Alarming explosion at Pierremont

Perhaps the most important question that I don't address in the article is how you pronounce "Pierremont". A non-native, like myself, might give it a French flourish, but I've been studying how born and bred Darlingtonians say it. It sounds to me as if it is "Pier-mont", as in the long thing that sticks out into the sea at Saltburn, or "Pee-a-mont". This, I guess, is close to how it was originally pronounced because when the first house was built on this spot it was called Pierpont (which somehow, inexplicably, translates as "the house on the hill overlooking the Cocker Beck").

Please give me further elocution lessons...

The second snippet of information that didn't make it into the article was about an "alarming explosion" which happened in July 1881. Fortunately, the family were away, summering at one of their other abodes (either Stanhope Castle or Britannia Terrace, Saltburn).

This is how the Darlington and Stockton Times of July 30, 1881, told of the drama:

ALARMING EXPLOSION AT PIERREMONT

On Thursday morning an explosion of gas occured at the fine mansion at Pierremont, which was the cause of much consternation prevailing amongst the persons left in charge of the house. The family is away, all the furniture, etc., fortunately being covered up. In the north wing, where the back apartments are situated, an escape of gas was felt. The housemaid, named Rebecca Clark, injudiciously went into the nursery where the gas appears to have gathered, and then struck a light. Instantly there was a flash of light, the room was in flames, and a tremendous report echoed through the house. The roof of the room was lifted bodily up for one or two inches, the door was crashed from its fastenings, and along with another door in the passage was broken to firewood. All the windows were blown out, and when assistance arrived, a glazier fortunately being in the grounds, the room was in flames, the blinds and all loose hangings being ignited. The girl surprising to state, felt not the least injured at the time, and she walked from the room without assistance, and informed the people what had occurred. The workmen turned off the gas at the meter, put out the flames, which but for them would have undoubtedly increased to a general conflagation, and then made an examination of the premises. The gas appeared to have come from the piping near the chandelier, and the main force of the explosion escaped through the door. A powerful current swept along the passage right through the house to the front door a distance of 50 yards, and clashed the door to with such strength that the plate glass window was broken and the beautiful coloured glass in the illuminated lights was injured. Glass from the window of the nursery was thrown a distance of twenty yards on to the lawn; and slates on the roof were loosened and fell in all directions. The kitchen, which was below the room, when the explosion took place had all the plaster from the roof blown off, and the place presented the appearance of a general wreck. It took a number of workmen many hours to clear away the debris of lime, wood, etc. The shock affected the house throughout. In rooms having no direct communication with the nursery, damage was done, as in the butler's pantry where the plaster was shaken from the ceiling in several places. The damage must be considerable. The furniture in the nursery was nearly all spoiled. The upper part of the room seems to have held one solid mass of flame. All the paint of the door, cupboard, etc., is burnt and blistered to about four feet from the ground. Below this the flames did not extend. How the girl escaped so easily is a mystery. She was found to be dreadfully burnt about the arms and face and neck, but is now in a fair way for recovery. Mrs Bairstow, who is engaged in the house seems to have suffered severely from the shock. She was just going into the kitchen when the accident took place, and what with the report and the falling debris she sustained a shock to the system that necessitated considerable care being taken of her.