News-County Durham cultural venue is a success story

Published December 20, 2024 10.36am

A County Durham heritage and registration venue has attracted almost 60,000 people in its first five months - more than twice the number of visitors projected.

The Story is located in the recently restored Mount Oswald House, near Durham City.

From its opening day on Friday 14 June to the end of November, The Story welcomed 57,763 people, and is on track to double its annual target by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.

More than 3,000 documents and objects from our venue's historic collections have been viewed in person - up 34 per cent on previous years - with thousands more accessed digitally in The Story's Search and Discover space. The venue's new and enhanced online search facility has received more than 35,000 hits.

Many children and families have attended a range of activities and workshops in The Story's Learning Studio.

The Story is open every day and entry is free. To find out more about the venue, including upcoming events and activities, visit The Story.

Information about Christmas opening times is available at The Story - Visitor Information.

Popular wedding venue

Located in the recently restored Mount Oswald House, The Story is also home to the County Registration Service and has proven a popular wedding venue. Between Monday 17 June and Saturday 30 November, the team conducted 328 marriage and civil partnership ceremonies. They also took 920 notices for marriage, registered 985 births and conducted 171 citizenship ceremonies.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with one visitor writing: "Fabulous centre, with excellent free parking and free entry. Lots of quality interactive experiences. Super little cafe with fabulous views and beautiful open space where children could run. Very pleasant and helpful staff."

Another wrote: "Can highly recommend. We got married here just over a week ago. Stunning setting and the registrars were brilliant guiding us through everything. The manor house gave a beautiful back drop for our pictures."

Rewarding endeavour

The Story features a free, interactive exhibition about the history of County Durham and its people.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, our Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "It's wonderful to see so many people visiting and enjoying The Story.

"Restoring a grade II listed manor house and relocating more than six miles of archives, 15,000 objects and our entire registration service was no mean feat, and we did encounter challenges along the way.

"However, hearing the feedback from visitors and seeing the smiles on people's faces as they learn more about County Durham and celebrate their own special milestones, has made it all worthwhile.

"There are lots of exciting things coming up at The Story and we are looking forward to welcoming even more people in 2025 and beyond."

Historic collections

A gateway to the history of County Durham and its people, The Story is home to five collections of historic records, documents and objects, including the Durham Light Infantry Collection and Archive.

The Story's Georgian ceremony rooms provide an elegant backdrop for weddings, civil partnerships and vow renewing ceremonies.

There is a Search and Discover space for visitors to access digital content using enhanced search facilities and cutting-edge tools, including A1; a Collections Room where people can request to see and examine original documents; and a free interactive exhibition space and café.

The Story also hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions, which have so far shone a light on the Battle of a Kohima, and lesser-known stories of children from County Durham's past. The latter, which runs until the spring, is called Welcome to our County: The Children of Yesterday and Tomorrow and has been curated by Durham Youth Council.

As a registration venue, meanwhile, The Story's Georgian ceremony rooms and the ceremonial staircase provide an elegant backdrop for weddings, civil partnerships and vow renewing ceremonies.

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