Sherburn's homes
There has been a settlement at Sherburn for a long time. Until the 19th century it was a farming village; then the Industrial Revolution brought coal mines and railways to carry the coal away. By the 1930s the two pits in the parish had closed, and after neighbouring collieries shut in the 1960s, the railway lines went too. Since then Sherburn Village has become a popular place to live, with countryside all round and roads to Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside. The parish had 3,140 people at the 2011 Census.
The village is built around Front Street and its green, with older terraces such as Nelson Terrace and later estates of semis and detached houses spreading out from the centre. The 2021 Census for the area records 56.9% semi-detached homes, 23.3% detached, 16.5% terraced and only 2.0% flats.
Gardens are mostly family gardens behind semis, with some longer plots behind the older terraces and larger gardens on the newer detached homes. A full-width patio outside the back of the house, or a new patio to replace one that has sunk, are the most usual requests, and plenty of owners want a terrace that looks out over the fields at the edge of the village.
Sand and gravel ground
Unlike much of the Durham area, Sherburn sits on glaciofluvial sand and gravel, laid down by meltwater at the end of the last Ice Age, over the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. This drains far better than the clay found in most of the surrounding estates.
Good drainage makes things easier but doesn't remove the need for a proper base. Loose sand and gravel must be compacted, and the edges of the patio restrained so they can't spread. We dig to a firm level, compact a crushed-stone sub-base and bed the slabs on mortar, at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course with a fall away from the house. On free-draining ground, run-off can often go to a border or soakaway rather than a drain.
The Environment Agency shows a small area of Flood Zone 3 within 750 metres of the centre point, on low ground by a watercourse, and its surface water map marks some low spots. Gardens on low ground deserve a closer look at levels.
Conservation areas and listed buildings
The Sherburn Conservation Area covers the older part of the village, and Sherburn House, to the south-west, has its own conservation area. The Church of St Mary is listed. A ground-level patio in a back garden is usually permitted development, even in a conservation area. Listed buildings, front gardens, walls and trees need more care. Patios raised more than 300 mm above the ground generally need planning permission.
Gardens that face the fields
Many Sherburn houses on the edge of the village look over open farmland. A patio set to take in that view often works best a little away from the house, perhaps at the end of a path, with low planting rather than a tall fence in front. Where a garden is exposed to wind across the fields, a low wall or hedge behind the seating area gives shelter. For gardens closer to the centre, a terrace by the house with a step down to the lawn is usually the simplest layout.
Choosing paving
Porcelain is a popular choice for the newer semis, in buff, grey or charcoal, because it is hard-wearing and easy to clean. Sandstone suits older terraces and houses near Front Street. Block paving makes a practical path or a patio that also takes bins and bikes. On sand and gravel, permeable block paving can let rain soak straight through.
Older terraces near Front Street
Nelson Terrace and the other older streets near the centre date from the village's mining years. Their back yards and gardens are smaller than those on the estates and often enclosed by brick walls. A well-laid yard with a fall to a drain, a firm surface for bins and room for a small table is usually the aim. Sandstone in a warm buff suits the red brick, and its texture gives grip on wet days. We keep the paving below any air bricks and away from the base of old walls.
Cost considerations in Sherburn
- Size. Full-width patios behind semis.
- Removal. Taking up old concrete or sunken slabs.
- Ground. Sand and gravel compacted and edged.
- Drainage. Often simpler on free-draining ground.
- Material. Porcelain, sandstone or block paving.
- Layout. A second seating area facing the view.
Next door to Sherburn
- Garden patios, Belmont: North-west: a suburb of former pit villages.
- Garden patios, Gilesgate: West: the old street climbing from Durham's centre.
- Garden patios, Bowburn: South: a former colliery village by the A1(M).
Patio types for Sherburn homes: porcelain patios, stone patios, block paved patios.
See every area: All areas covered.
Common questions from Sherburn
Is Sherburn's ground good for a patio?
Yes. Sand and gravel drain well. It still needs compacting and firm edges.
Do we need a drain?
Often not. On free-draining ground, run-off can go to a border or soakaway.
Is the village a conservation area?
The older part is. Back-garden patios rarely need permission.
Our garden looks over fields. Where should the patio go?
Wherever it catches the view and the sun. Sometimes that is away from the house, linked by a path.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, MSOA County Durham 027 (Nomis); Wikipedia: Sherburn, County Durham; Planning Data: conservation areas; Planning Data: listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning.