- Heritage

The Nine Stones

Now in a wooded glade, this small prehistoric circle of nine standing stones was constructed around 4,000 years ago. Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows are nearby…

Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows

A ‘cemetery’ of 44 Bronze Age burial mounds of varying types and sizes, straddling the A35 main road…

Auckland Deer House

A charming Gothic Revival ‘eyecatcher’ built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham. It provided deer with shelter and food, and had grounds for picnics and rooms for enjoying the view…

Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle (grid reference NZ04911641) is a ruined medieval castle situated in the town of the same name in County Durham. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building…

Bowes Castle

Bowes Castle is in the village of Bowes in County Durham, England (grid reference NY992135). Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire…

Derwentcote Steel Furnace

Derwentcote Steel Furnace (grid reference NZ131566), Rowlands Gill, near Newcastle, England, built in 1720, is an example of an early cementation furnace which produced high grade steel…

Egglestone Abbey

Egglestone Abbey is an abandoned Premonstratensian Abbey on the eastern bank of the River Tees, 1½ miles (2.5km) south-east of Barnard Castle in County Durham, England, at grid reference NZ061151. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire…

Finchale Priory

Finchale Priory (pronounced finkle) was a 13th century Benedictine priory, the remains are sited by the River Wear, four miles from Durham. It is a Grade I listed building…

Aydon Castle

Aydon Castle is a fortified manor house and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building. The manor house was built by Robert de Reymes, a wealthy Suffolk merchant, starting in 1296, adjacent to the steep valley of the Cor Burn. At this time the house consisted of a two-storeyed home with a solar, dining hall and kitchen on the upper floor. In 1305 he obtained a licence to crenellate his property and added battlements and curtain walls. In the middle of the 16th century it was renovated and in the middle of 17th century it was converted into a farm. The building remained in use as a farm until 1966 but has since been restored to its mediæval appearance…

Belsay Hall

Belsay Hall is a 19th century country mansion and a Grade I listed building. The house was built between 1810 and 1817 for Sir Charles Monck (then of Belsay Castle close by).Sir Charles himself was the designer of the building .It is a notable and early classical building. The house measures 100 feet (30 m) square with a lower kitchen wing attached to the north side. It is in two storeys…