Border Reivers

From Hexam Courant

Work is getting under way to remove Shildon Engine House and Muggleswick Grange near Blanchland, Ninebanks Tower in the West Allen Valley, and the remains of Whitesyke and Bentyfield lead mines near Alston from English Heritage’s list of shame, the Heritage at Risk Register.

Work should have started last month, but snow and freezing temperatures caused a four week delay.

The work is being carried out by the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership’s Living North Pennines project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

First up for a facelift are Shildon and Muggleswick, where centuries of icy weather have taken a toll.

Muggleswick Grange was built during the mid-1200s for the Prior of Durham and originally lay in the grounds of an enclosed park.

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