Lancelot Parker Booth (1821-55) was a colliery “viewer” (manager) who was employed by the Durham County Coal Company and was responsible for the development of the company’s pits in the Evenwood area during the 1840’s.  He provided evidence to the Parliamentary Commission following the great strike of 1844 and was highly critical of the Primitive Methodists who took part in the action. When the DCCC went into liquidation, it seems that he purchased its Evenwood and Norwood collieries.  L.P. Booth was born in 1821 at St. Helen’s Auckland and lived at Oaks House, Evenwood between about 1843 and 1850 before moving to Bishop Auckland.  He died at Redcar in 1855, aged 34, after a short illness.  His son, Robert Lancelot Parker (1854-91) held the position of colliery manager at Ashington, Northumberland.

Family Details

1821: Lancelot Parker Booth was born at St. Helen’s Auckland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

1841:  Parker Booth, 20 years old was recorded as a, “viewer” lived with William Hedley, an overman and his family at Little Lumley near Chester-le-Street.  Living near them was Robert Hedley, a “colliery viewer” and his family, including his daughter 20 years old Ann.

1842: Lancelot Parker Booth married Ann Hedley, registered at Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham.

1851:  Lancelot Parker Booth [colliery viewer] and his wife Ann lived at Mount Pleasant, in the Pollards Lands, Bishop Auckland.  At this time, they had 5 children:

• Ann born 1843, at Evenwood.
• Robert L. born 19 January 1845, at Evenwood.
• Margaret J. bc.1846 at Evenwood, all in the Parish of St. Helens Auckland.
• John W. bc.1849 at Kelloe.
• Lancelot P. bc.1850 [4 months old] at Bishop Auckland. 

Note:  Evenwood was then in the St. Helen’s Parish.   

1855 August 4: Lancelot Parker Booth died at Redcar. An obituary stated:

“Aug 4: At Redcar, aged 36, Lancelot Parker Booth esq. of Bishop Auckland.”

The death was registered at Guisborough, he was buried 7 August 1855 at St. Andrew, Bishop Auckland, aged 34.

1861:  Lancelot Parker Booth’s widow Annie Booth lived at Silver Street, Bishop Auckland with her 6 children:

• Ann 17 years old, born at Evenwood,
• Robert 16 years old, born at Evenwood,
• Margaret 14 years old, born at Evenwood,
• John William 12 years old, born at Coxhoe,
• Lancelot 10 years old, born at Bishop Auckland,
• Edwin 8 years old, born at Evenwood.

In 1861, it was recorded that Ann, Robert and Margaret were all born at Evenwood, as was the youngest child Edwin, bc.1853.  The 5th child, Lancelot Booth was recorded as being born at Bishop Auckland and was then 4 months old.  The census was taken on 31 March 1851 thus it is probable that he was born in November/December 1850.  The Booth family lived at Bishop Auckland at this time therefore it is safe to assume that they lived at Oaks House, Evenwood between 1844 and 1850.

Business Details

1841:  Parker Booth, 20 years old was recorded as a, “viewer” lived with William Hedley, an overman and his family at Little Lumley near Chester-le-Street.

Below: 1841 Census, detail showing Parker Booth living with William Heddley (Hedley).

November 1843 to July 1844:  there was a major pitmen’s strike.  L.P. Booth, in his position as manager to the Evenwood Colliery, stated that during the strike, the Primitive Methodists were the worst agitators.

Below: 2 October 1847: The Newcastle Guardian: Advert for the sale of Oaks House, land and 56 houses.

Presumably, L.P. Booth bought the property since the 1851 Rate Book (see below) records L.P. Booth as the owner of the Oakes and other houses in the near vicinity.

1849 March 2: A report was published regarding Humphries v Durham County Coal Company with Mr. Brogden (Secretary) giving evidence regarding subsidence.  It was stated that William Barkus was the viewer since 1843 and L.P. Booth was the under-viewer.  Both gave evidence of the manner of underground workings from the Thrushwood pit under Mr. Humphries land to the north of the river Gaunless.  The plaintiff, Mr. Thomas Humphries won his case.

1851: A commercial directory published the following details:

“Booth Lancelot Parker esq., Oaks House. Messrs. L.P. Booth and Co. are the proprietors of the Norwood Colliery in this village.  The seam of coal lies at a depth of 30 fathoms.  It is extensively used in Yorkshire, being rarely equalled and never surpassed in quality as a house coal.  While the neighbouring collieries have great difficulty in disposing of their produce, this colliery is scarcely able to meet the demands for the excellent coal it produces.  It has a drift 450 yards long, through which horses are led to and from the workings.  Being situated near the Darlington railway, excellent facilities are afforded for its conveyance to distant parts.”

Below: 1851 Census, detail showing Lancelot Parker Booth living at Mount Pleasant (Pollards Lands, Bishop Auckland).

Below: 1851 Rate Book, detail showing Lancelot Parker Booth occupier of Old Norwood Colliery (John Bowes Esq. was the owner). L.P.Booth also owned house at the Oakes, Evenwood.

Below: 1851 Rate Book, detail (1 of 4 pages) showing that L.P. Booth was the owner of houses at the Oakes, Evenwood.

1853 & 54: List of Members of the North of England Mining Engineers included Booth P. Evenwood Colliery, Bishop Auckland, (No.22).

1855 August 11: A report was published announcing the death of Lancelot Parker Booth, aged 36 of Bishop Auckland after a short illness.  It was stated that he was the principle owner and manager of the Norwood Colliery.

1855 November 17: The following statement was published:

“Debts paid by G. Brabin – Cansey G. [?], Hedley J., Place T., Charlton T., Booth A. colliery owners and coke manufacturers, Norwood, Evenwood as regards Booth deceased, September 29.”

Presumably, “Booth A.” was Ann, Lancelot Parker Booth’s wife.

1855 & 56: The North of England Institute Mining Engineers’ Journal reported the death of Mr. Booth and the election of Mr. Robinson, Evenwood Colliery.

Below: Map to show Oaks House and the Oaks in relation to Norwood Colliery. The survey was carried out 1857 ad the map published in 1859.

1860: It was published that:

“Gordon and Evenwood Collieries were commenced by the Durham County Coal Company.  The royalty belonged to the Bishop of Durham but is now in the hands of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.  The lease dated 11 March 1830 was for 3 lives of 48. 21 and 10 years…Norwood Collieries are situated near to Gordon and Evenwood, the royalty belongs to the See of Durham, the superior lease of which is held by John Bowes Esq. from whom it is sub-leased to the owners of these collieries.  Gordon and Evenwood were worked by Messrs Armstrong and Partners and Norwood by Messrs. Hedley & Co.; they afterwards worked as one concern but at present Gordon and Evenwood are carried on by the representatives of the late Mr. Armstrong and Norwood by the representatives of the late Mr. Booth.”

Perhaps, “the representatives of the late Mr. Booth” were in fact his wife, Ann and family.  Presumably, they inherited his commercial interest in Norwood Colliery.  The manager of Old Norwood Colliery was William Hedley, who probably was Ann Booth’s brother.

Interests

1851: The Wesleyan Return for Evenwood was signed by L.P. Booth.

Below: Date unknown, probably 1880’s. A photo of Evenwood Band in front of Oaks House.

Three men wearing top hats, are stood outside Oaks House, looking on.

Two of L.P Booth’s sons are of note:

ROBERT LANCELOT BOOTH (1854 – 1891)

1845 January 19: Robert Lancelot Booth born at Evenwood, registered Auckland, the son of Lancelot and Annie Booth.

1865/66:   At this time, Robert L. Booth appears to have left the employment of the Evenwood/Norwood Colliery because he was employed at Rainton Gate, Fencehouses and Medomsley in 1866.  He then moved to Ashington, Northumberland.

1891 November 25: The death of Robert L. Booth was reported.  He was buried 27 November at Ashington, Northumberland. He left an estate of £1,375 1s 3d to his widow Jane Booth of Ashington, the sole Executrix.

1891 November 28:  An obituary was published in the Morpeth Herald, relating to the death of Robert L. Booth confirms that he was the eldest son of Parker Lancelot Booth, one of the owners of Evenwood & Norwood Collieries near Bishop Auckland, that he was born at Oaks House, Evenwood 19 January 1845 and that he served his time with his uncle, Mr. Hedley who was manager of Norwood Colliery. 

LANCELOT PARKER BOOTH Junior (1850 – 1925)

His 5th child, also called Lancelot Parker Booth [1850 – 1925], born at Bishop Auckland, qualified as a M.D. from Durham University and was appointed District Surgeon to the Natal Government Medical Service and Indian Immigration Department between 1876 and 1888.  He was ordained at Trinity College in 1888.  During the South African War [also known as the Boer War] he served with the Natal Volunteer Ambulance Corps and was well known to Mohandas K. Gandi otherwise known as Mahatma Gandhi.

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