Preston, Tynemouth
Encyclopedia
Preston is a village and suburb about a mile north of North Shields
, North Tyneside
, It has a population of about 7,000. Historically a separate entity, it has slowly been absorbed into the town to the south and expanded as to form a continuous urban area north to Monkseaton.
at Tynemouth. At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries
in 1539, the lands were returned to the Crown. In 1649, the Township was enclosed and 265 acres (1.1 km²) of land were divided and granted to various copyhold tenants. In 1832 Preston Township, together with Tynemouth, North Shields and Cullercoats
was constituted a Parliamentary Borough
and by an order granted on August 6, 1849, the four were incorporated into Tynemouth Borough for municipal purposes.
Preston Township lay between North Shields to the south and Monkseaton
to the north. To the east Tynemouth and to the west, Chirton. In addition, when the Shire Moor
was enclosed in 1788, approximately 94 acres (380,404.8 m²) of land were annexed to Preston Township. This annex was originally known as Northumberland Place but is nowadays known as West Allotment.
The main industries in the area were coalmining from the 12th to the 20th centuries, the tanneries of the 13th century, the breweries of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the damask factory of the 19th century and the carriage works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Within the township is Preston Village, described by Parson and White in their descriptive book on Durham and Northumberland of 1828 as: " a very pleasant village 1 miles (1.6 km) north of North Shields to which its Township extends. It occupies a fine eminence which commands an extensive and beautiful prospect. Here are several gentlemen's villas, two public gardens, two common breweries, four public houses and a linen manufactory: besides about 100 houses and cottages which have a neat and clean appearance."
William Harold Smurthwaite published a detailed history of Preston in 1992 entitled "Our Heritage - Preston Township and Preston Village". It was illustrated by Kevin Bradley, who had previously produced a book about the Township, entitled "An Illustrated Guide To Preston Township"
St Hildas CofE Church is to be found on Preston Road, St Marys Catoholic Church is in nearby Marden and a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to be found on Malvern Road.
North Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
, North Tyneside
North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall....
, It has a population of about 7,000. Historically a separate entity, it has slowly been absorbed into the town to the south and expanded as to form a continuous urban area north to Monkseaton.
History of Preston and 'Preston Township'
It derives its name from the old English "Preosta", meaning Priest and "Tun", meaning enclosure or homestead. It is first mentioned in a charter dated between 1106 and 1116 and is recorded in the St. Alban's Register. At about this time the lands of Preston were granted by King Henry I to the monks of St. OswinOswine of Deira
Oswine was a King of Deira in northern England. He succeeded King Oswald of Northumbria, probably around the year 644, after Oswald's death at the Battle of Maserfield. Oswine was the son of Osric....
at Tynemouth. At the time of the dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1539, the lands were returned to the Crown. In 1649, the Township was enclosed and 265 acres (1.1 km²) of land were divided and granted to various copyhold tenants. In 1832 Preston Township, together with Tynemouth, North Shields and Cullercoats
Cullercoats
Cullercoats is an urban area of north east England, with a population 9,407 in 2004. It has now been absorbed into the North Tyneside conurbation, sitting between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. There is a semi-circular sandy beach with cliffs and caves, and the village is a popular destination for...
was constituted a Parliamentary Borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
and by an order granted on August 6, 1849, the four were incorporated into Tynemouth Borough for municipal purposes.
Preston Township lay between North Shields to the south and Monkseaton
Monkseaton
Monkseaton is a village near Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, in the northeast of England. It is in the north-east of the borough, less than a kilometre from the North Sea coast and around 5 km north of the River Tyne at North Shields...
to the north. To the east Tynemouth and to the west, Chirton. In addition, when the Shire Moor
Shiremoor
Shiremoor is a large village in the Metropolitian Borough of North Tyneside. It is located approximately inland of Whitley Bay and approximately north of The Tyne Tunnel. A mile or so north of Shiremoor, the extensive built-up areas of North Tyneside change abruptly into green belt stretching...
was enclosed in 1788, approximately 94 acres (380,404.8 m²) of land were annexed to Preston Township. This annex was originally known as Northumberland Place but is nowadays known as West Allotment.
The main industries in the area were coalmining from the 12th to the 20th centuries, the tanneries of the 13th century, the breweries of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the damask factory of the 19th century and the carriage works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Within the township is Preston Village, described by Parson and White in their descriptive book on Durham and Northumberland of 1828 as: " a very pleasant village 1 miles (1.6 km) north of North Shields to which its Township extends. It occupies a fine eminence which commands an extensive and beautiful prospect. Here are several gentlemen's villas, two public gardens, two common breweries, four public houses and a linen manufactory: besides about 100 houses and cottages which have a neat and clean appearance."
William Harold Smurthwaite published a detailed history of Preston in 1992 entitled "Our Heritage - Preston Township and Preston Village". It was illustrated by Kevin Bradley, who had previously produced a book about the Township, entitled "An Illustrated Guide To Preston Township"
Leisure
Tynemouth Pool is situated within the Village, as are Preston Playing Fields, and the sporting facilities of John Spence School. Foxhunters Field, a large open area of parkland and playing fields is to be found to the north, The area is also home to many local sporting clubs; North Shields RFC which has its clubhouse on Preston playing fields, Percy Park RFC, on Preston Avenue, Tynemouth Cricket Club, nearby Tynemouth Golf Club, North Shields FC also used to be based at Appleby Park before moving to their current Silkeys Lane site.Education
The area has two Primary Schools, Preston Grange Primary School, on the Preston Grange estate, and King Edward Primary School on Preston Avenue, secondary education is provided by John Spence High School, Formally Preston High School, Further education is provided by Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College.Services
The area contains many or the services for North Shields, North Tyneside East Fire Station, Preston Cemetery, North Tyneside General Hospital, which replaced Preston Hospital in the late 1980s, and a large Morrisons Supermarket.St Hildas CofE Church is to be found on Preston Road, St Marys Catoholic Church is in nearby Marden and a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to be found on Malvern Road.