Heighington, County Durham

Heighington
County Durham
The village pump in Heighington
Location
Grid reference:	NZ248223
Location:	54°35’43"N, 1°37’1"W
Data
Population:	2,395  (2011)
Post town:	Newton Aycliffe
Postcode:	DL5
Dialling code:	01325
Local Government
Council:	Darlington

Heighington is a village in County Durham, situated between Darlington and Shildon, near Newton Aycliffe. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 2,395.

One of its most significant features is St Michael's Church that sits in the middle of a large village green. The church is Norman, except for the 13th century south aisle and the 19th century north aisle. A rare feature in this church is its oaken pulpit, said to predate the Reformation, with six traceried linen fold panels with an inscription bearing prayers for its donor; Alexander Flettcher and his wife Agnes.

Heighington previously had a Methodist Chapel, but this has since been converted into housing. The more recent expansion of the village is in the area around Pinewood Crescent and the area around the Beech Crescent, Manor Court and Orchard Gardens, built 1997.

About the village

The village has three pubs, the Bay Horse, the George And Dragon and The Dog Inn, which stands just outside the village.

The village shop and Post Office closed not long since, and the Post Office was relocated to the village hall.

Since the turn of the millennium, a field on the outskirts of the village (on the way to Shildon and Bishop Auckland) has been converted into a football field.

Miscellany

In 2006 Heighington was judged, by the architect Ptolemy Dean, from amongst eleven other villages around the United Kingdom to be the BBC's Perfect Village.

Pictures

• 
  St Michael's Church tower, Heighington
• 
  Heighington village green
• 
  Heighington village sign - outside the village hall since 2000

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Heighington, County Durham)