Whinny Hill, Durham City

[PR-40]

Is that one near the Durham Railway Station?

[PR-40]

Ever heard of Whinny Hill Durham City    lets see who  is up on Durham City

Is that the one close to Durham railway station?

[PR-40]

Is that one near the Durham Railway Station?

No it is not near the Durham mainline Railway Station.  I will reveal the location soon but want to see who has knowledge of Durham City without having to resort to street maps 'cos that would be cheating   But there were also two other railway stations in Durham City and Whinney Hill was very close to one of them   I feel a history lesson coming on here  

Oh- knickers,thats lost me!

[Bookworm]

Whinney Hill's near the prison, isn't it? Around the Houghall College area?
 Just guessin'

[Bookworm]

Whinny Hill is just up from the prison.... I claim the prize.... Whatever it was. There was a prize wasn't there?.... Ooooh 'eck.

[Chris]

Whinney Hill is just up from the prison and leads up to the roundabout on Stockton Road.

[class in a glass]

I've heard of the school alright, spent 2 years there.

[lampwort]

The railway Station near Whinney Hill was of course Elvet Station where the magistrates court is now.  It was Durham's first passenger station built by The Durham & Sunderland Railway which linked Durham with Sherburn House, Pittington, Hetton and Sunderland.  I seem to remember it closing around 1953 just after it was used to bring a circus to Durham. The only reminder of the railway I have been able to find are the brick bridge abutments for the river bridge at the bottom of Green Lane at the top of Old Elvet

[lampwort]

Sorry, not having walked the line for over 40 years, I do not recognise this one.  Please enlighten me

[lampwort]

You are probably quite right, but working in Edinburgh, my spare time in Durham has other priorities like researching the coal drifts along the river banks of Kepier Wood and near Frankland as well as supporting The Durham Mining Museum

[lampwort]

Thanks for that. I will go looking next time I am home.  I am more familiar with the line further north and the course of the Houghall/Croxdale Colliery Branch.
The stretch between the Dragonvill to Sherburn House road and the Dragonvill to Sherburn Village road was in a cutting and was used by the local council for landfill in the 1960s.  It has now been reclaimed by the farmer leaving no trace.  Likewise the stetch of the Houghall/Croxdale Colliery Branch between Sherburn House Station and the Shincliffe to Wingate road was used for landfill by Durham City Council in the early 1960s and since then has all but disappeared under the A1(M)