Summerhouse, County Durham

Summerhouse is a village in the borough of Darlington and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated a few miles to the north-west of Darlington. Since 2009 it was home of the two Michelin star restaurant The Raby Hunt.

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The Raby Hunt

The Raby Hunt was a two Michelin star restaurant located in Summerhouse, County Durham, United Kingdom. Whilst it was housed in a 200-year-old Grade II listed building, the restaurant itself was opened in 2009 as chef James Close's first. It gained its first star in 2012 and its second in 2016, making it (as of January 2019) the only establishment in North East England to reach that status. As it offered overnight accommodation it was classed as a Restaurant with Rooms, the modern equivalent of an inn. In 2018 it was reported that local residents were objecting to diners and delivery vans blocking the bus stop and side roads and making parking in the area difficult, and complaints were made about owners and staff treating the village "with contempt". Durham Constabulary had been called out repeatedly to the site, but said that on nearly all occasions no parking offences had been committed. They called on the restaurant to defuse the situation. The Raby Hunt was named in Estrella Damm National Awards the restaurant award in June 2023. The Raby Hunt closed permanently at the end of January 2024, with chef-owner James Close moving to the nearby 5-star hotel, Rockliffe Hall, to take up a rôle as its culinary director. The restaurant building has now been put up for sale.

Killerby, County Durham

Killerby is a hamlet in the borough of Darlington and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated a few miles to the west of Darlington. In 2021 the parish had a population of 62. In the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870–72) John Marius Wilson described Killerby: KILLERBY, a township in Heighington parish, Durham; 7 miles NW of Darlington. Acres, 605. Real property, £1, 063. Pop., 109. Houses, 20. This place is a meet for the Raby hounds.

Denton, County Durham

Denton is a village in the borough of Darlington and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. The population of Denton taken at the 2011 Census was less than 100. Details are maintained in the parish of Gainford. It is situated a short distance to the north-west of Darlington between Walworth to the east and Summerhouse to the west. Houghton-Le-Side lies to the north and Piercebridge to the south. The village is home to approximately 18 houses, new and old, all surrounding Denton Hall Farm and contained within the vast Raby Estate. Most of the farm buildings are whitewashed. There are many local legends explaining this. The most common of these is that Lord Barnard was lost in the mist and sought refuge in a farm house. Believing it to be one of his own he demanded his keep, only to discover that it was privately owned. To prevent such a mistake occurring again he ordered that all his buildings should be painted white. Denton Hall Farm is a mixed farm of arable and livestock. Horse racing / training is a large part of village life.

Headlam

Headlam is a hamlet and civil parish in County Durham, England. It lies to the west of Darlington. In 2021 the parish had a population of 41. The hamlet has 14 stone houses plus 17th-century Headlam Hall, now a country house hotel. The village is set around a village green with a medieval cattle-pound and an old stone packhorse bridge across the beck. Headlam is classed as Lower Teesdale and has views to the south as far as Richmond and to the Cleveland Hills in the east. In the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870–72) John Marius Wilson described Headlam: HEADLAM, a township in Gainford parish, Durham: 7½ miles WNW of Darlington. Acres, 780. Real property, £1,216. Pop., 102. Houses, 21.