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{{Short description|Valley in Northern England}}
{{about||a locality in Victoria, Australia|Teesdale, Victoria|a former local government district|Teesdale (district)|west Teesdale|Upper Teesdale|south-east Teesdale|Cleveland, England}}
{{About||a locality in Victoria, Australia|Teesdale, Victoria|a former local government district|Teesdale (district)|west Teesdale|Upper Teesdale|south-east Teesdale|Cleveland, England}}
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{{use British English|date=November 2020}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2020}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox valley
{{Infobox valley
| name =Teesdale
| name =Teesdale
| other_name =
| other_name =[[Tees Valley]], [[Teesside]] & [[Cleveland, England|Cleveland]]
| native_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| native_name_lang =
| translation =
| translation =
| photo =Teesside from Carlton Bank.jpg
| photo =Pasture south of Middleton in Teesdale (edited, cropped).jpg
| photo_caption =Lower Teesdale (Teesside) from Carlton Bank
| photo_caption =View over [[Middleton in Teesdale]]
<!-- MAP -->
<!-- MAP -->
| map =
| map =
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| map_caption =
| map_caption =
<!-- Location -->
<!-- Location -->
| location =south of [[County Durham]] and north of [[North Yorkshire]], England
| location =[[County Durham]] and [[Cumbria]]
| country =[[England]]
| country =[[England]]
| towns=[[Barnard Castle]], [[Tees Valley]] towns, [[Great Ayton]] & [[Stokesley]]
| towns=[[Middleton in Teesdale]], [[Barnard Castle]]
| relief =
| relief =
| label =
| label =
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|age =
|age =
|boundaries=
|boundaries=
*[[County Durham]] & [[North Yorkshire]]
*[[County Durham]]
*[[North East England]]
*[[North East England]] & [[Yorkshire and the Humber]]
|topo=
|topo=
|traversed= [[A66 road]], [[Teesdale Way]], [[Tees Valley Line]]
|traversed= [[Teesdale Way]], B6277 road
|river= [[River Tees|Tees]], [[River Skerne|Skerne]] & [[River Leven, North Yorkshire|Leven]]
|river= [[River Tees|Tees]], [[River Skerne|Skerne]] & [[River Leven, North Yorkshire|Leven]]
<!-- Below -->
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| embed =
| embed =
}}
}}
'''Teesdale''' is a [[dale (landform)|dale]], or [[valley]], in [[Northern England]]. The dale is in the [[River Tees]]’s [[drainage basin]], most water flows stem from or converge into said river, including the [[River Skerne|Skerne]] and [[River Leven, North Yorkshire|Leven]].
'''Teesdale''' is a [[dale (landform)|dale]], or [[valley]], located principally in [[County Durham]], [[North East England]]. It is one of the [[Durham Dales]], which are themselves part of the [[North Pennines]], the northernmost part of the [[Pennines|Pennine]] uplands.


[[Upper Teesdale]], more commonly just Teesdale, falls between the [[Durham Dales|Durham]] and [[Yorkshire Dales]]. Large parts of Upper Teesdale are in the [[North Pennines]] [[AONB]] (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) - the second largest AONB in England and Wales. The [[River Tees]] rises below [[Cross Fell]], the highest hill in the Pennines at {{convert|2,930|ft}},<ref>{{cite news|title=Great country walks: Cross Fell, Pennine Hills, Cumbria|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jan/26/great-country-walks-cross-fell-pennine-hills-cumbria|access-date=15 February 2017|work=The Guardian|date=26 January 2015}}</ref> and its uppermost valley is remote and high. The local climate was scientifically classified as "Sub-Arctic" and snow has sometimes lain on Cross Fell into June (there is an alpine ski area Yad Moss).<ref>{{cite web|title=North Pennines AONB|url=http://www.landscapesforlife.org.uk/north-pennines-aonb.html|website=www.landscapesforlife.org.uk|access-date=15 February 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307203025/http://www.landscapesforlife.org.uk/north-pennines-aonb.html|archive-date=7 March 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gilbert|first1=Joe|title=Skiing: Yad Moss: the St Moritz of the north|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/skiing-yad-moss-the-st-moritz-of-the-north-1290605.html|access-date=15 February 2017|work=The Independent|date=27 December 1997}}</ref>
The dale is named after its principal river, the [[River Tees|Tees]], which has its source below [[Cross Fell]] ({{convert|2,930|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}}) in [[Cumbria]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 January 2015 |title=Great country walks: Cross Fell, Pennine Hills, Cumbria |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/jan/26/great-country-walks-cross-fell-pennine-hills-cumbria |access-date=15 February 2017 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> The upper dale is remote and high, but becomes gentler after it enters County Durham shortly downstream. The dale follows the river's south-easterly course to [[Barnard Castle]], at which point the landscape begins to flatten into the Tees Lowlands. The Cumbrian part of Teesdale was historically divided between [[Cumberland]] and [[Westmorland]], and the County Durham area between the former and [[Yorkshire]].


Large parts of Teesdale are within the North Pennines [[National Landscape|national landscape]], and [[Upper Teesdale]] has been designated a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]]. Parts of the local climate have been scientifically classified as "Sub-Arctic", and snow has sometimes lain on Cross Fell into June.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Pennines AONB |url=http://www.landscapesforlife.org.uk/north-pennines-aonb.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307203025/http://www.landscapesforlife.org.uk/north-pennines-aonb.html |archive-date=7 March 2017 |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=www.landscapesforlife.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=Joe |date=27 December 1997 |title=Skiing: Yad Moss: the St Moritz of the north |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/skiing-yad-moss-the-st-moritz-of-the-north-1290605.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/skiing-yad-moss-the-st-moritz-of-the-north-1290605.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |access-date=15 February 2017 |work=The Independent}}</ref>
East Teesdale has mixed urban ([[Tees Valley]] or [[Teesside]]) and rural ([[Cleveland, England |Cleveland]]) parts. [[Roseberry Topping]] is a notable hill on the south eastern side, of which this and other [[Cleveland Hills|adjoining hills]] form the northern end of the [[North York Moors]].

Newer terms have gained stronger associations with separate parts of the valley due to their use as specific political constituencies and authorities.


==Geology==
==Geology==
{{See also|Geology of County Durham|Yorkshire Dales|Cleveland, England}}
{{See also|Geology of County Durham|Yorkshire Dales|Cleveland, England}}
Unusually for the Pennines, rock of [[igneous]] origin (the [[Whin Sill]]) contributes to the surface geology and scenery of Upper Teesdale. Around 295 million years ago upwelling [[magma]] spread through fissures and between [[stratum|strata]] in the earlier [[Carboniferous Limestone]] [[country rock (geology)|country rock]]. As it cooled (an event which is believed to have lasted 50 years) the rock contracted and caused itself to split into vertical columns. The heating of the limestone above the rock also caused it to be turned into a crumbly marble known as ''Sugar Limestone''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cocker|first1=Mark|title=The strange tale of Cronkley Scar, with its chaotic hem of boulder scree|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/the-northerner/2014/apr/27/langdon-beck-upper-teesdale-cronkley-scar|access-date=14 February 2017|work=The Guardian|date=27 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Whin Sill|url=http://www.northpennines.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/11/TheWhinSill.pdf|website=northpennines.org.uk|publisher=North Pennines AONB|access-date=14 February 2017|page=2|format=PDF}}</ref>
Unusually for the Pennines, rock of [[igneous]] origin (the [[Whin Sill]]) contributes to the surface geology and scenery of Upper Teesdale. Around 295 million years ago upwelling [[magma]] spread through fissures and between [[stratum|strata]] in the earlier [[Carboniferous Limestone]] [[country rock (geology)|country rock]]. As it cooled (an event which is believed to have lasted 50 years) the rock contracted and caused itself to split into vertical columns. The heating of the limestone above the rock also caused it to be turned into a crumbly marble known as ''Sugar Limestone''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cocker |first=Mark |date=27 April 2014 |title=The strange tale of Cronkley Scar, with its chaotic hem of boulder scree |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/the-northerner/2014/apr/27/langdon-beck-upper-teesdale-cronkley-scar |access-date=14 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Whin Sill |url=http://www.northpennines.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/11/TheWhinSill.pdf |access-date=14 February 2017 |website=northpennines.org.uk |publisher=North Pennines AONB |page=2 |format=PDF}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:High Cup Nick - geograph.org.uk - 29526.jpg|thumb|right|200px|High Cup Nick]]
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Economic deposits in [[Llandovery Group|Llandovery]] rocks include soft shales that were previously worked to be used as slate pencils.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Woodward|first1=Horace B|title=The geology of England and Wales: with notes on the physical features of the country|url=https://archive.org/details/thegeologyengla00woodgoog|date=1887|publisher=G Phillip & Son|location=London|pages=[https://archive.org/details/thegeologyengla00woodgoog/page/n131 108]–109|chapter=4: Silurian (Upper Silurian)|oclc=933061775}}</ref>


⚫
Economic deposits in [[Llandovery Group|Llandovery]] rocks include soft shales that were previously worked to be used as slate pencils.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Woodward |first=Horace B |url=https://archive.org/details/thegeologyengla00woodgoog |title=The geology of England and Wales: with notes on the physical features of the country |date=1887 |publisher=G Phillip & Son |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/thegeologyengla00woodgoog/page/n131 108]–109 |chapter=4: Silurian (Upper Silurian) |oclc=933061775}}</ref>
⚫
More recently, [[Ice Age]] glacial activity shaped the valley, and much of the pre-glacial river course is now buried beneath [[Drift (geology)|glacial drift]].

⚫
More recently, [[Last Glacial Period|Ice Age]] glacial activity shaped the valley, and much of the pre-glacial river course is now buried beneath [[Drift (geology)|glacial drift]].


==Botany==
==Botany==
⚫
[[File:Teesdale violet at Langdon Head - geograph.org.uk - 5778214.jpg|thumb|Teesdale violet]]
In places this impervious [[dolerite]] rock, with shallow soil above it, prevented the growth of scrub or trees: this enabled certain post-glacial Arctic / Alpine plants to survive here when elsewhere as a rule they were overgrown. The ''Sugar Limestone'' formed by thermal [[metamorphism]] of the limestone into which the Whin Sill was intruded also meets the requirements of some of these plants. Teesdale is famous among naturalists for the "Teesdale Assemblage" of plants found together here that occur widely separated in other locations, abroad or in the [[British Isles]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Upper Teesdale SSSI|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003630.pdf|website=naturalengland.org|access-date=14 February 2017|pages=1–5|format=PDF}}</ref>
In places this impervious [[dolerite]] rock, with shallow soil above it, prevented the growth of scrub or trees: this enabled certain post-glacial Arctic / Alpine plants to survive here when elsewhere as a rule they were overgrown. The ''Sugar Limestone'' formed by thermal [[metamorphism]] of the limestone into which the Whin Sill was intruded also meets the requirements of some of these plants. Teesdale is famous among naturalists for the "Teesdale Assemblage" of plants found together here that occur widely separated in other locations, abroad or in the [[British Isles]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Upper Teesdale SSSI |url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003630.pdf |access-date=14 February 2017 |website=naturalengland.org |pages=1–5 |format=PDF}}</ref>
[[File:High Cup Nick with light dusting of snow - geograph.org.uk - 137670.jpg|thumb|left|200px|High Cup Nick]]
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Part of [[Upper Teesdale]] near the [[Cow Green Reservoir]] is designated a [[National Nature Reserve]]; it contains the unique Teesdale Violet and the blue [[Spring Gentian]] as well as more common Pennine flowers such as [[rockrose]], spring sandwort, mountain pansy, bird's-eye primrose and [[butterwort]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Moor House - Upper Teesdale NNR|url=http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/30049|website=naturalengland.org|publisher=Natural England|access-date=15 February 2017|page=5|format=PDF|date=2014}}</ref> Hay meadows in the valley above High Force, some now carefully cultivated to ensure this, contain an extremely rich variety of flowering plants including globe flower, wood cranesbill and Early Purple Orchid.<ref>{{cite web|title=High Force and Bowlees geotrail|url=http://www.highforcewaterfall.com/downloads/High%20Force%20and%20Bowlees%20Geotrail%20Leaflet.pdf|website=highforcewaterfall.com|publisher=Landscapes for Life|access-date=15 February 2017|format=PDF}}</ref> On the south bank of the Tees near High Force can be seen the largest surviving juniper wood in England.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saving Teesdale's Juniper Wood|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/articles/2008/10/02/teesdale_juniper_berries_feature.shtml|website=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC Tees|access-date=15 February 2017|date=13 November 2014}}</ref>

⚫
==Geography and history==
Over ledges in the [[Whin Sill]] fall the famous waterfalls of [[High Force]] and [[Low Force]] and the cataract of [[Cauldron Snout]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cow Green Reservoir – Visit Cumbria|url=http://www.visitcumbria.com/evnp/cow-green-reservoir/|website=www.visitcumbria.com|access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> The Tees then reaches and passes between [[Barnard Castle]] and [[Startforth]], thereafter passing to the south of [[Darlington]], through the [[borough of Stockton-on-Tees]] and north of [[Middlesbrough]], reaching the [[North Sea]] between the boroughs of [[borough of Hartlepool|Hartlepool]] and [[Redcar & Cleveland]]. The Skerne runs through Darlington while the Leven starts and runs between [[Yarm]] and [[Ingleby Barwick]] in the [[borough of Stockton-on-Tees]] then through [[Stokesley]] then [[Great Ayton]] in the [[Hambleton District]] borough.

[[File:Teesdale - geograph.org.uk - 139841.jpg|300px|thumb|Middleton-in-Teesdale]]
⚫
West Teesdale’s principal town and most populous settlement is [[Barnard Castle]],<ref name=":BC:">{{cite web|title=Barnard Castle Masterplan Update|url=https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/documents/s70753/8%20Appendix%206.pdf|website=durham.gov.uk|publisher=Durham County Council|access-date=15 February 2017|page=3|format=PDF|date=December 2016}}</ref> a historic market town that is home to the renowned [[Bowes Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Bowes Museum, About Us > Our History|url=http://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/About-Us/Our-History|website=thebowesmuseum.org.uk|access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> It also includes the small town of [[Middleton-in-Teesdale]] and a number of villages, including [[Mickleton, County Durham|Mickleton]], [[Eggleston]], [[Romaldkirk]] and [[Cotherstone]].<ref name=":BC:" /> Middleton was a lead-mining centre,<ref>{{cite web|title=GENUKI - Middleton-in-Teesdale|url=http://joinermarriageindex.co.uk/pjoiner/genuki/DUR/MiddletoninTeesdale/|website=joinermarriageindex.co.uk|access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> and plentiful traces of this industry can be seen round the adjoining slopes and side-valleys.<ref>{{cite news|title=Teesdale's industrial heritage|url=http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/Articles/Teesdale-s-industrial-heritage#sthash.oufkrwKL.dpbs|access-date=15 February 2017|work=Teesdale Mercury|date=27 February 2008}}</ref> On the south side of Teesdale looms the [[Bronze Age]] burial site of [[Kirkcarrion]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lloyd|first1=Chris|title=Kirkcarrion keeps its secrets still|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14416049.Kirkcarrion_keeps_its_secrets_still/|access-date=15 February 2017|work=The Northern Echo|date=8 April 2016}}</ref>


⚫
Part of [[Upper Teesdale]] near the [[Cow Green Reservoir]] is designated a [[National Nature Reserve]]; it contains the unique Teesdale Violet and the blue [[Spring Gentian]] as well as more common Pennine flowers such as [[rockrose]], spring sandwort, mountain pansy, bird's-eye primrose and [[butterwort]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014 |title=Moor House - Upper Teesdale NNR |url=http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/30049 |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=naturalengland.org |publisher=Natural England |page=5 |format=PDF}}</ref> Hay meadows in the valley above High Force, some now carefully cultivated to ensure this, contain an extremely rich variety of flowering plants including globe flower, wood cranesbill and Early Purple Orchid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=High Force and Bowlees geotrail |url=http://www.highforcewaterfall.com/downloads/High%20Force%20and%20Bowlees%20Geotrail%20Leaflet.pdf |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=highforcewaterfall.com |publisher=Landscapes for Life |format=PDF}}</ref> On the south bank of the Tees near High Force can be seen the largest surviving juniper wood in England.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 November 2014 |title=Saving Teesdale's Juniper Wood |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tees/content/articles/2008/10/02/teesdale_juniper_berries_feature.shtml |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC Tees}}</ref>
East Teesdale has been described as being the area between the a point west of Darlington and [[River Tees|Teesmouth]], where the Tees flows through flatter country, which is also known also as [[Tees Valley]]. Middlesbrough is the most populous town in the valley as a whole.


⚫
==Geography==
The valley runs roughly parallel to [[Weardale]] (including Bishop Auckland and Sunderland), [[Durham Dales]] on the northern side and south is [[Swaledale]] (including Richmond), [[Yorkshire Dales]] to the west and the [[Cleveland Hills]], [[North York Moors]] to the east.
Over ledges in the [[Whin Sill]] fall the famous waterfalls of [[High Force]] and [[Low Force]] and the cataract of [[Cauldron Snout]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cow Green Reservoir – Visit Cumbria |url=http://www.visitcumbria.com/evnp/cow-green-reservoir/ |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=www.visitcumbria.com}}</ref>
⚫
From the source to the Skerne, Teesdale's principal town and most populous settlement is [[Barnard Castle]],<ref name=":BC:">{{Cite web |date=December 2016 |title=Barnard Castle Masterplan Update |url=https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/documents/s70753/8%20Appendix%206.pdf |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=durham.gov.uk |publisher=Durham County Council |page=3 |format=PDF}}</ref> a historic market town. The area also includes the small town of [[Middleton-in-Teesdale]] and a number of villages, including [[Mickleton, County Durham|Mickleton]], [[Eggleston]], [[Romaldkirk]] and [[Cotherstone]].<ref name=":BC:" /> Middleton was a lead-mining centre,<ref>{{Cite web |title=GENUKI - Middleton-in-Teesdale |url=http://joinermarriageindex.co.uk/pjoiner/genuki/DUR/MiddletoninTeesdale/ |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=joinermarriageindex.co.uk}}</ref> and plentiful traces of this industry can be seen round the adjoining slopes and side-valleys.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2008 |title=Teesdale's industrial heritage |work=Teesdale Mercury |url=http://www.teesdalemercury.co.uk/Articles/Teesdale-s-industrial-heritage#sthash.oufkrwKL.dpbs |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> On the south side of Teesdale is the [[Bronze Age]] burial site of [[Kirkcarrion]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Chris |date=8 April 2016 |title=Kirkcarrion keeps its secrets still |work=The Northern Echo |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/14416049.Kirkcarrion_keeps_its_secrets_still/ |access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref> The other [[Durham Dales]] are on the northern side and to the south is the [[Yorkshire Dales]], [[Swaledale]] with [[Richmond, North Yorkshire|Richmond]] is the closest.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Places by the River Tees
! North
! South
|-
|Source then [[Middleton-in-Teesdale]]
|N/a
|-
|[[Eggleston]]
|[[Cotherstone]]
|-
|[[Barnard Castle]]
|[[Startforth]]
|-
|[[Whorlton, County Durham|Whorlton]]
|[[Ovington, County Durham|Ovington]]
|-
|[[Winston, County Durham|Winston]] and [[Gainford, County Durham|Gainford]]
|N/a
|-
|colspan=2|[[Piercebridge]]
|-
|[[High Coniscliffe]], [[Merrybent]] and [[Low Coniscliffe]]
|[[Cleasby]]
|-
|[[Darlington]]
|[[Stapleton-on-Tees|Stapleton]]
|-
|[[Hurworth-on-Tees|Hurworth]] and [[Neasham]]
|[[Croft-on-Tees|Croft]] and [[Dalton-on-Tees|Dalton]]
|-
|[[Middleton One Row]]
|[[Over Dinsdale]]
|-
|[[Aislaby, County Durham|Aislaby]]
|[[Low Worsall]]
|-
|[[Egglescliffe]]
|[[Yarm]]
|-
|[[Preston-on-Tees|Preston]]
|[[Ingleby Barwick]]
|-
|[[Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton]] ([[Bowesfield]], town centre and [[Portrack]])
|[[Thornaby]]
|-
|[[Haverton Hill]] and [[Port Clarence]]
|[[Middlesbrough]] ([[Old Middlesbrough]] and [[North Ormesby]])
|-
|N/a
|[[South Bank, Middlesbrough|South Bank]] then the mouth
|}
==Governance==
The dale was formerly divided into four with the north in the Darlington and Stockton wards and the south was in the [[Gilling Wapentake|Gilling]] and [[Langbaurgh Wapentake|Langbaurgh]] [[wapentakes]].


Teesdale gave its name to the former [[Teesdale (district)|Teesdale district]] of [[County Durham]], although the south side of Teesdale lies within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of the [[North Riding of Yorkshire]]. Formerly the [[Startforth Rural District]], it was transferred to County Durham for [[metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|administrative]] and [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial]] purposes on 1 April 1974, under the provisions of the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. All of West Teesdale lies within the parliamentary constituency of Bishop Auckland (County Durham).<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Barnard Castle|url=http://www.barnardcastletowncouncil.gov.uk/history/history-of-barnard-castle/|website=www.barnardcastletowncouncil.gov.uk|access-date=15 February 2017}}</ref>
Both dales gave their names to the former [[Teesdale (district)|Teesdale district]] and [[Weardale (district)|Weardale district]] of western [[County Durham]]. The south is within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of the [[North Riding of Yorkshire]], [[Startforth Rural District]], it was transferred to ceremonial County Durham on 1 April 1974, under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. West Teesdale lies within the parliamentary constituency of Bishop Auckland (County Durham).<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Barnard Castle |url=http://www.barnardcastletowncouncil.gov.uk/history/history-of-barnard-castle/ |access-date=15 February 2017 |website=www.barnardcastletowncouncil.gov.uk}}</ref>


==Uses in local culture==
==Uses in local culture==
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
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{{North Yorkshire}}
{{North Yorkshire}}
{{Yorkshire}}
{{Yorkshire}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:River Tees]]
[[Category:River Tees]]

Latest revision as of 15:59, 9 May 2024

For a locality in Victoria, Australia, see Teesdale, Victoria. For a former local government district, see Teesdale (district). For west Teesdale, see Upper Teesdale. For south-east Teesdale, see Cleveland, England.

Teesdale
View over Middleton in Teesdale
Geography
LocationCounty Durham and Cumbria
CountryEngland
Population centersMiddleton in Teesdale, Barnard Castle
Borders on
Coordinates54°32′42″N 1°55′37″W / 54.545°N 1.927°W / 54.545; -1.927 
Traversed byTeesdale Way, B6277 road
RiverTees, Skerne & Leven

Teesdale is a dale, or valley, located principally in County Durham, North East England. It is one of the Durham Dales, which are themselves part of the North Pennines, the northernmost part of the Pennine uplands.

The dale is named after its principal river, the Tees, which has its source below Cross Fell (890 m (2,930 ft)) in Cumbria.[1] The upper dale is remote and high, but becomes gentler after it enters County Durham shortly downstream. The dale follows the river's south-easterly course to Barnard Castle, at which point the landscape begins to flatten into the Tees Lowlands. The Cumbrian part of Teesdale was historically divided between Cumberland and Westmorland, and the County Durham area between the former and Yorkshire.

Large parts of Teesdale are within the North Pennines national landscape, and Upper Teesdale has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Parts of the local climate have been scientifically classified as "Sub-Arctic", and snow has sometimes lain on Cross Fell into June.[2][3]

Geology

[edit]
See also: Geology of County Durham; Yorkshire Dales; and Cleveland, England

Unusually for the Pennines, rock of igneous origin (the Whin Sill) contributes to the surface geology and scenery of Upper Teesdale. Around 295 million years ago upwelling magma spread through fissures and between strata in the earlier Carboniferous Limestone country rock. As it cooled (an event which is believed to have lasted 50 years) the rock contracted and caused itself to split into vertical columns. The heating of the limestone above the rock also caused it to be turned into a crumbly marble known as Sugar Limestone.[4][5]

Economic deposits in Llandovery rocks include soft shales that were previously worked to be used as slate pencils.[6]

More recently, Ice Age glacial activity shaped the valley, and much of the pre-glacial river course is now buried beneath glacial drift.

Botany

[edit]
Teesdale violet

In places this impervious dolerite rock, with shallow soil above it, prevented the growth of scrub or trees: this enabled certain post-glacial Arctic / Alpine plants to survive here when elsewhere as a rule they were overgrown. The Sugar Limestone formed by thermal metamorphism of the limestone into which the Whin Sill was intruded also meets the requirements of some of these plants. Teesdale is famous among naturalists for the "Teesdale Assemblage" of plants found together here that occur widely separated in other locations, abroad or in the British Isles.[7]

Part of Upper Teesdale near the Cow Green Reservoir is designated a National Nature Reserve; it contains the unique Teesdale Violet and the blue Spring Gentian as well as more common Pennine flowers such as rockrose, spring sandwort, mountain pansy, bird's-eye primrose and butterwort.[8] Hay meadows in the valley above High Force, some now carefully cultivated to ensure this, contain an extremely rich variety of flowering plants including globe flower, wood cranesbill and Early Purple Orchid.[9] On the south bank of the Tees near High Force can be seen the largest surviving juniper wood in England.[10]

Geography

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Over ledges in the Whin Sill fall the famous waterfalls of High Force and Low Force and the cataract of Cauldron Snout.[11] From the source to the Skerne, Teesdale's principal town and most populous settlement is Barnard Castle,[12] a historic market town. The area also includes the small town of Middleton-in-Teesdale and a number of villages, including Mickleton, Eggleston, Romaldkirk and Cotherstone.[12] Middleton was a lead-mining centre,[13] and plentiful traces of this industry can be seen round the adjoining slopes and side-valleys.[14] On the south side of Teesdale is the Bronze Age burial site of Kirkcarrion.[15] The other Durham Dales are on the northern side and to the south is the Yorkshire Dales, Swaledale with Richmond is the closest.

Places by the River Tees
North South
Source then Middleton-in-Teesdale N/a
Eggleston Cotherstone
Barnard Castle Startforth
Whorlton Ovington
Winston and Gainford N/a
Piercebridge
High Coniscliffe, Merrybent and Low Coniscliffe Cleasby
Darlington Stapleton
Hurworth and Neasham Croft and Dalton
Middleton One Row Over Dinsdale
Aislaby Low Worsall
Egglescliffe Yarm
Preston Ingleby Barwick
Stockton (Bowesfield, town centre and Portrack) Thornaby
Haverton Hill and Port Clarence Middlesbrough (Old Middlesbrough and North Ormesby)
N/a South Bank then the mouth

Governance

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The dale was formerly divided into four with the north in the Darlington and Stockton wards and the south was in the Gilling and Langbaurgh wapentakes.

Both dales gave their names to the former Teesdale district and Weardale district of western County Durham. The south is within the historic county boundaries of the North Riding of Yorkshire, Startforth Rural District, it was transferred to ceremonial County Durham on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972. West Teesdale lies within the parliamentary constituency of Bishop Auckland (County Durham).[16]

Uses in local culture

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Great country walks: Cross Fell, Pennine Hills, Cumbria". The Guardian. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  2. ^ "North Pennines AONB". www.landscapesforlife.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  3. ^ Gilbert, Joe (27 December 1997). "Skiing: Yad Moss: the St Moritz of the north". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  4. ^ Cocker, Mark (27 April 2014). "The strange tale of Cronkley Scar, with its chaotic hem of boulder scree". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  5. ^ "The Whin Sill" (PDF). northpennines.org.uk. North Pennines AONB. p. 2. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  6. ^ Woodward, Horace B (1887). "4: Silurian (Upper Silurian)". The geology of England and Wales: with notes on the physical features of the country. London: G Phillip & Son. pp. 108–109. OCLC 933061775.
  7. ^ "Upper Teesdale SSSI" (PDF). naturalengland.org. pp. 1–5. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Moor House - Upper Teesdale NNR" (PDF). naturalengland.org. Natural England. 2014. p. 5. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  9. ^ "High Force and Bowlees geotrail" (PDF). highforcewaterfall.com. Landscapes for Life. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. ^ "Saving Teesdale's Juniper Wood". bbc.co.uk. BBC Tees. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Cow Green Reservoir – Visit Cumbria". www.visitcumbria.com. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Barnard Castle Masterplan Update" (PDF). durham.gov.uk. Durham County Council. December 2016. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  13. ^ "GENUKI - Middleton-in-Teesdale". joinermarriageindex.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Teesdale's industrial heritage". Teesdale Mercury. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  15. ^ Lloyd, Chris (8 April 2016). "Kirkcarrion keeps its secrets still". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  16. ^ "History of Barnard Castle". www.barnardcastletowncouncil.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
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