Who lives in Shincliffe
The name Shincliffe first appears around 1085 as Scinneclif, meaning "the cliff of the spectre" or haunted cliff. A medieval bridge crosses the Wear here, and excavations in 2005 suggested there may also have been a Roman crossing. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the Prior of Durham Cathedral. It grew with coal mining at Houghall, Old Durham and Shincliffe Colliery, now High Shincliffe, and shrank again when the pits closed in the late 19th century. Durham's first railway station opened at Shincliffe in 1839. The parish had 1,796 residents at the 2011 Census.
The village street, the High Street, has the Church of St Mary the Virgin, the Seven Stars inn and the Wesley Methodist chapel. Lanes such as Hall Lane, Houghall Lane and Sandy Cut lead off it.
The census area around the village (LSOA County Durham 041D) shows a well-off, car-owning place: 47% detached, 26% semi-detached and 25% terraced. 83% were owner-occupied and 48% of households had two or more cars or vans, while only 9% had none.
Typical Shincliffe work:
- Gravel drives with setts or stone edging for older houses.
- Resin or block paving on newer detached homes in High Shincliffe.
- Rebuilding entrances, with walls and gate piers kept or restored.
- Parking for terraced cottages, where space allows.
The conservation area and listed buildings
The village has been designated a conservation area to protect its historic character, and the Durham City conservation area lies just to the north. Listed buildings nearby include 7 and 9 High Street, Corner House, the Church of St Mary, a boundary stone and a K6 telephone kiosk outside 2 Prospect Terrace.
In the conservation area:
- talk to Durham County Council's planning team before removing or lowering walls, hedges or gate piers,
- choose materials that suit stone cottages: gravel, setts and natural stone are usually better than concrete blocks,
- remember that listed buildings need listed building consent for works affecting them.
Elsewhere, 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 Wear and the ground
The British Geological Survey maps the village on river terrace deposits of gravel, sand and silt laid down by the Wear, over Coal Measures sandstone. Gravel and sand drain well, but the silty layers can be soft, so a trial dig helps decide the depth of the sub-base.
The river is the main issue. The Environment Agency's flood map shows 14 Flood Zone 3 and 12 Flood Zone 2 areas within 300 metres of the village centre. Homes on low ground near the Wear should:
- check their address on the flood map,
- choose a permeable surface or drain to a soakaway on their own land,
- avoid raising levels, which can divert floodwater.
Licence and costs
The kerb. Durham County Council requires a licence for every new or extended vehicle crossing. It costs £171, paid once a contractor is arranged and before work begins, with no fee if refused. The approval letter lists registered contractors. On the A177 through the village, visibility is part of the decision. More on our dropped kerbs page.
Costs. For a 40m² drive at Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 40m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | roughly £2,400 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | roughly £3,600 |
| Block paving | about £100 | roughly £4,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | roughly £4,800 |
Natural stone setts, rebuilt walls and piers, and extra drainage near the river add to the cost. Gravel with a setts apron is a popular village look. On newer detached houses in High Shincliffe, resin bound or block paving is more common.
Places near Shincliffe
- Driveways, Bowburn: South-east along the A177, a former colliery village.
- Driveways, Belmont: North-east, a suburb of semis and detached homes.
- Driveways, Gilesgate: North across the Wear, an inner suburb of Durham.
Finishes that suit a conservation village: gravel, resin-bound, block paved driveways.
Full list of areas: Full list.
Questions people ask in Shincliffe
Is Shincliffe a conservation area?
Yes. The historic village is a conservation area. Ask Durham County Council's planning team before removing walls, hedges or gate piers.
Is Shincliffe at risk of flooding from the Wear?
Some land within 300 metres of the village centre is in mapped Flood Zones 2 and 3. Check your address on the Environment Agency's flood map and keep the drive permeable.
What surface suits a stone cottage in Shincliffe?
Gravel in a grid with a setts or stone apron usually suits the village best. It is permeable, so it also helps with drainage.
How do I get a dropped kerb in Shincliffe?
Apply to Durham County Council for a licence, which costs £171 once a contractor is arranged. There is no fee if it is refused.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Elvet and Gilesgate ward and LSOA County Durham 041D (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Shincliffe; 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).