Shincliffe Walks - Walk 3: Schools, Collieries and Lepers

About

Distance: 3.25 miles
Grade of walk: Moderate
Time:2.5 Hours

Walk 3
Schools, Collieries and Lepers
Start: Mapboard, High Shincliffe (park in the lay-by)

Passing the former Post Office, turn left into Heathways and follow the road. After the sharp right hand bend there are two cottages on the left which were the first Shincliffe School built in 1841 F. Continue to the old waggonway and turn left. At the end of the old pit heap turn right following the field path to cross Whitwell Beck Bridge. Cross the field, keeping slightly right and go under the railway built in 1844 by the N.E. Railway Co., the first to link the capital cities of London and Edinburgh.

Follow the path through the field towards the A1(M). Cross the footbridge, pass Whitwell House Farm and continue down the lane. In a quarter of a mile the road passes through the site of Whitwell Village and the arrowed gate on the right leads to the site of Whitwell Colliery opened in 1836 G.


Stay on the lane and continue past Whitwell Junction and Whitwell Grange to the A181 Hartlepool road. Cross the road and follow Shincliffe Lane to Sherburn Hospital H. Founded in 1184 for the care of lepers, it now provides residential accommodation for elderly people. Turn left passing the Hospital on the right.

In the dip in the road take the marked footpath on the left. Note the mediaeval bridge I over the stream. In 100 yards climb to the old railway embankment and turn left up 2 steps onto the permissive path through the plantation. Continue to the A181 Hartlepool road. Turn right and follow the roadside path across the A1(M). Cross the road to take the track leading up the old waggonway to Manor House Farm.

Here was sited the stationary engine which probably hauled the coal waggons from the pit and where a brakeman controlled their descent to the main line.

Continue along the waggonway to the road and return to the lay-by.