Hardwick Park
Described by the Heritage Lottery Fund as 'one of the most spectacular country parks in Britain' Hardwick Park is situated 2.5 km (1.5 miles from Sedgefield) just off the A177. Since 1972 Durham County Council has managed Hardwick as a Country Park. Now with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, a restoration programme is underway which will take 10 years to complete.
Miraculously, Hardwick has survived as an unaltered landscape garden of the 1750s. It is comparable to the famous gardens of Stourhead and Stowe and is listed by English Heritage as a Grade II* Site of Special Historic Interest.
The Hardwick Estate
There has been a house here since Mediaeval times when the manor of 'Herdwyck' first occupied this site. The present hall, now a hotel, was built during the 18th century. In 1748, John Burdon, a wealthy Tyneside businessman, bought the estate and soon embarked upon a dramatic programme of landscape improvement. This included creating an artificial serpentine 'river' which flowed over a cascade into a large ornamental lake south of the house. A circuit walk was laid out around the lake passing a series of decorative buildings. At a number of locations views were revealed so that visitors could pause and admire these ornamental features.Hardwick Park - Map
History
Long before Hardwick Hall was established as a landscaped park and garden, the surrounding area was marshy. The name Sedgefield bears witness to this (sedge is a grass-like plant that grows in wet places).Information on the Hardwick Park Restoration Project.
Other Things
The wildflower meadow is an ideal place for picnics and for children to play.Information
Location
- Approx 17 km (10.5 miles) by road from Durham City centre.
- Approx 2.5 km (1.5 miles) by road from centre of Sedgefield.
- Grid Ref. NZ 346 290.
- Bus route See: Traveline North East and Cumbria website.
Facilities
- Free parking
- Benches and picnic tables
- Lakeside paths
- Children's Play Area
- There is wheelchair access to most of this site
- A new Visitor Centre will be opened in 2009. This will contain a cafe, toilets, exhibition and classroom. New car parks will also be opened (there will be a charge for parking in the new year). There will be parking for disabled visitors, cars, buses, motorbikes, coaches and bicycles.
At present building work is still ongoing. There may be heavy machinery on site and some paths may be closed. Please follow any signs on sites and do not enter restricted areas.
Enquiries
Tel: 0191 3833594
To book either the resource room or a guided walk around the site, Tel: 0191 3833594
Note: Boating and fishing with rod and line are not allowed. Swimming and paddling are not permitted as toxins from naturally occuring algae may be present in the lake. This can cause skin irritation, illness and has caused the death of dogs in the UK.
