Middleton-in-Teesdale

Middleton-in-Teesdale

Middleton-in-Teesdale town centre
Middleton-in-Teesdale
 Middleton-in-Teesdale shown within County Durham
Population 1,137 (2011)[1]
Shire countyCounty Durham
RegionNorth East
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town BARNARD CASTLE
Postcode district DL12
Police Durham
Fire County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance North East
EU Parliament North East England
UK ParliamentBishop Auckland
List of places
UK
England
County Durham

Coordinates: 54°37′22″N 2°04′40″W / 54.6229°N 2.0779°W / 54.6229; -2.0779

Middleton-in-Teesdale is a small market town in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the north side of Teesdale between Eggleston and Newbiggin, a few miles to the north-west of Barnard Castle. The settlement is surrounded by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Administration

Middleton is administered by Durham County Council. It is part of the Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency, which has been represented in parliament by Helen Goodman (Labour Party) since 2005. It is in the North East England region, which serves as a constituency for the European Parliament. The local police force is Durham Constabulary.

Middleton-in-Teesdale from the south
The bridge over the River Tees at Middleton-in-Teesdale

History

The small market town in Upper Teesdale expanded in the early 19th century when the London Lead Company moved its northern headquarters there from Blanchland in Northumberland. Much of the architecture from its days as a company town is still clearly visible. This includes Middleton House, formerly the headquarters of the company, the school (which is now an outdoor centre) and some company houses.

A fountain was erected in the town in 1877 to honour Robert Walton Bainbridge, superintendent of the London Lead Mining Company. [2]

Middleton served as the terminus of a railway line from Barnard Castle until this was closed as part of the Beeching Axe.

Middleton also has links to the early Co-operative Society and may pre-date the Rochdale Pioneers. There are also many early Methodist chapels.

On 20 June 1939, a British American Air Services De Havilland Dragon Rapide (Registration:G-AERE) flying from Heston Aerodrome to Newcastle Airport crashed at Forest-in-Teesdale near Middleton-in-Teesdale. The weather was bad and the aircraft was flying low. The accident killed all three passengers and crew on board.[3]

Geography and tourism

Middleton is on the Pennine Way about 9 miles from High Force. Dominating the moors to the south side of the village is the Scots-Pine-covered tumulus of Kirkcarrion, one of Teesdale's major Bronze Age burial sites.

References

  1. "Town population 2011". Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  2. 'Memorial Fountain to be repaired' Teesdale Mercury 23.7.2014 page 16
  3. "G-AERE". Baaa-acro.com. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
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