Barks, parks and historic marks

Good morning, Durham! Did you stay up to see the Northern Lights last week or did you sleep through it like me?

In this week’s Durham Scoop:

• Ushaw House plants 25k trees

• Navy defuses WW2 bomb in Seaham

• Military museum renovation gets £500k funding

• The Great British Dog Walk at Raby Castle

• Artisan market returns

• Business news

• And much more!

Let’s get to it.

— Stephen

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WW2

💣 Navy defuses WWII bomb in Seaham with controlled explosion

In an explosive throwback to World War II, Seaham witnessed a dramatic controlled explosion by the Navy's bomb disposal team.

On Friday, emergency services sprang into action, shutting down Noses Point car park and sections of the A182, as they coordinated efforts to safely detonate a historical relic found on the beach.

The bomb, discovered earlier in the day, was successfully neutralised underwater, captured on Facebook video.

A spokesperson from the Hartlepool Coastguard Rescue Team extended thanks to the community for their patience during the operation.

During World War II Seaham received heavy bombing aimed at destroying the three coalpits and the harbour where the coal was transported from.

It was renamed from Seaham Harbour to just Seaham to play down the fact it was a harbour town.

THE DIGEST

🌳 Ushaw House plants 24,524 trees: Congrats to Ushaw House on planting almost 25,000 trees (the size of 21 football pitches) with funding from North East Community Forest and support from Durham County Council's Durham Woodland Revival (DWR) project, Natural England and the Forestry Commission. [link]

🌮 Dalton Park artisan market returns later this month: The artisan market is set to return on 25 and 26 May, featuring over 50 local traders offering a variety of hand-crafted items and culinary treats. This outdoor event will also include entertainment, family crafts, and face painting, providing a shopping experience that connects the community with local artisans. [link]

🪖 Military museum renovation gets £500k funding: The redevelopment of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum in Aykley Heads has been awarded £500,000 by the Arts Council. The project's redevelopment has been controversial, mired by high costs and concerns over veterans' ashes scattered on the development site. [link]

🚚 Gear up for the Mighty Truckfest in Wolsingham: The Mighty Truckfest is back in Wolsingham Showground on 1 and 2 June. The so-called "Glastonbury for Trucks" includes an impressive range of vehicles, from vintage classics to giant American monster trucks. [link]

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

📸 Ian Woodhouse | 📍 Elvet Bridge

Tag us on Instagram or Facebook with your brilliant photos of Durham to get in the Scoop!

WEATHER

This week in Durham, it's a classic case of sunshine giving way to clouds. Most days start with a burst of sunlight, offering a cheerful start, but as the hours roll by, expect the skies to turn a bit moodier with cloud cover sneaking in.

• Monday, 13th: 20°C 🌡️ 12°C. Sunny intervals changing to cloudy 🌤️ ➡️ ☁️

• Tuesday, 14th: 17°C 🌡️ 10°C. Light rain changing to cloudy 🌧️ ➡️ ☁️

• Wednesday, 15th: 17°C 🌡️ 9°C. Sunny intervals changing to cloudy 🌤️ ➡️ ☁️

• Thursday, 16th: 17°C 🌡️ 9°C. Sunny changing to cloudy by nighttime 🌤️ ➡️ ☁️

• Friday, 17th: 17°C 🌡️ 9°C. Sunny intervals changing to cloudy by nighttime 🌤️ ➡️ ☁️

COMMUNITY

Community and canines come together for the Great British Dog Walk at Raby Castle

The Great British Dog Walk took place this past weekend at Raby Castle drawing in dog owners and their furry companions.

This charitable event, aimed at raising funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, featured a scenic route around the historic castle with views of the local wildlife and countryside.

Participants and their dogs, ranging from golden retrievers to sausage dogs, all donned bandanas branded with the event's logo.

Stalls offering merchandise, cakes, and raffle tickets added to the festive atmosphere, contributing to the day's success in both fundraising and community engagement.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

Properties in Co Durham borders that recently came to market.

Bishops Gate, Durham City, DH1

This eight-bedroom city mansion in the heart of Durham City, located in the discreet Bishops Gate, offers a blend of luxury and privacy. The property features a grand Georgian-style façade with a stone portico, a triple garage, and additional parking for up to five cars. Internally, it boasts a spacious reception hall, a main drawing room with French doors to the garden, and an open-plan kitchen/dining area extending into a light-filled orangery. The property includes six stylish bathrooms, multiple reception rooms, and private terraces for outdoor dining. The expansive south-facing garden is beautifully landscaped and the property is just 0.6 miles from Durham Railway Station.

Check the listing to see the price.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Comedy

😂 Chris McCausland: Yonks! Friday 17th - Saturday 18th, 8 pm: You might have seen him on Scared of the Dark, Would I Lie to You, Have I Got News for You, The Royal Variety, QI, Blankety Blank, The Last Leg, and tons more as well. He’s been called an “overnight success” – even though he’s been doing this for bloody yonks! At Durham Gala. Tickets.

😹 Russell Kane: Hyperactive. Saturday 18th, 8 pm: Whirlwind, FitBit-breaking comedian, presenter, actor and author Russell Kane is out on the road again, setting it on fire with his unique recipe of sharp wit and “storming physical comedy” (Mail on Sunday). At The Fire Station. Tickets.

🤣 John Bishop: Back At It. Sunday 19th, 8 pm: After two years spent TV presenting, stage acting, podcast hosting, dog walking and decorating the spare room, John is getting back to the thing he loves most; standing on stage and making people laugh. At Sunderland Empire. Tickets.

Antiques

🕰️ Durham Antiques and Vintage Fair. Sunday 19th, 10 am: Featuring up to 150 stands with exhibitors from across the North and Scotland. Furniture, home furnishings, vintage linen, jewellery, silver, militaria and more. At Rainton Arena. Tickets.

BUSINESS NEWS

🚀 Join the Durham City Incubator and Accelerator: Applications are now open for the Durham City Incubator (DCI) and Fintech Digital Accelerator which are running from July to December. DCI is looking for “high growth potential” start-ups and, in addition, is running a fintech accelerator at the same time. Both are open specifically for start-ups based in County Durham so if you meet the criteria, apply now. [link]

🏠 County Durham housebuilder targeting growth by doubling sites this year: Homes by Esh, part of Esh Group, is expanding its housing portfolio by nearly doubling its live developments by 2024, despite fluctuations in mortgage and interest rates. The company is launching luxurious multi-bedroom homes at Havelock Park near Blackwell, Darlington. [link]

👩‍💼 Beamish Museum recruiting for a 'Chief Philanthropy Officer’: The role is to lead the growth of global private giving at Beamish Museum from trusts, foundations and high-net-worth donors. Building on the museum's strong reputation, the role is to develop a group of influential and committed supporters who are passionate about the museum, the heritage of the North East and its regional, national and international global reach. [link]

🤝 Pattinson acquires County Durham estate agency: Growing property firm Pattinson has made its third acquisition in six months after swooping for a County Durham-based NS Bennet Estate Agency. The office has become Pattinson’s 28th branch in the North East, and the company said most of the staff are transferring to the new owners. [link]

HOW DID WE DO?

THANKS!

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