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Bedlingtonshire (or Bedlington
for short) is one of the very few village shires.
An attractive
small market town situated on the River Blyth. In
the eighteenth and nineteenth century, Bedlington
grew around the production of iron, with the
Bedlington Iron and Engine works being founded in
1736 by William Tomlinson. The company was
originally involved in the slitting of iron for
the production of nails. At the beginning of the
nineteenth century, under the management of close
friend of George and Robert Stevenson, Michael
Longridge, the works grew to play an influential
role in the growth of the railways, developing the
first malleable rail track patented in 1820. It
later went on to produce 215 locomotive engines
and a number of groundbreaking locomotives
designed by engineering expert Sir Daniel Gooch.
The works closed in 1867 due to fierce competition
in the industry, by which time, the Bedlington
Coal Company was becoming the main employer in the
town. Founded in 1838, by 1909 there were ten
collieries in the local area, the last of which
closing in 1974.
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Hartford Hall - Photo:
Alan Fearon
CCL |
The site of one
of the
collieries south
of the town
centre has now
been transformed
into the fine 18
hole Bedlington
Golf Course.
Also just
outside the town
is Bedlington
Country Park
with over five
miles of
pathways and
nature trails.
Situated on the
banks of the
River Blyth, the
park is a
popular spot for
horse riding
through the
spring dawn
riding school.
The park also
offers public
barbecues and a
paddling pond
located at a
sheltered
clearing at
Humford Mill. |
Bedlington is
also a stones
throw from
Plessey Woods
Country Park,
created around a
section of
mature woodland
beside the River
Blyth. This is a
favourite among
bird watchers,
where
Sparrowhawks can
be seen hunting
and Tawny Owls
can be spotted
roosting in the
trees. The
predominantly
oak and birch
woods play host
to wintering
Thrushes and
Finches from
northern climes.
Bedlington used
to belong to the
Prince Bishop of
Durham and is
also the resting
place of St.
Cuthbert!
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