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£260,000

Johnnies Barn, Wearhead, Weardale, DL13

Land size
1.24 acres

Key Features

  • Development opportunity: Grade II listed former farmhouse
  • Planning permission granted for conversion to 2 storey home
  • Dating back to late 1600s/early 1700s
  • Approx. 1.24 acre plot
  • Stunning Pennines views
  • Near Burnhope Reservoir
  • Roof restored with new timbers and stone slates, with first floor partly installed
  • Direct access from highway
  • One of two development opportunities available with possibility to purchase both sites

Description

A rare opportunity to create a truly exceptional countryside home, this historic Grade II listed former farmhouse occupies a spectacular position at the head of Weardale, close to Burnhope Reservoir, within the breathtaking North Pennines National Landscape. Believed to date from the late 1600s or early 1700s, the property is rich in character and heritage, offering the chance to sympathetically restore and transform a historic building into a stunning rural residence.
Set within approximately 1.24 acres, the property enjoys beautiful open views across the surrounding countryside while benefiting from a private access directly from the main road, providing an ideal balance of seclusion and accessibility. A small beck meanders through the land, further enhancing the peaceful setting and natural charm.

Significant restoration work has already been undertaken, including the installation of new roof timbers and a traditional stone-tiled roof approximately 15 years ago. A first floor has also been constructed across part of the building, providing an excellent foundation for the next stage of the project.
Planning permission has been granted for conversion into a two-storey residential dwelling, offering purchasers the opportunity to complete an impressive family home in this stunning rural location. Full details of the approved planning consent can be viewed on the Durham County Council Planning Portal under reference 3/2010/0032.

Services are partially available, with pipework for a mains water supply already in situ and a connection available, although this has not yet been completed by the water authority and therefore remains unproven. Electricity is available on the plot but is not currently connected to the building.

For those seeking an even greater development opportunity, a second nearby barn is also available by separate negotiation, with the option to purchase both properties together.

Although public footpaths cross parts of the land, they are rarely used, allowing the property to retain its peaceful and private atmosphere.

Offering a unique combination of historic character, outstanding scenery and exciting development potential, this is an exceptional opportunity to create a bespoke home in one of County Durham's most picturesque rural settings. Early viewing is highly recommended to fully appreciate the location, character and possibilities this remarkable property has to offer.

Disclaimer:
These particulars are intended to give a fair description of the property but do not constitute part of an offer or contract. All descriptions, dimensions, references to condition and necessary permissions for use and occupation, and other details are given in good faith and are believed to be correct, but any intending purchasers should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact and must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to their accuracy. No person in the employment of the seller or agent has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty in relation to this property. We are obliged to conduct an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) check on all buyers, this is a legal requirement, it’s an online process and doesn’t affect your credit score. We charge a fee for the AML check, which our Onboarding and Compliance Team will collect once a buyer has had an offer accepted on a property.

Map Location

Property details

Tenure
Freehold
Council Tax Band
TBC
Date Posted
2026-07-30

Market Value Analysis

Compared with 43 Development Land listings in North East England (1+ acres).

This Property£209,677 / acre
Development Land Average (1+ acres) £226,019 / acre
View full market data

Utilities & Restrictions

Utilities

Electricity
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Water
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Heating
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Broadband
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Sewerage
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Rights & Restrictions

Public Rights of Way
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Private Rights of Way
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Listed Property
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Restrictions
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Listed status, conservation areas and planning constraints for this location are in the full report.

Property Features

Accessibility
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Parking
Off-Street Parking
Garden
Private Garden

Beyond the particulars: planning activity, flood history, heritage and ground risks, checked for this exact spot.

Connectivity

Broadband

Fastest speed available at this postcode

1.8 Gbps

Gigabit full fibre · available to 57% of premises

Suitable for

  • 4K streaming on every screen
  • Full-time home working
  • Online gaming & big downloads

Mobile signal

OutdoorsIndoorsEE Good LimitedO2 Good GoodThree Good LimitedVodafone Good Limited

Predicted 4G and 5G signal; indoor signal depends on building materials.

Ofcom Connected Nations postcode-level predictions. Speeds and signal are modelled, not measured, and vary between addresses and providers.

Signal is the easy part. Planning activity, flood history and protected designations here are in the full report.

Nearest Schools

Primary

  • Wearhead Primary School0.7 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    2 to 11
    Pupils
    11
    Type
    Community school
  • St John's Chapel Primary School2.5 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    2 to 11
    Pupils
    24
    Type
    Community school
  • Nenthead Primary School5.1 milesOfsted: Good
    Ages
    4 to 11
    Pupils
    17
    Type
    Community school
  • Stanhope Barrington CofE Primary School9.1 milesOfsted: Good *
    Ages
    2 to 11
    Pupils
    123
    Type
    Academy converter
    Faith
    Church of England
  • Alston Primary School9.1 milesOfsted: Good *
    Ages
    4 to 11
    Pupils
    88
    Type
    Community school

Secondary

  • Samuel King's School9.1 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    11 to 16
    Pupils
    113
    Type
    Foundation school
  • Wolsingham School14 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    11 to 16
    Pupils
    774
    Type
    Academy converter
  • Appleby Grammar School15 milesOfsted report card · May 2026
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    357
    Type
    Academy converter
  • Haydon Bridge High School16 milesOfsted report card · Jan 2026
    Ages
    11 to 18
    Pupils
    392
    Type
    Foundation school
  • St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham16 milesNo Ofsted rating
    Ages
    9 to 13
    Pupils
    168
    Type
    Academy converter
    Faith
    Roman Catholic

* Latest graded judgement covers quality of education only; no overall grade was issued under the 2024-25 inspection framework.

Distances are straight-line from the advertised location. Source: the national school registers (DfE, Welsh Government, Scottish Government) and Ofsted.

Schools are just the start: sold prices nearby, planning activity and any flood history are in the full report.

Amenities

Supermarket

Co-op St Johns Chapel, St Johns Chapel2.5 miles
Co-op Alston, Alston, Cumbria9.1 miles
Spar - Alston, Alston, Cumbria9.2 miles

GP surgery

Alston Medical Practice9.1 miles

Pharmacy

Alston Pharmacy9.1 miles

Hospital

Weardale Hospital8.9 miles

Straight-line distances from the advertised location. Sources: NHS records, Geolytix supermarket locations, OS Open Greenspace and the national trails registers.

The area stacks up? Now check the location itself: planning nearby, protected designations and past flooding.

Getting Around

Nearest station

Alston Rail Station9.3 miles

Nearest bus stop

Post Office0.7 miles

Typical drive times

Alston17 min · 11 miles
Tow Law33 min · 20 miles
Stanhope17 min · 11 miles
Wolsingham27 min · 17 miles
Durham (city)50 min · 35 miles

Straight-line distances from the advertised location; drive times are typical free-flow times over OpenStreetMap road data, so allow more at peak. Public transport locations from DfT NaPTAN.

Easy to reach matters. So do planning activity, flood history and ground risks: all in the full report.

Flood Risk

Environment Agency open data, checked around the advertised map pin for the listed acreage. Long-term risk counts flood defences; the planning map's flood zones do not. Provided by LandSale, not the listing agent, and not part of the agent's particulars. Risk varies across a holding, so verify before committing.

Rivers and the sea

Very low risk

Planning map: Flood Zone 1.

Surface water

High risk (1 in 30)

Not at the pin: mapped about 40 metres away.

These bandings are the summary. Where this location sits on the flood maps, plus planning activity, heritage and ground risks, is in the full report.

Important notice: Information, maps and tags on this page are drawn from the advertising agent's marketing materials or generated automatically. LandSale has not verified them. Relying on these details is at your own risk, always carry out independent checks before committing to a purchase.

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