THE North-East has a rich history, with developments and economic shifts changing the way the region looks over the years.

Badly-connected villages became abandoned as people moved into large towns and cities while the closure of heavy industry disrupted communities across County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Teesside and North Yorkshire. 

Some of these spots have been lost in time while others have been rediscovered by keen photographers and urban explorers, offering a snapshot into the past.

Take a look.

Brasside, Durham

According to reports, there are 24 concrete bunkers and some bungalows at this site. 

The OS map used to locate the site also revealed a connecting railway line which was removed as it would have been on part of the HMP Frankland Prison site.

Other reports claim the site was part of a WWII Ministry of Supply Ammunition Depot.

The Northern Echo: Brasside, Durham. Picture: Ami Photography Brasside, Durham. Picture: Ami Photography

The Northern Echo: Brasside, Durham. Picture: Ami Photography Brasside, Durham. Picture: Ami Photography

An old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington

Locals may know this one well but for many in the region, this derelict farmhouse in Great Burdon, Darlington, will come as a surprise. 

There are a lot of old farmhouses in the North-East and North Yorkshire, all varying in scale and accessibility, not least a derelict Grade II listed farm near to Great Burdon.

This large farmstead has an array of outbuildings, many of which were once nicely built and still contain stalls, byres and pulleys, with its demise long being a mystery to residents. 

The Northern Echo: An old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington. Picture: Adam Elliott BreenAn old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington. Picture: Adam Elliott Breen

The Northern Echo: An old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington. Picture: Adam Elliott BreenAn old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington. Picture: Adam Elliott Breen

The Northern Echo: An old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington. Picture: Adam Elliott BreenAn old farm, Great Burdon, near Darlington. Picture: Adam Elliott Breen

Langthwaite, North Yorkshire

Four vintage petrol pumps once championed for their aesthetic have been preserved in Langthwaite.

The 1930s roadside pumps were made by Wayne Fuelling Systems, which was first known as Wayne Oil Tank Company, a company which was one of two that claimed to have installed the first electric petrol pump in the UK.

The Northern Echo: Langthwaite, North Yorkshire. Picture: Campbell Sheppard Langthwaite, North Yorkshire. Picture: Campbell Sheppard

The Northern Echo: Langthwaite, North Yorkshire. Picture: Campbell Sheppard Langthwaite, North Yorkshire. Picture: Campbell Sheppard

St Peter's, County Durham

Saint Peters, Gainford, was an orphanage that housed 300 boys, functioning as such for almost 40 years before becoming a school and then a nursing home. It has stood empty for years, attracting vandalism, with part of the site being demolished following a suspicious fire in 2016.

Planners have, multiple times, approved the site for planning permission but the developments never materialised.

The Northern Echo: St Peter's, Gainford. Picture: Will BartleSt Peter's, Gainford. Picture: Will Bartle

The Northern Echo: St Peter's, Gainford. Picture: Jake LawsonSt Peter's, Gainford. Picture: Jake Lawson

Grove Rake Mine, Weardale 

Grove Rake Mine has long been explored by dog walkers and adventures alike, with everyone including stargazers making a trip to the remote site which has today been reclaimed by nature.

It has changed a lot over the years, with older photos available online showing a lockerroom, manager's office and access to the shaft. Today, little remains but a handful of brick structures and the headgear. 

The Northern Echo: Grove Rake Mine. Picture: Bryan WalkerGrove Rake Mine. Picture: Bryan Walker

The Northern Echo: Grove Rake Mine. Picture: Bryan WalkerGrove Rake Mine. Picture: Bryan Walker

Somewhere along the North-East coast 

Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to this one, which is somewhere along the North-East coast.

The Northern Echo: Along the North-East coast. Picture: Helen GrahamAlong the North-East coast. Picture: Helen Graham

  • The Northern Echo does not encourage anyone to go to these sites. Please also remember national coronavirus restrictions are in place.