The road North goes through what is known locally as 'The Cut'. This was constructed in the 1920's by blasting through the rock. Behind the trees to the left is the site of the old Ferryhill Athletic Football Ground. The Athletic now play in Dean Bank Recreation Grounds immediately to the west of it. The old Fire Station was just above the point where Darlington Road joins the A167. The station closed in the early 1990's and Ferryhill is now served by Spennymoor Fire Station.
The Main A167 road joining Darlington to Durham. On an old map of 1838 the road was described as a "turnpike road from Rushyford". The natural gorge, or 'The Cut' as it has become known, was only suitable for foot traffic until 1923. See Ferryhill Gorge.
The road to the South of here has been extensively modernised recently, with the road now sweeping to the south west at West Close Farm and bypassing Chilton along the edge of Chilton Industrial Estate and to the West of the Main Street. This has made a huge difference to the people of Chilton as the bypass has reduced traffic to a fraction of what it was.
Since its origins in pre-Roman times, the Great North Road has been the main north-south thoroughfare of the country and played a part large or small in so much of our history. Probably the coffin containing the uncorrupted body of Saint Cuthbert and the head of Saint Aidan was carried up it from Ripon towards its final resting place at Durham a thousand years ago.1 Edward I carried his queen's body down part of it in 1290, and marked the stops with Eleanor crosses, three of which stood on this road. The catholic rebels in the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536 used it to march towards the capital. Margaret, daughter of Henry VII, travelled north to marry a Scottish king along it. Butcher Cumberland, fresh from his victory at Culloden, made his triumphant way south down this road. Nearly every monarch of England or of the United Kingdom has ridden, driven or trodden on it and so have most of our statesmen and writers, especially the diarists. As a result there is an abundance of comment and description of most significant places on the route.
Nearly 400 miles separate the capital cities of England and Scotland which stand at either end of the road. The smallest and the largest counties in England are traversed. For most of its length the road runs over low lying land and there are very few hills of any height or length, the highest said to be at Scotch Corner. Stevenage High Street is claimed to be the highest street between London and York. Before new bridges and bypasses were built, there were sharp gradients at several river crossings, such as those at Wentbridge, Durham and Newcastle, which created problems for horses and early motor vehicles. The route through the east of Scotland avoids most of the southern uplands, though the slope up Penmanshiel to Cockburnspath has presented a challenge for travellers through the ages.
View A167 road and 'the cut' from all angles
A167 road and 'the cut' is home to...
Petrol : Dean Road Garage
 |
Go forward to Top of Darlington Road | |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
| Go left to Dean Bank Recreation Ground | Turn right to face along Dean Road | |||
|
|
|||
 |
Turn back to face towards Chilton | |
||
More information...
A history of Ferryhill Athletic
Eric Thompson Watercolours of Ferryhill
Ferryhill Gorge before The Cut was built
Ferryhill Street Map
The Great North Road
The Ferryhill and Chilton Chapter - Our Free Newspaper
The North East Forum - Ferryhill Section
Home Page · Where is Ferryhill? · Places to stay · Places to eat · Things to do · Shopping · Entertainment · Getting around · Local services · Links · Site Map · Acknowledgements · Contact
© Copyright Dave O'Hara 2008. Last updated 7 February 2008.
The photographs and other material on this site are copyright of the author, unless stated otherwise. If you wish to use any of them or link to them, please ask me and your request will be considered. The contact address is on the site.
