Museums, archives and heritage in County Durham

Durham – county palatine and maritime county, in N. of England; is bounded N. by the Derwent and the Tyne, beyond which is Northumberland; E. by the North Sea; S. by the Tees, beyond which is Yorkshire; and W. by Cumberland and Westmorland; greatest length, 48 miles; greatest breadth, 40 miles; length of coast line, 32 miles; area, 647,592 acres; population 867,258. The western portion of the co. consists of hill-ranges, enclosing fertile valleys; the eastern portion, in which the prevailing rocks are magnesian limestone and new red sandstone, is more level; in the central districts are the coal measures. In the valleys, and in the neighbourhood of the rivers, especially the Tees, the soil is very fertile. The chief corn crops are wheat and oats; the chief green crops are potatoes and turnips. A hardy breed of horses is raised on the moors in the west, and in the fertile pastures of the valleys a breed of cattle which is unsurpassed for dairy purposes. The principal mineral products are lead, iron, millstone, and coal. The coalfields are the most important in the kingdom. The principal manufactures. are chemicals, glass, and earthenware; shipbuilding and sail-making; paper-making; woollen and worsted stuffs, &c. There are also large ironworks and machine factories. Durham has great facilities of transport. The county comprises 4 wards, 269 parishes, the parliamentary and municipal boroughs of Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, South Shields (1 member each), and Sunderland (2 members), the greater part of the parliamentary and municipal borough of Stockton (1 member), and the municipal borough of Jarrow. It is entirely in the diocese of Durham.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Note: see Tyne & Wear for Gateshead, South Shields and Sunderland.

Anker’s House Museum

St Mary and St Cuthbert’s Church

Chester-le-Street DH3 3QB

0191 388 3295

goo.gl/JlK6Sk

The Anker’s House adjoining the Parish Church was the residence of an Anker/Anchorite – a religious recluse from the 14th to the 16th century and was probably established sometime around 1350 – 1380. Up until 1547 it was the residence of six anchorites who in turn were walled up in the house for life to spend their time in prayer and contemplation.

Auckland Castle

Auckland Castle, Market Place

Bishop Auckland DL14 7NR

01388 743750

www.aucklandcastle.org

Set within 200 acres of beautiful parkland above the River Wear, Auckland Castle has been home to the Bishop of Durham for over 900 years. After the Norman Conquest, the Bishop of Durham was granted exceptional powers to act as a political and military leader. As England’s one and only Prince-Bishop, he was the second most powerful man in the country and effectively ruled the area between the Tyne and the Tees.

Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society

110 Fewston Close

Newton Aycliffe DL5 7HF

www.aycliffebus.org.uk

The North East of England has a rich and varied industrial heritage. Public transport is part of that heritage and has affected everyday life in this northern region. The preservation of selected local vintage buses is an opportunity to bring the public at large the transport of yesteryear – an opportunity to ride, to touch, smell and to see that which has now left the modern day scene.

Barnard Castle – English Heritage

Barnard Castle DL12 8PR

01833 638212

goo.gl/lhTDmy

Set on a rock high above the River Tees, imposing Barnard Castle was the stronghold of the Balliol family. Taking its name from Bernard de Balliol, who rebuilt it in the 12th century, it includes a fine great hall and a dominating round-towered keep.

Beamish – The Living Museum of the North

Beamish Museum

Beamish DH9 0RG

0191 370 4000

www.beamish.org.uk

Experience a real sense of your past at Beamish, and discover what life was like in North East England in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian times. Beamish is a living, working museum, set in 300 acres of County Durham countryside. Founded in 1970 to illustrate the development of industry, agriculture and the way of life in the North East of England, Beamish is situated in 300 acres of woodland and farmland. Home Farm, a fine 19th century model farmstead, and Pockerley Old Hall, with its medieval stronghouse dating to the 1400s, are both listed buildings preserved in situ.

Binchester Roman Fort

Bishop Auckland DL14 8DJ

01388 663089

www.durham.gov.uk/binchester

Binchester Fort was built during the 1st century AD to protect the point where Dere Street (an important road that ran from York to Scotland) crossed the River Wear. There were as many as 1,000 soldiers here at a time.

Bowes Museum, The

Barnard Castle

Durham DL12 8NP

01833 690606

www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Founded over 100 years ago, by John and Joséphine Bowes, the magnificent building contains the greatest collection of European fine and decorative arts in the North of England.

Collections: This collection contains paintings, ceramics, items of woodwork and objects d’art.

Cleveland Family History Society

4 North Park North, Sedgefield

Stockton-on-Tees TS21 3AH

01740 623 175

www.clevelandfhs.org.uk

The society is more formally known as The Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society. The long title more accurately describes the area of coverage of the society, which is rather larger than that of the county of its title.

Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum

Deepdale

Skinningrove TS13 4AP

01287 642877

www.ironstonemuseum.co.uk

The museum offers visitors an opportunity to discover the skills and customs that built Cleveland’s ironstone heritage. It is the only museum in the UK which tells the story of ironstone mining; a key part of the local history of the social and industrial development of Cleveland and Teesside.

Durham Cathedral

The College

Durham DH1 3EH

0191 386 4266

www.durhamcathedral.co.uk

A UNESCO World Heritage Site with breathtaking Romanesque architecture, exquisite stained glass, the Shrine of St Cuthbert and the resting place of St Bede. Things to do include climbing the Cathedral Tower, exploring the monks’ dormitory, guided tours and special exhibitions.

Durham County Record Office

County Hall

Durham DH1 5UL

03000 267619

www.durhamrecordoffice.org.uk

Durham County Record Office is responsible for collecting and preserving documents relating to County Durham and Darlington and for making those records available to as wide an audience as possible. You can visit the record office in person, or make use of our enquiry service.

Durham Heritage Centre & Museum

St Mary-le-Bow, North Bailey

Durham DH1 3ET

0191 384 5589

www.durhamheritagecentre.org.uk

Durham Heritage Centre and Museum tells the story of the City of Durham from medieval times to the present day. The museum is situated in the redundant Church of St Mary-le-Bow, close to the World Heritage Site of the Cathedral and Castle.

Durham Light Infantry Museum & Durham Art Gallery

Aykley Heads

Durham DH1 5TU

03000 266590

www.dlidurham.org.uk

The museum tells the proud story of County Durham’s own Regiment The Durham Light Infantry from 1758 to 1968, with particular emphasis on WW1 & WW2. The displays focus on the experience of war, using letter & diary extracts, plus the actual voices of DLI WW2 soldiers.

Finchale Priory

Brasside DH1 5SH

0191 – 386 3828

www.english-heritage.org.uk

The very extensive remains of a 13th century priory, founded on the site of a retired pirate’s hermitage. Part of it later served as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham Cathedral. Beautifully sited by the River Wear with delightful riverside walks nearby.

Hartlepool Arts & Museum Service

Sir William Gray House, Clarence Road

Hartlepool TS24 8BT

01429 523438

www.teesmuseums.com/hartlepool.htm

Hartlepool Arts and Museums Service began in 1920 with the opening of the Gray Art Gallery & Museum, the building and the original collection of paintings given by Captain W. Gray, as a thank-offering for the safe return of his son from the 1914-18 War. Since then the collections have been built upon areas of social and maritime history, Asian art, natural history and decorative arts.

Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum

North Road Station

Darlington DL3 6ST

01325 460 532

www.head-of-steam.co.uk

Head of Steam – Darlington Railway Museum was first opened in 1975 and is housed within North Road Station, built in 1842 for the Stockton & Darlington Railway. The Stockton & Darlington Railway was the first steam hauled public railway and was opened on September 27th 1825.

Heugh Battery Museum

Moor Terrace, The Headland

Hartlepool TS24 0PS

01429 272 814

www.heughbattery.com

The Heugh Gun Battery is situated on the Headland in Hartlepool. This area of the North East coast is rich in history and the museum aims to educate its visitors on part of that history.

HMS Trincomalee Trust

Jackson Dock

Hartlepool TS24 0SQ

01429 223193

www.hms-trincomalee.co.uk

For the preservation of the 1817 frigate HMS Trincomalee (formerly Foudroyant). The site is now marketed as Hartlepool Historic Quay.

Killhope – The North of England Lead Mining Museum

Near Cowshill, Upper Weardale

Co Durham DL13 1AR

01388 537505

www.killhope.org.uk

Killhope, The North of England Lead Mining Museum, is a multi award winning museum. Killhope is the only lead mine in the North-east open to the public.

M Bowman Vintage Commercial Vehicle Museum

Unit 2, Dabble Duck Industrial Estate

Shildon DL4 2RA

01388 778582

www.vintagecommercials.co.uk

The museum houses a range of vehicles that have been lovingly restored. Many of which, have been in the Bowman family for generations as true workhorses of industry. The aim of the museum is to allow people to see the progression of a family business over the years from horse and cart through to modern diesel engine lorries which, were to be seen as an everyday part of local life throughout the North East of England.

Museum of Hartlepool, The

Jackson’s Docks, Maritime Avenue

Hartlepool TS24 0XZ

01429 860077

www.destinationhartlepool.com

This award-winning museum is the finest free show in town. You’ll enjoy the hundreds of exhibits which include the restored paddle steam ship Wingfield Castle; a real ‘fishing coble’ to climb aboard; the finest ‘gas illuminated lighthouse’; sea monsters and monkey fish.

North East War Memorials Project

14 Park Road North

Chester-le-Street DH3 3SD

www.newmp.org.uk

NEWMP records all known War Memorials from the Tweed to the Tees ie Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham and makes them accessible to the public via our website.

Old Fulling Mill Museum of Archaeology

The Banks

Durham DH1 3EB

0191 334 1823

www.dur.ac.uk/archaeology.museum

Highlights include outstanding Roman collections together with Anglo-Saxon, Medieval and Tudor finds from Durham City and the local area.

Oriental Museum

Durham University, Elvet Hill

Durham DH1 3TH

0191 334 5694

www.durham.ac.uk/oriental.museum

The Oriental Museum is the only museum in the North of Britain devoted solely to the art and archaeology of the Orient. The remarkable collections reveal the great cultures of Asia; the Near and Middle East; and North Africa.

Palace Green Library

Durham University Library, Palace Green

Durham DH1 3RN

0191 334 2932

www.dur.ac.uk/library

Founded in 1833 and occupying listed buildings within the Durham World Heritage site, the Palace Green Library of Durham University houses archives, early printed books and other special collections. The Library has two exhibition spaces: the Wolfson Gallery, which regularly exhibits treasures from all of the university’s heritage collections and the Dunelm Gallery.

Preston Park Museum & Grounds

Preston Hall, Yarm Road

Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3RH

01642 527375

www.prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/

Nestled alongside the River Tees, Preston Hall, a former Georgian gentleman’s residence and former home of industrial magnate Robert Ropner, houses a varied collection of Teesside’s treasures. Walk through the impressive doors to find out more about those who lived there, the varied museum collection, the vital role the mighty River Tees has played throughout history and the leisure time pursuits that were just as popular then as they are today.

Tees Cottage Pumping Station

Coniscliffe Road

Darlington DL3 8TF

www.teescottage.com

From 1849, Tees Cottage Pumping Station revolutionized water supply in Darlington and Teeside by supplying cleaner, piped water to inhabitants who had previously relied on wells and rainwater tubs. On Open Days you can experience the 1902 Lancashire Boilers, 1904 steam Beam Engine and 1914 Gas engine, all operated and explained by a group of dedicated volunteers. We also have a working Blacksmith’s Shop and a Miniature Railway- a favourite with children.

Teesdale Heritage Group

9-11 Chapel Row, Middleton-in-Teesdale

Barnard Castle DL12 0SN

www.durhamintime.org.uk/teesdale

Local Heritage group; we collect images and information on the local area, holding exhibitions/events and research.

Weardale Museum at High House Chapel

Ireshopeburn

Weardale DL13 1HD

01388 517 433

www.weardalemuseum.co.uk

This Small Folk Museum was formed in 1985 by a group of volunteers in their third age. It is housed in the former Manse to High House Chapel, which is now the oldest Methodist Chapel in the World which has been in continuous weekly use since its foundation in 1760.

Collections: A 19th century period kitchen depicting life for leadminer/farming families; the Wesley Room which houses Methodist artefacts from the Wesleyan and Primitive traditions from 1760 and the 13 visits of John Wesley to High House Chapel; the 1788 Westgate Subscription Library; a superb collection of crystalized minerals and fossils; the complete census for Stanhope Parish 1841-1901 and other genealogical resources.

Wheatley Hill Heritage Centre

Cemetery Road, (in the old chapel of rest)

Wheatley Hill DH6 3JZ

820 01429 824402

www.wheatley-hill.org.uk

The Heritage Centre in Wheatley Hill is a great place to visit to obtain a flavour of the village and its life and times.

Collections: Mostly related to the industrial background of the village but also acknowledging the earlier agricultural traditions which still exist.