Willington, County Durham
Willington | |
---|---|
Greater Willington | |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CROOK |
Postcode district | DL15 |
Dialling code | 01388 |
Police | Durham |
Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
Ambulance | North East |
UK Parliament | |
Willington is a village
Like many communities in the area Willington's economy was largely based on coal mining. The closure of the
Governance
Willington is in the electoral ward of Willington and Hunwick. The population of this ward at the 2011 Census was 9,147.[3]
Willington was formerly a
Leisure facilities`
There are large areas of parkland with play areas in the village.
A leisure centre exists in the village, Spectrum Leisure Centre (a registered charity).[7] The centre has a large sports hall, gyms and a bar/refreshment area.
The Centre hosts events, notably those of Empire Electric Palace Theatre (Crook),[8] and recent events have included a ROARSOME ROADSHOW, HARRY PANTO and RAPUNZEL.
Parkside Academy
Is a coeducational secondary school. Parkside Academy has announced that they have been awarded "World Class School" status and that they are the only secondary school in County Durham to have received this award. To be eligible for World Class School mark a school must have already been rated "outstanding" by Ofsted. (ref Parkside Academy, World Class Schools.org)
Football team
Willington has its own football club,
Their most recent highlight was featuring in the Wearside Football League Cup final in 2011, where they were eventually beaten by Ryhope Colliery Welfare 4-2 on penalties.
Willington A.F.C. have reached the final of the
Notable figures
George Burdon McKean was born in the town in 1888, moving to Canada in 1902. He returned to England in WW1 as a private soldier in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His first gallantry award was as an NCO, in 1917, when he won the Military Medal. A year later, as a commissioned officer, he was involved in a trench raid for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was also one of a small number of soldiers to be awarded both the Military Medal & the Military Cross - having served as a both a junior rank and an officer.
His Victoria Cross award was celebrated with the unveiling of a memorial stone in the main street of the village, near to the library.
References
- ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ "Welcome to Greater Willington Town Council". www.gwtc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ "Relationships and changes Willington Tn/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ "Population statistics Willington Tn/CP through time". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ https://spectrumleisurecentre.com/
- ^ https://www.empirecrook.co.uk