Gainford On The Banks Of The River Tees

Gainford is a charming village located on the banks of the River Tees in the south of County Durham

. It is situated near Barnard Castle and less than ten miles from Darlington town centre, one of the larger towns in the county, famed for being the site of the first railway line and with strong transport links to London, Edinburgh, Manchester and elsewhere across the country. It is also only around 40 minutes' drive to the magnificent historic city of Durham, with its famous castle, cathedral and university. A short distance further, around an hour or so in the car from Gainford, lies Newcastle upon Tyne which offers all the amenities of a large city, including shopping, nightlife and an international airport. Altogether, Gainford's geography combines the wonderful countryside of County Durham with all the convenience and facilities of several nearby towns and cities.

Gainford also has a fascinating history, full of those quintessentially British quirks that are found in so many small towns throughout the country. The origins of its name is based around a legendary dispute between residents on either side of the Tees over who controlled the valuable ford across; in the end, those on the County Durham side were successful and as they gained the ford, the name Gainford soon stuck. The residents on the other side retaliated by trying to block the crossing and earned the name Barford for their efforts.

Aside from this interesting origin of the town's name, there is plenty of history to be found in and around Gainford. Archaeologists have found evidence of Viking buildings and sculptures in the vicinity of the town and St Mary's Church stands on the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery that was first built by the Northumbrian bishop of Lindisfarne in the early 9th Century. Nowadays, the main features of Gainford include an immaculate village green, a grand Jacobean hall and a Georgian street called High Row.

The River Tees is a crucial part of Gainford life. It is the reason that the town was built here in the first place as it could provide fresh water, transport for timber and a healthy supply of fish. The land surrounding it was also ideal for agricultural cultivation and the crossing was critical, even dating as far back as the Roman era as it allowed the movement of troops, as well as goods and merchants. The residents have always been aware of the dangerous power of the river as well, with the 'bore' that can come coursing down from the upper reaches being an impressive demonstration of the forces of nature.

Gainford also has plenty else to offer including a highly-rated small Church of England primary school, a village choir comprised of local people and a popular local history society. It is a delightful rural idyll but does not sacrifice connections with the world beyond thanks to its proximity to Darlington, Durham and Newcastle. With such a rich history, Gainford can be seen as the epitome of a true British countryside village.

by: Matt Fay

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