Peterlee
Encyclopedia
Peterlee is a new town
in County Durham
, England
. Founded in 1948, Peterlee town originally mostly housed coal miners and their families.
Peterlee has strong economic and community ties with Sunderland and Hartlepool
.
– though whether a majority of the people living in the surrounding colliery villages actually wanted it to be built is disputable. It can be argued that the building of Peterlee was at the expense of such nearby colliery villages as Wingate
, Thornley
and Wheatley Hill
where development was deliberately suppressed by the local council in favour of the new town. The colliery village of Horden
has, however, suffered perhaps more; its proximity to Peterlee has seen it lose all of its major services, including police and fire stations to the new town.
A deputation, mostly if not all working miners, met with the Minister of Town and Country Planning after the Second World War to put the case for a new town in the district. The minister John Silkin
responded by offering a half size new town of 30,000 residents. Subsequently, they came largely from the surrounding villages in the District of Easington.
The Peterlee Development Corporation was established in 1948 under the direction of A V Williams. The original ambitious master-plan for towering blocks of flats by Berthold Lubetkin
was rejected as unsuitable for the geology of the area which had been weakened by mining works and he resigned in 1950. George Grenfell Baines
replaced Lubetkin and began to build quickly resulting in buildings of poor quality construction. In a bold move Williams invited an artist Victor Pasmore
to be head of the design team for the landscaping. The Apollo Pavilion
was completed in 1970 at centre of the Sunny Blunts estate and was named after the Apollo Space Programme. As well as a visual focus the structure acted as a bridge across a small lake. Nikolaus Pevsner
provides a glowing commentary on the interaction of the housing units and the Pavilion with the landscape; however, the structure became a meeting point for unruly locals and was soon defaced with graffiti and a congregation area for drug users and drinkers. In 1982 Pasmore agreed to the connecting stairs being removed.
In 1975, Artist Placement Group
had contacted new towns to set up the terms for artists to propose projects. The Development Corporation of Peterlee New Town responded and in 1976, Stuart Brisley
was appointed. The project contained three distinct parts:
Some local residents and councillors had petitioned to have the Apollo Pavilion demolished, citing it as an eyesore. Some locals also refer to the Pavilion as 'the Monstrosity' and an application to have the structure listed was rejected. Late in 2008 up to July 2009, the Apollo Pavilion has been revamped, with the original features such as the murals and stairs reinstated, more than can be found on this page from the Sunderland Echo and from the Apollo Pavilion Website.
Recent redevelopments include a number of new clothes shops including New Look. Retailers such as Sports Direct and Carpetright have replaced Safeway. The town also has an Argos, Boots and various shoe shops plus a couple of places serving home-made food. After the removal of the old ramp and steps, a lift and staircase were installed in the market square of the town restoring access to ASDA and various shops and services on the top level. A Gamestation
shop opened in February 2007. The lower deck carpark near ASDA is used on Bank Holidays for a Market. In 2009, the town centre has recently finished further development with a B&M Bargains store built on the plot that once housed Michael O'Connor; Grainger Games has also opened a store in the town centre. ASDA has recently expanded the store, with the opening of a second floor that houses clothing and a cafe. A Subway (restaurant)
now shares with the Post Office
and recently Poundland have taken over the old Woolworths store.
Redevelopment plans within the Eden Hill area of the town are underway; Saxon Park is the name of the new housing estate built by Ben Bailey Homes. The opening of the East Durham Trust building opposite the Royal Arms Pub on Yoden Road has been part of the redevelopment of Eden Hill.
In October 2009 it was announced that three different developers were interested in opening three new supermarkets on three sites. Tesco announced they wanted to build a Tesco Extra store and a new library on the site of the old East Durham College and the library; North Blunts Limited announced they wanted to build a Morrisons on the site of the old North Blunts School; Kenmore who are the owners of Castle Dene Shopping Centre announced they wanted to build a new supermarket, a new health centre and a new youth centre on the site of the health centre, the youth centre, the sorting office, Argos, Sports Direct, Walter Wall and Coral. After much campaigning from the three parties for planning permission, Durham County Council announced in June 2011 that the plans for Tesco and the new supermarket in Castle Dene were approved but Morrisons was rejected. It has not been currently announced what the new supermarket in Castle Dene will be. It has been announced that Argos, Sports Direct, Walter Wall and Coral will be relocated to another part of Castle Dene but the temporary relocations of the health centre, the youth centre and the sorting office have not been currently announced.
The two new supermarkets will bring more choice for the residents of Peterlee and the surrounding villages as ASDA is the only large supermarket in Peterlee since Safeway closed in 2005 and the nearest other supermarkets such Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are in Hartlepool.
in the south, the A1086 runs to the east of the town leading to Easington in the north and Hartlepool to the south. The B1320 runs through the town centre linking the town to Horden and the A1086 in the east and Shotton Colliery and the A19 in the west. The B1432 runs to the north from the town centre leading to Easington Village, Hawthorn and Seaham on the route of the old A19. The A181 runs to the south west of the town at the Castle Eden and Wingate junction on the A19 leading to Wheatley Hill, Thornley, and Durham. In 2008 the A688 road was extended to the A181 at Running Waters from the A1(M) junction at Bowburn, this created a new trunk road from Peterlee to the A1(M) via the A19, A181 and A688.
and Go North East
who provide services around the town the surrounding villages and to the following towns and cities: Newcastle
, Gateshead
, South Shields
, Sunderland
, Houghton-le-Spring
, Durham
, Hartlepool
, Sedgefield
, Newton Aycliffe
, Billingham
, Stockton
, Thornaby, Middlesbrough
, Darlington
; there is also a bus to the MetroCentre. Other bus operators include Scarlett Band who run services to Spennymoor
and Bishop Auckland
.
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
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...
. Founded in 1948, Peterlee town originally mostly housed coal miners and their families.
Peterlee has strong economic and community ties with Sunderland 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...
.
Peterlee
The case for Peterlee was put forth vigorously in Farewell Squalor by Easington Rural District Council Surveyor C.W. Clarke, who also proposed that the town was named after the celebrated Durham miners' leader Peter Lee. Peterlee is unique among the new towns which came into being after the Second World War in that it was the only one requested by the people through their 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,...
– though whether a majority of the people living in the surrounding colliery villages actually wanted it to be built is disputable. It can be argued that the building of Peterlee was at the expense of such nearby colliery villages as Wingate
Wingate, County Durham
Wingate is a village in County Durham, EnglandWingate is a former pit village with a mixture of 19th-century, post-war, and more recent housing developments, it was originally enhabited by around 30 farmers before 1839 when coal was discovered. It is located in the East of County Durham, three...
, Thornley
Thornley, Durham
See also Thornley in Weardale.Thornley is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated about 5 miles to the east of Durham and 5 miles west of Peterlee...
and Wheatley Hill
Wheatley Hill
Wheatley Hill is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the west of Peterlee, near Thornley and Wingate.-External links:* *...
where development was deliberately suppressed by the local council in favour of the new town. The colliery village of 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...
has, however, suffered perhaps more; its proximity to Peterlee has seen it lose all of its major services, including police and fire stations to the new town.
A deputation, mostly if not all working miners, met with the Minister of Town and Country Planning after the Second World War to put the case for a new town in the district. The minister John Silkin
John Silkin
John Ernest Silkin, PC was an English Labour politician and solicitor.He was the third son of Lewis Silkin, 1st Baron Silkin, and a younger brother of Samuel Silkin, Baron Silkin of Dulwich. He was educated at Dulwich College, the University of Wales, and Trinity Hall at the University of...
responded by offering a half size new town of 30,000 residents. Subsequently, they came largely from the surrounding villages in the District of Easington.
The Peterlee Development Corporation was established in 1948 under the direction of A V Williams. The original ambitious master-plan for towering blocks of flats by Berthold Lubetkin
Berthold Lubetkin
Berthold Romanovich Lubetkin was a Russian émigré architect who pioneered modernist design in Britain in the 1930s. His work includes the Highpoint housing complex, London Zoo penguin pool, Finsbury Health Centre and Spa Green Estate.-Early years:Berthold Lubetkin was born in Tiflis into a Jewish...
was rejected as unsuitable for the geology of the area which had been weakened by mining works and he resigned in 1950. George Grenfell Baines
George Grenfell Baines
Professor Sir George Grenfell-Baines OBE DL was an English architect and town planner. Born in Preston, as George Baines, his family’s humble circumstances forced him to start work at the age of fourteen. Both George and his younger brother, Richard , were prodigiously gifted mathematicians and...
replaced Lubetkin and began to build quickly resulting in buildings of poor quality construction. In a bold move Williams invited an artist Victor Pasmore
Victor Pasmore
Edwin John Victor Pasmore was a British artist and architect. He pioneered the development of abstract art in Britain in the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:...
to be head of the design team for the landscaping. The Apollo Pavilion
Apollo Pavilion
The Apollo Pavilion, also known as the Pasmore Pavilion, is a controversial piece of public art in the new town of Peterlee in County Durham in the North East of England, designed by British artist and architect Victor Pasmore.-Design and construction:...
was completed in 1970 at centre of the Sunny Blunts estate and was named after the Apollo Space Programme. As well as a visual focus the structure acted as a bridge across a small lake. Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
provides a glowing commentary on the interaction of the housing units and the Pavilion with the landscape; however, the structure became a meeting point for unruly locals and was soon defaced with graffiti and a congregation area for drug users and drinkers. In 1982 Pasmore agreed to the connecting stairs being removed.
In 1975, Artist Placement Group
Artist Placement Group
The Artist Placement Group was founded in 1966 as an artist-run organisation seeking to refocus art outside the gallery, predominantly through attaching an artist in a business or governmental context for a period of time....
had contacted new towns to set up the terms for artists to propose projects. The Development Corporation of Peterlee New Town responded and in 1976, Stuart Brisley
Stuart Brisley
Stuart Brisley is widely regarded as the seminal figure of British performance art. Over a career of half a century Stuart Brisley has come to the conclusion, as stated in his recent novel "" that 'what goes down comes up'...
was appointed. The project contained three distinct parts:
- to develop an ongoing process of collecting and disseminating information under the title History Within Living Memory
- to establish a publicly available history of the Development Corporation made in association with the Sociology Dept of the University of Durham
- to introduce a community workshopWorkshopA workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods...
which began in 1977
Some local residents and councillors had petitioned to have the Apollo Pavilion demolished, citing it as an eyesore. Some locals also refer to the Pavilion as 'the Monstrosity' and an application to have the structure listed was rejected. Late in 2008 up to July 2009, the Apollo Pavilion has been revamped, with the original features such as the murals and stairs reinstated, more than can be found on this page from the Sunderland Echo and from the Apollo Pavilion Website.
Governance
Economy
Peterlee has seen a number of changes in the last several years, this includes a bus station and also a partial indoor conversion of the shopping centre, which was given the name Castle Dene Shopping Centre. A larger ASDA supermarket was built and opened in November 2001. The old ASDA supermarket which was previously a Fine Fare and a Gateway has been utilised by various retailers in 2002 including a Bingo hall and a JD Wetherspoon public house, a Wilkinson store and a Poundworld store.Recent redevelopments include a number of new clothes shops including New Look. Retailers such as Sports Direct and Carpetright have replaced Safeway. The town also has an Argos, Boots and various shoe shops plus a couple of places serving home-made food. After the removal of the old ramp and steps, a lift and staircase were installed in the market square of the town restoring access to ASDA and various shops and services on the top level. A Gamestation
Gamestation
Gamestation is a chain of UK retail shops selling used and new video games, and was the second-largest specialist video game retailer in the UK until it was bought out by Game in 2007...
shop opened in February 2007. The lower deck carpark near ASDA is used on Bank Holidays for a Market. In 2009, the town centre has recently finished further development with a B&M Bargains store built on the plot that once housed Michael O'Connor; Grainger Games has also opened a store in the town centre. ASDA has recently expanded the store, with the opening of a second floor that houses clothing and a cafe. A Subway (restaurant)
Subway (restaurant)
Subway is an American restaurant franchise that primarily sells submarine sandwiches and salads. It is owned and operated by Doctor's Associates, Inc. . Subway is one of the fastest growing franchises in the world with 35,519 restaurants in 98 countries and territories as of October 25th, 2011...
now shares with the Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and recently Poundland have taken over the old Woolworths store.
Redevelopment plans within the Eden Hill area of the town are underway; Saxon Park is the name of the new housing estate built by Ben Bailey Homes. The opening of the East Durham Trust building opposite the Royal Arms Pub on Yoden Road has been part of the redevelopment of Eden Hill.
In October 2009 it was announced that three different developers were interested in opening three new supermarkets on three sites. Tesco announced they wanted to build a Tesco Extra store and a new library on the site of the old East Durham College and the library; North Blunts Limited announced they wanted to build a Morrisons on the site of the old North Blunts School; Kenmore who are the owners of Castle Dene Shopping Centre announced they wanted to build a new supermarket, a new health centre and a new youth centre on the site of the health centre, the youth centre, the sorting office, Argos, Sports Direct, Walter Wall and Coral. After much campaigning from the three parties for planning permission, Durham County Council announced in June 2011 that the plans for Tesco and the new supermarket in Castle Dene were approved but Morrisons was rejected. It has not been currently announced what the new supermarket in Castle Dene will be. It has been announced that Argos, Sports Direct, Walter Wall and Coral will be relocated to another part of Castle Dene but the temporary relocations of the health centre, the youth centre and the sorting office have not been currently announced.
The two new supermarkets will bring more choice for the residents of Peterlee and the surrounding villages as ASDA is the only large supermarket in Peterlee since Safeway closed in 2005 and the nearest other supermarkets such Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons are in Hartlepool.
Culture
- Peterlee holds a two day event called the Peterlee Show, which is held at the end of the summer holidays (usually the first weekend of September) on Helford Road Cricket Ground, which is not far from the Pasmore Pavilion.
- Peterlee has plenty of open spaces, fields and trees, with various parks and leisure facilities.
- Peterlee is situated next to Castle Eden DeneCastle Eden DeneCastle Eden Dene is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve in the Easington district of County Durham, England. It is located immediately south of Peterlee, between the A19 and A1086 roads....
, a national nature reserve.
- A new community website has recently opened for the people of Peterlee and East Durham. The site, called Your Peterlee, aims to provide the community with useful contacts, such as community groups and local organisations, as well as a Whats On in the area. The site was set up by Shotton Hall School and iTech.
Road
Peterlee is served by two main roads, The A19 runs to the west of the town leading to Sunderland in the north and TeessideTeesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
in the south, the A1086 runs to the east of the town leading to Easington in the north and Hartlepool to the south. The B1320 runs through the town centre linking the town to Horden and the A1086 in the east and Shotton Colliery and the A19 in the west. The B1432 runs to the north from the town centre leading to Easington Village, Hawthorn and Seaham on the route of the old A19. The A181 runs to the south west of the town at the Castle Eden and Wingate junction on the A19 leading to Wheatley Hill, Thornley, and Durham. In 2008 the A688 road was extended to the A181 at Running Waters from the A1(M) junction at Bowburn, this created a new trunk road from Peterlee to the A1(M) via the A19, A181 and A688.
Bus
Peterlee is served by Arriva North EastArriva North East
Arriva North East is a division of the transport group Arriva. It is a major provider of bus services around north east England, alongside Stagecoach North East, and Go North East...
and 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...
who provide services around the town the surrounding villages and to the following towns and cities: Newcastle
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...
, Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, South Shields
South Shields
South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne to Tyne Dock, and about downstream from Newcastle upon Tyne...
, Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, Houghton-le-Spring
Houghton-le-Spring
Houghton-le-Spring is part of the City of Sunderland in the county of Tyne and Wear, North East England that has its recorded origins in Norman times. It is situated almost equidistant between the cathedral city of Durham 7 miles to the south-west and the centre of the City of Sunderland about 6...
, 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...
, 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...
, Sedgefield
Sedgefield
Sedgefield is a small town and civil parish in County Durham, England. It has a population of 4,534.Sedgefield has attracted particular attention as the Member of Parliament for the wider Sedgefield constituency was the former Prime Minister Tony Blair; he was the area's MP from 1983 to 2008,...
, Newton Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe is a town in County Durham, England. Founded in 1947 under the New Towns Act of 1946, it is the oldest new town in the north of England.-Geography:...
, Billingham
Billingham
Billingham is a town in the unitary authority of Stockton on Tees, in north east England, with a population of 35,765 . It was founded circa 650 by a group of Saxons known as Billa's people, which is where the name Billingham is thought to have originated...
, Stockton
Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, Thornaby, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
; there is also a bus to the MetroCentre. Other bus operators include Scarlett Band who run services to Spennymoor
Spennymoor
Spennymoor is a town in County Durham, England. It stands above the Wear Valley approximately seven miles south of Durham. The town was founded over 160 years ago...
and Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
.
Train
Peterlee was served by Horden Railway Station on the Durham Coast Line until it closed in 1964.Primary
- Acre Rigg Infant School
- Acre Rigg Junior School
- Dene House Primary School
- Eden Community Primary School now called Sea Scape Primary
- Howletch Lane Primary School
- Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Primary School
- Shotton Hall Infant School
- Shotton Hall Junior School
- North Blunts Primary School (Demolished 2009)
Secondary
- Dene Community School of Technology - Specialist Sports College (Formerly Dene House Comprehensive)
- Shotton Hall SchoolShotton Hall SchoolThe Academy At Shotton Hall is a secondary school in Peterlee, County Durham, England. It is a 11 - 16 year old school and is a specialist Performing Arts College it was renamed from Shotton Hall School in February 2011. The school has recently undergone major renovation work as part of the...
- Performing Arts College - St. Bede's Catholic Comprehensive SchoolSt. Bede's Catholic Comprehensive SchoolSt Bede's is a Catholic secondary comprehensive school in Peterlee, County Durham, England. In summer 2006 it achieved its best-ever GCSE exam results. It is an 11-18 school for boys and girls living in the East Durham area...
- Specialist Humanities http://www.st-bedes.durham.sch.uk/
6th Form Facilities
College
- East Durham College - The building at the town centre is now closed as the college is now on one site at Howletch. Peterlee Library remains at its current location.
Adult education
- Adult Learning & Skills Service East is a Skills for Life provider situated on the 6th floor of Lee House in Peterlee Town Centre. Learn East offers a variety of educational services and courses within Peterlee and East Durham for people who want to learn new skills such as ICT, Digital Photography or build up their Literacy and Numeracy Skills; Family Learning is done through this organisation. Further information and contacts can be found via Durham County Council Adult Education Courses Website.
External links
- YourPeterlee - Community website for Peterlee and East Durham
- Peterlee Online
- myPeterlee.com
- Apollo Pavilion Website
- BBC Tees - Pasmore Pavilion photos
- Britain In Their Sites: Episode 1 (BBC Radio 4) Episode on Peterlee
- Peterlee fitness boot camp essentialfitnesscamp.com teessidefitnesscamp.co.uk