Prudhoe

:"For the settlement and oil field in the U.S. state of Alaska, see Prudhoe Bay."infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Prudhoe
latitude= 54.9610
longitude= -1.8492
population = 11,500
shire_district= Tynedale
region= North East England
shire_county = Northumberland
constituency_westminster= Hexham
post_town= PRUDHOE
postcode_district = NE42
postcode_area= NE
dial_code= 01661
os_grid_reference= NZ096629

Prudhoe is a small town in the southern part of the English county of Northumberland in the district of Tynedale, close to the border with Tyne and Wear and just south of the River Tyne. Prudhoe is the largest town in Tynedale with a population of over 11,500.

The town is sited on a steep, north-facing hill in the Tyne valley near Ovingham, Ovington, Wylam, Stocksfield, Crawcrook (in Tyne and Wear), Hedley on the Hill, and Mickley.

The town's name is pronounced "pruddah".

Transport

Prudhoe can be reached from Newcastle upon Tyne, the closest city, by rail, and by road via the A695, or from the A69 Carlisle-Newcastle trunk road, via Wylam or Ovington, crossing the river Tyne. The town is served by Prudhoe railway station, and has direct bus links to Newcastle, Hexham and the MetroCentre.

Industry

Prudhoe was once a coal mining town.

At present, Prudhoe has two large factories: SCA Hygiene (formerly Kimberly-Clark) which makes paper products such as tissues at their Prudhoe Mill factory and Hammerite Products (an Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) owned factory producing paints and thinning products for Cuprinol, Hammerite and other brands)

The site where SCA stands was first used by ICI for producing agricultural fertiliser (sulphate and ammonium sulfate). In 1963 this plant closed leaving behind the "Spetchells" chalk hills - heaps of waste product which were subsequently turfed over. After ICI closed the site was owned by Cleveland Engineering which produced automobile parts. Following its closure in 1969 Kimberly-Clark opened.

Thompsons of Prudhoe, a large construction/demolition company, is based on the Prudhoe Industrial Estate.

Recreation

Tyne Riverside Country Park in Low Prudhoe lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne.

The park includes the artificial chalk hills known as the "Spetchells" which have attracted some natural chalk-loving flora and fauna not normally found in the region. It has been proposed that they be made 'sites of scientific interest'.

A public bridleway runs to Hagg Bank, over the Points Bridge to Wylam. Now forming a traffic-free part of National Cycle Network Route 72, it runs on the bed of a disused railway line to Newburn, Tyne and Wear, and on to Newcastle.

Prudhoe Town Football Club play in the Second Division of the [http://www.northernleague.org Arngrove Northern League] .

[http://www.leisuretynedale.co.uk/index_files/Page503.htm Prudhoe Waterworld] provides swimming and other fitness activities and is the home of Prudhoe Millennium Tapestry.

[http://www.prudhoegolfclub.co.uk Prudhoe Golf Club] is an 18-hole golf club to the east of the town.

There are lots of good take-aways and restaurants along 'Front Street'.

International links

Prudhoe is twinned with Mitry Mory, near Paris, France.

Prudhoe Bay, an area of Alaska containing the largest oil field in the USA is named indirectly after Prudhoe. The explorer, John Franklin, who discovered the area, named it after his good friend, Baron Prudhoe of Prudhoe.

Prudhoe Castle

Prudhoe has a Norman castle which was for a long time involved in the border wars between England and Scotland. It was built by the de Umfraville family - the Norman Sir Robert de Umfraville was granted the freedom of Redesdale by William the Conqueror. For much of its history the castle was owned by the Percy family. It is now run by English Heritage.

The majority of the surviving building work dates from the 12th century, although the site of Prudhoe Castle has strong Norman origins. In the 14/15th century the tower was extended to provide an extra level with turrets. Only the south west turret survives to this day.

For further details see the article Prudhoe Castle

External links

* [http://www.prudhoe.org/ Prudhoe Online Community Website]
* [http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/prudhoe%20castle.htm Prudhoe Castle]
* [http://www.prudhoedolphins.org.uk Prudhoe Dolphins] Local Swimming Club
* [http://www.thischurch.com Prudhoe Methodist Church]
* [http://www.prudhoecatholics.co.uk/index.htm Prudhoe Catholic Church]