Weardale Museum & High House Chapel

Weardale Museum is located in the heart of Weardale. We are a small, volunteer run museum dedicated to preserving the history & heritage of Weardale and its people.

High House Chapel was in continuous use for over 250 years, making it one of the longest serving Methodist chapels. The chapel is now owned by the Trustees of Weardale Museum who aim to preserve this unique piece of history.

Family History Service & Genealogy Research

Weardale Museum is also the home of the Weardale Genealogy service. They maintain the family history for over 70,000 people and families linked with Weardale and the surrounding areas.

The Methodist Tapestries present the history of Methodism via the medium of needlework. Many panels are underway but there is still time for more stitchers to participate. The finished panels will be displayed in the proposed Weardale Museum & Heritage Centre.

Who We Are

We are a small independent folk museum run entirely by volunteers to the high standards set by the Arts Council for England.

What We Do

We provide a sense of place for those who live and visit Weardale by telling the stories of its history and heritage. Attached is High House Chapel, the oldest Methodist Chapel in continuous use. We also specialise in providing family history research for people who have ancestors from Weardale.

Upcoming Birthday Events

As the Weardale Museum celebrates its 40th birthday, a series of special events are being held in commemoration. This series of events, visiting every corner of Weardale, emphasises the Museum’s community focus. In this spirit, the Museum wishes to thank all its local supporters, many of whom have contributed generously to the birthday celebrations.

40 years of the Weardale Museum: A conversation with David Heatherington

Talk
May 3rd, 2025
£5.00 Entry
Stanhope Village Hall

Archaeological and Historical Research in Weardale: Back To Our Roots

Talk
May 9th, 2025
£5.00 Entry
Rookhope Village Hall

The Creation of a Weardale Heritage Centre

Talk
May 10th, 2025
£5.00 Entry
Ireshopeburn Institute

Quilting: A Cover Story

Talk
May 14th, 2025
£5.00 Entry
Eastgate Village Hall

Weardale Museum Celebrates it's 40th Birthday

The 18th of May 2025 marks 40 years since the Museum opened its doors for the first time in 1985, and four decades of preserving and promoting Weardale history and heritage...

2nd May 2025

Grant Award Received: Chapel & Museum Restoration

In May the Weardale Museum will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary and what better way to commence celebrations than to announce we have been awarded two substantial grants...

20th February 2025

Methodist Tapestries Project - People Called Methodists

Methodist Tapestries Talk: The People Called Methodists

David Heatherington talks to the friends and supporters of the Englesea Brook Chapel & Museum about how The Methodist Tapestries Collection came about...

18th February 2025

What our visitors say about us

"Our family visited the museum whilst on holiday in Weardale, we found it fascinating! The volunteers demonstrated a fantastic level of knowledge and couldn't be more helpful. We will certainly be revisiting next time we're passing through."

Gray Family

Swansea

"My wife and I discovered the place entirely by accident and were so glad we did! We spent 2 hours looking around the exhibits and talking with museum staff. The neighbouring chapel is also worth a visit."

D & G Scott

Durham

"Weardale Museum is a fantastic place, one of those hidden, rare gems that you must visit to truly appreciate. The immensely knowledgable staff really brought the story behind each exhibit to life. It is well worth a visit"

A Smith

Sunderland

Welcome to Weardale Museum

High House Chapel

Methodist Tapestries Collection

Family History Service

Celebrating 40 Years

Weardale Museum