History in the Landscape Continued...

But many more families have been attracted into the dale over the centuries by the offer of work in lead, iron, limestone or even cement. These industries have all but died, and now the Weardale residents seek employment mostly from outside the dale or in the new industry of tourism.  The landscape which once seemed harsh is now considered beautiful and the dale sits within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. However as we shall see, there is very little of the Weardale landscape which could be considered ‘natural’, having been carved up and reshaped for centuries by various Weardale farmers and miners.

This book combines the archaeological evidence from below ground with the architectural evidence above ground to provide a glimpse into Weardale’s long and exciting past. It covers not just the stupendous events, but the ordinary everyday decisions which helped to shape Weardale. However, in an attempt to foreshorten these events, much has not been told and more ancient secrets await discovery in the undulating fields and dark caves of the dale.