The Stockton corporation contested the right of anchorage and plankage with the bishop, who had a decree in the Durham court of chancery in his favour. It was proved that these duties were paid in the time of Henry VI., and that there was a staith in the outer court of the castle, which had only gone to decay within a few years past. Bp. Neile on this decision based these duties, and the metage of coal and grain to the mayor. They have till lately been held by the corporation by lease for 21 years. "All that port, haven, or creek, of Stockton, extending from the bar or low watermark of the sea unto the wathstead, called Worsall wath, and the anchorage and plankage, &c.; also all the benefit arising from the metage of coal, corn, or grain, and the profits from salt, fruit, victuals, or other merchandizes, sold by any manner of metage, imported to the said port." [LRSN]

 

 

• LRSN — Local Records of Stockton and the Neighbourhood by Thomas Richmond. Published in one volume in 1868.