Wolsingham
Coordinates: 54°43′52″N 1°52′55″W / 54.731°N 1.882°W
| Wolsingham | |
 Wolsingham
Wolsingham shown within County Durham |
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| Population | 2,061 (2001)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | NZ075375 |
| Unitary authority | County Durham |
| Ceremonial county | County Durham |
| Region | North East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BISHOP AUCKLAND |
| Postcode district | DL13 |
| Dialling code | 01388 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | North West Durham |
| List of places: UK • England • County Durham | |
Wolsingham is a small market town in Weardale, County Durham, England. It is situated by the River Wear, between Crook and Stanhope in North West Durham.
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[edit] History
Wolsingham sits at the confluence of the River Wear and Waskerley Beck. It is a Saxon settlement and one of the first market towns in County Durham, deriving its name from Waelsingas, or Sons of Wael, an ancient Saxon family that once lived there. The earliest known record of the town is to be found in Reginald of Durham's Life of Godric where it is stated that the Saint lived there for almost two years about 1120 AD with Elric the hermit.
Wolsingham was then a thriving community, holding land by servile tenure. There were shepherds, plough-makers, beekeepers, forest keepers, wood turners, carters, etc. They toiled for two purposes - producing corn and other foodstuffs for themselves and supplying the larder of the Bishop's Castle. The Bishop and his friends indulged in hawking, but hunting for red deer in the parks of Wolsingham and Stanhope was their principal pastime. The bishops' hunting forest in Weardale was the second largest in England after the New Forest.
It is traditionally reported that Edward III on returning from his unfruitful encounter with the Scots in Weardale in April 1327 rested at the Pack Horse Inn, then situated in the High Street.
In 1615, a market charter was granted to the bailiff and inhabitants of Wolsingham, and in 1667 the charter was confirmed with the appointment of a piece of land to hold the market and fairs. This market was of considerable importance and offered many facilities to the surrounding districts. There were several looms in the town; table linens, draperies, weaving materials and clothes were always in demand. Drapers from Yorkshire and Newcastle upon Tyne frequented the market, as did hatters from Hexham and Barnard Castle. Spices and gingerbread were also on sale.
A memorial to the Roman Catholic priest John Duckett marks the spot where he was arrested before being taken to Tyburn, where he was executed in 1644. There is a Roman Catholic church and convent (now converted to housing) in the town, along with large Church of England, Baptist, and Methodist congregations.
A grammar school was established in 1614, and in 1911 a new building was opened. It is now part of a split-site Comprehensive school
[edit] Modern Wolsingham
Wolsingham Agricultural Society holds its annual show on the first weekend in September. It is said to be the oldest show in the country.
Wolsingham is served by the Weardale Railway, whose trains run from Bishop Auckland to Stanhope.
[edit] Trivia
Early on the morning of Saturday 26 May 2007, a van carrying oxy-acetylene welding equipment exploded in the town, killing one man and causing significant damage to property.
The town has a children's recreation area inhabited by many ducks. It is still known locally as The Willas, which is the Anglo-Saxon word for duck-pond.
Another ancient name still in use is lydgate, which is Anglo-Saxon for a hanging gate.
[edit] Education
Wolsinhma has three schools:
- Wolsingham Primary School
Wolsingham Primary School has over 200 pupils, divided into classes. Foundation Stage 2 - Year 6 are located in the school. A small nursery is located in the school grounds. It includes: Disabled access, climbing frame, two playgrounds, four toilets, ICT room, school hall and seven classrooms. Age rating: 5-11.
Headteacher: Mr J M Armitage
- Wolsingham Community College
[edit] Businesses in Wolsingham
This is an incomplete list. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
| Shop/Business/Company Name | Sells/Specialises in | Opening date | Formerly called |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolsingham Taxis | Taxis | Unknown | |
| Wolsingham Library | Selling and borrowing books | Unknown | |
| Wolsingham Animal Feeds Ltd. | Unknown | ||
| Wolsingham Post Office | Sorting Post/Books, Stationary and gifts (Sixes and Sevens) | ||
| Sixes and Sevens | Gifts | 2009 | Pizza Takeaway (????-2009), Peggoty's (1985/1986-????), Video Shop (1981/1982-1983/1984), Shuttleworth (????-????) |
| Wolsingham Community Pool Ltd. | Swimming | Unknown | |
| Wolsingham Constitutional Club/Wolsingham Workmen's Club | Unknown | ||
| Lau's Chinese Takeaway | Chinese Food | Unknown | Barbers (????-????) |
| Shuttleworth's | Everyday things (except food) and gifts | Unknown | |
| Antiques Shop | Antiques | Unknown | |
| The Paper Shop | Everyday things | Unknown | Paper shop and post office (????-????) |
| Spar | Everyday things, DVDs, magazines, toys | Unknown | Kiddikare (????-????)/Grocery shop (????-????) |
| Confectious: Retro Sweets and Candy of Yester-Year | Sweets and Cards | 16 March 2010 | Better Value Lettings(2009-2010), Arts & Crafts Shop(2009), Barbers Shop (????-2009), Bakers shop (????-????) |
| Flower Shop | Flowers | 2010 | Freaks fruit and veg (????-????) |
| Peggoty's | Food | Unknown | The Kings Head (????-????) |
| Craven's Fish Shop | Fish and Chips | Unknown | Turnbulls (????-????) |
| Black Bull Inn | Unknown | ||
| The Bay Horse | Unknown | ||
| Watson's | Petrol | Unknown | |
| Julie's Coffee Shop and Restaurant | Coffee Shop and Restaurant | Cafe poke roll(????-????), Bakers (????-????), The Beehive (????-????) | |
| Wolsingham Pharmacy | Unknown | Spar | |
| Estate Angents | Houses | Unknown | Frank butterill paper shop (????-????) |
| Barclays Bank | Money | Unknown | |
| Butcher's | Unknown | ||
| Mace | 2010 | Watson's Garage (????-2010) |
[edit] References
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