English Heritage sites near Great Aycliffe Parish
AUCKLAND CASTLE DEER HOUSE
6 miles from Great Aycliffe Parish
A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham. It provided deer with shelter and food, and had grounds for picnics and rooms for enjoying the view.
PIERCEBRIDGE ROMAN BRIDGE
7 miles from Great Aycliffe Parish
Stonework foundations, now marooned in a field, of a bridge which once led to Piercebridge Roman Fort.
STANWICK IRON AGE FORTIFICATIONS
10 miles from Great Aycliffe Parish
An excavated section, part cut into rock, of the ramparts of the huge Iron Age trading and power-centre of the Brigantes, the most important tribe in pre- Roman northern Britain.
FINCHALE PRIORY
14 miles from Great Aycliffe Parish
The very extensive remains of a 13th-century priory, founded on the site of a retired pirate's hermitage. Part of it later served as a holiday retreat for the monks of Durham Cathedral.
EGGLESTONE ABBEY
15 miles from Great Aycliffe Parish
The charming ruins of a small monastery of Premonstratensian 'white canons', picturesquely set above a bend in the River Tees near Barnard Castle.
BARNARD CASTLE
15 miles from Great Aycliffe Parish
Set on a high rock, Barnard Castle takes it name from its 12th-century founder, Bernard de Balliol. It was later developed by the Beauchamp family and then passed into the hands of Richard III.
Churches in Great Aycliffe Parish
Aycliffe Village, St Andrew
1 Church Lane
Aycliffe Village
(01325) 315194
http://www.parishofgreataycliffe.co.uk
The original church was built in Saxon times, much of the Saxon stonework is still visible above the arches of the side aisles which were cut through the original outer walls. It has been established that the church was here in 782 since it is mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle that a synod had been held at Aclea and also in 789. The name Aclea means clearing in the Oaks and until recently there were a number of oak trees around the churchyard boundary.
With the exception of some of the choir stalls, which are early Victorian, the furniture is all Jacobean oak, the high altar dating back to the Middle Ages. One of the chalices is of a similar age. There is a significant amount of ancient stonework which is not now part of the architecture but is displayed at the back of the church as part of the heritage project (routinely open one afternoon per week over the summer months or by special arrangement). In particular there are two Saxon crosses which date from the ninth and 11th centuries which are of national importance. St Andrew’s was the original parish church for the whole area and existed as an individual Parish Church until quite recently. There is a full list of incumbents displayed at the back of the church dating back to the Norman conquest. In 1996 St Andrew’s was incorporated into the Parish of Great Aycliffe which now contains two parish churches, Andrew’s being one of them.
St Clare
St. Cuthbert's Way
Newton Aycliffe
DURHAM
DL5 5NT
(01325) 315194
http://www.parishofgreataycliffe.co.uk
A modern church built 55 years ago and since beautifully enhanced by its stain glass windows which separately depict the seven sacraments, the saints of the parish, the Northern Saints, a beautiful round window depicting the Holy Spirit in the west end of the church, and finally the Millennium windows of the Aycliffe Angels, the railways and mining heritage of the area and the business park of the town.
A welcoming church fellowship which is open every day for quiet prayer and the Parish Office is open on Monday (9am - 1pm) and Thursday (9.30am - 11.20am)
Our Sunday Service is at 10:00am, we also have a Communion Service during the week on a Thursday at 9:30am and Morning Prayer from 8:30am Monday-Wednesday.
There are two halls (Unity and Fellowship) as well as a smaller lounge and a very welcoming entrance foyer. Our large kitchen is always busy cooking the produce from the kitchen garden as well as the many cakes that are baked and sold each week. Community activities include uniformed organisations, Mothers' Union, Women's Fellowship, Coffee mornings and social events.
A Family Church Service is held monthly on the 2nd Sunday and Messy Church Service is held every 3rd Saturday of the month. The Durham Food bank operates from St. Clare's Church Hall every Wednesday and Friday afternoon. Please click on 'Our Website' to the right of here for further information.
St Elizabeth of Hungary
St. Elizabeth's Close
Woodham
Newton Aycliffe
(01325) 315194
http://parishofgreataycliffe.co.uk
The 25 year old church was designed by Tony Stringer and the furniture is made of white ash by Northumbrian craftsman. The church is 9m x 9m and can seat 100. Modern stained glass windows enhance the building as a place of worship. Woodham is a quiet residential area.
Clergy Team
Team Rector : Rev Ann Anderson
Team Vicar: Rev Jeff Anderson
Curate: Dev Daniel Hudson
St Francis
Scholars Path
Horndale, Newton Aycliffe
01325 315194
http://www.parishofgreataycliffe.co.uk
A small, intimate chapel attached to St Francis CE Primary School
Said Eucharistic Services are weekly on a Wednesday at 9:30am.
There is no Sunday Service at this Church
Pubs in Great Aycliffe Parish
Cobblers Hall
The Cobblers Hall also has a heated all-weather beer garden with smoking facilities, large children�s play area and patio for those sunny days.
County
13 The Green, Aycliffe Village, DL5 6LX
(01325) 312273
thecountyaycliffevillage.com
Huntsman
5 St Elizabeth Close, darlington, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4UE
(01325) 318175
thehuntsmannewtonaycliffe.co.uk
Locomotion Number One
Heighington Station, Heighington Lane, Heighington, DL5 6QG
(01325) 320132
North Briton
Oak Tree
Permanently closed
Roundhouse
Modern Sports bar built into shopping centre in the middle of the town. Impressive range of changing guest ales.
Royal Telegraph
Local's pub in Aycliffe Village, with the name relating to its position on the old Great North Road.
Large open plan floor space.
Turbinia
Parsons Centre; Sid Chaplin Drive, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 7PA
(01325) 313034
turbiniapub.co.uk