Sacriston

Sacriston
Sacriston  Sacriston shown within County Durham
OS grid reference	NZ240470
Unitary authority	County Durham
Ceremonial county	County Durham
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DURHAM
Postcode district	DH7
Dialling code	0191
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	North Durham
List of places: UK • England • County Durham

Sacriston is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England, situated 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the city of Durham.

Although the area has been populated since the Bronze Age, the first recorded settlement dated back to the 13th century to Sacristan's Heugh. According to old maps it was once known as "Segerston Heugh" and is now known to local people as "Segga". This farm and manor house was once the residence of the Sacristan, a monk who held the Office of the Sacristan of the monastery at Durham Cathedral. The Sacristan was responsible for providing everything necessary for the services of the Cathedral: bread and wine, the vestments etc. He was also responsible for repairs to Durham Cathedral. The funds for carrying out the official duties were generated from the estate of Sacristan's Heugh which was finally demolished shortly after World War II.

Mining History

Sacriston Colliery shaft was sunk in 1838 and by the 1890s the pit employed 600 men, producing 1,000 tons of coal a day.

Disaster of 1906

On the 16th of November 1906, water poured into the mine workings of the 'Busty' Seam. The rising water killed two hundred miners: John Whittaker was one of them. During the incident rescuers stumbled on another 199 miners: 'Richardson' was found standing on his container having been stranded for over 93 hours. The unfolding story made for headlines around the world. Decades later workers stumbled on the skeleton of one of the pit ponies that died during the accident and a full tub of coal that still bore the miners name, he then received his back pay

Disaster of 1941

On December 4, 1941, a fall of stone on one of the work areas killed 5 miners they were:

Joseph Welsh, 46

George W. Scott, 39

William Richardson, 50

William Smith, 40

John William Britton, 47

Decline and eradication of mining

As a result of the exhaustion of thick coal seams, only 1,500 tons of best quality coal was being produced a week in 1979. The last coal production was on 15 November 1985 and the colliery closed on 28 December 1975. As in many mining areas, the loss of the 'pit' led to significant unemployment and related social problems. Sacriston narrowly avoided D classification in 1985 due to social deprivation and general poor quality of housing. Little evidence of the mining operations now remains, with the area around the former coal mine having been landscaped and turned into woodland. A few mining-related buildings do survive, the largest of which is now used as a depot for the local authority's refuse vehicles, while the foundations of demolished mine buildings can be seen in places in the new woodland. Sacristan Wood is now a 30 hectare (75 acre) Local Nature Reserve.

Life in Sacriston today

More than 25 years since the closure of its last coal mine, the village retains a strong sense of community. Recently, a new community centre has opened, and the village has started to shake off its coal mining past. The village has a Post Office along with a large number of shops for a village of its size, including a Tesco express Co-op supermarket, two other mini-marts, a greengrocer, newsagent, off-licence many take aways and others, as well as a branch of Lloyds TSB Bank. There are also a couple of social clubs and similar organisations including Sacriston Working Mens Club and a Roman Catholic social club, cricket club and one remaining public houses, 'The Daisy Hill'. The other pubs, 'The Village Inn', 'The Shoes' & 'The Robin Hood' are now closed.

Education

The village has two infant schools, a junior school, a Roman Catholic primary school and Fyndoune Community College a secondary school.

The Junior School

Sacriston junior school is a school that has been quoted by Ofsted as having "a well deserved reputation for being inclusive, friendly and welcoming....The school excels in the personal development of its pupils and the high quality of care, guidance and support it provides."

Public Services

A new health centre, which includes a dental practice as well as a GP surgery, was officially opened by Sir Bobby Robson in 2008. This facility was constructed on the site of the village's former swimming baths, which closed in the 1990s.

In July 2009 the Northern Integrative Health Practice (NIHP Sacriston Practice) opened in the vacated GP surgery building on Sacriston Crossroads. Offering services that complement traditional healthcare, the newly renovated building will also include an out-patients centre for Sunderland Eye Infirmary from January 2010.

Sport

Sport in the village consists of a village cricket team who play in the Northumberland and Tyneside senior league and have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI, along with under 11's, 13's, 15's and 18's.

The village also has two football teams - Sacriston Working Mens Club FC. and Sacriston Colliery Cricket Club FC. Both play in the Durham & District Sunday League in the first division, with the Working Mens Club Youngsters pushing up the league with an eye on promotion whereas the Cricket Club with be glad to survive the drop after a shambolic (some may say embarrassing) start to the season.

Sacriston Colliery Cricket Club FC, managed by local celebrity Richard Hilton has gradually worked its way through the levels of local football. Now sitting mid-table in League 1, they seem to have met their match...Hilton has hit hard times. His days may be numbered agfter poor start to the season has left his position under threat amidst rumours he has "lost the dressing room". Only time will tell what the future will bring...

On the other hand, Sacriston WMC have a bright future ahead with a young developing squad, with the exception of a couple of oldies who are still desperately holding onto the dream of becoming a professional. They also have a secret weapon of Aaron White, a former New York Red Bulls Soccer Coach. His experience in the game has changed the mindset of the players, they are now known for their attacking skill and flair. The team has embraced his knowledge and he is rewarding them by teaching the squad the tricks of one of his old pupils, Thierry Henry! It is also rumoured that Thierry could make a summer loan switch after admitting to Sky Sports that his game is struggling without the guidance of Mr. White.

Notable people

• Melvyn Betts (born 1975), ex Durham, Warwickshire and Middlesex cricketer, born in Sacriston.
• Ian Hunter (cricketer) (born 1979), ex Durham and Now Derby cricketer, born in Sacriston
• Wendy Craig (born 1934), English actress, born in Sacriston
• Sir Bobby Robson (1933–2009), football player and manager, born in Sacriston
• Kevan Jones (born 1964), Member of Parliament for the area, lives in Sacriston, where he also has his constituency office.
• Stuart Phillips (born 1983), Member of the 2008 Olympic Boxing team picking up a Silver medal in the Super Heavyweight Division. He is also an ambassador for the England 2018 World Cup bid.

External links

• Report of the mining accident of 1903
• Sacriston Methodist Church
• Community and local history website
• Sacriston Colliery Band
• Sacriston Colliery
• Sacriston Cricket Club
• NIHP Sacriston Practice