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John Walker’s Walk #2 Yarm, Eaglescliffe and Parishes Historical walk This is a circular walk which can be started and completed at any point on the walk. It is part of the John Walker’s Walks across the Borough of Stockton on Tees and will ultimately form part of a series of walks connecting the Parish Communities of the Borough.
For the purposes of completeness, we will start our walk at the Egglescliffe end of Yarm Bridge near the Blue Bell Inn, one of many refreshment options in the walk.
Points of Historical Interest are noted. Publications are available to help you discover more.
From the bridge and with the Blue Bell Inn on your right walk towards Stockton along Yarm Road past the Cleveland Bay Pub on your left-hand side. The Cleveland Bay dates back to 1825 and could claim to be the first purpose-built Railway Pub.
Shortly we reach, on our right, Butts Lane which will lead us into the lovely village green of Egglescliffe. Along the road on your left-hand side you will pass Egglescliffe C of E Primary School. Sitting immediately east of the church we see the Old Rectory (largely rebuilt in 1845)
Across the road we see, at first sight, what appears to be a relatively modern looking building, the Parish Hall, but appearances are deceptive. Now the Parish Hall, it was a School, opened in 1839, which catered for boys and girls.
Walking further along Butts Lane, and on our left, we approach Egglescliffe Hall (Late 18th Century).
As we enter the village green, we take a left turn into Back Lane and follow the road round, past Manor Farm, run by the Smith Family (and the route down to the River and Teesdale Way) to the Manor House (18th Century). The Manor House is at the eastern most end of Egglescliffe Village.
We now continue past the ruin (on the left-hand side) that was the Old Hall, bear right through a narrow alley into Wells Cottages and Pump Row as the cottages are also known (see if you can find the pump outside of the cottage).
As we come through to the green, we are surrounded by wonderful early houses. Immediately opposite is Rose Cottage. The Post Office was located at No2 Rose Terrace. Walk across to Rose Terrace and get a new perspective of the Green.
Leave the Green along Church Road and The Pot and Glass will be on the left-hand side. It has its origins in the 17th century and is a good place to stop for a drink and a bite.
We now turn right into the Churchyard of the church on the top of the hill, St John the Baptist Church. There has been a church on this site for 900 years.
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Walk through the church yard, but before you exit, look for the old stone bench on your right and look under to find a John Walker Matchbox. When you exit the churchyard, turn right to stop briefly and look at the view of Yarm and surrounding area, and to visit the war memorial.
Immediately left of the Memorial is Stoney Bank, which takes us down to the Blue Bell pub, another entrance to the Teesdale Way and Yarm Bridge, our starting point earlier. The bridge we see today at Yarm was commissioned around 1400AD. The bridge connects Yarm to Egglescliffe and you will note halfway across the old boundary line between North Yorkshire and Durham County.
Crossing over the bridge we enter Yarm High Street and continue our walk on the left-hand side of the street. We shortly reach 124 which is Bridge House. Next comes 114 and 116 High Street. There is some argument about which building is the oldest in Yarm and it is possible that we are looking at it here. It was the home of Tom Brown, war hero, who opened a pub here.
Next, we come to the building occupied by Cartmell Electrics. Look up and see the insignia plaque inset on the wall. This is a fire insurance plaque. We then arrive at the first pub on the High Street, The Ketton Ox. This is an historic 17th-century part Grade II-listed inn.
The next pub we come to is The George and Dragon, Grade ll listed building constructed early mid C18. A successful meeting was held here in 1821 that eventually gained permission to build the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the world's first public passenger railway.
The Dutch style Town Hall, on our right was built by the Lord of the Manor, the 3rd Viscount Fauconberg and stands at what is probably the widest point on the High Street.
Plaques on Yarm Town Hall include one dedicated to local volunteers who served in the South African War 1899 – 1902, the five pioneers of the First Public Railway in the World (Stockton to Darlington Railway), and markers at various heights which indicate the levels of floods that have affected Yarm over the years. The highest marker, from 1771, is seven feet above ground.
The Black Bull Pub dates from 1834. Continue along the High Street, 8-16 High Street demonstrates great examples of Georgian Merchants Houses.
Turn left into Atlas Wynd. Where new housing stands was the site of a tannery. After a short distance go right through a car park to a narrow path leading down to the river and note the first flood gate we come across. Turn left to take us on a stroll along the river Tees. To your right is Yarm School, built in the grounds of an old Dominican Friary (1266-1539) and incorporating the Friarage building (early 18th Century).
Walking along beside the river (passing the back of the Black Bull Pub) and continuing along the river we come to the octagon shaped Wesleyan Chapel. Yarm Methodist Chapel (on your left) was built in 1763 and was visited not long after by the famous Methodist leader, John Wesley.
We carry on walking alongside the river and past the quay where the Teesside Princess and Rivershack berths. Eventually passing under the bridge. Keep straight on here, ignoring the passage on the left back to the High Street. We are now on a walkway called True Lovers Walk. Soon we reach the Viaduct, turn left after going under the viaduct onto what looks a little like a dirt track. The end of this
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alley will bring you onto West Street. Turn right and follow the road round until you enter the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene Church on the right-hand side.
The church of St. Mary Magdalene stands on the west side of Yarm, between West Street and the River Tees. There is evidence that a church devoted to Christian worship has stood on the present site for many centuries. The church was re-built in 1730. See if you can find Tom Browns Grave as we walk through the grounds.
As we come out of the churchyard we cross West Street and see the famous landmark, Yarm Castle. This was built in 1882 by a Mr Doughty.
We proceed right along West Street until we reach, almost immediately Hope House on the corner of High Church Wynd. This house was built in the late 16th or early 17th century. The other half of it was sliced off when the railway viaduct was built. A plaque inside also suggests that it is the oldest house in Yarm. It is a Grade II listed building.
Carrying on West Street we eventually cross back under the viaduct and face an old engineering works. Hauxwells Works was an old family run engineering works now turned into apartments. As you continue walking you are now on Bentley Wynd.
As we continue along Bentley Wynd we can see on the right hand side (just along from Snaiths Field) the Old Police Station and Old Police House (see if you can notice the bars still on the windows)
We can now saunter back down the High Street to our starting point, drop into one of the many cafes or bars, admire the alleyways and wynds or just window shop to get back to our starting point.