I'M still fascinated by William Emerson, the legendary Hurworth mathematician. It was said, though, that he needed the peace of Weardale in which to do his workings out.
In Hurworth, his maid became worried that she hadn’t seen, or fed, him for three days.
Eventually, she knocked on his door and inquired after his health.
“Damn you,” he exploded, scattering three days of scribblings across the room.
“Now I’ll have to start again.”
The Weardale estate that he inherited from his father was called Castle Gate. It was said to be near Eastgate.
Ordnance Survey maps show a Northgate, Ambling Gate, Snapegate and, of course, Westgate, up Weardale – presumably all entrances to the Bishop of Durham’s enclosed deer-hunting park 1,000 years ago – but no Castle Gate. Can anyone help?
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