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About the house
Stephenson's Historic House is renowned for the quality of its art, landscape
and hospitality, and it has evolved through the centuries to reflect the tastes,
passions and interests of the Stephenson Family. Once the home of renown
railways pioneer George Stephenson, today it stands as a national treasure and
attracts tourists from all over the globe.
The house contains many of George Stephenson's inventions, prototypes and
schematics as well as works of art such as paintings and sculptures by famous
artists like Reynolds, Moore and Veronese.
There are over 12 rooms to explore , from the main office, private library,
restored dining room and George Stephenson's workshop.
The private library
One of the most fascinating rooms to explore inside of Stephenson's Historic
House is the newly restored private library that contains many of George Stephenson's
schematics and notes as well as old books collected through many years, some dating all
the way back to the middle Ages and considered to be unique in the world.
Although
not well known by many due to his more impressive feats, George Stephenson was a passionate
reader and book collector and managed to collect through his life more than 1000 books, some
that at that time could not be read due to being written in old languages or affected by the
passage of time.
The hall
The workshop
The dining room
Antique statues
In 1821, a parliamentary bill was passed to allow the building of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR). The 25-mile (40 km) railway connected collieries near Bishop Auckland to the River Tees at Stockton, passing through Darlington on the way. The original plan was to use horses to draw coal carts on metal rails, but after company director Edward Pease met Stephenson, he agreed to change the plans. Stephenson surveyed the line in 1821, and assisted by his eighteen-year-old son Robert, construction began the same year.
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