Stockton Rural John Walker's Walk, Stillington and Whitton Village, historical walk instructions

The route is suitable for all with minimal road walking and the option of an extension loop to the village of Whitton. The Whitton Loop is not suitable for people with limited mobility. Further information on Stillington and Whitton can be found at the Stillington and Whitton village website including a history timeline.

Stillington Loop

The total distance of this walk is just over 3km, almost two miles.

From the Village Hall and Community Hub on Lowson Street look up through the car park to the church of St John the Divine which will be our first port of call.

The Village Hall and Community Hub bears the date of 1877 and the inscription Whitton and Stillington Board Schools. This was the new school under the headmaster, Thomas Fenton, the first headmaster of Stillington School. He had first been appointed in January of 1875, when the school was set up in Cassidi Hall built by the North of England Iron and Coal Company.

At the top of Lowson Street turn right on the paved footpath to the main road Morrison Street. Turn left and into the churchyard and the path to the door of St John the Divine Church. Walk through the churchyard to the gate on Lowson Street and turn immediately right to reach the entrance to Stillington Forest Park.

The new Parish of Stillington was formed in May 1872 but the church was not opened until 1880. Prior to this, services were held in Cassidi Hall (which stood where Cassidi Gardens are now until demolished in 1968). Cassidi Hall was opened in 1875, so services were held in a carpenter's shop on the industrial site and marriages and burials took place in Redmarshall.

The vicarage, now a private residence, built in 1884, stands between the church and the new school, further up Morrison Street.

There are numerous paths around the Stillington Forest Park to explore, but for this walk stay on the obvious main path until you reach a gate onto a lane.

It is hard to believe but this lovely recreational area was once the site of an enormous slag heap. Stillington's History is based on industrial foundations. Stillington was built around iron and coal. Originally known as the village of Carlton Ironworks, renamed Stillington in 1931, Stillington's first blast furnaces were built by the same Carlton Ironworks. The choice of location was because it sat next to the Clarence Railway line and with access to the Durham Coal and the Cleveland Ironstone. After Carlton came the North of England Industrial Iron and Coal Company ownership until the 1920s when Dorman Long took over the works until demolition in 1930. All the years of iron production had produced a mountain of slag which sat where we walk today until 1970.

At the gate turn left into the lane and walk down and through the beginning of the Industrial Estate between newer factory buildings. As you approach the railway line follow the road as it bends left onto Ironmasters Way and follow this road until you reach the main road at South Street, a continuation of the earlier Morrison Street.

This is the industrial heartland of Stillington and while the iron and coal companies have now long gone, they are replaced by more modern engineering companies. The site is dominated by Darchem. In the early 1950s British Refrasil Company, manufacturer of high duty insulation materials was born, rapidly expanding until 1960 when it became Darchem Engineering Ltd (from Darlington chemicals). The name of the road, Ironmasters Lane, tells you all you need to know - Stillington has a proud industrial heritage.

Turn right onto South Street, pass under the railway bridge and take an immediate right turn onto Messines Lane. Walk up Messines Lane towards Redmarshall Street taking the opportunity to visit the War Memorial in the Remembrance Garden, on your left just before the surgery.

The Stillington War Memorial was erected in 1922 to remember the 36 men who gave their lives in WW1 and commemorate the further 113 men who served and returned to Stillington.

Pass the surgery and cross Redmarshall Street bearing to your right to enter a narrow alleyway which brings you out in front of The Royal at the top of West Street.

This is where Stillington began. The first row of houses was Slag Row, later North Street built in 1870, followed by West Street and South Street in 1873 with a total of 47 houses for the iron workers and Mount Pleasant, with 6 houses, to the south of the village for the Senior Personnel. The Royal was built in 1876.

Turn left into West Street and walk down towards the main road South Street and Old Stillington Lane. Shortly down West Street from The Royal on the right is a lovely old fire hydrant while further down on the left is Cassidi Gardens where once stood the Cassidi Hall mentioned earlier.

You are now at the bottom of West Street at the Junction where South Street becomes Old Stillington Lane. Take a short walk towards Old Stillington by turning right. Walk along the road in front of the allotments and then a short way past the new developments to get a view of the windfarm built in 2016. Unfortunately to venture further towards Old Stillington is not appropriate and therefore retrace your steps to West Street.

Prior to 1931 Stillington was known as Carlton Iron Works Village. When it became Stillington, the original Stillington became Old Stillington.

At the junction with West Street and South Street continue straight along South Street towards the Railway Bridge we came through some short time ago. A row of houses will give way to a garden area at the junction of Kirk Street. A careful look will reveal Stillington's blue plaque dedicated to Sir Anthony Carlisle 1768-1840.

Born in Stillington, Carlisle was apprenticed to medical practitioners in York and Durham, including his uncle Anthony Hubback and William Green. He later studied in London under John Hunter. In 1793 he was appointed surgeon at Westminster Hospital in 1793, remaining there for 47 years. He also studied art at the Royal Academy. In 1800, he and William Nicholson discovered electrolysis by passing a current through water, decomposing it into its constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1804. He was Professor of Anatomy of the Society from 1808 to 1824. He was Surgeon Extraordinary (1820-1830) to King George IV, by whom he was knighted on 24 July 1821.

There are now two options. For those who wish to complete the walk at this point, cross Kirk Street and continue along South Street and under the railway bridge and cross Ironmasters Way, which we came down earlier. Continue along Morrison Street back to see our starting point, with the Village Hall and Community Hub to the left on Lowson Street.

Whitton Loop

The Whitton Loop adds approximately a further 2.4km or 1.5 miles.

The second option is to cross the road and enter Mount Pleasant Road. This is the road containing the six houses originally built for the iron works managers mentioned earlier. Continue along Mount Pleasant Road to enter a field at the end of the road on an obvious and marked (Mill Lane) public footpath. This is the start of the Whitton Loop.

Cross the field keeping to the path as you drop diagonally down to the right towards Bishopton Beck and continue over the stile, following the path with the beck always on your right-hand side. Be careful of fallen trees as you pass through the woodland.

At the end of the path take a right then a left at the bridge, keeping on the path with a large property to the left and a horse training area on the right across the beck.

Head over the stile and turn left onto Mill Lane, up towards Whitton village. Between two properties is the start of the bridleway that will take you back towards Stillington. Follow the path across the fields, taking in the stunning views across the area.

Continue on the narrow footpath between the building and fence until you arrive back on South Street. Turn right under the bridge towards Morrison Street back to the starting point, with the Village Hall and Community Hub to the left on Lowson Street.