IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Annfield Plain, STANLEY, DH9 8PH

View west along the road past the little hamlet of East Castle. Once a small mining community but not much left now.

This is the junction of Pontop Pike Lane, on the left, with the main road to Stanley, the A693. East Castle House here is almost all that remains of the pit village which stood here until the 1950's.

Viewed from the north, looking down Pontop Pike Lane. Little remains at East Castle now, but there was a pit village here in the C19 and early C20.

Detail of the Ordnance Survey cut benchmark on the south east abutment of Stony Heap Lane railway bridge. The benchmark marks a height of 243.618m above sea level (Ordnance Datum Newlyn) last verified in 1961 (location photograph Image). The bridge now carries the Consett and Sunderland Railway Path.

Detail of the base of the south east abutment of Stony Heap Lane Bridge, East Castle. There is an Ordnance Survey cut benchmark on one of the stone quoins, almost hidden by the grass and nettles (photograph Image).

The bridge carries the old railway which is now the Consett and Sunderland Railway Path. The lane goes up to the junction with the A693 at East Castle.

In 2005 Pontop Pike Lane was designated as a "Quiet Lane" which walkers, cyclists horseriders and motor vehicles are all be expected to share with equal respect for each other's right to be there. It was the first road to be so designated in County Durham; there are some other examples throughout the country. It follows the pattern of the "Green Lanes" project in Jersey. Two of the transmission masts at Pontop Pike can be seen on the skyline.

In a field on the east side of Pontop Pike Lane. The distant view is of the Loud Bank at Annfield Plain.

The old Stanhope and Tyne railway (also known at one point in its history as the Pontop and South Shields Railway) was built to supply the Consett Ironworks with raw material, with a link to the coast. This section of the line was one of the oldest in the country, built in 1834. The track was lifted by 1985. The Consett and Sunderland path (part of the famous C2C cycle route, National Cycle Network route 7) follows the line of the old railway from Stanhope Moor down to Washington. A number of giant sculptures have been erected along the path, commemorating the industrial heritage of the area. These sculpture, created from parts of old transformers are sited at Eastcastle, and represent the iron industry (nearest) and coal mining.

The old Stanhope and Tyne railway (also known at one point in its history as the Pontop and South Shields Railway) was built to supply the Consett Ironworks with raw material, with a link to the coast. This section of the line was one of the oldest in the country, built in 1834. The track was lifted by 1985. The Consett and Sunderland path (part of the famous C2C cycle route, National Cycle Network route 7) follows the line of the old railway from Stanhope Moor down to Washington. A number of giant sculptures have been erected along the path, commemorating the industrial heritage of the area. This sculpture, created from parts of old transformers is one of two sited at Eastcastle, this one representing the coal industry, and was designed by David Kemp.