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Environment, History, Whats On

Beaurepaire open day 9 May

Tomorrow (9 May) is an open day at the BeauRepaire mediaeval manor, organized by the Dream Heritage Foundation. The manor ruins are in a lovely spot next to the River Browney between Witton Gilbert and Bearpark villages. In the last few years, Dream Heritage organisation and many volunteers have transformed it from a bramble-filled ruin into a beautiful spot for visiting, picnics and concerts.

The open day starts tomorrow Saturday at Bearpark Methodist Church (14 Auton Stile, DH7 7DB) at 10am. The programme includes cake and hot drinks, chatting to volunteers, a short talk on the history of the site, what’s been found so far and hopes and dreams for the future of Beaurepaire. At 11am there will be a guided walk to the site, followed by volunteer gardening on the site from 12-2pm, when the event finishes. Tickets are free (on Eventbrite ), and donations to support the work are very welcome. People under 18 years should bring a legal guardian or parent.

The next volunteer site gardening day will be on Friday 22 May, from 1-5pm.

The next open day will be on Saturday 30 May from 10am-2pm, following the same programme as before (tickets here ). It will be followed by a “Music in the Ruins” fundraiser concert with singer/ songwriter/ troubadour Steve Pledger from 2-4pm (free tickets here).

Another open day is on Saturday 21 June from 10am-2pm, followed by a fundraising concert by close harmony vocal group Durham Harmonics (tickets here ).

Beaurepaire restoration on the BBC

A 2024 story on BBC news , with before and after photos, tells of the work. According to Rebekah Watkins of Dream Heritage, they started just before the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. The rooms were so “full of bramble” that they could not enter and they could hardly see the walls beneath thick ivy. The BBC quotes her saying: “After a month or two you could see that we were working from room to room and reclaiming the site. “As room by room got transformed, I think it brought energy and enthusiasm,”

More than 50 volunteers got involved, aged from 2 to over 80 years old. The BBC quotes volunteer Bill Hindmarch: “Looking at the site now, I’m proud and somewhat amazed at what we have achieved.”

According to the report Durham County Council monitors the progress. It quotes Steve Bhowmick, DCC Environment and Design Manager, that the site had been restored “for the benefit of the community” thanks to Dream Heritage’s work and the local authority was “pleased” to see it removed from the at risk register.

What is Dream Heritage?

Dream Heritage is a Community Interest Company (CIC) set up in 2019 and headquartered in Howden, East Yorkshire. It has four directors, including Rebekah Watkins described on the website as “a professional archaeologist and historic building conservationist with a passion for both community and heritage.” She has a BSc Archaeology degree from Durham University and was awarded the John Ashurst Prize (Historic England) from West Dean College for outstanding work in conservation and repair of historic buildings.

Rebekah is committed to empowering communities to restore and maintain their local heritage. According to the website: “With experience in commercial archaeology, community archaeology, material conservation, project management, community engagement, mural paintings/ communal art/ sculpture, and heritage conservation and repair.”

Another director is John Watkins, who adds to a career as a skilled mechanical engineer by being “a proficient builder, renovating listed buildings in his spare time”.

Read more about the Dream Heritage website: “We are a relatively small team focused on empowering and upskilling others to be ‘restorers of ruins’ in both heritage and communities in their own contexts. Volunteers help to lubricate activities and events, and help with administration, fundraising & promotion. We are not striving to make an empire, but to empower!

“We are: specialists in heritage conservation, maintenance and repair & archaeological services; leaders of community heritage projects & archaeological excavation; skilled in delivering skills training, craft workshops & volunteer opportunities; passionate about the church, ministry and youth outreach; advocates for the environment; and champions for local history and its place in the school curriculum.”

Country home for monks

Beaurepaire Priory (the name means “beautiful retreat”) was originally built in 1258 by Bertram de Middleton, the Prior in charge of the Priory of Durham’s Benedictine monks and Convent of Durham from 1244-1258, when he retired. It is on an isolated peninsula above the River Browney and Prior Hugh of Darlington added a surrounding 1,300-acre hunting park belonging to the monastery almost 30 years later.

The prior and monks went there four times a year, including for fun (ludi prioris – the prior’s games) but it was built was a manor house (rather than a priory) to offer hospitality to visiting royalty. Kings Edward I, Edward II, and Edward III visited it between 1296 and 1335 during their campaigns against the Scots.

It has also been expanded several times over the following centuries. It became a country retreat for the monks of Durham and a home for retired monks, similar to Finchale, which was a priory. Beaurepaire is three miles from Durham City so the monks could walk back to attend daily mass. Beaurepaire included St Edmund’s Chapel and was extended with a large kitchen, dormitory and garden.

The Scottish army of King David II ransacked and damaged the priory in October 1346 as they camped in the park the day before their defeat at the Battle of Neville’s Cross. After the battle, on 17 October King David was captured nearby, apparently hiding under a bridge over the River Browney near Aldin Grange.

John Fossor (Prior of Durham 1341-1374) ordered that Beaurepaire be rebuilt and extended. Although the monastery was dissolved in the 1530s during the reign of Henry VIII it was used and continued to expand, covering 6 acres of a 38-acre working site.

The Scots Covenanter army fighting on the side of Parliament in the 1640s during the English Civil War (also called War of Three Kingdoms) damaged it again in the 1640s, during the British Civil War.

Information from the site noticeboard, the excellent DurhamCow website and This is Durham website.

Beaurepaire Manor is a community conservation and heritage restoration project next to Witton Gilbert. Photo: Tom Minney

Charity, Football, Music, Whats On

Early bird tickets 2 May for Wittfest 2026

The amazing music festival on your doorstep – Wittfest 2026 – will be on Saturday 4 July this year. Its a beautifully organized festival in the huge carpark of the Travellers Rest pub, Witton Gilbert, with a great line-up of bands, a fantastic high stage and great sound.

Tickets are £20 – funds go to the excellent village association Children’s Hopes and Dreams (CHAD) which supports a host of great activities and organizations, and the pub.

You can get early bird tickets for this local Durham music festival at £15 each on 2 May from 2pm till 5pm at the Travellers Rest (Front St, DH7 6TQ)

The organizers will be organizing a similar festival at the Kings Head in Lanchester on Saturday 1 August. Early bird tickets are also available for this, also at £15, at the same time and place.

The Wittfest is highly recommended, featuring a great set up, lots of seating, room to dance, plus several bars.

As usual, the bands in 2026 will be excellent. The lineup is

Other events organized by CHAD for your diaries:

News

Witton Gilbert mourns teen slain on building site

Tributes are being paid across Witton Gilbert village for 17-year-old Shay Bladen, tragically killed in an accident at the Sniperley Park DH1 homes development site.

He lived in Witton Gilbert and was a construction worker working for a subcontractor for Esh Group, which is carrying out groundworks on the private housing development site which is in the Witton Gilbert parish.

Shay was seriously injured in the head and neck when a concrete pipe fell on him before 1pm on Thursday 16 April. North East Ambulance Service was called to Sniperley Farm Road shortly before 1pm and sent an ambulance crew, a specialist paramedic, two clinical team leaders and a duty officer to the scene. It requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, which attended by road. An ambulance rushed him to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Newcastle but sadly he died on Friday night.

His heartbroken parents Lee and Samantha said he was ” Shay was the most genuine, loving, caring lad you could ever wish to meet, he lit up every room making everyone smile even on the worst days.”

He loved boxing and the gym and also “loved work and his job and just constantly being on the go. He was a genuine friend to many and the most amazing, caring, big brother to Ellis and Edie. Shay also loved spending time with his long-term girlfriend Libby.

“As his parents, we couldn’t be more proud of the hard working, determined young man Shay turned out to be. We love you and seeing how highly everyone speaks about you just shows the type of person you were.

“Our handsome brown-eyed boy – forever 17.”

Shay Bladen day

Village organisation Children’s Hopes and Dreams (CHAD) will name the village day on Saturday 30 May the “Shay Bladen Village Day”. John Nixon says: “We have a full afternoon of events for the kids and it’s all free so get yourselves down.”

Condolence on Facebook include: “Unbelievably heartbreaking. Love and condolences to Shay’s family. A village in mourning taken far too young. Life is so cruel sometimes”. “My heart goes out to you and your family”. “Can’t put into words how devastating and heartbreaking this is. My heart goes out to Shay’s family”. “I’m so sorry for your heartbreaking loss. Sending lots of love and strength.”

The funeral notice (below) says Shay will be celebrated at Durham Crematorium on 15 May at 11:30am, donations in lieu of flowers to local boxing clubs. “Everyone is welcome afterwards to Witton Gilbert Club, May Lea DH7 6RH”.

Police and Health and Safety investigate

The nationwide Health and Safety Executive is investigating alongside Durham police and inspectors visited the site on the day of the accident. Police Detective Chief Inspector Andy Crowe said: “This has been a truly tragic incident and I would like to offer Shay’s family and friends the sincere condolences of everyone at Durham Constabulary.”

“We are carrying out a joint investigation with our colleagues at the Health and Safety Executive to determine the exact circumstances as to how this tragedy unfolded.”

An Esh Group spokesperson said: “We are extremely saddened to learn that our subcontractor’s employee, Shay Bladen, has passed away following the serious incident on site at Sniperley Park in Durham. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends who are in our thoughts at this tragic time.”

Since the incident occurred, the contractor has worked alongside the police and the HSE “to assist a thorough investigation”.

A spokesperson for developer Bellway said the firm was “extremely saddened” to hear of Bladen’s death.

News stories referenced

Durham Police

The Northern Echo

BBC North East

Construction News

St Michael & All Angels, Whats On

Holy Week and Easter church services in Witton Gilbert and Sacriston

Here are some of the church services for the coming week, Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter

At St Michael & All Angels, Witton Gilbert

Palm Sunday (29 March): 9.15am – Procession and Parish Eucharist with reading of the Passion led by Revd Bill Jackson

Maundy Thursday (2 April): 6pm – Passover Meal with Eucharist followed by Stripping of the Altar, led by Revd Bill Jackson (Booking essential for the meal)

Good Friday (3 April): 10am – CHAD Easter Egg Hunt led by Revd Caroline Dick

Good Friday (3 April): 2pm – Liturgy led by Revd Bill Jackson

Easter Sunday (5 April): 9.15am – Parish Eucharist led by Revd Michael Peers.

St Michael & All Angels, Coach Lane, Witton Gilbert, DH7 6SX, see website.

Sacriston Churches Together extra services

Palm Sunday (29 March): 5:30pm – Palm Sunday Praise  at Sacriston Methodist Church, 1 Wesley Close, DH7 6JG.

Monday (30 March): 7:00pm – Service for Holy Week at St Philip & St James,. Kimblesworth, 19 Oak Cres, DH2 3QB.

Tuesday (31 March): 7:00pm – Stations of the Cross at St Bede’s Catholic Church, Front Street, DH7 6AB.

Wednesday (1 April): 7:00pm – Service for Holy Week at Sacriston Salvation Army, Plawsworth Road, DH7 6PE.

Graphic by Freepik

Children, Environment

Witton star Scout reports from Norway

Witton Gilbert’s star scout, Joe Keogan, had a great time as an adult volunteer representing the UK in Norway at the European Scout event, Roverway 2024.

Roverway is a gathering of 5,000 Scouts aged 16 – 22 years old, from across Europe and beyond. It was on the beautiful fjord coastline of Lundsneset, Stavanger, from 22 July – 2 August. The trip event included:

  • An expedition across Southern Norway for five days, then
  • An international camp at Stavanger where Scouts engaged in a programme of Scouting activities and skill development, culminating in
  • A ferry trip to visit Copenhagen in Denmark.
  • A special event for the UK contingent (550 Scouts from UK’s four home nations and British Scouting Overseas) in Copenhagen from 2-5 August.

Joe Keogan, aged 23 and from Witton Gilbert, said: “I attended the last Roverway in Netherlands as a participant and I couldn’t wait to come back as an adult volunteer. Norway is amazing. I have been helping to build the site and working in an international team of Scouts has been inspiring.”

Scouts from almost every European nation shared 15 days of adventure, fun, and learning skills for life under theme “North of the Ordinary”.

Roverway helped participants develop independence and resilience by starting with a youth-led five-day expedition across Norway.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, said: “A massive congratulations to Joe Keogan who represented the UK at Roverway 2024. Roverway is an amazing opportunity to discover yourself and make new friends, whilst participating in a programme that demonstrates true Scouting spirit by developing skills for life. Everyone involved had the trip of a lifetime in Stavanger. The diversity of people they met reminds us all about what the world has to offer: new cultures and new friends, becoming ever more tolerant and caring about others.”

Scouting in Durham

There are eight Scout groups in the Durham City area according to the local website https://www.durhamcityscouts.org.uk/. Over 70 volunteers support the activities.

Scouts is the world’s largest youth movement Scout groups are divided according to age, including Squirrels (age 4-6), Beavers (6-8), Cuts (8-10.5 years), Scouts (10.5-14), Explorers (14 to 18) and Network (18-25). “Because of the demand for places especially in the younger sections it is not always possible to offer places in a first choice of group. If you are looking for a place please complete the online joining form and we will endeavour to find a space somewhere within the District.”

Scouts was founded on 1 August 1907 and the earliest record of scouting in Durham is from 1910, when there were already six Scout Groups and 140 Scouts.

1st Framwellgate Moor Scouts (https://www.framscouts.org.uk/) and has satellite groups in Sacriston. The local group has been going for some 70 years and is currently thriving with over 200 young people enjoying fun and adventures.

According to the website “We aim to give young people ranging from 4 to 18 years of age the opportunity to build skills for life through our section programmes. We offer new and challenging experiences designed to push the young people out of their comfort zones so they can truly learn and develop whilst also making long lasting friendships.

“Our programmes are designed around young people’s interests and needs in order to ensure they are fun and engaging, so they can get the best out of Scouting, potentially leading to top awards.

“We are an extremely popular group and our numbers are constantly increasing so if you have a young child interested in joining, we encourage you to add them to our waiting list early to ensure they get a place.”

About Scouts

In the UK, The Scout Association supports the 7,000 Scout Groups (www.scouts.org.uk) across the country to provide opportunities to over 444,000 young people aged 4-25 years. More than 587,500 individuals are actively involved in Scouts.

“Put your phone down and what are you left with? Just teamwork, courage and the skills to succeed.”
Bear Grylls, Chief Scout

All genders, races and backgrounds are welcome at Scouts. Every week, it gives almost half a million people the skills they need for school, college, university, the job interview, the important speech, the tricky challenge, and the big dreams: the skills they need for life.  

Over 200 activities are offered by Scouts, from canoeing and caving to coding and community projects, made possible by the efforts of over 163,000 adult volunteers. UK Scouts has over 250 Scout Activity Challenge badges. These require participants to achieve a level of understanding and skill realistic and appropriate to their age range.

Worldwide, Scouts has over 57 million members, both male and female, and operates in nearly every country in the world.

(Photos kindly supplied by Scouts PR, thank-you!)

Charity, Children

Children’s Hopes and Dreams village group

This is a Witton Gilbert fund-raising organization which supports lots of community and charity activities for children in the village and further afield.

Some of the activities for summer 2024:

  • Free football coaching on the field, usually every Wednesday evening through August.
  • A qualified CrossFit trainer puts on four sessions.
  • Supporting the much loved Woodland Wonders children’s holiday sessions with lunches and other support.

According to Jon Reynolds, one of the organizers: “We put a Halloween party and Christmas party on at the club, all free. We also do other things during the year like the pantomime horse race”. The horse race is an annual event since 2021 and the date is to be confirmed.

Jon added: “Last year we put guitar lessons on and supplied the instruments, but that is yet not confirmed for this year.

“We also designed a programme with suicide prevention charity If U Care Share to go into year 5 in Witton Gilbert Primary School for six weeks to prepare the kids for going to the “big” school. This went down really well with the kids and parents so we are raising money to do this again and want it be a yearly thing. This cost us £3,500 for the first year but will only cost us £2,000 moving forward as it is all designed.”

Children’s hopes and dreams was originally set up nearly 30 years ago in memory of a local serviceman, Michael Stephenson, who was in the Royal Marines and died from a heart embolism at the age of 23 years. Here is a story in the Northern Echo.

Since then they have organized a football tournament in his memory for many years and have continued to raise money for different causes, including the primary school, local playgroups and the Treetops children’s ward, at the University Hospital of North Durham.

Business

WG’s screaming chillis

Screaming Chimp is world-class chilli sauce made in Witton Gilbert – and the first chillis were grown here too.

Cragside resident Niall McKay-Mount said his friend Paul initially gave him some chilli seedings in 2015 when he was suffering from depression: “Grow them mate, they may take your mind off things.”

Niall developed sauce recipes and distributed to family and friends for special events and, in February 2016, trademarked the name Screaming Chimp. He launched operations in June.

The first of many years of awards came in 2017, and in the first three years Niall and Mrs. Chimp Vicky produced 30,000 bottles from the kitchen in Cragside.

In 2019 they outsourced some production – which helped them survive lockdown in 2020 – but Niall told us he still produces limited edition bottles, chimponnaise, chilli peanuts and designs new recipes at home.

After lockdown and arrival of baby Albi Edward, 2021 brought on board new stockists. The Screaming Chimp chilli sauces from the NorthEast are shipped worldwide to Australia , Belgium, Netherlands and the UAE, as well as lots of collaborations with top restaurants, pizza makers, burger shops and other great taste specialists.

Niall spends many of the weekdays in production and marketing at his local business. At weekends he is often on the road to shows to sell sauces, test recipes and meet new customers. The varieties available are:

  • Chimpotle
  • Chilli Oil
  • Chimponnaise
  • Original hot sauce
  • Pineapple
  • Screamer
  • Mon-key Lime
  • Rhubarb, Ginger and Chilli preserve – limited edition this June/July
  • Chilli peanuts

What’s Niall’s advice for budding entrepreneurs in Witton Gilbert? He says: “Be prepared to change, and to pivot your operations” and “listen to advice, but don’t try to follow it all”.

Big events coming up are Windsor Food and Chilli Festival (29-30 June), Seaham Food Festival (3-4 August), North Shields Christmas Market (9-10 December) and many more. They also have regular stands at Hartlepool Marina market once a month and at Jesmond Market.

You can buy Screaming Chimp chilli sauces at:
Broom House Farm (DH7 6TR)
Holmside Farm Fresh (Whiteside Farm, Burnhope, DH7 0DR)
Market Cheese and Deli (Covered Market, Durham DH1 3NJ)
Northern Stores & Deli (Unit 14 Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, Durham DH1 3UJ
Or buy on the website, https://www.screamingchimp.com/.

Hashtags for social media #KeeponChimpin, #staysauceome and #Screamifyouwannagohotter. Screaming Chimp is also on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

History, News

Witton Gilbert War Memorial Awarded Listed Building Status

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add Witton Gilbert War Memorial to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The memorial is now listed at Grade II.

Please follow the link below to download a copy of our advice report, which gives the principal reasons for this decision. The List entry for this building, together with a map, has now been published on the National Heritage List for England, and will be available for public access from tomorrow. This List can be accessed through The Historic England website.

http://services.historicengland.org.uk/webfiles/GetFiles.aspx?av=8D454149-B7CF-4CA4-9475-922304F66A01&cn=947F16FD-87F0-4E90-8524-9D03EAE12CEE