In 1958, when Miss Dora Roberts retired, Carlbeck school closed and the pupils transferred to Mickleton C of E primary, Barnard Castle Grammar Technical, or Middleton Secondary School. The Mickleton junior class in 1961 contained pupils from Lunedale, West Pasture, Holwick, Mickleton, Romaldkirk, and Lartington, though not Cotherstone, which still today has its own primary school. This area south of the Tees was part of the North Riding of Yorkshire until 1974.
After 1958 Carlbeck was used sporadically as a community centre and various birthday parties and celebrations were held there. Barnard Castle YMCA leased the building during the 1970s and turned it into an outdoor centre where small groups came to stay. There were two dormitories with a communal area in between and a kitchen in the old porch. The toilets remained outside and the coal house was converted into a small shower block. The lease was taken next by some of the staff of Longfield School, Darlington, one of whom, Neil Barton, was a Lunedale resident for many years. The school brought groups of pupils on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Between 2003 and 2009 the community used the old building in its dilapidated state whilst fundraising and applying for grants to refurbish it. Thanks to grants from the Big Lottery, North Pennines AONB Partnership, and Durham County Council, the building was renovated and by October 2010, the work was finished, bar the niceties. The building is now functioning as a warm and welcoming community centre.
Grants have been essential, however, support from Durham Rural Community Council, Mid Tees Project Partnership, Mickleton Village Hall and Teesdale Village Halls Consortium as well as many individual members of both the immediate and wider Teesdale community has been invaluable.
We are a registered charity and our Charity Number is 1115465