Silksworth
Encyclopedia
Silksworth is a former coal mining village in Sunderland
, located next to Tunstall
, Farringdon
and Gilley Law
Silksworth a brief history:
Silksworth is a former colliery village with a 100 year coal mining heritage. In 1871, according to the Census there were approx 400 people living in the Silksworth and Tunstall areas, the local area was mainly farmland and most people worked on the land. Then to exploit the rich coal reserves in the area the Silksworth Colliery shaft was sunk in 1869 funded by Lord Londonderry. Ten years later in 1879 the local population had risen to 4707 for the Silksworth and Tunstall areas. The increase in population was mainly due to the migration of people to the area seeking work at the new Silksworth colliery. According to the census returns the miners came from Ireland, Scotland, Cornwell and even from the United States and Germany. The miners and their families had moved to the colliery areas seeking employment and also colliery housing was provided for the miners by the mine owner Lord Londonderry. The miners life was not an easy one, working conditions underground were very dangerous and the work very arduous. When Silksworth Colliery eventually closed in 1971 it was a massive blow to the local community as many of the local people and businesses relied on the colliery for their livelihood. Just about all remnants of the former Silksworth colliery have now gone and the former mine site has since been converted into Silksworth Sports Complex. Facilities at the sports complex include:
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...
, located next to Tunstall
Tunstall, Sunderland
Tunstall is a suburb of Sunderland which is mostly a privately purchased estate. It is located to the west of Ryhope, and east of Silksworth. The area was built around a large hill, known as Tunstall Hill....
, Farringdon
Farringdon, Sunderland
Farringdon is a suburb of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.Farringdon is a council-built housing estate, erected in the 1950s. It is approximately 3 miles south of the city centre along the A690, close to Thorney Close, Silksworth, East Herrington, Gilley Law and Doxford Park.-History:Up until the...
and Gilley Law
Gilley Law
Gilley Law is one of the smaller suburbs of Sunderland located in between the suburbs of Farringdon and Silksworth and is home to 1500 people. The area is now officially known as Lakeside Village but the old name persists amongst locals. The total area covered by the estate is less than one square...
Silksworth a brief history:
Silksworth is a former colliery village with a 100 year coal mining heritage. In 1871, according to the Census there were approx 400 people living in the Silksworth and Tunstall areas, the local area was mainly farmland and most people worked on the land. Then to exploit the rich coal reserves in the area the Silksworth Colliery shaft was sunk in 1869 funded by Lord Londonderry. Ten years later in 1879 the local population had risen to 4707 for the Silksworth and Tunstall areas. The increase in population was mainly due to the migration of people to the area seeking work at the new Silksworth colliery. According to the census returns the miners came from Ireland, Scotland, Cornwell and even from the United States and Germany. The miners and their families had moved to the colliery areas seeking employment and also colliery housing was provided for the miners by the mine owner Lord Londonderry. The miners life was not an easy one, working conditions underground were very dangerous and the work very arduous. When Silksworth Colliery eventually closed in 1971 it was a massive blow to the local community as many of the local people and businesses relied on the colliery for their livelihood. Just about all remnants of the former Silksworth colliery have now gone and the former mine site has since been converted into Silksworth Sports Complex. Facilities at the sports complex include:
- Silksworth Ski Slope the North East of England's largest artificial ski slope and activity centre.
- Recreational boating lake near Gilley Law which is home to a variety of water foul birds, ducks, swans and also near the boating lake is a freshwater fishing lake.
- Silksworth Community Swimming Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre formally The Puma Centre including a new kid's Outdoor Adventure Play Area which is a great facility for kids and toddlers with swings, zip wire, climbing frames, slides, sand pit and pic nic area etc
- Athletics Running track
- All weather floodlit football pitches
- Skateboard park (Near the Ski slope)
Notable people
- Joe ClennellJoe ClennellJoseph "Joe" Clennell was an English professional footballer. He was top goalscorer for Blackpool with eighteen goals during his one season at the club. He also played for Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Cardiff City, Stoke City, Bristol Rovers and Rochdale.-References:*...
- former professional footballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er - Bobby GurneyBobby GurneyBobby Gurney was a football forward who is the highest goal scorer in the history of his only senior club as a player, Sunderland.-Early years:...
- Sunderland A.F.C record goalscorer