- Rowlands Gill
infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Rowlands Gill
latitude= 54.920926
longitude= -1.744103
population =
metropolitan_borough= Gateshead
metropolitan_county=Tyne and Wear
region= North East England
constituency_westminster= Blaydon
post_town=ROWLANDS GILL
postcode_district=NE39
postcode_area=NE
dial_code= 01207
os_grid_reference= NZ165585Rowlands Gill is a former
coal mining village on the north side of the River Derwent,Tyne and Wear ,England . Originally an independent village inCounty Durham it became incorporated into Tyne and Wear in 1974 and then theMetropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1986.It is located in the
greenbelt of Gateshead. The village has a picturesque setting with much open space and views across the valley toGibside , the estate now owned by the National Trust. During the latter part of the twentieth century, Rowlands Gill became suburbanised and is increasingly used as acommuter village . One of the borough's wealthiest areas, such expansion was largely due to the development of detached houses of Dominies Close in the late 1980s.Local politics
In
local government Rowlands Gill is located within the ward of 'Chopwell and Rowlands Gill. It is served by three councillors, all of whom are Labour councillors. Gateshead council is Labour controlled.Rowlands Gill is also located within the
parliamentary constituency of Blaydon. Its current MP is Labour's Dave Anderson.Retail and facilities
It has two florists but no pub, after 'The Towneley Arms' was demolished in 2002 to make way for apartments. There is a social club, however. The village is served by a Tesco Metro supermarket, a Lloyds TSB Bank, a surgery, and three estate agents (Halifax Estate Agents, Rook Matthews Sayer, and JD Estates). Other shops include a Newsagent, Post Office, Boots Chemist, Off Licence and a group of smaller shops heading out of the village centre.
The Library is situated near the village centre, while the two local churches are both situated on the main road.
There is an Italian Restaurant and Oriental Restaurant near the Tesco store, while upstairs of these restaurants a is the local gym. An award winning Fish and Chip shop, Maguires, is located next to
Derwent park and the social club.Recreation and education
The Derwent Park provides access to the river as well as tennis courts, sanity putting, recreational fields and playground facilities. The park also has a caravan park. The village has access to the Derwent Country Walk.
The village's 'In Bloom Committee' is very active and has entered the Britain in Bloom competition over the past 3 or 4 years in the 'Large Village' category. The participation is boasted by signs marking the village.
Formerly connected to the railway, the village is still busy with transport with a heavily used road running through. There are frequent bus services (Services 45/46/46A and 47) to Newcastle City Centre, the
MetroCentre and, in the other direction, Blackhall Mill or Consett (via Medomsley or Shotley Bridge). Other minor bus routes also operate, such as Service 10 to and from Newcastle via Crawcrook, the local circle buses serving areas such as Sherburn Towers, and the UCall bus service.Rowlands Gill has a very successful primary school. The Infant and Junior schools have now amalgamated but were originally based on two sites. This primary school is the feeder school for Hookergate School, just over 2 miles away, near High Spen.
Rowlands Gill, and the surrounding Derwent Valley, was chosen by the Northern Kites Project as the location for the re-introduction of
Red Kites in semi-rural areas. This scheme has proven to be a big success, with birds being spotted across the west of the borough, fromCrawcrook to Rowlands Gill itself. [cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/5084800.stm |publisher=BBC News | title = Delight as red kite chicks hatch | date =16 June 2006 | accessdate = 2008-01-23] [cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/5222580.stm | title = Young Red Kite Takes First Flight | accessdate = 2008-01-23]References
External links
* [http://www.hookergate.gateshead.sch.uk Hookergate School]
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