Archive for the ‘Historic’ Category

Local Heritage List

November 3, 2021

Shotley Bridge is one of eight pilot areas in County Durham where the County Council is seeking nominations to add to a new Local Heritage List.

This is a new national project known as the Local Heritage Listing project, a partnership project supported by Government and Historic England. The main purpose of the project is to begin to compile a list of County Durham’s heritage assets which are not currently protected either through legal or planning processes. These could be buildings, structures, items of street furniture, landscapes, open spaces or street signs, for example.

The Village Trust has been asked to promote the project and will itself be nominating potential sites.
If you wish to be involved and have suggestions of what to include on the Local List you can nominate them on the project website. The website gives a thorough overview of the project as well as the nomination form and associated guidance. 

You need to either use a grid reference or ‘what3words‘ to precisely identify the location of a site. Just click on the map and note the 3 words in the top left corner. Or you could use the app on your phone.

Deadline for submissions is 5.00pm on Sunday 21 November 2021.

Deadline now extended until 17th December 2021.

Nominations that meet the established criteria will go to a panel made up of representatives from each pilot area, which will have an independent chair. Once the panel have made their decision, nominations that have made it to the Local Heritage List will be put on the Keys to the Past website.

AGM & Open Meeting

October 11, 2021

The AGM of the Trust is to be held on Thursday 14th October at 7.00pm, followed by an Open Meeting at 7.30pm.

As our usual venue is not yet available, we are holding the meetings at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall

Members, guests and residents are all welcome.

Stained Glass Windows

October 10, 2020

St Cuthbert’s Church on Church Bank is well known architecturally as a John Dobson masterpiece. But few know about its wonderful stained glass windows, that were a gift of donors to remember those who have worshipped at the church or lived and/or worked in the parish.

Paul Heatherington has recently published an illustrated guide about the windows. The booklet offers helpful explanations of the scriptural background and religious meaning of the various windows. It also provides information about some of the people in whose memory the windows were produced. If you wish to purchase a copy email him at  paul@heatherington.me 

Copies are also on sale for £5 at Cafe Shrub, in the Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre at Winlaton Mill.

Shotley Bridge sword makers novel

September 20, 2020

Helen Steadman’s third historical novel “The Running Wolf”, about the Shotley Bridge sword makers, is being  published on 10 November, this year.

Although her book is a work of fiction, it is based on many years of research.

Her research findings, including a review of the existing literature and a comprehensive list of books, articles and archive documents read, are on her website.

 

Thread of Iron book launch

September 11, 2020
Douglas Vernon, who was a founder member of the Village Trust and its first chairman, published ‘Thread of Iron’ in 2003.
For anybody interested in the industrial history of the Derwent Valley this book is a must. Written in two parts; the first focuses on the history of Shotley Bridge where the famous Sword makers were based. The second part details the history of the Consett Iron Company, from formation until closure in 1980.
The book, which has been out of print for many years, has now been reprinted by the Land of Oak & Iron Trust. To mark the occasion a virtual launch event is being held tomorrow afternoon, via YouTube. Log-in now for a seat at the Premiere.
Find out more about the launch event and where to purchase the book at the Land of Oak & Iron Trust.
This event has been arranged in association with the History of Consett Steelworks Project group who are staging a week long series of activities to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the closure of the works.