Who lives in Neville's Cross
A medieval cross is believed to have stood here, named after the Neville family, owners of the Honour of Brancepeth. It marked the point where pilgrims coming from the west along the old Roman road from Willington and Brancepeth first saw Durham Cathedral. In 1346 the Battle of Neville's Cross was fought nearby, when an English army defeated a Scottish invasion and captured King David II.
Today Neville's Cross is mainly residential, with a newsagent, St John's Church, pubs, two primary schools and Ustinov College, the postgraduate college of Durham University. The ward had 9,940 residents at the 2011 Census. Streets include Quarry House Lane, Neville's Cross Bank, Clay Lane, Crossgate Peth and Byland Close.
At the 2021 Census the Neville's Cross ward had 3,375 households: 33% semi-detached, 32% detached, 26% terraced and 9% flats. 71% were owner-occupied and 41% of households had two or more cars.
Around Quarry House Lane (LSOA County Durham 033D), 48% of homes were semis, 24% terraced and 18% detached. 73% were owner-occupied and 24% privately rented, reflecting the university nearby.
Typical work here:
- Replacing drives on semis and detached houses, often with resin or block paving.
- Careful entrances near the conservation area, keeping walls and gate piers.
- Parking for shared and rented houses, agreed with the landlord.
- Turning space, so cars can leave the A167 forwards.
Conservation and listed buildings
Closer to the city, Neville's Cross runs into the Durham City conservation area. Many listed buildings stand within a short distance, including 14, 15 and 16, 22, 24 and 26 Allergate, 25 and 38–50 Crossgate and 27 North Road, all Grade II. In the conservation area:
- ask Durham County Council's planning team before removing front walls, railings or gates,
- use materials that suit the street, such as setts, clay pavers or a bound gravel,
- remember listed buildings need listed building consent.
Further out, a permeable front drive on a house, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. Impermeable paving over five square metres draining to the road needs planning permission.
The ground
The British Geological Survey maps Neville's Cross on glacial till over the Pennine Middle Coal Measures. Till is a firm, stony clay that drains slowly. The area also slopes, especially down Crossgate Peth and Neville's Cross Bank, so:
- dig to firm clay and lay a membrane and a well-compacted stone sub-base,
- fix edges in concrete so the surface does not creep downhill,
- put a channel drain at the bottom of sloping drives.
The Environment Agency's flood map shows one Flood Zone 3 and one Flood Zone 2 area within 300 metres of Quarry House Lane, on lower ground in the valley. Most homes on the higher ground are clear of them.
Licence and costs
The kerb. Durham County Council licenses every new or extended crossing. The fee is £171, paid once a contractor is arranged and before work starts, and there is no fee if it refuses. Registered contractors are listed in the approval letter. On the A167 trunk road, visibility and traffic speed are key. See our dropped kerbs page.
Costs. For a 30m² drive at Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 30m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | roughly £1,800 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | roughly £2,700 |
| Block paving | about £100 | roughly £3,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | roughly £3,600 |
Slopes, channel drains and conservation-friendly materials can add to the cost. Resin bound over a permeable base is a popular finish on the larger semis and detached houses, and it suits both brick and stone fronts.
Places near Neville's Cross
- Driveways, Framwellgate Moor: North past Aykley Heads, a village on sand and gravel.
- Driveways, Gilesgate: East across the city, with a long historic street.
- Driveways, Shincliffe: South-east across the Wear, a conservation village.
Finishes that suit Neville's Cross homes: resin-bound, block paved driveways, kerb dropping.
Full list of areas: Full list.
Questions people ask in Neville's Cross
Is my house in the Durham City conservation area?
Streets closer to the city, such as Allergate and Crossgate, are. Many semis further out along the A167 are not. Durham County Council can confirm an address.
Can I get a dropped kerb on the A167?
Possibly, but the council looks closely at visibility and traffic on trunk roads. The licence costs £171, with no fee if it is refused.
My drive slopes towards the house. What can I do?
A channel drain across the drive at the lowest point, linked to a soakaway, takes the water away. Relaying with a fall away from the house is the long-term fix.
Is Neville's Cross at risk of flooding?
There is one mapped Flood Zone 2 and one Flood Zone 3 area within 300 metres of Quarry House Lane. Most homes on higher ground are clear.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Neville's Cross ward and LSOA County Durham 033D (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Neville's Cross; Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; Durham County Council: vehicle access over kerbs; GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).