Quaker Heritage

Discover Darlington's prolific Quaker heritage, which shaped the face of the town.

See famous Quaker son George Stephenson's pioneering engine, 'Locomotion No 1', the world's first ever passenger-pulling engine at Darlington's Head of Steam Railway Museum.

The money for the engine was put up by Darlington Quaker industrialist Edward Pease. The Museum re-opened in April 2008 after a £1million plus refurbishment.

View the statue built to commemorate Joseph Pease, the world's first Quaker MP, located at Joseph Pease Place in the heart of Darlington town centre. Joseph, a businessman and philanthropist, supported many Darlington and international causes including the abolition of slavery.

Explore the ancient Friends' (Quaker) Burial Ground on Skinnergate, where most of Darlington's illustrious Quaker families have been laid to rest.

Admire the Venetian palace-like façade of Barclays Bank, originally Backhouse's Bank, built and ran by the Backhouse family, another of Darlington's prominent Quaker families.  The bank was designed by Alfred Waterhouse, a local Quaker architect who also designed Darlignton's splendid Victorian Covered Market and Clock Tower, as well as further afield Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London.

For further information about Darlington's heritage contact:

Darlington Tourist Information 
Dolphin Centre
Horsemarket
Darlington
DL1 5RP
telephone: +44 01325 388666
e-mail: tic@darlington.gov.uk

or download the PDF of 'discover a different Darlington' from the link at the bottom of this page.