Eight letters, two syllables, a place name you might clock on a road sign as you head out of Barnard Castle towards the Tees.

But is the ‘H’ silent or not?

(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

How do you pronounce it?

Whorlton – the small County Durham village sitting on the north bank of the River Tees, three miles east of Barnard Castle – is pronounced WORL-ton.

The ‘Wh’ is said like a ‘W’, and the ‘h’ in the middle is entirely silent.

Think “wall” followed by “ton”.

WORL-ton.

Simple once you know.

Why does it sound like that?

The answer lies in the name’s age.

Whorlton first appears in written records around 1050, recorded as Queorningtun – an Old English name that most likely means “farmstead by the mill stream”, derived from cweorn, the Old English word for a millstone or mill.

Over a thousand years, spelling and sound drifted apart in the way they so often do with the oldest place names in England, and the written form hardened into something that bears little relation to how locals have always said it.

Other areas

It is a pattern you will recognise across County Durham and the wider North East.

Wolsingham is wol-zing-um, not Wols-ing-ham.

Witton Gilbert is Witton Jill-bert.

Durham itself, to the bafflement of almost every visitor who arrives by train, is Dur-um – not Dur-ham.

The North East has a long tradition of place names that look one way and sound entirely another.

The village itself

Whorlton is the kind of place that rewards the effort of finding it and saying it correctly.

The village overlooks the River Tees from dramatic overhanging cliffs, with the landscape opening out towards the distant hills of the North Pennines.

Whorlton Lido – a much-loved open-air swimming spot nearby – has its own rich local history stretching back through much of the 20th century.

The village’s history goes deeper still.

It appears in the Domesday Book, though by 1428 fewer than ten householders were recorded there, suggesting it was already in long decline even then.

The church of St Mary the Virgin still stands, a quiet reminder of a settlement that once mattered more than its current size suggests.

A short drive away, just across the boundary into North Yorkshire near Swainby, a ruined medieval castle also carries the name – Whorlton Castle.

It is a 12th-century motte and bailey that served successive lords of the manor and played a role in both the Scottish wars and the Civil War.

It is freely accessible and, like the village itself, almost always quiet.

The bodies of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and daughters Natalie, 15, and five-year-old Nala were discovered in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, last week

A mother and her two daughters were discovered at their home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, last week after they died as a result of blunt force trauma, a post-mortem examination has found.

Police officers say Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and daughters Natalie, 15, and five-year-old Nala were found dead on Monday, July 6. It came after concerns were raised about their welfare after they had not been seen for several days.

Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma has now been charged with three counts of murder following the death of his wife and two daughters, the Mirror reports.

The 45-year-old, also known as Mark, was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday. He is said to have fled the country two days before the bodies were discovered.

On Monday, Bedfordshire Police confirmed blunt-force trauma was listed as the cause of death as Tshuma, a British citizen of Zimbabwean heritage, appeared in court in South Africa. He was remanded in custody when he appeared before Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court, the Mirror reports.

Work is now underway to get Tshuma brought back to the UK, police say. Detective Inspector Lee Martin, senior investigating officer, said: “This case has attracted a huge amount of media coverage and we aware of international reports circulating which contain some speculation about this case.

“With three murder charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, proceedings around this case remain active and we are not able to provide any further detail at this stage.

“We continue to work with the CPS and international partners as the case progresses.”

The South African Police Service said Tshuma was tracked down and arrested following a “swift operational co-ordination and intelligence-led policing”.

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A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl were detained by North Yorkshire Police shortly after the incident in Woodthorpe at around 3.30pm on Sunday (July 12).

As The Press reported, fire swept across a large area of wheat field, close to Moor Lane and Askham Lane, and was rapidly advancing toward homes before it was extinguished by firefighters from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, with the help of local farm workers.

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North Yorkshire Police closed nearby roads due to the huge plume of smoke which resulted, causing near-zero visibility for some drivers.

The fire caused an estimated £30,000 in damage (Image: North Yorkshire Weather Updates)

The roads were later reopened but members of the public were advised to continue to avoid the area while emergency services worked to make the scene safe.

North Yorkshire Police said a further eight fires had been reported across North Yorkshire over the weeked – six of which the force said are being treated as deliberate and remain under investigation.

Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant Ben Ambler, of North Yorkshire Police, commenting on the Woodthorpe fire, said: “Arson is a serious offence that puts lives at risk and, in this case, has caused significant damage to a local farmer’s crops.

“Two local teenagers were swiftly arrested in connection with the suspected arson in Acomb yesterday, and our investigation is progressing at pace.

“We have a problem-solving plan in place to address this issue and will continue our joint work with partners to educate young people about the dangers and consequences of fires as we head into the summer school holidays.”

Scorched wheat field is all that remains (Image: Rob Loft)

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Station Manager, Nick Allenby added: “Fire spreads quickly and can be unpredictable. A fire can endanger lives no matter what size it is. Even a small fire can spread quickly and divert crews away from life threatening emergencies.

“By working with partners, including North Yorkshire Police, we aim to educate children and young adults about the dangers of fire and help them understand the wider consequences of their actions before someone is seriously harmed.

“We are appealing to anyone with parental responsibilities to explain the hazards, risks and potentially devastating consequences of setting fires especially ahead of the summer holidays.”

Those worried about a young person playing with fire can complete a FireSafe referral on North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website.

The service also offers a free online home fire safety check.

When reporting a fire, always call 999 when there is an immediate risk to life or property.

For non-emergencies, contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Firestoppers can be contacted for anonymous referrals on 0800 169 5558.

The ‘No Boston No Party’ cone will be given to the city as a symbol of friendship as the World Cup comes to an official close.

A viral Tartan Army traffic cone is on its way to Boston. Andrew Dobbie and Danny Campbell are flying to the US from Edinburgh Airport with the now iconic cone, which shows the ‘friendship between the two cities’.

Andrew decorated the ‘No Boston No Party^‘ and placed it on the Duke of Wellington statue’s head in Glasgow. Since then, it’s been signed by the Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, reports Edinburgh Live.

Once the cone arrives in America it will be signed by Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey and Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu after they welcomed Scottish fans with open arms during the World Cup. The cone is to be given as a ‘gift to the city’.

Ms Wu said: “I’m being told that there is an official…. gift, repatriating the cone that is on the Duke of Wellington’s horse that says ‘Boston’ on it is being officially flown back as a gift to the city of Boston. So we will receive that very soon.”

Andrew explained to his 13.6k Instagram followers that he and BBC Scotland’s Home of the Year presenter Danny Campbell were invited back Stateside for an adventure with the cone. He explained: “I can finally tell you the news that I’ve been dying to tell you all that both the Mayor of Boston and the Governor of Massachusetts have invited myself and Danny Campbell over with the Boston cone.

“We’ll be flying next week all the way over to Boston to visit you all, and we’re going to be taking the cone on a tour of all your favourite spots… tell us where we should take the cone!”

On the Boston Cone website, Andrew and Danny said: “It all started with a bit of fun during the World Cup, with Andrew Dobbie, having the ultimate FOMO for not being there to party while everyone was having fun in Boston with the Scotland Tartan Army.

“So back in Scotland, he took a traffic cone and had it emblazoned with the word BOSTON on it, and along with some friends, placed it on the Duke of Wellington statue’s head in Glasgow to celebrate the twinning of our two cities.

“Millions of views later, it’s ending with us flying to Boston with its successor: a hand-illustrated ‘No Boston No Party’ cone, covered in motifs from both cities by Glasgow artist Rob Johnson, already signed by the Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Stuart Patrick, and heading over to be signed by the Governor of Massachusetts and the Mayor of Boston.”

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The Mexican inspired restaurant well-known for its tortillas, burritos and quesadillas will be coming to 3 Albert Road in Darlington in the foreseeable future.

The official opening date has yet to be revealed but said the town should “get ready” for the new highly anticipated addition.

Taking to social media on Saturday (July 11), the company said: “Darlington, get ready.

“The countdown is officially on.

“We’re getting ready to bring the Liv Más spirit to Darlington, and we can’t wait to welcome you through our doors.”

It comes after the chain was previously named a tenant at the Faverdale retail part as far back as July 2023 and was set to open a drive-thru restaurant.

However, in February this year it was understood by The Northern Echo it was no longer opening there.

Developers Metcalf Harland Property Investment said the Californian-founded chain did not sign on a lease.

Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee initially deferred its decision in July 2023 over fears the development could lead to business closures and job losses elsewhere.

However, the plans were green-lit a month later, with Cockerton councillor Jan Cossins saying at the time: “If we had taken the decision to refuse last time, my daughter would have killed me because she loves Taco Bell.”

But customers can now officially get excited as the restaurant will be giving behind the scenes updates, opening date announcements and exclusive competitions and giveaways on their Facebook page.

Since the announcement, many Darlington residents have shared their excitement about the new opening.

One person said: “I’ve always wanted to try Taco Bell, keep saying it and now it’s coming to our town which is even better.”

While another said: “I love Taco Bell, can’t wait for this to open.”

The company has said customers should keep their eyes peeled on social media for further updates.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

The match will kick-off from 8pm and be live on BBC One for all to enjoy, but if you want to feel every goal, tackle and near-miss alongside fellow fans, here are 10 of the best places across Teesside to soak up the World Cup atmosphere.

1. STACK, Middlesbrough

One of the biggest fan venues in Teesside, STACK Middlesbrough is hosting the semi-final with huge screens, live pre-match entertainment and plenty of food and drink vendors on site.

Tickets are £10 and are on sale now – entry is first-come, first-served, so get there early. Book via the STACK website.

2. PLAY, Middlesbrough

PLAY on Corporation Road is screening every second of England vs Argentina across all five of its screens.

One of Middlesbrough’s best-known entertainment venues, it promises big sound, a packed crowd and a proper big-match atmosphere. Check PLAY’s social media for ticket details.

3. The Southfield, Middlesbrough

Social Pub & Kitchen’s The Southfield on Linthorpe Road has been the go-to England pub in Middlesbrough throughout the tournament, with HD screens across the venue.

Bookings are recommended to guarantee a good spot for the semi-final.

4. The Bluebell Hotel, Middlesbrough

A firm fan favourite on Ormesby Road with screens throughout the pub, The Bluebell Hotel has been packing them in for every England game this summer.

It’s a proper community pub atmosphere. Booking ahead is advised.

5. The Empire, Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough’s biggest entertainment venue raised the flags early and has been running an England World Cup fan zone throughout the tournament, with 50% off tickets for England screenings.

Expect a lively crowd, big screens and plenty of football anthems before kick-off. Check The Empire’s website and social media for Wednesday’s details.

6. The Boathouse, Stockton-on-Tees

The Boathouse on the Stockton waterfront has been showing every England match with £7 tickets including a free drink on arrival.

It’s a buzzing riverside setting that’s attracted big crowds all tournament. Check their Instagram for semi-final ticket information.

7. Sun Inn, Stockton-on-Tees

A Craft Union pub in the heart of Stockton, the Sun Inn has been showing every England World Cup game live on its large HD screens with great-value drinks deals.

No frills, no fuss – just a proper pub packed with fans cheering on the Three Lions.

8. Eagle Inn, Eaglescliffe

A solid option for those local to Eaglescliffe and Yarm, The Eagle Inn has been a popular matchday destination throughout the World Cup.

It has big screens, matchday food and a fast bar service. Booking ahead is recommended.

You can book your spot via the Eagle Inn Pub website.

9. Hop & Grape, Redcar

For fans in Redcar, the Hop & Grape is the local Craft Union pub showing every World Cup match live, including the semi-final.

With live sport on screens every day, it’s a reliable and welcoming spot to watch the game with fellow England supporters.

10. Ship Inn, Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Greene King’s Ship Inn in Saltburn is showing all the World Cup knockout matches including the semi-finals. 

A great option for fans further along the coast who want to watch the match in a classic, characterful pub.

Andrew Castle is set to return to Wimbledon almost immediately after his final outing as BBC’s lead commentator

Andrew Castle is set to be at Wimbledon as a player this Wednesday following his last outing as BBC’s lead commentator. The men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev was his last in the BBC booth but he will be back this week with the All England Club back to being available to private members.

The 62-year-old was offered the chance to remain part of their Wimbledon coverage, though his leading role would be taken up by Andrew Cotter from 2027. He opted against remaining with the broadcaster when informed of their decision back in January and despite seemingly appearing for the final time in SW19, he will be back there this week.

“I’m back there on Wednesday playing anyway because it reverts to a private club, and it’s just an awesome place to be,” he revealed on GB News: “So not too sad, not too sad yet, just glad the last month’s over in the build up to saying bye bye.”

Having fronted the broadcaster’s coverage for 23 years, Castle was informed back in January of the BBC’s intention to replace him with Andrew Cotter as lead commentator.

During Sunday’s programme, he and John Lloyd were interviewed by Rishi Persad, with the latter offering his best wishes as their segment drew to a close — and Castle could not seemingly resist taking a parting shot at the BBC.

He said: “Yes, I am a bit sad about it of course. I have fabulous memories, even working with John. And John is finishing as well, we’re being put out to grass, I mean that’s it. Booted.

“My kids were eight and 10 when I did my first Wimbledon final and they’re now married. One has children and there’s one expecting on the way so don’t tell me there’s nothing to do. (Turns to John) We’ll play golf next week yes?”.

With his time in the role now officially coming to an end, Castle also reflected on why he believes he has been replaced. He said: “I’ve come to know the BBC audience as a general audience of our population, and I love them and I miss them and they write to me, and that’s what I was trying to do over all these years.

It’s perhaps a new direction Now there comes a time for everything, and I accept that. I still feel like there’s plenty to offer, and to be quite honest, that’s exactly what they said as well.

It was all very nice and very kind and very decently delivered, but the bottom line is I’m still sad, and this week is always a little bit funny for me anyway as I come down from the great show. But this year a little bit different because I won’t be back anyway.”

As Castle observed Sinner celebrating his second consecutive Wimbledon title, Tim Henman delivered an emotional tribute to his former colleague.

He said: “Andrew, I’ve got to head up to the studio now, but I want to take the opportunity to thank you so much for sharing the commentary box with you for so many years. You’ve been an absolute star, you’ve taught me so much, and I’ll miss you a lot, but what a great way to finish off.”

Castle responded by saying: “I knew you when you were an annoying 14-year-old, and I’ve known you that whole time. Thanks for your company, and you, Andre (Agassi).”

Mr Adrian Forshaw submitted plans to alter the property at 55-59 Dobb Brow road, erecting a side garage and changing the Tudor-style frontage into modern red brick.

Previous plans were submitted to demolish the building entirely, but the new plans merely seek to ‘refurbish’ it, alongside making a host of other landscaping changes.

The proposed frontage (Image: Bolton Council)

Town Councillor David Wilkinson said: “If anybody knows Dobb Brow they’ll know it’s Tudor style housing, and unfortunately they’re going to take all of that off.

“It’ll have basically have a brick skin, but they’re keeping the house.

“The previous application which was building new ones at the back and knocking this one down as well.

“So, it’s staying, but it will look different from what it looks like currently.”

Despite this, Cllr Wilkinson voted to approve the application, as did the other members of Westhoughton Town Council.

The plans will change the character of the property.

The Tudor frontage, with its white coat of paint and black painted contrast detailing, will be entirely removed.

Instead, the house front will consist of red brick.

The black-framed windows will also be removed and new windows will be installed.

The new design features a large, two-storey central glass window, flanked by two windows to the left and three windows to the right.

The proposed rear of the property (Image: Bolton Council)

Rather than black-painted window frames, the new windows will be topped with sandstone.

A garage will also be appended to the front-left side of the property, which does not exist currently, and electric vehicle charging points will be installed.

Stainless steel external lights will be installed on either side of the central window.

The roof will be formed of interlocking concrete tiles with a dark grey colouration.

Westhoughton Town Council approved the plans, but as an advisory body, they cannot grant to right to the developer to begin construction.

The plans will now have to be assessed by Bolton Council planning bosses before work can begin.

The 44-year-old, known for her roles in The Fall and Outlander, stars as Detective Monica Kennedy in The Dark, a new series based on Scottish crime writer G R Halliday’s novel From the Shadows.

Set in the Scottish wilderness, the series follows Kennedy as she investigates the staged killing of a young man.

As paranoia spreads, long-held secrets begin to surface and locals realise a serial killer may be hiding among them.

The six-part series also stars The Last Kingdom actor Mark Rowley and Friends actress Helen Baxendale.

Donnelly said she found it interesting that the series focused on missing men, as women are more commonly portrayed as victims in crime dramas.

“Obviously, it’s far more common for the victims to be women, not that it doesn’t happen to men, but it is much more common with women,” she said.

“What I really liked about this first storyline was that we weren’t getting that familiar dynamic. In particular, I appreciated that it wasn’t accompanied by gratuitous violence and gore.

“We’ve seen women being hunted and killed on our screens so often over the years, and while that is, of course, the reality in many cases, it can also feel very gratuitous.”

In the series, Detective Kennedy balances her demanding career with raising her daughter.

“I think what I really, really adored about this character, and about the first scripts I read, was how little being a mother impacts the way she does her job,” she said.

“It certainly affects her relationship with her child, there’s no question about that, but she doesn’t allow the fact that she’s a mum to affect the way she works.”

She added: “I love that motherhood doesn’t stop or hinder any aspect of what Monica does, whether she’s being reckless, putting her own life on the line, or throwing herself into a situation in a completely inadvisable way.

“She doesn’t even think twice about the long hours she has to work. She simply relies on the fact that her mum has things under control and will look after Lucy while she gets on with the job she believes she was put on this earth to do.

“I think Monica feels she was put on this earth to solve these kinds of crimes, not to be a mother. That really appealed to me about this character.”

Laura Donnelly leads the cast of The Dark on ITV, which is an adaptation of GR Halliday’s novel From the Shadows (Image: ITV)

Rowley, 36, who plays Detective Conor Crawford, revealed that he spoke to a Highlands-based detective while researching the role, using those insights to help create an authentic portrayal of detective work.

“I ended up speaking to a superintendent who had previously been in charge of the Highlands in Inverness. It was really interesting talking to him,” said the Scottish actor.

“It’s not something we’ve explored in great detail in our show because we’ve taken a different direction, but one thing he said they’re increasingly finding difficult is social media.

“When people post things online, there’s often an assumption that it’s evidence, when in reality it isn’t. The challenge is identifying the core evidence that can actually stand up in court and lead to a conviction. I found that fascinating.

“I suppose it all comes back to detectives hunting for the truth, and that can take you down many different paths.

“In the show, there are moments where we find one tiny piece of evidence, and that’s the key that unlocks everything.”

Episode 2 of The Dark is on ITV tonight at 9pm and ITVX.