Guide by Mr. J.W. Cudworth Explore here
The History of Whessoe Explore here
Up There, The North East Football Boom & Bust by Michael Walker Explore here
From Thornfield to Thornfield Road by Patricia Dean Explore here
Annual Reports on the Health of the County Borough of Darlington Explore here
The Mystery of Easter Island by Katherine Routledge Explore here
Inventry of Nonconformist Chapels and Meeting-houses in the North of England by Christopher Stell Explore here
The World War One Memorial of Eastbourne, Darlington by A. Magrys Explore here
At the House of Edward Pease, Northgate, Darlington
by Charles McNab Explore here
Cleveland Bridge & Engineering Company Ltd Explore here
Charter of Incorporation of the Borough of Darlington & The County Borough of Darlington Official Handbook 
Darlington Illustrated Year Book for the Municipal Year, 1903 Explore here
Public Catalogue Foundation, Oil Paintings in Public Ownership in County Durham Explore here
A History of The Denes, Darlington by Chris Lloyd and Memories of The Denes Explore here
A rhinoceros bone from Brierton, nr. West Hartlepool & a skeleton of elk (Cervus alces) from Neasham, near Darlington by C.T. Trechmann Explore here
England's Vast Industries & Mercantile Marine Explore here
Henry Pease - A Short Story of His Life by Mary Pease Explore here
Memories of North Road Locomotive Works Explore here 
Biographical and historical notes on bygone Darlington by W.J. Mountford Explore here
The History of the Polam Christmas Tree Explore here
Durham at the Opening of the Twentieth Century and Durham Contemporary Biographies Explore here
A North Country Album by George A. Fothergill Explore here
Kelly's Directories Explore here 
Religion, Business and Society by Anne Orde Explore here 
Dodds' Darlington Annual for 1917 Explore here 
From the collection 
Fair in Market Place
by Arthur Haward
From the collection 
County Borough of Darlington
Darlington Welcome Committee on behalf of their fellow Townsmen & Women in grateful acknowledgement of Loyal & Gallant Services rendered to King & Country in the Greatest of all Struggles for Freedom and the Right.
1914-1918.
We have only seen only one other certificate given to a Darlington soldier who surrived WW1 and so far have not found out any other information about when they were presented. We would be interested to know if you have a similar certificate given to your ancestor or if you have more information about the certificates.
From the collection
Edward Pease (1767-1858), The Father of the Railways
by an unknown artist
From the collection St. Cuthbert's Church, 1912 by D. Allston
From the collection Bishop's Palace, Darlington 1813 by E.A. Elton
From the collecton 
Advertisement and 1899 calendar for W. Sedgewick,
family grocer and wine merchant,
97 Bondgate, Darlington
From the collection Building Shop, Faverdale, Darlington by W. W. Neasham
From the collection The Sisters of Mercy Home, Darlington
by G. A. Fothergill
From the collection Thornfield, Darlington by A. R. Longley
From the collection Edward Pease 1834-1880 by an unknown photographer
From the collection Opening of the South Park Teahouse, Darlington June 4, 1908
photographed by Alfred H. Harrow
From the collection The Old Mill Race, Darlington by Samuel Fothergill, 1884
From the collection Cockerton by an unknown artist
From the collection Hannah Maria Whitwell (1778-1866) by an unknown artist
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