a market-town and municipal borough of England, in the county of Durham, on the left bank of the Tees, about 4 miles from its mouth, and 18 miles S.E. of Durham. It is for the most part substantially built of brick, and regularly laid out, having one main street nearly a mile in length, running from north to south. At the south end of this street a handsome stone-bridge of five arches crosses the river into Yorkshire. A short distance below this bridge the river bends towards the north, where it is lined by a wharf running parallel to the main street, and connected with it by numerous smaller streets. West of the principal street there are many handsome new streets and buildings, and in the north-east of the town is a large square, planted with trees, and lined with good houses. The parish church is a large edifice of brick, erected in 1710 on the site of one as old as 1234. It has a tower 80 feet high, and contains a theological library. Trinity Church is a neat Gothic building, with a square tower and octagonal spire. Stockton also contains places of worship for Independents, Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Unitarians. Several of these have Sunday schools attached to them; and there are, besides, National, British, and infant schools; Stoddart, a bluecoat charity school, school of industry for girls, a library, newsroom, and mechanics' institute. Among the charitable institutions there are several almshouses and a dispensary. The town-hall, a square building with a clock-tower, stands in the market-place, and near it is a handsome Doric column, 33 feet high, which occupies the site of the old market-cross. Stockton has also a custom-house, theatre, assembly-rooms, and billiard-rooms. The manufactures and trade of the town are both very extensive. Among the former, the most important are those of linen and sailcloth, ropes, and worsted, along with the building of ships and boats, the casting of brass and iron, brewing, &c. The town imports from foreign countries maids, spars, and timber, iron, hemp, flax, tallow, and hides; from British ports, groceries, wine, spirits, and colonial wares. The chief article exported to foreign lands is lead; to London and other ports in this country are sent flour, butter, cheese, linen, yarn, timber, and coal. In 1857, there were registered as belonging to the port, 137 sailing-vessels, tonnage 28,261; and 30 steamers, tonnage 2996. In the same year there entered the port 1180 sailing-vessels, tonnage 122,411; and 129 steamers, tonnage 28,690; and there cleared 2683 sailing-vessels, tonnage 259,560; and 180 steamers, tonnage 45,191. The river is navigable for some distance above the town, and its navigation has been improved by a cut made just below, which avoids a considerable bend in the river, and facilitates the access of vessels to the town. Ships of 300 tons burden can come up to the quays of Stockton. The town is connected by railway with all the lines in Great Britain; and the line from this to Darlington was the first that was constructed, having been opened for goods in 1825, and at a later period also for passengers. Stockton is an ancient place; it was at one time the residence of the bishops of Durham, who had a castle here, of which, since its demolition in 1652, only a few traces remain. The town was plundered by the Scotch in 1325; and in the civil war of Charles I. it adhered to that monarch, but was taken by the Scotch in 1644. The borough is governed by a mayor, 5 aldermen, and 18 councillors. Pop. of the borough, 10,459; of the town, 9808.