Witherwack
Encyclopedia
Witherwack is a suburb
in the north of Sunderland
, Tyne and Wear
, England, situated between Red House
to the west, Carley Hill to the east and Marley Pots to the south.
The area is an overspill council estate, usually regarded as part of Greater Southwick, and was built in the 1960s. In common with most estates in Sunderland, the street names all start with the same letter - 'W' in the case of Witherwack.
The whole of the estate falls within the SR5 postal code
and is represented by three Labour councillors as part of the Southwick ward on Sunderland City Council.
county border to the north. Road access is via Newcastle Road only; however, the site is also accessible by foot from the neighbouring suburbs of Witherwack and Carley Hill. Public transport is available on Go North East service 9 from Jarrow, Boldon and Sunderland City Centre to the Newcastle Road entrance in Fulwell. Stagecoach service 7 and Go North East services 36A and 36C provide buses to the Carley Hill and Witherwack footpath entrances.
The nature reserve is of national importance due its rare Magnesian Limestone
geology. The wildflower meadows and grasslands are the favourable habitats for many butterflies, such as the Large Skipper
, the Small Skipper
and the Dingy Skipper
. Plants include Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry) and Blackstonia perfoliata
(Yellow-wort). Looking to the north and east, there are good views of the Cleadon Hills and the North Sea coast.
station. However, nearby Stadium of Light Metro station
on Newcastle Road, and Seaburn Metro station
on Station Road, are both within easy reach from Witherwack by bus services 7 and 99 respectively.
There is a park and ride
facility near Witherwack based at Stadium of Light Metro station. There are 182 free car parking spaces available. Witherwack is located less than a mile north of the Queen Alexandra Bridge, giving good road links into Sunderland City Centre. Witherwack is located close to the A1231 for road links to Washington, Tyne and Wear
, which in turn feeds into the A1. Witherwack, via the A1231, is close to the A19; north to the Tyne Tunnel
and North Tyneside
, or south to Peterlee
and Teesside
.
Witherwack has been built around a purpose built bus terminus
, which is situated at the eastern end of Wiltshire Road. Service 7, operated by Stagecoach Group
, provides a service from Witherwack to Sunderland City Centre via Carley Hill Road, Fulwell Grange and Monkwearmouth Hospital. In addition, Go North East
operate the Sunderland Circle 36A and 36C services; and service 99, which connects the north of Sunderland to a Morrisons
supermarket
in the nearby seaside resort of Seaburn
.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
in the north of 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...
, 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...
, England, situated between Red House
Hylton Red House
Hylton Red House, known as Red House, often incorrectly spelled as Redhouse, is a suburb in the north west of Sunderland, England, situated between Downhill to the west, and Marley Pots and Witherwack to the east....
to the west, Carley Hill to the east and Marley Pots to the south.
The area is an overspill council estate, usually regarded as part of Greater Southwick, and was built in the 1960s. In common with most estates in Sunderland, the street names all start with the same letter - 'W' in the case of Witherwack.
The whole of the estate falls within the SR5 postal code
Postal code
A postal code is a series of letters and/or digits appended to a postal address for the purpose of sorting mail. Once postal codes were introduced, other applications became possible.In February 2005, 117 of the 190 member countries of the Universal Postal Union had postal code systems...
and is represented by three Labour councillors as part of the Southwick ward on Sunderland City Council.
Fulwell Quarry Nature Reserve
Fulwell Quarry Nature Reserve; known locally as Witherwack Quarry, is a nature reserve located in the disused quarries at Fulwell. It is bounded by Witherwack to the west, Carley Hill to the south, Newcastle Road to the east and the South TynesideSouth Tyneside
South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear in North East England.It is bordered by four other boroughs - Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead to the west, Sunderland in the south, and North Tyneside to the north. The border county of Northumberland lies further north...
county border to the north. Road access is via Newcastle Road only; however, the site is also accessible by foot from the neighbouring suburbs of Witherwack and Carley Hill. Public transport is available on Go North East service 9 from Jarrow, Boldon and Sunderland City Centre to the Newcastle Road entrance in Fulwell. Stagecoach service 7 and Go North East services 36A and 36C provide buses to the Carley Hill and Witherwack footpath entrances.
The nature reserve is of national importance due its rare Magnesian Limestone
Dolostone
Dolostone or dolomite rock is a sedimentary carbonate rock that contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite. In old U.S.G.S. publications it was referred to as magnesian limestone. Most dolostone formed as a magnesium replacement of limestone or lime mud prior to lithification. It is...
geology. The wildflower meadows and grasslands are the favourable habitats for many butterflies, such as the Large Skipper
Large Skipper
The Large Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family, which occurs throughout Europe. It was long known as Ochlodes venata, but this is a Far Eastern relative. There is still some dispute whether this species should be considered a distinct species or included in O...
, the Small Skipper
Small Skipper
The Small Skipper Thymelicus sylvestris butterfly of the Hesperiidae family.-Appearance, behaviour and distribution:It has a rusty orange colour to the wings, upper body and the tips of the antennae. The body is silvery white below and it has a wingspan of 25–30 mm. This butterfly is very...
and the Dingy Skipper
Dingy Skipper
The Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It ranges from Europe across Asia Minor and Central Asia to the Amur region.Erynnis tages favours open grassy habitats up to 2,000 metres above sea level...
. Plants include Fragaria vesca (Wild Strawberry) and Blackstonia perfoliata
Blackstonia perfoliata
Blackstonia perfoliata or yellow-wort is a species of plant in the family Gentianaceae found around the Mediterranean Basin, but extending into northwestern Europe.Pathogens affecting B. perfoliata include Peronospora chlorae....
(Yellow-wort). Looking to the north and east, there are good views of the Cleadon Hills and the North Sea coast.
Transport
Witherwack does not have its own Tyne and Wear MetroTyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
station. However, nearby Stadium of Light Metro station
Stadium of Light Metro station
Stadium of Light Metro station is a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro, situated to the north of the centre of the city of Sunderland, England. The station opened in 2002, as part of the extension of the Metro system into the city...
on Newcastle Road, and Seaburn Metro station
Seaburn Metro station
Seaburn Metro station is a former National Rail station converted for use by the Tyne and Wear Metro for the Sunderland line extension in 2002...
on Station Road, are both within easy reach from Witherwack by bus services 7 and 99 respectively.
There is a park and ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
facility near Witherwack based at Stadium of Light Metro station. There are 182 free car parking spaces available. Witherwack is located less than a mile north of the Queen Alexandra Bridge, giving good road links into Sunderland City Centre. Witherwack is located close to the A1231 for road links to Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
, which in turn feeds into the A1. Witherwack, via the A1231, is close to the A19; north to the Tyne Tunnel
Tyne Tunnel
The Tyne Tunnel is a the name given to two two-lane toll vehicular tunnels under the River Tyne in North East England. Completed in 1967 and 2011 respectively, they connect the town of Jarrow on the south bank of the river with North Shields and Howdon on the north...
and 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....
, or south to Peterlee
Peterlee
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.-Peterlee:...
and Teesside
Teesside
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...
.
Witherwack has been built around a purpose built bus terminus
Bus terminus
A bus terminus is a designated place where a bus or coach starts or ends its scheduled route. The terminus is the designated place that a timetable is timed from. Termini can be located at bus stations, interchanges, bus garages or simple bus stops. Termini can both start and stop at the same...
, which is situated at the eastern end of Wiltshire Road. Service 7, operated by Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
, provides a service from Witherwack to Sunderland City Centre via Carley Hill Road, Fulwell Grange and Monkwearmouth Hospital. In addition, 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...
operate the Sunderland Circle 36A and 36C services; and service 99, which connects the north of Sunderland to a Morrisons
Morrisons
Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc is the fourth largest chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The company is usually referred to and is branded as Morrisons formerly Morrison's, and it is part of the FTSE 100 Index of companies...
supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
in the nearby seaside resort of Seaburn
Seaburn
Seaburn is a seaside resort and suburb of Sunderland, North East England. The village of Whitburn borders the area to the north. To the west and south-west is Fulwell and to the south the coastal resort of Roker....
.