a town in the ward of the same name, in the county of Durham, 243 miles from London. It is situated on the river Skern, which runs into the Tees. There are some large establishments for making linen in the town. There is a collegiate church, and the remains of an episcopal palace, with a spacious market-place, well attended on Saturday. The inhabitants amounted in 1811 to 5059, in 1821 to 5750, and in 1831 to 5574.