5 Comments
User's avatar
Alan Haley's avatar

Another great account Harry! As my folks still live in Rowlands Gill we walk the dog in Gibside quite often. If anyone wants a ‘reet good read’ about the history of the previous residents of Gibside and indeed the wider Derwent Valley, I can recommend ‘The Dark Side of The Dale’ by Tony Kearney (On Amazon but also https://biblio.co.uk/book/dark-side-dale-grim-gruesome-grisly/d/731144846) If I ever do get on Mastermind I think I’d use this as one of my specialist subject sources!

Expand full comment
Perry J. Greenbaum 🇨🇦 🦜's avatar

What a splendid essay and accompanying photos. I now know more about Gibside than I did before starting reading. It is wonderful that instead of being sold privately, it has become a public trust. There must be lots of birds and other wildlife present, I would imagine.

Expand full comment
Harry Watson's avatar

Thanks Perry and yes a whole range of wildlife from birds and bats to badgers and deer. Not to mention the insect life that abounds.

Expand full comment
Harold Dobson's avatar

This is a brilliant and very impressive article, Harry. I've been a volunteer at Gibside for nigh on 18 years and, as you rightly say, the estate is a living, breathing testament to England's past and future. Do you know of the origin of the name "Gibside" ?

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Sep 30
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Harry Watson's avatar

Thanks Maureen and there's much more to discover if you wander from the intended route! 😉

Expand full comment