Witton-le-Wear

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Witton-le-Wear is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated on the north bank of the River Wear, 6 km (4 miles) to the north-west of Bishop Auckland.

1 Name
2 History
3 Geography
- 3.1 Administrative
- 3.2 Location
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Name

The place name Witton or Whitton is fairly common in the north of England. The name sometimes derives from "white farm" but in the case of Witton-le-Wear, as with many others, Witton refers to a farm (Anglo-Saxon: ton) in or near woodland (Anglo-Saxon: widu). Witton-le-Wear's name is attested as Wudeton from 1104, but had become Wotton in Werdale by 1313. This subsequently evolved to the present form.

[edit] History

Witton-le-Wear was once situated upon a major railway line, whose principal use was to transport coal and cement around the north-east of England. However as the price of road haulage dropped the line fell into disuse and carried its last train in the early 1990s. Now, funded partly by George Reynolds, former criminal and owner of Darlington Football Club, and partly by European Union and lottery funds, it is being cleared for re-opening as a daily tourist line along Weardale.

Witton-le-Wear's last village shop was converted into a house around the turn of the millennium, leaving the village with only two pubs and a sprinkling of houses. Despite the lack of commercial interest the village is still growing, with recent approval of plans for 14 new houses in the field below Castle View, and an under-11s playground having been built using lottery funds.

George Reynolds also funded a £100,000 fibreglass hall for the expanding school in Witton-le-Wear, which comprises approximately 100 pupils and 10 staff. It was founded in the 1960s along with Castle View in the upper half of the village, as a larger alternative to what has now been converted to the Community Centre on School Street. Its catchment area is no longer limited to the village but also takes pupils from neaby Hamsterley, Howden-le-Wear and Crook, which is what prompted the construction of the hall.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Administrative

Witton-le-Wear is for all purposes (traditional, ceremonial and administrative) located in County Durham.

Witton-le-Wear is located in the Wear Valley district of County Durham. As of 2005 the Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear ward is represented on the District Council by Vere Shuttleworth and Des Wilson (both independent), and on the County Council by John Shuttleworth (independent). It is part of the Durham North West parliamentary constituency, which as of 2005 is represented in parliament by Hilary Armstrong (Labour). It is in the North East England region, which serves as a constituency for the European Parliament.

The local police force is Durham Constabulary. Witton-le-Wear is in the Wear and Tees division.

[edit] Location

Grid reference: NZ1431
Latitude and longitude: 54°41′N 1°46′W (54.68, −1.77)
Elevation: 120 m (400 feet)
Road access: Minor roads off A68, A689 and B6282
Rail access: Bishop Auckland, 6 km (4 miles)
Nearest towns: Crook, 5 km (3 miles); Bishop Auckland, 6 km (4 miles); Willington, 8 km (5 miles)