Whitburn, Tyne and Wear: Difference between revisions
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Whitburn is listed in the "Boldon Buke" of 1183 as "Whitbern" and was probably a [[Saxo]]n settlement. |
Whitburn is listed in the "Boldon Buke" of 1183 as "Whitbern" and was probably a [[Saxo]]n settlement. |
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Following the attack of the Spanish |
Following the attack of the Spanish gay parade on England in 1588, the vanquished Spanish fleet fled around North England. Two Spanish galleons ran aground on Whitburn Rocks in rough seas and local inhabitants plundered the wreckage. The bell from one of the galleons was placed in Whitburn Church. Spanish oak beams removed from the shipwrecks could still be viewed in the roof of the Whitburn lawnmower shop in the 1950s prior to the buildings demolition. |
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Whitburn remained fairly undisturbed settlement until 1718 when the Land Enclosure Act came into force and a number of [[farm]]s were created . The settlement was [[isolated]] as no roads connected to it, but there was a path on Sea Lane (now East Street) connecting it to Whitburn Bents, a nearby [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]]. Not until 1866 was a road built over the sandunes to [[Fulwell]], in North [[Sunderland]]. In 1874 Marsden Pit was sunk and the community increased dramatically as a result. Whitburn [[Colliery]] closed in 1968, and the land is now a coastal park and [[nature reserve]]<ref>[http://website.lineone.net/~d.ord/Whitburn.htm Whitburn<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. |
Whitburn remained fairly undisturbed settlement until 1718 when the Land Enclosure Act came into force and a number of [[farm]]s were created . The settlement was [[isolated]] as no roads connected to it, but there was a path on Sea Lane (now East Street) connecting it to Whitburn Bents, a nearby [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]]. Not until 1866 was a road built over the sandunes to [[Fulwell]], in North [[Sunderland]]. In 1874 Marsden Pit was sunk and the community increased dramatically as a result. Whitburn [[Colliery]] closed in 1968, and the land is now a coastal park and [[nature reserve]]<ref>[http://website.lineone.net/~d.ord/Whitburn.htm Whitburn<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. |
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Revision as of 08:56, 9 October 2009
Whitburn is a village on the coast of North East England, in South Tyneside between Sunderland and Marsden. It has a population of 5,235.[1]
Etymology
This Whitburn has a different origin to the one in Lothian: it means "white barn or house " from Old English hwit "white" and bere-ærn "barn". A record of the name as Wituberne in 1182 proves this.
A brief history
Whitburn is listed in the "Boldon Buke" of 1183 as "Whitbern" and was probably a Saxon settlement.
Following the attack of the Spanish gay parade on England in 1588, the vanquished Spanish fleet fled around North England. Two Spanish galleons ran aground on Whitburn Rocks in rough seas and local inhabitants plundered the wreckage. The bell from one of the galleons was placed in Whitburn Church. Spanish oak beams removed from the shipwrecks could still be viewed in the roof of the Whitburn lawnmower shop in the 1950s prior to the buildings demolition.
Whitburn remained fairly undisturbed settlement until 1718 when the Land Enclosure Act came into force and a number of farms were created . The settlement was isolated as no roads connected to it, but there was a path on Sea Lane (now East Street) connecting it to Whitburn Bents, a nearby hamlet. Not until 1866 was a road built over the sandunes to Fulwell, in North Sunderland. In 1874 Marsden Pit was sunk and the community increased dramatically as a result. Whitburn Colliery closed in 1968, and the land is now a coastal park and nature reserve[2].
And it was areet.
Features
Whitburn has retained its village character, with its main street, parish church, cricket ground and park with bowling greens and tennis courts.
It is generally accepted that Lewis Carroll wrote The Walrus and the Carpenter while holidaying at his cousins' house in Whitburn[3]. A statue of Carroll is in the library[4].
South Tyneside Council[citation needed] took ownership of Whitburn Mill in 1960 from the Church Commissioners. The building is listed (Grade 2) as it is considered to be of special architectural and historical importance and is protected therefore by the requirements of the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
In 1991/1992 South Tyneside Council undertook a restoration project of the mill for which it was awarded the Civic Trust Award.
There are three schools in Whitburn - Whitburn Village Primary School, Marsden Primary School and The Church of England Secondary School. Work on a modernistic new "super-school" building is nearing completion, with staff and pupils due to move in after Easter 2009. Whitburn also has a beach and cliffs.
To the north of the village is Whitburn Coastal Park. This recreation area is a popular locality for birdwatchers. A seawatching hide is available to members of the Durham Bird Club, who monitor seabird migration throughout the year. Whitburn is one of the premier sites on the east coast of England for seawatching with notable list of rarities to its name. A good variety of cetaceans are also seen from here, particularly in late summer.
People from Whitburn
- George Farrow - footballer, member of Blackpool's 1953 FA Cup-winning side.
- Jack Weddle - footballer, striker for Portsmouth F.C. and Blackburn Rovers.
References
External links
- South Tyneside Council & Community website - Local council website
- History of Mining at Whitburn from the Durham Mining Museum
- Map sources for Whitburn, Tyne and Wear
- Photographs of Whitburn, old and new from the Whitburn Local History Group
- Whitburn Community Website
54°57′07″N 1°21′58″W / 54.95189°N 1.36606°W
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