Holwick

Hamlet in County Durham, England

Human settlement in England

Holwick

Holwick

Location within County Durham

Population| 75 (2021 census)
OS grid reference| NY905269
Civil parish|

* Holwick

Unitary authority|

* County Durham

Ceremonial county|

* County Durham

Region|

* North East

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| Barnard Castle
Postcode district| DL12
Police| Durham
Fire| County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance| North East
UK Parliament|

* Bishop Auckland

List of places

England
County Durham

54°38′15″N 2°08′54″W﻿ / ﻿54.63762°N 2.14842°W﻿ / 54.63762; -2.14842

Holwick is a hamlet[1] and civil parish in Teesdale, County Durham (district), England. Located in the Pennine hills, the hamlet consists of a few houses spread along a road in the pattern of a linear settlement. The population of the parish taken at the 2021 Census was 75.[2]

Being south of the River Tees, Holwick lies within the historic boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire.[3] Along with the rest of the former Startforth Rural District it was transferred to County Durham for administrative and ceremonial purposes on 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972. In May 2013, the newly registered flag of the North Riding was first unveiled at the village, owing to its being one of the most northerly settlements in Yorkshire.[4]

It has a public house, the Strathmore Arms, named after local landowner, Lord Strathmore, who owned Holwick Hall.[5] New York businessman Harry Payne Whitney leased Holwick Hall for a grouse shooting party on the moors in 1911,[6] while in 1923 the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth holidayed at the hall.[7]

## Geography

[edit]

Holwick sits not far from the south bank of the River Tees, about 2 miles north-west of Middleton-in-Teesdale and opposite Newbiggin, both villages on the other side of the river. The village itself is situated along Holwick Beck, a tributary of the Tees. The Tees forms almost all the northern parish boundary; the River Lune its eastern and Blea Beck its western. Bleabeck Force is a series of waterfalls along Blea Beck before it joins the Tees opposite Force Garth Quarry.[8] Nearby are the High Force and Low Force waterfalls. The surrounding landscape is high moorland and fells.

## History

[edit]

The earliest evidence of habitation in the area comes from Mesolithic microliths dating back at least 6000 years. The people who left them, however, were not settled in the area, but hunted there during the summer. Agriculture began in the Neolithic period, and the remains of a Bronze Age hut circle and burial cairns are on Holwick Fell.[9] Evidence of a native settlement in Roman times in the form of groups of circular huts and field system has been found west of the Wynch Bridge.[10] The present-day village of Holwick was first recorded in 1235. The origin of the name is uncertain, but believed to mean either "dairy farm in a hollow" or "in the holly". In addition to hill farming of sheep, lead mining and iron smelting was conducted in the mediæval period, with lead mining and stone quarrying increasing in importance throughout Teesdale in the 18th century. The Wynch Bridge, thought to be the first suspension bridge in Britain, was built across the Tees near Holwick in 1704, and collapsed in 1802, killing one. It was repaired but finally replaced in 1830. A map of the area surveyed in 1854 notes a chapel of ease and school as well as a Primitive Methodist chapel. There are also wells, a pinfold, and two foot bridges over Holwick Beck. The surrounding area contains numerous sheep pastures as well as several limestone and sandstone quarries and lead mines. The names of nearby farms include Cross House, Pikestone House, Castle House, Mizzes House, Mire House, Hield House, Westclose House, Low Way, and Hungry.[11] Substantial quarrying and lead mining did not continue into the 20th century, and the economy of the village has since returned to sheep farming.[12]

## Administration

[edit]

Holwick has a parish meeting rather than a parish council, owing to its small electorate.[13]

The parish falls within the Barnard West electoral division of County Durham district and Bishop Auckland UK Parliament constituency.[14]

The local police force is Durham Constabulary. Holwick is in the Wear and Tees division and its nearest police station is in Barnard Castle.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ordnance Survey Open Data Names Download (NY82)". Ordnance Survey Data Hub. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
2. ^ "Data query: PP002 Sex. All usual residents in parish - Holwick". NOMIS. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
3. ^ Himelfield, Dave (22 November 2020). "The remote village once on the tip of Yorkshire - and people wish it still was". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
4. ^ Braddy, Adrian (7 May 2013). "New flag for North Riding of Yorkshire unveiled at Holwick in Teesdale". Dalesman. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
5. ^ Douglas, Andrew (27 September 2014). "The story of Holwick's Strathmore Arms". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
6. ^ "Whitney's sport expensive". Vol. LX, no. 19575\. The New York Times. 29 August 1911.
7. ^ Sinclair, David (1979). Queen and Country : The Life of Elizabeth the Queen Mother.  J M Dent & Sons. p. 73\. ISBN 978-0-460-04436-3.
8. ^ Fellows, Griffith (2003). The Waterfalls of England: A Practical Guide for Visitors and Walkers. Sigma Leisure. p. 22\. ISBN 978-1-85058-767-5.
9. ^ Historic England. "Burial cairns, burnt mound, Roman native settlement, medieval settlement with field system and iron industry remains, and five shielings on Holwick Fell (1019860)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
10. ^ Historic England. "Roman period native settlement and field system 260m west of Wynch Bridge (1021094)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
11. ^ Ordnance Survey 6 Inch Scale: Counties Yorkshire Sheets 1-50 First Edition (1st ed.). Southampton. 1855. pp. Sheet 2.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
12. ^ "Local History: Holwick (County Durham)". keystothepast.info. Durham County Council. Archived from the original on 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
13. ^ "Holwick Parish Meeting". cdalc.info. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
14. ^ "Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Holwick at Wikimedia Commons

* Drone footage of Bleabeck Force

* v
* t
* e

Civil parishes in County Durham

* including Stockton-on-Tees (north of the river)

Darlington|

Parishes
Archdeacon Newton
Barmpton
Bishopton
Brafferton
Coatham Mundeville
Denton
East and West Newbiggin
Great Burdon
Great Stainton
Heighington
High Coniscliffe
Houghton le Side
Hurworth
Killerby
Little Stainton
Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent
Middleton St. George
Morton Palms
Neasham
Piercebridge
Sadberge
Summerhouse
Walworth
Whessoe

Unparished areas
The former Darlington County Borough

County Durham|

Towns
Barnard Castle
Bishop Auckland
Chilton
Ferryhill
Great Aycliffe
Greater Willington
Peterlee
Seaham
Sedgefield
Shildon
Spennymoor
Stanley
Tow Law

Parishes
Barforth
Barningham
Bearpark
Belmont
Bishop Middleham
Bolam
Boldron
Bournmoor
Bowes
Bradbury and the Isle
Brancepeth
Brandon and Byshottles
Brignall
Burnhope
Cassop-cum-Quarrington
Castle Eden
City of Durham
Cleatlam
Cockfield
Cornforth
Cornsay
Cotherstone
Coxhoe
Croxdale and Hett
Dalton-le-Dale
Dene Valley
Easington Colliery
Easington Village
Edmondbyers
Edmondsley
Eggleston
Egglestone Abbey
Eldon
Esh
Etherley
Evenwood and Barony
Fishburn
Forest and Frith
Framwellgate Moor
Gainford
Gilmonby
Great Lumley
Greencroft
Hamsterley
Hamsterley Common
Haswell
Hawthorn
Headlam
Healeyfield
Hedleyhope
Hilton
Holwick
Hope
Horden
Hunderthwaite
Hunstanworth
Hutton Henry and Station Town
Hutton Magna
Ingleton
Kelloe
Kimblesworth and Plawsworth
Lanchester
Langleydale and Shotton
Langton
Lartington
Little Lumley
Lunedale
Lynesack and Softley
Marwood
Mickleton
Middleton in Teesdale
Middridge
Monk Hesleden
Mordon
Morton Tinmouth
Muggleswick
Murton
Nesbitt
Newbiggin
North Lodge
Ouston
Ovington
Pelton
Pittington
Raby with Keverstone
Rokeby
Romaldkirk
Sacriston
Satley
Scargill
Seaton with Slingley
Shadforth
Sheraton with Hulam
Sherburn Village
Shincliffe
Shotton
South Bedburn
South Hetton
Staindrop
Stanhope
Startforth
Streatlam and Stainton
Thornley
Toft Hill
Trimdon
Trimdon Foundry
Urpeth
Waldridge
Wackerfield
Weather Hill Wood
West Auckland
West Rainton and Leamside
Westwick
Wheatley Hill
Whorlton
Windlestone
Wingate
Winston
Witton Gilbert
Witton-le-Wear
Wolsingham
Wolsingham Park Moor
Woodland
Wycliffe with Thorpe

Unparished areas
The former Chester le Street Urban District
Consett
Parts of the former Durham Municipal Borough
Parts of the former Bishop Auckland Urban District
Crook and Willington Urban District
Gilesgate
Stanley Urban District

Hartlepool|

Towns
Headland

Parishes
Brierton
Claxton
Dalton Piercy
Elwick
Greatham
Hart
Newton Bewley
Wynyard

Unparished areas
Part of the former Hartlepool County Borough

Stockton-on-Tees|

Towns
Billingham

Parishes
Aislaby
Carlton
Egglescliffe
Elton
Grindon and Thorpe Thewles
Longnewton
Newsham
Preston-on-Tees
Redmarshall
Stillington and Whitton
Wolviston
Wynyard

Unparished areas
Part of the former Teesside County Borough

* For further information about the above parishes, see List of civil parishes in County Durham.

* For the part of Stockton-on-Tees (borough) south of the River Tees, see List of civil parishes in North Yorkshire.

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