Darlington's Industrial Heritage:
A Timeline


1700 Darlington is an agricultural market town.

1750 Joseph Pease builds the first worsted mill in the town.

1784 The very first water-driven hay spinner comes into operation.

1794 A linen merchant, Harrington Lee, takes over part of Grange Road and makes 12 mills.

1800 By the end of the 18th century, Darlington has the highest concentration of mills in the country.

1825 The Stockton and Darlington Railway opens, the first public railway. It is mainly used for transporting coal.

1854 A large iron works opens at Albert Hill, Darlington.

1877 Cleveland bridge and engineering works is established in Darlington.

1911 Durham coal fields reach their peak.

1947 Paton's and Baldwin's knitting wool factory develops.

1960 The second half of the century sees a decline in heavy industry. Locomotive manufacture and repairs close.

1967 Cummins Ltd opens, specialising in the motor and aerospace industry.