Shildon Conservation Area

The town of Shildon lies to the south west of County Durham, approximately two miles south east of Bishop Auckland, 11 miles north of Darlington and 13 miles south of Durham City. Today it is accessed by the B6282 which runs between the A688 and A6072, however, the foundation and success of the town lies firmly with an earlier mode of transport - the railways.

The conservation area is focused on the surviving elements of the old Stockton and Darlington Railway and the Soho Works associated with the railway pioneer, Timothy Hackworth. It includes a number of listed buildings associated with these works including an engine shed and stables, as well as a length of surviving track, paths marking the course of the former tracks and sidings, coal drops, workers' housing, non-conformist Methodist hall and boundary walls.

The Conservation Area was designated in 1993, and was amended in December 2011.

Shildon Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Proposals

To ensure County Durham's conservation areas are properly managed, we are producing Conservation Area Appraisal documents that will help raise awareness of their special character and interest. The Shildon Conservation Area Appraisal  was approved by the Council's Cabinet in December 2011, and recommends ways to improve and to manage change as well as providing an interesting history and snapshot of the area.