Westoe

Westoe is a suburb of South Shields, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom.

History

Westoe was originally a village a mile south of South Shields, and was gradually absorbed into the urban sprawl. Westoe Village is also the name of a quiet suburban east- west road in Westoe. It consists of Georgian and Victorian houses, many being built by Victorian business leaders in South Shields, including those who owned mines and shipyards.

Politics

Westoe is an electoral ward of South Tyneside Council [http://www.southtyneside.info/search/tempDocuments/tmp_64888.pdf South Tyneside Council 2007 Local elections results map by ward] , bordered to the north by Beacon and Bents ward, to the east by Horsley Hill ward, to the south by Harton ward, and to the west by Simonside and Rekendyke, and West Park, wards. In the 2007 local elections the ward returned three independant candidates.

Transport

The Westoe Road forms part of the A1018 road from South Shields to Seaham.

Westoe is served by the Chichester Metro station, the penultimate stop on the South Shields branch of the Tyne and Wear Metro rapid transit system.

Education

The South Shields campus of South Tyneside College is located immediately to the southern side of the road named Westoe Village.

Brewing

Westoe had its own brewery until the 1960s. The Jarrow Brewing Company of nearby Jarrow purchased the former Chameleon pub in Westoe, opening it as The Maltings. From 2006 they expanded their microbrewery output by installing a facility above this pub, producing 100 barrels a week [ [http://www.jarrowbrewery.co.uk/ Jarrow Brewery website] ] . The company includes in its beers, "Westoe IPA" and "Westoe Netty Special".

Sport

Westoe Rugby Football Club est. 1875, is the Village's oldest Rugby club.

Colliery

Westoe Colliery was one of many coal mines in the area.

The Westoe Netty

Westoe became famous as the inspiration for the picture, the Westoe Netty, illustrating a local public toilet [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/apr/04/artnews.art Urinal finds museum home] The Guardian, 4 April 2007] [ [http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1298826.famous_toilet_to_go_on_display/ Famous toilet to go on display] The Northern Echo, 30 March 2007] . "Netty" is a Geordie dialect word for toilet. The original toilet was built in 1890 near the railway bridge. To allow for regeneration, it was dismantled and put into storage in 1996. In 2008 the toilet was rebuilt as a permanent exhibibit at the Beamish Museum.

Former residents

* Catherine Cookson, author, spent time in Westoe in her youth. Westoe was the backdrop for a number of her romance novels [cite web
title =Dame Catherine Cookson
quote = 4. Sir William Fox Hotel, Westoe village, South Shields. This conservation village was the setting for many of her books including Katie Mulholland and Kate Hannigan.
work =
date =
url = http://www.afundit.co.uk/Cookson1.htm
accessdate = 2007-12-22]
* Dame Flora Robson [ [http://www.welhat.gov.uk/leisureculture/museumsgalleries/abiographicalhistoryofdameflorarobson] ] , actress. Nominated for an Oscar for her role in Saratoga Trunk.
* William Fox [ [http://www.primeminister.govt.nz/oldpms/1856-61-69-73fox.html] ] Three time Prime Minister of New Zealand.
* Elinor Brent-Dyer [ [http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/brentdye.htm] ] , author of the Chalet School books. She was born in South Shields and attended school in Westoe.

References

External links

* [http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/w008.htm Westoe Colliery] page at the Durham Mining Museum website