Heaton, Newcastle
Coordinates: 54°59′17″N 1°34′30″W / 54.988°N 1.575°W
| Heaton | |
Chillingham Road, Heaton's main commercial street |
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| OS grid reference | NZ273660 |
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| List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear | |
Heaton is a residential suburb and is split into two electoral wards located in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, about 2 miles (3 km) from the City Centre. It is bordered by the neighbouring areas of Benton and Cochrane Park to the north, Walker and Walkergate to the east, Byker to the south and Jesmond and Sandyford to the west. The name 'Heaton' means high town, referring to the area being situated on hills above the Ouseburn, a tributary of the River Tyne.
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[edit] History
In the 12th century Heaton became part of the Barony of Ellingham granted by Henry I to Nicholas de Grenville. King John stayed in the castle at Heaton (the remains of which can still be seen in Heaton Park) on a number of occasions. In the 17th century the Heaton estate was purchased by Henry Babington who was knighted at Heaton Hall by James I on 1 May 1617.
By the 18th century, Heaton was a coal mining area with many of its collieries owned by Matthew White and Richard Ridley. The Heaton estate was broken up in 1835 when the area became officially incorporated into Newcastle upon Tyne. Much of the land in Heaton in 1840 was owned by Amourer Donkin, who on his death in 1857 bequeathed the land to his business partner, the industrialist Sir William Armstrong.
In 1879, the corporation acquired part of the Heaton Hall estate, which was then laid out as Heaton Park, and Sir William Armstrong donated Armstrong Park and Jesmond Dene to the city. The three parks run into each other to form a green corridor through east Newcastle.
[edit] The Ghost of Heaton
Upon his death in 1857 stories immediately started emerging that William George Armstrong was revisting his place of birth. Rumours circulated that this was in an attempt to reach out to current tenants in the building situated on Cardigan Terrace. The story goes that initial contact with the ghoul involves inexplicable terror for the witnesses. Such examples have included creaky floorboards and unexplained wind currents.
[edit] Demography
Heaton is a mixed working class and middle class area. In recent years it has become a popular residence for many students attending the city's two Universities, Newcastle University and Northumbria University. Rent and student letting is generally lower in price than the neighbouring student area of Jesmond.
[edit] Economy
During the 19th century, the building of the railways saw a line pass through Heaton, now the East Coast Main Line. Heaton also has a major rail depot. Heaton also became the location of Sir Charles Parsons engineering works producing turbines.
Third Avenue was the birthplace of the Ringtons Tea business.
[edit] Transport
Heaton was originally served by Heaton railway station which was on the main line from Newcastle Central Station to Edinburgh and also on the direct line from Newcastle to the Coast. That station was closed on 11 August 1980 when the Tyne and Wear Metro system opened. Heaton is now served by Chillingham Road Metro station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, though Byker Metro station is closer for some living in South Heaton.
[edit] Education
Heaton has a large secondary school, Heaton Manor School, although many children in Heaton attend Benfield School, located on the Heaton/Walkergate boundary. There are also a number of primary schools spread over the area: Ravenswood Primary School, Chillingham Road Primary School, Cragside Primary School, Hotspur Primary School and St. Theresa's Primary School (the latter two are located in Ouseburn Ward).
| North Heaton | |
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| Councillors | |
| 1st: Doreen Huddart (Liberal Democrats) | |
| 2nd: Karen Robinson (Liberal Democrats) | |
| 3rd: Greg Stone (Liberal Democrats) |
| South Heaton | |
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| Councillors | |
| 1st: Christopher Bartlett (Labour Party) | |
| 2nd: Henri Murison (Labour Party) | |
| 3rd: Geraldine Ormonde (Labour Party) |
[edit] Sport
Heaton was home to Newcastle United under their previous name Newcastle East End F.C. between 1882 and 1892. East End played at the Heaton Junction Ground on Chillingham Road before moving to St James' Park.
Heaton is now home to amateur rugby football club – Medicals RFC, based on Cartington Terrace
[edit] Notable people
- Jack Common (1903–1968), the author of 'Kiddar's Luck' and 'The Ampersand', was born and brought up at 44 Third Avenue, Heaton, and attended Chillingham Road primary school; his novels give a vivid portrait of the area in the early 20th century. Common was later to model for the bust of Karl Marx which tops Marx's tomb in Highgate Cemetery, London.
- Chas Chandler (1938–1996), bass player for The Animals. Manager of The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
- Cheryl Cole was born in Heaton on 30 June 1983[1] and lived there until the mid 1990s when she moved to nearby Walker.[2]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Photos of the area from Geograph
- Newcastle Council Ward Info: North Heaton
- Newcastle Council Ward Info: South Heaton
- Newcastle Council Ward Info: Ouseburn (includes South West or "low" Heaton)
- Link to Historical information on Heaton