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Since County Durham did not appear in the Domesday Book, the first known detailed survey of the county was the Boldon Book, completed 97 years later in 1183. It was taken at the orders of Hugh de Puiset, Bishop of Durham. The Boldon Book contained the earliest known documentation of the [[Washington family]], stating that William de Hertburn (ancestor of [[George Washington]], 1st President of the United States) had held Washington since 1180. The Boldon Book also contains the first reference to coal mining in County Durham, recoding a coal miner at Escomb.<ref>[https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/mining/coal/3183874.early-coal-mining-1100-1500/ Early Coal Mining 1100- 1500]</ref>
Since County Durham did not appear in the Domesday Book, the first known detailed survey of the county was the Boldon Book, completed 97 years later in 1183. It was taken at the orders of Hugh de Puiset, Bishop of Durham. The Boldon Book contained the earliest known documentation of the [[Washington family]], stating that William de Hertburn (ancestor of [[George Washington]], 1st President of the United States) had held Washington since 1180. The Boldon Book also contains the first reference to coal mining in County Durham, recoding a coal miner at Escomb.<ref>[https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/mining/coal/3183874.early-coal-mining-1100-1500/ Early Coal Mining 1100- 1500]</ref>
Among the best-known battles in the County Palatine's history was the Battle of Neville's Cross, which took place to the west of Durham on 17 October 1346. It was part of the Second War of Scottish independence. The Scots, under David II, as allies of the French, invaded England in an attempt to distract Edward III from the siege of Calais.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Nevilles-Cross Battle of Neville's Cross - Encyclopaedia Brittanic]</ref> In foresight of the invasion, Edward III had left a strong force in the north, consisting of over 3,000 men from the counties [[Cumberland]], [[Lancashire]] and [[Northumberland]] with an additional 4,000 troops from Yorkshire. Despite the Scottish army being considerably larger (12,000 men), the battle resulted in a decisive victory for the English and the capture of David II, who remained prisoner of the English until 1357. The battle took its name from an Anglo-Saxon stone cross that stood on the hill where the Scots made their stand. Ralph Neville, 2nd Baron Neville, who had led the English forces in battle, commissioned a new cross to commemorate the day. Neville's Cross now lends its name to a suburb of Durham.
Production of coal in the county peaked in the period from 1913 to 1923, when there were 170,000 miners in the county.
Production of coal in the county peaked in the period from 1913 to 1923, when there were 170,000 miners in the county.