13 Strangest Place Names In County Durham

12. Holywood

Not in any way connected to the Californian equivalent that has one more letter, Holywood stands on the outskirts of picturesque Wolsingham to the west of the county. While it may not be able to boast the same sun drenched backdrop as that on the other side of the Atlantic, its exclusivity is comparable. Formerly just Holywood Hall, the spot was home to a hospital that specialised in looking after Tuberculosis stricken patients up until 1948. Following a review that found that the prevelance of this illness no longer justified the running of a dedicated hospital, Holywood Hall had its operational function changed to that of a hospital looking after people with mental illness. A service it performed until the hospital was closed totally in 1986. Following its closure the main hall was transformed in to 4 separate deluxe dwellings, with a further number of houses built around it. It is not unheard of for some of the properties in this area to sell in excess of over £1million pound. Take a look at some of the current houses on sale to get an idea of the grandeur you can expect.
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