Bale Hill

Hill, Mountain in Durham

England

Bale Hill

Bale Hill is a prominent hill located in Durham, England. It is situated in the northern part of the county, near the village of Edmundbyers. Standing at an elevation of approximately 605 meters (1,985 feet), it is often referred to as a hill rather than a mountain due to its height falling just shy of the 2,000-foot threshold.

The hill is part of the Pennines, a range of upland areas that stretch across Northern England. Bale Hill is known for its scenic beauty and is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts. Its location within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty further enhances its appeal.

The ascent to the summit of Bale Hill offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the nearby Derwent Reservoir and the distant Cheviot Hills. The landscape is characterized by rolling moorland, heather-covered slopes, and rocky outcrops, creating a picturesque setting.

Bale Hill is also home to a variety of wildlife, including birds of prey such as kestrels and merlins, as well as grouse and other upland species. The hill is crisscrossed by several footpaths, allowing visitors to explore the area and discover its natural wonders.

Overall, Bale Hill in Durham provides a fantastic opportunity to immerse oneself in the beauty of the North Pennines, offering breathtaking views and a chance to connect with nature.

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Bale Hill Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.84183/-2.0606647 or Grid Reference NY9649. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Presser Pumping Station near the top of Bale Hill

Consett Water Company established in 1859 merged and became the Weardale and Consett Water Company in 1902. Some time late in the 19th or early 20th century one of the two former companies had taken over the engine house of closed Derwent Lead Mines and developed this Grade II Listed pumping house to supply water to Consett. It is reported that they started paying rent to the estate in 1902 and the rent in 1911 was £360.

Jo and Steve Turner

Newbiggin Hall and Birkside Farm from Bale Hill

The Reverend Daniel Capper sold up Newbiggin and Hunstanworth estate by auction in London on 1st August 1865. The sales brochure describes the mansion house of Newbiggin as the jewel in the estate crown. Rev Capper had recently spent £30,000 on new farm buildings, the latest water power machinery and rebuilding the estate cottages "with four rooms each". Kelly's Directory 1894 tells us it is owned by Edward Joicey esq. J.P. Pevsner documents that the house was rebuilt in Neo-classical style in 1906 after a fire of 1904 from a Latin inscription on the west wall. Reports indicate it has been a First World War sanatorium, a turkey farm and hotel and was more recently owned by a member of the Arabian royal family who stays a couple of times a year for the grouse shooting.

Jo and Steve Turner

View to East High House Farm from Bale Hill

Jo and Steve Turner

Hunstanworth from Bale Hill

Hunstanworth is one of the 'Thankful Villages' (a term popularised by the writer Arthur Mee in the 1930s) that suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914-1918. The unusual patterns in the roof tiles was a creation of architect Samuel Sanders Teulon who had been commissioned by Reverend Daniel Capper, landowner who would stay in Newbiggin Hall during the grouse shooting season, to build a new church, school, reading room, shop and workers' terraced cottages in 1863. The distinctive diamond-patterned, steep-pitched roofs and Victorian Gothic detail make Hunstanworth unique among the villages of the North Pennines. Closure of the local lead mines in the 1880s diminished the 800 strong population (778 in 1861) to just 200 by 1901. The population of the village in 2011 was 116. John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales of 1870-72 informs us that "the church was rebuilt in 1865, at a cost of £2,500".

Jo and Steve Turner