Tunstall

The North Pennines: Landscape and Legend

Weardale

Here we follow in the steps of Morley Egglestone, who from humble roots became a major figure in Weardale society in the late 19thC and early 20thC, publishing a series of interesting books including 'Picturesque Weardale' in 1916 (updated by Peter Bowes and republished in 1996).

The lower section of the dale contains the large settlements of Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope, individualistic and interesting places each with their own distinctive historic buildings and intrinsic charm. To the north of Wolsingham, the valley of the Waskerley Burn leads to the favoured site of Tunstall Reservoir set amidst fine woodlands. By contrast, to the south are the sylvan delights of Hamsterley Forest.

St Johns Chapel

Weardale has a long and remarkable industrial heritage. Frosterley 'marble' was excavated from quarries which were later used for large-scale limestone production. Ironstone, lead, fluorspar, ganister and freestone were also processed at different stages in the history of the dale. The relics of this bygone industry, often now being slowly reclaimed by nature, add a fascinating extra dimension to the local scenery. In particular, the remarkable Stanhope and Tyne railway with the branch-line extensions to Rookhope and Westgate remain as an incredible achievement. This facet of Weardale is particularly well-displayed in the narrow Rookhope valley, which once had one of the richest mines in the country at Boltshope, and is also well-known for a skirmish with the Border Reivers captured in the verses of the 'Rookhope Ryde'.

The many side-valleys running down to the Wear each have their own attractions and a plethora of fine waterfalls. Beyond the Bishop of Durham's old hunting park between Eastgate and Westgate, the main dale leads past St. John's Chapel, Wearhead and Cowshill. Lead mining was particularly prevalent in these areas in the 18th and 19thC, with the Mine Centre and living museum at Killhope proving an excellent reconstruction of social and working conditions at the time. The Methodist religion, stimulated by the visits of John Wesley, has also had a strong influence on the dale, as the many fine chapels show today (together with the Weardale Museum at Ireshopeburn).