Our Rich Heritage

The first settlers in the dale are thought to have been Neolithic farmers who established small farming communities and hunted in the surrounding area. They left their mark in the form of intricate Cup and ring rock carvings which are visible in several sites to this day.

By the bronze age the farmsteads had become more established and communities were flourishing among the flora and fauna of the dale.

Trees were cleared to make way for farm animals and crops beginning to change the landscape to the one we all know and love. The erection of several stone circles was completed around this time showing that the dale was an important religious site in this time period. Sadly there is not a lot to been seen nowadays due to the liberation of such stones by later dale dwellers for housing and drystone walling.

Our Industrious Dale

Some of the biggest changes to the upper dale began with the discovery of lead and other in demand minerals under the hills.

This led to many mines being dug in the area by various mining companies and the swift expansion of Middleton in Teesdale, a village first established in record in the 12th century, used as the administrative centre of the industry in the dale.

The spoil heaps and various mine workings can be found dotted all over the dale to this day.

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