County Durham
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about County Durham from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of County Durham's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Harperley Working Camp, World War II prisoner of war camp…
Wolsingham
Harperley Camp retains 85% of its original World War II structures, highlighting its significance as a historical PoW working camp for both Italian and German detainees.
Croxdale Hall
Croxdale and Hett
Croxdale Hall, the historic 15th-century seat of the Salvin family, is surrounded by gardens and lakes designed by Lewis Kennedy, with significant horticultural developments into the late...
The Castle, Castle Eden
Castle Eden
Castle Eden features a historic pleasure ground from the 18th century with picturesque landscapes, ornamental plantings, and famed beauty spots like Castle Eden Dene and Devil's Bridge.
Coldberry lead mine and associated hushes
Middleton in Teesdale
The Coldberry lead mine and hushes are significant due to well-preserved 19th-century mining features like the Coldberry Gutter hush and water balance incline.
Raby Castle
Raby with Keverstone
Raby Castle, an extensive estate in County Durham, showcases a rich history with ties to the Neville family and a remarkable landscape shaped by notable architects.
Auckland Castle Park
Bishop Auckland
Auckland Castle Park, dating back to the 12th century, is historically linked to the Bishops of Durham. It features a medieval castle, gardens, and parkland.
The former Stockton and Darlington Railway's Heighington …
Great Aycliffe
Built as a public house 1826-1827 to oversee a Stockton & Darlington Railway coal depot, effectively built as a proto-railway station before the concept of the railway station had been fully...
Durham Castle and Cathedral
City of Durham
Durham Cathedral was built between the late 11th and early 12th century to house the bodies of St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.
Rey Cross Roman temporary camp and signal station, and pr…
Bowes
Roman temporary camps were used for brief military engagements, featuring earthen ramparts and ditches. Roman signal stations communicated across vast distances.
Lumley Castle
Little Lumley
Lumley Castle's landscape, influenced by major designers like Sir John Vanbrugh and Charles Bridgeman, features pleasure grounds and a historically significant park from the 18th century.
Stockton & Darlington Railway: Etherley Inclines, summit …
Etherley
Standing, earthwork and buried remains forming the summit and upper 0.6-0.7km lengths of the northern and southern Etherley Inclines forming part of George Stephenson's 1825 main line for...
Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
The Bowes Museum, designed by Jules Pellechet, showcases a French chateau style and was created to display a sizable art collection amassed by John Bowes and his wife Josephine.
Ice House in Auckland Castle Park
County Durham
Ice house, late C18 with a renewed C19 entrance tunnel.
Statue of Third Marquess of Londonderry
City of Durham
Statue of the Third Marquess of Londonderry, 1858, to the designs of Raffaelle Monti.
Trimdon Grange Colliery Disaster Memorial
Trimdon
Colliery Disaster Memorial, 1882, by G Ryder & Sons.
Easington Colliery Disaster Memorial (including memorial …
Easington Colliery
Easington Colliery Disaster Memorial of 1953-4.
Framwellgate Bridge
City of Durham
Framwellgate Bridge is a 15th-century structure, widened in the 19th century, with historical importance as an ancient monument, featuring elliptical arches and renewed parapets.
Main Buildings at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, Quadrangl…
Esh
College buildings, 1808 and later by A. W. N. Pugin, E. W. Pugin, J. Hansom, P. P. Pugin and others.
Legs Cross
Bolam
Legs Cross is a nationally important high cross, showcasing early medieval craftsmanship and serving as a boundary marker, incorporating a Roman milestone site.
Church of St James
Hamsterley
The Church of St. James, primarily 13th-century with some 19th-century alterations, features intriguing medieval elements and significant historical restorations.
80 Newgate Street
Bishop Auckland
Co-operative stores of 1873 with later-C19 extensions and C20 alterations. It comprises four main phases dated left to right 1892, 1892-1894, 1873 and 1882-1883.
Roman Catholic Church of St Peter and St Paul
Hutton Henry
Roman Catholic Church, 1895 to designs of John Kelly of Leeds. Italianate style. The attached parish hall is excluded from the listing.
Former Junior Seminary at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
Esh
Former Junior house of Roman Catholic seminary. 1857-9 by Edward Welby Pugin.
Deserted medieval village and field system at Garmondsway
Kelloe
The deserted medieval village of Garmondsway is notable for its well-preserved archaeological deposits, offering insights into medieval settlement patterns and agricultural practices in...
Complex of Chapels at the College of St Cuthbert, Ushaw
Esh
Complex incorporating chapels, cloister, sacristy and ancillary spacesVarying dates between 1852 and 1928 (although incorporating elements of 1844-7 chapel) designed by Augustus Welby...
Hardwick Park
Sedgefield
Hardwick Park, established by John Burdon in the mid-18th century, features design work by James Paine, with historic ruins and scenic landscapes near Sedgefield.
Apollo Pavilion
Peterlee
The Apollo Pavilion, Oakerside Drive, Peterlee, is both a sculpture and a bridge, designed by Victor Pasmore and completed in 1969, standing at the eastern end of a small lake, and is the...
Lady's Rake lead mine
Forest and Frith
Lady's Rake lead mine, operated by the London Lead Company, features rare water-powered pumping and winding remains, significant for understanding industrial technological advances.
Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear
Bishop Auckland
Railway Viaduct, 1854-1857 for the North Eastern Railway (NER) Bishop Auckland Branch line.
Seaham War Memorial
Seaham
First World War memorial designed by Mr TA Lawson, unveiled 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.
Church of St Osmund and linking range to presbytery
Gainford
Roman Catholic Church and linking range to presbytery, 1853-5 to the designs of Thomas Gibson of Newcastle; reordered 1981 and refurbished 1990. Early English style.
Former Gregory Butchers Shop
Bishop Auckland
Former beef and pork butchers shop, 103-105 Newgate Street built for William Gregory in the mid-C19, and refronted and refurbished in about 1909.
Soho House
Shildon
House, early C19, built for Timothy Hackworth, the pioneering engineer of early steam locomotives who played a significant role in the early success and international influence of the...
St Lawrence's Chapel, manorial settlement remains and dov…
Barforth
St Lawrence's Chapel and its manorial settlement reflect medieval rural settlement diversity.
Brancepeth Castle
Brancepeth
Brancepeth Castle has origins dating back to the 12th century, with ownership shifting through prominent families, including the Nevilles and Russells, eventually becoming part of a divided...
County Durham through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how County Durham changes over time.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of County Durham
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Langley Park
Ushaw College, Langley Park, 1926
Langley Park
Ushaw College, Langley Park, 1926
Barnard Castle
Galgate and Horse Market, Barnard Castle, 1927
Barnard Castle
The castle ruins and environs, Barnard Castle, 1947
Durham
The Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin and the castle, Durham, 1926
Durham
Durham Cathedral and the Peninsula, Durham, 1948
Egglestone Abbey
The abbey ruins, Abbey Farm and environs, Egglestone Abbey, 1947
Egglestone Abbey
The abbey ruins, Egglestone Abbey, 1947
Crook
The Durham Timber Co Sawmill and the South End Villas, Crook, 1939
Crook
Marshall Richards Machine Company Works and environs, Crook, 1948
County Durham in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of County Durham's past.
Charles George Harper Collection
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1800 - 1900
Watercolour painting of Neville's Cross
Eric de Mare
County Durham
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Exterior view of Bladgrave's House in Barnard Castle from the street.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1965 - 1979
A view from the footbridge looking across the lake towards Van Mildert College, Durham with one of the Tyne and Tees student accommodation blocks...
John Gay Collection: Counties
County Durham
Date created: Late 1940s - Early 1950s
View over a dry stone wall towards a partly rendered, rubble stone cottage with a slate roof and attached single storey building with a pantile roof,...
John Laing Collection
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 01 Aug 1972
A view along a corridor off an entrance to the life science block at Durham University
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Auckland Castle Park, County Durham
Date created: 1904 - 1908
A footbridge, known as the Green Bridge, over the River Gaunless at Auckland Castle Park
Walter Scott
County Durham
Date created: 1946
Looking through the nave of Durham Cathedral, showing the tall 17th century wooden font cover
Eric de Mare
County Durham
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of Barnard Castle bridge which was erected in 1596.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1965 - 1979
A view from the footbridge looking across the lake towards Van Mildert College, Durham with one of the Tyne and Tees student accommodation blocks...
John Gay Collection: Counties
County Durham
Date created: Late 1940s - Early 1950s
A partly rendered, rubble stone cottage with a slate roof and attached single storey building with a pantile roof, probably in, or near, Barnard...
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about County Durham.
Transforming a Historic Market Town
Mentions Auckland Castle, South Portal of Shildon Railway Tunnel, Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear
The impact of the railways at Bishop Auckland.
Historic England Acquires World-Class Collection Featuring Earliest and Finest Photographs of England
Mentions County Durham
An important collection of some of the finest earliest landscape photography of England has been added to the Historic England Archive.
The 12 Pubs of Christmas
Mentions Shepherd and Sheperdess Public House and Holly House, Beamish Hall
Explore the hidden histories of listed pubs with a festive theme.
The History of the Pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway
Mentions Daniel Adamsons Coach House, Locomotive coaling drops, The former Stockton and Darlington Railway's Heighington and Aycliffe Railway Station and attached workers' housing
The Stockton and Darlington Railway became the world’s first modern public railway when it opened in 1825.
The Story of 1066: Why William the Conqueror Invaded England
Mentions Durham Castle and Cathedral
William I, also known as William the Conqueror, was the first Norman king of England, who reigned from 1066 to 1087 following the Battle of Hastings.
The History of Religious Wall Paintings in England: From the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era
Mentions Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin
Explore England's religious wall paintings, a blend of art and spirituality spanning the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
A Brief Introduction to the History of the Railway in England
Mentions Causey Arch, The former Stockton and Darlington Railway's Heighington and Aycliffe Railway Station and attached workers' housing
Discover when the first steam train was invented in England, and when the world's first public railway opened in Stockton and Darlington in 1825.
The Legend of King Arthur
Mentions Binchester Roman fort (Vinovia)
King Arthur was central to the legendary tales of medieval romance. Discover the places connected to Camelot, Tintagel, and the Battle of Badon Hill.
8 of England’s Most Beautiful Cathedrals to Visit
Mentions Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin
From Norman to Modernist, there are many different architectural styles on show in England’s cathedrals.
A Guide to Norman Architecture in England
Mentions Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin
Norman architecture is a style of medieval architecture built in England following the Norman conquest in 1066.
Rock Stars: 8 Women Who Broke New Ground in Geology
Mentions 21, Galgate
Women have always had inquiring minds, but have often had to fight harder than their male contemporaries for equal opportunities.
The Modernist Buildings of Engineer Ove Arup
Mentions Kingsgate Bridge
Ove Arup is considered to be one of the most important structural engineers of the 20th-century. Here’s our guide to his most significant work.
County Durham’s Historic Past in 10 Sites
Mentions Binchester Roman fort (Vinovia), The Saxon Church, Durham Castle and Cathedral
County Durham, situated on the north-east coast, is bursting with stories from its historic past.
6 Sites That Survive From the Age of the Steam Train
Mentions Stockton & Darlington Railway: Belts Gill embankment, lower part of the northern Etherley Incline
In homage to an iconic era of train-travel, we take a look at some of the most important listed sites associated with steam locomotives in England.
Mentions County Durham
For the past 40 years, the owners of Brancepeth Castle in County Durham have been tackling repairs to address previous neglect.
Restoring Brancepeth Castle
For the past 40 years, the owners of Brancepeth Castle in County Durham have been tackling repairs to address previous neglect.
Roundup of our Railway Related Reports, Publications and Guidance
Mentions County Durham
Read our back catalogue of reports, books and other publications as well as guidance on railway heritage and history.
Transforming a Historic Market Town
Mentions Auckland Castle, South Portal of Shildon Railway Tunnel, Newton Cap Railway Viaduct over River Wear
The impact of the railways at Bishop Auckland.
The Bridges of the Bishop Auckland & Weardale Railway
Mentions Road Bridge over railway, Number 12 bridge railway accommodation bridge at NZ 191 297
Exploring the engineering confidence and experimentation in form and style demonstrated by the Bishop Auckland & Weardale Railway's bridges
Early Bridges of the Stockton & Darlington Railway
Mentions Stockton & Darlington Railway: route alongside the River Gaunless, Brusselton Accommodation Bridge, Aycliffe Wood occupation bridge
Researching early solutions for bridge construction on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
The Stockton & Darlington Railway’s Coal Drops at Shildon
Mentions Locomotive coaling drops
Investigation of what is believed to be the world’s earliest mechanised locomotive-coaling plant.
An Aerial Perspective of the Stockton and Darlington Railway
Mentions Stockton & Darlington Railway: Brusselton Inclines, Stockton & Darlington Railway: Belts Gill embankment, lower part of the northern Etherley Incline, Stockton & Darlington Railway: Etherley Inclines, summit and upper sections
Aerial photographs and airborne laser scanning have been used to document the heritage of a pioneering railway.
Historic England Reveals 17 Historic Sites Across England With Significant Development Potential
Mentions County Durham
Underused historic buildings across England could be given new life through a major investment initiative launched by Historic England.
England's Suburbs 1820-2020
Mentions County Durham
Historic England’s major national research project on the heritage of suburbs reaches its conclusion.
Historic England Acquires World-Class Collection Featuring Earliest and Finest Photographs of England
Mentions County Durham
An important collection of some of the finest earliest landscape photography of England has been added to the Historic England Archive.
Victorian Commercial Buildings in the Middlesbrough High Street Heritage Action Zone
Mentions County Durham
Researching an imposing Victorian commercial and civic legacy.
Research Reports Roundup to February 2024
Mentions County Durham
A roundup of new additions to the Historic England Research Reports database and a longer term overview of industrial heritage reports.
Historic England Awards £400,000 to Ushaw for Emergency Repair Works
Mentions Former Junior Seminary at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, Former Junior Seminary Chapel of St Aloysius at St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, County Durham
Historic England has given £400,000 for emergency works to safeguard a fire-damaged former Catholic chapel in County Durham from further deterioration
County Durham's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Wolsingham Ironworks, Wolsingham, Durham
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Charles Attwood founded an iron works in Wolsingham and patented a new method of steelmaking.
Wolsingham Ironworks, Wolsingham, Durham
Witton Castle, Evenwood and Barony, Durham
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
Witton Castle probably dates from the late 14th century. The licence to crenellate was granted in 1410.
Witton Castle, Evenwood and Barony, Durham
Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, Durham
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Witham Hall dates from the late 1840s or early 1850s and was designed using classical architecture, in this case of the Ionic order.
Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, Durham
Winding tower, Murton Colliery, Murton, Durham
Period: 1990s (1990 - 1999)
South Hetton Coal Company installed the overhead Koepe Winder in December 1923 for the Murton Colliery.
Winding tower, Murton Colliery, Murton, Durham
Westerton Folly, Bishop Auckland, Durham
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
This observatory tower dates from 1765. It was used at one time as a reading room and by 1924 as council offices.
Westerton Folly, Bishop Auckland, Durham
War Memorial, Tow Law, Durham
Period: World War One (1914 - 1919)
This war memorial was put up around 1919 in Wolsingham Road. It is in the shape of a life size figure of a soldier advancing with his bayonet fixed.
War Memorial, Tow Law, Durham
Walton Memorial, Ferryhill, Durham
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
This memorial to William Walton was put up in the Market Place around 1906 by the officials and workmen of the Dean and Chapter colliery.
Walton Memorial, Ferryhill, Durham
Village School, Barningham, Durham
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Barningham village school was built in 1875. It has a plaque 'ERECTED BY THE FAMILY OF THE LATE LADY AUGUSTA HENRIETTA MILBANKE....
Village School, Barningham, Durham
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary.
Bounds Walls, Ushaw College, Durham
The Bounds Walls, which are Grade II* listed, were designed by Joseph Hansom and built in1852 to enclose the north and northeast arcs of a playing...
Brancepeth Castle, Durham
This 14th-century castle was built by the influential Neville family, with substantial Regency additions.
Castle Curtilage Project, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland
Auckland Castle is one of the best-preserved bishops' palaces in Europe, surrounded by extensive gardens and a 150-acre deer park.
West Mural Tower, Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland
The Grade-I listed West Mural Tower contains the remains of Auckland Castle's West precinct wall, running from north to south.
Discover more
Ready for more local stories? Take a look at these other places nearby
