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Seaham Conservation Area


Seaham is 10 miles north east of the City of Durham and seven miles south of Sunderland. The town sits on the limestone cliffs overlooking the once important commercial port which served the Durham collieries.

Seaham is an industrial town built in the late Georgian, early Victorian period, combining elegant buildings with grid-iron housing arranged around the wide straight railway running eastwards to the harbour. This underlying structure remains relatively intact and the original street, rail and harbour pattern is of unique historical importance. Now recovered from mining activities, it marks the northern end of the Heritage Coast. The special character of Seaham lies in its layout, buildings and features, that clearly reflect its original purpose as a planned port for the export of coal.

The conservation area was originally designated in 1997 and was reviewed and amended in 2007. 

Seaham Conservation Area Appraisal

To ensure County Durham's conservation areas are properly managed, we produced Conservation Area Character Appraisal documents that will help raise awareness of their special character and interest. The Seaham Conservation Area Character Appraisal was produced by the former Easington District Council in 2007 and recommends ways to improve and to manage change as well as providing an interesting history and snapshot of the area.



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