St Margaret's Rest

St Margaret's Rest was located at South Grange farm, to the South of High Shincliffe. It was built before 1895, and was demolished sometime after 1970 having been derelict for many years. The building was used at some stage as a convalescent home. Any information about St Margaret's Rest would be welcome.

Thank you to Charlie Robinson for sharing the photograph.



The Boundary Stone on the A177 at Houghall

This Boundary Stone (Grade II listed, no 1161264) went missing about 10 years ago. The photograph* shows the stone in 2014.
 
We are pleased to report that the stone has recently been found and we hope to have it reinstated. We are currently looking for other photographs of the stone outside the college at Houghall.

Read more about the Boundary Stone here.

* © Milestone Society - geograph.org.uk/p/6069062 cc-by-sa/2.0

Hill Meadows

Does anyone have photographs, press-cuttings, or memories to share of Hill Meadows in High Shincliffe? In particular the planning, building, and development of this housing scheme in the 1960s?

Durham based building contractors Bell & Ridley were awarded a diploma in 1967 for Hill Meadows which was commissioned by the Dean & Chapter and designed by Donald Insall.

The residents (and SLHS) would like to know more about the history of these 41 houses.

Read more about Hill Meadows here.

Dudley Charles Copland

Born 02.05.1896, son of Charles and Lilla Copland. Killed in Action in France 09.05.1915.

Dudley Copland is included on the St Mary's Church WWI Roll of Honour, and on the website here.

He was born in Hampstead, London, and was educated at St Paul's Cathedral Choir School and Denstone College, Staffordshire. In 1914 he enlisted with the 28th Battalion London Regiment (Artists Rifles) and on 26.03.1915 was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Bn. Notts and Derby Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters).

However, we can find no information to connect Dudley Copland with Shincliffe.

There could be a link with his father: - The St Mary's Church Memorials List compiled in 2008 includes the following item:

A Prie-dieu with a brass plate inscribed:  "A.M.D.G. The gift of Charles Copland, St Mary the Virgin, Shincliffe. Christmas 1909"

Assuming this is the same Charles Copland:

Charles Copland was Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music; he was also a professional singer (baritone). Could he have given a recital at St Mary's, or perhaps at the Cathedral, in 1909? Did he visit Shincliffe, or have a family connection? Did he have a connection with the University Music Department?

We hope to find information linking Dudley or his father to Shincliffe.