Westoe | |
---|---|
Location within Tyne and Wear | |
OS grid reference | NZ 3713 6609 |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | SOUTH SHIELDS |
Postcode district | NE33 |
Dialling code | 0191 |
Police | Northumbria |
Fire | Tyne and Wear |
Ambulance | North East |
UK Parliament | |
Westoe was originally a village near South Shields, Tyne & Wear, England, but has since become part of the town and is now used to refer to the area of the town where the village once was. It is also an electoral ward for local political purposes.
The earliest recorded mention of Westoe is in 1072, which refers to a group of seven farms. [2]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the village of Westoe was around one mile south of South Shields [3] (which was then part of County Durham until the formation of Tyne and Wear under the Local Government Act 1972), and was gradually absorbed into the urban sprawl extending from the center of the town.
In contemporary usage, the term "Westoe Village" refers to a specific suburban road of the same name in the Westoe area of the town. It consists of Georgian and Victorian houses, many having been built by business leaders of the town, [2] including those who owned mines and shipyards. It is considered one of the most exclusive areas of South Shields.
Several houses that were historically in the village are not considered to be part of the modern-day Westoe Village. The semi-detached early-nineteenth-century houses of Westoe Terrace have been absorbed into the late Victorian terrace of Dean Road.
Westoe Colliery was one of many coal mines in the area. Opened in 1909, it operated until May 1993, [4] when it was the last pit of its kind on Tyneside to close. [5] The site of the colliery has since been cleared and redeveloped into Westoe Crown Village, which falls into the Horsley Hill ward of South Tyneside Council.
Westoe Cemetery was opened in 1857 and is now closed to new graves (although existing family graves can still be used). [6] Notable local-born physician Dr Thomas Winterbottom, as well as barrister and politician Robert Ingham are buried in the cemetery. [6]
Westoe became locally famous as the inspiration for a popular painting, Westoe Netty , which illustrates a local public toilet [7] [8] ( Netty is a Geordie dialect word for toilet). The original toilet was built in 1890 near a railway bridge on Chichester Road, near its junction with Westoe Road. To allow for regeneration, it was dismantled and put into storage in 1996. In 2008, the toilet was rebuilt as a permanent exhibit at the Beamish Museum.
Westoe had its brewery, the Westoe Brewery, which stood on Dunelm Street (just off Westoe Road) from the 19th century, and although the exact date of origin is not apparent, it features on the 1915 Ordnance Survey maps [9] (it is also reported to feature on the 1895 copy [10] ). The brewery continued under the ownership of Robert Henderson until 1907 when Joseph Johnson acquired it, and in 1924 merged it with the City Brewery from Durham. In 1938, the company became Westoe Breweries Limited, and in 1946 became public. [11]
The breweries were taken over by Hammond United Breweries in 1960, [11] and closed sometime between then and the 2000s. [12]
In 2004, the Jarrow Brewing Company of nearby Jarrow purchased the former Chameleon pub on Claypath Lane, just off Westoe Road, reopening it as The Maltings in May 2005. [13] They expanded their microbrewery output by installing a facility below this pub, [13] producing 100 barrels a week. [14] The company included in its beers, Westoe IPA [15] On 27 September 2018, the company was dissolved. [16]
The annual village fair has musical entertainment, refreshments, and games. A host of charity and voluntary organizations have stalls with tombolas, raffles, and displays including the Rotary Club of South Tyneside and South Shields Local History Group.
Westoe is an electoral ward of South Tyneside Council, [17] and stretches from Chichester Road and Leighton Street in the north, to Harton House Road in the south. In the 2007 local elections the ward returned three independent candidates; however, as of 2018, the ward had returned to three labor councilors. [18] The ward population taken at the 2011 census was 8,080. [19]
Westoe is located in the South Shields constituency. Its 2017 electorate was estimated to consist of 6227 voters. [20]
Westoe Road (formerly Westoe Lane [21] ) forms part of the A1018 road from South Shields to Seaham, and was so named because it originally ran between South Shields and Westoe Village. What is now considered Westoe Village has limited vehicular access via St George's Avenue only, which contributes heavily to its tranquil reputation.
The Westoe area is served by the Chichester Metro station, the penultimate stop on the South Shields branch of the Tyne and Wear Metro rapid transit system.
The South Shields campus of South Tyneside College is located on St George's Avenue (just before access to Westoe Village) and serves further education to people ages 14 years and older. [22]
Westoe Rugby Football Club, which was established in 1875, is one of the oldest organizations still in the Westoe area today. The club has continuously occupied its original ground, directly opposite Westoe Village, since its establishment, and is today one of the local community hubs of the area.
Robert Readhead was a local businessman and was the eldest son of John Readhead, who founded John Readhead and Sons Limited, a noted local shipwright and marine engineering firm. Joining his father's business as an apprentice, Readhead stuck with the firm and eventually became one of the directors, retiring from active involvement in 1909 to take a larger community role - something he continued for the next 40 years (including four years spent as mayor). [23]
In 1921, Readhead donated the land on which Readhead park lies to the town in thanksgiving for peace. The park was opened on 18 May 1923, and features a 3 ft high scroll-style commemorative plaque which reads: [24]
County Borough of South Shields Robert Readhead Park. This park was presented by Alderman Robert Readhead J.P. to the town council of South Shields for public pleasure grounds by deed of gift dated 20th April 1923. Opened to the public on the 3rd May 1923 by Robert Readhead ESQ M.A. (Oxon) (Son of the Donor), Edward Smith, Mayor, John Lawson, Chairman of Parks and Cemeteries committee.
The park has a bowling club (which includes a bowling pavilion), tennis courts, and a small children's play area. [23]
Tyne and Wear is a ceremonial county in North East England. It borders Northumberland to the north and County Durham to the south, and the largest settlement is the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, England.
South Shields is a coastal town in South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England; it is on the south bank of the mouth of the River Tyne. The town was once known in Roman times as Arbeia and as Caer Urfa by the Early Middle Ages. It is the fourth largest settlement in Tyne and Wear, after Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and Gateshead.
Monkseaton is an area of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in the North East of England. Historically in Northumberland, it is in the north-east of the borough, 3⁄4 mile from the North Sea coast and 1+1⁄2 mi (2.5 km) north of the River Tyne at North Shields. One mile to the north of Monkseaton, the extensive built-up areas of North Tyneside change abruptly into green belt stretching north into south-east Northumberland. It is at an elevation of 130 feet (40 m) above sea-level.
Jarrow was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2019 by Kate Osborne of the Labour Party.
South Shields is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It has been represented by Emma Lewell-Buck of the Labour Party since 2013.
The Boldons is an area made up of the three villages of East Boldon, West Boldon and Boldon Colliery in South Tyneside in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. In 2001 they had a population of 13,271.
Whitburn is a village in South Tyneside, in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear on the coast of North East England. It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the city of Sunderland and 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the town of South Shields. Historically, Whitburn is part of County Durham. Other nearby population centres include Seaburn, Cleadon and Marsden. The village lies on a south-facing slope, part of Durham's Magnesian Limestone plateau, which overlooks Sunderland. The population for the combined Whitburn and Marsden Ward in the 2011 UK Census was 7,448. For much of its history, Whitburn was a fishing and agricultural community. The village contains three schools, three churches, a cricket club, recreational grounds, a pub and a variety of shops.
Wideopen, also occasionally misspelled as Wide Open, is a village in the North Tyneside metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, England, around 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Newcastle.
Chichester is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro serving the Chichester, Laygate, Westoe and West Park areas of South Tyneside, as well as the nearby South Tyneside College campus. The station is affectionately referred to as 'Chi' by locals.
Hebburn is a town in the South Tyneside borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It was formerly in County Durham until 1974 with its own urban district from 1894 until 1974. It is on the south bank of the River Tyne between Gateshead and Jarrow and opposite Wallsend and Walker.
Cleadon is a suburban village in South Tyneside in the North East of England. Prior to the creation of Tyne and Wear in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, the village was part of the historic County Durham. In the 2011 UK Census the population of the South Tyneside ward of Cleadon and East Boldon was 8,427. Nearby population centres include East Boldon, Whitburn, and Jarrow. The village is located approximately 5 miles (8 km) from the city of Sunderland and 5 miles from the town South Shields. It is situated on the south west of Cleadon Hills, an example of a Magnesian Limestone grassland home to a number of regionally and nationally rare species.
South Tyneside Council elections are generally held three years out of every four, with a third of the council being elected each time. South Tyneside Council is the local authority for the metropolitan borough of South Tyneside in Tyne and Wear, England. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 54 councillors are elected, 3 from each of the 18 wards.
The first settlers of the South Shields area were the Brigantes, although there is no evidence they built a settlement at South Shields. The Romans built a fort there to help supply Hadrian's Wall. Many ruins still exist today. The fort was abandoned as the empire declined.
Heworth is a residential area in Gateshead, in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. It is located around 3 miles (4.8 km) from Newcastle upon Tyne, 11 miles (18 km) from Sunderland, and 17 miles (27 km) from Durham. In 2011, Census data for the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council ward of Heworth and Pelaw recorded a total population of 9,100. Until 1974 it was in County Durham.
South Tyneside Council is the local authority of for the metropolitan borough of South Tyneside in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear in North East England. It is one of five metropolitan boroughs in Tyne and Wear and one of 36 in England. It provides the majority of local government services in South Tyneside. The council has been under Labour majority control since 1979. It is based at South Shields Town Hall. The council is a constituent member of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority.
Harton is a suburban area of South Shields, South Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. It was historically a village, however as the urban area grew it merged with its adjacent villages to become part of the town. Some of the original village buildings are still intact today, such as St Peter's Church. Until 1974 it was in County Durham.
South Shields Town Hall is a Grade II listed building on Westoe Road in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England. It serves as the headquarters of South Tyneside Council.
4. Sir William Fox Hotel, Westoe Village, South Shields. This conservation village was the setting for many of her books including Katie Mulholland and Kate Hannigan.