Shincliffe's houses
Shincliffe is first recorded around 1085 as Scinneclif, a name meaning the "cliff of the spectre", or haunted cliff. A medieval bridge crosses the Wear here, and excavations in 2005 suggested there may have been a Roman crossing too. In the Middle Ages it was a farming community belonging to the Prior of Durham Cathedral. Coal mining at Houghall, Old Durham and Shincliffe Colliery (now High Shincliffe) swelled the population before the pits closed in the late 19th century. Durham's first railway station opened at Shincliffe in 1839. In the 1920s Back Lane was widened as a bypass, which kept traffic out of the old High Street. The parish had 1,796 people at the 2011 Census.
The old village has period houses and cottages along the High Street, several of them listed, while High Shincliffe and the newer roads hold later detached and semi-detached homes. The Census area that covers Shincliffe and Bowburn records 41.0% semi-detached homes, 25.0% detached, 32.5% terraced and very few flats.
Gardens in the old village are often long and walled, sometimes with mature trees. Newer homes have more regular plots. A stone terrace behind a period house, with steps to the lawn, is a typical request, as is a larger patio for entertaining behind a detached home.
River gravels
The British Geological Survey records river terrace deposits, gravel, sand and silt laid down by the Wear, over sandstone of the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. These deposits generally drain well, though silty patches hold water.
We dig to a firm level, compact a crushed-stone sub-base, and lay slabs on a full mortar bed, at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course with a fall away from the house. Run-off can often go to a border or soakaway on gravel; on silty ground we may add a drain. Mature trees are common in the old village, and we keep excavation away from large roots where we can.
The Wear runs close by, and the Environment Agency shows Flood Zone 3 within 750 metres of the centre point on the low ground by the river. Gardens toward the river need careful levels.
Conservation area and listed buildings
Shincliffe is designated a conservation area to protect its historic character. Around 17 listed buildings and structures are nearby, including houses on the High Street, the Church of St Mary, Corner House, Laxey Cottage, the garden wall and boiler house at Shincliffe Hall, an old boundary stone and the K6 telephone kiosk outside 2 Prospect Terrace. A ground-level back-garden patio is usually permitted development, but listed houses, front gardens, walls and trees need care, and some works need Durham County Council's consent.
Stone for a period setting
Natural sandstone is the natural choice behind Shincliffe's older houses. Riven flags with varied colour, or reclaimed stone, sit well against old brick and stone, and weather in quickly. For newer homes, sawn sandstone or porcelain gives a crisper finish. Old walls are part of the village's character, so we keep new paving clear of their footings and suggest stone that suits them.
High Shincliffe and the newer roads
High Shincliffe, built on the site of Shincliffe Colliery, and the newer roads around the village have more regular, modern gardens. Here the brief is usually a family patio behind a detached or semi-detached house, wide enough for a table and a barbecue, with a path to the bottom of the garden. Porcelain and sawn sandstone both suit these houses. Because the ground is mostly gravel, rainwater can usually soak away into borders, so a separate drain is not always needed. We confirm this at the visit by looking at how the garden behaves after rain.
Cost considerations in Shincliffe
- Material. Natural or reclaimed stone for period houses.
- Garden size. Long walled plots or larger detached gardens.
- Trees. Working around roots.
- Levels. Steps from house to lawn.
- Drainage. Gravel helps; silty ground may need a drain.
- Access. Some older houses have limited side access.
Next door to Shincliffe
- Garden patios, Bowburn: South-east: a former colliery village on the A177.
- Garden patios, Gilesgate: North: the old street climbing from Durham's centre.
- Garden patios, Neville's Cross: North-west, across the city: a suburb on the A167.
Patio types for Shincliffe homes: stone patios, porcelain patios, block paved patios.
See every area: All areas covered.
Common questions from Shincliffe
What stone suits an old Shincliffe house?
Riven sandstone or reclaimed flags, which weather in and sit well with old walls.
Is Shincliffe a conservation area?
Yes. A ground-level patio at the back usually needs no permission, but listed houses need checking.
We have big trees. Is that a problem?
We plan around them, keeping digging away from large roots and using a shallower base where we can.
Is the ground near the river wet?
Gravel drains well, but low ground by the Wear needs careful levels.
Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, MSOA County Durham 041 (Nomis); Wikipedia: Shincliffe; Planning Data: conservation areas; Planning Data: listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning.