Homes in Neville's Cross
A medieval cross is thought to have stood here, put up by or named for a member of the Neville family, who held the Honour of Brancepeth. It marked the point where pilgrims coming from the west along the old Roman road from Willington and Brancepeth first saw Durham Cathedral. In 1346 the Battle of Neville's Cross was fought nearby, when an English army defeated a Scottish invasion and captured David II of Scotland. Today Neville's Cross is a mainly residential suburb with shops, a church, two primary schools and Ustinov College, Durham University's postgraduate college. The ward had 9,940 people at the 2011 Census.
Its housing is unusually evenly mixed. The 2021 Census for the area records 31.9% detached homes, 31.6% semi-detached, 26.3% terraced and 6.6% flats. Terraces run toward the city along roads near Crossgate Peth, while larger semis and detached houses stand on the roads further out, such as Quarry House Lane and Clay Lane.
Gardens differ accordingly. Terraced homes have small yards or short gardens, often sloping. Larger houses have big, mature gardens, frequently on more than one level because of the hilly ground west of the city. Requests include a terrace outside new doors, a stepped patio on a slope and a low-maintenance yard for a busy household.
Clay on a hillside
The British Geological Survey records glacial till over the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. Till is a stiff, stony clay that drains slowly. On a slope, water runs across the surface and collects where the ground flattens, often right by the house.
We dig out soft clay, lay a geotextile and compact a crushed-stone sub-base. Slabs are bedded on mortar, at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course, with a fall away from the house. On sloping gardens, a channel drain at the top edge of the patio catches water coming down the hill. The Environment Agency shows a small area of Flood Zone 3 within 750 metres of the centre point, on low ground by a watercourse.
Steps and levels
The hills around Neville's Cross Bank and Crossgate Peth mean many gardens rise or fall steeply. A level terrace by the house, with steps and a low retaining wall to a second level, often makes the garden far more usable. We keep patios within 300 mm of the ground where possible to avoid the need for planning permission, cutting into the slope rather than building up.
Conservation area and listed buildings
The streets nearer the city, around Crossgate and Allergate, fall within the Durham City Conservation Area, and around 36 buildings near the centre point are listed, many of them houses on Allergate, Crossgate and North Road. A ground-level back-garden patio is usually permitted development, even in the conservation area. Listed buildings, front gardens, boundary walls and trees need more care, and some works need consent from Durham County Council.
Choosing paving
Riven or sawn sandstone suits the older brick and stone houses, and its grip is useful on steps and slopes. Porcelain is popular for modern extensions and shady yards, as it stays clean. Block paving works for paths and side passages. For steps, we use solid treads with a bullnosed or sawn edge.
Large mature gardens
Some of the detached houses further out from the city have big, established gardens with mature trees and hedges. A patio in a garden like this needs to fit in with what is already there. We avoid digging close to large tree roots, keep existing paths and steps where they work, and position seating where it gets the best light through the trees. Shade means moss and algae, so a sawn finish or porcelain is often more practical than riven stone under trees. A gravel path or stepping stones can link a terrace to a second sitting area deeper in the garden without heavy excavation.
Cost considerations in Neville's Cross
- Slope. Steps, retaining walls and extra digging.
- Clay. A deeper compacted base.
- Drainage. Channel drains to catch hillside run-off.
- Material. Sandstone, porcelain or block paving.
- Access. Terraces may need materials carried through.
- Size. Small yards to large mature gardens.
Next door to Neville's Cross
- Garden patios, Framwellgate Moor: North: a village of semis on sand and gravel.
- Garden patios, Shincliffe: South-east, across the city: a conservation village by the Wear.
- Garden patios, Gilesgate: East, across the city: the old street climbing from the centre.
Patio types for Neville's Cross homes: stone patios, porcelain patios, block paved patios.
See every area: All areas covered.
Common questions from Neville's Cross
Our garden is steep. Can we still have a patio?
Yes. We usually cut a level terrace near the house and step down or up to the rest of the garden.
Water runs down the garden toward the house. What can you do?
A channel drain along the top of the patio catches it before it reaches the house.
We are near Crossgate. Do we need permission?
Usually not for a ground-level back-garden patio, but listed houses need checking.
What paving is safest on steps?
Textured sandstone or an outdoor-grade porcelain with good grip.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, MSOA County Durham 033 (Nomis); Wikipedia: Neville's Cross; Planning Data: conservation areas; Planning Data: listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning.