Horden
Encyclopedia
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 Mary's church. It is connected to the village of Blackhall
to its south by a spectacular rail viaduct which spans Castle Eden Dene
near Denemouth. Horden Dene provides Horden's northern boundary with Easington Colliery. The A1086 road
is the main road through the village linking with Easington and the A19 to Sunderland in the north and Blackhall and the A179 to Hartlepool in the south, the B1320 links the village to Peterlee and Shotton in the West.
The first church in the village, St Hilda’s – now the church hall, was opened in 1904 and in 1913 St Mary’s church, built by local landowner Colonel Burdon, was consecrated. The village continued to grow strongly, reaching a peak population of 15,000 in 1951. By 1964 there were 3 cinemas, cricket .rugby and football pitches and also a bowling green.
By 1970 the colliery was condidered the "Jewel in the Crown" and expected to have a life of 30 years.
Since closure of the mine in 1987 Horden’s population has fallen to around 8,500 (2001 census) and it now suffers high unemployment, higher than average health issues and problems with poor housing stock. In addition, Horden has gradually lost most of its services and amenities including Police and Fire Stations, secondary school, many local shops, cinemas, and its railway station.
Primary and nursery schools remain, including Horden Nursery School, Cotsford Infant School, Cotsford Junior School, Yohden Primary School and Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School.
In political terms, Horden is split between the Horden North and Horden South wards of Durham County Council, both of which are part of the parliamentary constituency of Easington, represented since 2010 by Grahame Morris of the Labour Party.
The only original sites left now are the medical centre site now occupied by a Gymnasium The baths now rebuilt into offices The Canteen occupied by a Garage and the Ventilation office now used by the local council.
Horden Colliery was one of the biggest mines in the country. From the beginning of construction in 1900 to nationalisation in 1947 it was owned and operated by Horden Collieries Ltd, who also operated mines at Blackhall
, Castle Eden
and Shotton
. Following nationalisation the mine was operated by the National Coal Board
.
The mine was operated mainly for the purpose of working undersea coal, and had three shafts. At the height of operating in the 1930s it employed over 4000 men and produced over 1.5million tonnes of coal a year.
Large volumes of water and other geological issues meant that Horden Colliery failed to make a profit from the later-1970s onwards, and was finally closed in 1987.
Rising minewater following the closure led to fears of contamination of drinking water. A minewater treatment plant was installed in 2004 by the Coal Authority
to remove the majority of the iron and raise the pH
level of the water. This is a temporary measure, prior to a permanent solution being installed.
In recent years Horden has benefited from the removal of mining spoil heaps and the redevelopment of its Welfare Park (which houses Horden's rugby, cricket and football teams). The Durham Heritage Coast Partnership (previously the lottery funded Turning the Tide programme) is committed to the conservation, protection and enhancement of the coastline, which is home to a rich variety of flora and fauna.
For such a small village Horden boasts quite a nightlife especially at weekends with several clubs bringing people from nearby villages. Pubs and clubs in Horden include; Horden Comrades, The Bell, Horden Cricket Club and popular on Weekends, Horden Catholic Club and Horden rugby club.
Horden Big Club closed in June 2007 after a series of issues forced the owners to withdraw their licence with the site earmarked for residential development. 21 two and three-bedroom houses are expected to be finished on the site by December 2008.
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...
. It is situated on the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast, to the east of 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:...
, 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 Mary's church. It is connected to the village of Blackhall
Blackhall
Blackhall can refer to* two adjoining villages in County Durham, in England:** Blackhall Colliery** Blackhall Rocks** Blackhall Gaels* Blackhall, Edinburgh, in Scotland* Blackhall townland near Clane, County Kildare...
to its south by a spectacular rail viaduct which spans Castle Eden Dene
Castle Eden Dene
Castle 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....
near Denemouth. Horden Dene provides Horden's northern boundary with Easington Colliery. The A1086 road
A1086 road
The A1086 is a road in County Durham, north-east England.The route of the A1086 starts from the A19 junction in Easington and runs to the A179 junction in Hartlepool via Peterlee, Horden, Blackhall Colliery, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon and Hart Station. It is known locally as the Coast Road. The road...
is the main road through the village linking with Easington and the A19 to Sunderland in the north and Blackhall and the A179 to Hartlepool in the south, the B1320 links the village to Peterlee and Shotton in the West.
History
The local manor house, Horden Hall, was built in the early 17th century, but Horden did not really begin to develop beyond a few farmhouses until the construction began of Horden Colliery in 1900. By 1920 Pitmen’s homes were built, initially in rows of houses named First to Thirteenth Streets. The name Horden may well be derived from the Danish "Yoden" or Yew Dene, as in the case of Eden or Yoden found corrupted in "Castle Eden. Yew is commonly found in Castle Eden Dene.The first church in the village, St Hilda’s – now the church hall, was opened in 1904 and in 1913 St Mary’s church, built by local landowner Colonel Burdon, was consecrated. The village continued to grow strongly, reaching a peak population of 15,000 in 1951. By 1964 there were 3 cinemas, cricket .rugby and football pitches and also a bowling green.
By 1970 the colliery was condidered the "Jewel in the Crown" and expected to have a life of 30 years.
Since closure of the mine in 1987 Horden’s population has fallen to around 8,500 (2001 census) and it now suffers high unemployment, higher than average health issues and problems with poor housing stock. In addition, Horden has gradually lost most of its services and amenities including Police and Fire Stations, secondary school, many local shops, cinemas, and its railway station.
Primary and nursery schools remain, including Horden Nursery School, Cotsford Infant School, Cotsford Junior School, Yohden Primary School and Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School.
In political terms, Horden is split between the Horden North and Horden South wards of Durham County Council, both of which are part of the parliamentary constituency of Easington, represented since 2010 by Grahame Morris of the Labour Party.
The only original sites left now are the medical centre site now occupied by a Gymnasium The baths now rebuilt into offices The Canteen occupied by a Garage and the Ventilation office now used by the local council.
Mining
Blackhall
Blackhall can refer to* two adjoining villages in County Durham, in England:** Blackhall Colliery** Blackhall Rocks** Blackhall Gaels* Blackhall, Edinburgh, in Scotland* Blackhall townland near Clane, County Kildare...
, Castle Eden
Castle Eden
For the similarly named castle in Aberdeenshire, see Eden Castle.Castle Eden is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated a short distance to the south of Peterlee, Wingate, the A19 and Castle Eden Dene...
and Shotton
Shotton
-Places:England* Shotton, Northumberland, a village in the County of Northumberland* Shotton, Peterlee, a village in County Durham* Shotton, Sedgefield, a village in County Durham* Shotton Colliery, a village in County DurhamWales...
. Following nationalisation the mine was operated by the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
.
The mine was operated mainly for the purpose of working undersea coal, and had three shafts. At the height of operating in the 1930s it employed over 4000 men and produced over 1.5million tonnes of coal a year.
Large volumes of water and other geological issues meant that Horden Colliery failed to make a profit from the later-1970s onwards, and was finally closed in 1987.
Rising minewater following the closure led to fears of contamination of drinking water. A minewater treatment plant was installed in 2004 by the Coal Authority
Coal Authority
The Coal Authority is a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government.-History:It was established under the Coal Industry Act 1994 to manage certain functions previously undertaken by the British Coal Corporation , including ownership of unworked coal.It is situated in the south of...
to remove the majority of the iron and raise the pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
level of the water. This is a temporary measure, prior to a permanent solution being installed.
Regeneration
For such a small village Horden boasts quite a nightlife especially at weekends with several clubs bringing people from nearby villages. Pubs and clubs in Horden include; Horden Comrades, The Bell, Horden Cricket Club and popular on Weekends, Horden Catholic Club and Horden rugby club.
Horden Big Club closed in June 2007 after a series of issues forced the owners to withdraw their licence with the site earmarked for residential development. 21 two and three-bedroom houses are expected to be finished on the site by December 2008.
Schools
- Our Lady Star of the Sea, RC primary school
- Cotsford Junior School
- Cotsford Infants School
- Yohden Primary School
Notable residents
- Stan AndersonStan AndersonStanley Anderson a former English football player and manager. An England international who earned two caps while at Sunderland, he also played for Newcastle and Middlesbrough, becoming the first player to captain all three big north-east clubs...
International footballer - Bob TaylorBob Taylor (footballer)Robert Taylor , better known as Bob Taylor, is an English former footballer who played as a centre forward. Known by supporters as Super Bobby Taylor, Superbob or simply Super, Taylor scored more than 250 goals in a professional career that comprised almost 750 games in 20 years...
Professional Footballer - Brian LittleBrian Little (footballer)Brian Little is an English former football player and manager who is currently without a job after being relieved of his duties as manager of Gainsborough Trinity on 22 August 2011. Little has previously managed Darlington, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Hull City,...
Professional Footballer and Coach. - Adam Johnson Professional footballer
- Dale RobertsDale Roberts (footballer born 1986)Dale Roberts was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper.Roberts started his career in his native North-East with the academy sides at Sunderland and Middlesbrough before he moved to Nottingham Forest. He failed to make Forest's first team and had loans spells with Eastwood Town and...
Professional Footballer (Deceased) - Jonathan Chapman - Local Comedian and Radio Personality
- Alan and Graham "Kidder" Hammonds, Musicians, Incredible Kidda BandIncredible Kidda BandThe Incredible Kidda Band were a British power pop band formed in Nuneaton on 10 February 1976, and composed of Alan Hammonds vocals), Graham “Kidder” Hammonds , John Rollason , Les Rollason , Graham “Dick” Millington...
(Born in Horden)