EXACTLY 150 years ago this week, the D&S Times was reporting on a “curious dispute at Pit Green”. Pit Green is a mining hamlet near Toft Hill that throughout its history has also been known as Wind Mill.

“The people of the village are blessed with plenty of good water at a short distance, but are at a loss whether the husband or wife has the most right to be the bearer,” said the D&S in late June 1874.

A public meeting was held to discuss the matter, and it “created much excitement and, it is feared, much ill-feeling between husband and wife”.

“During the meeting, there was strong language used, and the females present maintained that it was a man’s job to convey the water.

“They were determined that if any wife in the village should go against that rule, they would be hasty in carrying out the threats they had already made.

“On the other hand, the husbands maintained that it was a wife’s duty to look after the domestic department, as they had to attend to their daily labours, and it was out of reason to think that they would do the household work as well.

“Thus the matter rests.”

READ MORE FROM MEMORIES:

BATTLE OF THE BALLOTS: WHEN POLICE BRUTALITY PROVOKED A TORIES VERSUS WHIGS RIOT AND SIEGE IN DARLINGTON DURING AN ELECTION

PINEAPPLES, PEARS AND BANANAS: THE STORY OF THE BISHOP OF DURHAM'S NEWLY RESTORED WALLED GARDEN AT AUCKLAND CASTLE

EXACTLY 175 YEARS AGO, SOMEWHERE IN DARLINGTON, THE TOWN'S WATERWORKS PROJECT BEGAN

EXACTLY 100 YEARS SINCE THE BATTLE OF THE BEES LEFT 14 CHICKENS DEAD IN LOW CONISCLIFFE