Sedgefield

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Sedgefield

Coordinates: 54.65° N 1.45° W
Population	4,214 (2001) [1]
OS grid reference	NZ354286
District	Sedgefield
Shire county	County Durham
Region	North East
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STOCKTON-ON-TEES
Postcode district	TS21
Dial code	01740
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
UK Parliament	Sedgefield
European Parliament	North East England
List of places: UK • England • County Durham

For other uses, see Sedgefield (disambiguation).

Sedgefield is a large village in the borough of Sedgefield in County Durham, England.

It has a population of approximately 5,000. It has attracted particular attention as the Member of Parliament for the wider Sedgefield constituency is Tony Blair.

During November 2003, Sedgefield was visited by the American president George W. Bush during a state visit. He visited a local pub, as well as the local secondary school. This event was preceded by high-intensity security, which included fastening down manhole covers and drains, and closing the centre of the village to all traffic. An anti-war protest coincided with his visit.

St Edmunds church in Sedgefield is noted for its ornate 17th century Cosin woodwork, unique to County Durham and especially precious now that the display in Brancepeth has perished by fire.

In the 19th century, Sedgefield was a great hunting centre, dubbed 'the Melton of the North'. Ralph Lambton, the celebrated hunting man, had his headquarters at Sedgefield and the humorous writer Robert Smith Surtees, who lived at Hamsterley Hall, was a friend of his.

On 23 February 1815, (while Lord Byron was moping at Seaham Hall, not far away) Lord Darlington writes: 'Mr Ralph Lambton was out with some gentlemen from Sedgefield, and a most immense field.'

Sedgefield is also home to the Sedgefield Racecourse, a regional horseracing venue. Knotty Hill Golf Centre is a 45 hole golf course, comprising of Courses A,B,C,D & E. Course E was recently opened in the summer of 2006, and is still maturing.

Sedgefield is in the parish of Upper Skerne.

The Shrove Tuesday Ball Game still takes place in Sedgefield and is an example of Mob Football. Another popular annual event is the Medieval Fayre, which takes place in mid-May.

Sedgefield is twinned with Hamminkeln, Germany