Steps to High Green, Gainford
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Steps to High Green, Gainford by Stanley Howe as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
There are currently over 7.5m images from over 14,400 individuals and you can help contribute to the project by visiting https://www.geograph.org.uk
Image: © Stanley Howe Taken: 5 Jun 2007
The building in the centre rear was once Gainford Academy. A plaque in the village reads " Gainford Academy was founded in 1818 by the Congregational Minister, the Reverend William Bowman. It operated from this building until 1899 when it was moved to North Terrace. In 1884 there were 80 boarders. The most famous pupil of the Academy was Arthur Stanley Jefferson (Stan Laurel) of Laurel and Hardy fame. The building was later acquired by the Edleston family who gave it to the village in 1964. The building was restored for housing in 1987 by the Teesdale Buildings Preservation Trust." Appropriately the building now also accommodates 'The Academy Theatre'. Stanley would be pleased!