Greenside
Encyclopedia
Greenside is a village located in the extreme west of the Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear
, England
. Once an independent village in County Durham
it became incorporated into Tyne and Wear in 1974 and then the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
in 1986.
and High Spen
and not far from the small town of Ryton
.
It also lies near the old lead
route that ran from the north Pennines
to Tyneside
.
in nature, Greenside was built upon coal mining
and agriculture
. However, it was not until the creation of Greenside colliery, along with nearby collieries of Emma, Clara and Stargate, that Greenside and the surrounding area truly grew in importance and its coal industry became extensive. By the early 20th century Greenside had the largest colliery in the district.
The old wagonways used to transport coal, present in both Greenside and Crawcrook, provide a reminder of the area's importance in the coal trade. Although these wagonways and routes are not used to transport coal anymore, they are maintained as public footpaths, taking walkers around the surrounding countryside.
Greenside has many residents of Irish descent, who can trace their heritage back to the influx of Irish miners into the town in the 19th century.
, Greenside is located in the 'Crawcrook, Greenside and Clara Vale ward'. The ward is at the far west of Gateshead and borders part of Northumberland
. The Crawcrook and Greenside ward is served by three councillors. Gateshead Council is Labour
controlled.
Greenside is located within the parliamentary constituency of Blaydon. Its current MP is Labour's Dave Anderson
.
areas of Tyneside. Employment is usually in manufacturing
and retail
industry, although the Crawcrook and Greenside ward as a whole includes a significant number of Gateshead's managerial-level employees.
Although it is a village that has not suffered the decline that many provincial villages have nationally in terms of local services, Greenside offers only a small selection of shops and business. These are enough to meet basic local need on a daily basis. For further groceries and high value white goods residents can travel to the MetroCentre, Europe's largest shopping centre around four miles further into Gateshead, as well as the well developed shopping areas of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
There is an adequate, although declining, public transport
service to meet the basic needs of residents. Bus services operate to Crawcrook, Ryton, Blaydon, the MetroCentre and Newcastle. Residents wishing to travel west, past the county border into Northumberland
and its towns such as Prudhoe
, Stocksfield
, Corbridge
and Hexham
can do so on one of a number of Go North East
buses that depart from Crawcrook.
team which includes a number of youngsters, the club also has a range of teams including an U13, U15, U18, 1st team and 2nd team. Greenside Cricket Club is currently part of the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League.
As a result of council funding and community fundraising, Greenside park was redeveloped throughout much of 2006. The tennis court was resurfaced and a new skate park was built. The skatepark has proven to be very popular, both within the village and with people from other areas of Tyneside.
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...
, 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...
. Once an independent village 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...
it became incorporated into Tyne and Wear in 1974 and then the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead
The Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. It is named after its largest town, Gateshead, but also spans the towns of Rowlands Gill, Whickham, Blaydon and Ryton; suburban areas include Felling, Pelaw, Dunston and Low Fell.It is bordered...
in 1986.
Location
Greenside is located in the outer west of Gateshead, between the villages of CrawcrookCrawcrook
Crawcrook is a semi-rural village close to the western border of the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear in England. Traditionally an independent village in County Durham it has since been incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead.-Location:...
and High Spen
High Spen
High Spen is an old mining village in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. There is an entrance to Chopwell Wood, whose forest festival and Christmas Trees attract many visitors to the village every year. High Spen has one pub, called The Bute Arms, and two Working Men's clubs...
and not far from the small town of Ryton
Ryton, Tyne and Wear
Ryton is a semi-rural small town near the western border of Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent town in County Durham it became incorporated into the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear and the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. It has a population of 15,742.- Location :Ryton lies...
.
It also lies near the old 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...
route that ran from the north 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...
to 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...
.
History
Largely ruralRural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
in nature, Greenside was built upon coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. However, it was not until the creation of Greenside colliery, along with nearby collieries of Emma, Clara and Stargate, that Greenside and the surrounding area truly grew in importance and its coal industry became extensive. By the early 20th century Greenside had the largest colliery in the district.
The old wagonways used to transport coal, present in both Greenside and Crawcrook, provide a reminder of the area's importance in the coal trade. Although these wagonways and routes are not used to transport coal anymore, they are maintained as public footpaths, taking walkers around the surrounding countryside.
Greenside has many residents of Irish descent, who can trace their heritage back to the influx of Irish miners into the town in the 19th century.
Local politics
In local governmentLocal government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, Greenside is located in the 'Crawcrook, Greenside and Clara Vale ward'. The ward is at the far west of Gateshead and borders part of 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...
. The Crawcrook and Greenside ward is served by three councillors. Gateshead Council is Labour
Labour 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...
controlled.
Greenside is located within the parliamentary constituency of Blaydon. Its current MP is Labour's Dave Anderson
Dave Anderson
Dave Anderson may refer to:*Dave Anderson , actor, playwright and jazz musician*Dave Anderson , football manager, former player and media personality from Northern Ireland...
.
Economy
After the decline of the coal-industry Greenside has not suffered the great deprivation that many other former mining areas have. One of the least deprived of Gateshead's wards, it is used increasingly as a commuter village for professionals travelling into the more urbanUrban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
areas of Tyneside. Employment is usually in manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
industry, although the Crawcrook and Greenside ward as a whole includes a significant number of Gateshead's managerial-level employees.
Although it is a village that has not suffered the decline that many provincial villages have nationally in terms of local services, Greenside offers only a small selection of shops and business. These are enough to meet basic local need on a daily basis. For further groceries and high value white goods residents can travel to the MetroCentre, Europe's largest shopping centre around four miles further into Gateshead, as well as the well developed shopping areas of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.
There is an adequate, although declining, public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
service to meet the basic needs of residents. Bus services operate to Crawcrook, Ryton, Blaydon, the MetroCentre and Newcastle. Residents wishing to travel west, past the county border into 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...
and its towns such as Prudhoe
Prudhoe
Prudhoe is a medium sized town just south of the River Tyne, in the southern part of the county of Northumberland, England about west of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town is sited on a steep, north-facing hill in the Tyne valley and nearby settlements include Ovingham, Ovington, Wylam,...
, Stocksfield
Stocksfield
Stocksfield is a small, sprawling commuter village situated close to the River Tyne, about west of Newcastle upon Tyne and east of Hexham in the southern part of Northumberland, England...
, Corbridge
Corbridge
Corbridge is a village in Northumberland, England, situated west of Newcastle and east of Hexham. Villages in the vicinity include Halton, Acomb, Aydon and Sandhoe.-Roman fort and town:...
and Hexham
Hexham
Hexham is a market town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, located south of the River Tyne, and was the administrative centre for the Tynedale district from 1974 to 2009. The three major towns in Tynedale were Hexham, Prudhoe and Haltwhistle, although in terms of population, Prudhoe was...
can do so on one of a number of Go North East
Go North East
Go North East is the largest operator of bus services in North East England, United Kingdom. Go North East operates services in the counties of Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland...
buses that depart from Crawcrook.
Sport and recreation
Greenside has a cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team which includes a number of youngsters, the club also has a range of teams including an U13, U15, U18, 1st team and 2nd team. Greenside Cricket Club is currently part of the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League.
As a result of council funding and community fundraising, Greenside park was redeveloped throughout much of 2006. The tennis court was resurfaced and a new skate park was built. The skatepark has proven to be very popular, both within the village and with people from other areas of Tyneside.