Since Saxon times the County of Durham had been a Palatinate, that is territory ruled on behalf of the Sovereign by the Bishops of Durham. William had probably conceded the Conqueror in return for protection this power the Conqueror in return for protection from the marauding Scots.
The County of Durham certainly suffered from invasions and in the fourteenth century Stockton was virtually devastated. Destroyed too were the market and annual fair that Bishop Bec had granted in Plague also had its toll and at the beginning of the seventeenth century Stockton was practically derelict. In , in the reign of Edward 11, Bishop Kelloe granted a strip of land on the west side of what is now the High Street to Thomas Burdon.
One hundred and seventy years later, William and Henry Burdon built two houses adjoining each other, the building having one large overhanging gable on which they affixed the date Some years later when the Castle was being demolished, he acquired two Frosterley marble pillars and he had them fixed to support the great gable of 8 and 9 Main Street as the High Street was known at that time, and the building came to be known as the 'Blue Posts.
These eventually came into the procession of Mr. Burdon of Castle Eden who had them cut down and used as lamp stands. Burdon thought they had been the gateposts of the Castle, but in view of the fact that the marble was so highly thought of it was used to adorn the banqueting hall or the chapel of Stockton Castle. Today these posts can be seen in Preston Hall Museum. The Civil War which started in also took its toll, for the town was ravaged by Parliamentary troops.
The Castle dating from the twelfth century and belonging to the Bishops was perhaps one of the early reasons for the development of Stockton. During the Civil War the Castle was besieged, captured and finally dismantled in Nine years later there were still only dwellings in Stockton. While the fortunes of Stockton may well have appeared at they're lowest in this period they may also have reached their turning point. Peace and stability followed allowing the development of commerce and trade which was boosted by Bishop Cousins or Cosins when he authorised, by charter, a weekly market and an annual fair in Stockton's potential for commerce and trade gradually became apparent.
