Tynnis

Tynnis is a small town situated in the northeastern region of England, within the historic county of Durham. The town's population was recorded at 1,732 residents according to the 2021 national census. It lies approximately 12 miles west of the city of Durham and is accessible via the A169 road, which connects it to the coastal town of Holywell. The surrounding landscape is dominated by rolling hills and mixed farmland, with a minor river, the River Easington, passing through the northern outskirts.

The earliest documented references to Tynnis appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as a manor under the ownership of the Bishop of Durham. Throughout the medieval period the town developed around a modest market established in the 14th century. The 19th‑century industrial boom saw the opening of a small coal mine and a textile mill, both of which declined after the mid‑20th century. Since the 1970s the local economy has shifted toward small-scale agriculture, tourism and service‑sector employment, many residents commuting to larger nearby towns for work.

Cultural life in Tynnis includes the Tynnis Community Centre, which hosts seasonal events, workshops and a weekly farmers' market. The St. James Parish Church, constructed in 1863, remains a prominent architectural landmark and hosts the annual “Tynnis Festival” each autumn. Notable individuals born in or associated with Tynnis include the 19th‑century explorer Henry Collins, known for his expeditions in the Arctic, and contemporary novelist Sarah McDermott, who has written several novels set in the Durham countryside.