The trains brought visitors from the North-East’s great cities. So many of them that Cotherstone became known as 'Little Sunderland', such was its popularity with Wearsiders. READ MORE: EATING OUT REVIEW OF COTHERSTONE'S RESCUED CHAPEL In 1903, the Sunderland Echo described it as “the Rhine in miniature” and said there was easily enough to do to fill a month’s summer holiday.
In those days, Cotherstone was full of rented apartments, lodging houses, tearooms, pubs and at least 12 shops catering for the tourist trade. The visitors would wander over the two footbridges across the rivers to inspect the Fairy Cupboards, a unique rock formation beneath Percy Myre Crag. Victorian visitors inspect the Fairy Cupboards at Cotherstone They would also climb up to Cotherstone Castle, now just a pile of stones in a field, but a motte-and-bailey from the 11th Century and then a stone stronghold from the early 13th Century, all to keep Teesdale safe from the marauding Scots.
It was owned by the Fitz Hugh family, who had long-standing enmity with the Curr family of Roxburgh, near Kelso, in the Scottish borders. They regularly waged war on one another, and on one raid, the Teesdalers captured the beautiful daughter of a Scottish nobleman and brought her home to the castle. The two Fitz Hugh sons fell in love with her, and even fought a duel over which one should marry her.
Henry won, but just as he was preparing his nuptials the Currs turned up in great numbers. Their anger went deeper.