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John Burdon, a wealthy Tyneside merchant, bought the 150 acre Hardwick Estate in 1748. With the aid of architect, James Paine (1717-89), he developed a range of ornamental buildings, lakes and paths to create a grand Circuit Walk used as a guided walk for the enjoyment and entertainment of his friends. It was basically a playground for rich ladies and gentlemen of the time.

At the end of the C18th, Burdon sold the Park to William Russell and it was then transferred by marriage to the Boyne family. Pleasure gardens had gone out of fashion and the Park went into decline, the buildings became ruined and overgrown and the lakes silted up or drained.
In the C20th, parts of the Park were forested or used for agriculture, and Hardwick Hall was used as a training facility for the unemployed, then a maternity hospital, and eventually a hotel.
In 2001 Durham County Council purchased the whole site with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund and embarked on a 10 year restoration project.

Keys to the Past Hardwick Park (Sedgefield) Link
National Heritage List for England Entry Number: 1000730 Link