Pelton Fell
Encyclopedia
Pelton Fell is a village in County Durham
, England
. It is situated a short distance to the north-west of Chester-le-Street
. It was the site of a 19th and 20th century coal mine and a small rail station primarily used to service both Pelton Fell and [Pelton] a village at the opposite end of Station Lane, although very few traces of either remain today, except in some of the street names.
Primarily residential, it does have a small village shop, a doctor's surgery and a newly open community centre called the Brockwell Centre. There is a Bar
/Restaurant
at the far end of the village, called The Moorings with an attached hotel
opened in April 2007. This is the area traditionally referred to as Hett Hills.
The Pelton Fell Working men's club
was closed and demolished March 2008, several years after the Colliery Inn was closed and demolished only 100 yards from the same location.
A small industrial estate called Stella Gill was established in the late 1980’s and primarily provides start up premises for small businesses.
A substantial proportion of the village is made up of pre- and post- Second World War council houses, many of which (particularly in the north of the village) have been bought under the right to buy scheme
. The village is split into two sides by an area locally called ‘The Battery’. Pelton fell side (north side) and Station lane side where a beautiful park is located housing a War Memorial, tennis courts, children’s play area and a bowling green, home to the Pelton Fell War Memorial Park Bowling Club.
Pelton Fell Football club play home games on the football pitches situated at the rear of Park View and Battle Green just off Station Lane.
Adjacent the park, on Station Lane, the Miner’s Institute was built in 1889 and later expanded in 1909 to cope with the rise in population. The institute was used for many social activities and local clubs up until the 1990’s when it fell derelict and later destroyed by fire. There are now 4 newly built detached houses on the site.
A council sponsored redevelopment of the village began in 2004, with significant number of council houses, and a small number of private houses, demolished to make way for more modern accommodation, which is to be a mix of social housing and private housing.
In February 2008 Pelton Fell hit the headlines when a resident of the village, Kelly McKitten, aged 31, was murdered. She was battered to death in her home. A man was later arrested and now serving a life sentence for her murder.
Jack (John) Lines rose from a large family in Tennyson Road to become the chairman of Chester-le-street district council and a Justice of the Peace. He was proud of his roots in the 'Fell and was a keen spokesman for the 'ordinary folks'. He died in 1999.
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 a short distance to the north-west of Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
. It was the site of a 19th and 20th century coal mine and a small rail station primarily used to service both Pelton Fell and [Pelton] a village at the opposite end of Station Lane, although very few traces of either remain today, except in some of the street names.
Primarily residential, it does have a small village shop, a doctor's surgery and a newly open community centre called the Brockwell Centre. There is a Bar
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
/Restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
at the far end of the village, called The Moorings with an attached hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
opened in April 2007. This is the area traditionally referred to as Hett Hills.
The Pelton Fell Working men's club
Working men's club
Working men's clubs are a type of private social club founded in the 19th century in industrial areas of the United Kingdom, particularly the North of England, the Midlands and many parts of the South Wales Valleys, to provide recreation and education for working class men and their families.-...
was closed and demolished March 2008, several years after the Colliery Inn was closed and demolished only 100 yards from the same location.
A small industrial estate called Stella Gill was established in the late 1980’s and primarily provides start up premises for small businesses.
A substantial proportion of the village is made up of pre- and post- Second World War council houses, many of which (particularly in the north of the village) have been bought under the right to buy scheme
Right to buy scheme
The Right to buy scheme is a policy in the United Kingdom which gives tenants of council housing the right to buy the home they are living in. Currently, there is also a right to acquire for the tenants of housing associations...
. The village is split into two sides by an area locally called ‘The Battery’. Pelton fell side (north side) and Station lane side where a beautiful park is located housing a War Memorial, tennis courts, children’s play area and a bowling green, home to the Pelton Fell War Memorial Park Bowling Club.
Pelton Fell Football club play home games on the football pitches situated at the rear of Park View and Battle Green just off Station Lane.
Adjacent the park, on Station Lane, the Miner’s Institute was built in 1889 and later expanded in 1909 to cope with the rise in population. The institute was used for many social activities and local clubs up until the 1990’s when it fell derelict and later destroyed by fire. There are now 4 newly built detached houses on the site.
A council sponsored redevelopment of the village began in 2004, with significant number of council houses, and a small number of private houses, demolished to make way for more modern accommodation, which is to be a mix of social housing and private housing.
In February 2008 Pelton Fell hit the headlines when a resident of the village, Kelly McKitten, aged 31, was murdered. She was battered to death in her home. A man was later arrested and now serving a life sentence for her murder.
External links
Jack (John) Lines rose from a large family in Tennyson Road to become the chairman of Chester-le-street district council and a Justice of the Peace. He was proud of his roots in the 'Fell and was a keen spokesman for the 'ordinary folks'. He died in 1999.