Derwentside
Encyclopedia
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 Road. The rest of the district was semi-rural, with numerous former pit villages running into one another.
, which reorganised local administration throughout England and Wales. The district was a merger of three abolished districts:
Derwentside was one of eight districts into which County Durham was divided in 1974. It was bounded on the east by Chester-le-Street District
, to the south-east by the City of Durham and to the south and west by Wear Valley
District. To the north the district was bounded by the Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear
and to the north west by Northumberland
.
funding provided a boost to local businesses and visitor attractions.
, initially with very large majorities. The main opposition group were the Derwentside Independents
. At the final election prior to abolition, held in 2007, Labour's majority was reduced to only three seats.
by the College of Arms
in 1975. The letters patent
were dated 8 May 1975, and the arms were blazoned as follows:
The shield had a field of silver and blue waves, representing the Rivers Derwent, Deerness and Browney
. On top of this was placed a Roman eagle
, for the Roman settlements at Ebchester
, Lanchester
, Dere Street
and Stanley. About the eagle's neck was a mural crown
representing a city wall, and thus local government. On the eagle's breast and wings were three crosses of Saint Cuthbert, patron saint of Durham
: these suggested the union of three County Durham councils in one.
Upon a helm
with torse
and mantling
was the crest. The swords and flames stood for the steel industry and the pickaxe for coalmining. Hanging from the axe was a Roman shield bearing a thunderbolt
for the broadcasting station at Pontop Pike.
The Latin
motto
was Donec Defluet Amnis or Until the river ceases to flow. It was adapted from the writings of the Roman poet Horace
.
in Germany
.
. On 1 April 2009 the two-tier system of administration in County Durham was replaced, with a unitary Durham County Council replacing both the existing county council and district councils.
In 2009, Durham County Council unveiled plans for the regeneration of Consett
. These plans involved the demolition of the former headquarters of Derwentside District Council at Consett Civic Centre and the relocation of Consett AFC to Crookhall. The site was to be redeveloped and the new Consett Academy built there.
On 5th 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
launched an application to have the land registered as a village green
. This would prohibit the development of the land. A public inquiry was held at Consett Civic Centre during the week commencing 12th July 2010.
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in 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...
.
The district took its name from 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...
, which made up part of the northern border of the district. Its main towns were Consett
Consett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .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...
and Stanley
Stanley, County Durham
Stanley is a former colliery town and civil parish in County Durham, England. Centred on a hilltop between Chester-le-Street and Consett, the town lies south west of Gateshead....
, with the district council offices on Consett's Medomsley Road. The rest of the district was semi-rural, with numerous former pit villages running into one another.
Formation
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, which reorganised local administration throughout England and Wales. The district was a merger of three abolished districts:
- ConsettConsettConsett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .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...
Urban District - StanleyStanley, County DurhamStanley is a former colliery town and civil parish in County Durham, England. Centred on a hilltop between Chester-le-Street and Consett, the town lies south west of Gateshead....
Urban District - Lanchester Rural District.
Derwentside was one of eight districts into which County Durham was divided in 1974. It was bounded on the east by Chester-le-Street District
Chester-le-Street (district)
Chester-le-Street was a local government district in County Durham, England. Its council was based in Chester-le-Street. Other places in the district included Great Lumley and Sacriston.- Formation :...
, to the south-east by the City of Durham and to the south and west by Wear Valley
Wear Valley
Wear Valley was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in County Durham, England. Its council was based in Crook.The district covered much of the Weardale area. In the west it was parished and rural, whereas in the east it was more urban...
District. To the north the district was bounded by the Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
and to the north west by Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
Economy
Derwentside's economy was traditionally based on the steel industry and coal mining. With the loss of these industries, the district struggled with unemployment, although European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
funding provided a boost to local businesses and visitor attractions.
Elections and political control
The first election to Derwentside District Council took place on 7 June 1973, with the 55 councillors elected forming a shadow authority until 1 April 1974. Elections of the whole council were next held in 1976, and every four years thereafter. Throughout the council's existence it was controlled by the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, initially with very large majorities. The main opposition group were the Derwentside Independents
Derwentside Independents
Derwentside Independents are a political party in the United Kingdom registered in 2001. They contest elections in County Durham.The party has 10 councillors on the unitary Durham County Council. The party is one of two groups of independents on the county council, and forms part of the opposition...
. At the final election prior to abolition, held in 2007, Labour's majority was reduced to only three seats.
| Year | Conservative | Labour | Liberal/ Liberal Democrat |
Independent | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 1 | 45 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 1976 | 2 (+1) | 39 (-6) | 5 (+2) | 9 (+3) | 0 |
| 1979 | 6 | 31 | 3 | 15 | 0 |
| 1983 | 4 (-2) | 36 (+3) | 2 | 12 (-1) | SDP Social Democratic Party (UK) The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams... 1 |
| 1987 | 3 (-1) | 43 (+5) | 0 (-1) | 9 (-2) | SDP 0 (-1) |
| 1991 | 2 | 39 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 (-2) | 50 (+11) | 0 | 5 (-9) | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 38 | 1 (+1) | 16 (+8) | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 | 29 (-11) | 2 (+1) | 24 (+10) | 0 |
Coat of arms
Derwentside District Council were granted armorial bearingsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
by the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in 1975. The letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
were dated 8 May 1975, and the arms were blazoned as follows:
Barry wavy of eight Argent and Azure an Eagle displayed wings inverted Or gorged with a Mural Crown proper pendent therefrom by a ring a Cross of St. Cuthbert and charged on each wing with a like Cross Azure.
Crest: On a wreath of the colours In front of Flames a Miner's Pick head upwards in pale and two Swords points upwards in Saltire proper hilts and pomels Or pendent from the Pick by a Chain Argent a Roman Shield Sable charged with a Thunderbolt and on a Bordure Or ten Pellets.
Badge:A Fountain charged with an Eagle as in the Arms.
The shield had a field of silver and blue waves, representing the Rivers Derwent, Deerness and Browney
River Browney
The River Browney is a river in County Durham, England, and the largest tributary of the River Wear.According to Durham County Council Internet GIS, the River Browney rises from a spring in Park Head Plantation, on the eastern slope of Skaylock Hill, roughly a mile south east of Waskerley...
. On top of this was placed a Roman eagle
Aquila (Roman)
The Aquila was the eagle standard of a Roman legion, carried by a special grade legionary known as an Aquilifer. One eagle standard was carried by each legion.-History:...
, for the Roman settlements at Ebchester
Ebchester
Ebchester is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the north of Consett and to the south east of Whittonstall.The parish church, which is dedicated to St. Ebba is of ambiguous origin, being of partly Norman construction with a foundation, described as being pre-Conquest...
, Lanchester
Lanchester, County Durham
Lanchester is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England, and was in the former district of Derwentside . It is to the west of the city of Durham and from the former steel town of Consett, and has a population of slightly over 4,000 people.Although there was a small drift mine on the...
, Dere Street
Dere Street
Dere Street or Deere Street, was a Roman road between Eboracum and Veluniate, in what is now Scotland. It still exists in the form of the route of many major roads, including the A1 and A68 just north of Corbridge.Its name corresponds with the post Roman Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Deira, through...
and Stanley. About the eagle's neck was a mural crown
Mural crown
-Usage in ancient times:In Hellenistic culture, a mural crown identified the goddess Tyche, the embodiment of the fortune of a city, familiar to Romans as Fortuna...
representing a city wall, and thus local government. On the eagle's breast and wings were three crosses of Saint Cuthbert, patron saint of 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...
: these suggested the union of three County Durham councils in one.
Upon a helm
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
with torse
Torse
In heraldry, a torse or wreath is a twisted roll of fabric laid about the top of the helm and the base of the crest, from which the mantling hangs....
and mantling
Mantling
In heraldry, mantling or lambrequin is drapery tied to the helmet above the shield. It forms a backdrop for the shield. In paper heraldry it is a depiction of the protective cloth covering worn by knights from their helmets to stave off the elements, and, secondarily, to decrease the effects of...
was the crest. The swords and flames stood for the steel industry and the pickaxe for coalmining. Hanging from the axe was a Roman shield bearing a thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt is a discharge of lightning accompanied by a loud thunderclap or its symbolic representation. In its original usage the word may also have been a description of meteors, or, as Plato suggested in Timaeus, of the consequences of a close approach between two planetary cosmic bodies,...
for the broadcasting station at Pontop Pike.
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
was Donec Defluet Amnis or Until the river ceases to flow. It was adapted from the writings of the Roman poet Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
.
Town Twinning
Derwentside district was twinned with WerdohlWerdohl
Werdohl is a town in the district Märkischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Werdohl is located in the hills of the Sauerland, at a double meander of the river Lenne and its confluent, the Verse...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Abolition
The district was abolished as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England2009 structural changes to local government in England
Structural changes to local government in England were effected on 1 April 2009, whereby a number of new unitary authorities were created in parts of the country which previously operated a 'two-tier' system of counties and districts...
. On 1 April 2009 the two-tier system of administration in County Durham was replaced, with a unitary Durham County Council replacing both the existing county council and district councils.
In 2009, Durham County Council unveiled plans for the regeneration of Consett
Consett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .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...
. These plans involved the demolition of the former headquarters of Derwentside District Council at Consett Civic Centre and the relocation of Consett AFC to Crookhall. The site was to be redeveloped and the new Consett Academy built there.
On 5th 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
Stanley, County Durham
Stanley is a former colliery town and civil parish in County Durham, England. Centred on a hilltop between Chester-le-Street and Consett, the town lies south west of Gateshead....
were "for discussion."
Local opponents to the building of an academy on the Belle Vue site in Consett
Consett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .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...
launched an application to have the land registered as a village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
. This would prohibit the development of the land. A public inquiry was held at Consett Civic Centre during the week commencing 12th July 2010.