Visit & explore
Richard Watson Trail
Richard Watson was a lead miner, poet and entertainer, born in Middleton-in-Teesdale in 1833. His ability with words was praised by his schoolmaster, who sent him to the Rector at Middleton, who encouraged him to write his own poetry and verse. Although he left school at 10, he continued with his writing, composing verses about his workmates and having poems published in the local paper, the Teesdale Mercury, performing at events and publishing a small volume of poems in 1862.
The trail PDF (download under ‘related files’) explores Richard’s life and times. His experience of hard, physical work, harsh conditions and little reward, was typical for Victorian lead miners in the North Pennines. However, where other miners spent their meagre leisure time on allotment gardening, knitting or woodwork, Richard preferred to devote himself to reading and writing.
The Richard Watson Trail follows part of the route that he and lead miners like him would have taken on their journey to work, as described in one of his most popular poems. His 7-mile ‘commute’ from Holwick took him across the River Tees to Newbiggin, and then over Hardberry Hill to the mines at Little Eggleshope, a further 4 miles away.
I’ve wandered many a weary mile
And in strange countries been,
I’ve dwelt in towns and on wild moors
And curious sights I’ve seen;
But still my heart clings to the dale,
Where Tees rolls to the sea,
Compared with what I’ve seen I’ll say,
The Teesdale Hills for me
