Heritage Open Days, September 2017

Esh village will feature twice in the national Heritage Open Days festival this year, opening both of its historic churches to the public in September 2017:

Old Esh - St Michael’s RC Church

Esh Laude, DH7 9QN    

A Grade II Listed Church. St Michael's is one of the oldest churches in the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Built to resemble a farm steading to blend in with surrounding area the church was constructed in 1798 and features listed stained glass windows. St Michael's was originally the mother church for the Lanchester area and served the growing population of miners and workers moving into the area. Volunteers will be available to talk to visitors about the history of the building and the surrounding area and history leaflets will be available.

No booking required

West side of Esh Village, 1 mile from Ushaw College

Sunday 10 Sept: 13.00-16.00

Additional Information:  This site is not normally open to the public; the event is especially put on for Heritage Open Days 2017; full wheelchair access; on-site disabled parking; on-site accessible toilets; pushchair/pram friendly; hearing loop; assistance dogs welcome; parking; baby changing/breastfeeding area; refreshments; toilets on site. 

Old Esh – village church and inn

Front St, Esh Village, DH7 9QR

The Church of St Michael and All Angels (13th century) was rebuilt in 1770 and improved in 1850 to current appearance by the remarkable Temple Chevallier (Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Durham University) incumbent from 1835 to 1873.

A village trail will point visitors to other areas of interest in the village.

Volunteers will be available to show visitors areas of interest in the church.

Refreshments and toilets are available at the nearby Cross Keys Inn, a historic drovers inn.

1 mile from Ushaw College, opposite the Cross Keys Inn

No booking required

Sunday 10 September: 1300-1600

Keys to be included: event specially put on for hods; refreshments, toilets, public convenience disabled; partial disabled access

Do you need help with transport in the local area? Meet 'Supportive'...

A Public Access Defibrillator for Esh Village

Exciting news! After months of research, campaigning and fundraising, Esh Village Residents' Association can confirm that a public defibrillator will soon be installed in a central and easy-to-access location in the village.

Defibrillators are devices which deliver a high energy electric shock through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest. Public access defibrillators (PADs) are becoming increasingly common sights: in train stations, shopping centres and towns and villages across the country. As emergency services become ever-more stretched, being able to begin a life-saving process whilst they are making their way to the scene is a crucial step in the chain of survival.

Thanks to generous donations from our County Councillors, the kindness of Esh village residents in donating to our door-to-door collection and attending recent fundraisers, and the Parish Council, EVRA has now purchased a top-of-the-range defibrillator. We've been liaising with NEAS (the north east ambulance service) and with the local authorities to ensure that it is safely and appropriately installed and that training is given to as many people as possible in case it needs to be used.