Whickham
| Whickham | |
| County Durham | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ205605 |
| Location: | 54°56’44"N, 1°40’21"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 16,652 (2011) |
| Post town: | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode: | NE16 |
| Dialling code: | 0191 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Gateshead |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Blaydon |
Whickham is a small, prosperous commuter town in County Durham, five mles southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is situated on high ground overlooking the River Tyne.
Whickham is a semi-rural, middle class suburban town, a place of 16,652 residents recorded in 2011. Built on a large hill, it overlooks a large part of the northern and western horizon, including the MetroCentre, and contains a mixture of large suburban housing estates and private streets for the local residents. The main street that goes through the town contains some shops and retailers, a few pubs and restaurants, and St. Mary's Church, the oldest building in Whickham.[1]
The parish is bounded on the north by the Tyne, on the west by the parish of Stella, and on the south-west and south by Lamesley and Marley Hill.
History
Whickham underwent some expansion in the 1950s when the Lakes Estate was built just off Whickham Highway. Then later in the decade the Oakfield Estate just off Whaggs Lane was built. However, house building in the early 1960s transformed the then village into a small town. Grange Lane Estate began the seemingly unending development by J. T. Bell, (Bellway), who went on into Clavering Park, Clavering Grange, the Cedars and then Fellside Park. Even after this expansion, there is some debate that the old spirit of the village was finally lost when the main street of Whickham was redeveloped.
To the south-west of Whickham, above the River Derwent, are the ruins of Old Hollinside, a fortified manor house[2] once owned by the Bowes-Lyon family.
Sport and leisure
There is a King George V Playing Field in the village (the Chase).
See also
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Whickham) |
References
- ↑ Chronicle Live – Whickham village history
- ↑ Old Hollinside - British Listed Buildings