| Country: | England |
| Official Name: | Stanhope |
| Population: | 1633 |
| Population Ref: | (2001 census) |
| Civil Parish: | Stanhope |
| Region: | North East England |
| Shire County: | Durham |
| Constituency Westminster: | Bishop Auckland |
| Post Town: | Bishop Auckland |
| Postcode District: | DL13 |
| Postcode Area: | DL |
| Dial Code: | 01388 |
| Os Grid Reference: | NY995395 |
| Coordinates: | 54.7471°N -2.006°W |
| Static Image Name: | Front Street, Stanhope (geograph 7287274).jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | Front Street |
| Type: | Town |
Stanhope is a market town[1] and civil parish in the County Durham district, in the ceremonial county of Durham, England. It lies on the River Wear between Eastgate and Frosterley, in the north-east of Weardale. The main A689 road over the Pennines is crossed by the B6278 between Barnard Castle and Shotley Bridge. In 2001 Stanhope had a population of 1,633,[2] in 2019 an estimate of 1,627, and a figure of 1,602 in the 2011 census for the ONS built-up-area which includes Crawleyside.[3] In 2011 the parish population was 4,581.[4]
| Stanhope | |
| Settlement Type: | Civil parish |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | England |
| Subdivision Name1: | County Durham |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Durham |
| Seat Type: | Status |
| Seat: | Civil parish |
| Parts Style: | para |
| P1: | Stanhope, Bollihope, Bridge End, Brotherlee, Copthill, Cornriggs, Cowshill, Crawleyside, Daddry Shield, East Blackdene, Eastgate, Frosterley, Hill End, Ireshopeburn, Killhope, Lanehead, Lintzgarth, New House, Rookhope, Shittlehope, St John's Chapel, Unthank, Wearhead, West Blackdene, Westgate and White Kirkley |
| Unit Pref: | UK |
| Area Total Km2: | 221 |
| Population Total: | 4581 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
| Postal Code: | DL13 |
Stanhope parish is the largest parish area in England, at 221km2[5] It has some land in common with the neighbouring Wolsingham civil parish. On 31 December 1894 "Stanhope Urban" parish was formed from part of Stanhope parish, but on 1 April 1937 it was merged back. In 1894 Stanhope became an urban district which contained Stanhope Urban parish, on 1 April 1937 the urban district was abolished and merged with Weardale Rural District.[6] On 1 April 1946, 2,396 acres (969.6 ha) were transferred to the parish from Wolsingham.[7] Stanhope Town Hall was completed in 1849.[8]
Stanhope is surrounded by moorland in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – the second largest of a current 40 such areas in England and Wales. Features of interest include:
Stanhope was at the centre of the Weardale campaign (1327), when Sir James Douglas of Scotland invaded England and faced Edward III and Roger Mortimer, Earl of March. A series of skirmishes took place on the valley floor and in Stanhope Park.
The parish church dedicated to St Thomas is mostly from the 12th–13th centuries, with restoration in 1663 and 1867.[12] The earliest known Rector was Richardus in 1200. Joseph Butler, later Bishop of Bristol, was Rector in 1725.[13]
Stanhope Castle may be on the site of a motte and bailey castle according to some evidence from the 1790s. Furthermore, Bishop Anthony Bek granted land "to the west side of Stanhope castle". The present castle was built for Cuthbert Rippon (1744-1801) in 1798 with additions in 1823 by his son, also Cuthbert (1797–1867) and Member of Parliament for Gateshead. Ignatius Bonomi (1787–1870) was the architect. In 1941 the castle was adapted by the Home Office as a school for boys and remained so until 1980, when it was converted into apartments.[14] [15] Part of the gardens lie to the north of the castle across the main road, including the park wall and gazebo.
Stanhope Agricultural Show is held on the second weekend of September each year.[16] It has been held annually since 1834, except in world-war years, the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak and times of bad weather.
Stanhope is the current terminus of the Weardale Railway, a heritage line operating mainly at weekends from Bishop Auckland, with stations at Frosterley, Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear.[17] Stanhope station stood in for the fictional Partlington Station in an episode of the criminal drama series Vera.
In order of birth: