Spennymoor’s best bits - An insider’s guide to living in Spennymoor

Spennymoor's history and heritage

Housed in Spennymoor’s Town Hall, the Durham Mining Museum spans across two rooms and if it’s an in depth look into the town’s mining history you’re after, then you’re in the right place. Featuring a range of artefacts, models, equipment, books and photographs, the museum covers the mining history of County Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland and the Ironstone mines of North Yorkshire. And just a 10 minute drive from Spennymoor, you’ll find the market town of Bishop Auckland, which is home to the Mining Art Gallery. Here you can explore what life was like in the coal mines through the artwork on display. Expect to see works by some of the most well known mining artists such as Tom McGuiness and Norman Cornish. 

And it’s not just the Mining Art Gallery which can be found in Bishop Auckland. The town is also where you’ll find Auckland Castle. The castle was once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham, and was built to showcase their vast wealth. Today, the splendid interiors have been conserved and are open to visitors looking to explore the faith, power, wealth and influence from this period within history. 

Another great spot well worth visiting closeby is the open-air museum Beamish. Just half an hour away by car, the museum is set within 350 acres of Durham’s beautiful countryside. Visitors can explore what life was like in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s, and the museum’s year-long programme of events means there’s always something new to see and explore.

And last but certainly not least on the long list of places to visit and explore in and around Spennymoor is Durham Cathedral. Just 20 minutes away from the town, the cathedral is a grade I listed building, and the successor to Lindisfarne Priory which was built by Anglo-Saxon monks before it was abandoned after a series of violent raids by the Vikings beginning in 793AD. Why not visit the cathedral and take the journey to the top of the central tower to take in and fully appreciate the stunning views over Durham? Or why not visit The Cloister? The secluded walkaway was used in the filming of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. 

Arts and culture in Spennymoor

Alongside Durham’s Mining Museum, Spennymoor’s Town Hall is also home to The Bob Abley Art Gallery. Spanning across two floors, there’s a large selection of art for sale from regionally and internationally renowned artists, including works by Norman Cornish, a lifelong resident of Spennymoor. But it’s not just inside the walls of art galleries where you’ll find incredible art in Spennymoor. Spennymoor Mural Festival organised by Durham Spray Paints is an opportunity for artists from across the North East to bring their street art to bland and bare walls in Spennymoor’s town centre. The festival aims to grow year on year, and is seeking to put Durham on the map with its mural art. 

Because of Spennymoor’s proximity to the city of Durham, you’ll also find plenty of museums, galleries and theatres worthy of a visit here too. Founded in 1960, the Oriental Museum is a museum of the University of Durham and was established to support the university’s teaching and research. Today, the museum is dedicated entirely to the art and archaeology of the great and diverse cultures of Northern Africa and Asia, and houses thousands of artefacts from places such as China, Korea, Japan, India and Egypt in its collection.