St James' Church, Hamsterley

St James' Church sits on the end of a promontory overlooking the rivers Wear, Bedburn and Linburn. Whilst officially dated from 1180, the architecture of the Nave tells of pre-Conquest origins. This sits alongside 13th Century transepts (former Chantry chapels), the south of which has a pair of grave slabs sitting perpendicular out of the wall, a feature not seen in any other known church in Britain. Feel free to mooch around, or there will be specific walking tours at 10.30, 12.00, and 13.30 and guided talks about the church at 11.00, 12.30, 14.00, and 14.45. The guided walk will involve a walk of the surrounding countryside to consider the context of the church in its landscape and the potential ancient origins of the site.

Timings

Saturday 12 September:

10.00-16.00

Location & directions

St James' Church, Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL13 3RQ

Directions:

Please be aware that the main road from the A68 into Hamsterley is closed and you will need to follow diversions from Toft Hill.

Contact on day:

Ady Davis

Telephone number:

+447415663774

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Accessibility details

Parking is available by the church. There is a gravel path to the church that can be difficult for some wheelchairs. The church is level access except one step up into the chancel. Please note that there are no toilets at the church. Well behaved dogs are welcome. For those coming on the walking tour, please be aware that the terrain is hilly. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

Additional information

Max number of people:

10

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s)

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