English Heritage sites near Bearpark Parish

Finchale Priory

FINCHALE PRIORY

4 miles from Bearpark Parish

The very extensive remains of a 13th-century priory, founded on the site of a retired pirate's hermitage. Part of it later served as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham Cathedral.

Auckland Castle Deer House

AUCKLAND CASTLE DEER HOUSE

8 miles from Bearpark Parish

A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham. It provided deer with shelter and food, and had grounds for picnics and rooms for enjoying the view.

Derwentcote Steel Furnace

DERWENTCOTE STEEL FURNACE

11 miles from Bearpark Parish

Built in the 1720s, Derwentcote is the earliest and most complete steel-making furnace in Britain. It produced high-grade steel for springs and cutting tools.

Hylton Castle

HYLTON CASTLE

12 miles from Bearpark Parish

The distinctive and highly decorative gatehouse-tower of a castle built by the wealthy Sir William Hylton, shortly before 1400. Originally containing four floors of self-contained family.

Benwell Roman Temple - Hadrian's Wall

BENWELL ROMAN TEMPLE - HADRIAN'S WALL

13 miles from Bearpark Parish

The remains of a small temple to the native god 'Antenociticus', in the 'vicus' (civilian settlement) which stood outside Benwell fort.

Benwell Vallum Crossing

BENWELL VALLUM CROSSING

13 miles from Bearpark Parish

A stone-built causeway, where the road from the south crossed the Vallum earthwork on its way to Benwell fort.


Churches in Bearpark Parish

St Edmund King and Martyr (a beautiful place of prayer at the heart of our village)

Auton Stile Bearpark Durham
07384214576
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13466/

Bearpark is an ex-mining village about 2 ½ miles from Durham City. The name is derived from the Priory of "Beaurepaire" the beautiful retreat or summer home of the priors of Durham, the ruins of some of the buildings can be seen on the banks of the river Browney about ½ mile from the village. The priory was destroyed during the English Civil War.

The village was a small hamlet with a coaching inn on a road from the west into Durham, until a mine was sunk in 1872 by the Bearpark Coal & Coke Company. Houses were then built to house the mine workers who came from other areas of the county and further afield. These houses were mostly built away from the main road and a school and 3 chapels were also built there. The church of Saint Edmund King and Martyr was built of bricks manufactured at Bearpark Colliery, next to the main road and opened in 1879. 

Originally part of the parish of St Oswald, Durham the church is by C. Hodgson Fowler and from1988 it has been Grade II listed.  
Our church organ is by Harrison and Harrison and was originally manufactured and installed in a church in South Shields before coming to us.

 The village War Memorial is situated in church showing the names of those who died and there are also stained glass windows by J.C. Bewsey at the east end of the church, above the altar, in memory of those who died in WW1 and WW2. Near the war memorial is a memorial for those men and boys who lost their lives in accidents at Bearpark colliery.

We hope you'll find St. Edmund's to be a peaceful and friendly place of worship. Our aim is to make people feel welcome so we can grow our congregation in celebration and thanks for God our Father. Whatever the occasion be it regular services, baptisms, weddings, funerals or special services and events (e.g., village carol services, Christingle and crib services, brass band concerts, flower festivals, etc) you'll always be greeted with a friendly smile so come along and be part of us. 

 

 

 


Pubs in Bearpark Parish

Dog & Gun Inn

Auton Stile, Bearpark, DH7 7DB
(0191) 373 0172

Spruced up early 2016. New lease of life