Local Area

Ordnance survey map ref: NZ 854 406 Church Post code DL13 1DA

The Western part of Parish of West Weardale was known as Heatherycleugh until 1st January 2025 when it joined with St John's chapel and Westgate to become West Weardale. It consists of the villages of Lanehead, Cowshill and Wearhead. The boundary on the west is the Cumbrian border, the north is the Northumbrian border, the east is St. John’s Chapel parish and the south is the parish of Forest and Frith in Upper Teesdale. 

Lanehead is the most westerly village consisting of a few houses, outlying farms and, more famously, the Killhope Lead Mining Centre. The burn running through the village, the Heathercleugh Burn, gave its name to the  parish before it joined with St John's Chapel and Westgate on 1st Januray 2025 . As it reaches the Killhopeburn it runs under a five-arched bridge, the only one in Weardale.

The Killhope burn runs from the fells on the moor, the peak, Killhope Cross being 627 metres above sea level. It continues through Lanehead, Cowshill and Wearhead until it joins forces with the Burnhopeburn to form the River Wear.

Cowshill has two adjoining small hamlets, Copt Hill and Burtreeford. There are three burial sits in the village, Copt Hill, the Churchyard of St. Thomas’ and the Council owned Burtreeford Cemetery, although Copt Hill and the Churchyard are no longer used. The Church is opposite the Cowshill Hotel, and adjoining the Cowshill and Lanehead Village Hall.

Wearhead is at the head of the River Wear.  The nearby village of Burnhope was destroyed in the 1930s when the Burnhope Reservoir was built to supply water to all the houses in Weardale. The houses were demolished and the stone used to build the dam and outbuildings. There are two one primary schools in the parish, one located in Burnfoot near the river at St John's Chapel and one at Wearhead.