Ashington – A Proud Past Bright Future Home of the Pitmen Painters
Transcription
Ashington – A Proud Past Bright Future Home of the Pitmen Painters
If you venture along Woodhorn Road you won’t fail to spot the town’s iconic, grade II-listed Co-op store. It was built in 1924 as a shopping arcade, with a ballroom above it where the town’s residents danced the night away for over half a century. Undoubtedly mining was hard graft, dirty, dusty and dangerous - nearly 300 miners lost their lives at Ashington Colliery winning the black diamonds. However these conditions fostered a community spirit which led to a thriving cultural and recreational life above ground. The town’s main shopping street; Station Road, developed to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. At one time the town centre could boast several department stores, five cinemas, theatres and ballrooms. Indeed Ashington was once described as the largest shopping area between Edinburgh and Newcastle upon Tyne and it is said that Sir John Hall’s Metro Centre was based on Ashington’s main street with a roof! In the 1850s Ashington was a small hamlet of just 76 people surrounded by countryside. All that changed in 1867 with the sinking of the Bothal mine shaft. This was the start of Ashington Colliery which was to become one of the biggest pits in the country. By 1901 many of the familiar colliery rows were built and the town had a population of over 6,000. King Coal was to dominate the town’s life until the last pit closed in 1986. Ashington has other claims to fame playing host to the World Leek Championship until 2008. Pigeon racing also rose to a new height in 1965 when a resident from nearby North Seaton won a Gold Medal at the Pigeon Olympiad in London with a racing pigeon named Iron Man. Ashington – A Proud Past Bright Future Today Ashington is a town very much ‘on the up’ with a number of major developments underway, including significant improvements to education facilities and local housing. The town has also successfully attracted business investment, the latest of which is Akzo Nobel, manufacturer of global brands such as Dulux and Hammerite. The town centre is benefitting from huge investments, including the development of the new Ashington Leisure Centre and improvements to public realm, traffic management, offices and retail. Ashington has a bright future, so visit soon and see how it’s changing. Home of the Pitmen Painters Local Heroes and Sporting Legends The town is well known for producing some notable footballers throughout the years including the 1966 England World Cup winning brothers Jack & Bobby Charlton, Jackie Milburn of FA Cup fame with Newcastle United, Cecil Irwin who made over 300 appearances for Sunderland and Jimmy Adamson who later went on to manage both Leeds United and Sunderland. The town was the birthplace of the Ashington Group of artists known affectionately as The Pitmen Painters. Between 1934 and 1984 this group, largely made up of miners, captured life in paint in and around the town. Their work became known globally and in 1988 a book, The Pitmen Painters by William Feaver, was published. This was turned into a stage play by Lee Hall of Billy Elliot fame, reaching audiences from Broadway to Buenos Aires. Following the decline of the mining industry the former colliery sites were redeveloped creating the QEII Country Park and Ashington Community Woodland. In 2006 a fantastic £16 million mining museum ‘Woodhorn’, was completed and provides a world-class setting for the Ashington Group of paintings as well as a home for Northumberland Archives and is well worth a visit. Whilst little physical evidence remains of the mine, visitors can also get a real insight into its importance and influence by following the new Ashington Colliery Heritage Trail based on the former site of the pit. Ashington is also the hometown of former England International cricketer Steve Harmison. Other well-known Ashington folk include soprano singers Sheila Armstrong and Janice Cairns, entrepreneur Sir John Hall and golfer Kenneth Ferrie. Details believed to be correct at the time of printing. We accept no liability for any errors or omissions. Enjoy Ashington Town Centre In The Local Area Ashington Market The general market operates every Tuesday on Station Road in the town centre. With loads of stalls and a great atmosphere you are sure to find a bargain. Whether you are on holiday in the area or popping to Ashington for leisure or business, there are a wide range of shops, cafés and restaurants located throughout the town centre (main shopping area shown on the map below). From buying gifts, to getting a hair cut or enjoying a spot of lunch, you won’t be short of things to do throughout the year. Ashington Colliery Heritage Trail If you want to find out more about the history of Ashington Colliery, then take a stroll along this great trail. It starts at Wansbeck Business Park, former home to the pit, with panels situated along a half mile way-marked trail bringing history to life. For more information about the trail and how to get there go to: www.ashingtoncollieryheritage.org For further information about Ashington Market go to: www.northumberland.gov.uk Ashington Community Woodland A real treasure within walking distance of the town centre, this woodland is home to a diverse range of plants and animals including a colony of red squirrels. Ashington Leisure Centre Offering a wide range of classes and activities. For opening times and information Tel: 01670 542222 or go to: www.activenorthumberland.org.uk Ashington Town Centre Entrance to Community Woodland Ashington Community Woodland e Trail Ashington Colliery Heritag nville Linto se Park rpri Ente KWAY R RY PA ROTA ASDA le cast New Wansbeck Riverside To the south of Ashington lies the picturesque River Wansbeck offering a network of riverside and woodland walks and links to cycle routes. The river is also popular for rowing and other water-based activities. 89) (A1 97 A1 Police Station New Ashington Leisure Centre A196 Wansbeck Business Park For further information about the woodland and the programme of events and activities throughout the year go to: www.ashingtonwoods.org.uk rk & ry Pa ount useum C I I QE nM dhor Woo Morpeth (A1) For further information about Wansbeck Riverside go to: www.northumberland.gov.uk BUS STATION O LIN T A197 (opening Autumn 2015) L NVI LE T BUS STOP OAD RN R ROUTE 155 NATIONAL CYCLE PATH Location Map E ROAD RRAC TON M TE H SEA NORT PEDESTRIANISED AREA RNU Cricket Ground T REE PUBLIC CAR PARKING N ST J OH MAIN RETAIL AREA KENILWORTH ROAD KEY Taxis LABU re Centre Ashington Leisu Wansbeck Square Northumberland County Council & Library For general information on visiting the area go to: www.visitnorthumberland.com THO STATION ROAD O WO OAD NR OR H D HAW WC STATION ROAD ACE ERR Town Hall Berwick-upon-Tweed Berwick-upon-Tweed SCOTLAND SCOTLAND A1 A1 Coldstream Coldstream A68 A68 Kelso Kelso Bamburgh Bamburgh Seahouses Seahouses Wooler Wooler Jedburgh Jedburgh Woodhorn Museum & Northumberland Archives at QEII Country Park Based in original colliery buildings and with a stunning modern building inspired by the monster coal-cutting machines once used deep underground, Woodhorn’s entertaining and interactive displays paint a picture of life in this former mining community. For more information about the Museum and Archives: Tel: 01670 624455 www.experiencewoodhorn.com QEII Country Park and Narrow Gauge Railway A beautiful 16 hectare lake, surrounded by grassland and woodland and a haven for wildlife. Hop on the heritage railway which offers short trips along one side of the lake. Rothbury Rothbury Ashington Events The town and surrounding area host a range of events during the year from the annual Miner’s Picnic at Woodhorn to the Town Fayre Day with rides, stalls and music on Station Road. The Christmas Lights Switch-On event is now one of the biggest in the County and there is traditionally a large organised Fireworks Display that attracts thousands. A696 A696 A69 A69 How to get here By car - Ashington is approximately 15 miles north of Newcastle and easy to access by car. Follow the A189 from Newcastle or take the A1 and then the A197 from Morpeth. By bike - Local cycle paths include Route 155, connecting at Newbiggin by the Sea to Route 1 Coast and Castles, which is part of the North Sea Cycle Route. For more information on cycle paths go to: www.sustrans.org.uk or www.northumberland.gov.uk Credit for photography and images: Ashington Colliery Heritage Trail, Ashington AFC, Ashington Town Council, Mik Critchlow, Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Keith Saint, Arch Northumberland, Active Northumberland, Woodhorn Museum. Images provided with the permission of Northumberland Archives, including from the collection of the late William Harrison. Pitmen Paintings reproduced with permission of The Ashington Group Trustees. Text written by Ashington Town Team with support from Barry Mead and Ashington Town Council. A1 A1 Alnmouth Alnmouth Amble Amble A1068 A1068 Newbiggin by the Sea Newbiggin by the Sea A197 Morpeth A197 ASHINGTON ASHINGTON Morpeth Blyth A189 Blyth A189 Cramlington Northumberland Cramlington Northumberland North Hexham A69 North Hexham A69 Shields Shields Haltwhistle NEWCASTLE Haltwhistle NEWCASTLE Sunderland UPON-TYNE Sunderland Allendale UPON-TYNE Allendale Northumberland Northumberland National Park National Park A1 A1 For more information on events and activities throughout the year go to: www.ashingtontowncouncil.gov.uk By bus - To plan your journey by bus telephone Traveline on: 0871 2002233 or go to: www.travelinenortheast.info For visitor and timetable information go to: www.woodhornnarrowgaugerailway.weebly.com Alnwick Alnwick A68 A68 Useful Information Designed and printed by Azure Printing - Tel: 01670 510271 In The Local Area This leaflet has been produced by: With support from: A19 A19