Gosforth (gŏz'fərth), town (1991 pop. 25,128), Newcastle upon Tyne metropolitan district, NE England. Formerly a coal-mining center, Gosforth has become a largely residential suburb of Newcastle.
Gosforth
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For the village in Cumbria, see Gosforth, Cumbria.
"South Gosforth" redirects here. For the Metro station, see South Gosforth Metro station.
Coordinates: 55°00′25″N 1°37′23″W / 55.007°N 1.623°W
| Gosforth | |
 Gosforth High Street |
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  Gosforth
Gosforth shown within Tyne and Wear |
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| Population | 23,620 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Metropolitan borough | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Metropolitan county | Tyne and Wear |
| Region | North East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |
| Postcode district | NE3 |
| Dialling code | 0191 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Tyne and Wear |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear | |
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it was merged with the county borough of Newcastle, the urban district of Newburn and parts of Castle Ward Rural District into the Metropolitan Borough of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620.[1] There are two electoral wards in Gosforth, East Gosforth and West Gosforth.
Contents |
History
The origin of the area's name is thought to have come from the title Gese Ford meaning “the ford over the Ouse”, referring to a crossing over the local River Ouse or Ouseburn, however others think that it comes from the Old English Gosaford meaning a ford where the geese dwell, and it is first recorded as Goseford in 1166.[2] Richard Welford notes that the names of North and South Gosforth come from the north and south of the River Ouse.[3] Gosforth is first mentioned in 1166, and thus some think the settlement developed at this time[4] and South Gosforth dates back past 1319, when it has been noted that the English Army retreated there from a siege on Berwick.[5] According to the 19th century publication, A Topographical Dictionary of England, the township of Gosforth was held of the crown by the Surtees family from 1100 to 1509, when it passed by marriage to Robert Brandling.[6]
Parishes and urban districts
In 1777 Gosforth contained 7 townships of North Gosforth, South Gosforth, Coxlodge, Kenton, Fawdon, East Brunton, and West Brunton.[3] By order of the Local Government Board on 20 September 1872, the parishes of South Gosforth and Coxlodge were constituted into an urban district, the South Gosforth Local Board. After the 1894 Local Government Act, it became the South Gosforth Urban District Council. A year later, by a Northumberland County Council order dated 14 March 1895, the title was changed again to Gosforth Urban District Council.[7]
On 15 July 1903 the District Council applied for an order from Northumberland County Council, to extend its boundaries to include the parishes of North Gosforth, East Brunton, West Brunton, Fawdon and the greater part of Kenton. On 9 September 1903 an enquiry was held into the Gosforth Scheme, but the proposal was refused. The parishes of Coxlodge and South Gosforth were amalgamated into the parish of Gosforth in 1908. Gosforth then extended its boundaries after the County of Northumberland Review Order 1935, to include part of Castle Ward Rural District. This comprised parts of East Brunton, Fawdon, and North Gosforth civil parishes. The Gosforth Urban District Council was finally abolished on 1 April 1974 to become part of Newcastle Metropolitan Borough Council.[7]
St. Nicholas's Church
The existing parish church, St. Nicholas's Church was built in 1799, after the previous one had been pulled down. The 1799 architect was John Dodds. Between 1818 and 1920, John Dobson was the architect for some alterations to the church. The eastern half was added later in 1913, this was the biggest alteration to the church, and the architect was Hicks and Charlewood. A new vestry was added in 1959, partly as a war memorial, designed by F.W. Harvey. The church's predecessor was mentioned in 1170, when the advowson changed hands. In 1220 Gosforth was also mentioned Brand's History of Newcastle. The earliest parish register is dated 1697.[8]
Mining
In the 19th century, Gosforth was the location of a number of collieries, including Gosforth[9] and Coxlodge Collieries.[10] The area of land which Coxlodge Colliery occupied is around the Regent Centre area, and the Gosforth Colliery was nearer to modern day South Gosforth.
Population
As of the 2001 census there were 23,620 people living in Gosforth. In the nineteenth century Gosforth's population was largely deemed by the coal trade. In 1801 there were 1,385 inhabitants, most of which lived in Kenton, and were employed in the colliery there. In 1831 the population had risen to 3,546, partly due to the opening of the Fawdon and Coxlodge collieries. Between 1831 and 1871 the population only grew by a very small amount to 3,723, due to the pits at Fawdon and Kenton having ceased to function.[3]
Landmarks
It has a large business complex called the Regent Centre, which houses many notable organisations including the Newcastle regional centre for the Open University and HM Revenue & Customs. Gosforth High Street is part of the Great North Road. Gosforth's main High School is Gosforth High School, and some of the private schools in Gosforth are Westfield School and Newcastle School for Boys. St Nicholas Hospital is also located in Gosforth, which houses the Jubilee Theatre, a Victorian Theatre built in 1899.[11]
Areas of Gosforth
Apart from South Gosforth, many districts of Gosforth are suffixed "Park". There is Grange Park, Brunton Park, Melton Park, Grove Park, Bridge Park, Gosforth Park (including Newcastle Racecourse), Newcastle Great Park and Whitebridge Park. East of the Great North Road, Garden Village was developed on 'garden suburb' lines in the 1920s to house workers at the nearby LNER electric train depot (now the Metro depot).
Gosforth has a range of suburban style housing and executive apartments and a mix of local pubs, restaurants and the famous Three Mile Inn. Gosforth's newest pub is Wetherspoons, The Job Bulman, named after the founder of Bulman Village (now central Gosforth). The Job Bulman is located in the former 1920s post office building on St Nicholas Avenue and was Gosforth's first non smoking pub. In the mid-nineteenth century Bulman Village developed in the area which is now Gosforth High Street.
Brunton Park and Melton Park
Gosforth holds many estates such as Brunton Park, and Melton Park. These house several amenities and local businesses such as a baker, newsagent, estate agent, and hair & beauty salons. Brunton Park had a pub, the Royal George, which has closed. Another pub is the Three Mile Inn which is on the same complex as Scalini's (Italian restaurant), just a short walk from the area.
Melton Park has the ruins of a chapel which dates back to early medieval or late Norman times. It may have been built on the site of a Roman fort.[12]
Newcastle Great Park
The latest expansion of Gosforth is in the north-west corner of the suburb called "Newcastle Great Park" which is six years into a ten to fifteen year building project. The Warkworth Woods development is complete with the Melbury sector due to be completed by the end of 2009, the development has already extended into Kingston Park with the Greenfields site and along Brunton Lane with building work on East Farm Village already commenced and the summer of 2009 saw the completion of Brunton First School. Great Park village centre is currently under development along Brunton Lane too. According to consultation with Great Park residents at local meetings, the village will comprise of a nursing home, private hospital, hotel, new superstore and public house.
Sports and entertainment
Gosforth has sports facilities such as Gosforth Swimming Pool among others. Famous sportsmen from Gosforth include footballer Alan Shearer and athlete Jonathan Edwards.
Gosforth has had a long connection with local rugby football, currently being home to the Northern Rugby Club (founded 1875)[13] and namesake of the nearby current incarnation of the Gosforth Rugby Club (originally formed in 1877). The city's rugby club, the Newcastle Falcons, was also originally based in Gosforth, also originally being called Gosforth Rugby Club, and later Newcastle Gosforth.[14] Gosforth Central Park has two bowling greens with a women's and a men's club, two tennis courts, a basketball court and a fenced play area.[15]
Gosforth has a 90 acre golf course which opened in 1906.[16] Gosforth has been home to the South Northumberland Cricket Club since 1892,[17] which is home itself to the South North Bulls team.
Gosforth formerly had two cinemas, the Royalty Cinema on the High Street and the Globe Cinema on Salters Road. The Royalty Cinema opened on 17 October 1934 and closed on 30 December 1981.[18] A video documentary, Last Reel at the Royalty, viewable online was produced about the cinema's history. The Globe Cinema later became a bingo hall and is now Poon's Gosforth Palace Chinese restaurant.
The ground on which the Asda supermarket stands was formerly the Gosforth Greyhound Stadium until the late 1980s. The stadium had also previously been a Speedway Track from 1929–30.[19]
Business
Many businesses have offices in the Regent Centre, near the High Street. Gosforth also houses the headquarters of the troubled bank, Northern Rock, and Partnership House. In 2008 the bank was nationalised due to the problems it has experienced during the credit crunch. Greggs, the largest national retail bakery chain, started with John Gregg's single shop on Gosforth High Street in the 1930s; initially Greggs was known as Greggs of Gosforth.
Shopping
Gosforth has its own High Street, which has been home to local shops for over a hundred years.[20] Shops on the high street include a branch of Boots, Thorpes, (a well established local hardware store), estate agents and banks, among many others. In 1979 the Gosforth Shopping Centre was built on the High Street and connects to Gosforth Central Park; shops here include a new Sainsbury's and WHSmith. The park was built in 1932 for £10,000 and opened on 6 August, 1932.[21] The High Street had a Woolworths store, which closed on 3 January 2009, due to the company being in administration. In addition to local cafés, the high street also has chain cafés including a Caffè Nero. The Brandling Arms pub on the High Street has its own local edition of My Monopoly, using Gosforth locations.
As of spring 2009 local councillors, Trinity Church and Gavin Black (agent for Gosforth Shopping Centre) are working on a strategy for developing Gosforth High Street. Gavin Black are wishing to use a covered entrance near Trinity, bring the entrance of the shopping centre forward. This is hoped to tie in with the Trinity Square development, on the area of land in front of the church. Trinity Square is to be the focal point of the High Street, giving a space for farmers' markets, street theatre and other community activities. There may be a raised paved link across to the shopping centre. This project may cost around £400,000, meaning this may be a long term plan. A Costa Coffee opened inside the Shopping Centre in late 2009. There will be a mall refurbishment costing £600,000 in 2010. As of late 2009 units 22 and 23 are currently under discussion for a possible restaurant site. Nick Cott, Councillor for West Gosforth ward, noted that current discussions were about transport issues and environmental improvements.
Supermarkets
Opposite Regent Centre is a 24 hour Asda, which lies on the site of a former dog-racing track. The Asda supermarket was refurbished and extended in 2007 to include a photographic service centre and restaurant. The area also hosts many smaller-type supermarkets, designed for quick "Essentials" service, such as the Cooperative Food store in the Regent Farm estate. This estate also houses a new for 2009 Netto store, which was built on the ground of a former Kwik Save/FreshXpress store and a pub, The Collingwood. A new Sainsbury's is an addition (2008) to Gosforth High Street's Gosforth Shopping Centre, on the site of a former Kwik Save/Somerfield store. A Co-operative store is to open on 10 December 2009 in the former Woolworths shop, which closed in early 2009.
Nearby Kingston Park houses one of the country's largest Tesco supermarkets, which is known as a "Tesco Extra" superstore.
Newcastle City Council reported to Great Park residents in a meeting that it has outline planning permission in 2007/08 for a new supermarket. However no such location has yet been confirmed.
Transport, communication and amenities
Gosforth is served by five Tyne and Wear Metro stations: Ilford Road, South Gosforth, Regent Centre, Wansbeck Road and Fawdon. The control centre for the Metro system is located at South Gosforth station, and the main depot and car sheds are nearby.
NE3 is the postcode area for Gosforth and BT Landlines start with (0191) 213, 217, 223, 236, 284, and 285.
Cable, provided by Virgin Media, does not fully cover Gosforth. It is not available to homes covered by the Wideopen Telephone Exchange in the north of the suburb.
In 1902 Gosforth was linked by tramway to Wallsend, then Newcastle a year later; this tramway has long since been removed as other travel links evolved.[20] In the late 1850s, prior to horse trams, a resident by the name of Mark Frater established a omnibus service connecting Gosforth and Newcastle.[8]
In the late 19th century a volunteer fire brigade was started in Gosforth,[8] later in 1894 a fire station was built on Gosforth High Street and since 1990 Gosforth has been served by Gosforth Community Fire Station, located on Jubilee Road.[22] Gosforth's first police station opened in 1857, with 4 policemen, due to the County Constabulary Act of 1856.[3] Its last police station, on Hawthorn Road, closed in the 1990s and Gosforth is now served from Etal Lane police station.
Gosforth has a number of post offices, however on 1 July, 2008 the Post Office announced the next set of post offices which would close; the Gosforth Garden Village branch and a nearby branch in Kenton closed.[23] A public meeting was held about the closure the Garden Village post office on the evening of 28 July. Postal facilities had first been introduced in Gosforth in around 1840.[3]
In 2009 Newcastle City Council agreed to £9.6 million worth of plans to revamp roads around Gosforth, including the High Street and the Great North Road. With the proposed improvements there would be up to 13 months of roadworks, starting in 2012. The High Street is to have bus lanes, and other traffic is to be confined to one lane in each direction. The city council aims to get 90% of the funding for the congestion improvements from the Department for Transport.[24]
Education
Primary schools
First schools |
Middle/Junior high schools
High schoolsIndependent schools
Sixth form collegesAdult education |
Gosforth Library
Gosforth has a public library which was re-built in 2007. In November 2006, the old Gosforth Library was closed and moved to a nearby temporary location. The single storey building was subsequently demolished and has been replaced by a new two storey building. The new Library and Customer Service Centre, costing £2.8 million opened on 17 December 2007. The Gosforth Customer Service Centre includes a PayPoint and the library has a self service facility.[25] The new building will also incorporate 'public art' to give the Centre an identity and a connection with the local area. The Library was officially opened on 8 February 2008 by John Grundy, a local television presenter; music students from Gosforth High School also performed at the opening.
The Library is also used as a Polling Station.
Famous natives and residents
Notable natives and residents of Gosforth include:
- Richard Adams - fair-trade businessman - lived in Gosforth[26]
- Donna Air - actress and television presenter.[27]
- Michael Chopra - footballer for Sunderland.[28]
- Jonathan Edwards - triple jump world record holder.[29]
- Robbie Elliott - retired footballer, current coach for Newcastle United.[30]
- John Grundy - television presenter.
- Rowland Hodge - shipbuilder (lived at Coxlodge Hall).
- Wilfred Josephs - composer.[31]
- David Knopfler - guitarist in Dire Straits, moved to Gosforth as a child, brother of Mark.
- Mark Knopfler - guitarist and vocalist in Dire Straits, moved to Gosforth as a child.[31]
- Andrew Leslie - shipbuilder (lived at Coxlodge Hall).[4]
- Sally Morton - Tyne Tees Television announcer.[32]
- Ben Price - actor.[33]
- Alan Shearer - retired international footballer.[34]
- Neil Tennant - musician, and one half of the Pet Shop Boys. The Tennants moved from North Shields to Gosforth when Neil was young.[35]
Nearest places |
Nearest metro stations
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Photo gallery
Gosforth High Street
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The north end of the High Street |
 The Gosforth Hotel and shops |
 The High Street taken from in between the two churches |
 The High Street as it appears when arriving Gosforth |
 The side of Gosforth Shopping Centre |
 The Job Bulman pub (old post office building) |
References
- ^ "Census 2001 : Urban Areas : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population". Office for National Statistics. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D8271.xls. Retrieved 2009-08-26.
- ^ Stan Beckensall (2004). Northumberland Place-Names. Butler Publishing, Thropton, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7LP. ISBN 094692841X.
- ^ a b c d e Welford, Richard (c.1879). A History of the Parish of Gosforth, In the County of Northumberland. Walter D. Welford, Newcastle upon Tyne.
- ^ a b "Newcastle upon Tyne". northumbrian-coast.co.uk. http://www.northumbrian-coast.co.uk/newcastle.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ Whellan, William (1855). History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland. Whellan and Co.. p. 454. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8-kGAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage. Retrieved 2008-05-04. "The village of South Gosforth is situated two and a half miles north-east by north of Newcastle. Here it was that the English army retreated when on its way to the siege of Berwick, in 1319."
- ^ Lewis, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of England. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50985. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
- ^ a b Reference number UD.GO. Tyne & Wear Achieve Service.
- ^ a b c Harbottle, George. Gosforth and Its Parish Church: A Thousand Years of History. ISBN 0907113001.
- ^ "Gosforth Colliery". The Durham Mining Museum. http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/g009.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ "Coxlodge Colliery". The Durham Mining Museum. http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/c039.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ "Theatre". Juniper Productions. http://www.juniperproductions.org.uk/?p=theatre. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ "Hidden Chapel in Gosforth estate". BBC News. 2006-05-19. http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2006/05/18/norman_chapel_faith_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ "History". Northern Rugby Club. http://www.northernfc.co.uk/history.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Club History". Gosforth Rugby Club. http://www.gosforthrfc.fsnet.co.uk/history.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Gosforth Central Park". Newcastle City Council. http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/gosforthcentralpark. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Gosforth Golf Club". Gosforth Golf Club. http://www.gosforthgolfclub.com/. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ "South North Bulls". South Northumberland Cricket Club. http://www.southnorth.co.uk/101-South-North-Bulls.html. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ "Royalty Cinema". Royalty Cinema. http://www.royaltycinema.com/. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ "Gosforth (Newcastle)". Defunct Speedway. http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Gosforth.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ a b "Gosforth High Street". TimArchive. 2000-11-25. http://www.timarchive.freeuk.com/html/gosfhist.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ "Gosforth History". Gosforth Life. http://www.gosforthlife.co.uk/gosforth-history.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ "Gosforth Community Fire Station". Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. http://www.twfire.org/gosforth/. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- ^ "Post Office consultation". BBC Tyne News. 2008-07-01. http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2008/07/01/post_office_consultation_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
- ^ "Gosforth road revamp could leave Newcastle in a jam". The Eventing Chronicle. 2009-10-30. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/10/30/gosforth-road-revamp-could-leave-newcastle-in-a-jam-72703-25051469/. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Gosforth Customer Service Centre and Library". Newcastle City Council. http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/cssgosforth. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
- ^ "Honours for 'inspirational achievement'". Newcastle University. 2005-05-06. http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/press.release/item/1115378986. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
- ^ "Stars happy on home ground". icNewcsatle. 2001-12-20. http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0300entertainment/0600theatre/2001/12/20/stars-happy-on-home-ground-50081-11492004/. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Chopra keeping head down ahead of derby". The Northern Echo. 2008-04-11. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/display.var.2189162.0.chopra_keeping_head_down_ahead_of_derby.php. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Olympian Jonathan Edwards has 'crisis of faith'". The Telegraph. 2007-02-12. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/12/nedwards12.xml. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Footballer's wife is living the dream". The Journal. 2003-03-31. http://www.journallive.co.uk/2003/03/31/footballer-s-wife-is-living-the-dream-50081-12792829/. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ a b "Famous people with North East Connections" (PDF). Newcastle City Council. 2004-09. http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/wwwfileroot/localstudies/factsheets/Factsheet2People.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "50 years of entertainment". The Evening Chronicle. 2009-01-17. http://rememberwhen.gazettelive.co.uk/2009/01/50-years-of-entertainment.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "Going for gold at the Great North Run". Cafod. 2006-10-02. http://www.cafod.org.uk/news/going-for-gold-2006-10-02. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Newcastle and Blackburn legend Alan Shearer – simply the best". SportIngo. 2008-03-13. http://www.sportingo.com/football/a7507_newcastle-blackburn-legend-alan-shearer-simply-best. Retrieved 2008-04-11.
- ^ "Pet Shop Boys singer mourns loss of father". The Journal. 2009-01-22. http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2009/01/22/pet-shop-boys-singer-mourns-loss-of-father-61634-22749548/. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gosforth |
- Kay's Geography urban case study profile of Gosforth
- Ward Info: East Gosforth at Newcastle City Council
- Ward Info: West Gosforth at Newcastle City Council
- Gosforth Life - Photographs from Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Gosforth Garden Village Association - Residents' website
- "Gosforth". GENUKI. http://www.genuki.bpears.org.uk/NBL/Gosforth/index.html. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
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