Rookhope Arch

Chimney Bishop Auckland County Durham

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.

  Add To Bucket List   I Have Visited This Place

Get 4 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 13 VIPs.

Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.

Where Is Rookhope Arch

Where Is It?

What three words
truckload.spruced.heap

Lat / Long
54.7816, -2.118851
Show Place On Google Maps

If you head east along the road there is a finger post leading into the field with a footbridge over the stream. Heading west, you can go over the stone bridge and then through a gate into the field where the arch stands.


Where To Park?

What three words
compiled.reputable.caressed

Lat / Long
54.781951, -2.119505

Show Parking On Google Maps

There is a dedicated car park just across the road from the arch with an information board.

Simon Hawkins

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 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.
Spanish Gallery and Mining Art Gallery
Museum Bishop Auckland County Durham

Two fantastic galleries in the heart of Bishop Auckland.

Auckland Castle
Castle Bishop Auckland County Durham

Castle dating back to the 17th century and home to the bishops of Durham.

Auckland Castle Deer House
Building Bishop Auckland County Durham

The deer house is a rare and well preserved example of Gothic Revival architecture built in 1760.

More Chimneys

So this chimney wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.
Sikehead Mine Chimneys
Chimney Blanchland Northumberland

Two chimneys remaining from the Sikehead mine set on Ramshaw Moors

Stublick Chimney
Chimney Haydon Bridge Northumberland

Stublick Chimney is a grade II listed building from the former Langley lead smelting mill.

Allendale Chimneys
Chimney Allendale Northumberland

Two chimneys that were part of the Allen Lead Smelt Mill flue system.

Fabulous North On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook

We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.

Share this Place!