Middleton-in-Teesdale off the at-risk list; rail heritage restored at Etherley

HERITAGE experts have praised the turnaround of Middleton-in-Teesdale after last year saying the village was in danger of losing its historic charm.
The loss of traditional doors and windows, along with shopfront alterations and signs and advertisements, were seen as an issue when Historic England released its annual at-risk register last year. But the village’s conservation area has now been taken off the annual register, which provides a snapshot of the health of England’s historic environment.
Historic England said: “In the Middleton-in-Teesdale conservation area, historic building repair schemes are underway and, with several local traders behind good shopfronts, the place feels busy.”
Heritage experts also say good progress has been made to save part of Stockton & Darlington Railway at Brusselton Incline, near Etherley.
It provided the only connection at West Auckland with the Haggerleazes Branch, which ran westwards up the valley of the River Gaunless to Cockfield.
“The rescue of this section of the railway remains a long-term project but good progress has been made this year,” said Kate Wilson, Heritage at Risk principal for Historic England in the North East.
“Opened in 1825, the Stockton and Darlington Railway combined locomotive-haulage of coal with the carriage of passengers by horse-drawn vehicle. Embankments, cuttings, bridge abutments and the splendid masonry arch over the River Skerne at Darlington are among the fragmentary remains today, parts of which are protected as a scheduled monument.”
Members of the Brusselton Incline Group have been working to manage and repair the site for several years. The volunteers have now cleared the scheduled monument of vegetation and are working with Durham County Council to repair the grade-II listed stone bridge abutment.
Ms Wilson said: “Much remains to be done as vandalism and neglect continue to take their toll on this important piece of our industrial heritage. A recent assessment of the entire length of the surviving railway line by the local authorities in Durham, Stockton and Darlington will help inform the future protection of this landmark site. 2025 will see the bicentenary of the railway, giving Historic England and partners a target date by which to resolve the issues affecting the monument.”
There were changes to the status of other dale sites listed in last year’s at-risk register.
Barnard Castle was put on the list in 2014 following protests about the collapse of the outer wall in Bridgegate in 2009. Health and safety works have been carried out. The castle has been classed as “generally satisfactory but with significant localised problems” with English Heritage saying it is “declining” and needs management.
Talks had progressed well with the volunteer-run Castle Walls Trust and the 16th Lord Barnard until his death in April. The repairs will be eligible for Historic England funding, the organisation has
said.
The enclosures and industrial workings on Cockfield Fell are also still “at risk’, due to scrub and tree growth.
A large amount of the dale’s ancient archaeology is still in danger with a number of rock art sites on Barningham Moor, Cotherstone and Lartington on the list.
The art, which takes the form of concentric circles, interlocking rings and hollowed cups engraved in rocks, appears at a number of places on the moor. Plant growth threatens several sites.
Nationally, 3.8 per cent of grade I and II* listed buildings – excluding places of worship – are on the register. In the North East the percentage is 6.2 per cent.
l Village concern over state of landmark, P31