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Pictures of Staindrop

in the county of County Durham

About Staindrop

It is reputed that King Canute, Viking King of England, Denmark and Norway, and self appointed Emporer of the North, may have ruled his 'Kingdom' from a Mansion and Estate in the vicinity of Staindrop in the 10th-century.

Staindrop is a long, sprawling village. It is strung out along a single main street and has a meticulously kept Village green. The village is strongly associated with the Neville family of nearby Raby Castle. This impressive Castle stands in a magnificent Deer Park and exactly matches the popular conception of what a castle should look like and is known to have been in existance since around 1016. To-day the castle has a very distinctive appearance, owed largely to massive rebuilding in the 14th-century. Inside are fine collections of furniture, paintings and other treasures, and among the chambers is a curious octagnol drawing room. The kitchens hold a display of 14th-century kitchen implements, including a smoke driven spit. Outside, in the stables, you will find
a superb collection of Carraiges that echo a more romantic, long gone era.

The local church was once the family church of the Neville's and contains monuments covering many generations of this illustrious and famous family. The church is of Saxon origin, and carries a tower that was added in the 12th-century. The south aisle, porch and nave, all date from the 15th-century. This is a truly interesting church with much to see and admire and, as with Raby Castle, it is well worth a visit.

This fine area is steeped in ancient history and several of the towns and villages have their roots deep in Saxon times. As you roam the beautiful surrounding countryside, it begins to feel as though you can see the Saxons in their strange garb, marching through the hills. They crossed the sea in longboats bringing with them the rich Celtic influences, still to be seen in the North of England, Scotland and Wales.

There are splendid nearby places of interest to visit - there are Abbey ruins at Egglestone, Rokeby Park is close-by as is Barnard Castle. Bishop Aukland and Darlington, have Museums and Galleries along with a host of modern shopping facilities. In both the towns and in the pleasant countryside you will find plenty of inns and public houses all serving excellent food, ale and wine.

Recommended towns & villages near Staindrop

A view of the Castle at Barnard Castle, County Durham

Barnard Castle (43 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham

(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction SW of Staindrop)

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Escomb Saxon Church

Escomb (7 Pictures) in the county of County Durham

(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction NE of Staindrop)

Lying in a prominent position ringed by the River Wear, Escomb is best known for its magnificent Saxon Church reputed to be built from stones brought from the near-by ruined Roman Fort at Binchester...

Bishop Auckland market place, St Anne's church

Bishop Auckland (142 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham

(7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction NE of Staindrop)

This was the busy social and commercial centre of the south-west Durham coalfield, but the town is actually much older than the Industrial Revolution, although that historic.....

Kirk Merrington Church

Kirk Merrington (49 Pictures) in the county of County Durham

(10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction NE of Staindrop)

Kirk Merrington is a pretty, hilltop village overlooking the Wear Valley and the Cleveland Hills...

A picture of Wolsingham

Wolsingham (18 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham

(11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction N of Staindrop)

This is a lovely village lying on the edge of the North Pennines in an area of great scenic beauty. It is a wild and beautiful landscape dotted only by scattered farms with meadows full of grazing sheep and cattle...

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Nearby attractions..

The magnificent Raby Castle, Staindrop, Co. Durham.

Raby Castle (31 Pictures)

(1.0 miles, 1.7 km)

Arriving close to Staindrop from almost any direction the view of Raby Castle, built by the powerful Nevill family in the.....

Bowes Museum.. Near Barnard Castle...3rd October 2004.

Bowes Museum (12 Pictures)

(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction SW)

Josephine Bowes, wife of John Bowes was a Parisian actress, and perhaps this shows in the choice of building they chose as a.....

A view of the Castle at Barnard Castle, County Durham

Barnard Castle (26 Pictures)

(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction SW)

This historic town is a picturesque centre for discovering the delights of Teesdale. The town occupies a clifftop site above.....

Egglestone Abbey

Egglestone Abbey (13 Pictures)

(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction SW)

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Double rainbow

Hamsterley Forest (12 Pictures)

(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction NW)

Hampsterley Forest encompasses over five thousand acres, it is a combination of parkland and forest, giving access to some of the.....

Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, County Durham

Auckland Castle (48 Pictures)

(8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction NE)

With its grand arch, Auckland Castle, also known as Auckland Palace or the Bishop's Castle, is the official residence of the.....

Richmond Castle

Richmond Castle (50 Pictures)

(12.8 miles, 20.6 km, direction S)

This castle, occupying a dramatic cliff-top site above the River Swale, led a fairly quiet life without any military action to.....


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