Historic Settlement Patterns in Weardale

Eastgate Village Continued...

Only Northgate would remain as a farm after the 18th century; situated too far north from the road network to compete with its contemporary gateway sites and possibly also on poorer upland soils.

The scattered farmsteads remained the dominant settlement characteristic of the dale outside the towns. The earlier farms were located on the best land in the lower valley slopes, while later farms had to compete on the poorer higher soils. The 18th century saw a growth in development, but this appears to have had less to do with lead mining than in other nearby settlements such as Westgate. Instead the growth was part of a national trend of building combined with general economic buoyancy resulting from industrialisation such as quarrying and related services. By the 18-19th centuries, new farms were created on newly enclosed land and an inn was opened as a welcome resting place for travellers brought into Eastgate by the railway line. Today, Eastgate is a characteristically loose-knit village overlooking Rookhope Burn, containing a number of listed buildings, mostly 18th century in date.

 

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