Consett
Encyclopedia
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham
, England
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne
. It is home to 27,394 (2001).
Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines
. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town
: below the ground was coking coal and blackband iron ore, and nearby was limestone
. These were the three ingredients needed for blast furnace
s to produce iron
and steel
.
The town is perched on the steep eastern bank of the River Derwent
and owes its origins to industrial development arising from lead
mining
in the area, together with the development of the steel
industry in the Derwent Valley, which is said to have been initiated by immigrant German cutlers and sword-makers from Solingen
, who settled in the village of Shotley Bridge
during the seventeenth century.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Derwent Valley was the cradle of the British steel industry, helped by the easy availability of coal
from Tyneside
and the import of high quality iron ore from Sweden
via the port of Newcastle upon Tyne
. However, following the invention of the Bessemer process
in the 19th century, steel could be made from British iron ore (which was otherwise too heavily contaminated by phosphorus
) and the Derwent Valley's geographical advantage was lost, allowing Sheffield
to become the leading centre of the British steel industry.
, Pat Glass
. Before her, Hilary Armstrong
had held the seat since 1987, having taken over the position from her father Ernest Armstrong
. Before 1983, the town had its own Member of Parliament. David Watkins
held the Consett seat from 1966 until its demise.
Consett was part of Derwentside
District Council, which merged into the Durham County Council unitary authority on 1 April 2009. The Consett area is currently split into four electoral divisions (Benfieldside; Consett North; Delves Lane and Consett South; and Leadgate and Medomsley), each of which elects two County Councillors.
Consett is part of the North East Region, which elects three MEPs (Member of the European Parliament
) to the European Parliament
. The region is currently represented by Labour MEP, Stephen Hughes
, Conservative MEP, Martin Callanan
and Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall.
valley on the edge of the boundary of County Durham and Northumberland. The Derwent Reservoir
is located just west of the town. It is a town with the usual range of amenities, shops, pubs, night clubs, residential areas and industrial estates. There are a number of villages in its immediate surroundings; some of them are contiguous (for example Shotley Bridge
and Blackhill) and some are not (for example Moorside
and Castleside
).
Consett town centre is around 885 feet (270m) above sea level making it only slightly lower than the town of Alston in Cumbria
which is said to be the highest market town
in Britain.
was established in 1864, a successor to the original Derwent Iron Company of 1840, when the first blast furnaces were introduced. Over the next 100 years, Consett became one of the world's most prominent steel-making towns, and the name Consett became synonymous with iron and steel, making the steel for Blackpool Tower
and Britain's most famous nuclear submarines.
Steel dominated Consett's economy for 140 years. The steelworks was visually spectacular, too, and the town was renowned for images of its tall cooling towers and other large plant looming over rows of terraced houses. The townspeople could hear the ghostly sound of the works through the night. During the iron and steel era a pall of 'red dust' hung over the town; airborne iron oxide
from the steel-making plant. At its peak in the 1960s, the Consett steel works employed 6,000 workers, and it was nationalised to become part of the large British Steel Corporation. Although there was intense competition in the 1970s from both British competitors and from abroad, Consett steelworks remained relatively successful and was making a profit in the year that it closed. As the rolling mills were closed in the 1970s, despite local opposition, there were rumours and heated discussions over the future of the plant as a whole.
In 1980 the Consett steelworks were closed, with the loss of 3,700 jobs plus many more from the 'knock-on' effect in ancillary industries. It was a devastating blow, and the unemployment rate in Consett became double the national average. According to government publicity this closure was part of Margaret Thatcher
's Conservative Government
's strategy to revitalise UK industry, following the industrial action that had taken place in the UK in the 1970s. However, few in Consett believed this, and a deputation of steelworkers lobbied the government in London. It could be argued that it was part of a larger political strategy launched by Thatcher in the UK and Reagan
in the USA to defeat the unionised working class, privatise industry, asset-strip and eventually deindustrialise large sectors of Britain and the USA. This allowed industry to move to low-wage economies abroad to provide higher returns on investments. The decision ripped the heart out of the local community. The steelworks had always avoided closure, even in difficult economic times. The social impact of the decision from Whitehall
was quite devastating. This was often characterised by many of the local people at the time as "The Murder of a Town".
The town became one of the worst unemployment blackspots in Britain, and the unemplyment figure reached 36 percent in 1981. The demolition of the works carved a a massive hole in the heart of the town. The demolition was very thorough, and even the most imposing and architecturally important building in the town, the Company Offices, was not left untouched. To this day there is no permanent museum to the history of the steelworks apart from some pots that were used to transport molten pig iron
from the blast furnaces to the steel plant, and its influence on Consett and its families over the generations has been quietly glossed over. Even the development plan implemented to re-build the town - Project Genesis - has a 'Year Zero' name which suggests there was nothing worthwhile before.
The closure of the British Steel
works at Consett in 1980 marked the end of the Derwent Valley
steel heritage, and the decline of the town of Consett. Along with the closure of coal mines, it was also a first step in the decline of all heavy industry in the Derwent Valley. Regeneration in the 1990s, through Project Genesis, went some way to repair the damage done, and unemployment came down to the national average, although this is partly due to outward migration and economic inactivity due to long-term illness, which is not included in the government figures, is high. As the current Coalition government launches its programme of austerity cuts to pay off the nation's deficit, Consett's workers are again feeling the pinch as the cuts bite into the public sector. Durham County Council, which provides a lot of employment for local people, is planning to reduce its workforce by about 1600 over the next three years from 2011..
The last steel ingot from the Consett ironworks was made into a cross and is kept at St Mary's RC Church, Blackhill.
Alongside the public sector, small and medium-sized businesses now provide jobs in the area. Phileas Fogg
Company (County Durham), with its factory on the town's Number One Industrial Estate, were mildly famous for a few years from 1988 for their snack food "Made in Medomsley Road, Consett" television adverts. The Phileas Fogg Company is now owned by KP Snacks
as part of United Biscuits
.
Since 2000, several new housing developments have taken place on the former steelworks site and surrounding areas. Derwentside College
, formerly sited at Park Road, moved to a new campus at Berry Edge in September 2002 and national retailers have moved into Hermiston Retail Park.
Corps Band. The band was formed in December 1879 and went out on the streets playing at Christmas. The original band consisted of just four players, bandmaster Edward Lennox and bandsmen George Storey, James Simpson and Robert Greenwood.
Consett is home to the Empire Theatre, one of County Durham's oldest theatres. Recently refurbished, the theatre stages variety acts, plays and a Christmas pantomime. The theatre also screens blockbuster films at times when there are no live performances.
Consett was once also the home of the unique Iron Theatre, a short-lived playhouse that stood in the town centre near Delves Lane from c.1880 until its demolition just before the First World War. The theatre was the brainchild of Sir David Dale, chairman of the board of directors of the Consett Iron Co. Ltd. and a keen amateur dramatist. Built entirely from the product of his iron and steel works (hence its name), the theatre enjoyed a brief reputation for producing spectacular operatic productions, largely funded at Dale's personal expense. The theatre struggled to survive after Dale's death in 1906 and was demolished for scrap shortly before the First World War.
Several pubs have at least taken names that reflect the town's steel-making past - the Works, the Company, and the Company Row. From its bygone days of a steeltown, with a huge reliance on rail, next to where the main railway station used to be is a club named the Station Club, now opposite a health centre. With the steelworks gone, visitors and inhabitants are beginning to realise the beauty of the picturesque views over the Derwent
Valley, and Consett is becoming a popular place to live for commuters from Durham
and Tyne & Wear looking for a taste of the country.
("The Steelmen") as part of Durham County Council's plans for the regeneration of Consett. These plans involve the demolition of the former headquarters of Derwentside District Council at Consett Civic Centre and the relocation of Consett AFC to Crookhall. The site will be redeveloped and the new Consett Academy built there.
On 5 July 2010, the Secretary of State for Education announced plans for the overhaul of England's school building programme. The announcement stated that it would be "irresponsible to carry on regardless with an inflexible, and needlessly complex programme." Many building programmes that had not commenced were cancelled but the plans for Consett Academy and an academy at nearby Stanley were "for discussion."
Local opponents to the building of an academy on the Belle Vue site in Consett unsuccessfully launched an application to have the land registered as a village green. This would have prohibited the development of the land. A public inquiry was held at Consett Civic Centre during the week commencing 12 July 2010. Finally, on 11 April 2011, Durham County Council's Highways Committee turned down the application to grant village green status for the Belle Vue area paving the way for the promised development of Consett Academy and a sports centre to replace the separate wet and dry centres in Consett. The development will see the demolition of Belle Vue Sports Centre (formerly known as Consett Sports Centre), Belle Vue Swimming Centre (formerly known as Consett Baths), Belle Vue football ground (home of Consett A.F.C.
) and Consett Civic Centre (former headquarters of Derwentside
District Council). Durham County Council intend to maintain a presence in the town centre through its Customer Access Point in Front Street which occupies half of the former Woolworth store.
Consett Civic Centre was closed following a formal ceremony on 25th August 2011.
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...
, about 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. It is home to 27,394 (2001).
Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
: below the ground was coking coal and blackband iron ore, and nearby was limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. These were the three ingredients needed for blast furnace
Blast furnace
A blast furnace is a type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron.In a blast furnace, fuel and ore and flux are continuously supplied through the top of the furnace, while air is blown into the bottom of the chamber, so that the chemical reactions...
s to produce iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
and steel
Steelmaking
Steelmaking is the second step in producing steel from iron ore. In this stage, impurities such as sulfur, phosphorus, and excess carbon are removed from the raw iron, and alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, chromium and vanadium are added to produce the exact steel required.-Older...
.
The town is perched on the steep eastern bank of the River Derwent
River Derwent, North East England
The River Derwent is a river on the border between County Durham and Northumberland in the north east of England. It broadens into the Derwent Reservoir, west of Consett. The Derwent is a tributary of the River Tyne, which it joins near the MetroCentre...
and owes its origins to industrial development arising from lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
in the area, together with the development of the steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
industry in the Derwent Valley, which is said to have been initiated by immigrant German cutlers and sword-makers from Solingen
Solingen
Solingen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the northern edge of the region called Bergisches Land, south of the Ruhr area, and with a 2009 population of 161,366 is the second largest city in the Bergisches Land...
, who settled in the village of Shotley Bridge
Shotley Bridge
Shotley Bridge is a village in the Derwent Valley, adjoining the town of Consett in County Durham, England. Shotley Bridge was once the heart of Britain's swordmaking industry.The origins of swordmaking here dated from 1691...
during the seventeenth century.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Derwent Valley was the cradle of the British steel industry, helped by the easy availability of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
from Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
and the import of high quality iron ore from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
via the port of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. However, following the invention of the Bessemer process
Bessemer process
The Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass-production of steel from molten pig iron. The process is named after its inventor, Henry Bessemer, who took out a patent on the process in 1855. The process was independently discovered in 1851 by William Kelly...
in the 19th century, steel could be made from British iron ore (which was otherwise too heavily contaminated by phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
) and the Derwent Valley's geographical advantage was lost, allowing Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
to become the leading centre of the British steel industry.
Governance
Consett is part of the North West Durham Parliamentary Constituency represented by Labour MPMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Pat Glass
Pat Glass
Patricia Glass is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for North West Durham since 2010.She was born in Esh Winning, County Durham.-Career:...
. Before her, Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Jane Armstrong, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010.-Early life:...
had held the seat since 1987, having taken over the position from her father Ernest Armstrong
Ernest Armstrong
Ernest Armstrong was a British Labour Party politician.Armstrong was educated at Wolsingham Grammar School and City of Leeds Teacher Training College, and ultimately became a headmaster...
. Before 1983, the town had its own Member of Parliament. David Watkins
David Watkins (UK politician)
David John Watkins was a British Labour Party politician.Watkins was educated at South Central and Merrywood Grammar Schools, Bristol, and Bristol College of Technology. He was an engineering inspector and president of his branch of the Amalgamated Engineering Union...
held the Consett seat from 1966 until its demise.
Consett was part of Derwentside
Derwentside
Derwentside was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in County Durham, England.The district took its name from the River Derwent, which made up part of the northern border of the district. Its main towns were Consett and Stanley, with the district council offices on Consett's Medomsley...
District Council, which merged into the Durham County Council unitary authority on 1 April 2009. The Consett area is currently split into four electoral divisions (Benfieldside; Consett North; Delves Lane and Consett South; and Leadgate and Medomsley), each of which elects two County Councillors.
Consett is part of the North East Region, which elects three MEPs (Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
) to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The region is currently represented by Labour MEP, Stephen Hughes
Stephen Hughes (politician)
Stephen Skipsey Hughes is a Member of the European Parliament for the Labour Party for the North East England. Representing the Durham constituency between 1984 and 1999, Hughes was elected to its successor constituency in 1999 and re-elected in 2004 and 2009...
, Conservative MEP, Martin Callanan
Martin Callanan
Martin Callanan is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been a Member of the European Parliament for the North East England constituency since 1999, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2009...
and Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall.
Geography
Consett sits above the rural DerwentRiver Derwent, North East England
The River Derwent is a river on the border between County Durham and Northumberland in the north east of England. It broadens into the Derwent Reservoir, west of Consett. The Derwent is a tributary of the River Tyne, which it joins near the MetroCentre...
valley on the edge of the boundary of County Durham and Northumberland. The Derwent Reservoir
Derwent Reservoir, North East England
Derwent Reservoir is a reservoir on the River Derwent, on the border between County Durham and Northumberland, in England. It is west of Consett....
is located just west of the town. It is a town with the usual range of amenities, shops, pubs, night clubs, residential areas and industrial estates. There are a number of villages in its immediate surroundings; some of them are contiguous (for example Shotley Bridge
Shotley Bridge
Shotley Bridge is a village in the Derwent Valley, adjoining the town of Consett in County Durham, England. Shotley Bridge was once the heart of Britain's swordmaking industry.The origins of swordmaking here dated from 1691...
and Blackhill) and some are not (for example Moorside
Moorside
Moorside is a suburb of Oldham in Greater Manchester, England. Moorside Cricket Club pay host to matches at their Ripponden Road ground....
and Castleside
Castleside
Castleside is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a short distance to the south-west of Consett. The village centre is located on the main A68 road which runs between Edinburgh and Darlington and the village crossroads allow easy access to Consett, the North Pennines and Stanhope...
).
Consett town centre is around 885 feet (270m) above sea level making it only slightly lower than the town of Alston in Cumbria
Alston, Cumbria
Alston is a small town in Cumbria, England on the River South Tyne. It is one of the highest elevation towns in the country, at about 1,000 feet above sea level.-Geography:...
which is said to be the highest market town
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
in Britain.
Economy
The Consett Iron CompanyConsett Iron Company
The Consett Iron Company Ltd was a major United Kingdom industrial undertaking based in the Consett area of County Durham. The company traded as colliery and limestone quarry owners and iron and steel manufacturers. The company was registered on 4 April 1864 as successor to the Derwent & Consett...
was established in 1864, a successor to the original Derwent Iron Company of 1840, when the first blast furnaces were introduced. Over the next 100 years, Consett became one of the world's most prominent steel-making towns, and the name Consett became synonymous with iron and steel, making the steel for Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower
Blackpool Tower Eye is a tourist attraction in Blackpool, Lancashire in England which was opened to the public on 14 May 1894. . Inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it rises to 518 feet & 9 inches . The tower is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers...
and Britain's most famous nuclear submarines.
Steel dominated Consett's economy for 140 years. The steelworks was visually spectacular, too, and the town was renowned for images of its tall cooling towers and other large plant looming over rows of terraced houses. The townspeople could hear the ghostly sound of the works through the night. During the iron and steel era a pall of 'red dust' hung over the town; airborne iron oxide
Iron oxide
Iron oxides are chemical compounds composed of iron and oxygen. All together, there are sixteen known iron oxides and oxyhydroxides.Iron oxides and oxide-hydroxides are widespread in nature, play an important role in many geological and biological processes, and are widely utilized by humans, e.g.,...
from the steel-making plant. At its peak in the 1960s, the Consett steel works employed 6,000 workers, and it was nationalised to become part of the large British Steel Corporation. Although there was intense competition in the 1970s from both British competitors and from abroad, Consett steelworks remained relatively successful and was making a profit in the year that it closed. As the rolling mills were closed in the 1970s, despite local opposition, there were rumours and heated discussions over the future of the plant as a whole.
In 1980 the Consett steelworks were closed, with the loss of 3,700 jobs plus many more from the 'knock-on' effect in ancillary industries. It was a devastating blow, and the unemployment rate in Consett became double the national average. According to government publicity this closure was part of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's Conservative Government
Premiership of Margaret Thatcher
The Premiership of Margaret Thatcher began on 4 May 1979, with a mandate to reverse the UK's economic decline and to reduce the role of the state in the economy...
's strategy to revitalise UK industry, following the industrial action that had taken place in the UK in the 1970s. However, few in Consett believed this, and a deputation of steelworkers lobbied the government in London. It could be argued that it was part of a larger political strategy launched by Thatcher in the UK and Reagan
Reagan
Reagan is an Irish surname, most commonly associated with Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. Reagan may also refer to:-Surname:*Nancy Reagan , widow of Ronald Reagan and First Lady from 1981 to 1989...
in the USA to defeat the unionised working class, privatise industry, asset-strip and eventually deindustrialise large sectors of Britain and the USA. This allowed industry to move to low-wage economies abroad to provide higher returns on investments. The decision ripped the heart out of the local community. The steelworks had always avoided closure, even in difficult economic times. The social impact of the decision from Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
was quite devastating. This was often characterised by many of the local people at the time as "The Murder of a Town".
The town became one of the worst unemployment blackspots in Britain, and the unemplyment figure reached 36 percent in 1981. The demolition of the works carved a a massive hole in the heart of the town. The demolition was very thorough, and even the most imposing and architecturally important building in the town, the Company Offices, was not left untouched. To this day there is no permanent museum to the history of the steelworks apart from some pots that were used to transport molten pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
from the blast furnaces to the steel plant, and its influence on Consett and its families over the generations has been quietly glossed over. Even the development plan implemented to re-build the town - Project Genesis - has a 'Year Zero' name which suggests there was nothing worthwhile before.
The closure of the British Steel
British Steel
British Steel was a major British steel producer. It originated as a nationalised industry, the British Steel Corporation , formed in 1967. This was converted to a public limited company, British Steel PLC, and privatised in 1988. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
works at Consett in 1980 marked the end of the Derwent Valley
Derwent Valley
The Derwent Valley Council is a Local Government Area of Tasmania, Australia. As its name suggests, it covers the upper part of the Derwent River, from the major town of New Norfolk to the remote south-west Hydro town of Strathgordon....
steel heritage, and the decline of the town of Consett. Along with the closure of coal mines, it was also a first step in the decline of all heavy industry in the Derwent Valley. Regeneration in the 1990s, through Project Genesis, went some way to repair the damage done, and unemployment came down to the national average, although this is partly due to outward migration and economic inactivity due to long-term illness, which is not included in the government figures, is high. As the current Coalition government launches its programme of austerity cuts to pay off the nation's deficit, Consett's workers are again feeling the pinch as the cuts bite into the public sector. Durham County Council, which provides a lot of employment for local people, is planning to reduce its workforce by about 1600 over the next three years from 2011..
The last steel ingot from the Consett ironworks was made into a cross and is kept at St Mary's RC Church, Blackhill.
Alongside the public sector, small and medium-sized businesses now provide jobs in the area. Phileas Fogg
Phileas Fogg snacks
Phileas Fogg snacks are a brand of snack products in the United Kingdom based on snacks from around the world. Each bag originally featured a cartoon picture of Phileas Fogg along with a letter from him explaining where in the world he found the particular snack, and the adventures he had trying...
Company (County Durham), with its factory on the town's Number One Industrial Estate, were mildly famous for a few years from 1988 for their snack food "Made in Medomsley Road, Consett" television adverts. The Phileas Fogg Company is now owned by KP Snacks
KP Snacks
KP Snacks is a British producer of branded and own-label maize and potato based snacks, "Choc Dips" and nuts. The KP originally stood for Kenyon Produce. The company is based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England....
as part of United Biscuits
United Biscuits
__FORCETOC__United Biscuits is a British multinational food manufacturer, makers of the BN biscuits, McVitie's biscuits, KP Nuts, Hula Hoops, The Real McCoy's crisps, Phileas Fogg snacks, Jacob's Cream Crackers, and Twiglets...
.
Since 2000, several new housing developments have taken place on the former steelworks site and surrounding areas. Derwentside College
Derwentside College
Derwentside College is a further education college based in Consett, County Durham, England. It is the major provider of post-16 education and training in the former district of Derwentside.The Principal and Chief Executive is Albert Croney....
, formerly sited at Park Road, moved to a new campus at Berry Edge in September 2002 and national retailers have moved into Hermiston Retail Park.
Culture
Consett was the first town in the world to have a Salvation ArmySalvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Corps Band. The band was formed in December 1879 and went out on the streets playing at Christmas. The original band consisted of just four players, bandmaster Edward Lennox and bandsmen George Storey, James Simpson and Robert Greenwood.
Consett is home to the Empire Theatre, one of County Durham's oldest theatres. Recently refurbished, the theatre stages variety acts, plays and a Christmas pantomime. The theatre also screens blockbuster films at times when there are no live performances.
Consett was once also the home of the unique Iron Theatre, a short-lived playhouse that stood in the town centre near Delves Lane from c.1880 until its demolition just before the First World War. The theatre was the brainchild of Sir David Dale, chairman of the board of directors of the Consett Iron Co. Ltd. and a keen amateur dramatist. Built entirely from the product of his iron and steel works (hence its name), the theatre enjoyed a brief reputation for producing spectacular operatic productions, largely funded at Dale's personal expense. The theatre struggled to survive after Dale's death in 1906 and was demolished for scrap shortly before the First World War.
Several pubs have at least taken names that reflect the town's steel-making past - the Works, the Company, and the Company Row. From its bygone days of a steeltown, with a huge reliance on rail, next to where the main railway station used to be is a club named the Station Club, now opposite a health centre. With the steelworks gone, visitors and inhabitants are beginning to realise the beauty of the picturesque views over the Derwent
Derwent
Derwent derives from the Brythonic term Derventio, meaning "valley thick with oaks". It may refer to:-Places:Australia* Derwent River * Derwent Valley Council* Electoral division of Derwent, TasmaniaUnited Kingdom...
Valley, and Consett is becoming a popular place to live for commuters from Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
and Tyne & Wear looking for a taste of the country.
New developments
There are plans for a new £20,000,000 sports complex, incorporating a swimming pool, regional tennis centre and new football stadium for Consett A.F.C.Consett A.F.C.
Consett Association Football Club is a football club based in Consett in County Durham, England. Established in 1899, the club currently plays in the Northern League Division One having been promoted as Division Two Champions in the 2005–06 season...
("The Steelmen") as part of Durham County Council's plans for the regeneration of Consett. These plans involve the demolition of the former headquarters of Derwentside District Council at Consett Civic Centre and the relocation of Consett AFC to Crookhall. The site will be redeveloped and the new Consett Academy built there.
On 5 July 2010, the Secretary of State for Education announced plans for the overhaul of England's school building programme. The announcement stated that it would be "irresponsible to carry on regardless with an inflexible, and needlessly complex programme." Many building programmes that had not commenced were cancelled but the plans for Consett Academy and an academy at nearby Stanley were "for discussion."
Local opponents to the building of an academy on the Belle Vue site in Consett unsuccessfully launched an application to have the land registered as a village green. This would have prohibited the development of the land. A public inquiry was held at Consett Civic Centre during the week commencing 12 July 2010. Finally, on 11 April 2011, Durham County Council's Highways Committee turned down the application to grant village green status for the Belle Vue area paving the way for the promised development of Consett Academy and a sports centre to replace the separate wet and dry centres in Consett. The development will see the demolition of Belle Vue Sports Centre (formerly known as Consett Sports Centre), Belle Vue Swimming Centre (formerly known as Consett Baths), Belle Vue football ground (home of Consett A.F.C.
Consett A.F.C.
Consett Association Football Club is a football club based in Consett in County Durham, England. Established in 1899, the club currently plays in the Northern League Division One having been promoted as Division Two Champions in the 2005–06 season...
) and Consett Civic Centre (former headquarters of Derwentside
Derwentside
Derwentside was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in County Durham, England.The district took its name from the River Derwent, which made up part of the northern border of the district. Its main towns were Consett and Stanley, with the district council offices on Consett's Medomsley...
District Council). Durham County Council intend to maintain a presence in the town centre through its Customer Access Point in Front Street which occupies half of the former Woolworth store.
Consett Civic Centre was closed following a formal ceremony on 25th August 2011.
Notable people
- Rowan AtkinsonRowan AtkinsonRowan Sebastian Atkinson is a British actor, comedian, and screenwriter. He is most famous for his work on the satirical sketch comedy show Not The Nine O'Clock News, and the sitcoms Blackadder, Mr. Bean and The Thin Blue Line...
, (born January 6, 1955 in Consett, County Durham), star of the BlackadderBlackadderBlackadder is the name that encompassed four series of a BBC1 historical sitcom, along with several one-off instalments. All television programme episodes starred Rowan Atkinson as anti-hero Edmund Blackadder and Tony Robinson as Blackadder's dogsbody, Baldrick...
and Mr. BeanMr. BeanMr. Bean is a British comedy television programme series of 14 half-hour episodes written by and starring Rowan Atkinson as the title character. Different episodes were also written by Robin Driscoll, Richard Curtis and one by Ben Elton. The pilot episode was broadcast on ITV on 1 January 1990,...
comedy series. Atkinson was born to Eric Atkinson and Ella May, Anglican farmers in the town of Consett. - Alan CampbellAlan Campbell (politician)Alan Campbell is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Tynemouth since 1997. He served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office from 2008 until 2010, when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats came to power...
, the present MP for TynemouthTynemouthTynemouth is a town and a historic borough in Tyne and Wear, England, at the mouth of the River Tyne, between North Shields and Cullercoats . It is administered as part of the borough of North Tyneside, but until 1974 was an independent county borough in its own right...
and former Home OfficeHome OfficeThe Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
Minister for Crime Reduction and Government Whip was born in the town. - Mark ClattenburgMark ClattenburgMark Clattenburg is an English professional football referee, who officiates primarily in the Premier League, and for FIFA. He is based in Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
. English football Referee. - Ben Clark (footballer) plays at Centre Half and current club captain for Gateshead in the Blue Square Premier. Formerly represented England up to Under 19 level and has had spells at Manchester United, Sunderland and Hartlepool.
- Frank Clark, professional footballer and football manager. Played for Newcastle United in their Inter-Cities Fairs CupInter-Cities Fairs CupThe Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
winning team in the 1968-69 season then went on to play for Nottingham Forest under the management team of Brian CloughBrian CloughBrian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
and Peter Taylor where he won a European Cup winner's medal in 1979. He went on to be Assistant Manager at Sunderland AFC then at Leyton Orient. He was then Manager for Leyton Orient, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. He is now Vice Chairman of the League Managers' Association. - Paul CollingwoodPaul CollingwoodPaul David Collingwood MBE is an English cricketer. He has been a regular member of the England Test side, was captain of the One Day International team 2007–2008. He is also vice-captain of his county, Durham County Cricket Club. Collingwood is a batting all-rounder, whose batting...
, England and Durham cricketer, born in Shotley BridgeShotley BridgeShotley Bridge is a village in the Derwent Valley, adjoining the town of Consett in County Durham, England. Shotley Bridge was once the heart of Britain's swordmaking industry.The origins of swordmaking here dated from 1691...
. - Graeme DanbyGraeme DanbyGraeme Danby is an operatic bass who has performed at several of the world's leading opera houses, notably the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the English National Opera. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Music in London...
, is an opera singer born in the town. He is Principal Bass with English National OperaEnglish National OperaEnglish National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
. He also devotes a great deal of his schedule to working with charitable trusts. - Steve HallSteve HallSteve Hall born 10 July 1979 in St Helens, Merseyside, England is a rugby league player.Hall's position of choice is on the wing. He played for London Broncos, St. Helens and Widnes Vikings in the Super League and also French club Saint-Gaudens Bears....
, Professor of Criminology, Social Futures Institute, world-leading criminologist, raised in Consett and lived at Villa Real Bungalows 1955 - 1981. - Anthony Hutton, Big BrotherBig Brother (UK)Big Brother UK is the British version of the Dutch Big Brother television format, which takes its name from the character in George Orwell's 1948 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four...
winner. - Michael KayMichael Kay (footballer)Michael Joseph Kay is an English footballer who plays for Tranmere Rovers. He usually plays in the right back position, but can play as a central defender and has been known to fill in as a left back on occasion. He is a former England Under-17 international...
is a footballer who plays in the right back position. He currently plays for Tranmere Rovers. Formerly represented England Under-17s and after starting his career in the Sunderland academy had brief loan spells at Gateshead and current club Tranmere Rovers. - Susan MaughanSusan MaughanSusan Maughan is an English singer who released successful singles in the 1960s.-Career:...
, singer, who reached #3 in the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1962 with "Bobby's Girl". - Bob Murray, kitchen & bathroom magnate and former chairman of Sunderland AFC.
- John RobsonJohn Robson (footballer)John Robson was born on 15 July 1950 in Consett, and died on 12 May 2004 in Sutton Coldfield. He was an England International U23 football player. He played 176 matches for Aston Villa F.C. between 1972–1978 before he had to retire because of Multiple Sclerosis. He was bought from Derby...
, professional footballer for Derby CountyDerby County F.C.Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
and Aston Villa who missed only one game in Derby County's championship winning 1971-72 season under the management team of Brian CloughBrian CloughBrian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
and Peter Taylor - Dave SimpsonDave SimpsonDave Stewart Simpson is a former ice hockey player, now executive director of the Business Families Centre at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and known as David Simpson....
(Writer/Director - RedMen Films) shortlisted in the Kodak MoFilm 2010 Cannes awards. - Keith StrachanKeith StrachanKeith Strachan is a British composer and theatre director. He co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and Wine", which got Cliff Richard the 1988 Christmas number one...
born in Consett. Award winning composer and musical theatre director. Compositions include "Mistletoe and WineMistletoe and Wine"Mistletoe and Wine" is a popular single by Cliff Richard.Written by Jeremy Paul, Leslie Stewart and Keith Strachan, it was originally performed as part of the musical Scraps at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, London in 1976...
" and the theme music for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds... - Mathew TaitMathew TaitMathew Tait is an English rugby union footballer. He is an outside centre, a fullback or wing...
- EnglandEngland national rugby union teamThe England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
international and ex Newcastle FalconsNewcastle FalconsThe Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
Rugby Union player. He now plays for Sale SharksSale SharksSale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
. Born in Shotley BridgeShotley BridgeShotley Bridge is a village in the Derwent Valley, adjoining the town of Consett in County Durham, England. Shotley Bridge was once the heart of Britain's swordmaking industry.The origins of swordmaking here dated from 1691...
but brought up in the nearby town of Wolsingham. - Darren TowlerDarren TowlerDarren Towler is an English mixed martial artist, who competes in the heavyweight division. He is currently the UCMMA Heavyweight Champion.-Mixed martial arts career:...
MMA Fighter and current UCMMA British Heavyweight Champion. - Barry VenisonBarry VenisonBarry Venison is a retired English footballer who enjoyed a successful playing career from 1981 to 1997. He later worked as an television pundit.-Sunderland:...
- retired footballer and pundit was born in Shotley Bridge Hospital, although he is from Stanley. - Denise WelchDenise WelchJacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
, ex-star of Coronation StreetCoronation StreetCoronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
and Soldier SoldierSoldier SoldierSoldier Soldier is a British television drama series. The title comes from a traditional song of the same name.Produced by Central Television and broadcast on the ITV network, it ran for a total of seven series and 82 episodes from 1991 to 1997...
drama series. Married to Tim HealyTim Healy (actor)Timothy Malcolm Healy is an English actor. He is best known for playing Dennis Patterson in the television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He is married to the actress Denise Welch.-Career:...
and now starring in Waterloo RoadWaterloo Road (TV series)Waterloo Road is an award-winning British television drama series, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 9 March 2006. Set in a troubled comprehensive school in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, the series focuses on the lives of the school's teacher and students, and confronts social...
on BBC1 and Loose WomenLoose WomenLoose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
on ITV1.
External links
- Planning Search, with weekly lists and major developments (outstanding)
- Local history of Consett and surrounding areas
- Durham County Council
- Detailed information on iron / steel works
- Consett AFC
- Consett Forums - Lively local forums. Established 2005
- Consett & Stanley Advertiser - local free paper
- Consett residence website - in Polish