Lost Teesside
Remembering Teesside's Past
  • Home
  • Best of Lost Teesside
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About
Darlington

A Hidden Remnant of Tudor Darlington

October 10, 2025 0 comment

8 Cosy Historic Pubs In Teesside

October 8, 2025 0 comment

Don’t Miss the S&DR200 Anniversary Journey: Locomotion No.1 in Shildon to Stockton

Stockton’s Surviving S&DR Infrastructure

Stockton-on-TeesThornabyYarm

Uncovering Stockton’s History in Amazing New Book

May 6, 2025 0 comment

Stockton’s Victoria Buildings

April 25, 2025 0 comment

The Story of Middlesbrough’s First House

Teesside’s Top Heritage Attractions in 2025

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on our latest articles and stories!

    Darlington

    A Hidden Remnant of Tudor Darlington

    by Matt Falcus October 10, 2025
    written by Matt Falcus

    Church Lane is one of the oldest surviving parts of Darlington, and it’s hidden away right at the heart of the town, yet very easy to visit.

    Situated just off Tubwell Row, in the shadow of St Cuthbert’s Church, this tiny alleyway is a quiet little access route to the Market Place, Dolphin Centre, or across to Feethams. However, stop and look around for a minute and you’ll realise it has some tantalising remnants of the past.

    While walking along the L-shaped lane, which is not wide enough for any cars to pass along, you’ll see a fragment of Tudor wall of handmade brick.

    To get your bearings, this is behind the Hoptimist (former Nag’s Head) pub on Tubwell Row, and its significance is that it’s the sole survivor of the Great Fire of Darlington on 7th May 1585 in which some 273 homes were burned and 800 people made homeless.

     

    Great Fire of Darlington

    The Great Fire of Darlington, on 7 May 1585, was one of those dramatic ruptures in a town’s history — a conflagration that swept away much of the medieval core in a matter of hours. According to local tradition and later historical research, what began in the High Row and Skinnergate area quickly turned into a “most fierce and terrible fire.” In barely two hours it is said to have destroyed 273 timber-built houses, leaving around 800 of Darlington’s then-population of roughly 1,200 people homeless. Some accounts note that the town’s water supply was already under strain—difficulties in drawing enough water may have helped the blaze spread more rapidly.

    Much of central Darlington, its medieval buildings, houses and businesses, was swept away in this raging fire. The subsequent rebuilding effort largely respected and re-used the existing medieval street plan.  However, this small remnant of the past survived and is a tantalising link between the modern and ancient town.

    The geometric pattern of burgage plots, narrow lanes, yards, and “wynds” (small back alleys) survived the fire’s destruction and became the backbone of the restored townscape. In the centuries since, that medieval layout has persisted in Darlington’s town centre, even if almost all of the buildings were new.

     

    Hidden Church Lane

    Church Lane today is a narrow back street that now passes largely unnoticed. Here a small fragment of Tudor handmade brick wall, tucked behind what used to be the Nag’s Head, is believed to be the only visible survivorship from before 1585. That wall is unassuming and easily missed, but it bears silent witness to how thoroughly the fire must have consumed its neighbours.

    Walking along Church Lane today, one might glance at later brick facades and modern frontage, but then catch a glimpse of that older wall, its texture different, its lines less regular. That fragment is a physical connection to a Darlington that would have seemed, to its own inhabitants in 1585, all too fragile in the face of fire.

     

    October 10, 2025 0 comment
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • DarlingtonEast ClevelandPubs and EntertainmentStockton-on-TeesYarm

    8 Cosy Historic Pubs In Teesside

    by Matt Falcus October 8, 2025
    by Matt Falcus October 8, 2025

    There’s something appealing about sitting in a cosy pub during the autumn and winter, when all outside is cold and dark but inside there’s …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • DarlingtonStockton-on-TeesTeesside RailwaysTransport

    Don’t Miss the S&DR200 Anniversary Journey: Locomotion No.1 in Shildon to Stockton

    by Matt Falcus September 22, 2025
    by Matt Falcus September 22, 2025

    This weekend marks a once-in-a-lifetime chance to step back into railway history — the 200th anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway’s first passenger …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Stockton-on-TeesTeesside RailwaysTransport

    Stockton’s Surviving S&DR Infrastructure

    by Matt Falcus September 15, 2025
    by Matt Falcus September 15, 2025

    The Stockton & Darlington Railway marks its 200th anniversary this month. This milestone is significant both locally and globally, with the world’s railway networks …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Stockton-on-TeesThornabyYarm

    Uncovering Stockton’s History in Amazing New Book

    by Matt Falcus May 6, 2025
    by Matt Falcus May 6, 2025

    Local history books these days often fall into one of two categories. Most popular are nostalgic collections of old postcards and photographs neatly arranged …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • Stockton-on-Tees

    Stockton’s Victoria Buildings

    by Matt Falcus April 25, 2025
    by Matt Falcus April 25, 2025

    A lost part of Stockton’s High Street that many will remember is the Victoria Buildings, which stood on the north east side, not far …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • BuildingsMiddlesbrough

    The Story of Middlesbrough’s First House

    by Matt Falcus March 4, 2025
    by Matt Falcus March 4, 2025

    Ever wondered what life was like in the early days of Middlesbrough? Read on to discover just how the town as we know it …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • DarlingtonEast ClevelandHartlepoolMiddlesbroughMuseumsStockton-on-TeesYarm

    Teesside’s Top Heritage Attractions in 2025

    by Matt Falcus January 28, 2025
    by Matt Falcus January 28, 2025

    This year will be an incredibly important one for the Tees Valley and County Durham thanks to the celebrations and events taking place surrounding …

    Read more
    0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5

Recent Posts

  • A Hidden Remnant of Tudor Darlington
  • 8 Cosy Historic Pubs In Teesside
  • Don’t Miss the S&DR200 Anniversary Journey: Locomotion No.1 in Shildon to Stockton
  • Stockton’s Surviving S&DR Infrastructure
  • Uncovering Stockton’s History in Amazing New Book

Stay Connect

Facebook Twitter Instagram Flickr Youtube Email

Popular Posts

  • 1

    10 Important Moments in Yarm’s History

    April 3, 2024
  • 2

    What Happened to Teesside’s Most Famous Music Venues?

    April 22, 2024
  • 3

    What Stockton High Street Looked Like Before the Castlegate Centre

    January 4, 2024
  • 4

    Teesside’s Greatest Gigs and Concerts

    March 12, 2024
  • 5

    Does Teesside Have Any Castles?

    February 20, 2024

Recent Posts

  • A Hidden Remnant of Tudor Darlington

    October 10, 2025
  • 8 Cosy Historic Pubs In Teesside

    October 8, 2025
  • Don’t Miss the S&DR200 Anniversary Journey: Locomotion No.1 in Shildon to Stockton

    September 22, 2025
  • Stockton’s Surviving S&DR Infrastructure

    September 15, 2025

Featured Posts

  • A Hidden Remnant of Tudor Darlington

    October 10, 2025
  • 8 Cosy Historic Pubs In Teesside

    October 8, 2025
  • Don’t Miss the S&DR200 Anniversary Journey: Locomotion No.1 in Shildon to Stockton

    September 22, 2025
  • Stockton’s Surviving S&DR Infrastructure

    September 15, 2025

Subscribe Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on our latest articles and stories!

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Rss
Lost Teesside
  • Home
  • Best of Lost Teesside
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • About