Pictures of Stanhope

About Stanhope

This is a lovely, bustling little town is set amidst the charm of Weardale, it is almost entirely built of stone particularly around the old Market Square, dominated by a fine stone cross.

The region is largely rural, with the landscape a patchwork of fields interspersed by a smattering of old farmsteads. In the 19th century the town flourished from the explosion of lead-mining, but significantly it never lost its farming roots, however there still remains scattered reminders of the regions mining days.

Of great interest to the visitor is the parish church dedicated to St. Thomas, here, in the churchyard you can see a 250 million year old fossilized tree.

The hills above Stanhope are worthy of a visit, their beauty is renowned and it was here in 1856 a fascinating archaeological find was made at Heathery Burn Cave. Archaeologists uncovered the 3000 year old belongings of the kind that could only have belonged to a wealthy Bronze Age family. These are now on display in the British Museum. Centuries ago, these same hills formed part of a hunting ground roamed by Wild Boar, Wolves and Deer, it was mostly the province of the church, controlled by the Prince Bishop's of Durham.

There are many wonderful places around Stanhope to explore, help with planning your visit is on hand at the Durham Dales Centre based in Stanhope. The purpose built centre, lying at the heart of Durham Dales Garden offers information, has a tea room, and a crafts centre stocked with locally made goods

Stanhope is a superb centre for walkers, paths lead off taking you to remote isolated upland moors which sometimes rise to over 2,000 feet. Often all you will pass are the hardy sheep grazing the land. For the energetic there are cycle paths, and if its just a quiet stroll you want, there is plenty to see along the banks of the River Wear with its interesting river life and lovely picnic spots.

Fishing is available in the area and Stanhope has an excellent outdoor heated swimming pool situated in lovely Castle Park.

Visitors wishing to stay so as to see more of this stunning region will find pleasant hotels, inns and private homes offering friendly bed and breakfast, shops, cafe's and museums recalling the history and heritage of area.