Middleton-in-Teesdale

Coordinates: 54°37′22″N 2°04′40″W / 54.6229°N 2.0779°W / 54.6229; -2.0779

Middleton-in-Teesdale
Middleton-in-Teesdale town centre
Middleton-in-Teesdale  Middleton-in-Teesdale shown within County Durham
Shire county	County Durham
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BARNARD CASTLE
Postcode district	DL12
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Bishop Auckland
List of places: UK • England • County Durham

Middleton-in-Teesdale is a small market town in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the north side of Teesdale between Eggleston and Newbiggin, a few miles to the north west of Barnard Castle. The settlement is surrounded by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Administration

Middleton is administered by Durham County Council. It is part of the Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency, which as of 2005^[update] is represented in parliament by Helen Goodman (Labour Party). It is in the North East England region, which serves as a constituency for the European Parliament. The local police force is Durham Constabulary.

Middleton-in-Teesdale from the south.

The bridge over the River Tees at Middleton-in-Teesdale.

History

The small market town in Upper Teesdale expanded in the early 19th century when the London Lead Company moved its northern headquarters there from Blanchland in Northumberland. Much of the architecture from its days as a company town is still clearly visible. This includes Middleton House, formerly the headquarters of the company, the school (which is now an outdoor centre) and some company houses. It served as the terminus of a railway line from Barnard Castle until this was closed as part of the Beeching Axe.

Middleton also has links to the early Co-operative Society and may pre-date the Rochdale Pioneers. There are also many early Methodist chapels.

On 20 June 1939, a British American Air Services, De Havilland Dragon Rapide (Registration:G-AERE) flying from Heston Aerodrome to Newcastle Airport. The weather was bad and the aircraft was flying low. The flight crashed at Forest-in-Teesdale near Middleton-in-Teesdale. The accident killed all three passengers and crew on board.^[1]

Geography and tourism

Middleton is on the Pennine Way about 9 miles from High Force. Dominating the moors to the south side of the village is the Scots-Pine-covered tumulus of Kirkcarrion, one of Teesdale's major Bronze Age burial sites.

References

1. ^ "G-AERE". Baaa-acro.com. http://www.baaa-acro.com/Fiches%20d%27accidents/1939/G-AERE.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-06. 

External links

• Photographs of Middleton-in-Teesdale, Teesdale2000
• Middleton Plus
• North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)