A weekend of celebrations with a traditional fair, competitions, games, music, a dinner dance and various activities, will take place in August to mark the 200th anniversary of Nenthead village.
Organised by the North Pennines National Landscape team and local volunteers, the event on on August 23 and August 24, commemorates the creation of Nenthead by the London Lead Company.
The Nenthead 200 celebrations are part of the Land of Lead and Silver project, run by the North Pennines National Landscape team and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.
The project aims to unveil stories from lead and silver mining in the North Pennines and UNESCO Global Geopark, and offers opportunities for people to get involved.
Lead mining dominated the North Pennines from the mid-1700s to the early 1900s shaping the landscape and its communities.
The London Lead Company owned and leased many mines, primarily across Alston Moor and Teesdale, during the 19th century and was particularly influential in Nenthead, where they planned and built the village.
Helen Featherstone, of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The lead mining industry was central in shaping the heritage of the North Pennines and the existence of Nenthead 200 years ago.
“We’re delighted to be able to support the celebration of that heritage and share it with new audiences, thanks to National Lottery players.”
Lianna Francis-Kelly, North East partnerships team leader at Historic England, said: “Historic England’s funding for the Land of Lead and Silver project reflects our commitment to celebrating and protecting these special places and making their stories accessible to everyone.
“As Nenthead celebrates its 200th anniversary, we’re really pleased to see people connecting with their local heritage in such creative and engaging ways.”
Prior to August, workshops and activities are taking place to create display objects for the weekend event.
The Hive in Nenthead will host a talk on mine rescue and local botanicals with Gavin Stewart on Sunday July 1 at 6pm.
People are invited to join a group documenting the village’s history. Its next meeting is on July 13 in Alston Town Hall, while felt artist Anna Osborne is leading a
workshop on Monday July 21 at Nenthead village hall.
Tea on the Trail at Lovelady Shield Hotel takes place on Saturday, August 2. Isaac’s Tea Trail, a circular walking route linking Alston with Allendale, commemorates Isaac Holden who sold tea door to door from Carlisle to Newcastle in the 1830s.
There will also be mine tours at Nenthead Mines and a mining display at the Nenthead Mines barracks.
On Saturday August 23, Alston Drama Group will perform in collaboration with the Knotted Project, and Stanhope Silver band will perform on Sunday.
Rebecca Cadbury-Simmons, community engagement and interpretation officer with the North Pennines National Landscape team, said: “We look forward to welcoming everyone to what is shaping up to be a really exciting weekend.”
Competitions are open for all to enter and include a photography competition, a scarecrow competition, fancy dress, a children’s treasure hunt and a free pub quiz,
Tickets for the dinner and folk dance on Saturday August 23 at Nenthead village hall cost £20 per person, including a three-course dinner.
More information about all the everts can be found at northpennines.org.uk/what_we_do/historicenvironment/land-of-lead-and-silver/nenthead200-celebration/
