Cotherstone village in County Durham is set on the River Tees, 4 miles from Barnard Castle.

Today a large and pretty village, its history goes back to the Domesday Book and it has remains of a motte-and-bailey castle dating from the 1200s. In more recent times it became a well-known destination for holidaymakers from the growing urban centres nearby, and at one time was known as ‘Little Sunderland’ because of its popularity in that city. Cotherstone has connections with Hannah Hauxwell, who became famous through the television documentary series about her harsh life as a farmer on the Pennines above the village, and through the locally produced Cotherstone cheese.

This fascinating history of the village of Cotherstone in Teesdale will be of interest to all those who have lived in the village or know it well.