HERE - Dowfold House Bed and Breakfast

Transcription

Welcome To
Dowfold House
Bed & Breakfast
Open all year. Children and dogs welcome.
Details from: Jill & Rupert Richardson
Dowfold House, Low Jobs Hill, Crook
Co. Durham. DL15 9AB
Tel:01388 762473
Mobile 07949 081726
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.dowfoldhouse.co.uk
Dowfold House Bed & Breakfast
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Tariff 2015
Price
Number of
Room
people
1st Night
2nd night on
Kingsize bedroom with ensuite bathroom
2
£88.00
£82.00
Single occupancy of Kingsize bedroom
1
£65.00
£60.00
Double / twin bedroom with ensuite showeroom
2
£85.00
£80.00
Single occupancy of Double / twin bedroom
1
£59.00
£55.00
1
£35.00
£35.00
£6.00
£6.00
£2.50
£2.50
Extra full-size Divan bed in Pink or Green
Room
Use of Cot in Room
Dog in room and/or grounds (breakfast NOT
included!)
All prices include a SPLENDID breakfast, afternoon tea/coffee on arrival, and use of the
sitting room and garden.
Prices may change without notice, and are confirmed at time of booking
Please settle accounts on the day of departure by cash, bank transfer, cheque or credit/debit
card.
From April 2015
Dowfold House, Low Jobs Hill, Crook, Weardale, County Durham, DL15 9AB.
Tel/fax: +44 (0)1388 762473 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dowfoldhouse.co.uk
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
IN CASE OF FIRE
First: stay calm. The smoke alarms fitted throughout the
house will give you plenty of warning.
Second: GET OUT - leave your room, go down the stairs,
turn right at the bottom
of the stairs and head
either for the front door
– right again, or for the
conservatory –turn left.
Do NOT stop to pick up
belongings. There is a
wind-up Fire Safety
Torch in your room in
case you need extra
light.
The front door has a
lever handle and a
standard Yale rim-lock.
No key is needed.
The Conservatory door
has a lever handle, and
a thumb lock that
needs no key – just
turn it
Once outside, EITHER
go to the concrete
apron near the far
garage (if you go out the
front) OR go to outside
the Greenhouse (if you
go out the back). DO NOT re-enter the building until told by
us or the Fire Brigade that it is safe to do so.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Your Bedroom
All rooms are centrally heated and double glazed. We hope you
will be warm enough but if you do need an extra blanket you will
find one in your wardrobe. There is also an electric radiator or a
blow heater.
The tea tray has a selection of tea, coffee, hot chocolate and
Horlicks. Herbal tea, fruit teas and Earl Grey tea are available if
you prefer. A flask of fresh milk is also available on request.
All rooms have hair dryers. If you would like a thick, luxurious
bathrobe for the duration of your stay, these are available at £5.
This is a non-smoking house. We respectfully remind you of this and ask you not to smoke inside
but we don’t mind puffers in the bushes! There is a covered area
to the left of the front door, complete with a place to put cigarette
butts.
There’s lots to read around the place, so do make full use of it all.
If you get engrossed and want to take a book away, please just ask.
There are a few books we DON’T want to lose, so we’d ask you to post them back.
Alternatively, of course, if you want to leave a book…
Emergencies
Should you require assistance during the night please do not hesitate to wake one of us by
knocking on our door (first on the left as you come up the stairs – marked “Private”). Also, do see
the FIRE protection page in this booklet.
Wireless Internet
Internet Access is available in your room, via Wi-Fi Wireless access, at no
charge. Please ask for the password if you would like to use it. We do ask you to
sign a warranty that your PC has adequate anti-virus protection and that you
won’t use the connection for anything illegal.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
The Sitting Room
There is a pleasant sitting room for your use, and that of other guests. Please feel free to use it
as you will, to read, watch TV, and/or use any of the other audiovisual goodies. Or just sit and
doze enjoying the view over the garden and
Crook to the Weardale hills and the North
Pennines beyond. If it’s chilly, or if you
want it, we’ll light the fire. Please, please,
PLEASE make sure the fire guard is on
if you ever leave the room while the fire is
alight.
Instructions on how to use the various
gizmos are available in the sitting room, as are a wide range of DVDs, videos, CDs and books.
We’re delighted if you use them, but would ask you to put them back when you’ve finished.
There is also a splendid library of brochures covering every conceivable (and a few frankly
inconceivable!) activity in the area, as well as details of local restaurants. If you would like us to
book anything for you, just ask.
Please don’t draw the curtains; they block the radiators. There are splendid roman blinds which
can be lowered for privacy or cosiness.
There are no formal rules for the use of the sitting room: simply be considerate of other people,
put things back after use, and be safe.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Breakfast
We’re very proud of our breakfasts – especially since we won a
couple of Brilliant Breakfast Awards! Fortunately, we’re
modest as well… You will find the full Menu on the next page, as
well as any specials we feel moved to offer.
Breakfast is usually served between 7.30am and 9.30am unless
by special arrangement. In any case, please let us have an approximate timing.
You don’t have to, but we do recommend you order your breakfast the night
before. That way, we can have just what you want ready just when you want it. All
breakfasts are, of course, freshly cooked to order, so if you leave it until the
morning, please be prepared to wait a little while. You can’t hurry a good sausage!
Breakfast is served in the dining room. From the bottom of the stairs, it’s the
second door on the left towards the conservatory.
If you are interested, there is a booklet in the Dining Room
describing each item we offer, and where we get it, in some
detail. We’re very committed to sourcing locally when possible, and grow/make
as much as we can on the premises. Some of our produce is available for you to
take away. There’s a price list on the back of the brochure
Please note that we are happy to cater for most special requirements. We keep vegetarian sausages
and gluten-free cereal. We will get in most things on request, including goats, soya or lactose-free
milk & yoghurts. If you need something out of the ordinary or,
indeed have an allergy - just let us know and we’ll do our best.
We are aware of the fourteen most common allergens as
delineated under the Food Safety Act 1990 &
the General Food Law Regulation 178/2002
and have marked our menu showing foods which
contain the following: gluten, crustaceans, eggs,
fish, peanuts, soya, milk, nuts, celery, mustard,
sesame, sulphur dioxide, lupin, molluscs. Do ask if you need to know more.
Dowfold House
The Breakfast Menu
Served between 7.30 – 9.30am
Please note the items marked thus * should be ordered the evening before.
Please note that items marked @ contain one or more of the fourteen most common allergens.
As we cook all breakfasts freshly for each order, please be patient while it is prepared. To avoid
delay, place your order the preceding evening.
To start with
On the table and side-board you will find:
A selection of fresh and/or stewed fruits, according to the season
A variety of yoghurts@
Cereals@
Or ask for Porridge*@
Orange juice. Other juices are available – just ask
Beverages
Enjoy a pot of freshly brewed cafetière coffee or English Breakfast tea, or ask for:
Hot chocolate@
Decaffeinated coffee
Espresso, Latte@, Cappuccino@ coffees
Herbal tea, fruit tea, green tea or Earl Grey
Special Dietary Requirements
Please note that we are happy to cater for most special requirements. We keep vegetarian & glutenfree sausages@ and gluten-free bread & cereal. We will get in most things on request, including goats,
soya or lactose-free milk & yoghurts, gluten-free and other “free from” products as desired. The
same applies if you have a food allergy. Just let us know and, please, give us some notice of your
needs – ideally when you book.
Dowfold House
Breakfast Menu
The Main Event
Dowfold House English Breakfast - Our (award-winning!) favourite is poached egg on potato
bread, with bacon, sausages, tomato and mushrooms, but you can choose from any combination of:
Egg(s), however you want them @
Sausages@
Bacon
Tomato
Mushrooms
Black pudding@
Potato bread - home-made to an old Irish recipe, and delicious@ (gluten-free version available)
Baked beans – Heinz of course!
You can have any or all of these on/with toast@, Irish soda bread@ or of course potato bread@, OR
have the vegetarian version.
For fish lovers,
Kippers@, served with brown bread@ & butter@ and wedges of lemon
Smoked salmon*@, with scrambled eggs@ – a combination made in heaven…
For the lighter start to the day, try the continental breakfast. Fresh-baked warm croissants@, pains
au chocolat@, or Danish pastries@, a selection of yoghurts@ and fresh fruit
FINALLY, we’re mad about pancakes (crêpes) @– try them with bacon (our favourite) or, indeed,
anything you like.
To Round Off
Home-made toast@ and home-made preserves
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Dog Guests
We, like you, enjoy taking our dog, Rafford, with
Suggested Dog Walk Route
us when we travel, so we are delighted to
Full-size version available
welcome your dog to our home. We regret that
we must limit the number of dogs staying to two
per room. Please remember not everyone is as
keen on dogs as we are, so take the feelings of
other guests into consideration, especially with
regard to noise when bringing your dog in or
taking him out early or late. You are welcome to
take your dog into the dog-secure (we think!)
garden via the gate at the left of the front door,
or via the conservatory, or we may be able to
close the drive gate to provide a secure area.
The garden behind the stable block is reserved
for our dog.
We ask owners to note the following:
Please make sure that you bring all necessary items for your dog, basket /bed, food & bowls etc.
Please make sure your dog is not wet or muddy when he comes into the house. We can
supply dog towels if requested or leave your dog in your car until it’s dry.
Please do not leave your dog unattended in the house. So please, at breakfast time,
put him/her in the car or in the garden if appropriate.
Please do not take your dog into the dining room.
Please keep your dog off the chairs and beds.
There is a daily charge of £2.50 per dog.
Thank you for your co-operation.
You may also like to have a look at two websites we know, which can be helpful when travelling with
dogs.: www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk and
www.openfordogs.org.uk (run by the
Kennel Club)
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Where to Eat?
Guests often ask us to recommend somewhere to eat locally. This is always difficult as what may
suit one person may not suit another….or it’s the chef’s night off .
If you do plan to eat at a local
restaurant, please do talk to us first. We simply can’t keep up with the sometimes very frequent
changes of management and or staff in the restaurant world. We try to keep this section up to
date, but please don’t rely on it entirely. Do ask us for most recent information.
The Red Lion at North Bitchburn has re-opened after eighteen months. It has new owners but
the original kitchen team which made the place so popular for so long is re-instated. It’s only a few
minutes’ drive away. 01388 767071.
You could walk down Church Hill to Crook where there are several restaurants and cafes. In
Church Street, opposite the Church is Viva, an Italian restaurant serving not only pasta and
pizza, but also more “formal” meals. Many guests have enjoyed dinner there. Tel: 01388 762424.
On the corner of Hope Street and North Terrace is Spice Corner, an Indian restaurant with a
good local reputation. Tel: 01388 760555.
At the top end of Hope Street (no. 36) is the Carriage Restaurant which serves good homecooked traditional English food. Open for evening meals on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
last orders are at 8 pm. Tel: 01388 762859.
Also in Crook, another Weatherspoons aka TheHorse Shoe Inn , predictable fare available at
most times. Tel: 01388 744980.
At the end of Low Job’s Hill (turning right out of the gate), turn left towards Durham and you will
find The Colliery about 100 yards along on the left. Good, plentiful pub-grub, they have curry
nights and steak nights with special offers on. Tel: 01388 762511. www.thecolliery.co.uk .
The Duke of York at Fir Tree (on the A68). Several guests have reported very good food at
reasonable prices. Tel: 01388 767429. www.dukeofyorkfirtree.com .
A little further away, towards Bishop Auckland, is another good restaurant, the Fox & Hounds
at Newfield – open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday & Sunday
lunchtimes – again, it’s advisable to book. Tel: 01388 662787.
The Foresters Guesthouse in Stanley Crook also serves evening meals and Sunday lunch.
Do ring first to book. Tel: 01388 762207.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Places to Eat in and Around Durham.
There are plenty of good places to eat in Durham ranging from the extremely expensive to the
reasonably priced. Parking in Durham can be tricky in the evening. If you park in a multi-storey, do
check what time it closes before you abandon your car. It may be easier to park on the street, and
you’ll find that most pay-and display-spaces don’t charge after 6 or 6.30pm.
Spaghettata, 66 Saddler Street, Durham DH1 3NP, tel: 0191 383 9290 & Ricardo’s, 17
Hallgarth Street, Durham DH1 3AT, tel: 0191 384 4007 -opposite the Student Union
building - both offer inexpensive Italian food. Other Italian places are Che Vita in Station Lane,
tel: 0191 384 1010, Emilio’s is yet another, but a bit more down-market on Elvet Bridge, tel:
0191 384 0096. Bella Italia is at the Castle side of Framwellgate Bridge (Silver Street), tel:
0191 386 1060.
Also in Saddler Street, nos 41-42 is the Cellar Door aptly named as a steep staircase leads
down to the restaurant which has wonderful river views and terraces for summertime dining – bistro
type, reasonably adventurous food, tel: 0191 383856.
Lebaneat, is Durham’s only Lebanese restaurant open at lunchtime and in the evening at 47
North Bailey, tel: 0191 384 6777
Oldfield’s, 18 Claypath, Durham DH1 1RH, tel: 0191 370 9595 in the old HQ of the
Durham Gas Company, is very convenient for the Gala Theatre. Reasonably priced, organic
and locally produced food served from lunchtime until 9.30 pm.
The newish Walkergate development by the Gala Theatre has attracted several national “chain”
restaurants, namely Nandos, ASK, Chiquito’s, Slug & Lettuce and Fat Buddha.
There are several Indian restaurants in Durham, the best among them being Shaheen’s in North
Bailey, tel: 0191 386 0960, and The Capital at 69 Claypath tel:0191 386 8803, which are both
traditional curry houses with good, friendly service.
Zen offers excellent South East Asian cuisine and is open all day from 9am. It’s in Court Lane,
opposite the Crown Court. Tel: 0191 384 9588. www.zendurham.co.uk
For a cup of coffee and a cake, or a sandwich at lunchtime, the Picnic Basket (take away food),
also in New Elvet, offers good quality food with friendly service. Or, for something a bit more
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
substantial at lunchtime, the Crypt restaurant in the Cathedral is reliable, as is the Café on the
Green on Palace Green.
There is also the Court Inn, which is distinguished by its willingness to accept dogs – and our
guests tell us the food is good too. It is a family owned and managed pub, with pleasant areas
located inside and outside for drinks and meals. A wide range of quality dishes are served at
sensible prices with real ale on tap. An urban oasis with a friendly ambience and "mobile free" zone
so everyone can truly relax. Tel: 0191 384 7350.
If you want to push the boat out try Finbarr’s, Kingslodge Hotel, Flass Vale, Durham DH1
4BG. Tel: 0191 370 9999; Bistro 21, Aykley Heads House, Aykley Heads Durham DH1
5TS, Tel: 0191 384 4354; Oro at the Pump House, Farm Road, Houghall, Durham DH1
3PJ. Tel: 0191 384 0832; DH1, The Avenue, Durham, DH1 4DX. Tel 0191 384 6655.
Worth making a trip for - within about half-an-hour’s drive from Dowfold House – are The Rose
& Crown, Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle, DL12 9EB. Tel 01833 650213; Blagrave’s
House, Barnard Castle, DL12 8PN. Tel 01833 637668; The Lord Crewe Arms,
Blanchland, DH8 9SP. Tel 01434 675469.
Farm Shops
We do also have some farm shops in the area which do very good light lunches, morning coffee or
afternoon tea. They also sell a wonderful selection of food and drink, local, exotic, organic, fresh,
homemade, or, indeed, all of these.
First, the Bradley Burn farm shop is just off the A689 as you head west from Crook up
Weardale. Go through Crook, cross the A68 and Bradley Burn is on the right hand side of the
road before you get to Wolsingham. Tel: 01388 529488 or www.bradleyburn.co.uk
A bit further away to the north are Broom House Farm at Witton Gilbert , DH7 6TR
www.broomhousedurham.co.uk and Knitsley Farm Shop between Lanchester and Consett
DH8 9EW www.knitsleyfarmshop.co.uk , and to the south near Barnard Castle, another award
winning farm shop Cross Lanes Café, DL 12 9RTwww.crosslanesorganics.co.uk
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Good Things from Dowfold House
We are pleased to offer for sale some of the high-quality products we
serve to you during your stay here. All are home-made with the best
ingredients, home-grown where possible, or locally sourced and/or
Fairtrade and/or organic where appropriate. No preservatives or other
nastinesses are used in our products.
Jams and Preserves - £3 per 290g jar. Choose from:
Strawberry, Blackcurrant or Gooseberry Jam (particularly
good…)*
or: Seville Orange Marmalade
*Made from home-grown fruit, lemon juice & sugar
Home-made Irish Potato Bread @, 5-pack: £1.50 (frozen)
Home-baked Bread @: £2.50 (order the day before; available
frozen or fresh)
Dowfold House Apple Juice in conjunction with Fruitful Durham
£3 per 75cl bottle
If you’d like any of these, just ask. Subject to seasonality and availability.
Allergy advice: @ contains wheat flour (gluten) & butter (milk product)
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Other Things…
Access Statement
We have a full Access Statement available on request detailing information pertinent to guests
with a range of infirmities or impairments
Eating In
First: the bad news. We don’t do evening meals as such. We also ask you not to eat meals in your
room; getting pizza out of the duvet is a REAL challenge!
Now: the good news. Crook is well-stocked with take-aways of every description – Indian,
Chinese, Chippies, Pizza places – whatever you like. We’ve plenty of menus, just ask. We are
very happy for you to buy your own food and drink, and for you to wine and dine in our splendid
Dining Room. We will lay the table, provide all the crockery, cutlery, glassware, and condiments.
If you want us to order it for you, we will do that too. We will even clear it away and wash up
afterwards! All for a cover charge of just £2 per head.
The Garden
You are very welcome to walk in the main garden or sit on the patio. It’s accessible
from the Conservatory – please use that as you wish – or through a gate at the left
of the house. Children may swing in the tyre on the tree if an adult supervises them.
Croquet is often set out during the summer and you are very welcome to play. If it’s not already
out, we’ll happily make it so. The Walled Garden at the side of the house belongs to us, our dog
and cats. We’d ask you to keep it private.
Laundry
We all appreciate the pleasure of fresh clean sheets and fluffy, newly washed towels. However,
we are told by environmentalists that millions of towels and sheets are washed unnecessarily, using
up valuable resources of water, polluting the rivers with detergents and of course energy to wash
and dry them. See the green section of this folder. If you’re staying at Dowfold House for a
week or more we will change your bed linen, and provide you with fresh.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
However, if you wish to have clean sheets earlier, just ask. If you need clean towels at any time,
put the used ones in the bath or shower tray in the morning after use, and fresh ones will appear
before you return in the evening.
If you’re away from home for a long time you may have a bag of personal laundry. For a small
charge (£5 per washing machine load), we can wash and dry it overnight. Or you may prefer to
use the laundry service in Crook, “Freshclean” (01388 762484) who offer a good and reliable
service, but may take a little longer. There is also the launderette “Domestic Bliss” (0191 378
3000) in Langley Moor on the way into Durham, but we have no experience of the service.
If you would like to borrow an ironing board and an iron, just ask. Or for a modest charge (£1 per
item, minimum charge £5) it can be done for you!
Free Plants
Please help yourself to plants and produce that may be on the table outside
the front door on the drive. The garden is very productive and we can’t throw
a plant away! If you need any information about what is on the table, Jill may
be able to help. Please ask. If you feel like donating a small sum in recognition, put some money in
the money box and we will see it reaches either Cancer Research or Epilepsy Action.
Packed Lunch
If you would like a packed lunch this can be made to order, at a charge of £7.50. Please order
them the day before. Packed lunches may vary slightly but usually consist of:
A round of sandwiches, with a choice of brown or white bread, or a roll, crisps, biscuit(s), fruit i.e.
apple or banana ,and a soft drink – typically a can of Coke, bottle of water or fruit drink.
Text Us!
If you can’t find us around the house or garden, if you’d like to keep us informed of your ETA or
let us have your breakfast order or want to reach us for any other reason, please feel free to text
us on 07949 081726.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Dowfold House’s Green Policies
Right from the word go, we have determined to run Dowfold House as efficiently and with as
little harm to the environment as possible. When we bought the house, we didn’t even know that
the Green Tourism Business Scheme existed, but we have been very keen to join it so that
the “green movement” is encouraged from both a domestic and business point of view.
Energy
New for 2015 - a brand new, wood pellet-burning biomass boiler, replacing our reasonably efficient
old oil-fired boiler. We have devoted a whole garage space for the pellet hopper and what was
originally the coal-hole is now the home of the Scandinavian monster! Do ask for a guided tour if
you are interested in such things.
As of July 2011, we are generating our OWN electricity from 16 photo-voltaic panels on our roof,
with a nominal capacity of 3.76 KwH
Almost all our light bulbs are now energy saving ones. We have been totally rewired and try to run
as much domestic machinery during the day when our photo-voltaic panels are soaking up the
sunshine or at night on cheaper rate electricity. Time switches are used.
We switch off as many lights and standbys as possible when not in use.
Our chimneys and flues are swept regularly for maximum efficiency. We have a chimney “balloon” to
keep out draughts when the sitting room fireplace is not in use.
Wood burnt on our open fire in the sitting room (and in our stove in our kitchen/living room) is either
from a local supplier who sources locally or from our own felled trees.
Each radiator has a thermostatic valve – do turn it down! There is also an aluminium foil reflector
between each radiator and the outside wall.
Ceramic damp-proofing was installed in 2010 – dryer walls mean warmer walls.
Hot water cylinders are lagged to the maximum capacity.
Our loft is well insulated – the top layer of insulation is made from recycled bottles.
Small (0.8litre capacity) kettles are provided in guests’ rooms, so only just enough water for two
cups is boiled.
As electrical equipment is replaced, we are making sure that the new goods are A rated for
efficiency.
Recycling
We try to recycle as much as we can. The council takes away glass, paper and cans and now plastic
as well. Guests are invited to recycle rubbish in the porch area between the stables and the side
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
block of the house. Use the Blue Lidded bin for recycling all except glass. Put that in the crate
beside the bin.
We are members of Freegle (where you offer unwanted stuff at no cost) and much of our unwanted
“stuff” goes that way, or to a local charity shop.
We compost all vegetable waste from the kitchen and garden. Tea bags go on the compost heap
and coffee grounds help deter slugs and snails from tender plants.
Much of our printing is done on once used printed A4 sheets.
We buy only recycled paper.
Water
We are gradually fitting more water butts, currently ten, but the capacity for 3 or 4 more is there!
Our WC have dual flush systems.
We encourage guests to drink tap water from a carafe (re-filled each day, with the left-overs
going to the garden) in their rooms rather than environmentally expensive bottled water.
Produce
We buy as much as we can from local suppliers and farms.
Much of our fruit is home grown, in season, and jam is mostly homemade.
Flowers and plants in the house are usually home grown.
Our tea and coffee supplies come from a local merchant or are Fairtrade
brands.
Wild life
We try to encourage the birds to our garden with several feeders around.
There are wilder areas for other creatures to shelter, lots of crevices in the surrounding walls and
we do have a small pond.
We also have a nascent wild-flower - well, we hesitate to call it a meadow – patch in the orchard,
but it's a start, and quite pretty.
There’s a notebook in the dining room with details of various wild happenings. Do add to it if
you see something interesting.
Laundry
We ask guests to keep the same bed linen for their stay. If longer than 7 days, a change will take
place at a suitable interval.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
We have a towel policy of keeping the same ones for a short stay. When new ones are desired,
they are to be put in the bath/shower tray.
Where possible, laundry is dried outside. If wet, on a pulley in the boiler room. A dessicant dehumidifier speeds up the drying – far more energy efficient than a dryer, though one is used in
extreme circumstances!
Most washing is done at low temperatures with “green” washing powder/liquid.
Cleaning Products
We use “green” products. Ecover and Bio.D are our favoured brands and we like ASDA’s
“Eco-friendly” washing powder/liquid & dishwasher tabs. We also use some of a range of
Northumbrian produced cleaning products from Home Scents, based in Hexham ( 30 miles
north of here www.Homescents.co.uk )
The lavatory paper and kitchen roll we buy are made from recycled paper; facial tissues are made
from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved paper.
A good deal of the cleaning around the house is done with diluted Bio.D disinfectant, or dilute
vinegar and water, re-using spray cleaning bottles.
A carpet sweeper, rather than a vacuum cleaner is often used.
Guests are asked to use the liquid soap provided rather than the
miniatures.
A choice of environmentally friendly toiletries is also available. The
Naked range (www.nakedbodycare.co.uk) has no parabens, SLS,
petrochemicals or phthalates and is supplied in recycled plastic bottles, also the Cole & Lewis
range (from our wholesale supplier) which is “free of SLES, parabens and propylene glycol,
made in the UK”.
Transport
We don’t live on a bus route and most of our visitors do arrive by car. However, we always send
out details of public transport with our booking confirmations, bus and other transport timetables
are readily to hand in the house and we do have storage for bicycles. July ’13 – we have a “podpoint” for your electric car, including plug-in hybrids.
Besides the GTBS, we are members of the local Weardale Visitors Network, Visit Britain, the National
Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society, and are listed on the North Pennines Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty publicity/website as “green” accommodation.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Dowfold House – Some History
For those of you interested in history,
Dowfold House dates back to 1860. The
original deed of purchase for the plot of land
on which the house is built can be seen on
request. The deeds show that the land was
bought by Joseph Pease in 1860 and bears
his signature. We do not think that he ever
lived in the house but it was probably used as
the colliery manager’s house and would have
been where the miners came to collect their pay. Joseph Pease was a very important figure in the
history of the north east of England. He was the son of Edward Pease who is known as the
“Father of the Railways”.
Edward Pease, the son of a wool merchant was born in Darlington in
1767. At the age of fourteen, he left school and went to work for his
father. Pease attended markets and rode around the country buying
fleeces from farmers, and selling the finished woven materials to London
merchants.
On reaching the age of fifty, he retired from the family business and
began to concentrate on his idea of starting a public railway. On his
travels buying and selling wool, Pease had come to the conclusion that
there was a great need for a railway with wagons drawn by horses to
carry coal from the collieries of west Durham to the port of Stockton. In 1821 Pease and a group
of businessmen from the area formed the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. On 19th
April an Act of Parliament was passed that authorising the company to build a horse drawn
railway that would link the collieries of west Durham, Darlington and the River Tees at Stockton.
Nicholas Wood, the manager of Killingworth Colliery, and his chief engineer, George
Stephenson, met Pease and suggested that he should build a locomotive railway instead.
Stephenson told Pease that “a horse on an iron road could draw ten tons for every one ton drawn
on a common road” but went on to add that the “Blutcher” locomotive, that he had built at
Killingworth, was “worth fifty horses”.
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
That summer, Pease took up Stephenson’s invitation to visit Killingworth Colliery. When Pease
saw the Blutcher at work realised that Stephenson was right and offered him the post as chief
engineer of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. A further Act of Parliament was needed to
allow the company to “make and erect locomotive or moveable engines.”
In 1833, Edward Pease joined with Michael Longdridge, George Stephenson and his son
Robert to form a company to make locomotives. This company, “The Robert Stephenson and
Company” was based at Forth Street in Newcastle and was the world’s first locomotive builder.
Stephenson recruited Timothy Hackworth, who had helped to build the “Puffing Billy”, to work
for his company.
The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened on 27 th
September 1825. Edward missed the grand opening as his
son Isaac had died the previous night. George Stephenson
took the controls of the engine called “Locomotion” as it pulled
wagons filled with sacks of flour and a specially designed
passenger wagon called the “Experiment”. The train travelled
at 15mph, and for the first time in history passengers travelled
on a public railway.
When Edward Pease retired, he was replaced by his son, Joseph, who
expanded his father’s business. By 1830 he had bought up enough local
collieries to be the largest colliery owner in the Durham Coalfields.
The success of The Stockton to Darlington Railway now meant that coal
from the Durham coalfield could be moved to the coast. Pease and his
partners now raised £35 000 to buy 520 acres of land a little way along the
coast with the intention of developing it as a seaport. This land became what is
now Middlesbrough. In 1830 the Stockton to Darlington Railway opened a link to
Middlesbrough and the success of this venture was guaranteed.
In 1832 Joseph Pease became Britain’s first Quaker Member of Parliament when he was elected
to represent South Durham. As a Quaker he refused to take the Church of England Oath,
but affirmed his loyalty to the King. For religious reasons he also refused to take off his hat whilst
in the House of Commons!
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Joseph Pease campaigned against slavery and wanted to introduce secret ballots. He retired
from Parliament in 1841 but continued to develop his business interests in South Durham. He
became a Minister in The Society of Friends and in 1860, the same year as this house was built,
he was appointed President of the Peace Society. Joseph Pease died in 1872.
A statue of Joseph Pease stands in the centre of
Darlington and his Quaker legacy lives on in the
nickname of Darlington Football club - The
Quakers.
If you are interested in the history of the railways
an interesting place to visit is the Timothy
Hackworth Museum in Bishop Auckland, but do
check opening times before you set off.
Locomotion, in Shildon is also worth a visit, as is
the Head of Steam Museum in Darlington.
Also, you MUST take a ride on our local
Weardale Railway!
If you want to know more about the history of the
house and its times, visit our website:
http://www.dowfoldhouse.co.uk/history.htm
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
Local Taxi Services:
The ones we use most, and the one guests seem to find most reliable, are:
Lincab Taxis of Crook – 01388 763500
Moores Taxis, of Stanley Crook – 01388 763271
Many taxis are commissioned to take children to school. However, if you need an early morning
cab, try:
Paddy’s Taxis - 0191 386 6662 (based in Durham)
The following are all reasonably local if not actually based in Crook:
Aabat – 01388 607607
Bell Cabs – 01388 603791
B L Taxis – 01388 609036
Cables Taxis – 01388 602313
Colins Taxis – 01388 606606
KNJ Taxis – 01388 768944
John’s Taxis – 01388 832071
Dene Taxis - 01388 602020
Bernie’s Taxis – 01388 833685
Wheelz Taxis – 01388 765828
Room Booklet
Welcome to Weardale
If you like it Here - Tell the World!
We really hope you enjoy your stay here, and we would ask you to share your experience with
others if you are so inclined. Below, you will find instructions on how to post reviews to
TripAdvisor, and to find us on FaceBook. If, once you are home, you would like to add your
comments, in order to help other travellers make an informed choice, then please follow the
instructions and pour your heart out! Clearly, we hope you have good things to say, but it’s up to
you. If you are not registered with TripAdvisor, they will ask you to do so as part of the process.
And, you can also access these things from our website, www.dowfoldhouse.co.uk. Thank you.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-d1447367 Or, go to
www.tripadvisor.com, select the link on the upper right of the page called “Write a Review”, then
search for Dowfold House”. Select our entry, and you can add your own deathless prose!
https://www.facebook.com/Dowfold.House.Bed.and.Breakfast Please “Like” us.
And… Don’t be Afraid!
If you have a problem – any problem at
all – PLEASE tell us! We won’t be
offended, and we really would like to
know, so we can put it right (if at all
possible). We’ve had one or two
instances of guests making suggestions,
or pointing out something that doesn’t
work as it should that we may not have
spotted for some time. It’s really helpful
when we are told early.

HERE - Dowfold House Bed and Breakfast

Transcription

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