Wallsend

Wallsend
Northumberland
Wallsend Town Hall
Location
Grid reference:	NZ301664
Location:	54°59’29"N, 1°31’52"W
Data
Population:	42,842
Post town:	Wallsend
Postcode:	NE28
Dialling code:	0191
Local Government
Council:	North Tyneside

Wallsend is a town in Northumberland, in the southeast of the county and caught up within the conurbation spreading out from Newcastle upon Tyne: Wallsend is 3½ miles from Newcastle City Centre.

The town derives its name as the location for it is literally the "wall's end", at the end of Hadrian's Wall.

The town had a population of 42,842 at the 2001 census.

History

Romans

In Roman times, Wallsend was the site of the fort of Segedunum, the fort protecting the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. In tribute to the Romans of old, Latin signs are dotted throughout the town.

Shipbuilding

Wallsend has a history of shipbuilding and was the home of the Wigham Richardson shipyard, which later amalgamated to form Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, probably best known for building the RMS Mauretania. This express liner held the Blue Riband, for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, for 22 years.

Other famous ships included the RMS Carpathia which rescued the survivors from the RMS Titanic in 1912, and the icebreaker Krasin (launched as Sviatogor) which rescued the Umberto Nobile expedition on Spitsbergen in 1928, when Roald Amundsen perished. The story is retold in the movie The Red Tent, starring Sean Connery and Peter Finch.

Charles Parsons launched his revolutionary Turbinia here in 1884, thus not only revolutionising the navies of the world, but also, through the large-scale production of affordable electricity, making a significant contribution to the modern age. He features in a BBC film called The Inventor of the Twentieth Century.

Russian novelist Yevgeny Zamyatin worked at Swan Hunter in 1916-17, and used it as background for his great anti-utopian work We which was a major influence on George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four.

right|thumb|200px|Swan Hunters in 1987 Second World War ships built here include HMS Sheffield and HMS Victorious which took part in the sinking of the Bismarck. Other ships built there include the new Ark Royal in the 80's

The shipyard closed in 2007. The former Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company Shipyard continues to operate, constructing offshore oil rigs and as a TV studio, productions from there include the ITV drama Vera starring Brenda Blethyn and Inspector George Gently starring Martin Shaw.

Coal mining

Much of Wallsend's early industry was driven by coal mining. The Wallsend Colliery consisted of 7 pits which were active between 1778 and 1935. In the 1820s the pits became incorporated as Russell's Colliery, which then became The Wallsend and Hebburn Coal Company Ltd. By 1924 the colliery employed 2183 people. Its most prominent manager was mining and railway engineer John Buddle who helped develop the Davy Lamp.

Between 1767 and 1925 there were 11 major incidents recorded at the colliery resulting in over 209 deaths. On 18 June 1835 a gas explosion in one of the tunnels killed 102 miners. The youngest was 8 years old and the oldest 75 years old. Many of the dead bodies were found with their cloth caps in their mouth. This was believed to be an attempt to stop the inhalation of the gas which eventually killed them. The bodies were extracted and buried in St Peter's churchyard at the top of the bank overlooking the Wallsend Burn. A plaque has been erected within the churchyard to commemorate this tragedy.

Recent history

The town has expanded greatly in terms of housing since the end of Second World War, and since the 1960s. Wallsend Town Centre - including the main shopping area (Known as the "Wallsend Forum") - is in fact to the west of the land covered by the town. To the north of this area lies the older estate of High Farm and the new estate of Hadrian Lodge. The town centre of Wallsend is separated from the eastern areas of the town by Wallsend Burn, a stream runs through a small glacial valley running north-west to south-east until it flows into the River Tyne. To the east of the Burn is the old area of Holy Cross (that contains the ruins of a mediæval church), the pre-war estate of Rosehill and the (mainly) post-war estate of Howdon. To the south of Howdon lies Willington Quay which, as it name suggests, once served shipping but which is now dominated by industry and housing. East Howdon forms a small enclave between Willington Quay and North Shields.

The town's principal thoroughfare and shopping street is the High Street. To the north of this street is Wallsend Green, the town's most picturesque area, consisting of large houses surrounding a green square. Behind the Green, the Burn runs through the parkland of the Hall Grounds, to Wallsend Park, a traditional British municipal park, whose restoration has frequently been demanded by local residents. Work on this restoration is due to start soon with many improvements such as a skate/BMX park, better pathways, and a rebuilding of the Duffy Memorial Fountain.

On Rheydt Avenue in Wallsend is Centurion Park Golf Club, previously named Wallsend Golf Club. It has 18 holes and a driving range.

Culture

Wallsend metro station with Latin signs

Replica Roman baths at Wallsend

The town is home to Wallsend Boys Club, an association football club, which has produced many famous players such as Alan Shearer, Lee Clark, Steve Watson, Peter Beardsley, Robbie Elliot, Mick Tait and Michael Carrick.

Wallsend is also hometown and birthplace to internationally successful musician, Sting. Lyrics in Sting's song "All this time" refer to the Roman wall and fort.

Wallsend Metro Station serves the town and, in honour of the Roman fort, has signs in English and Latin.

Outside links

• Tyne and Wear Archives Service: historical information on Wallsend
• National Monuments Record: No. 26535 – Wallsend Roman Fort
• Tyne and Wear Archives Service: RMS Mauretania website
• [1] For Zamyatin, Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and Wallsend
• Iconic images of Wallsend, Tanker "Tyne Pride" overlooking terraced houses.