Durham County Council has been told to repair a wall in Barnard Castle to “prevent future deaths”.
The order has come from the senior coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Jeremy Chipperfield, and was made following an inquest into the death of a 78-year-old Barnard Castle woman late last year.
On December 6, Kay Wilson fell through a “breach” in a wall that separates a public area close to the castle footpath from a steep drop on to rocks on the banks of the River Tees just a few yards upriver from County Bridge, in Barnard Castle.
Following a major search involving emergency services, her body was retrieved from the river downstream of County Bridge near River View Leisure Park on December 7.
Details of the tragic incident were detailed in a regulation 28 report to prevent deaths issued by the coroner earlier this month.
It stated: “The deceased drowned shortly after 11.30pm on December 6 2025 when, having been in a public area above the east bank of the River Tees near County Bridge, in Barnard Castle, she accidentally passed through a gap in a protective stone wall and fell about nine metres onto rocks and then passed into the river. The river, heightened by recent rainfall, swept her away.”
The coroner also stated: “A breach in the stone wall running north above the riverside from the east side of County Bridge, Barnard Castle, provides unrestricted and unguarded access from a public area to a vertical drop.
“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action.”
Kay Wilson, a retired librarian, was a popular and respected author and local historian. The conclusion of the inquest was “accidental death (by drowning)”.
The county council has until May 1 to respond to the coroner’s demands and provide details of any actions it plans to take to resolve the issue as well as a timetable for the work. Alternatively, if the council proposes to take no further action, it must explain its reasons.
Commenting on the report, Durham County Council’s head of highways, Mark Readman, said: “We have received the coroner’s report and will respond following careful consideration of the concerns raised.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Ms Wilson’s family.”
