Blackhall Rocks
Encyclopedia
Blackhall Rocks is a village on the North Sea
coast of County Durham
, England
. It is situated on the A1086
between Horden
and Hartlepool
, and just south of Blackhall Colliery
which it adjoins. It is sometimes referred to by locals in the area as "The Rocks".
The village takes its name from the "Tweddle Blackhall Farms" which are located on a lane which runs between Crimdon
and High Hesleden
located roughly one mile to the south of Blackhall Rocks. Whereas the "Rocks" describe the cliff
-tops nearby.
One of the earliest mentions of Blackhall Rocks is in the mid-19th century, when the beach was photographed. This was a time when the beach was part of a minor holiday resort
, due to the location of a hotel above the cliffs. It was around this time a railways station was established here, which was closed by the Dr Beeching Axe in the 1960s. The hotel remained up until the 1970s when it was demolished, at a time when it had been used as apartments, as a form of temporary housing, by Easington (district)
Council, since the 1940s.
Despite the presence of the hotel, it was not until the 1920s and 1930s that Blackhall Rocks really developed as a community and village, something which is itself evident driving down the "coast road" (the A1086
). Most of the houses along this road were built for middle class
commuters, hence the proliferation of semi-detached
houses and bungalow
s. In the late 1930s the local council built a large council estate to the west of the coast road, around the road to High Hesleden
. Later on in the 1960s and 1970s a series of new council homes were built to the east, between the coast road and the railway line.
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast of County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated on the A1086
A1086 road
The A1086 is a road in County Durham, north-east England.The route of the A1086 starts from the A19 junction in Easington and runs to the A179 junction in Hartlepool via Peterlee, Horden, Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon and Hart Station. It is known locally as the Coast Road. The road...
between Horden
Horden
Horden is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the North Sea coast, to the east of Peterlee, approximately 12 miles south of Sunderland. Horden was a mining village until the closure of the Horden Colliery in 1987. Main features include the Welfare and Memorial Parks and St...
and Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, and just south of Blackhall Colliery
Blackhall Colliery
Blackhall Colliery is a village on the North Sea coast of County Durham, in England. It is situated on the A1086 between Horden and Hartlepool. To the south of the Blackhall Colliery's Catholic church is Blackhall Rocks....
which it adjoins. It is sometimes referred to by locals in the area as "The Rocks".
The village takes its name from the "Tweddle Blackhall Farms" which are located on a lane which runs between Crimdon
Crimdon
Crimdon is a village in County Durham, England. It is situated on the North Sea coast, between Blackhall Rocks and Hartlepool on the A1086 road. Crimdon was formerly a popular holiday resort for miners and their families from nearby towns and villages, on account of its affordability for low-income...
and High Hesleden
High Hesleden
High Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a few miles north of Hartlepool, between Blackhall Rocks and Hesleden....
located roughly one mile to the south of Blackhall Rocks. Whereas the "Rocks" describe the cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
-tops nearby.
One of the earliest mentions of Blackhall Rocks is in the mid-19th century, when the beach was photographed. This was a time when the beach was part of a minor holiday resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
, due to the location of a hotel above the cliffs. It was around this time a railways station was established here, which was closed by the Dr Beeching Axe in the 1960s. The hotel remained up until the 1970s when it was demolished, at a time when it had been used as apartments, as a form of temporary housing, by Easington (district)
Easington (district)
Easington was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in eastern County Durham, England. It contained the settlements of Easington, Seaham, Peterlee, Murton, Horden, Blackhall, Wingate and Castle Eden...
Council, since the 1940s.
Despite the presence of the hotel, it was not until the 1920s and 1930s that Blackhall Rocks really developed as a community and village, something which is itself evident driving down the "coast road" (the A1086
A1086 road
The A1086 is a road in County Durham, north-east England.The route of the A1086 starts from the A19 junction in Easington and runs to the A179 junction in Hartlepool via Peterlee, Horden, Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon and Hart Station. It is known locally as the Coast Road. The road...
). Most of the houses along this road were built for middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
commuters, hence the proliferation of semi-detached
Semi-detached
Semi-detached housing consists of pairs of houses built side by side as units sharing a party wall and usually in such a way that each house's layout is a mirror image of its twin...
houses and bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
s. In the late 1930s the local council built a large council estate to the west of the coast road, around the road to High Hesleden
High Hesleden
High Hesleden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a few miles north of Hartlepool, between Blackhall Rocks and Hesleden....
. Later on in the 1960s and 1970s a series of new council homes were built to the east, between the coast road and the railway line.