County Durham In England

County Durham England UK

Videos of the local history of County Durham, in the North East of England, reflect its proud heritage as the engine behind the Industrial Revolution. 

Page Contents:

Is Durham A County or A City?

Both! The ancient City of Durham has a magnificent Norman cathedral, a world-renowned university based in the Castle, and historic streets. The surrounding area of County Durham contains a variety of new, historic and industrial towns and villages, all set in varied and spectacular countryside.

Since April 1, 2019, both Durham City and County Durham have been served by one unitary local authority, Durham County Council. 

What Is County Durham Famous For?

The Norman Cathedral is the visual and emotional centrepiece of Durham City. But it was coal extraction in County Durham that helped fuel the Industrial Revolution, and by 1923 the county employed 170,000 coal miners. 

The loss of every pit and most of the manufacturing industry caused decades of blight. The Miners’ Strike of 1984 drew national attention to the area, although the impact of the Consett Steelworks closure is little understood elsewhere.

Durham University has maintained its reputation as one of the UK’s premier universities and is a popular destination for candidates achieving high-level grades. 

Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, has grown to become a major UK destination for tourists. Visitor numbers have reached more than 700,000 a year.

In 2019, Beamish Unlimited Passes cost between £11.50-£19.50. Or, you could buy a family Beamish Unlimited Pass for between £36.50-£51.00.

What Towns, Cities, And Villages Are In County Durham?

The following towns and cities are located in County Durham:

  • Barnard Castle
  • Billingham
  • Bishop Auckland
  • Chester-le-Street
  • Consett
  • Craghead
  • Crook
  • Darlington
  • Durham City
  • Eaglescliffe
  • Easington, County Durham
  • Ferryhill
  • Fishburn
  • Hartlepool
  • Newton Aycliffe
  • Peterlee
  • Seaham
  • Sedgefield
  • Shildon
  • Spennymoor
  • Stanley
  • Stanley Crook
  • Stockton-on-Tees
  • Tow Law
  • Willington, County Durham
  • Wolsingham

Links to Free Local History Videos

If you see one of the city, town or village listings highlighted in colour, it clicks through to a page showing links to free videos for that location. 

New pages will keep being compiled and added over time. Thank you for your patience.

Durham Local History Facebook Pages And Groups

  • Darlington As It Looked 1880 – 1980
  • Stanley’s History

Durham Local History Resources

  • Durham County Local History Society
  • Tow Law & District History Society
  • Wheatley Hill History Club

National Resources For Local History Research

In addition, there are many national resources (enough to justify their own page!) which could help your local history research.

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For the image, thanks go to Emphyrio from Pixabay.

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