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Wynyard Woodland Park |
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| Welcome | | | Maps & Walks | | | Flora & Fauna | | | History | | | What's On? | | | What To Do? | | | Park Management | | | Parks & Countryside Service | |||||
The Woodland Park has for some years been more familiarly known as the Castle Eden Walkway. The addition of significant areas of land in 2003/4 and refurbishment of the Visitor Centre in 2004, along with other developments including the acquisition of a railway carriage for a novel new classroom, the Virtual Visitor Centre Project and the new sculpture trail, prompted the department to take a fresh new look at the site and to re-brand it as Wynyard Woodland Park.
Officially designated as a Country Park in 1987 and the Borough’s most popular countryside site, the Woodland Park is based around a 3½ mile section of the Castle Eden branch railway lin , running north from the A177 Sedgefield Road to the A689. Part of the site known as Thorpe Wood has also been designated a Local Nature Reserve to reflect its value for visitors and wildlife.
The Woodland Park has for some years been more familiarly known as the Castle Eden Walkway. The addition of significant areas of land in 2003/4 and refurbishment of the Visitor Centre in 2004, along with other developments including the acquisition of a railway carriage for a novel new classroom, the Virtual Visitor Centre Project and the new sculpture trail, prompted the department to take a fresh new look at the site and to re-brand it as Wynyard Woodland Park.
Officially designated as a Country Park in 1987 and the Borough’s most popular countryside site, the Woodland Park is based around a 3½ mile section of the Castle Eden branch railway lin , running north from the A177 Sedgefield Road to the A689. Part of the site known as Thorpe Wood has also been designated a Local Nature Reserve to reflect its value for visitors and wildlife.
IntroductionFrom here you can view maps and find out about walks, way-marked paths, public rights of way, cycle ways, bridle paths and disabled access information for individual areas of the park, the walkway beyond the A689 and for the park as a whole.
Walk maps have features of interest and landmarks indicated that can be pressed to view; this helps to familiarise yourself with a route before making an excursion. In addition to these static images you can see virtual panoramas of certain areas of the site, by pressing the appropriate buttons, and enjoy a virtual tour of the park. You can drag your finger in any direction across these virtual views to look around the location and zoom in and out to any area that takes your interest. Plan your walk before you venture out and use these sections to make sure that you don’t miss anything!
Have you ever wondered what your favourite area of the park looks like from the air? Simply press the aerial view button to see the fascinating detail and perspective that these pictures give you.
Although most areas of the park have flat paths and are reasonably wheelchair friendly some areas, particularly Thorpe Wood, are less so. Disabled access maps show the sort of information that the less able bodied will find helpful, including gradients, locations of steps, seats and gates. Disabled access information for most of Stockton’s countryside sites is contained within our ‘break free’ leaflets (link here to leaflets).
General information on maps and walks in the park are accessible from the links below, for more specific information on an individual area of the park please touch that area on the location map to the left. Contained in each subdivision of the park are audio and visual guides of species specific to that area so that you won’t have to search through anything that isn’t seen or heard in that area to find what you’re looking for.
Please bear in mind that the park is surrounded by private landowners and use this section sensibly to avoid trespassing upon our neighbours land.
The main cycle route on the park is Sustrans Route 1, of which the walkway forms a key constituent part. Most of the other way-marked paths on the site are cycle friendly provided that cyclists give way to walkers and use them in a sensible and considerate manner. The maps and walks section of this system gives details of all cycle ways in the park.
The park is integrated into the Sustrans National Cycle Network and cycling is actively encouraged within the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, which has over 250 miles of recommended cycle routes ideal for commuters, families and schoolchildren alike. A map of cycle routes within Stockton is available from our request a leaflet section, although it is not available electronically and must be posted.
Health Benefits
Places to go - Things to see
Feel the benefit of gentle exercise away from heavy traffic, and enjoy the surprise as you pass through areas of green open space and countryside, even in the heart of urban Stockton.
Whether as a visitor or a resident, you will discover many new and interesting attractions along Stockton's Cycleways:
Cycling to School
Cycling to school has many benefits - chief among them is it improves children's fitness and self-confidence, and kids who ride are proven to be more alert at school. Cycling to school accompanied by a parent can be a great way to travel. It gives the child and parent time together and it can be a time to develop cycling and traffic skills. As children get older their ability to deal with traffic increases. Parents can help plan the route and do a practice ride with the student before his or her first ride to school.
Cycling to Work
According to figures produced by the National Census, around 66% of journeys to work are under five miles. Yet most people still choose to drive this short distance to their workplace when hopping on a bike would be healthier, greener, and take roughly half the time as sitting behind the wheel of a car. Today it has never been easier or safer to cycle either all or most of the way to work. Not only are there more and more cycle paths, but most railway stations and bus termini now have secure and free parking for cycles. A new generation of special commuter bikes have been developed, combining both comfort and speed. Not only that, there are now bikes which can fold down to the size of a small briefcase, enabling you to take it on the train with you.
Good Cycling Code
Stay safe, be courteous and enjoy your cycling!
On Roads:
On shared use paths:
Stockton's Commitment To Cycling
Stockton Council is committed to improving opportunities for people to cycle, bringing the benefits of better health, low cost transport and a pleasant environment to communities throughout the Borough. To find out more contact either: George Callaghan, Cycling contact on 01642 526735, e-mail george.callaghan@stockton.gov.uk or Mike Edwards, Road Safety contact on 01642 526737, e-mail mike.edwards@stockton.gov.uk
For details on cycle parking at rail stations in the Stockton area telephone Sustrans on 01642 803441 and for more details on the Sustrans National Cycle Network call 0845 1130065 or visit www.sustrans.org
Before you visit, why don't you take the opportunity of viewing the diversity of
scenery and features that can be found in the park.
The map to the left
shows the main areas in dark green which are accessed via the walkway that runs
along the length of the park. View the panoramas by clicking the points on the
map. This will take you to a fully navigational viewer giving you a 360°
panorama of your chosen area.
In order to help with your choice
descriptions of the panoramas are shown below when you move your mouse pointer
over the map.
The park is well served by a bus service that takes in the outlying villages and local towns. This service, the 567 (or the 586 early service), is provided by Arriva and is subsidised by central government funding under a rural transport initiative. The service runs from Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) and the timetable changes between summer and winter. You can view the timetable from here or request it to be sent to you by e-mail.
Stockton Borough Council’s countryside service, in association with Hartlepool Borough Council, the Tees Forest, Stockton Renaissance Partnership and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund run a special service during the 6 week school summer holiday. This service, the 401, is operated by Stagecoach and called the Badger Bus. It runs on a Monday and Friday, visiting most of Stockton and Hartlepool’s countryside sites and many places in between. The service uses a subsidised daily rover ticket, that allows you to get on and off at any point on the circular route. For details on ticket prices and timetable please see the latest leaflet.
For further information on public transport please contact Traveline North East on 0870 6082608.
For further information on the Badger Bus please contact either: the Joint Public Transport Group on 01287 612555, Stockton’s Countryside Recreation Officer on 01642 526877 or Hartlepool’s Transport Team on 01429 523555.
The 'Break Free' system was devised in the northeast and is supported by the Sensory Trust, a charity looking at access to the countryside for people with a wide range of disabilities and access difficulties. Rather than giving directions, 'Break Free' grades all the routes on a site, allowing those with mobility problems to decide a route suitable for them.
Those who find this information of benefit include:
The Sensory Trust
What they do:
Printed copies of 'Break Free' Country Places around Stockton-on-Tees cost £1.50 please phone (01642) 526871 or email: parksandcountryside@stockton.gov.uk.
Stockton Borough Council has been successful in securing a £45,800 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for an exciting new arts project at Wynyard Woodland Park in Stockton.
The Project will be a series of scultures created by Sunderland based artist Colin Wilbourn, who was also responsible for such artistic masterpieces as 'Watching and Waiting' and 'The Red House', both at St.Peter's Riverside in Sunderland.
The new arts features will be divided into 3 main elements - The Story-Teller's Chair, Woodland Seating and the Cellestial Kitchen. The Sculptures will enhance opporunities for environmental education at the Woodland Park and will help to interpret the natural history of the site, the astronomical work undertaken at the Planetarium and the railway heritage oof the area. Collectively the pieces will provide a unique representation of past and present uses of the site in an innovative and creative way.
The sculptures will be installed during the summer of 2005 and promise to contribute towards the continuing development of the countryside destinations.
The Story-Teller's Chair, Thorpe Wood
This ingenious design will at first glance appear to be no more than an old-fashioned luggage trunk, possibly the property of a traveller making his journey along the Casle Eden branch in days gone by. Visitors will be able to rest awhile on the trunk during their exploration of Thorpe Wood, where this first sculpture will be located.
The turn of a special key kept by the Countryside Rangers, will however, reveal the mystery of the trunk, transforming it into an amazing Story-Teller's chair which will provide the focus for woodland tales, environmental education and public events.
Woodland Seating, Brierley Wood
Hewn from huge pieces of locally grown turkey oak, these carved wooden seats will provide a resting place for visitors to Brierley Wood at the northern end of the Woodland Park.
These seats will be decorated with intricate carvings of plants and wildlife that can all be found in the Woodland Park.
Carved items of clothing will also decorate the new benches, a reminder that the site is today managed for both people and wildlife.
The Celestial Kitchen, Stoney Field
A giant table top might not be the first thing you would expect to find in a Country Park, but look a little closer and you will be amazed by this ingenious sculpture!
This unusual and unique design will help to interpret the important and fascinating astronomical work undertaken at Wynyard Planetarium.
Visitors will be able to view the north star on clear nights, by looking through the directly aligned holes in the two spoon handles, and night-sky constellations will be replicated in the holes of the different utensils.
The Cellestial Kitchen also provides a link with the agricultural history of the area. The crucial turning points of the season, the spring equinox, mid-summer and the summer equinox, were vital for successful agricultural planning years ago, and can be seen by the shadow of the sun on certain points of the sculpture.
The sculpture is located in Stoney Field, a short walk south from the Visitors Centre and directly off the A177 in Thorpe Thewles.
An orienteering course is available at Wynyard Woodland Park and is a popular activity for schools. In fact two courses are available, one at the Wynyard Woodland Park itself and one at nearby Stillington Forest Park. Each of the circles on the map indicates the position of a 3” square marker. The marker is red with a diagonal white stripe. On the marker is the identification number and a check letter (see below). Different courses can be used depending on the age of the school group taking part, and on the time available.
The educational aim of the orienteering courses is to introduce children to the use of maps, keys and compasses. Four variations on the theme of orienteering are explained below:
Orienteering Course Instructions
Line Exercise Instructions - This is a follow-my-leader activity for small groups of 3-4 children.
Relay Race Instructions
Cross-country Instructions
Score Instructions
A Solar Walk is, as its name suggests, a walk along which markers are placed with details of the planets in our solar system. The spacing of the planetary markers along the walk is to scale with the spacing of the real planets in space.
Our walk is along a section of the Walkway, starting with the sun at the first gate heading north from the visitor centre and stretching north up the walkway in the direction of the A689, ending with Pluto close to the first entrance to Thorpe Wood
The markers are full of fantastic facts about each planet and (where appropriate) its moons. The original motivation for this walk was as an activity for the summer playschemes hosted by the planetarium.
The scheme involves groups of children attending a short planetarium show after which they are let loose on the walkway equipped with a worksheet. The worksheet has to be filled in from information given in the planetarium show and from that on the planetary markers along the solar walk.
If you come to a public planetarium show on a Sunday afternoon (May to August) or Friday evening (September to April) you may like to combine this activity with a stroll down our solar walk.
The Castle Eden Walkway formed the heart of the former Castle Eden Walkway Country Park. Although the site has expanded over the years and has been renamed Wynyard Woodland Park, the walkway is still at the centre of it all.
The walkway is a disused railway line that extends from the middle of Stockton as far north as Hurworth Burn Reservoir in County Durham. The Wynyard Woodland Park section extends for some 3 ½ miles in a north-south direction from the Redmarshall railway junction, in the south, to the A689, in the north. The former Cleveland County Council opened the walkway for public recreation, amenity, education and conservation in 1982.
Most visitors think of the walkway as the straight route of the railway line through the heart of the park, whereas infact the Castle Eden Walkway (CEW) takes a westerly turn into Brierley Wood at the northern tip of Pickard’s Meadow and continues in a loop through Tilery Wood, past Tilery Wood Hut and emerges in Tilery Wood car park next to the A689. The continuation of the railway line from the junction where the walkway diverges, up to the Durham Gateway Bridge is maintained by Hartlepool Borough Council as part of the Sustrans Route 1 cycle network. For the purposes of subdivision of the site we will treat the straight route of the old railway line as the walkway in this section, but the rights of way maintained by the park follow the route of the CEW.
The walkway encompasses several valuable wildlife habitats and is of local importance as a nature reserve due to the diversity of its wildlife and the presence of locally uncommon plant species. The railway bridges along the walkway are also of historical, architectural and atmospheric value (many have unusual acoustic characteristics when you stand under them) although sadly the large viaduct that once spanned the Durham Road was demolished in 1979.
Three Villages Loop Walk
Thorpe Thewles, Stillington and Whitton
Walk Distance: Approx 7 miles.
Start/Finish: Wynyard Woodland Park, off the A177 between Stockton-On-Tees and Sedgefield.
Car Parking: Wynyard Woodland Park.
Public Transport: Buses to Thorpe Thewles Villages Nos.69, 234,236.
Facilities: Toilets, picnics areas, Visitors Centre and refreshments at the Country Park.
General: This walk is fairly easy going, the majority of the route crossing farmland. Dogs must be kept on leads where there are livestock or crops. Horses may be encountered in the fields.
Points of Interest:
Further Information: For further information about this and other walks around the Country park telephone the Countryside Wardens on (01740) 630011.
Billingham Beck Valley Country Park - Park to Wynyard Woodland Park
Walk Distance: Approx 9 miles.
Start/Finish: Billingham Beck Valley Country Park, signposted off the A19.
Car Parking: Billingham Beck Vally Country Park.
Public Transport: Bus No 36 to Station Road, Billingham from Stockton.
Facilities: Toilets, picnic area, Visitor Centre and refreshments at Billingham Beck Valley Country Park and Wynyard Woodland Park.
Points of Interest:
Further Information: For further information about this and other walks around the country park contact the Countryside Wardens on (01642) 397609.
County Durham Gateway Bridge
The bridge provides a dramatic gateway into County Durham and incorporates a major piece of visual art design by the internationally renowned artist Peter Fink The triangular profile of the 'wings finished in bold colours responds to the dominantly triangular profile of the 'A' frame tower which is emphasised by its blue colour.
The bridge is a 73 metre long, 3 metre wide steel cable-stayed structure which will give cyclists, horse riders and walkers a safe route across the A689 dual carriageway.
Hurworth Burn Reservoir
A public footpath gives access to the entire western side of this man-made body of water. It is an ideal site for watching waterfowl. Among the species which may by seen are Great Crested and Little Grebe, Poachard, Teal, Goldeneye, Wigeon and Shelduck. In both spring and autumn, a variety of waders can be also spotted while in winter, flocks of Graylag geese may descend to graze on the adjacent farmland.
Embleton
Once a thriving community, nothing remains of the medieval village of Embleton apart from a pattern of mound and hollows which mark its original layout, still visible in the surface of the pasture. The church of St. Mary wasfounded at the same time as the village, but the present building dates back only to 1860 whe the entire structure was rebuilt.
Sedgefield
Sedgefield as an ancient village datingback at least to Roman times, though its main development really began following the Norman invasion. By the early nineteenth century it had become an important centre for horse drawn coaches with a daily run to Leeds aboard th 'Expedition'. The tower of the medieval St. Edmund's Church is one of the highest vantage points in south east Durham, and can be seen from miles around.
Hardwick Park
Development in the latter half of the eighteenth century in the tradition of other great English parkland. Hardwick fell into a state of major decay during the twentieth century. Since 1972, Durham County Council has run on ecorner of it's central core as a Country Park. It has now extended upon a major programme of work to restore this Grade 2 Listed Parkland to its former glory. The work included the reconstruction of a 17 acre lake at its heart. Admission is free and the park is open at all times, although parts will remain closed until the restoration works are completed.
IntroductionWynyard Woodland Park has a diverse range of wildlife habitats including woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows and wetlands. These habitats are home to over 670 species of mammals, amphibians, fish, invertebrates (insects), trees, grasses, wildflowers and fungi. Many of these habitats have vanished locally making the park an important wildlife refuge with some areas classified as Local Nature Reserves.
This is the Bluetit birdbox WebCam live from Wynyard Woodland Park. Our first brood of nine chicks left the nest on 9th June 2005, when all nine successfully fledged. Bluetits can have up to 10 chicks in any one brood and upto three broods in any given year, we are hoping to have another brood in the nestbox soon.
As part of its role as the Government’s statutory advisor on nature conservation in England, English Nature devised the Natural Area framework to implement the UK Biodiversity Action Plan arising from the Convention on Biological Diversity signed by the Prime Minister, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, this sets objectives for the conservation of biodiversity in the UK. The development of the Natural Area concept is fundamental to English Nature's drive to ensure that these objectives are met through action at a local level throughout England where national objectives can be translated into local action within meaningful areas of countryside, not administrative boundaries.
The local distinctiveness of each part of England was examined to identify their characteristic wildlife and natural features and this information was used to define a comprehensive series of 120 Natural Areas. Their boundaries are based on the distribution of wildlife and natural features and on the land use pattern and human history of each area, and thus offer an effective framework for the planning and achievement of nature conservation objectives.
The character of a Natural Area is defined by those distinctive species, habitats and physical features that distinguish it from neighbouring areas. This distinct, coherent character enables the development of plans to care for all of the species in that area, including those that are still commonplace as well as those that are rare. Consequently, the conservation of our natural heritage is engendered by the concept of Thinking Globally and Acting Locally.
English Nature is a major funding body of countryside projects and provided the grant for the touchscreen system that you are using. Therefore, any countryside management projects, like Wynyard Woodland Park, cannot afford to ignore such fundamental policy frameworks. Although Stockton Borough Council’s countryside section does not strictly adhere to the concept of the Natural Area Context in their management plans, it is largely in agreement with the ethos behind them.
Wynyard Woodland Park lies within Natural Area 7, The Tees Lowlands, but is towards the boundary with the Durham Magnesium Limestone Area 6; as such it shares some features of both. More information is available, about these and other Natural Areas of England, on the English Nature website: www.english-nature.org.uk
Wynyard Woodland Park’s Nature Detectives club is an ideal chance for youngsters to learn about nature. Meetings are aimed at five to twelve year olds and are held one Saturday every month in the railway carriage. Each month children look at a different topic such as pond life, camouflage, tracks and trails etc.
The session is built around the topic and involves a mix of outdoor activities, environmental games, conservation tasks and art and craft activities all lead by the countryside rangers. Members also receive a monthly fact sheet, which is packed with information, interesting facts and games to play.
Children can build up a file of information, which they can read at home or use as a source of inspiration for further games and activities. There is a two pounds joining fee and club sessions are free. Five to seven year olds must be accompanied by an adult. Parents of older children can stay and join in the sessions if they wish, or may leave their children in the safe hands of the countryside rangers.
There are several ponds around the site ranging from the man made, to natural and seasonal ponds. The main ponds of interest are Thorpe Wood pond, Pickard's Meadow bomb crater pond, Pickard’s Meadow large pond, Pickard’s Meadow seasonal pond, Tilery Wood pond and the Arboretum Field pond.
The two newest and the oldest ponds are all on Pickard’s Meadow. The seasonal pond was created in 2003, and then the large pond in 2004. The third pond on the meadow was originally a bomb crater left over from the Second World War, when the Germans tried to bomb the railway line that is now the main walkway.
There are three species of newt that live in our ponds these being the common smooth newt, palmate newt and great-crested newt. Nearly all of our ponds have good healthy colonies of dragonfly and damsel fly. There are also a great number of species that live on or in the ponds such as diving beetles, water boatmen, leeches, coots, mallard ducks and even kingfishers.
Occasionally we run pond-dipping events for the public or school groups. This is strictly as a ranger led activity only and we always use our own nets and equipment. This is so that no water born diseases can be transfer in to our ponds and affect the wildlife. The public are strongly requested not to bring their own nets to the park for use in the ponds as there is a strong likelihood of you inadvertently killing our pond dwelling wildlife.
One of the most frequently asked questions is can I fish in the pond or are there any fish in the pond. The only fish that might be found in any of the ponds are sticklebacks and fishing is not allowed in any form – pond dipping with nets included!
Three natural watercourses pass through the park, these being: Brierley Beck flowing through Brierley Wood and emptying into the lake on Wynyard Estate, Thorpe Beck flowing through Thorpe Wood where it emerges and meets Whitton Beck which flows through the south side of the park. In turn the lake at Wynyard and Whitton Beck eventually join Billingham Beck which flows into the Tees. These freshwater sources are home to much of the same wildlife that can be found in the ponds and the same rules apply with respect to fishing or dipping with nets.
Since it’s original inception, as the Castle Eden Walkway, the park has grown from a linear site along the route of the old railway line by the acquisition on woodland areas to either side and along the length of the walkway. It is now truly a woodland park, which is reflected in the name change to Wynyard Woodland Park.
Thorpe Wood is an ancient woodland of largely broad-leaved native trees as was Brierley Wood before it was clear-felled as plantation woodland in the 20th century. Both Brierley and Tilery Woods are dominated by conifers but are being managed in such a way as to regenerate them as native tree habitats.
As well as the addition of woodland habitats, there is the open grassland of Pickards Meadow. The addition of the woods has also introduced the wetland habitats of the ponds and becks in these areas which add to the biodiversity of the original park.
The study of minibeasts gives children a valuable insight into living things including the relationship between creatures and their habitat. Very young children are able to handle different minibeasts and can begin to identify names of species and different body parts. Older children can also look at the different types of habitat in which minibeasts are likely to be found and look at the physical features that help animals to survive in specific places.
Other topics that can be explored are life cycles, food chains, the role of minibeasts as decomposers of plant material. Children are usually asked to work in small groups, which encourages team working and the sharing of information. They are given suitable equipment and identification guides and instructed on their use, before being allowed to investigate as a group.c
After the hunt they are encouraged to discuss the types of creatures they have found and any other interesting adaptations noticed. They are then asked to return the minibeasts carefully to where they were found, thereby encouraging them to think about their natural environment and the consequences of not treating it with due care and respect.
The official name of this wood is Layton Lings, however, in 2001 the previous
owner Mr Alf Wilson sold the wood to Stockton Borough Council and as part of the
transaction it was agreed that it would be called Alf’s Wood.
At present there are no
main or way-marked pathways through this woodland, although the bridleway does
skirt the southern edges of it. It is part of the conservation area within the
park and is protected under the local nature reserve status of the perk as a
whole. We do not encourage visitors to enter the woodland, but to appreciate it
from the bridleway.
Layton Lings, covering some 30 acres, is
predominantly broad-leaved woodland though there appears to have been some
modification of the site by planting and small areas of felling (mostly of Birch
trees).
The regular pattern of some of the older trees
suggests that they may have been planted but overall the wood has a pattern of
distribution of trees suggesting a high degree of natural development. In the
southeast there are two lines of overhead power cables crossing the woodland and
the ground beneath these has been cleared for maintenance of these lines and is
more or less bare at present. A small area in the southeast corner is more open
with a pond, a small area of grassland and scrub.
The main tree species are
Ash and Oak with a range of other species including Wych Elm, Wild Cherry, Birch
and Goat Willow. There are some beech and Sycamore that are presumed to have
been planted as well as some exotics such as Rhododendron, found mainly at the
south eastern edge. The ground flora is generally dominated by Bramble and ferns
with localised pockets of Tufted Hair-grass and False-brome.
The Arboretum Field, located to the south of the Planetarium, is a large grassland area with a hardcore path around the perimeter which forms the Arboretum Trail. Around the trail can be found pieces of exercise equipment and the field itself is occasionally used as an overflow car parking area during busy periods and events.
The field starts at a high level near the play area and gently falls away to the south, where it forms a hollow that is a natural amphitheatre. A small pond can be found close to the southern extremity of the path which sometimes dries up in the summer.
The Arboretum Trail itself is a collection of native British Trees which are planted in the order that they colonized the British Isles after the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago. “Native” is defined as a tree that colonized without the aid of people, hence they were not introduced and invaded the countryside before the land-bridge between Britain and Europe disappeared after the last ice age. A few commercially important conifer specimens have been included at the end of the trail as they are very common throughout the country.
The Arboretum was planted by the Teesside branch of the Parachute Regimental Association to commemorate those in their regiment who have died. Today it is managed by the Country Park’s Ranger Service.
In 2002 Stockton Borough Council purchased two adjoining woodland areas of approximately 188 acres on the boundary between Stockton and Sedgefield, known as Brierley and Tilery Woods. These woodlands are a 35 year old conifer plantation of mostly Scots pine, Corsican pine and Lodgepole pine with a few pockets of broad-leaved trees.
Brierley Wood is known to have been an ancient woodland that was clear-felled to form the current plantation woodland by the forestry commission who leased the land, from the Wynyard Estate, for a period of some 40 years until 1986/87.
The Wynyard Estate, owned by the Londonderry family, was sold to Cameron Hall Developments (the company founded by property tycoon Sir John Hall) in 1988. The ancient Brierley Wood was divided when Cameron Hall sold part of it to the country park, the remainder (to the east of the walkway), including what is left of the woodland area of Black Squares, remains the property of Cameron Hall and forms part of the Wynyard Village development.
There are still boundary markers visible in Brierley Wood showing a letter B on one side and L on the other which presumably delineated those area owned by the Londonderry and Brierley familys in years gone by.
Running through the heart of Brierley Wood is Brierley Beck, a natural watercourse, which flows into the lake next to Wynyard Hall. The main footpath through Brierley Wood forms part of our sculpture trail with imaginatively sculpted woodland seating. A bridleway also cuts through the wood westwards from Pickards Meadow before turning north and meeting the A689 close to Beacon Hill Farm.
Stockton Borough Council, in partnership with the Tees Forest, aim to manage the woodland in such a way as to increase their value for wildlife whilst opening up further opportunities for access and recreation. The long-term goal is to restore it to largely native broad-leaved trees and to have it designated as a Local Nature Reserve along with Tilery Wood.
This area of ex-arable land is some 41 acres and since it was last cultivated it has become a species poor grass land, with the flora being dominated by creeping bent grass. There are a few mature trees in the field which represent the remnants of former hedgerows. Historically, the hedgerows would have been pulled out when farm machinery started to develop and get bigger, allowing for much larger fields to be cultivated.
This area of the site was named in memory of John Pickard one of our long standing volunteers who sadly passed away in 2003. A small copse of trees has been planted, in memory of John, in the middle of the field by people who wanted to commemorate his life and his love of, particularly, the northern end of the country park. The field has also been seeded as a wildflower meadow.
There are two ponds and a wetland area on the field, the oldest and smaller of the ponds being an old bomb crater from the second world war. The larger pond is a more recent addition and was dug out by machine as a wildlife habitat.
To the northern edge of the meadow is the bridleway linking from the walkway through to Brierley Wood and beyond.
A central feature of the site is a new sculpture designed in ancient style, formed by a circle of timbers reflecting the past, present and future of the area.
In total, 8,500 young trees have been planted, which will mature rapidly to form a blanket of woodland. New paths have been formed as well as one being surfaced to allow cycle users access to the countryside more easily.
Contact the Rangers at Wynyard Woodland Park on (01740) 630011 for further information.
In 2002 Stockton Borough Council purchased two adjoining woodland areas of approximately 188 acres on the boundary between Stockton and Sedgefield, known as Tilery and Brierley Woods. These woodlands are a 35 year old conifer plantation of mostly Scots pine, Corsican pine and Lodgepole pine with a few pockets of broad-leaved trees.
Tilery Wood was planted by the Forestry Commission who leased the land from the Wynyard Estate for a 40 year period until 1987. The Wynyard Estate, owned by the Londonderry family, was subsequently sold to Cameron Hall Developments (the company founded by property tycoon Sir John Hall) in 1988.
Although only acquired by the park in 2002 Tilery Wood has had the route of the walkway running through it since the original Castle Eden Walkway Country Park was formed. About 100 metres past the northern edge of Pickard’s meadow the walkway deviates from the route of the former railway line and takes an westerly turn through the heart of Tilery Wood emerging at the car park on the A689.
One of the most notable features of Tilery wood is a large wooden forestry hut that was built in 1974 by the Forestry Commission with help from the local Billingham Campus school. It is currently used for school groups and public events. Next to the hut is a pond with ecological significance as it is a breeding site for great-crested newts over the summer months. For this reason we discourage people from pond dipping in this pond as it is illegal to catch or handle a great-crested newt without the relevant licenses.
Thorpe Wood was purchased in 1984 to improve the recreational, amenity and educational value of what was then the Castle Eden Walkway. It is also an example of ancient woodland, a very rare habitat in the North of Teesside.
Thorpe Wood is a mixed woodland of 46 acres and was designated as a local nature reserve in 1985 due to the scarcity of this type of habitat in Teesside and the local rarity of some of the species it contains. The main woodland pathway passes through the wood from northwest to southeast, alongside of which are two artificially created ponds. The wood is also home to two charcoal kilns, used in the management of the woodland, and the story teller’s seat which is a key part of our sculpture trail and a focus for story telling events on the park as a whole.
It is a popular walk with visitors as it is not very far from the main visitors centre area, encompasses lots of interesting things to see at all times of the year and is circular bringing you back almost to where you started.
History
The earliest known record of this wood dates back to 1719 when a land exchange occurred involving Thorpe and Fulthorpe woods. The northern part of the woodland is subsequently shown on an estate map dated 1777 when it was in the ownership of John Tempest. The boundaries were as present with the exception of the break caused by the construction of the railway. The rest of the Wood lies in the adjoining estate of Thomas Davison (to the west of the railway line). The whole of Thorpe Wood is then shown in the Tithes map for Thorpe Thewles of 1844 and in the earliest ordnance survey map of 1859. The boundaries are constant in all of these plans and are irregular, with the woodland covering the steep valley sides. From this evidence it is safe to assume that the woodland is ancient and this is backed up by the study of the flora in 1987.
In all probability the woodland was managed during the Middle Ages as coppiced woodland with standards (trees allowed to grow to full maturity). The coppiced trees would have been cut on a rotation and used for fencing, repairs of farming equipment, fire wood etc, with a number of trees left to grow into standard trees which would have eventually been felled for timber (used, for example, in house construction). The trees both coppiced and standard were re-grown from the stumps of the previous crop. Where a glade occurred it would normally have been filled by natural regeneration.
From the 17th century there was often a modification in traditional coppiced management to include new planting. In fact Thorpe Wood is referred to as a plantation in the tithes map of 1844, suggesting that it had at some time been planted and was being managed as high forest rather than coppice.
The timber crop was clear felled around the time of the First World War and thus the area was neglected. Re-growth occurred but the clear felling gave opportunity for extensive invasion by sycamore, which in parts of the wood is now the dominant tree. The re-growth was then thinned out in the 1960s and new planting took place, under a Forestry Commission dedication scheme, consisting of a mix of soft woods and hard woods. Today the main task is still to slowly remove the conifers and sycamore and to replace them with more native species. Evidence still exists of coppicing and several of the species could even be descendants of the original wood.
IntroductionFrom here you can discover information on the historical context of the park and it’s locality in the neighbouring landscape and the area of Teesside as a whole.
Discover the history of the railway, to which Wynyard Woodland Park owes its origins. Learn about the Iron Age settlements and Roman occupation in the vicinity as well as the history of the Christian era.
Information about the geography, geology, neighbouring landowners and the Wynyard Estate and the notable landmarks in the area can also be found in this section.
If you’re interested in some of the quirky and spooky stories about the district then see our folklore details.
The site of the Castle Eden Branch of the North Eastern Railway spans an area rich in history and folklore.
As far back as 200BC there were Iron Age settlements in the area and some exciting excavations have been carried out to find out how these people lived.
One notable example is the excavation at Thorpe Thewles. Situated in the boulder clay foothills of the Durham plateau the geology of the area lends itself to the preservation of these early structures.
In the 1100’s villagers in Grindon and the surrounding area worshiped at the small church dedicated to St Thomas a’Becket, this church was replaced in 1849 by a new church in Thorpe Thewles. The church of St James in Thorpe Thewles stands on the site of this early church.
The railway opened in 1877 and operated for 91 years until its closure in 1968 carrying both freight and passengers. Royalty has visited Thorpe Thewles station on a number of occasions when visiting the grand home of the Londonderry’s, Wynyard Hall.
Numerous stories of hauntings surround the area and the ghost of a murdered station master is said to roam the Station House Visitor Centre.
Over the years there have been many reports of a large black cat on the northern end of the walkway and some farmers have reported sheep carcasses in trees. From the sightings the animal appears to fit the description and behaviour of a Black Panther although they may also tie in with sightings of the Durham Puma. These reports may not be as far fetched as they would at first appear as many large cats were kept as pets in the 1970’s and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that some have subsequently escaped or been set free.
The outlying village of Bishopton is one of only two locations in Britain where fairies have been ‘officially’ recorded. Exactly what was seen is unclear and it may just be an inferred sighting from the charming stories associated with fairy rings, caused by the growth of fungus from a common centre. It is also traditionally the burial place of Northumbrian fairies.
There are several tales of ghosts and haunting to do with the old Thorpe Thewles station house and the surrounding area:
The Station Master’s Ghost.
During the First World War the station master at Thorpe Thewles was murdered one night. A group of immigrant workers in the vicinity were suspected, but nothing was ever proved. Since then there have been numerous sightings of his ghost in the building as well as that of a small girl in more recent years.
The Grey Lady of Wynyard Hall.
It seems that a lady was drowned in the lake outside the hall some time ago and that a ghostly apparition of her form has been reported on many occasions since. It has been suggested that the more recent appearances have been due to the cleaning and redevelopment that has gone on, after years of neglect, disturbing her spirit. One employee of the estate is said to have had a dramatic confrontation with the apparition on the Lion Bridge close to the hall, when his dogs held back, snarling as the ghostly lady in grey passed by on his evening walk. In 1981 other members of staff recalled several strange episodes of doors slamming shut in ground floor rooms without rational explanation and on another occasion a door to the kitchen or larder area that swung open of it’s own accord to reveal an ice-cold atmosphere.
The Hound of Blakeston Lane.
In 1871 a careless dog unwittingly led a pack of foxhounds over the edge of a deep quarry to their deaths. It has since been reported that it’s ghost has reappeared at the same spot to avoid any unfortunate repetition.
The Ghosts of Grindon church.
A former vicar of the church of Saint Thomas a Becket recalled stories of ghosts and apparitions seen at the site, in an interview in 1972. The church was closed at the start of the 20th century and is now in private hands so there are sadly no contemporary sightings.
Further Reading:
Introduction
Before the middle 1860’s the story of the first 40 years of railway building in the Cleveland region had been one of adventure intrigue and rivalry. The principal players in the drama, the towns of Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, in league with their associated railway companies and promoters, had, for many years, been locked in a long and complicated struggle for supremacy; a struggle which did not abate until George Hudson’s North Eastern Railway Company had finally absorbed all the opposing factions into one co-ordinated organisation.
Even then of course the towns continued to compete for trade and influence and, whenever possible, pressure was exerted to secure even the slightest advantage, but, by the early 1870’s, the pattern of future industrial development along the Tees estuary had been set. Nevertheless, existing railway lines were becoming increasingly congested and, in addition, the centres of coalmining in the coalfields to the north were moving gradually eastwards as the older pits became exhausted and had to be replaced.
The construction of the Stockton and Castle Eden Branch Railway towards the end of the 1870’s was intended to counteract these changes and to maintain the pace of industrial development. Indeed, the new railway demonstrated clearly the North Eastern Railway Company’s conviction that the growth and prosperity which was evident on both sides of the River and the daily need for vast quantities of minerals would continue for many years.
This particular railway, then, must have played an important part in the early development of Teesside, which, before 1900, was one of the fastest growing centres of industry in the world. Iron and steel making, the cornerstone of this growth, required huge quantities of Weardale limestone, Durham coal and Cleveland ironstone, which demanded in turn an efficient local rail network for their transportation to the point of manufacture. Because of this growing industry, which created thousands of new, relatively well paid jobs, more and more people were attracted to the towns on the riverside and, very quickly, Cleveland began to assume the urban characteristics which it has today.
The parliamentary powers to make the line between Wellfield and Bowesfield were applied for in 1872 after local consultations and a thorough survey of the 14 miles of the proposed route. There were two main objectives: first; to by-pass both Hartlepool and Stockton, connecting the Hartlepool/Sunderlands and the Middlesbrough/Darlington lines, and, secondly; to make a junction with the Clarence Railway (Port Clarence to Shildon/Ferryhill) to give additional access to the industrial centres on the north bank of the River.
Construction 1875 – 1877
The precise route and the levels chosen for the line were the usual engineering and financial compromises between the need for a suitable gradient, the need for directness and the need to avoid intervening obstacles wherever possible. The main difficulty was the Thorpe Beck Valley at Thorpe Thewles. Clearly a viaduct was going to be necessary but the precise point and level at which the low ground should be crossed were critical factors that would ultimately decide how much the whole development was to cost. Other factors that had to be taken into account were; the Wynyard Estate, particularly the location of the hall, the villages of Thorpe Thewles and Grindon and a number of outlying farmsteads; and the Hurworth Burn Reservoir to the north. Many small streams, roads, tracks, woods and undulating terrain also had to be negotiated. The careful balancing of all these factors, however, produced a route which, in the end, proved to be remarkably direct.
The organisation of railway building was broadly the same on all lines after about 1840. A civil engineer produced a master plan containing a route survey, drawings and estimate, then the job of building was let to a contractor who agreed to build the railway for a given sum.
Thomas Nelson was the main contractor for the construction of this particular branch and work began in 1875. Temporary living quarters were erected in Thorpe Beck Valley and at other places along the route including Grindon; navvies, labourers, craftsmen and other workers were engaged; equipment and materials were assembled in huge quantities, some 8 million bricks being required for the viaduct alone.
This must have been an upsetting time for the local residents who would have heard in advance much about the boisterous life-style and squalid living conditions that the railway builders seemed to bring with them wherever they went. Indeed, relations between the Rural Sanitary Authority of the Stockton Union and the contractor seem to have been strained on more that one occasion between 1875 and 1876 as the minutes of the Authority show….. "8 December, 1875 - Ordered that summons be issued against Thomas Nelson if he fails to comply with the order of the Board to remedy the nuisance of his four huts a Thorpe" and later ….. "27th September 1876 - Ordered that the Medical Officer of Health and the Inspector (of Nuisances) be requested to inspect the huts at Grindon and if overcrowded that notice be given to reduce the number of inhabitants".
The arrival of the railway builders brought other social problems apart from the insanitary nature of their living conditions and general boisterousness. Coppices and fields were torn apart causing untold mess and disruption , farm labourers were lured by the prospect of higher wages and, as likely as not, food prices rose in the locality because of the substantial increase in demand. Fortunately, the period of suffering was short-lived. The line was partially opened on 1st May 1877, the remainder one-year later, and such benefits as there were, began to flow.
91 Years of Service 1877 – 1968
The first part of the line to open, known locally as the "Cuckoo" railway, was the southern section from Bowesfield Junction to a (South to West) connection with the Clarences Railway south of Thorpe Thewles. This section had no regular passenger service, its main purpose being to give access to the Stockton- Ferryhill route and the Simpasture Branch for Middlesbrough to Shildon trains thereby avoiding the then extremely busy line between Hartburn and Norton. This section also formed part of the Middlesbrough – Shildon Electrified Scheme (1915 – 1935).
The remaining section opened on 1st May, 1878 for goods traffic and on 1st May, 1889 for passenger traffic between Stockton and Wellfield. Stations at Thorpe, Wynyard and Hurworth Burn were already in business by then however, being involved in the movement and sale of livestock, agricultural produce and equipment and other goods and minerals, particularly coal.
Unfortunatley, as far as prospective passengers were concerned, none of these stations was particularly well sited. The village of Thorpe Thewles was in fact nearer Carlton (later Redmarshall) Station than to the station that bore its own name whilst Wynyard and Hurworth Burn to the north served no particular village or community as such -they were simply trading outposts in very rural parishes. Even at Wellfield Junction Station there was no actual village although it was close enough to serve the mining community at Wingate whose own station was some distance away on the one-time Great North of England, Clarence and Hartlepool Junction Railway. Furthermore, although the line was so named, it did not of course serve Castle Eden, which lay a mile or so to the east of the Wellfield Junction and which had its own station on the Hartlepool to Sunderland line.
Thorpe Station itself was a simple affair which made the most of a difficult, sloping site. There were three sidings, all on the eastern side. The first gave access to coal bunkers (it was the North Eastern Railway Company’s usual practice to allow their stationmasters to trade in coal on their own account), the second to a goods yard, and the third to a paddock, which, presumably, was for the temporary storage of livestock. The small ticket office and waiting room, now demolished, were also on the eastern side together with a terrace of three, two storey cottages and the station house itself. The cottages pre-dated the house by years, the stationmaster having to occupy one of the cottages in the meantime. A signalman, and a platelayer, with their families, are known to have occupied the two other cottages.
The Stockton to Wellfield passenger service joined the line at its junction with the Clarence Railway south of Thorpe Thewles and then proceeded to Wellfield where there were connections with the West Hartlepool to Sunderland trains. This local service (4 trains per day in 1952) was never frequent, lost considerable sums of money to the Company, and passenger traffic was discontinued on 2nd November, 1931 after some 50 years of operation. Express passenger trains running between Newcastle and Manchester/Liverpool and between Newcastle and Oxford/Bournemouth (3 trains per day in 1904) also used the line in its earlier days, travelling non-stop from Sunderland via Wellfield and Thorpe Thewles to Stockton, by-passing West Hartlepool. The North Eastern Railway Company in 1894 did, however, give permission for Lord or Lady Londonderry to stop the 07.30 hrs, ex- Newcastle and the 18.30 hrs ex-York at Thorpe Station should they require to do so.
Closure 1966 – 68
At one time it was planned to raise the route’s status to that of a secondary main line and for this purpose a curve was built in 1901 to join the Leeds Northern Route between Eaglescliffe and Stockton. However, as use of this route would have meant the by-passing of both Stockton and the Hartlepools, official objections were lodged and the idea was abandoned after a short period of use by express goods traffic.
In 1905 the coastal route between Sunderland and West Hartlepool was completed signalling the decline of the Stockton and Castle Eden Branch as a express passenger line. Its final demise occurred between 1966 and 1968 following Dr Beeching’s reign as Minister of Transport: the track, ballast and other equipment were all removed soon afterwards.
In 1977 part of the line was acquired by Cleveland County Council and, with financial help from the Department of the Environment and the Countryside Commission, was opened to the public as a countryside recreation area in 1981.
Taken from The Railway History, Castle Eden Walkway, Information Sheet 2
In the mid to late 1800’s there was massive interest in the building of railway links into the North East to serve the growing industrial development of the area. One such link was the Castle Eden branch of the North Eastern Railway. Known locally as the “Cuckoo Line” it rans from Bowsfield Junction on the Stockton/Darlington line to Wellfield where it joined the line via Seaham to Sunderland and Tyneside.
Although named the Castle Eden Branch the line does not actually go through the village of Castle Eden. The route chosen was a compromise between engineering and financial considerations and also needed to take account of the village of Thorpe Thewles and Wynyard Hall as well as a number of outlying farms, becks, roads and tracks.
The main contractor was Thomas Nelson, a well-known railway builder, and work commenced in 1875. The influx of workers caused disruption to the local communities as their camps were squalid and overcrowded and they were noted for their heavy drinking.
The main structure required was a viaduct at Thorpe Thewles to cross the Thorpe Beck Valley. It consisted of 22 arches, used 8 million bricks and cost £37,000.
The first section of the line was opened on 1st May 1877 this gave access to the coalfields of south Durham. The remainder of the line was opened for freight traffic on 1st August 1878 and passenger traffic between Stockton and Wellfield on 1st March 1880.
Freight carried was mainly Weardale limestone, Durham coal, and Cleveland ironstone to support the growing industries on Teesside, also agricultural produce and livestock.
This was a sparsely populated area so the passenger services were not well used. Thorpe Thewles Station served Grindon (pop 345). Thorpe Thewles village was served by Carlton Station. Wynyard and Hurworth Burn were only a collection of farmsteads. Wellfield Station, opened in 1882, served a number of mining communities which could provide a large number of people wanting to travel to market at Stockton.
Express trains from Newcastle to Manchester/Liverpool and Oxford/Bournemouth used this line but only stopped at Stockton and Sunderland. It has been recorded that in 1894 permission was granted to Lord and Lady Londonderry of Wynyard Hall, that they could stop the 7.30am ex-Newcastle and the 6.30pm ex-York trains at Thorpe Thewles station if they needed to.
A local source has said that on occasions when royalty arrived at Thorpe Thewles to visit the Londonderry’s, a red carpet was rolled out and the hedge along the roadside was specially cut and lit by oil lamps for the coach which would take the royal party to Wynyard by the Golden Gates entrance.
In 1905 the coastal route between Sunderland and West Hartlepool was completed, this replaced the Castle Eden Branch as an express passenger route. The line was closed as a through route on 6th July 1966 and the final section from Carlton Junction to Bowesfield Junction was closed in 1968.
In 1979 the viaduct was demolished to make the Thorpe Thewles bypass.
In 1977, Cleveland County Council purchased the Cleveland end of the railway line to develop as a walkway with the financial help of the Department of the Environment and the Countryside Commission. It was opened to the public in 1981. The old stationmasters house was opened as a Visitor Centre in 1983.
More Information
Further Reading
Acknowledgements
The first mention of a church at Grindon was in 1131. It has been suggested that this church was a single cell chapel, however it seems more likely that it was built to a similar plan to the present church. Evidence for this can be seen in the foundations of the nave, which are of a different construction to the walls, suggesting a rebuilding on old foundations. The chancel arch, which is reputed to be the oldest part of the church, was incorporated in the new building
This rebuilding was done by Hugh Pudsey, who was Bishop of Durham from 1154 to 1197. The architectural style of the nave dates it to about 1200 or slightly earlier. Various historians have suggested the year 1190. The church is dedicated to St.Thomas of Canterbury (St.Thomas a Becket). This is quite an early dedication, as St. Thomas a Becket was canonised in 1172.
The Master of Sherburn Hospital was patron of the church and received the tithes. He was also given other lands in the Parish of Grindon (at Thorpe Thewles and Whitton).Sherbum Hospital was endowed by Bishop Pudsey in 1181 .Other lands in the parish were given to Finchale Priory which was founded by St. Godric in 1104.He died in 1170.The first vicar of Grindon mentioned is a man named Gamel in 1194. These facts help confirm the approximate date of the church. Little else is known of the early history of the church.
The next recorded development, is the addition of the chapel early in the 14th century. This chapel would most probably be a chantry chapel, that is, a chapel endowed by a wealthy person, in return for which the priest would regularly say mass and pray for the donors welfare in life or soul in death.
In later times the chapel was known as the Fulthorpe Porch, this suggests it was given by the Fulthorpe family, who were at that time Lords of the Manor of Fulthorpe in the Parish of Grindon.
The following extract from a will helps date the chapel: -"Alan Langton by will of 1311 (proved 1316) desires burial in the porche of the parish church of Grindon, before St. Peters altar on the south side of the said church." This means the chapel must have been built by 1511.
An inventory of church goods was carried out throughout the Bishopric of Durham in 1555.The entry for Grindon states: -One chalice with a paten (plate for bread),parcell gilt(partly guilded),two bells above the church, a hand bell and one sacring bell.
The next major development was in 1788,when, according to Surtees, the church was almost completely rebuilt. A porch was built around the south door, the north door was blocked up, the outside wall of the chancel was built up in brick, and the lead roof was replaced by slate. Also at that time a fireplace was constructed in the south-east comer of the nave, as part of the Wynyard pew, for the benefit of the owners of Wynyard who worshipped at the church. It is also likely that at least the nave was paneled in wood at this time; holes are still visible in the walls of the nave, which could have held the wood panelling. The capacity of the church at this time was said to be 120 persons seated.
Hutchinson said in 1794 of Grindon church, "The church is a small edifice standing in an open field and requires no particular description further than there is a porch therein called Fulthorpe porch but contains nothing remarkable or curio".
Surtees gives details of the tithes, "the Master of Sherburn has the great tithes and the tithes of wool and lamb. The vicar is generally entitled to the hay tithes and all other tithes throughout the parish except no hay tithes from Whitton or Spittle Meadow in Thorpe".
Surtees goes on to say "the glebe (lands associated with the church) consists of two closes, one in front of the parsonage, the other adjoining on the west. In all, with the churchyard, 14 acres. Also a farm at Mordon Moor House in the Parish of Sedgefield purchased with Queen Anne 's Bounty and containing 45 acres". The lands around the church are shown on a map of John Tempests Thorpe Farm dated 1777.
At this time a carriage road was used by the owners of Wynyard to travel the two miles from Wynyard Hall to the church, although no longer a road, the track can still be traced particularly where it was a tree-lined avenue. Unfortunately many of the trees have now gone.
The main Sedgefield to Stockton road passed near the church before joining Blakeston Lane, on to Norton, then to Stockton. This road was probably replaced by a Turnpike road following the line of the present main road(A177) sometime in the late 18th or early 19th centuries.
By about 1840 the church was again in a dilapidated state, and in need of considerable renovation, but since the road now bypassed the church and the main centre of population of the parish was now in the village ofThorpe Thewles, it was decided to build a new church in Thorpe Thewles. This church was completed in 1849 and Grindon church was then closed and left to crumble away, although the churchyard remained in use for a number of years by families who had burial plots.
The church has deteriorated since then. By ~ 1905 the east, wall had collapsed and the roof disappeared, otherwise the church was complete. Since then the chancel arch and many of the walls have gone and the process of decay continues.
A Tour Of The Church Of St.Thomas Of Canterbury - Grindon
The church stands in its own grounds a short distance from the track from the Sedgefield -Stockton road to Grindon Cottages.
Porch & Doorways
The church is entered by the south porch which was added at the time of the re-building in 1788.The original south doorway dates from c . 1190 and consists of a round arch of two moulded orders and hood mould springing from angle shafts with carved capitals and bases,the inner order continues to the ground. Unfortunately very little remains of the details of the doorway.
Directly across the nave is the north doorway which has been blocked in,again probably at the time of the re-building of the church in 1788.This doorway is very simple with a single stone lintel It may have been used as an entrance by one of the local landowners, possibly the owner of Moor House to the north west of the church.
The north door of a church was often known as the "Devils Door" because the north side of the church was often used to bury unbaptized and excommunicated people.
The Nave
The nave dates from c. 1190 and is built in large stone blocks, inner and outer blocks being separated and filled with rubble masonry. There were two lancet windows on the south side of the nave, one on north side and one in the west end. The only one now complete is in the west wall under the bell tower, which contained two bells. These windows all had their heads made from two stones without hood moulds and were 14 inches wide with an internal splay.
Two later windows at the east end of the north and south walls are profitably 18th century replacements for former lancet windows; they are now in a very ruined condition.
In the southeast angle of the nave are the remains of an arched brick fireplace, which was part of the 18th century Wynyard pew used by the owners of Wynyard Hall.
Where the foundations have been cleared, stonework is visible which is different to the main structure of the nave walls, which suggests that the walls were built on older foundations when the nave was completed c. 1190.
Along the walls of the nave can be seen a series of holes which probably were used to support wood panelling in stalled during the 18th century. The walls were originally plastered but only very small areas of this plaster remain, and they show no evidence of the decoration that was commonly; found in churches of this age. The chancel arch, which was the oldest part of the church, dating from the early 12th century, has almost completely disappeared. It was semi-circular in shape, of a square order without hood mould, springing from chamfered imposts, which ran back along the wall for some distance.
The chancel appears to have been at least partially rebuilt in 1788. The jambs of the north window appear to be very old, possibly part of the original building. On the south side of the chancel was a small round headed window with a wide internal splay, which also appears to be original. To the east of this was a two light square-headed window, most probably inserted when the chapel was erected. The east window has completely collapsed and no description of it exists.
The altar slab was of Tees marble and is now in Thorpe Thewles church. There were two steps up to the altar pace but nothing remains of this. Surtees says there was an altar tomb dedicated to Catherine Rusdon a servant of John Tempest. This stone can still be seen in the church grounds and bears the following inscription: - "To the memory of Catherine Rusdon who was a servant in the family of John Tempest Esqr. forty five years, died 9th March 1784 aged 76yrs".
Chapel
The chapel was built in the early 14th century, probably as a chantry chapel by the Fulthorpe family who were Lords of the Manor at this time. It was known at a later date as the Fulthorpe Porch.
The chapel was separated from the chancel by a pointed archway of two chamfered orders dying into the wall at the springing and is built of rubble masonry. The piscina is in the usual position on the south wall and is still visible.
The church was originally roofed in lead, but was replaced by a slate roof when the church was rebuilt in 1788.
In the centre of the church were two blue slabs laid close together. One of the slabs had a cross, the other had a sword suspended from a cross below which was a cross Moline. This Moline cross was the arms of the Fulthorpe family. Six feet below these slabs were found two oak coffins.
Hutchinson said there was a stone coffin, which had the name Roger de Fulthorpe on it. This coffin is now in Thorpe Thewles churchyard; alongside it is a 12th/13th century font also from the church at Grindon.
It is possible that an effigy of a knight in Norton church, which has been identified as being of Roger de Fulthorpe, may well have been in Grindon church originally. The coat of arms on the knight's shield has been altered to that of the Blakiston family. The effigy may well have been admired by the Blakiston family, misappropriated by them and removed to Norton church.
Another gravestone still visible in the church grounds is that of Joseph Middleton one of the Vicars of the Church who died in 1816, also his wife and family.
Credits
FORDYCE - History & Antiquities of the County Palatine of
Durham
HORTON - The Story of Cleveland
HUTCHINSON - History &
Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham
NORTON HERITAGE GROUP - Norton A
Village Story -Part II
SOWLERA - History of the Town & Borough of
Stockton-on-Tees
SURTEES - History & Antiquities of the County Palatine
of Durham
SURTEES SOCIETY - Various Publications
SYKES - Local Records of
Northumberland & Durham Victoria History of the Counties of England,
Durham
RICHMOND - Local Records of Stockton & Neighbourhood
Early Man in Grindon
Generally the Mesolithic Period (8,600-3,700 BC) has shown some evidence of occupation in County Durham particularly towards the coast although no signs have been found in the parish. At this time the people were hunters following the migration of animals such as red deer and reindeer. The main evidence of occupation comes from finds of stone axe heads, and round Cairns and barrows. The nearest finds have been on the coast around Seaton Carew.
The Neolithic Period
The Neolithic Period (3,700-2, 300 BC) really marks the beginning of farming, as we know it today. Arable farming was brought over from the continent although there is again little evidence of any activity within the parish; indeed most of the recorded sites are south of the River Tees.
The nearest find was of a polished stone axe in Fairfield, Stockton, with other finds at the coast, which appears to have been an attractive location for early man.
The Bronze Age
There have been many finds of Bronze Age (2,300-800 BC) artifacts particularly in the Cleveland Hills and again around the coast at Hartlepool.
Yet again there is no evidence of activity in the parish. However this lack of finds does not necessarily mean the parish did not have a small population at this time.
It is likely that early man did live and hunt in the area but no remains have yet been found from this period.
Until very recently there was little evidence of settlements of the period known as the Iron Age (800 BC-70 AD). Since 1960 a number of sites have been discovered particularly on the Cleveland Hills and at Catcote near Hartlepool. Even more recently in the 1970's sites have been found by aerial photography at Longnewton, Wolviston, Ingleby Barwick and Thorpe Thewles.
The first real evidence of man's activities in the parish were discovered in 1976 as a series of crop marks in a field near the A177 Durham road a little to the north of Thorpe Thewles village. An excavation of the site was done by Cleveland County Archaeology Section in 1980 and has given an insight to the life at that time.
Prior to the finds mentioned above there was little evidence of man's activity in the area. This may be because much of the area was still covered with Forests, which at this time consisted of mainly climax oak and lime. Areas that were cultivated would be the less dense woodlands on the hilltops rather than the more wooded valley bottoms.
The settlement at Thorpe Thewles originally consisted of an enclosure surrounded by a ditch. A bank probably inside the ditch would be topped by a wooden fence or & hedge. This would keep the livestock safe from predators but would not deter armed raiders.
The main house had its own drainage ditch and was quite large made from wooden stakes with interlaced withies all covered with a mixture of clay, leaves, straw and animal hair. This was known as wattle and daub. The roof would be conical in shape, thatched on wooden rafters.
A second phase was very similar but was made of puddled clay with straw and hair bonding with no wood in the walls. The third phase was found to be thoroughly burnt but whether by accident or on purpose cannot be said.
These three phases lasted 70 - 100 years.
Other buildings were found inside the enclosure and the number of buildings increased with time as the settlement expanded. Eventually the settlement had expanded from what was probably a farmstead to a small village.
Evidence has shown that as well as crops such as wheat and barley animals were also kept, cattle and sheep were reared although they were breeds, which are now either extinct or very rare. These animals would provide meat and milk as well as leather, bone, horn and wool. In addition cattle could be used to pull the plough and all the animals would provide manure as a fertilizer. Pigs were also kept and horses similar to the Exmoor pony, which could be used for ploughing or for transport.
Other activities on the site included spinning of wool, manufacture of pottery and metalworking. Milling of the corn required the use of stones known as querns, which would be imported from the Pennines or North Yorkshire Moors.
This settlement appears to have been abandoned at about the time of the Roman occupation of northern Britain unlike many similar sites throughout the country, which were occupied into and beyond the Roman occupation of Britain. It may be that the settlement was abandoned for a more sheltered location in the valley closer to running water, possiblv to the present site of Thorpe Thewles.
The Iron Age Settlement, situated on the east side of the A177 at Thorpe Thewles was first noticed by Leslie Still who photographed the area from an aeroplane back in 1976 having seen some pronounced markings in a field of ripening barley. Enclosures of this type are relatively common in the North East of England but the site at Thorpe Thewles is larger than most covering an area of about 7000 square metres. The site dates to about 50BC.
Between 1980 and 1982 Cleveland County Archaeology Section excavated over 50% of the site.
The ditch forming the enclosure was over 3 metres wide and 2 metres deep and the spoil from this had been used to form a bank, probably on the inside. The bank would have been capped with either a stout wooden fence or a thick hedge to protect the community’s livestock. The prevailing wind would probably have been from the north-west as it is today so the entrance was placed at the southern edge.
The central building is large and complex and there is evidence that the house had three phases of building. A drainage ditch, over 2.6 metres wide surrounds the house. Initially this house would have been grouped with one or two ancillary buildings but most of the interior of the enclosure would probably have been used to coral livestock.
Later expansion of the site, with additional buildings being built meant that the bank was pushed back into the ditch and the area became much more open. The ditch was completely filled in and the settlement no longer resembled a defended farmstead but was more like a village in size. The positioning of post-holes and the shape of the ditch shows that these buildings were circular in shape called round houses.
The most common animals kept on the site were cattle for beef, milk, leather, bone, horn and manure. They would also have been used to pull a simple plough or ard.
The spinning of wool is evident as a small number of spindleworls were found. Soay sheep, a strain of sheep still found on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda, is thought to be the closest relative to the sheep that were found in the Iron Ages. Their wool, which is plucked rather than shorn occurs in two colours, fawn and brown. This enabled simple tartan patterns to be woven on simple upright looms. An attractively decorated bone implement, thought to be a weaving shuttle, was found on the site close to two odd post holes that may well have held the upright supports for a loom.
Iron Age horses resembled modern Exmoor ponies in appearance. They could have been used to pull ploughs, chariots and carts. Three horse skulls were discovered at Thorpe Thewles along with many other animal bones.
Fragments of pottery vessels have been found. Other vessels made of wood and leather would also have been used but these being perishable no longer exist. The pottery is very crude, made of local clay and fashioned by hand into simple shapes before being fired in a bonfire or simple pit-kiln. Some finer quality vessels with turned out rims to support a wooden lid were used for cooking.
The settlement would have been largely self-sufficient but some items would have been acquired through barter or exchange. Corn grinding equipment would have been imported as there was no suitable local stone to make them. Wheat and barley would have been ground using a quern stone. Two types of quern stone were found on the site.
The earlier form is the saddle quern, this is a simple flat stone with a saddle shaped depression on the top-side in which the grain is ground using a smaller top stone. The beehive quern that replaced this is in two halves of equal diameter.
The top stone is bun shaped with a central conical hopper to hold the grain that falls down a hole to the grinding surface. It is held in place by a metal pivot that fits into a central hole in the bottom stone. The upper stone has a further socket to place wooden pegs for the handles used to rotate the upper stone. The beehive quern was introduced into Northern England in the 1st century BC and marks a technological advance in the processing of cereals.
Very few items of Iron Age jewellery have been found but a few pieces were found at Thorpe Thewles including a silver ring, two examples of brooches used to fasten clothing and a beautiful piece of gold jewellery thought to be part of an ear-ring. The photograph shows a modern reproduction of the earing on the right.
Get more information
More information about this period in our history can be found in the publications below and reports produced by Tees Archaeology or visit the Tees Archaeology web site (www.teesarchaeology.com).
Acknowledgements
Peter Rowe, Tees Archaeology
Joyce Scott
In the north of England the Roman occupation took much longer to have any effect on the people and landscape. The initial occupation covered the southern parts of England and a pact was made with the Brigantia, the tribe that occupied the north. This pact however did not last and the north was invaded in AD71.
This would probably have little effect on the people of Grindon at least for some time. Eventually the Roman tax gatherer and the army-recruiting officer would appear, but there would be a ready market for farm produce, and profits could be made from the trade with the Romans.
In the earlier part of the Roman occupation (100-120AD) some forts were built tc try to suppress the uprisings of the native peoples. Eventually Hadrian's Wall was built to control the people to the north. Forays by the Roman army into Scotland left some of the forts south of Hadrian's Wall deserted which left the way open for the Brigantes to attack and destroy many of these forts.
There is little evidence of effects of this violence in the immediate area of the Tees lowlands; indeed there is little evidence of military activity at all in the area. The major Roman Road ran from York and crossed the Tees at Piercebridge and then on to the Hadrian's Wall. Another road ran from York crossing the Tees at Middleton-one-Row (Pountney's Bridge) then on to Sedgefield and following the line of the A177 road to the fort at Chester-le-Street.
A number of probable Roman roads crossed the Tees further downstream. The one crossing at Yarm could possibly have run north into Grindon joining the existing road at Sedgefield.
Another crossing the river between the present sites of Stockton and Middlesbrough would go to the coast at Seaton Carew and possibly branch off to Sedgefield. At present there is no evidence to confir in 1848m the existence of any of these roads.
A few Roman artefacts have been found around the River Tees and indeed Roman coins were found in the parish at Whitton.
The parish slopes gently from the northwest to southeast from a height of 250 feet to 50 feet at the southern boundary, Thorpe Beck.
The parish of Grindon lies in the geological area known as the Tees Lowlands. The underlying structure in this area is of Triassic deposits (195-225 million years old). During the last ice age a great thickness of ice was formed over the Tees Lowlands by glaciers flowing into the area from the Pennines, the Cheviots and Scandinavia. These glaciers contained large quantities of rock debris and boulders suspended in the ice. Indeed one such boulder can still be seen in the village of Sadberge, a few miles west of Grindon.
About 13,000 BC the climate warmed up and the ice melted. The rock debris was deposited as coarse boulders known as boulder clay with patches of gravel occurring.
Then a lake formed in the Tees Lowlands. This was fed by streams flowing from the residual glaciers in the west, which brought in finer sediments to be deposited on the lake floor.
Sea Level rose so that by 7,500 BC the British Isles were cut off from mainland Europe, the North Sea eroding the coastline to its present position by about 5,000 BC.
The deposits formed during this change are known as laminated clays made up of thin layers of fine sand and clays. These clays have a maximum depth of 10 metres (30 ft.) but thin out rapidly away from the River Tees petering out completely at between 17 and 25 metres (50-80 ft.) above sea level.
The deposits of sand and gravel often form workable deposits, which have frequently been exploited in the parish, particularly around the Thorpe Beck area.
The very fertile agricultural land of the parish is a result of this geology.
After the last Ice Age when the ice had retreated a covering of grasses and herbs spread in from the south and east followed by a variety of trees. First pine and birch followed by hazel, elm and oak with alder arriving by about 3000 BC. This heralded the first arrival of man.
A short summary of the history of Wynyard Hall and the Londonderry Family taken from the book by Brian Masters
The name Wynyard originally meant ‘enclosed meadow’ from two anglo saxon words, win (meadow) and geard (enclosure). The name turns up in the 13th century as Wyneiard and in the 14th as Wynhyard. The current spelling came about in the 16th century.
There has been a substantial mansion house on the site of Wynyard Hall from as early as the 1200’s when, owned by the crown, it was inhabited by the de Chapell family. When the last of the male line died the de Chapell daughters became co-heirs. The widow re-married John de Denthorpe who gave his share of the property to Sir Henry de Lisle in 1283. The property was passed down through successive Durham families. Passing in marriage to another family when the male line died out.
Henry de Lisles brother inherited the property and his daughter succeeded him. She married Alan de Langton who is described as lord of Wynyard in a document dated 1311. The property ceased to be owned by the crown and the Langtons acquired the separate portions establishing themselves as the sole occupiers.
In 1438 the property was inherited by Sibyl daughter of William Langton who conveyed it in marriage to Sir Roger Conyers.
Little is known about the size of the manor house but the property must have been of a substantial size as the Conyers secured a chaplain for the service of the Wynyard household in 1454.
Ralph Claxton inherited the property in 1524 when he married William Conyers daughter Sybilla.
The estate was split three ways when William Claxton shared the estate between two daughters and a granddaughter. It was later brought back together again when a wealthy Newcastle merchant Alexander Davison purchased all portions.
The Davisons lived at Wynyard between 1633 and 1737 when the house was sold to Thomas Rudd who later sold it on to John Tempest in 1742 for £8,000.
The senior John Tempest died in 1776 and his successor, John Tempest had an only son John Wharton Tempest who died in a riding accident in 1793 aged 21. The direct line of the Tempests at Wynyard died with him and when John Tempest died in 1794 he passed the estate on to his nephew Sir Henry Vane the son of his sister Francis. A condition of this was that he take the name Tempest and he became known as Sir Henry Vane-Tempest. Sir Henry died in 1813 at Wynyard and the estate passed to his 13 year old daughter Frances Anne. Frances married a soldier and diplomat Charles William Stewart in 1819. His father, Robert Stewart, was the 1st Marquess of Londonderry. His half brother Robert, the famous Foreign Secretary Lord Castlereagh, succeeded as 2nd Marquess. On his death in 1822 Charles succeeded to the title and became 3rd Marquess of Londonderry.
In 1822 The Marquess and Marchioness saw work commence on the Wynyard mansion. Phillip Wyatt the architect was chosen to build a completely new house but he chose to retain the central part of the old building that became to entrance hall. The new part of the building was constructed in a simple Grecian style using stone from the family quarry at Penshaw ( part of the Tempest inheritance). Once the mansion was inhabitable, though by no means complete it was celebrated by one local newspaper as ‘the most splendid mansion in the north of England’.
Sadly the work was not completed for in 1841 a fire broke out in the conservatory which destroyed the entire house together with the valuable paintings, furniture and stained glass work.
Wyatt did not live to rebuild Wynyard but architects such as John Dobson and Ignatius Bonomi used his designs in the reconstruction. The house was completed in 1846.
The Tempests entertained at Wynyard on a grand scale. Royalty, prime ministers, foreign dignitaries and many others were frequent visitors.
On the death of the 3rd marquess in 1854, the title of 4th Marquess passed to Frederick the eldest son of his marriage to Francis Anne. Frederick resided at Mount Stewart in Ireland. During her years of widowhood, Francis Anne commissioned the building of a sepulchre in memory of her husband. She died at Seaham in 1865.
The 4th Marquis died without an heir in 1872 and his half brother Henry Lord Vane became the 5th Marquis. He resided at the property in Wales that he acquired on his marriage to Mary Cornelia.
On his death in 1884 Henry was succeeded by his son, Charles who became 6th Marquis of Londonderry.
The new Marquis and his Marchioness Lady Theresa Chetwynd-Talbot loved Wynyard Park and had a close relationship with their tenants. Queen Victoria created the Marquess, a Knight of the Garter for his services as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
Lord Londonderry died of pneumonia at Wynyard Park in 1915, his wife died in 1919.
Charles Stewart Henry their son became the 7th Marquis and together with his wife Edith entertained many important guests at Wynyard. Mr & Mrs Winston Churchill, Mr Harold and Lady Dorothy Macmillan, The Prince of Wales, later King Edward V111. The Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1934. The present Queen stayed at Wynward, as Princess Elizabeth in 1947. Lord and Lady Londonderry had four daughters and a son, Robin who succeeded to the title of 8th Marquis in 1949. He married Romaine, who until becoming Lady Castlereagh and Lady Londonderry worked in a beauty salon in London.
The 8th Marquis spent most of his time at Wynyard which at the time was being used as a teachers training college.
Wynyard was not tended as it should have been and became run down and forgotten. The 8th Marquis died in 1955 and was succeeded by his 18 year old son who was the youngest ever Marquis of Londonderry.
The 9th Marquis renovated the house and park. When the work was completed in 1963 Wynyard Hall was called ‘ the most splendid 19th century mansion house in the county’ by Nicholas Pevsner.
Further Reading
Wynyard Hall and the Londonderry Family – Brian masters
Sources
Debretts Handbook
The Annals of Stockton-on-Tees
Almost 800 years ago, noblemen, knights and barons were riding through the same fields and forests that now line our roads and houses. The Hall has played host to many dignitaries over the last millennium and in particular people of high profile and immense power.
The earliest family to live at Wynyard were the de Chapell’s or de Capella’s who were tenants of the Estate and owned by the Crown in 1237. Over the next 500 years, possession of Wynyard passed to numerous different owners until 1742 when John Tempest bought the Estate for £8,000 (quite a contrast to today’s sale price which is in the region of £8m).
Eventually, Sir Henry Vane-Tempest who was at the time, M.P. for City of Durham, inherited the Estate. He was well respected, handsome, young and rich. However, he was a heavy drinker, a born gambler and lacked self-respect and discipline.
In 1799 he married the Countess of Antrim, Anne Catherine and they had a daughter, Frances Anne. Anne Catherine was disappointed of not having a boy and she never grew close to her daughter. However, Sir Henry adored the little girl and although he was absent for long periods of time taking his seat at the House of Commons, he frequently wrote long loving letters to her. However, Sir Henry’s heavy drinking paid its toll on his health and at the age of 42 years, he died leaving the entire estate to his 13-year-old daughter, Frances Anne Vane-Tempest.
The Estate was kept in trust until she married Lord Charles Stewart in 1819, she was 19 years old and he was 40 years old. Charles Stewart was the one of the sons of the First Marquis of Londonderry who tragically died in 1821 and passed the Marquessate to his elder son, Robert Stewart.
Wynyard Hall was home to a Training College from 1946 to 1961: but, mystifyingly, any official history of the College is impossible to find.
There is no mention of the story involved in its formation as a College under information on Training Colleges, the County Archives, the Education Department, Hansard, or anywhere else. Even the Librarians at the National Archives and the Parliamentary Archives at the House of Lords made an extensive search and could find no record of it or of the negotiations of the War Office involved in its creating. It seems as though, although it only closed down forty-three years ago, the place has been wiped off the map of knowledge and has disappeared into the mists of time. Indeed, the only mention of it in the little booklet “Wynyard Hall and the Londonderry Family” is “The 8th Marquess spent most of his time at Wynyard, which was then used for a period as a teachers’ training school.” And that appears to be the sum total of all information on it. Official references appear, for some reason, to be non-existent and from their point of view, the College seems to have sunk, reprehensibly and regrettably, without trace.
It seems that, during the war, Wynyard Hall, being unoccupied at the time because the 7th Marquess had other homes, both in London and Ireland, was requisitioned by the War Office for the use of the Army. After a while, they vacated, and having given up occupation, and the place being left empty, it was taken over for use by the Fire Brigade. Then the Fire Brigade left.
With the end of the war in sight, the Government of the day conceived the idea of Emergency Colleges to reinforce the debilitated numbers of teachers in the country and to provide some sort of occupational training for those who would be leaving the forces in their thousands. There would soon be many, many people unqualified in anything other than the skills that they had learned in the forces or who had been snatched by conscription from unfinished occupational training which they had been undergoing, and, simultaneously, a huge lack of qualified teachers. As a result of this, Wynyard Hall was “handed over” to the education Authorities with instructions to use it as an Emergency College, specifically for Teacher Training; and the Londonderry home, empty and temporarily unloved, waited with bated breath to se what was going to happen to it.
The Government brief was that the College was to train ex-service women, together with mature women from related occupations, as teachers; and to churn them out, one batch after another, fully qualified, (i.e. Certificated) as quickly as possible; and it was envisaged that, as such, the College would only be in existence for a year or two, perhaps three; and that then his Stately Home could be returned to Lord Londonderry.
Nothing ever goes to plan; and the College went from success to success and lasted for the next fifteen years, initiating two year and then three year courses for its students and extending its training from the initial Nursery, Infant and Junior areas to all aspects of teaching, right up to Sixth Form level. By the time its lease was up, the Hall was returned to the Londonderrys and the Training College was amalgamated with Neville’s Cross. The staff and students transferred, and Wynyard Hall Training College, as a separate entity, ceased to exist.
Its spirit, however, continues. The Wynyard College Association continues to flourish and still meets once a year for a four day residential Reunion and much reminiscing; and, despite the fact that the first students left College fifty eight years ago (yes, 58!), and the last left forty four years ago, the Association and our personal memories of Wynyard are still going strong and we have great fun and the air is peppered with “do you remembers.”
Miss Sophie Bertie, B.Ed. (1896-1979) was selected, late in 1945, to be the first Principal of the still-to-be-created College. As qualification for the post she had an impressive personal and academic record. Born a Victorian, nurtured in a strict Edwardian childhood, she came of age during the First World War, during which she also gained her B.Ed. at Manchester Day College. (She was later to be awarded an Honorary M.Ed. from Durham University for Exceptional Services to Education.) To date she had had an impressive career in Education; always demanding exceptionally high standards of her pupils and staff, whom she ruled with an iron hand in a velvet glove whilst simultaneously working indefatigably at local and then National level in the N.U.T.
Her qualities having long been recognised, (she had become a Headmistress in West Bromwich at the unprecedented age of twenty-eight), she was then awarded the first Headship of a new school in Sunderland; West Park Central School for Girls; and such was her success again there that the school quickly achieved the same status in people’s minds as the already long established Grammar Schools and Private Schools in the area.
When, in 1945, she was considered to be the obvious person for selection for the position of Principal of the new Teacher Training College to be opened at Wynyard, she insisted immediately that one vital criteria of her being able to take up the position was that the College was to be affiliated to Durham University and to be understood by all in authority not be just a temporary institution, but to be considered to be fully equal to older, well established Colleges, and to be given the same status as the best of them; to be treated in the same way and with the same respect.
She also insisted that, since the College was to be rented from the Londonderry Estate, part of the ethos of the College should be that all Estate practices, lost during the time of the army and the Fire Brigade, should be re-established and continued during the college’s period of residence: hosting the Meet and opening musical concerts and College plays to the community; entertainments to include classical performances provided by famous virtuosi of the various arts, and with local residents invited to all performances.
Sophie considered, rightly, that not only was it the College’s duty, the duty of the occupants of “The Great House”, that if the College was to be the resident of Wynyard Hall, then it must provide a high level of the Arts for the enjoyment of the community at large. (She herself had a superbly rich contralto voice. She had trained with Isobel Baillie and could indeed have considered a successful operatic career had she been so minded.) She saw it also as her obligation to the students of whom she was to be in loco parentis to provide the highest quality of the performing arts as was available as part of their education.
She saw her own function, in that sense, not only as Principal of the College, but as the Caretaker of the duties of a Squire and of his position and obligations towards the community in which he lived, and insisted that the College must take up, in their absence, the obligations of the Londonderrys to the workers on the Estate and to the residents in the surrounding villages; becoming, in fact, host to the community in the same ways as would normally be expected of the owners of a Stately Home. Upon all of this she insisted as part of the rules she laid down to the authorities if they still wanted her to be its Principal. She was selected, and as a result of her negotiating skills and her insistence in fulfilling what she considered to be the moral obligations of her new position, the College, under her leadership, became again the hub of community life.
As occupant of Wynyard itself she also drove a very hard bargain. Lord Londonderry’s Estate Manager recalls that although the rent for the College occupancy was a mere £500 per annum; a paltry sum even in those days for a place so large; she insisted that Lord Londonderry should still be responsible for the maintenance of the roof and the guttering; all two acres of it, and also for the repairs to any damage caused by leakages.
Because of the Hall’s listed status, all down pipes were internal so that they should not spoil the architectural lines or the Palladian façade. They were very difficult to get at, therefore, without demolishing sections of the building, and one of the most expensive moments was when a dead pigeon was washed down into the internal guttering, blocking it and causing flooding, soaking one of the floor-to-ceiling high mirrors and the gilded wall-paper in King’s; and Miss Bertie insisted that such expense should not, and never would be, allowed to come out of the budget that she had been given for the education of the students in her charge.
The upkeep of the Hall was astronomical for the day, and Lord Londonderry was out of pocket throughout the whole time of the College’s residency without even the benefit of the use of his own State Rooms, which were to be used as Library and lecture rooms, common rooms, gymnasium, Assembly Hall and Chapel by the students.
And so, the College came into being; a beautiful but sadly battered building. The house had been empty and plundered of household items and many artefacts during the two years prior to its requisition; well lived in by Army and Fire Brigade; and looked internally like a badly battered barracks, which is indeed what it had been. It was unloved and uncared for and, at that point, totally unfit for the sort of Ladies’ College that Miss Bertie envisaged.
Wynyard has long been associated with aristocracy, royalty, wealth and affluence with its history stretching as far back as the early 1300s. The Londonderry family have dominated the reign at Wynyard since 1819 but earlier occupants have connections as far back as William the Conqueror. Affluence and wealth are still prevalent today with a large luxurious housing development and golf course dominating the Estate. The Hall continues to stand in all its splendour and history awaiting the next tenants and the start of a new era.
Where did the names come from?
Have you thought about where a road name comes from? As Wynyard is steeped in so much history, it is only natural that the developers chose road names associated with its past. Here are most of the road names we are familiar with today and an explanation of what they mean.
CASTLEREAGH – probably one of the most significant names associated with the history of Wynyard. Frances Vane-Tempest was the daughter of Sir Henry Vane-Tempest. When Sir Henry died in 1813, Frances became the sole heiress of Wynyard Hall and Estate. Frances married Lord Stewart, the first Marquis of Londonderry, in 1819. Unfortunately, Lord Stewart was killed in an accident in 1821 and his son, Viscount Castlereagh became the 2nd Marquis of Londonderry. The first Lord Castlereagh, who was the Foreign Secretary in the early 1800s, was the half brother of Lord Stewart The Castlereagh name has remained with the family to this present day; the most recently reported Castlereagh, isViscount Frederick Castlereagh
MOUNT STEWART – the Londonderrys also owned Mount Stewart, an Irish stately estate in Newtownards, Co. Down. Today, it is a National Trust property. Similar in design to Wynyard, this estate was a particular favourite of Edith, Lady Londonderry wife of the 7th Marquis who spent much of her time in the 1920s designing and creating a beautiful array of themed and sunken gardens.
WELLINGTON DRIVE – named after the Londonderrys association with the Duke of Wellington. The 3rd Marquis of Londonderry was one of the most prominent and influential of the Londonderry family both socially and politically. In 1822, he commissioned the rebuilding of a new Wynyard Hall which in total cost £150,000. When the work was complete, many dinner parties and much high society entertaining took place at Wynyard. In 1827, The Duke of Wellington was entertained at Wynyard which then led to many visits and public appearances around the North East . A commemorative obelisk, situated on the highest point at Wynyard, marks the spot where the Duke of Wellington laid the foundation stone
HOLDERNESSE – was another lavish property owned by the Londonderry family. Holdernesse House was bought by the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry at the same time as he commissioned the rebuilding ofWynyard Hall. Situated in Park Lane in London (no record of whether it still exists), it cost £43,000 to buy and £200,000 was spent on redesigning it. It was also a venue for high society balls and lavish entertaining.
THE STABLES/PADDOCK GREEN - The 6th Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry were well known and well connected, both politically and socially, around the late 1800s and early 1900s. Both were very keen riders and horse racing enthusiasts. Wynyard became well known for its stud farm – breeding and rearing famous racehorses. So much time was spent travelling back and forth to Newmarket to race their horses, that eventually the Londonderrys decided to build their own paddocks at Wynyard and they were still in use when the Estate was sold in 1987.
SALTERHOUSE/THE AVENUE/BRIELEY DRIVE – are associated with the houses and cottages where estate workers lived. Built around the late 1800s early 1900s, the tenants took great pride in keeping the properties in good condition. Regular checks were made on behalf of the Londonderrys to ensure the estate was being properly managed and looked after. The Salterhouses remain today. However, Brierley Cottage and The Avenue were knocked down due to deterioration.
TILERY WOOD, SPRING BANK WOOD, BRIELEY WOOD – all associated with wooded areas surrounding the Wynyard Estate
SWANCAR COURT/HORSE SHOE POND – pond areas situated close to Wynyard Hall
SALTERHOUSE, SWAINSTON CLOSE, EMBLETON – are all associated with the eight farms owned and managed by the Wynyard Estate. Salterhouse was the main farm and nearest to the Hall.
EMBLETON, SWAINSTON CLOSE, FULTHORPE – these names were also associated with medieval villages which were situated around the Wynyard Estate area. Lumps and bumps exist which local archaeologists are convinced are the buried remains of these communities.
Sources
Here you can find out all about:
Details on what changes in the park over the year can be accessed by from our seasonal information. You can also find information about opening and closing times and public transport.
The events, organised and led by the countryside rangers, at the park from October 2005 to April 2006 are as follows. Please note that some of these will require booking in advance, where indicated:
Events can be booked by contacting the Wynyard Woodland Park countryside rangers on (01740) 630011.
Apple Day - Friday 21st October 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Core! An event for all the family as the team at the Woodland Park celebrate National Apple Day. Children’s activities including apple bobbing, stalls selling apple pies amongst other produce, and the crazy apple race - Will you be ‘pipped’ to the post?!
Meet: Outside the Station House Visitor Centre.
Willow Lantern Workshop - Tuesday 25th October 10.00 am – 2.30 pm
Have a go at making a lantern out of willow wands. Spend the morning making the frame and the afternoon decorating it. Please bring a packed lunch. Suitable for children aged 9 years and above.
All materials provided free of charge, but advance booking is essential as space in the railway carriage is limited.
Meet: Outside the railway carriage near the Visitor Centre.
Jogging Along!
Do you fancy getting fit and losing a few pounds before the Christmas festivities? Would you like to meet similar-minded people in a healthy outdoor environment, or simply blow away the cobwebs on a Sunday morning? If so why not come along to our Jogging for Beginners course, under the guidance of our qualified coach Jill Sexton. But beware – it may change your life!
Suitable for those with very little or no experience of jogging.
Sessions will be held on the following Sunday’s from 10.30 am – 12.00 noon: 13th, 20th, 27th November & 4th, 11th, 18th December.
Crafty Christmas - Sunday 4th December 10.30 am – 3.00 pm
A festive drop-in craft session in preparation for the big day! Try your hand at decorating a Christmas ornament or make a Christmas card out of recycled materials to send to friends or family. Crafts will be suitable for both children and adults. A small charge will be made to help cover the costs of materials.
Meet: Outside the railway carriage near the Visitor Centre.
Midwinter Solstice - Wednesday 21st December 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Celebrate the shortest day with tales of long ago at the ‘Celestial Kitchen’! The Celestial Kitchen is one a series of new sculptures that were installed around the Woodland Park over the summer. Please come prepared for a 10 minute walk to Stoney Field where the event will take place.
Meet: Outside the Station House Visitor Centre.
Walking in a Wynyard Wonderland - Sunday 8th January 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Join the Countryside Rangers as they work off all those Christmas calories on this 8 mile guided walk. The route will take in the newly created footpath linking Wynyard Woodland Park to Wynyard Village. Enjoy some lunchtime refreshment at The Stables Pub before returning to the Country Park.
Meet: Outside the Station House Visitor Centre.
What a Load of Rubbish! - Wednesday 22nd February 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Don’t bin it – Re-use it!
Learn how to recycle ordinary household rubbish and how to turn them into useful and decorative items during this drop-in session. All materials provided free of charge.
Meet: Outside the railway carriage near the Visitor Centre.
Mothers Day Surprises - Sunday 19th March 10.30 am – 12.00 noon & 1.00 pm – 2.30 pm
Bring along the children to either of these two craft sessions to make an exclusive hand-made card and an individual gift for someone special. The session will include the use of embossing powder and heat guns so younger children will need help from an adult.
A small charge will be made to cover the cost of materials.
Advance booking essential as space in the railway carriage is limited.
Meet: Outside the railway carriage near the Visitor Centre.
Signs of Spring - Sunday 26th March 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm
Explore Wynyard Woodland Park at this special time of year when nature is awakening from its winter’s sleep. Use your senses on a walk of discovery!
Meet: Outside the Station House Visitor Centre.
Nature Detectives
Meetings will be held once a month on Saturday mornings from 10.00am – 12 noon in the railway carriage:
Children must return a completed parental consent form in order to join the club and activities must be booked in advance.
Up Above in the Night Sky
Find out which stars and planets are in the sky over the coming months, and keep in touch with any special events such as comets, shooting stars and eclipses.
Planetarium shows will take place on the following Friday evenings at 7:30 pm:
7th October, 4th November, 2nd December, 6th January, 3rd February, 3rd March
The Telescope Club
Calling all star-struck youngsters! Do you have a telescope? Did you get one last Christmas or as a birthday present? Would you like to meet other young people with their own telescopes, and find out how best to see the stars and planets? Then read on!
Meetings will take place on evenings from 7.30 pm – 9.00 pm on the following dates;
30th September, 28th October, 25th November, 30th December, 27th January, 24th February, 31st March
Deep Impact
On July 4, American Independence Day, NASA crashed a spaceprobe the size of a washing machine, kamikaze-style, into a comet called Tempel 1. A crater the size of a football pitch was formed after a massive explosion on this 7 mile-long, ice-covered rock. Find out what happened during this first-ever impact on a comet at these special Friday night shows;
Shows will take place on the following dates at 7:30 p.m;
21st October, 18th November, 16th December
Who is the first Martian ?
In about twenty five years time the first manned landings will be made on Mars - We have the technology! Nasa have their plan, and the Russians have a different one. Find out what those plans are, and more about the red planet in this fascinating show.
Shows on Fridays at 7:30 pm on the following dates;
20th January, 17th February, 17th March
See the Wonders of the Universe through the Observatory Telescope
The Wynyard Observatory is located near the planetarium and houses a large reflecting telescope. Through this can be seen clouds of gas and clusters of stars in our own Milky Way galaxy, plus many more galaxies in their own right out in the depths of the universe.
Public observing nights are dedicated to the following Fridays, from 7.30 pm onwards, or when it gets dark and are FREE OF CHARGE!
14th October, 11th November, 9th December, 13th January, 10th February, 10th March, 24th March
Please note that on Fridays when a planetarium show takes place, visitors can also observe afterwards free of charge, clear skies permitting.
Wynyard Woodland Park’s Nature Detectives club is an ideal chance for youngsters to learn about nature. Meetings are aimed at five to twelve year olds and are held one Saturday every month in the railway carriage. Each month children look at a different topic such as pond life, camouflage, tracks and trails etc.
The session is built around the topic and involves a mix of outdoor activities, environmental games, conservation tasks and art and craft activities all lead by the countryside rangers. Members also receive a monthly fact sheet, which is packed with information, interesting facts and games to play.
Children can build up a file of information, which they can read at home or use as a source of inspiration for further games and activities. There is a two pounds joining fee and club sessions are free. Five to seven year olds must be accompanied by an adult. Parents of older children can stay and join in the sessions if they wish, or may leave their children in the safe hands of the countryside rangers.
Visitor Centre:
Tea Rooms:
Public Toilets:
Main Car Park:
Overflow Car Park:
Fitting in with the natural ebb and flow of the seasons certain things, other than the flora and fauna, change on the park throughout the year. Most notable of these to the visitor are the opening and closing times of the visitor centre, car park, tearooms, the bus timetable and the time and day of public planetarium shows. Please consult the information on these to avoid a wasted or truncated visit.
Throughout the summer months we have the wonderful presence of the site beehive in the Gift Shop, where visitors can observe honeybees in their natural habitat: foraging for food, breeding and making honey.
During the spring and summer months we have nesting birds on view with our bird box webcam, showing live video of the development of broods of chicks from eggs to fledglings. A real life soap opera that’s mesmerising to watch!
The tearooms also have seasonal menus as they use natural, locally sourced produce in all that they prepare.
Care should be taken on some walks during the inclement months, particularly for the less able bodied visitor, please review our maps and walks section to assess any potential hazards.
The park shows different aspects of it’s natural beauty throughout the seasons, from the full leafy green summer buzzing with wildlife through to the stark snow covered landscape of winter, all sights that frequent visitors will be familiar with. If you’ve visited in one season please come again to see what delights are on offer at other times of the year.
The park is well served by a bus service that takes in the outlying villages and local towns. This service, the 567 (or the 586 early service), is provided by Arriva and is subsidised by central government funding under a rural transport initiative. The service runs from Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) and the timetable changes between summer and winter. You can view the timetable from here or request it to be sent to you by e-mail.
Stockton Borough Council’s countryside service, in association with Hartlepool Borough Council, the Tees Forest, Stockton Renaissance Partnership and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund run a special service during the 6 week school summer holiday. This service, the 401, is operated by Stagecoach and called the Badger Bus. It runs on a Monday and Friday, visiting most of Stockton and Hartlepool’s countryside sites and many places in between. The service uses a subsidised daily rover ticket, that allows you to get on and off at any point on the circular route. For details on ticket prices and timetable please see the latest leaflet.
For further information on public transport please contact Traveline North East on 0870 6082608.
For further information on the Badger Bus please contact either: the Joint Public Transport Group on 01287 612555, Stockton’s Countryside Recreation Officer on 01642 526877 or Hartlepool’s Transport Team on 01429 523555.
Wynyard Woodland Park Friends Group is a new venture for the park and was first advertised through the Friends Summer Solstice B-B-Q in June 2005 and later through the annual Country Craft Fayre in August. Membership is growing from strength to strength and the inaugural meeting of the Friends took place in September 2005 in Wynyard Planetarium.
The Friends meet once every month at the park. Although their purpose is similar to that of the Trust in many ways, the Friends operate at much more of a grass roots level and are more involved with the work of the Rangers on a day-to-day basis.
At meetings the Friends hear about park updates and developments from the Countryside Ranger Service, and meetings provide them with an opportunity to have a say in how the park is run. The Friends support the work of the rangers through organising events, volunteering and assisting with promotion and publicity of the park and park activities. The Friends group provides a voice for the local community and a consultation forum for discussing important issues. Certain grants that are not available to local authorities are also open to application from the Friends Group and therefore this is another important way the Friends can assist the Countryside Service in developing and managing the Woodland Park for the benefit of conservation, education and recreation.
For further information on the Friends Group, contact Countryside Ranger David Neal on (1740) 630011.
Three facilities on the park are available for certain community, educational or local groups to hire for meetings or events:
Toilet facilities are available in the public toilet block for Planetarium and Carriage bookings and a key can be obtained out of normal working hours, although it is preferred that these amenities are hired during the usual visitor centre opening hours. There are no toilet facilities available in Tilery Wood.
Park facilities and events can be booked in advance by contacting the countryside staff on 01740 630011. Any requests for audio-visual or other equipment should be made at the time of booking.
The Tea Rooms can also take advance bookings and sometimes cater for meetings. This is, however, a separate business and not run by Stockton Borough Council so arrangements must be made independently with them. If a large party of people plan to come to the tea rooms on a normal opening day then it is advisable to ring and let them know in advance to avoid the disappointment of along wait to be served or seated. The Tea Rooms can be contacted on 01740 630731.
The Country Code
Treat the countryside as you would treat your home!
Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs!
Even when going out locally, it’s best to get the latest information about where and when you can go. For example, your rights to go onto some areas of open land may be restricted while work is carried out for safety reasons, or during breeding seasons. Follow advice and local signs, and be prepared for the unexpected.
Leave gates and property as you find them!
Please respect the working life of the countryside, as our actions can affect people’s livelihoods, our heritage, and the safety and welfare of animals and ourselves.
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home!
We have a responsibility to protect our countryside now and for future generations, so make sure you don’t harm animals, birds, plants or trees.
Keep dogs under close control!
The countryside is a great place to exercise dogs, but it’s every owner’s duty to make sure their dog is not a danger or nuisance to farm animals, wildlife or other people.
Consider other people!
Showing consideration and respect for other people makes the countryside a pleasant environment for everyone – at home, at work and at leisure.
Byelaws
There are several byelaws relating to Country Parks and Picnic Sites, made by the Council under section 41 of the Countryside Act 1968, they are enforceable and should be observed. They are summarised for Wynyard Woodland Park as follows:
Vehicles
Motor cycles, motor vehicles or any other mechanically propelled vehicle are not allowed on the site other than in the car park areas, this excludes invalid carriages. Cycles are allowed on the cycle paths around the site.
Swimming
Swimming or bathing in any waterway or pond on the site is forbidden.
Dogs
Dogs must be kept under proper control and restraint at all times and prevented from causing annoyance to any person or from worrying or disturbing any animals or birds.
Camping
Tents, vehicles, caravans or any other structure used for the purpose of camping is forbidden.
Wildlife Protection
Intentionally killing, injuring, taking or disturbing any animal, bird or fish is expressly forbidden including hunting, shooting, fishing, setting traps or nets and the laying of snares.
Fires
The intentional lighting of fires or careless discarding of a lit match is an offence as is the use of camping stoves. BBQs are permitted in the prescribed area.
Boats
The operation or sailing of a boat on any waterway or pond is not allowed.
Watercourses and Pollution
Knowingly causing or permitting the flow of any drain or watercourse on the park to be obstructed or diverted is an offence as is the opening, shutting or operating of any sluice or similar apparatus on the park. Intentionally, carelessly or negligently fouling or polluting any waterway is also an offence.
Gates
Having opened any gate on the park it is an offence not to close it where notices request.
Climbing
Climbing on walls, fences, trees, barriers, gates, railings, posts or other structure is not allowed.
Trading
The selling, offering for sale, letting or hiring of any commodity or article is forbidden.
Grazing
Turning out animals or permitting them to graze on the park is forbidden.
Removal of Structure
The removal or displacing of any barrier, railing, post, sign, seat or any or any part of any structure or ornament is forbidden.
Obstruction
Intentionally obstructing any council officer in their duties, any council contractor executing a contract or other person properly using the park is an offence.
Any council officer executing their duties or contractor properly executing a contract are not bound by these laws.
All of the main buildings on the park are covered by fire alarms. Should you hear an alarm, or be requested to vacate the building by a member of staff, please leave in a quiet and orderly manner, without shouting or panicking, by the nearest fire exit which will be clearly marked. Once out of the building please move to a safe distance until the fire brigade arrive and/or a member of staff gives the all clear.
Always prepare well when walking out on the site, wear sensible shoes or boots, take appropriate clothing for the season, perhaps a flask of warm drink in the winter or a bottle of water in the summer and a sugar snack should you require an energy boost. Always allow enough time for your walk so that you are not in a rush to return, as that’s when accidents can occur.
If possible take a mobile phone with you and in the event that you get into difficulty dial 999 and contact the rangers on 01740 630011. The A689 is some 2.5 miles north of the visitor centre and Hurworth Burn Reservoir is a further 3 miles beyond that so on long walks you can be some distance from any help. Mobile phone reception is variable around the site and you may not always be able to get a signal, if you are in trouble try to get a companion to get to the highest point in the landscape where a signal is more likely - it makes sense to go out with friends.
In the eventuality that you return late to the car park and the gates have been locked, please do not panic, call (01642) 528989 to have your car released. There will be a charge for this call out, which is another good reason why you should always allow enough time for your excursion within the country park.
Should you witness anti-social behaviour or a crime being committed on the park please report it to the Cleveland Police incident desk immediately so that prompt action can be taken, their number is 01642 326326. Your cooperation is appreciated in making Stockton’s open spaces a safe place for everyone to enjoy.
IntroductionFrom this section you can find out all about:
Information about the opening and closing times, the surrounding area, other Stockton Borough Council Country Parks and public transport is also available.
The visitor centre is usually the starting point for anyone making a visit to the park. The building itself is a Victorian station house dating from the 1850’s and has been refurbished several times, most recently in 2004. It is home to the Gift Shop, Farm Shop and Tea Rooms and is the site base for the countryside rangers.
The area adjacent to the visitor centre contains the car park, bus stop, planetarium, observatory, railway carriage schoolroom and public toilet block. There are two play areas, a BBQ area and many picnic benches distributed around the immediate vicinity of the car park.
The visitor centre being an old station building is sited on a platform that provides pleasant and unusual seating amenities, with the area directly outside of the tearooms fenced off for patrons to enjoy the ‘al fresco’ dining experience.
The recently converted Station House Tea Rooms, also run by Angus and Stephanie, has been classically designed to provide a relaxing and user friendly spot for site visitors such as walkers and cyclists, disabled facilities are available.
The beautiful, period building located in the park's idyllic surroundings is perfect for a light lunch or to catch up with friends and family with an outdoor patio area at the rear commonly used by dog walkers.
Much of the food and flavours available through Reb Berry Foods is reflected in the menu and daily specials at the Tea Rooms. The meus are changed seasonally and aim to provide something for all tastes and ages, a small children's corner is provided to occupy the younger visitors during their visit.
Standard food fare of chips and deep fried goods are off the menu and provided instead are seasonal meals, reflecting the current harvests and available produce.
A selection of fine teas, coffees and other beverages are on offer along with a wide range of home baked cakes, slices and scones.
Special dietary requirements are catered for where possible.
The Tea Rooms are open six days a week, closed Tuesdays, from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Tel: (01740) 630731
Other site amenties include the Farm and Gift Shop, information point and adventure playground along with mapped walks and cycle routes.
The Planetarium is an important educational resource for schools, colleges, community groups and the general public. Weekdays provide the main focus for activities for schools and colleges, while evenings offer an opportunity for community groups to enjoy shows. Public shows are held every two weeks on a Friday evening during the winter (from September to April) and on Sunday afternoons during the summer (from May to August).
Schools are catered for across all areas of the science curriculum and at all levels. School parties can also book a Planetarium show with a live internet telescope session, where one of a number of telescopes from places like Chile, Australia, the Canary Islands, mainland USA and Hawaii can be controlled directly from the Planetarium, and pictures of the sky are captured on computer from these far away places.
Public shows are wide-ranging and include a tour of what can be seen in the sky in any one month, shows on the Big Bang theory, features on the sun and our neighbouring planets, the legends behind the constellations, views of the sky from different parts of the world and much more! Advance bookings are essential for all educational and community group visits and are recommended for public shows, as shows are very popular and sell out fast.
Together with the Observatory, the Planetarium forms the local focus for any astronomical events. It is run jointly by the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society (CaDAS) and Stockton Borough Council, and members of the Society are often on hand to share their wealth of knowledge with visitors. Winter public shows are held on Friday evenings to coincide with ‘public observing night’ where, if the skies are clear, the Observatory is opened and CaDAS members bring along their own telescopes for you to view the wonders of the heavens first hand and up-close.
The Planetarium is also licenced for civil weddings ceremonies and is proving very popular with couples that fancy something a little different for their special day! Contact Stockton Register Office on (01642) 527720 for further information.
For bookings and further information, contact the Planetarium Director on (01740) 630544 or visit www.wynyard-planetarium.net.
The Observatory was opened in 1994 and is home to a large reflecting (mirror-based) telescope, which, at nearly 19 inches across the diameter of the main mirror, is believed to be the largest of it’s kind in the north of England!
The new telescope was built in 2002 to replace a large 8 inch refracting (lens-based) telescope, with the specific intention of collecting light from very small objects in our solar system (such as comets and asteroids) and faint objects in space (such as galaxies and nebulae). The telescope is used for serious astronomical work, as well as for public viewing, and one of its main purposes is the detection of earth-crossing comets and asteroids. For example, the telescope could have detected the asteroid that some scientists believe crashed into the Earth some 65 million years ago, killing most of the dinosaurs!
The Observatory is jointly managed by the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society (CaDAS) and Stockton Borough Council, and forms the focus of Friday night public observing sessions at the park during the winter months. From September to April, after dark, on clear Friday nights, CaDAS members man the observatory and many bring along their own telescopes, eager to share their wealth of knowledge about the universe with visitors.
There is no substitute for looking through a telescope with your own eyes, but on cold and clear winter nights it’s not everyone’s idea of fun! Pictures can therefore be relayed from the main telescope onto the dome of the Planetarium where they can also be viewed indoors, in warmth and comfort.
Public observing only takes place on clear nights, so if the skies are cloudy, please do not make a special trip (unless of course you’re attending a Planetarium show), as you may be disappointed. For an up-to-date, local weather forecast, visit the planetarium website at www.wynyard-planetarium.net.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Astronomical Society, details can be obtained from the Planetarium Director on (01740) 630544, or e-mail director@wynyard-planetarium.net. Some of the many benefits available to members of the Society are the use of the large collection of astronomical books at the Planetarium and short-term loan of any of the range of telescopes housed within the Planetarium. The Astronomical Society meets once a month, on the second Friday of every month, between September and June. New members are always welcome and further details of the meetings can be found on the Planetarium website.
Wynyard Woodland Park's gift shop offers a wide range of gifts and goods to take away. Friendly staff are on hand to provide leaflets, site maps and to answer any queries from visitors. Leaflets are also available, providing information on local walks, local country parks and nature reserves, countryside events and activities and opportunities for volunteering in the field of conservation.
For those of you who may have worked up a thirst on your visit to the park, take-away drinks and snacks are available including tea, coffee and soup and a range of cool drinks, straight from the fridge. Stem hunger pangs with flapjacks, muffins, crisps or chocolate and no visit to the gift shop would be complete without a taste of our delicious, creamy Yorkshire Dales and Loseley ice-cream - try double chocolate, sticky toffee, strawberries & cream, honey with ginger or traditional vanilla - perfect on a warm day and delicious on cool days too!
A wide range of books are available to browse through or to purchase, on a variety of topics including: wildlife themes such as birds, flowers, trees, and a selection of local history publications, covering subjects such as railway history and archaeology. One of the most popular selling books is the ‘Castle Eden Branch’ Railway book that provides information about the site’s former use as a railway line. The book also includes some fascinating photographs of trains on the track, going past what is now the Visitor Centre. Children’s wildlife activity and reading books are particularly popular with the young ones and are a great memento to take home after a day out. We also stock a wonderful range of Usborne Craft Books, which prove extremely popular.
Since many of the customers on week days are children on school visits, visitors will find a whole range of value for money, good quality, pocket money toys to buy, such as wildlife notepads, rubbers, and pencils and the more unusual bouncing egg balls and stretchy rubber frogs, to name but a few. There is also a wide range of toys and gifts from traditional wooden toys such as old fashioned cup & balls and slate and chalk through to rather unusual wooden mobiles made up of bees, butterflies and other interesting creatures.
Budding young scientists will be interested in the selection of astronomy-related goods on offer that complement the work undertaken at the Planetarium, which is situated on site at the bottom of the car park. Customers can buy cosmic rockets, to build and fly at home, using vinegar and baking soda or how about a parachuting alien and a pot of mars mud!
Switch facilities are now available in the gift shop, with the minimum transaction value being £10, any transaction less than this will incur a surcharge of 50 pence.
Wynyard Woodland Park's farm shop offers a wide range of gifts and foods to take away. Goods are reasonably priced and many make ideal gifts for that special occasion - why not make up your own hamper from the wide variety of produce available? Speciality jams and preserves such as Blueberry and lavender, Rhubarb with ginger and the traditional but still as tasty Strawberry, Blackcurrant or Black Cherry are just a few of the large range stocked here.
A wide variety of curds are also available, such as lime, ginger and lemon curd as well as luscious lemon cheese. Hand baked biscuits, cakes, flapjacks and packaged savoury goods are also on offer including tasty root crisps made from parsnip or beetroot, apple crisps and cheese snips all helped down with a tasty selection of dips. For the connoisseur there’s a selection of marinade sauces, cook-in-sauces, chutneys and pates to choose from.
Why not sample our fresh produce from the chiller cabinet where fresh sausages, bacon and organic chickens are on sale, all produced locally.
During the summer months, lucky visitors will be able to view a colony of honey bees hard at work in their hive, through a specially constructed viewing chamber.
A variety of honey is also available to buy in the shop to take away and taste at home. Other honey and beeswax products are available including: tea tree oil healing ointment, lavender or peach lip-balm, avocado skin cream and lavender hand and foot balms – why not try one to soothe the body after your outdoor experiences at the park.
Switch facilities are now available in the farm shop, with the minimum transaction value being £10, any transaction less than this will incur a surcharge of 50 pence
Thanks to funding from the Countryside Agency, Stockton Council became the proud owners of a de-commissioned railway carriage in 2004.
The carriage dates from the early 1960’s and was originally a British Rail ‘Mark 2 Tourist Second Class Open’, used for transporting passengers and commonly used on intercity services until quite recently. In 1991, modifications including steel panels in the large window frames and an aluminium floor and roller shutter doors, transformed it into a power wagon for track-spraying equipment.
The carriage was relocated to the Park from it’s previous home in Ashford, Kent, and now provides an appropriate reminder of the important railway heritage of the Park and surrounding area.
Once on site at Wynyard Woodland Park, the carriage was extensively refurbished and re-fitted by dedicated volunteers. The interior space has been imaginatively decorated and provides an unusual and interesting classroom area for visiting groups and school parties.
Educational facilities inside the carriage include a six-foot, touch-sensitive whiteboard similar to those found in school classrooms (the third main terminal of the Virtual Visitor Centre information point which you are exploring now). The whiteboard provides a preliminary introduction of the park to school children before they venture out into the countryside for hands-on studies.
Groups will also find a pond-life tank which is linked to a microscope and computer and which allows close examination of microscopic creatures via the computer screen or by the projection of live images onto the large whiteboard.
The Park’s junior nature club (the Nature Detectives) use the carriage as a meeting place, and schools and groups can book it as a schoolroom or as a more general base for either a Planetarium visit, Ranger led activity or a combined astronomical and conservation field trip. The carriage can accommodate a group of up to 30, advance booking is essential and a small deposit and booking fee are required.
For bookings and further information, contact the Countryside Rangers on (01740) 630011.
Red Berry Foods is owned and run by Angus and Stephanie Powell, a local family business, which endeavours to provide seasonally fresh, high quality, healthy foods, using the best of the locally sourced produce.
It is our philosophy that fresh, healthy & nutritious food should be available to everyone, but not at a price. We provide a range of made to order & freshly prepared, highly nutritious foods, delivered to your door at your convenience. Among our range of foods are home-style ready meals and side dishes; hand made, speciality breads; fresh, hearty soups bursting with flavour and baked goods such as quiches, tarts and cakes.
We prepare the majority of our food to order preventing the use of any form of artificial additive or preservative. Most of our chosen ingredients are sourced locally, usually organic and as fresh as possible. Due to this we can guarantee that what you eat hasn’t any hidden extras, only blends of the finest herbs and spices to tantalize your taste buds!
Many of those involved in the supply of our ingredients are small scale and of a specialised nature and therefore it is sometimes necessary to freeze some of the produce to ensure weekly availability and maintain the quality of the food. As our food has less food miles, when it is frozen, it’s frozen very fresh so as not to compromise the quality of the product.
Thornbeck Farm who are local suppliers of poultry & game and run by Stephanie’s parents, work on the same principles as Red Berry Foods. Supply is extensive within the locality to farm shops & retailers, restaurants and catering establishments. High standards of animal husbandry are essential to the final quality of the product. Birds reared on the farm are fed and cared for as naturally as possible with only the best organic, milled, corn to flavour the meat (all grown by local farmers). Recognition for this has earned the farm a place in Rick Stein’s guidebook to Food Heroes of Britain. Visit www.thornbeck.co.uk for further information.
Fruit, vegetables, herbs and berries harvested from Thornbeck and local producers are grown without pesticides, manufactured fertilisers and are in tune with the seasons and elements.
We truly believe that you will taste for yourself the dramatic difference this makes to the flavour of our food. Recognition of the values & ideals held by us at Red Berry has led to Stephanie’s role as resident chef/food consultant & menu planner on Tyne Tees ‘Love Your Home’ series of programmes.
Red Berry Foods create three, seasonal menus per year - Spring, Summer & Autumn/Winter. In addition, there is traditional Christmas produce for the holiday season.
Menus are available either by post or email. Free delivery on orders over £25.00 within 25 mile radius.
Stockton Borough Council Tourist Information Centre provide the list below of accommodation in the local area. Please mention their on-line guide when booking.
Harmonised quality standards for hotels and guest accommodation have been introduced and will be used by the English Tourism Council, AA and RAC throughout Britain and Ireland. Trained impartial inspectors visit properties annually so that you can have confidence that your accommodation has been thoroughly checked and rated for quality before you make your booking.
Using a simple one to five rating, the new system puts greater emphasis on quality and is based on research that showed exactly what customers are looking for when choosing accommodation. Hotels are given a rating from one to five stars, whilst diamonds represents guest accommodation.
1. Express by Holiday Inn
Coal Lane
Wolviston
Stockton-on-Tees
TS22 5PZ
Tel: 0800 434
040
All rooms en-suite - AA Travel Accommodation; 2 rooms available for
special needs, Computer point and hairdryer; Double rooms include sofa bed for
families.
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/925/en/hd/sktuk
2. Four Seasons Guest House (3 Diamond)
314 Norton Road
Norton
Stockton-on-Tees
TS20 2PU
Tel / Fax :
(01642) 554826
Situated 3 minutes drive from A19 and 4 minutes drive from
centre of Stockton and 5 minutes walk from the picturesque villageof Norton with
its shops, village green and duck
pond.
http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/hotels/fourseasonsguesthouse.html
3. Grange Guest House (3 Diamond)
33 Grange Road
Norton
Stockton-on-Tees
TS20 2NS
Tel: (01642)
552541
Conveniently situated in quiet area, near town centre, with easy
access to all main routes. All bedrooms fully refurbished.
e-mail -
joan@grangeguesthouse.freeserve.co.uk
4. Post Office House (3 Diamond)
Redmarshall Street
Stillington
TS21 1JS
Tel: (01740) 630301
5. Sedgefield Travelodge
A117 / A689 Roundabout
Sedgefield
TS21 2JX
Tel: (01740) 623399
40 Family rooms
AA/RAC Travel Accommodation; 2 Rooms available for
special needs; Little Chef and Burger King on
site.
http://www.travelodge.co.uk/find_a_hotel/hotel/hotel_id/220/Sedgefield
6. Todds House Farm (3 Diamond)
Sedgefield
Co. Durham
TS21 3EL - Tel: (01740) 620244
Full English
Breakfast; Hairdryer, iron and radio alarm in rooms; Foldaway bed and cot
available; Laundry facilities available; French & German
speaking.
http://www.toddshousefarm.co.uk/
7. Hardwick Hall Hotel (3 Star)
Sedgefield
TS21 2EH
Tel: (01740) 620253
Same day laundry service
available; Country location; Facilities available for special needs; Mini bar;
Safe; In-house Movies;CD and DVD players in all rooms.
Totally refurbished;
52 new super deluxe rooms.
As well as the site facilities a number of local businesses and amenities, of interest to visitors, can be found in the immediate vicinity around the visitors centre area of the park:
Post Office
The Post Office is in the village of Thorpe Thewles and is also the village store. The opening Hours are: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9a.m. to 1p.m. and 2p.m. to 5p.m.; Wed 9a.m. to 1p.m.; Sat & Sun Closed.
Fulthorpe Garage
Fulthorpe Garage is on Wynyard Road near the entrance to the cycleway and the Grindon Loop. They carry out all vehicle repairs (except welding & paintwork), MoTs, sell fuel and have a breakdown service. Opening Hours are weekdays 8a.m. to 4:30p.m. and Saturdays 8a.m. to 11:30a.m. Telephone number (01740) 630392.
Hamilton Russel and Vane Arms
The Hamilton Russell Arms and the Vane Arms public houses located in Thorpe Thewles village, both serve food. Opening times are to standard licensing hours and telephone numbers are (01740) 630757 and (01740) 630458.
The Grindon Parish Hall can be found in the village of Thorpe Thewles. It has its own kitchen and toilet facilities and is available for hire, for further details please call (01740) 630148.
Castle Eden Pick your Own Fruit Farm
The Castle Eden Pick Your Own Fruit Farm strawberries field is just a little further up the lane than the main entrance to the park. Operated by a local farmer this business runs from 5 to 6 weeks from the middle of June and parking facilities are adjacent to the field. For further details telephone 07802 910255.
The main focus of the countryside rangers and the planetarium director throughout the week in term-time is educating children on school visits. To this end the staff at the park have put together an education pack, designed for use by teachers in the classroom or on self-led visits, which is available for a minimal fee from the staff (link to page).
In addition to the entire outdoor environs and the heavens above us the park has two buildings dedicated to teaching children: the planetarium and the railway carriage schoolroom. All equipment is provided by the park free of charge for school visits as long as it is available. The library resources of the planetarium are also available to teachers by arrangement with the planetarium director.
The planetarium is a unique teaching resource within the area to help in educating children about the world around them and encouraging them to look after this fragile planet we call home. The dome of the planetarium comfortably accommodates 60 children and as well as being used to project the stars can show other media such as videos, DVD’s, slides and computer graphics and simulations providing an experience unavailable even in most cinemas.
The railway carriage is a classroom that can hold a maximum of 35 children plus staff. It is imaginatively designed and partitioned into the main area and a reading/wetland room. The carriage houses a 72 inch SMART whiteboard and associated computer system that is an excellent teaching aid and which doubles-up as a Virtual Visitor Centre touchscreen terminal. A microscope can also plug into the computer systems in the carriage to show in detail the pond life within the wetland room. Arts and crafts materials are also available for activities within the carriage and it provides an excellent base for school trips when visiting the park, particularly when eating packed lunches indoors should the weather be inclement.
The carriage can also be booked as a base with a planetarium visit , provided it is available. To book a planetarium visit please call the planetarium director on (01740) 630544 and for an environmental and ecological visit contact the countryside rangers on (01740) 630011. A joint visit can be arranged by contacting either.
Education is invaluable to us all and the park plays its part in helping to educate everyone about the world around them, be it up in the sky or down on the ground. The emphasis is on school field trips, be they ecological or astronomical in nature, but events and booking opportunities are available that will interest one and all.
From here you can learn all about flora and fauna, minibeast hunts, the planetarium, observatory and railway carriage teaching facilities, the role that the site staff play in teaching school groups, recycling, orienteering, nature club, wildlife habitats and ecosystems, the teachers education pack and even play interactive educational games.
Education isn’t just for children; it’s for everyone who is interested in lifelong learning and the world they live in, so please delve into this section, you’re sure to find something that will spark your imagination.
The staff have put together an education pack to assist teachers in their visits to the park. This pack is available for a small fee from Wynyard Woodland Park and it’s purpose is to:
The information in the pack is primarily aimed at Key Stages 1 and 2 of the Life Processes and Living Things programme of study and contains information on:
However, this is not a complete list of activities undertaken at the park, as the rangers are constantly thinking of new ideas.
Clothing
Weather permitting most of the activities are outdoor based so it is advisable to ensure that the children are appropriately dressed for the trip. In the winter months it is advisable that the children wear a pair of wellies and a waterproof coat.
First Aid
First aid kits are available for use and are taken out on site with school groups. Teachers are responsible for administering First Aid. There is also a list of rangers that are qualified first aiders. In the event of an accident it should be recorded in the accident book, which is located in the rangers office.
Weil’s disease
It is important that the children are made aware of weil’s disease if any pond work is undertaken. Fresh water habitats carry a small risk of weil’s disease.
The symptoms of this illness can be flu like, including a temperature and pains in the calf muscles. Other symptoms include Conjunctivitis and Jaundice. If a case is suspected then call a doctor and explain that the child has been exposed to the infection and that they should be given an Elisa blood test.
As a precaution the children should wash their hands after any contact with pond water and especially before handling food. Any cuts and scratches should be covered with a waterproof plaster prior to carrying out pond work.
Any incidents of Weil’s disease should be reported to the site rangers so it can be recorded in the accident book.
General
Children need to be appropriately supervised during their visit to Wynyard Woodland Park, especially around the car park and vehicular access points. There are brambles and nettles around the site that the children should be made aware of for their own safety, as it is possible to be allergic to the stings.
If the rangers are leading a visit the teachers are responsible for discipline and controlling the behaviour of the children.
We advise a ratio of one adult to six children, although the more adults the better. Due to our own staffing levels it is only possible to take one class of around 35 children at a time.
Equipment
The rangers supply all the resources for the activities. This will be handed out as and when it is needed and collected in at the end of the activity so that it can be cleaned and stored.
Public Access
Wynyard Woodland Park is open to the public and we would appreciate it if the school group would bare this in mind as far as safety and disturbance is concerned.
Procedures and Costs
School groups can book in for a countryside ranger led activity, a planetarium visit, or a self-led activity. We can also offer a joint visit, for example a planetarium visit combined with a ranger led activity. The cost of a ranger led activity is £1 per child. The cost of a visit to the Planetarium is £2.25 per child. Self-led activities and the use of the equipment are free (providing the equipment is available). There is no charge for adults accompanying the children. Please check at the time of booking that these prices have not changed, we try to keep costs to a minimum but there are occasional increases which may not have been updated here.
IntroductionA country park that is as large and disparate as Wynyard Woodland Park is not straightforward to manage from either an environmental or visitor perspective.
The countryside rangers and visitor centre coordinator, based at the visitor centre, are in charge of the day-to-day running and maintenance of the site. They have a programme of work to care for each section of the site as well as organising public events and school visits. Volunteers are always welcome to help with any aspect of the general running of the park (please contact the countryside rangers on 01740 630011).
If you notice anything in the park that you feel needs drawing to the attention of the countryside rangers please contact them to let them know or leave feedback on these screens, the help of the public in caring for and running the site is greatly appreciated. Please assist the staff in the running of the park by following the country code, observing the byelaws and being aware of emergency procedures and telephone numbers should you get into difficulty.
The overall management of the park comes from Stockton Borough Council’s parks and countryside section and the Wynyard Woodland Park Environmental Trust. The park also has a friends group that visitors are encouraged to join. Some members of this group sit on the environmental trust thereby conveying the requests and opinions of our valued visitors to the park management, influencing their viewpoint and decisions.
Stockton Borough Council employs a team of 14 experienced and skilled countryside staff to look after and manage Country Parks and Nature Reserves throughout the Borough, made up of 6 Assistant Countryside Rangers, 5 Senior Countryside Rangers, 2 Animal Keepers and a Visitor Centre Co-ordinator. Site-based teams can be found at Wynyard Woodland Park, Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Preston Park and Billingham Beck Valley Park and sites with shops also receive support from Visitor Information Assistants.
The job of the Countryside Ranger is varied, interesting and often challenging, and no two days are ever the same.
Environmental Education
Country Parks provide an ideal forum for youngsters to study nature and Rangers are instrumental in fostering an awareness and appreciation of the many plants and wild animals that can be found on Stockton’s country sites. Activities are designed around the requirements of the National Curriculum, painstakingly risk assessed and carefully planned and prepared for.
It is essential for countryside staff to have an understanding of the needs of the various Key Stages within the curriculum to enable teachers to get the most out of a visit. Games and activities are incorporated into education programmes to make learning fun and in the hope that children will want to return. The beauty of learning outdoors is that the children enjoy themselves without even realising that they are being taught and the value of a countryside experience for inner city children cannot be underestimated.
Conservation
Conservation management is an essential part of the Ranger’s role. Practical skills are an essential tool of the trade and are gained through work experience and through training and development courses. New woodlands are created where possible and thousands of trees planted every year in Stockton alone. Future management such as weeding, thinning out and re-planting, can be very important for the health and well being of woodland areas, particularly where public access is permitted.
Other common tasks include strimming paths, chainsaw work, fence construction, step and bridge building, small scale maintenance tasks such as litter picking and repairs, hedge-laying, meadow management for wildflowers and breeding birds such as cutting and hay-raking, planting wildflowers and bulbs, pond management such as removing algal blooms for the benefit of aquatic invertebrates, weed clearance and de-silting of ponds, installing signs and hanging gates and much much more that often goes unnoticed, but without which our sites would become unkempt, overgrown and often less valuable for wildlife.
Sites are carefully managed and Stockton’s main parks have Management Plans which specify exactly what work needs doing, when where and why. Monitoring change over time and evaluating the success of conservation work is an essential part of conservation management. Different animal groups such as butterflies, amphibians and birds are surveyed and monitored and results analysed year on year to establish success rates and patterns of usage. Findings are fed back to the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and into the Biodiversity Action Planning process to help guide future planning and targets for the region. Ecological knowledge and identification skills are all essential for this part of the job.
Recreation
Country Parks are fantastic resources for local communities and much of a Ranger’s work focuses on encouraging visitors to sites and in helping them to enjoy their visit. Public events are organised throughout the year and publicised through events leaflets, press releases and posters. Requests for Rangers to provide live radio interviews are not uncommon and even the odd TV interview crops up now and again.
Guided walks and talks, craft events and country fayres, practical conservation tasks, local history events and children’s nature clubs are just a few of the activities organised and run by Stockton’s Countryside Team. Most events are free and everyone is welcome. Rangers undertake regular site patrols and ensure paths are well maintained and clear of obstructing vegetation, regularly litter-picked and safe to use and staff are usually available on site to deal with queries, answer questions, provide information, solve problems and generally trouble-shoot.
Interpretation
Raising awareness of the countryside and promoting the value and diversity of the wildlife that parks support is as important as the actual management work. This is done through the delivery of talks and presentations to local groups, and through the production of information, walks and site leaflets, articles for newsletters and magazines and by producing information panels which can be installed out on site for visitors to see.
The management of Country Parks is supported by Tees Valley Nacro work teams and by a group of dedicated volunteers who help the site based Rangers in all aspects of their work. Volunteering is an important step towards a career in countryside management and can be very rewarding. To find out how to volunteer with the Countryside Ranger Service, or for further information on a career in conservation, have a chat with any of the Rangers on site, or call the Countryside Recreation Officer on (01642) 526877.
Stockton's Countryside
Stockton Bourough Council owns a variety of Country Parks across the Borough which are managed by the Countryside Ranger Service within the Parks and Countryside Section.
Country Parks are the green lungs of the town and provide a vital link between people and wildlife.
They provide important opportunities for recreational activities, such as walking the dog, cycling or just taking a stroll in the fresh air, activities which are all essential to health and general well being.
Stockton's Parks offer safe havens for wildlife and are outdoor classroom where children can explore and experience nature at first hand.
Countryside Volunteering
Volunteers can assist with many different activities depending upon their interests and level of Ability*. Practical conservation work is a poular choice, with tasks often dictated by the changing seasons.
Planting hay raking and laying paths are just a few examples of the kind of work tackled by Countryside Volunteers. Regular Maintenance and good housekeeping duties are also part and parcel of countryside management and can involve litter-picking and general repairs.
Some volunteers prefer to just keep an eye on thier chosen site, reporting any issues of interest to the Rangers. Other voluntary opportunities include assisting with organisation and running of public events, helping with guided walks and providing information to visitors.
Volunteering can be the first step towards a career in countryside management and offers valuable experience for training schemes such as Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
For more details either Request a Leaflet or Contact one of the relevant Rangers Teams at any one of the Parks within Stockton's Countryside Region.
Ever since the local authority acquired the park they have been adding adjacent land as and when it became available and when sufficient funding could be found. Longer term this is still the plan, building upon what has already been achieved to make this Stockton’s largest and most popular country park. However, funding is not always available to the local authority when land comes up for sale, so to assist with this the Environmental Trust and the Friends Group are actively involved in building up funds for future expansion of the park.
A feasibility study has recently been undertaken to establish a ‘rare breeds’ farm on the park. The conclusions of which were that it is both desirable and possible but that no suitable land is anticipated to become available in the short term. Consequently this has become a longer-term aim.
In the short-term sustainable and renewable energy sources are projects that the park is very keen to investigate and promote. We have had tests, in collaboration with the University of Teesside and the Tees Forest, to use a willow ‘biomass’ located in Stoney Field. This willow has been coppiced and used as a natural and sustainable source of fuel for the future; this also offers a new economic opportunity for rural areas. Such energy crops are carbon neutral and therefore, in substitution for fossil fuels, have the potential to reduce carbon dioxide.
This is a large site with diverse habitats and budgetary constraints mean that it is difficult to address problems as and when they arise, they must be absorbed into the programme of work and dealt with as & when time and money is available. Your patience is appreciated in any time lag that occurs between problems being pointed out to staff and them being acted upon, but rest assured that all feedback on the site is welcome and appropriate action will be taken in due course.
A common perennial complaint is the state of the surface of the walkway, way marked paths and vegetation encroaching across rights of way. You will understand that these routes are used variously by walkers, cyclists, wheel chair users and horse riders, all of which cause a great deal of erosion and disrupt the natural drainage. Although ideally we would like all paths to be resurfaced on a yearly basis this is not, for many reasons, practicable or possible. We endeavour to correct severe problems when they occur, but please bear in mind that this is a country park where pristine pathways, similar to those found in urban parks, are not desirable – sensible outdoor footwear is encouraged.
The park is largely woodland, however, as the Forestry Commission harvested many of these sections of wood as a crop they do not contain the indigenous species that we are trying to encourage. From time to time, built into the programme of work, there will be a thinning of trees in certain areas to encourage natural regeneration of native species and where necessary this will be supplemented by under planting. There will also be periodic removal of non-native species of tree in all of our woodland. Whilst this may initially appear to have a harsh impact upon the environment it is necessary to achieve the desired tree population and increase the biodiversity of the site. Any scarring of the landscape caused by this work soon grows over and visitors patience and understanding towards this essential ongoing work is appreciated.
Volunteers are always very welcome and any public assistance and interest in the management of the park is valued. The park has a friends group where visitors can air their opinions, organise their own events, obtain priority information and bookings on park events, influence management decisions and become actively involved in running of the site. For details on volunteering, the friends group or to leave feedback about the park please follow the appropriate links or contact the countryside rangers on (01740) 630011.
Vandalism, graffiti and dangerous driving are just a few of the problems endemic in society as a whole and the park is not exempt from these. Should you witness anti-social behaviour or a crime being committed on the park please report it to the Cleveland Police incident desk immediately so that prompt action can be taken, their number is (01642) 326326. Your cooperation is appreciated in making Stockton’s open spaces a safe place for everyone to enjoy.
Recycling & Environmental Sustainability
In 1992 the UK signed up to a programme to address environmental issues. From this a local agenda (Local Agenda 21) was developed which encourages local communities to take action on environmental issues. An important aspect of this is to become environmentally sustainable i.e. to find a way of meeting our needs whilst protecting the planet for future generations. There are different ways in which we can become more sustainable, one of the simplest is to recycle. By recycling we can reduce the amount of waste we produce and the impact our waste has on the environment.
Most householders in the Stockton area now have a kerbside collection scheme operating, in which Stockton Council will take away your recyclable goods. This scheme is promoted by Freda the Frog who also goes out into schools to encourage children to think more about their environment. Visitors to Wynyard Woodland Park can also bring along newspapers, magazines, junk mail, food and drinks cans and glass bottles and jars to be recycled. Recycling bins are located near to the toilet block just off the main car park and are accessible by car.
Composting your kitchen waste is another easy way to recycle. Kitchen waste from our tea rooms is put in the compost bin in the newly developed wildlife garden. Eventually this will be used to improve the soil around the flower borders. Ranger staff will be only too happy to give visitors tips and advice on how to compost your own kitchen waste, they can be contacted on (01740) 630011. For more information on recycling please contact the Care For Your Area team on (01642) 391959.
Wynyard Woodland Park is bounded on all sides by farmland, private woodland and private residences. Stockton Borough Council request that all visitors to the park respect the rights of our neighbours and do not trespass on land not owned by the park. Visitors are encouraged to view site maps before venturing out into the countryside and inadvertently causing problems for the locals.
The neighbouring area of Thorpe Thewles is a rural community with many farms that have livestock and slow moving agricultural machinery. The park exists in symbiosis with this community and so to continue to enjoy the natural environment we must all respect their needs. For example, by being patient with and giving way when necessary to agricultural vehicles and by keeping dogs on a lead and under control so as not to worry farm animals.
Wynyard Estate also bounds the park in some areas, some of this land is being developed into a housing development and some will remain tied to the Hall. Visitors are requested to stay on public rights of way in these areas to avoid disturbing neighbouring residences. The same level of consideration is politely requested for residents of the hamlet of Grindon and those houses near the visitors centre. When driving a vehicle in these areas, please bear in mind that many of the lanes are not adopted by the local highways authority and moderate you driving accordingly. Indeed, in many cases, it is the local residents that maintain these lanes for their use and your enjoyment so please show appropriate respect and consideration to them.
Martin Jenkins
Parks and Countryside Manager
Stirling House,
Thornaby
(01642) 526870
martin.jenkins@stockton.gov.uk
Gina Balzi
Countryside
Recreation Officer
Stirling House, Thornaby
(01642) 526877
gina.balzi@stockton.gov.uk
Val Clingo
Parks and
Countryside Administration Assistant
Stirling House, Thornaby
(01642)
526871
valerie.clingo@stockton.gov.uk
David Neal
Countryside
Ranger
Wynyard Woodland Park
(01740) 630011
david.neal@stockton.gov.uk
Andrea
Elsworth
Assistant Countryside Ranger
Wynyard Woodland
Park
(01740) 630011
andrea.elsworth@stockton.gov.uk
Chris Ridley
Assistant
Countryside Ranger
Wynyard Woodland Park
(01740) 630011
chris.ridley@stockton.gov.uk
Alistair
Rose
Assistant Countryside Ranger
Wynyard Woodland Park &
Charltons Pond
(01740) 630011
alistair.rose@btconnect.com
Stephanie
Asker
Visitor Centre Coordinator
Wynyard Woodland Park, Cowpen
Bewley Woodland Park & Billingham Beck Valley Country Park
(01740)
630011
stephanie.asker@stockton.gov.uk
Dr Ed
Restall
Director
Wynyard Planetarium
(01740) 630544
director@wynyard-planetarium.net
Dr John
McCue
Associate Director
Wynyard Planetarium & teacher at
Prior Pursglove College
(01740) 630544
associate.director@wynyard-planetarium.net
John
Tait
Chairman
Grindon Parish Council
(0191) 5152712
john.tait@sunderland.ac.uk
David
Neal
Secretary
Stockton Borough Council, Countryside
Ranger
(01740) 630011
david.neal@stockton.gov.uk
Ed
Restall
Treasurer
Cleveland & Darlington Astronomical
Society
07952 532 684
director@wynyard-planetarium.net
Gina
Balzi
Stockton Borough Council, Countryside Recreation
Officer
(01642) 526877
gina.balzi@stockton.gov.uk
Simon
Blenkinsop
Tees Forest
(01388) 515645
simon_teesforest@middlesbrough.gov.uk
Dave
O’Brien
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust
07713 985448
wildlifetrust@hardwickdene.fsnet.co.uk
Joyce
Scott
Wynyard Woodland Park Volunteer Group
(01642)
897843
joycescott@hartburn.freeserve.co.uk
Lynda
Eccles
Wynyard Residents Association
(0191) 3835501
lynda.Eccles@durham.gov.uk
Bryan
Hateley
Local Resident
(01740) 630025
bryan@hateley.me.uk
The Council’s Parks and Countryside Section aims to deliver a range of good quality town parks, accessible countryside and well maintained areas of civic and open spaces for the people of Stockton. These areas need to cater for the recreational and educational demands of the local community and assist in improving the quality of life for residents, visitors and those who work in the Borough of Stockton on Tees.
The Borough is fortunate to have an existing network of formal parks, 4 large Country Parks, 12 Local Nature Reserves, a Community Farm and large areas of attractive open space. In addition to these facilities an excellent network of beck valleys and disused railway lines exist, providing good access opportunities from urban areas to the wider countryside. With so much to choose from, no-one is so far away from the countryside that they cannot experience its simple pleasures first hand.
Country Parks
Many sites offer formal facilities such as Visitor Centres with toilets and gift shops and all are accessible to disabled visitors. Teams of Countryside Rangers are based at each of the town’s main Country Parks to look after and manage them for conservation, education and recreation. Stockton’s Country Parks are run for the benefit of both wildlife and people and management for biodiversity is high on the agenda.
Each site provides a comprehensive environmental education programme for schools and other groups such as scouts and brownies, teaching youngsters about the environment using a fun and hands-on approach. Contact the individual site-based teams to request further information or an education pack. The health benefits of walking and other forms of recreation outdoors is now widely recognised and all Country Parks provide good networks of paths to encourage visitors to explore. Some sites also provide cycle routes and most offer orienteering courses.
Town Parks
A good network of formal local parks exists in Stockton, Billingham and Thornaby with many informal neighbourhood and recreational parks. The town’s formal parks contain a good infrastructure of recreational facilities such as play areas, tennis courts and bowling greens. Ropner Park is situated in the heart of urban Stockton and is the only example of a large Victorian designed park within the Borough.
The park was officially opened in 1893 and covers an area of approximately 18 hectares. The original design of the park has remained largely unspoiled following its opening and contains a number of impressive features such as the lake, avenue of lime trees and ornamental fountain. A large and popular bowls facility exists, along with a formal children’s play area.
The park is currently undergoing a major restoration project thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, whai should be complete in 2006. Other formal parks include Newham Grange Park 2 miles from the centre of Stockton, Littleboy Park in Thornaby, Village Park in Thornaby and John Whitehead Park in Billingham. For further information on Stockton’s town parks, contact the Parks and Countryside Manager on (01642) 526870 or e mail parksandcountryside@stockton.gov.uk.
The Parks, Open Spaces and Countryside Strategy outlines the aims and objectives of the Service and can be viewed on Stockton Council’s web site at www.stockton.gov.uk.
For information on the Tees Valley Biodiversity Action Plan, and to find out how it affects your area, contact the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on (01642) 759900.
Other Stockton Borough Council Country Parks
Many sites offer formal facilities such as Visitor Centres with toilets and gift shops and all are accessible to disabled visitors. Teams of Countryside Rangers are based at each of the town’s main Country Parks to look after and manage them for conservation, education and recreation. Stockton’s Country Parks are run for the benefit of both wildlife and people and management for biodiversity is high on the agenda.
Each site provides a comprehensive environmental education programme for schools and other groups such as scouts and brownies, teaching youngsters about the environment using a fun and hands-on approach. Contact the individual site-based teams to request further information or an education pack. The health benefits of walking and other forms of recreation outdoors is now widely recognised and all Country Parks provide good networks of paths to encourage visitors to explore. Some sites also provide cycle routes and most offer orienteering courses.
Billingham Beck Valley Country Park
Designated as a Country Park in 1991 and a Local Nature Reserve in 1992, Billingham Beck Valley consists of a corridor of land predominantly within the original flood plain of Billingham Beck.
Regular winter flooding combined with traditional management has given rise to a rich and varied wetland grassland flora within the valley basin. Habitats within the site include woodland, meadows, ponds wetlands and a ‘no-dogs’ study area for schools. A network of footpaths allows the visitor to explore the 50 hectare Country Park from several pedestrian access points.
Facilities include a Visitor Centre with recycling facilities, toilets, small shop (opening times vary), picnic area and car park. Access to the car park can be found off the A1027 Billingham/Norton turn-off from the A19 – follow the brown tourist signs from the A19.
Contact the Countryside Rangers on (01642) 397609 or email them at billingham.beck@stockton.gov.uk
The value of this site for wildlife and people was formally acknowledged in 2004 with its designation as a Local Nature Reserve. Charlton’s Pond is accessed off Hereford Terrace in Billingham.
The site measures approximately 8 hectares in area, with the ponds covering around 6 hectares and the remainder taken up by amenity grassland, scrub and poplar/willow woodland. Angling is allowed on the site, the fishing rights being held by the Billingham Sportsman’s Angling Club. A small car park and hard surfaced paths allow easy access around two thirds of the pond. The remaining section is maintained as a quiet wildlife sanctuary area.
Contact the Rangers at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park for further information on
Charlton’s Pond, telephone (01642) 415225 or e-mail
cowpenbewley.woodlandpark@stockton.gov.uk
Located between the Port Clarence housing estate and the developing Saltholme International Nature Reserve, the Community Farm covers an area of 7 hectares. Animals kept on the farm include sheep, goats, chicken and pigs and are a valuable resource, providing a taste of country life in a heavily urbanised area. Internal facilities include a basic classroom for visiting school parties, viewing pens and toilets. Outside, the farm offers several small fields, chicken and geese houses, a small wildlife pond, play area and car park.
Contact the Farmers on (01642) 391975 for further information. The Farm is open Tuesday to Sunday all year round (closed Monday) except for Christmas and New Years day.
Recognised as both a Country Park and a Local Nature Reserve in 1995, this new wooded site, located to the east of Billingham on the outskirts of Low Grange, represents a major contribution to the development of the Tees Forest.
Around 250,000 trees have been planted on the 100 hectare site since 1991, which, as they mature, will transform an open windswept landscape into an important recreational resource, with wide woodland rides and paths for visitors to enjoy.
Other facilities include ponds, meadows, sculpture trails and a large lake. An Activity Centre provides toilets, baby changing facilities, a small shop offering light refreshments and an information centre with displays and leaflets. Opening times vary.
A newly planted woodland close to Whitton, this site is located on a former landfill site. Visitors can enjoy a small picnic area and a network of grassed paths.
Contact the Rangers at Wynyard Woodland Park on (01740) 630011 for further information.
River Tees Valley Rangers
The Tees Valley corridor forms a central wedge of open land running through the heart of Stockton Borough. Several sites are currently managed by the Parks and Countryside Section, with the potential for further expansion in the future. Important sites along the river are the Holmes and Black Bobbies Field, Bassleton and Thornaby Woods and the Old Vinegar Brewery site in Yarm. The Teesdale Way runs through Stockton along the western bank of the Tees passing through Yarm and along the riverside frontage in the centre of Stockton.
The Ranger Service is based in Preston Hall Museum in Preston Park, for information on Preston Park or the River Tees Valley corridor, contact the Rangers on (01642) 788097 or e mail them at preston.park@stockton.gov.uk.
Preston Park
Stockton’s premier park, Preston Park provides the opportunity for a large number of visitors to enjoy both the magnificent location, adjacent to the River Tees, and to take part in any of the wide range of activities available there. Within its 45 hectares, Preston Park incorporates large areas of amenity grassland, mature woodland, a fish haven, duck pond, two children’s play areas, crazy golf, small gauge railway, Butterfly World and Preston Hall Museum.
Separate landing platforms on the river bank allow passengers on and off the Teesside Princess Riverboat and users of small boats to gain access to the river. A number of large events take place in the park each year, including the Stockton Summer Show and the Autumn Gold Festival.
For information on Preston Hall Museum, call (01642) 781184.
Situated in the village of Stillington on a former tipped area, this land was landscaped and planted with trees during the winter of 1994/5. A series of footpaths allows the visitor to explore the Forest Park, in amongst the developing woodland and wildlife ponds.
The site is particularly good for butterflies and dragonflies in the summer months. Parking is provided by a formal car park next to St John’s Church and close to the main site entrance which features some attractive metal artwork.
Contact the Rangers at Wynyard Woodland Park on (01740) 630011 for further information.
Charter Mark is the Government’s award scheme for recognising quality and encouraging excellence in public service. It is unique among quality schemes in the way that it concentrates on the service the customer actually receives. An organisation which achieves Charter Mark standard shows that it puts its users first and is delivering a first class service.
The Charter Mark scheme began in 1992 and has been demonstrating its worth and steadily growing over the years since. The Charter Mark criteria are based upon the Government’s declared principles of Public Service Delivery, and were revised and updated in 1999 to reflect the changing nature of public service. The Government’s aim is for Charter Mark to become the recognised leader in quality awards for excellent service delivery in the public sector.
The award lays down 6 broad criteria with sub-criteria which the applicant must fulfill to the satisfaction of the judges. The main criteria are:
Stockton’s Countryside Service was assessed for Charter Mark in 2004 and subsequently achieved this prestigious award. The assessment process was a full and thorough appraisal against all the elements of the Charter Mark Criteria. A portfolio of evidence was compiled and presented for consideration. This was followed up by an assessment visit during which an Assessor met and interviewed the Parks and Countryside Service Manager, Countryside Rangers, other staff including Visitor Centre Assistants, Partners including the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Customers. The Assessor completed his review with visits to Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, Wynyard Woodland Park, Preston Park, Stillington Forest Park and Billingham Beck Valley Country Park.
The following excert has been taken from the Assessment Report which recommended that the Council’s Countryside Service should be recognised as meeting the Charter Mark Standard:
The Countryside Service provides a service that is much valued by the people of Stockton. The Service has developed extensive partnership working to promote, fund and develop its services. It is active in promoting access from disadvantaged communities and involving people from local communities in its activities through volunteering.
The Service has taken the initiative and, in the absence of national standards, has developed standards for the service it provides. It is well managed and works within its budgets.
There is a high degree of commitment to consulting users and to achieving a high standard of customer service. Your Ranger staff are a very valuable asset being full of enthusiasm, ideas and commitment to promoting, developing and running their services, for the benefit of the communities that they serve and working closely with volunteers to enhance the levels of service provided.
The Service provides a customer-focussed approach for individuals and works closely in partnership with others to achieve a high standard of service provision.
Charter Mark does not replace other quality awards – it complements them, and shows that the Countryside Service puts users first and that it delivers a high quality service. Charter Mark provides a variety of benefits to winning organisations: It inspires people who work for the organisation, generates support from stakeholders and funding agencies and gives out a clear message of quality and service to the public.
For more information about the Charter Mark Award Scheme, telephone the Charter Mark General Enquiry Line on 020 7276 1755, or visit the Charter Mark Website, www.chartermark.gov.uk.