Hebburn
| Hebburn | |
| County Durham | |
|---|---|
| |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ318645 |
| Location: | 54°58’18"N, 1°30’46"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 18,808 (2001) |
| Post town: | Hebburn |
| Postcode: | NE31 |
| Dialling code: | 0191 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Tyneside |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Jarrow |
Hebburn is a small town in County Durham, lying on the south bank of the River Tyne. It is within the conurbation of towns spread out from Gateshead, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow and Bill Quay. It had a recorded population of 18,808 in 2001 It is thought that the name Hebburn is derived from the Old English heah byrgen, meaning a "high burial mound", though it could also mean the high place beside the water.
Contents
History
The first record of Hebburn mentions a settlement of fishermen's huts in the 8th century, which were burned by the Vikings.
Local legend claims that, until recently, a preserved longship lay embedded on the south bank of the Tyne at Hebburn. The object, visible at low tide, was however the remains of an old wooden coal lighter.
In the 14th century the landscape was dominated by a peel tower. A wall 4'6" tall, a portion of which still remains at St. John's Church, could also be seen. The Lordship of the Manor of Hebburn passed through the hands of a number of families during the Middle Ages, including the Hodgsons of Hebburn.
Coal was mined at Hebburn as early as the 17th century. Hebburn Colliery opened in 1792 and eventually operated 3 pits. It closed in 1931. 200 miners were killed during the life of the colliery. The youngest were 10 years old.[1]
Hebburn has a proud shipbuilding history and many Royal Navy battle ships were built here, at A Leslie and Company. The most famous ship built at the ship yard was HMS Kelly, launched in 1938 and commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten. One hundred and thirty men were killed and they are remembered in memorials at Hebburn Cemetery which were erected by surviving members of the crew and workers from Hawthorn Leslie.
The former British Short-Circuit Testing Station in Victoria Road West within the town, owned by A Reyrolle & Company provided the back drop for the Gary Numan video "Metal".
About the town
Hebburn is the location of a shipyard, operated by A&P Group.
The Parachute Regiment 4th Para Reserves have a detachment based in Hebburn.
It has a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro called Hebburn Metro station.
The town also has an ecology centre powered by wind turbines.
Sport
- Football:
- Hebburn Town FC
- Hebburn Reyrolle FC
- Hebburn Argyle existed in the early 1900s, is now defunct.
- Athletics: Jarrow and Hebburn AC, based at Monkton Stadium
In popular culture
The BBC series Hebburn, begun in 2012, is set in the town. It was created and co-written by Jason Cook, a comedian who was raised in the town.
Outside links
References
- ↑ http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/h045.htm Durham Mining Museum: Hebburn Colliery
Books
James, Mervyn (1974) Family, Lineage, and Civil Society: A Study of Society, Politics, and Mentality in the Durham Region, 1500-1640 (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
