History of Blanchland

Blanchland is a village on the Northumberland/County Durham border which grew out of the foundation of an abbey in 1165. It was bought by the Bishop of Durham, Nathaniel Lord Crewe in 1708, and on his death in 1721 Blanchland became part of a charitable trust established by his will. Today Blanchland is reputed to be one of the prettiest villages in England, and is a popular destination for visitors from all over the world.

Blanchland is actually in Northumberland, but two of the roads leading out of the village take you almost immediately into County Durham. It’s about 25 miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the same distance west of Durham City. The nearest major road is the A68, seven miles to the east of the village.

Here’s a map.

Blanchland is situated within the North Pennines National Landscape .

Blanchland Chimneys by Neil Aiston

Village Life in Blanchland

Day-to-day life in the village “You can’t sneeze at one...

Times Gone By

Beginnings at Blanchland It may give the impression that little...

Poets and Poetry

The village in verse Perhaps because of its spectacular natural...

People of Blanchland

Villagers and Visitors Looking at various records shows that generations...

Industrious Past

Of Lambs and Lead Mines The nineteenth century was a...

Descendants

Thanks to the wonders of modern communications, people from anywhere...

For further information…

The sign of the Lord Crewe Arms by Colin Smith

Other useful sites:

Blanchland Post Office

The North of England Lead Mining Museum

The North Pennines Heritage Trust

Oral history video clips on the Derwent Reservoir

Sunniside Local History Society