South Moor

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South Moor is a village in County Durham, in England. It is located to the west of Stanley on the northern slope of the Craghead valley. It is a well developed village for the area, containing a main street (Park Road) of around twelve shops which survive despite their proximity to the front street of Stanley and its ASDA supermarket.

The village has historically been referred to as West Stanley, though the name is no longer in use.

St. Mary's RC Primary School and Church are located opposite one another at the bottom of Tyne Road in an area known as Hustledown.

[edit] South Moor Park

South Moor Park is located at the bottom of the valley between Oxhill, and the small village of Quaking Houses. Alongside the large gates which denote the entrance to the park are names of local people who died during World War I. Two names, however, were deleted when it was discovered that the 'victims' had not actually died.

A stream passes through the park. The section of the park adjacent to Park Road features a bowling green and a public, concrete tennis court, though the latter has been subject to high vandalism in recent years. Nets are no longer replaced, and there is constant evidence of drug use through discarded bongs. High railings have been erected around the bowling green to prevent vandalism and misuse.

Similarly, the playground at the south side of the main path, which featured swings, a roundabout and slides, has been fully grassed over.

Vandalism in the park is not a recent problem, however. A small paddling pool in the playground only lasted several summers after broken glass was regularly discovered.

The west side of the park is completely wooded. The main path follows the course of the stream. The remains of the bandstand is hidden by trees and growth.