Rookhope Arch
Chimney In Bishop Auckland, County Durham
One of the remaining arches carrying a two mile horizontal chimney as part of a flue system.
Looking at this cool little arch in Rookhope you may be thinking it's part of a bridge, but why doesn't it span the stream and where did it actually take you?
The answer is simple. It's not an arch from a bridge, it's really one of six arches that carried a two-mile horizontal flue chimney over the ground and high into the moors.
The village had a lead-smelting works in the early 1800s and needed to release any poisonous fumes well away from the houses. The nearby barren moors seemed a perfect choice and additionally this long, sloping flue would allow the fumes to cool and lead particles could be recovered.
On the moors at the end of the flue would have been a wooden chimney where the gas would have escaped.
Just over the road you can see the rubble from another part of the flue and so we scrambled up the slope to have a look.
These are remnants of the flue.
We headed back down for one final photo.
And if you fancied looking upon the arch each day, then why not hang this beautiful painting of the arch on your wall by Out and About in County Durham. Check out their Facebook page for more amazing paintings of our fabulous region.
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How To Find Rookhope Arch
Where To Park For Rookhope Arch?
Lat / Long
54.781951, 54.781951
What three words
There is a dedicated car park just across the road from the arch with an information board.
Contributed by Simon Hawkins
Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue Pele tower up a remote hill or a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.
More Places from Simon
More Places In Bishop Auckland
Find more fabulous places in Bishop Auckland, County Durham and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.
Groverake Mine
Machinery Bishop Auckland County DurhamThe ruins of an old lead and fluorspar mine in the Pennines with the headframe and some buildings still visible.
Escomb Saxon Church
Religious Place Bishop Auckland County DurhamFounded about AD 670–675, it is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England.
Killhope Lead Mine
Building Bishop Auckland County DurhamA restored 19th century mining museum in the centre of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where you can experience the life and work of the lead mining families of the North Pennines.
More Chimneys
So this chimney wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
Sikehead Mine Chimneys
Chimney Blanchland NorthumberlandTwo chimneys remaining from the Sikehead mine set on Ramshaw Moors
Allendale Chimneys
Chimney Allendale NorthumberlandTwo chimneys that were part of the Allen Lead Smelt Mill flue system.
Stublick Chimney
Chimney Haydon Bridge NorthumberlandStublick Chimney is a grade II listed building from the former Langley lead smelting mill.
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