A Quick Trip with Big Results: Capturing History in Teesdale

Today was one of those days where time was tight, but I managed to squeeze in three locations that delivered some fantastic footage. Even though the schedule was rushed, I’m incredibly happy with the places I visited and what I captured—plus, I met some interesting people along the way, making the experience all the more rewarding.

Tees Cottage Pumping Station: A Fascinating Industrial Site

First stop was the Tees Cottage Pumping Station, an industrial heritage site in Darlington, known for its role in water supply. Built in the 19th century, this station houses two rare working steam engines that were originally used to pump water from the River Tees to Darlington. It’s an incredible piece of preserved industrial history, and it still demonstrates Victorian engineering in action during open days.

The guys here were fantastic—they were just as interested in the drone as I was in their pumping station! I captured some great aerial photos and drone video, highlighting the layout of the site and the grandeur of the steam engines. The aerial perspective really brings out the scale of this impressive station and how it fits within the landscape.

Ruins of St Lawrence Chapel: An Intriguing Discovery

On my way to Barnard Castle, I made a stop at the Ruins of St Lawrence Chapel. This small, atmospheric ruin is tucked away near the River Tees, just over the other saide from Gainford . The chapel is believed to date back to the 12th century, and though little remains, the site holds historical significance as a place of worship for the local community centuries ago.

I captured some fantastic aerial photos and drone video of the ruins, showcasing the chapel’s structure and its peaceful, rural surroundings. As I was flying the drone, I noticed another intriguing structure nearby, which seems to be worth investigating further. It’s moments like these when the drone really helps reveal hidden aspects of a location, and I’m keen to research this further.

Barnard Castle: A Historic Highlight

My final stop of the day was Barnard Castle, a location I’ve been wanting to capture for a while. Built in the 12th century by Bernard de Balliol, the castle sits high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the River Tees. It played a key role in medieval England’s military and political landscape and has a fascinating history tied to both the Balliol and the Neville families.

I managed to capture some brilliant aerial photos of the castle, its towers, and the surrounding landscape. The only slight disappointment was that I couldn’t get much drone video due to the hundreds of pigeons flying around the area—definitely something to consider when capturing aerial footage in bird-heavy locations! Still, the photos I took show the beauty and prominence of the castle in all its glory.

Wrapping Up the Day

Although time was limited, today’s locations made it all worthwhile. From the fascinating industrial history at Tees Cottage Pumping Station to the atmospheric ruins of St Lawrence Chapel and the grandeur of Barnard Castle, it’s been an incredibly rewarding day of exploring and capturing.

I can’t wait to share the images and hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed capturing them! Stay tuned for more as I dive into editing the footage.