Silksworth

Coordinates: 54°52′00″N 1°25′00″W / 54.866667°N 1.416667°W / 54.866667; -1.416667

Silksworth
Silksworth  Silksworth shown within Tyne and Wear
OS grid reference	NZ378535
Metropolitan borough	City of Sunderland
Metropolitan county	Tyne and Wear
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SUNDERLAND
Postcode district	SR3
Dialling code	0191
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Tyne and Wear
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Sunderland South
List of places: UK • England • Tyne and Wear

Silksworth is a former coal mining village in Sunderland, located next to Tunstall, Farringdon and Gilley Law

Silksworth a brief history: Silksworth is a former colliery village with a 100 year coal mining heritage. In 1871, according to the Census there were approx 400 people living in the Silksworth and Tunstall areas, the local area was mainly farmland and most people worked on the land. Then to exploit the rich coal reserves in the area the Silksworth Colliery shaft was sunk in 1869 funded by Lord Londonderry. Ten years later in 1879 the local population had risen to 4707 for the Silksworth and Tunstall areas. The increase in population was mainly due to the migration of people to the area seeking work at the new Silksworth colliery. According to the census returns the miners came from Ireland, Scotland, Cornwell and even from the United States and Germany. The miners and their families had moved to the colliery areas seeking employment and also colliery housing was provided for the miners by the mine owner Lord Londonderry. The miners life was not an easy one, working conditions underground were very dangerous and the work very arduous. When Silksworth Colliery eventually closed in 1971 it was a massive blow to the local community as many of the local people and businesses relied on the colliery for their livelihood. Just about all remnants of the former Silksworth colliery have now gone and the former mine site has since been converted into Silksworth Sports Complex. Facilities at the sports complex include:

• Silksworth Ski Slope the North East of England's largest artificial ski slope and activity centre.
• Recreational boating lake near Gilley Law which is home to a variety of water foul birds, ducks, swans and also near the boating lake is a freshwater fishing lake.
• Silksworth Community Swimming Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre formally The Puma Centre including a new kid's Outdoor Adventure Play Area which is a great facility for kids and toddlers with swings, zip wire, climbing frames, slides, sand pit and pic nic area etc
• Athletics Running track
• All weather floodlit football pitches
• Skateboard park (Near the Ski slope)

Notable people

• Joe Clennell - former professional footballer
• Bobby Gurney - Sunderland A.F.C record goalscorer

External links

• Silksworth Sports Complex