Commemorative plaques unveiled on S&DR200 legacy route
29th September 2025
Two plaques commemorating the ‘Father of the Railways’, George Stephenson, and the starting point of the world’s first passenger journey on the Stockton and Darlington Railway have been unveiled.
The Engineering Heritage Award plaque and World Origin Site plaque have both been installed at a new public space at the former Masons Arms in Shildon. This is where passengers boarded the waggons pulled by Locomotion No. 1 ahead of its momentous journey to Stockton on 27 September 1825.
Durham County Council has created a public space at the site as part of the development of the Stockton and Darlington Active Travel Route – a walking and cycling route following a 12-mile stretch of the original railway line through County Durham. The route starts at Phoenix Row near Bishop Auckland and ends at the county border, just south of Newton Aycliffe, with the council carrying out footpath improvements and installing new interpretation boards along the way.
Funded through the council’s successful Levelling Up bid, the route will form part of the legacy of S&DR200 – an international festival celebrating the 200th anniversary of the world’s first passenger locomotive journey.
The public space at the Masons Arms is a key location on the route. It features planting, improved seating, public artworks, new block paving and an Engineering Heritage Award plaque. This was presented by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to celebrate the achievements of George Stephenson. Stephenson was the first president of the institution who not only built Locomotion No. 1 with his son Robert, but drove the locomotive on its historic journey.
A World Origin Site plaque, commemorating the location as the birthplace of the modern railway, has also been installed.
The plaques were unveiled at a special ceremony attended by Cllr Robbie Rodiss, Chairman of Durham County Council, members of the local authority’s Cabinet and construction, transport and heritage teams and representatives from the IMechE, Shildon Town Council, Historic England and other partners.
Cllr Rodiss said: “When Locomotion No. 1 and its passengers departed from the Masons Arms 200 years ago, it embarked on a journey that revolutionised the world.
“We are incredibly proud of our role in the development of the modern railway here in County Durham. The new public space at the Masons Arms, and the Active Travel Route, will allow residents and visitors to connect with this heritage for years to come. Whether walking, wheeling or cycling, we can all follow the same journey made by Locomotion No.1, and its passengers 200 years ago. We can learn more about the extensive archaeological remains and fascinating structures that can be found along the route and we can experience all the benefits of being active in the fresh air.
“The Mason’s Arms is an important point on the route, and we’re delighted to have created a place that recognises its historical significance and pays tribute to George Stephenson. We hope his story will inspire young people to pursue a career in engineering and continue the spirit of ingenuity our county and region are built upon.”
Matt Garside, President of The IMechE, said:“As I present the Stockton and Darlington Railway with this Engineering Heritage Award to recognise the extraordinary engineering achievement it represented, it has been a privilege to see a working replica of Locomotion Np. 1 set out on the route that our first President, George Stephenson, pioneered 200 years ago. This bicentenary celebrates the North East’s engineering heritage and hopefully it will inspire the next generation to carry that spirit of innovation forward.”
Martin Wilkie, director of World Origin Site, said: “Worldoriginsite.org has been created to help mark and celebrate where inventions, discoveries and world firsts occurred and the people behind them.
“The Masons Arm’s site represents one of the most significant moments in the development of the modern world. Here 200 years ago the world’s first passenger railway journey took place and the rest is history. It changed transport, commerce, politics, industry and warfare, and was probably the most influential development for the world until the invention of the aeroplane.
“A World Origin Site accreditation and our plaques aim to ensure that the global importance of sites like these is not forgotten.”
The Masons Arms lent its name to The Masons Crossing, which existed until the 1980s. In the absence of a purpose-built railway station, tickets to use the line could be bought at the newly constructed public house. A waiting room was then built on the opposite side of the railway, and the first railway clock was placed on the wall of a house near the end of Redworth Road. This became the new station, which opened in 1833, and for passengers became the start of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
In addition to the works at the Masons Arms, Durham County Council has completed 95 per cent of the footpath works needed for the route across County Durham. This includes sections in the Newton Aycliffe, Shildon, St Helen Auckland, Etherley and Brusselton areas.
A cycle hub with capacity to safely store 30 bicycles has been built within the grounds of Locomotion Museum and wayfinding signs and interpretative panels have been installed along the route. Each panel has been tailored to its location, sharing key stories, events, and innovations relevant to that spot. Both the interpretation panels and wayfinding signs also include QR codes that link to digital content, allowing users to explore more about the railway's legacy and understand exactly where they are along the route.
Work still to come includes the completion of a new bridge over the River Gaunless. The bridge, which is expected to open next spring, is at the same location as the original bridge, which was designed by George Stephenson and installed 200 years ago.
For more information about the project, visit www.durham.gov.uk/SDRActiveTravelRoute
S&DR200 is a nine-month festival being delivered by Durham County Council, Darlington Borough Council and Stockton Borough Council as part of the Railway 200 campaign. Additional funders include the North East Combined Authority, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Arts Council England, the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England and Railway Heritage Trust. Sponsors include Amazon UK, Hitachi, LNER, Caswells Group and Hampton Hilton. To find out more, visit www.sdr200.co.uk.
