History of Lanchester
Lanchester is set in the valley of the River Browney, approximately eight miles to the west of the City of Durham. It is highly likely the towns name comes from the Romans and the fort of Longovicium, which is situated half a mile from Lanchester itself.
There has been evidence uncovered to suggest that there had been earlier inhabitants in the valley. Evidence of Brigantine tribes has been uncovered in the form of an arrowhead found at Hollybush Farm and a stone axe along with the bust of a Celtic God, unearthed at Upperhouses Farm. Other finds have included items related to both Saxon and Viking inhabitants.
The area has strong ties to Agriculture and there are many large farms and Manor Houses in and around Lanchester, which would have provided many villagers with employment. There are many well noted historical figures associated with Lanchester including;
At nearby Burnhopeside Hall lived William Hedley the inventor of the locomotives 'Puffing Billy' and 'Wylam Dilly'. The former of the two is now housed in the Science Museum in London where it is said to be the oldest locomotive in the world. A memorial to William Hedley can be seen in the village Church.
Doctor William Greenwell of Greenwell Ford, a noted historian, archaeologist and author, was made Canon of Durham Cathedral in 1854, before becoming librarian to the Dean and Chapter in 1862. A keen fisherman, he will be mostly remembered for his famous trout fly 'The Greenwell Glory', still used by many anglers today. Canon Greenwell died at the age of 97 in 1918 and is buried in the village churchyard.
The poet, Dora Greenwell, Williams sister, was born at Greenwell Ford in 1821. She was aquainted with Christina Rossetti another great poet of this time, they both shared an interest in theology. Dora was an advocate of better education for women and supported the right for women to be allowed the vote. Two of her poems are included in the Methodist hymnbook although she was in fact an Anglican herself.
Lanchester is a thriving and substantial village, the size and grandeur of its Church indicates that this has been an important religious centre since the Norman times.
The course of the disused railway line now known as the Lanchester Valley Walk provides pleasant walks in the direction of either Consett or Durham ,where it links at each end with a network of other disused railways and tracks suitable for walking and cycling. At the Consett end the valley walk links to the SUSTRANS C2C cycle route, an award winning national cycle route stretching from Whitehaven and Workington in the North West of England to Sunderland or Tynemouth in the North East.
