Bedlington
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bedlington | |
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| Population | 15,400 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Wansbeck |
| Shire county | Northumberland |
| Region | North East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDLINGTON |
| Postcode district | NE22 |
| Dial code | 01670 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Northumberland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| UK Parliament | Wansbeck |
| European Parliament | North East England |
| List of places: UK • England • Northumberland | |
Bedlington is a town in Northumberland, to the north of the Tyne and Wear urban area. Nearby places include Morpeth, Ashington, Blyth and Cramlington. The parish of Bedlington constituted the historic exclave of County Durham called Bedlingtonshire.
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[edit] History
Bedlington was an industrial town with an iron works and several coal mines. However in more recent times the town has undergone many changes, and is now more of a Dormitory town.
Bedlington and the hamlets belonging to it were bought by Cutheard, bishop of Durham, between 900 and 915, and although locally situated in the county of Northumberland became part of the county palatine (from Lat. palatium, a palace) of Durham over which Bishop Walcher was granted royal rights by William the Conqueror.
When these rights were taken from Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of Durham, in 1536, Bedlington among his other property lost its special privileges, but was confirmed to, him in 1541 with the other property of his predecessors. Together with the other lands of the see of Durham, Bedlington was made over to the ecclesiastical commissioners in 1866. Bedlingtonshire was made part of Northumberland for civil purposes by acts of parliament in 1832 and 1844.
[edit] Development
The town has good bus links to nearby Newcastle upon Tyne including the X31, X32 and X33 via Arriva, which is where the majority of residents have employment, . The town's front street has one supermarket, a post office and several other smaller shops, however the number of these is starting to decline. A weekly market is held on a Thursday next to the magistrates' court. Bedlington is served by two secondary schools Bedlingtonshire Community High School and St Benet Biscop's Catholic High School.
[edit] Famous residents
- Daniel Gooch — Railway and cable engineer.
- John Birkinshaw — 19th Century railway engineer
- Anne Ogle — Victorian novelist.
- Jayne Middlemiss — Television presenter and ex-Page 3 "model".
- Denis Murphy — Labour Party MP for the Wansbeck Constituency.
[edit] Twin Towns
Schalksmühle, Germany
[edit] Trivia
- Bedlington pit was the setting for the Ken Russell film "Women in love" starring the late Oliver Reed and earned Glenda Jackson an Oscar. Mr Russell had chose the location after making a documentary of the miner picnic a few years earlier.
- Humford Woods run east to west of the town. It has a varied wildlife with rabbits, deer, kingfishers, red squirrels, and otters. There is also evidence of a Beaker settlement within. The wood itself has a well maintained public footpath, ideal for walkers of all ages.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Major settlements in Northumberland |  |
|---|---|
| Alnwick | Ashington | Bamburgh | Bedlington | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Blyth | Cramlington | Haltwhistle | Hexham | Morpeth | Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | Ponteland | Prudhoe | Rothbury | Seahouses | Wooler | |
