Backworth
Encyclopedia
Backworth is a village in the metropolitan borough
of North Tyneside
in the county of Tyne and Wear
, England
, about 3+1/2 mi west of Whitley Bay
on the north east coast. It lies 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Newcastle and 10 miles (16 km) north northwest of Sunderland. Other nearby towns include North Shields
to the southeast, Wallsend
to the south, and Cramlington
to the northwest.
Backworth is often recognised to include, Backworth Village, Moorside Estate
and Castle Park Estate.
The hamlets
of West Holywell and East Holywell lie to the northeast of Backworth. Shiremoor
lies to the South-East and Earsdon
to the East.
confirmed Tynemouth Priory in possession of their lands, and there is explicit mention of both East and West Backworth in 1306. The lay subsidy roll of 1296 records 4 taxpayers here. The village still existed in 1353, but was deserted by the 16th century, not appearing in the Dissolution survey. Wrathmell suggests that it lost its identity in the priory's reorganization of their estates in the 15th century. Aerial photographs seem to show a row of crofts along each side of an east-west street, but this is not clear on the ground where there is prominent but disturbed ridge and furrow, and no trace of a two-row village plan.
trumpet brooches, one silver and five gold rings, one gold bracelet, two gold chains with wheel-shaped pendant, and a crescent attached, three silver spoons, another silver skillet, 280+ Roman denarii, and two first brass coins of Antoninus Pius
. A white bronze mirror had served as a cover. The date of deposition is thought likely to be A.D. 140. The larger skillet and one of the gold rings each have an inscription, a dedication to the mother-goddesses. This list does not wholly accord with Haverfield's: in particular he suggests that an oval silver dish 18 inches long and 2 pieces of a silver bridle bit never reached the British Museum.
through the 19th Century and much of the 20th Century. Brickmaking took place just north of the village on the site of the former 'C Pit' from the late 19th to mid 20th Century. As late as 1950, 2,905 people were employed in the collieries in and immediately around Backworth.
In 1980 Backworth's last pit, Eccles Colliery, closed after 165 years of mining.
When the Metro rapid transit system replaced the British Rail passenger line through Backworth in 1980, Backworth Station had the distinction of being the only stop on the network to be closed due to lack of custom.
corridor. The new Northumberland Park
Metro Station is centre of a new residential area between Backworth and Shiremoor
and West Allotment
. A new Sainsburys store was opened on 15 February.
. The Backworth Male Voice Choir rehearse in near-by Cullercoats
.
Backworth is home to Backworth Cricket Club, that plays in Northumberland and Tyneside senior league.
Backworth has a ten hole parkland golf course for both members and visitors alike. At 5800 yards, Backworth Golf Course is a par 71 with a SSS of 68. The course record stands at 66, an indication that the course in no pushover. The well-defended greens are small targets requiring a very good short game to put together a good score.
Metropolitan borough
A metropolitan borough is a type of local government district in England, and is a subdivision of a metropolitan county. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, metropolitan boroughs are defined in English law as metropolitan districts, however all of them have been granted or regranted...
of 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....
in the county of 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
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...
, about 3+1/2 mi west of Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay
Whitley Bay is a town in North Tyneside, in Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the North Sea coast and has a fine stretch of golden sandy beach forming a bay stretching from St. Mary's Island in the north to Cullercoats in the south...
on the north east coast. It lies 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Newcastle and 10 miles (16 km) north northwest of Sunderland. Other nearby towns include North Shields
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...
to the southeast, Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
to the south, and Cramlington
Cramlington
Cramlington is a town and civil parish in the county of Northumberland, North East England, situated north of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town's name suggests a probable founding by the Danes or an Anglo-Saxon origin, the word "ton" meaning town. The population was estimated as 39,000 in...
to the northwest.
Backworth is often recognised to include, Backworth Village, Moorside Estate
Moorside, North Tyneside
Moorside is a sub-village of Backworth. It was built in ...... and consists of a large housing estate and a few shops.in the eary 00's a new community was built over the road from Moorside. It is called Northumberland Park....
and Castle Park Estate.
The hamlets
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of West Holywell and East Holywell lie to the northeast of Backworth. Shiremoor
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...
lies to the South-East and Earsdon
Earsdon
Earsdon is a historical village in the borough of North Tyneside in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. It sits on the border of Northumberland to which is was historically part of, and is approximately two miles from Whitley Bay....
to the East.
The Village
The original part of Backworth is commonly referred to as the village. It is home to several cottages dating back to the 19th Century. There is also a church, Village Hall, a post office, Chinese take-away, two convenience stores, barber shop and Poodle parlour.Backworth Manor
In an assessment-roll of 1292 Backworth is included as one of the ten manors belonging to Tynemouth Priory. "Though Preston, Monkseaton, Backworth and Flatworth do not appear in the record of 1264, corroborative evidence of their manorial character is found in their possessing halls, while Flatworth, Backworth and Monkseaton had separate demesnes...". There is insufficient information available, however, with which either to locate the manor, or to describe it. Without further documentary research it is unknown whether it was associated with farm buildings, or whether it was located near the present Backworth Hall.West Backworth Village
It seems that there were certainly two Backworths in 1189 when King Richard IRichard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
confirmed Tynemouth Priory in possession of their lands, and there is explicit mention of both East and West Backworth in 1306. The lay subsidy roll of 1296 records 4 taxpayers here. The village still existed in 1353, but was deserted by the 16th century, not appearing in the Dissolution survey. Wrathmell suggests that it lost its identity in the priory's reorganization of their estates in the 15th century. Aerial photographs seem to show a row of crofts along each side of an east-west street, but this is not clear on the ground where there is prominent but disturbed ridge and furrow, and no trace of a two-row village plan.
Backworth Roman Hoard
A hoard of gold and silver objects was found in 1812, supposedly near Backworth and, according to Haverfield, was sold to a Newcastle silversmith. He resold "all, or nearly all" to Mr. J. Brumell, a Newcastle collector, from whom most of the objects passed in 1850 to the British Museum. The hoard consisted of: a silver skillet in which were a pair of silver-giltSilver-gilt
Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver gilded with gold. Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually silver-gilt; for example most sporting trophies, medals , and many crown jewels...
trumpet brooches, one silver and five gold rings, one gold bracelet, two gold chains with wheel-shaped pendant, and a crescent attached, three silver spoons, another silver skillet, 280+ Roman denarii, and two first brass coins of Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius
Antoninus Pius , also known as Antoninus, was Roman Emperor from 138 to 161. He was a member of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty and the Aurelii. He did not possess the sobriquet "Pius" until after his accession to the throne...
. A white bronze mirror had served as a cover. The date of deposition is thought likely to be A.D. 140. The larger skillet and one of the gold rings each have an inscription, a dedication to the mother-goddesses. This list does not wholly accord with Haverfield's: in particular he suggests that an oval silver dish 18 inches long and 2 pieces of a silver bridle bit never reached the British Museum.
19th century onwards
Backworth was a centre of coal miningCoal 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,...
through the 19th Century and much of the 20th Century. Brickmaking took place just north of the village on the site of the former 'C Pit' from the late 19th to mid 20th Century. As late as 1950, 2,905 people were employed in the collieries in and immediately around Backworth.
In 1980 Backworth's last pit, Eccles Colliery, closed after 165 years of mining.
When the Metro rapid transit system replaced the British Rail passenger line through Backworth in 1980, Backworth Station had the distinction of being the only stop on the network to be closed due to lack of custom.
New Developments
In recent years Backworth has been subjected to substantial residential development alongside the A19A19 road
The A19 is a major road in England running approximately parallel to and east of the A1 road, although the two roads meet at the northern end of the A19, the two roads originally met at the southern end of the A19 in Doncaster but the old route of the A1 was changed to the A638. From Sunderland...
corridor. The new Northumberland Park
Northumberland Park
Northumberland Park may refer to:* Northumberland Park, London* Northumberland Park railway station, a London Underground station in Northumberland Park, London* Northumberland Park Depot, a London Underground depot in Northumberland Park, London...
Metro Station is centre of a new residential area between Backworth and Shiremoor
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...
and West Allotment
West Allotment
West Allotment is a village in the Metropolitian Borough of North Tyneside.Silverlink biodiversity park is adjacent to the village, which at the top of the hill has an ornate giant sundial at its summit....
. A new Sainsburys store was opened on 15 February.
Music
Backworth is home to two traditional British brass bands - the Backworth Colliery Band and Junior BandBackworth Colliery Band
Backworth Colliery Band are a traditional British Brass Band based in Backworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. The band consist of 27 senior members and 15 junior members, all of whom play brass or percussion instruments fitting the traditional brass band instrumentation.-History of the Band:The...
. The Backworth Male Voice Choir rehearse in near-by 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...
.
Sport
Backworth is also home to Backworth Golf Course, the only 9-hole course in the area. Before people played golf there it was the Miners' Welfare Hall.Backworth is home to Backworth Cricket Club, that plays in Northumberland and Tyneside senior league.
Backworth has a ten hole parkland golf course for both members and visitors alike. At 5800 yards, Backworth Golf Course is a par 71 with a SSS of 68. The course record stands at 66, an indication that the course in no pushover. The well-defended greens are small targets requiring a very good short game to put together a good score.