Coordinates: 55°08′00″N 1°35′00″W / 55.1333°N 1.5833°W
| Bedlington | |
.png)  Bedlington
Bedlington shown within Northumberland |
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| Population | 15,400 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Unitary authority | Northumberland |
| Ceremonial county | Northumberland |
| Region | North East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BEDLINGTON |
| Postcode district | NE22 |
| Dialling code | 01670 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Northumberland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | Wansbeck |
| List of places: UK • England • Northumberland | |
Bedlington is a town in Northumberland, to the north of the Tyne and Wear urban area. It lies 10 miles (16 km) north of Newcastle and 4.5 miles (7 km) southeast of the county town of Morpeth. Other nearby places include Ashington to the north northeast, Blyth to the east and Cramlington to the south.
The parish of Bedlington constituted the historic exclave of County Durham called Bedlingtonshire. It is famous for giving its name to a breed of dog (the bedlington terrier)[citation needed], which was said to be first seen in the countryside town of Rothbury in 1825 supposedly having been bred by gypsies.
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History
Bedlington was an industrial town with an iron works and several coal mines. However in more recent times the town has undergone many changes, and is now more of a Dormitory town[citation needed].
Bedlington and the hamlets belonging to it were bought by Cutheard, bishop of Durham, between 900 and 915[citation needed], and although locally situated in the county of Northumberland became part of the county palatine (from Lat. palatium, a palace) of Durham over which Bishop Walcher was granted royal rights by William the Conqueror.
When these rights were taken from Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of Durham, in 1536, Bedlington among his other property lost its special privileges, but was confirmed to him in 1541 with the other property of his predecessors. Together with the other lands of the see of Durham, Bedlington was made over to the ecclesiastical commissioners in 1866. Bedlingtonshire was made part of Northumberland for civil purposes by acts of parliament in 1832 and 1844. (Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844)
Development
The town has good bus links to nearby Newcastle upon Tyne including the X31, X32 and X33 via Arriva, which is where the majority of residents have employment, . The town's front street has one supermarket, a post office and several other smaller shops, however the number of these is starting to decline. A weekly market is held on a Thursday next to the magistrates' court, the number of stalls at the Market each week is now also starting to decline, with the event quickly becoming a glorified Car Boot Sale after the opening of a new Tesco supermarket right beside it. Bedlington is served by two secondary schools Bedlingtonshire Community High School and St. Benet Biscop Catholic High School, which was recently awarded Business and Enterprise College status, and is proudly sponsored by the Co-operative Group. St Benet Biscop's is widely considered to be a very successful high school with high standards, and is extremely active in the community.
Local Parish
One of the most important historic buildings is the local church of England parish church, which is dedicated to St Cuthbert. It is reputed that the church takes its dedication from an event that occurred December 12 1069. Fleeing northwards from the Conqueror's army, the monks of Durham are said to have rested the body of St Cuthbert in Bedlington Church. The church, originally of Saxon design was rebuilt about a hundred years later. Little of either the Saxon or the Norman church have survived.
There is also a Roman Catholic church called St Bede's who practice mass in a relatively new church as well as a Salvation Army church.
Notable residents
- Daniel Gooch — Railway and cable engineer.
- John Birkinshaw — 19th Century railway engineer
- Jayne Middlemiss — Television presenter and ex-Page 3 model.
- Denis Murphy — Labour Party MP for the Wansbeck Constituency.
Twin Towns
Schalksmühle, Germany
Neighbouring Towns
Trivia
- Bedlington pit was the setting for the film Women in Love. Ken Russell, the director, chose the location after making a documentary of the miners' picnic a few years earlier.
- Humford Woods run east to west of the town. It has a varied wildlife with rabbits, deer, kingfishers, red squirrels, and otters. There is also evidence of a Beaker settlement within. The wood itself has a well maintained public footpath, ideal for walkers and cyclers of all ages.
- In 1999,The Chamber Of Trades was successful in a bid to have information about the town sent to Mars with the next American mission.
See also
External links
- Bedlington Website
- Bedlington Terriers F.C.
- Wansbeck District Council
- Bedlington Photos
- GENUKI (Accessed: 5 November, 2008)
- Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 5 November, 2008)
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