Pegswood

infobox UK place

country = England
official_name= Pegswood
latitude= 55.1798
longitude= -1.6442
population= 3260
shire_district= Castle Morpeth
shire_county = Northumberland
region= North East England
constituency_westminster= Wansbeck
post_town= MORPETH
postcode_district = NE61
postcode_area= NE
dial_code= 01670
os_grid_reference= NZ226873

Pegswood is a former coal mining village in Northumberland, England. It is located two miles east of Morpeth and three miles west of Ashington. It has a population of around 3260.

Pegswood is served by Pegswood railway station, which is located on the East Coast Main Line.

Geography

Pegswood is situated on a small hill, above the valley where Morpeth is situated. The River Wansbeck runs nearby and Brocks Burn, or Bothal Burn, also runs near the village.

Climate

Pegswood, like much of the rest of the United Kingdom, has a temperate climate. Due to the proximity of the North Sea, snow is uncommon, but some snowfall is generally seen each winter.

Architecture

Some typical colliery-style houses still exist in Pegswood, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries however, these are scheduled to be knocked down. A few old cottages exist, as well as two old farmhouses, on the main road running through the village: another two old farms are just out of the village. Two more farms were destroyed by opencast mining within the last thirty years.

History

The name Pegswood derives from 'Peg's Worth', meaning an enclosure belonging to a man named Pecg. [ [http://communities.northumberland.gov.uk/Pegswood.htm Northumberland Communities - Pegswood ] ] Pegswood started as a small farming settlement, yet with the discovery of coal and the opening of Pegswood colliery, the village expanded to accommodate miners. The colliery ran for many years, yet unfortunately the colliery was shut down in 1968. The only remnants are the Pit Heap, now landscaped and used as a park, with forest walks, and the entrance to the mine shaft, commonly known amongst Pegswardians as the 'Fifty Pence Piece' due to its shape, which is now in the Bothal Court estate. There was also formerly a brickworks in Pegswood, which has since closed down, yet many bricks from the brickworks can be found loose in the countryside around Pegswood, recognisable by a Pegswood stamp. In recent years, the colliery houses have become run down, and some have been demolished or abandoned. More houses were built between the 1950's and into the 21st century, further expanding Pegswood and increasing it's population.

Religion

There is a single church in Pegswood, St. Margaret's Chapel. The church plays an active role in Pegswood, with villagers often attending services, or using the Church Hall for various activities. Another church used to exist, but has since been converted into housing.

Transport

Rail services link Pegswood to Morpeth, Cramlington and Newcastle, while Arriva run bus services to Morpeth, Ashington, Alnwick and Newcastle. Pegsood lies on the A197 road, approximately equidistant from both Morpeth and Ashington. Pegswood has recently had a bypass built to the south of it removing 80%Fact|date=December 2007 of traffic through the village.

Education

Pegswood, like most of the rest of Northumberland, follows the 3-tier system of education. The only school is Pegswood County First School which caters for children from kindergarten up to Year 4. Most pupils then go on to Bothal Middle School in Ashington, however a minority opt to attend Newminster Middle School in Morpeth.

Sport

Pegswood has a football pitch, where the local teams play on Sundays. A bowling green is also present and is popular especially among older residents. Also there are astroturf 5-a-side pitches and tennis courts. Walking is also a popular sport, with public footpaths running around the Pit Heap and within the land reclaimed from the former opencast mine.

References