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September 06, 2006 |
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The land of the Prince Bishop's |
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A Tour of Durham & Lower Weardale |
Durham with it's Cathedral standing proud above the wear as it winds
around like a serpent, is to grand to be dealt with in passing and has it's
own page within the web.
It is an ideal location from which to visit Weardale with Newcastle,
Sunderland and Teesside all within 20 minutes drive and being on the main
Express
Rail Line from London to Edinburgh via York and Newcastle.
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Leaving Durham City in a southerly direction we pass through Spennymoor
turning right for Bishop Auckland which has been the seat of the Bishop's of
Durham since the 14th Century.
The entrance to 800 acre Bishop's Park is through the 15th Century
gatehouse with clock tower above leads out of the towns market place,
the castle was originally a Manor House in the 12th Century and extended
by many Bishops resident there of the years.
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Escomb a tiny village on the river Wear only a couple of miles west of
Bishop Auckland, has at it's centre the oldest Saxon church in Britain.
Built in the 7th Century from stone from the ruins of a nearby Roman
Fort and restored by the Victorians during the 19th Century. Further up
river at Witton le Wear, Witton Castle is open to the public.
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At Woolsingham we are located on the northern edge of
Hamsterley Forest, through which is a circular tour through Bedburn, Woodland,
Eggleston with many picnic areas and woodland walks en-route back to the Wear at
Frosterley.
Back at Woolsingham if we took the Forestry Tour we turn
north to Lanchester, which was on the main Roman Road north from York to
Hadrian's Wall at Corbridge on the Tyne.
Once again the ruins of the fort which fell into disrepair
when the Romans retreated in the 5th Century was used to build the Norman
Church, in the porch is a Roman Alter stone and some of the stained glass
remains from the 13th Century.
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Five miles north via Stanley is Beamish and it's World Heritage Museum
which requires a full day to enjoy, the rebuilt communities and
transportation systems give the visitor a feel for the differing lifestyles of
people in the early 20th Century.
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Continuing on in an easterly direction we passing through
Chester-Le-Street and across the A1 Highway, which heads north from London up
the east side of Britain to Edinburgh in Scotland. Near Lambton Castle we turn
south towards Durham past Lumley Hall to Finchale Priory.
Finchale Priory, pronounced 'finkle' stands in a secluded
spot by the river Wear where a small chapel was built by St Godric in 1115, who
after a notorious life at sea settled to a hermits existence. He died at the age
of 105 after 55 years at Finchale, during which he only left on three occasions.
In the 14th Century the Priory was a residence for monks from Durham
Cathedral until it fell into disrepair after the Dissolution of the
Monasteries. Our tour of Lower Weardale ends a few miles further south back
at Durham City.
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