Darlington 160564 224814136 2008-07-10T15:12:55Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Refimprove|date=April 2008}} {{otheruses4|the town in England}} {{Infobox UK place | country = England | latitude = 54.5270 | longitude = -1.5526 |official_name= Darlington |static_image= [[Image:Darlington town centre.jpg|240px]] |static_image_caption= <small>Darlington town centre showing part of the "Pedestrian Heart" scheme</small> | population = 97,838 ([[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]]) | unitary_england= [[Darlington (borough)|Darlington]] | region = North East England | lieutenancy_england= [[County Durham]] | constituency_westminster= [[Darlington (UK Parliament constituency)|Darlington]] | post_town= DARLINGTON | postcode_district = DL1, DL2, DL3 | postcode_area= DL | dial_code= 01325 | os_grid_reference= NZ289147 | london_distance= 251.6mi }} '''Darlington''' is a town in [[County Durham]], [[England]] and the main population centre in the [[Darlington (borough)|Borough of Darlington]]. Darlington has a resident [[population]] of 97,838. On [[1 April]] [[1997]], the Borough of Darlington became a [[unitary authority area]], which separated it from the [[non-metropolitan county]] of [[County Durham|Durham]], for administrative purposes. [[Darlington railway station]] (Bank Top) lies on the [[East Coast Main Line]]. There are also services from the historic [[North Road railway station]] and associated [[Darlington Railway Centre and Museum]]. The town is also home to the [[football (soccer)|football]] team [[Darlington F.C.]], known as "The Quakers" because of the contributions made to the town by men such as [[Edward Pease (railway pioneer)|Edward]] and [[Joseph Pease (railway pioneer)|Joseph Pease]], members of the [[Religious Society of Friends]]. == History == Darlington started life as a [[Saxon]] settlement on the [[River Skerne]]. It has an attractive historic market area in the town centre. [[St Cuthbert]]'s Church is one of the most important and impressive [[Early English]] churches in the north of England. Darlington is known for its associations with the birth of [[railways]]. This is celebrated in the town at [[Darlington Railway Centre and Museum]]. The world's first passenger rail journey was between [[Shildon]] (via Darlington) and nearby [[Stockton-on-Tees]] on the [[Stockton and Darlington Railway]] in 1825. The town later became an important centre for railway manufacturing, with three significant works. The largest of these was the main line [[Darlington railway works|locomotive works]], known as North Road Shops, opened in 1863 and closed in 1966. Another was [[Robert Stephenson]] & Co. (colloquially: "Stivvies"), who moved to Darlington from [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] in 1902, became Robert Stephensons & Hawthorns in 1937, were absorbed by [[English Electric]] around 1960, and closed by 1964. The third was Faverdale Wagon Works, established in 1923 and closed in 1962, which in the 1950s was a UK pioneer in the application of mass-production techniques to the manufacture of railway goods wagons. To commemorate the town's contribution to the railways, [[David Mach]]'s 1997 work "Train" is located alongside the A66, close to the original Stockton-Darlington railway. It is a life-size brick sculpture of a steaming locomotive emerging from a tunnel, made from 185,000 "Accrington Nori" bricks. The work had a budget of £760,000. In 1870, ''[[The Northern Echo]]'' newspaper was launched. It is based in Priestgate and is a long-standing part of life in the North East. Although a local paper, it is a full-bodied newspaper in its own right and includes national and international news in its scope. [[Independent local radio]] station [[Alpha 103.2]] launched in 1995. [[William Thomas Stead]] was the first editor of the ''Northern Echo'' - Just opposite of the Northern Echo Building is the 'The William Stead' [[public house]], [[restaurant]] and [[beer garden]]. The town centre has undergone a full refurbishment entitled "The Pedestrian Heart", which has seen the majority of the town centre pedestrianised.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Living/Planning+and+Building+Control/Planning+Services/Projects+and+Schemes/PedHeart/PedHeartFeatures.htm |title=Main Features of the Pedestrian Heart Scheme |work=Darlington Borough Council}}</ref> Initially, the project received criticism surrounding changes to public transport, and removal of Victorian features along High Row.<ref>{{cite news | title = Town revamp 'may disrupt traders' | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2005-09-16]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4251676.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Trader hits out at the heart of the scheme | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2007-04-24]] | url = http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/search/display.var.1349982.0.trader_hits_out_at_the_heart_of_the_scheme.php | accessdate = 2008-01-18}}</ref> There is now growing evidence, however, that the now-completed changes are meeting with local approval.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-teesside-news/darlington-news/2007/10/18/town-centre-scheme-is-praised-84229-19970199/ |title=Hearty thanks - Town centre scheme is praised |work=Herald & Post}}</ref> It is [[w:town twinning|twinned]] with [[Mülheim an der Ruhr]] in [[Germany]] and [[Amiens]] in [[France]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Democracy/Welcome+to+Darlington/Twin+Towns.htm|title=Darlington's Twin Towns|work=Darlington Borough Council}}</ref> ==Transport== The Great North Road, now known as the [[A1 road|A1]], used to run directly through the centre of Darlington. The road has since been diverted to the west of the town; the original route is now the [[A167 road|A167]] via North Road in the town centre. The £5.9 m five-mile [[A66 road|A66]] bypass opened in November 1985 and is currently undergoing major reconstruction in an effort to reduce congestion at rush hour. Currently being built is the [[Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor]] at a cost of £12.5 million, which will link Central Park (Haughton Road), north east of the town centre to a new roundabout on the A66. The project is due to be complete by summer of 2008. Bus transport in the town is provided by [[Arriva North-East]]. Darlington lost out on considerable public receipts when the municipal bus operator ''Darlingon Transport Company'' was placed into administration during an attempted [[privatisation]], due to continuing financial difficulties and the [[Darlington Bus War]]. Darlington was chosen by the Department for Transport as one of three national Sustainable Travel Demonstration Towns (together with Peterborough and Worcester) in 2004, and has successfully delivered a three year research and marketing programme to promote sustainable travel choices under the brand name 'Local Motion'. It was also chosen as one of six cycling demonstration towns in October 2005, receiving £3 million worth of funding from the government and local authority money.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2005/10/21/209401.html |title=£3 m to make town a more friendly place for cyclists |publisher=The Northern Echo |date=[[21 October]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2008-02-11}}</ref> The money has been spent over the course of three years on improving cycling facilities, cycle routes and linking the town to the national cycle route network. Darlington is the only place to win both sustainable travel and cycling demonstration town status.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/2/2/217551.html |title=Cycling comments needed |date=[[2 February]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2008-02-11 |publisher=The Northern Echo}}</ref> == Economy == [[Image:Darlo.jpg|thumb|Darlington, including the town clock.]] This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of Darlington at current basic prices [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.240-253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year || Regional Gross Value Added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref> |- | 1995 || '''1,115''' || 8 || 377 || 729 |- | 2000 || '''1,192''' || 6 || 417 || 768 |- | 2003 || '''1,538''' || 6 || 561 || 971 |} ==Culture== {{Unreferencedsection|date=June 2008}} The [[Civic Theatre]] is a popular arts venue in the town, hosting a mix of musicals, dramas, plays and [[pantomime]]s. The smaller but well-used Arts Centre, founded in 1982, features smaller events, film screenings and more experimental material. The ''Rhythm'n'Brews'' festival is a music and [[real ale]] festival normally held in early autumn, with many rock, blues and jazz acts playing at various venues around Darlington, as well as a [[Campaign for Real Ale]] (CAMRA) run bar at the Arts Centre. The Forum Music Centre, opened in 2004, hosts regular live music events, from Ska and Punk to Indie and Classic Rock. Also runs a popular comedy club. As well as live music, the facility houses a state of the art recording studio and several rehearsal rooms. The Carmel Rhythm Club is another place for music. Held at [[Carmel College]] in the [[Hummersknott]] end of town. A charitable organisation for the Carmel PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) attracts many large bands in the genre of [[rhythm and blues]]. Darlington town centre has built a strong focus on independent shopping, giving a breathing space from the usually high street national stores and introducing a varied and popular shopping experience. Grange Road has a number of expensive and attractive designer stores, Duke Street houses art galleries and restaurants and nestled between the two is Skinnergate, which holds the greatest variety of interesting and original stores. A focal point of the street is In Arcadia, which attracts a strong youth culture who are attracted to the colourful clothes, shoes and jewellery, as well as the Latino food served in the Voodoo Café. Darlington Dog Show has been a championship event since 1969. It was normally held in September on the showground in South Park, although in more recent years it has moved to [[Ripon]]. Football teams in the town are [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]], a team in the [[Football League Two]]; and [[Darlington Railway Athletic]], a team in the [[Northern League]]. Rugby teams are [[Darlington RFC]] and [[Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.]]. Cricket clubs are [[Darlington Cricket Club]] and [[Darlington Railway Athletic Cricket Club]]. The Darlington 10K road run is held every August, and attracts several thousand competitors. The Dolphin Centre, which provides a wide range of sporting facilities, was opened by [[Roger Bannister]] in 1982, and received a £5 m refurbishment in 2006 and was later given a new official opening by [[Redcar]] athlete [[Tanni Grey-Thompson]]. ==Media== Darlington is home to the regional daily paper ''[[The Northern Echo]]'' and its sister weekly paper ''[[Darlington & Stockton Times]]''. The town also has its own radio station, Alpha Radio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alpha1032.com/about/legal/ |title=Alpha 103.2 - Public Information File |accessdate=2008-03-11 |publisher=Alpha 103.2 official website}}</ref> ==Famous natives and residents== {{see also|Category:People from Darlington}} {{Prose|date=May 2007}} <!-- Listed in alphabetical order. Includes people who were born, once lived or currently reside in Darlington. --> *[[George Allison]] - Renowned [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] football manager in the 1930s *[[Zoe Birkett]] - Singer and runner up on television show '[[Pop Idol]]' *[[David J. Bodycombe]] - Games designer *[[Aidan Chambers]] - Prize-winning children's author *[[Wendy Craig]] - Actress *[[Frederick Dickens]] - Charles Dickens' beloved scapegrace brother. He is buried in the West Cemetery. *[[Robin Ellwood]] - Actor - storyteller *[[Mark Gatiss]] - Actor and writer *[[Ruth Gemmell]] - Actress *[[Ian Hamilton (critic)|Ian Hamilton]] - Poet and editor *[[Ralph Hodgson]] - Poet *[[George Gordon Hoskins]] - Architect responsible for many of Darlington's [[Victorian]] buildings *[[Glenn Hugill]] - Actor and TV producer *[[Richard Hurndall]] - Actor *[[Giuseppe Wilson]] - Footballer, Lazio's second highest capped player *[[John of Darlington]] - Confessor to [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] *[[Edward Pease (railway pioneer)|Edward Pease (1767-1858)]] - Quaker industrialist *[[Joseph Pease (railway pioneer)|Joseph Pease (1799-1872)]] - Industrialist; the first Quaker M.P. *[[Vic Reeves]] - Comedian and author *[[Katherine Routledge|Katherine Maria Routledge, née Pease]] (1866-1935) archaeologist who undertook first scientific survey of [[Easter Island]] archaeology. *[[John Simons]] - Radio presenter and executive *[[Willie Smith (snooker player)|Willie Smith]] - Twice world [[billiards]] champion (only entered twice). *[[William Thomas Stead]] - Editor of ''[[The Northern Echo]]''; Victorian social commentator who died on the [[RMS Titanic|''Titanic'']] *Sir [[John Summerson]] - Architectural writer *[[Darrien Wright]] - Strictly Dance Fever winner == Suburbs == There are several suburbs of Darlington. In the north is [[Harrowgate Hill]], [[Harrowgate Village]] and [[Beaumont Hill]] and to the northeast is [[Whinfield]], [[Haughton-le-Skerne]] and [[Red Hall]]. East is [[Eastbourne, County Durham|Eastbourne]] with [[Firth Moor]] and [[Skerne Park]] to the south and situated in the west end are [[Hummersknott]], [[Mowden]] and [[Blackwell, County Durham|Blackwell]]. Finally, to the northwest are [[Branksome, County Durham|Branksome]], [[Cockerton]], [[Faverdale]], [[The Denes]], [[West Park]], [[High Grange, Darlington|High Grange]] and Pierremont. Running somewhat parallel to Woodland Road from [[Cockerton]] village towards the centre of [[Darlington]] is the area called [[The Denes]] which is mainly semi-detached and terraced housing surrounding valley areas of public park and recreation land. [[Darlington Memorial Hospital]] on Hollyhurst Road, lies in the corridor between Woodlands Road and The Denes. ==References and notes== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *{{commonscat-inline}} *[http://www.darlington.gov.uk Darlington Borough Council] *[http://www.thisisdarlington.com This is Darlington - Community website and forum] *[http://www.darlingtontown.co.uk/ Darlington Town] *[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/AreaProfileFrames.asp?aid=175806&hid=14&tid=13 Statistics] about Darlington from the [[Office for National Statistics]] [[United Kingdom Census 2001|Census 2001]] *[http://www.visitdarlington.com Darlington Tourist Information] *[http://www.drcm.org.uk Darlington Railway Centre & Museum] *[http://www.pbase.com/csdesign/darlington_postcards Historic Postcards of Darlington] {{Durham}} [[Category:Darlington| ]] [[Category:Towns in County Durham]] [[Category:Railway towns in England]] [[Category:Locations in the Tees Valley]] [[Category:Darlington Borough]] [[de:Darlington]] [[eo:Darlington]] [[fr:Darlington (Angleterre)]] [[id:Darlington]] [[it:Darlington]] [[lb:Darlington]] [[nl:Darlington (Engeland)]] [[ja:ダーリントン]] [[pt:Darlington]] [[ro:Darlington]] [[ru:Дарлингтон]] [[sk:Darlington (Anglicko)]] [[fi:Darlington]] [[sv:Darlington]] [[vo:Darlington (County Durham)]]