Eleven of us met at the Teesdale Leisure Centre carpark for a 4-mile circular walk around Barnard Castle. The route was provided by the Teesdale Railway History Group leaflet, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. This itinerary takes in the industrial history, and archaeology, of the town. Remains fill in the story of the town’s past railway links.
The day was cold and damp with occasional showers – and moments of sunshine! We set off, determined to enjoy ourselves and take in some of the story of our past. Railway relics appeared almost immediately with a concrete stile in the undergrowth alongside GSK’s perimeter fence and an accommodation bridge through the old railway embankment. Crossing fields around the GSK site, we stopped at the Red Well natural spring, but none of us were inclined to try the red-tinged waters!
Crossing the B6278, we followed the path into Flatts Wood. The next railway monument is the impressive Percy Beck Viaduct which took the railway across the gorge towards Kirby Stephen. We continued down through the woods, pausing near the aqueduct crossing the River Tees. Following the riverbank footpath, we came to the circular area of the former gas works and the site of the Roman river crossing: a bridge on piers, perhaps with a wooden superstructure, as suggested for the Roman bridge remains at Piercebridge.
Passing below the castle walls atop the rocky crag, we came out on to Bridgegate and past the former mills and weavers’ houses on Thorngate. Climbing up the bank, we saw the Old Well Inn, formerly the Railway Hotel. On past the Kings Court Residential Home (the King’s Head Hotel in Bradshaw’s 1863 railway guide), we reached our chosen coffee shop for a pleasant break.
Some heavy showers while in the coffee shop did not deter us. On Galgate, we admired the former stationmaster’s house with its S&DR number plaque. We then went up Montalbo Road to look at the first station, now houses, and followed the railway perimeter wall to the site of the second station. Passing through Station Terrace, we turned left onto Harmire Road and viewed the crossing-keeper’s cottage, with its S&DR number plaque. From here, we completed our circuit to the Leisure Centre.
Report by Robin Taylor (walk leader)