Path Head Farm and Mill form a complex of buildings within the township of Stella. Until 1844 Stella was one of the six townships which formed the parish of Ryton. The Stella estate, until the end of the 18th century was owned by the Widdrington family, but was acquired by the Towneley family of Lancashire in the last decade of that century. Of the surviving buildings, the mill appears to be slightly later in construction, both from its more formal stonework and its greater survival. However, documentary evidence suggests that the mill pre-dates the main farm buildings. Certainly the layout of the farm buildings suggests a date prior to the mid C19, when the planned development of farms in the North East of England became popular and numerous new buildings were erected and conversions of older farmsteads took place. The documentary investigation of this site is complicated by the existence of a further watermill, close by on the banks of the Blaydon Burn, which is also referred to as Path Head Mill (SMR 3423). There is evidence that the name was in use in the early 18th century. A rental of the late Lady Widdrington's estate in Stella and Winlaton, 1730, contains a reference to Path Head. The existence of the farm and the mill are not substantiated until the first half of the C19. Durham County Record Office contains two plans of "Stella Estate in the County of Durham, belonging to P.E. Townley Esq." (D/X.35/14&15). They are not dated but one has a watermark of 1817 and the other of 1829. Neither plan shows the existing range of farm buildings or the fold yard, but they are shown on another such plan, thought to be post 1836 (D/X.35/16). The mill, the barn (south of the fold yard) and the cottages all appear to be shown on these plans. On these plans and on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of c.1856, the row of cottages extends further to the east than the extant building range. The buildings, with the exception of the later farmhouse, dating from the early years of this century, were in situ by the mid 1850s {1}. Path Head village was once a picturesque thriving little community of thatched cottages. Path Head Farm, now derelict and without its pantiles, would have had an important place in the economy of the area providing horses and other services to the horse drawn wagonways and coal mines in the area. It had its own mill and the building and wheel pit can still be seen though it no longer has its machinery. The later19th century farm house now stands empty. Note the dove cote in the roof of the hemmel {5}. Formerly known as Peth Head. Only a few cottages remain, the derelict buildings of the home farm which once belonged to the Cowen's of Stella Hall (SMR 1694), and the isolated farmhouse known locally as "Gibson's". Path Head up to the beginning of the present century was one of the most delightful and picturesque villages in the North of England, several of the cottages were very old and had thatched roofs. The village had for centuries been connected with the Nunnery at Stella Hall. Tradition states that there has been a village here since Saxon times, and that a peth or path led through the forest in olden times to Hexham. The small burn on the west side of the village once drove the wheel for the nearby flour mill {6}. Local List entry - This mill was originally part of the Home Farm for the Stella Hall Estate. It probably provided corn grinding and threshing facilities powered by a water wheel (firstly undershot, but later breastshot) supplied by a nearby stream. The building has been heavily restored in recent years by the Vale Mill Trust. The earliest part of the building is early 19th century, and constructed in mainly small pieces of uncoursed rubble which may have been the cheapest available at the time. The walling stone is local but lintels, cills and quoins are better quality pieces from further afield. The construction is quite accomplished, and the mortar joints tight. The later 19th century portion to the north was used as a granary and is constructed in minute pieces of stone, which may have been waste from nearby coal workings. Originally it was only 1½ stories high with a much shallower pitch to the roof than the earlier portion, which had the steep pitch characteristic of buildings originally roofed in heather thatch. The roof pitches have now been homogenised, and covered in pantiles with water tabling and stone slates to the eaves – a roofing material probably introduced in the later 19th century and a feature local to the area. It is unclear what the original window design was, but the internally splayed slit vents are original. Overall, it has historic value in its connection to the Stella Hall Estate, some architectural value as a relatively early vernacular agricultural building, and amenity value as an attraction contributing to the Path Head Conservation Area.

Farmhouse. late C17 and mid C18. Rubble and brick. Slate roofs. 3 white brick gable stacks. Double range plan. South-East front, 2 storey, 4 bays, red brick with a brick band. Off-centre doorway, withC2O half-glazed double door and over light, with a single glazing bar sash to right and 2 similar sashes to the left. Above a blank opening over the doorway with a single glazing bar sash to the right and 2 similar sashes to the left. All the openings have segment brick heads. Rubble and brick lean-to to the North-East with stone slate roof. Rear elevation mostly rubble stone, 3 bays with a plank door to the left and 2 plain sashes to the right. Above 3 plain sashes. Interior windows to South-East elevation have C18 shutters, those to the rear elevation have C17 shutters. Staircase largely C20, though incorporating part of former splat - baluster stair, now boxed-in. Some C17 and C18 panel doors survive.

The main steading is at present (1990) surrounded with recent temporary buildings and these hide what is in fact a fine late Georgian twin fold yard system with rather fine stone arches which are typical in style of work done for the Beamish Estate 1820/1830. The north wall of the barn has the distinctive drive shaft hole from a gingang and associated thresher and this would certainly be an interesting feature to restore to give added history to the steading {1}. This building complex has been a small farmstead and is now used as stabling for horses. The basic plan-form is a long barn with two projecting wings forming a single courtyard. The main barn is attached to two dwelling houses, to the east of the range. The main barn is of 11/2 storeys, on an east-west axis, built of random stone work with a corrugated asbestos-cement roof containing corrugated perspex lights. The projecting wings are single storey, slate roofed buildings with originally a row of four arched entrances facing into the courtyard on both wings. A relatively modern brick lean-to extension has been added to the west elevation of the west wing and a number of timber built sheds/stabling areas have been constructed within the courtyard. Site evidence suggests the following pattern of development: The earliest buildings are the westernmost of the two houses and the eastern end of the main barn. A large stone wall within the existing barn appears to have been an earlier external wall. The house was probably the same height as the barn. This arrangement was altered at some point in the early-mid nineteenth century when the barn was extended westwards and then by the addition of the wings to form a south-facing courtyard and by the addition of a gingang to the north elevation of the barn. The extension of the barn must have been linked with the introduction of threshing machinery and the associated horse wheel within the gingang. The wings and courtyard may have been added at the same time, or possibly later. The modernisation brought with it a more elaborate architectural style. The openings within the wings have lightly decorated lintels and sills. The window and door openings on the main barn were, in part, altered to match the designs on the side buildings. The earlier house may also have been heightened at this time. The second house - to the east, was probably added later and the details copied from those on the farm buildings. This was probably built as the main farm dwelling, leaving the older house for an employee on what had become a larger farmstead. Later 20th century alterations included the creation of a large double entrance, with concrete lintel above, in the north elevation of the barn. This must have been undertaken following the removal of the gingang. No trace of the gingang is evident but the blocked drive-hole for the machinery is distinguishable on the elevation. The roof of the main barn was heightened by approximately 1 ft - probably following a fire. The walls of the barn were heightened internally with crude brickwork and a roof of asbestos-cement panels added. The roof timbers of the barn are, therefore, modern with the exception of those in the eastern part of the building where some charred earlier timbers survive. Within the wings, the interior floor level of the east wing has been heightened at some time, lowering the height of the arched arcade of openings. Further entrances in the east wall of the wing have been blocked. The west wing has lost one of its arched entrances {2}.

Ravensworth Grange seems to have followed a typical 19th century development plan. By the time of the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, the buildings form an elongated "U" shape with a south facing courtyard and a gingang attached to the north elevation of the central threshing barn. The present plan suggests that some alterations were made creating the also typical "E" shape with two courtyards, and that the gingang has disappeared {1}.

"Bog House" is shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, but is now lost {1} and {2}.

Shown as "Peartree House" on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map {1}.

To the north of the B6315 is the threshing barn, gingang and attached barns. The gingang has a fine roof structure and pleasing pantiled roof. The building to the west, occupied by Graham and Newton is of interest. To the south of the B6315, some of the buildings are of considerable interest, particularly the terrace which includes the early farmhouse. There are two 19th century barns and a pleasant enclosed paddock area {1}.

The farm developed in various stages. Many farms were built or rebuilt in the early and mid 19th century to take advantage of improved technology and developing thinking on agricultural processes. Some farms were, however, simply adapted in order to bring them more up-to-date. This appears to be the case at Long Acre Farm. Of the earliest buildings, the earliest would appear to be the detached barn parallel to the cottages, and the south-east facing barn with its stone staircase and upper mullioned windows. The barn projecting north-west from the rear of this latter barn is probably also from the same period of development. The stone mullioned windows, of which one survives in tact, suggests an early, perhaps 18th century origin, but the use of this type of feature continued into the 19th century and so this is not conclusive evidence of a significantly early date of building. That the horse-powered threshing barn was clearly added on to this barn suggests that the barn dates from the working of this farm before the introduction of this technology (the mechanical threshing machine was invented in the 1780s and became common in the North-East in about the 1820s). That the detached barn is of a similar earlier phase is suggested by its location within the farm site and by the steep roof pitch and the detail of the water tabling, although once again, neither feature is conclusive of a significantly early building date. The buildings of the farmstead would appear to date then, from two periods of development. The survival of the buildings from the earlier phase is of interest but several caveats have to be made: the buildings have been altered during their various uses; the arched arcading fronting the presumed earlier barn suggests either a radical alteration to the building has taken place or that it is later in construction than earlier suggested; the gingang has been lost {1}.

Consett Iron Co. once owned the farm. Part of the land is now a golf course. Farmstead comprises 8 buildings. The first began as a 2 storey rubble stone building with decorative ceramic ridge and slate roof. This is now the farmhouse. The north wall has an inserted wide wooden door with inscription over "North Farm 1977". Against the wall is a lean-to with brick end wall and 3 cast iron pillars carrying a wooden lintel. This building was originally a byre or stable with hay store over. There is a 2 arched cartshed to the north of the present farmhouse, opening on to the yard. The brick arches later filled in. Single storey stone building, later extended in brick. Adjoining the south side of the farmhouse is a rubble stone building with an asbestos roof. It has a dovecot in the south gable. Now used as a stable, probably once a byre. Adjoining this is a stone-walled building with asbestos roof. More byre/stable accommodation? The brick east end is an extension. To the south is a double pigsty. Stone with corrugated iron roof. The Bute Arms Public House was originally the farmhouse. 2 storey, double pile, four bays. Now rendered and painted pale blue. There is a separate range across the lane. Single storey north end, 2 storey cottage in the centre and a single storey farm building to the south. Slate roofs, the south end with crested ceramic ridge. Cottage now restored. The last building is a low stone building with cast iron columns on west side {1}.

The pumping station was built in 1912 to pump sewage from nearby colliery houses. Although the building is unprepossessing, the pumping gear is of considerable interest. The equipment was designed and manufactured by Siemens and installed by Hughes and Lancaster. It is in full working order and continues to pump affluent as and when required. The electrically operated compressors and switchgear are as originally installed - even the lampshades are unaltered! {1}. Sewage enters reservoir by gravity, up to trip level. This starts compressors till compressed air reservoir is up to pressure. This releases valve and sewage is ejected from reservoir into next section of pipe. Very good examples - should be preserved but will operate for a good while yet {2}.