North East - Houses, Property and Homes to Rent and Buy

Perhaps no other English region has such clearly defined boundaries as the North East, a lovely part of England to find great properties, whether you are looking for houses to rent or property to buy the North East has lots to offer. To the west and east are the Pennines and North Sea; the northern border is the Cheviot Hills and River Tweed whilst the southern boundary is the North Yorkshire Moors and River Tees.

Historically, the land enclosed here was divided into two counties, Northumberland, heartland of the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria, and County Durham, created by the Normans and ruled by 'Prince-Bishops'. Durham's secular and spiritual princes kept their own courts, currency and army until 1832.

The dividing line between the two counties was the river Tyne and the imposition of artificial authorities (Tyne & Wear for Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland and Cleveland for Middlesbrough and Teesside) did nothing to erase Northumberland and Durham's distinctive characters - nor their rivalry.

The commercial competition between Northumberland's Newcastle and Durham's Sunderland dates from when Charles I ruined Sunderland's merchants by granting Newcastle a monopoly on shipping coal. This centuries old feud between the counties has been largely forgotten - except when Newcastle United and Sunderland football clubs meet. These local derbies underline the region's current marketing slogan of 'passionate people, passionate places'.

Besides a near religious devotion to football, the North East has played two major roles in the drama of English History. First, during the Dark Ages, learning was kept alive in the North East's monasteries of Monkwearmouth and Lindisfarne - where the oldest books in England were written. Secondly, Northumberland and Durham's coal deposits fuelled the industrial revolution and it was Northumbrian George Stephenson who built the world's first modern railway - in County Durham!

Though the North East's traditional industries have declined, the region remains as vibrant as ever. The giant Nissan car plant maintains the North East's long tradition of manufacturing excellence whilst our history is recognised with two UNESCO World Heritage sites (Hadrian's Wall and Durham Cathedral). The unspoilt coast and hill country attracts a growing number of tourists whilst the three cities of Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland support world class universities, theatres, museums, concert halls and galleries.

With thriving cities, pretty market towns, picturesque villages and spectacular scenery it is small wonder that two of the last three winners of Country Life magazine's 'best place to live award' have been in the North East.

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