Whorlton, County Durham Explained

Country:England
Coordinates:54.5302°N -1.8385°W
Official Name:Whorlton
Population:302
Population Ref:(including Westwick .2011)[1]
Unitary England:County Durham
Shire County:County Durham
Region:North East England
Post Town:DARLINGTON
Postcode District:DL12
Postcode Area:DL
Os Grid Reference:NZ105149

Whorlton is a small village in County Durham, in England. It is situated near the River Tees and to the east of Barnard Castle.

Whorlton Bridge is a 183 ft long suspension bridge which crosses the River Tees.[2] It is Britain's 2nd oldest suspension bridge relying on original chainwork after the union bridge over the River Tweed.[3]

The village has a public house called 'The Bridge Inn'.

Arthur Headlam and James Wycliffe Headlam were both born in the village.

History

In October 1829, Whorlton Bridge, then under construction, was destroyed when the River Tees flooded.[2] John Green of Newcastle upon Tyne was called upon to design a replacement.[2] He based the Whorlton Bridge on the Scotswood Bridge, which he had designed earlier.[2] Construction began in 1830, and the bridge was opened in July 1831.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parish population 2011. 6 July 2015.
  2. Book: Rennison, Robert William. Civil Engineering Heritage: Northern England. 1996. Thomas Telford. 978-0-7277-2518-9. 97.
  3. Book: Martin Collins. Paddy Dillon. The Teesdale Way: From Dufton to the North Sea. 2011. Cicerone Press. 978-1-84965-461-6. 64.
  4. Book: Rennison, Robert William. Civil Engineering Heritage: Northern England. 1996. Thomas Telford. 978-0-7277-2518-9. 98.