Sunderland Bridge and Croxdale

These are two villages a couple of miles south of Durham city. Towns and villages in country Durham fall into two categories - older established, that are quaint and picturesque; and colliery towns that... are not. Sunderland Bridge is the form, Croxdale the latter.

Sunderland Bridge is just off the A167, which was the Great North Road and A1 at one time. The building on the right of the photo is the church hall, and the retaining wall on the left has the church graveyard behind it.


The church itself is rather attractive. St Bartholomew's was built in 1843-46.


The church is the only communal building - there is no pub or shops.



At the far end of the one street, the road turns abruptly right, and on the corner is a large, imposing house. You can just see a turret on the left.


I assume the turret is a folly.


Back to the A167, and we cross the East Coast Main Line...


... And get to Croxdale.


Behind the terrace housing, the community centre, the only highlight, is hidden away.


There was a station here; it closed in 1938. I think this was the station hotel.


And this was the station house - it is called The Old Station House so I am more confident of that one.


The colliery was on the west side of the A167, and the earthworks for the railway sidings are still obvious.


Heading back north, the A167 crosses the River Wear.


From the road bridge a rather older bridge can be seen. This is the actual Sunderland Bridge that the village takes its name. Thought to have been built in the fourteenth century.



Further up river is the viaduct where the railway crosses the river.



Finally, back to the A167, just north of the river is the strangely-named Honest Lawyer Hotel, which is notable because that is where we stayed!


The hotel web site has an old portrait of presumably a lawyer, but nothing to indicate who it is. This was originally the Bridge Hotel, built between the wars.









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