Waldridge, County Durham

Waldridge Fell
Population
OS grid reference	NZ251497
District	Chester-le-Street
Shire county	County Durham
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHESTER LE STREET
Postcode district	DH
Dialling code	0191
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
UK Parliament	North Durham

Waldridge is a village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south west of Chester-le-Street. It is known as either Waldridge Fell or Waldridge Village, the 'Fell' referring to the surrounding area of moorland.

The current village dates back to the 1890s, the original village having been located on the fell which overlooks the present location.

Rainwater runs into the Cong burn to the north and the South Burn to the south, both of which flow into the River Wear which is a few miles to the east.

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The Fell.

There are car parks and trails/tracks which have changed locations over time. It is typical area moorland, but with evidence of coal mining subsidence and other features related to the colliery and pits. This typical vegetation and wildlife consists of Heather, Bracken, Gorse, Rabbit, Game birds, Blackberry, Bilberry and Raspberry.

Farming.

Over recent decades Waldridge area farms have engaged in typical farming such as free range poultry, dairy processing, beekeeping, potatoes and rapeseed. Farmland area continues to reduce as housing expands out from Chester-le-Street, ever closer to Waldridge. The List of farms in Waldridge, County Durham shows farm names, dates and production in more detail.

Coal mining.

Waldridge became a coal mining village. Waldridge Colliery was located on the hill south of Waldridge overlooking the village and the Wear valley. It opened in 1831 and closed in April 1926. The large slag heap was to the south of the colliery winding gear and buildings. There were other pits on the fell. A waggonway which was in service until 1955 took Waldridge coal to the Tyne via Ouston Colliery. The most recent mining ended in 1992 after 5 years. It was opencast at Daisy hill to the southwest of the fell.

Roman times.

The Waldridge Fell region south of the Cong burn is suspected to be the location of the Roman road from Chester-le-Street Roman fort to Lanchester Roman fort and the Roman aqueduct to Chester-le-Street.

Points of interest.

At one time anyone traveling on the main road through Waldridge would have been able to see the topiary animal figures carved out of the hedges at one of the Lime Cottages.

Transport.

The only form of scheduled public transport to/from Waldridge Village/Fell is by bus.

Tourism.

The Fell and the Cong burn woodland are the main tourist attractions.

External links

Durham Mining Museum - Waldridge Colliery [2]

Durham Mining Museum - Daisy Hill Opencast [3]

Durham Mining Museum – Waldridge Fell Drift [4]

Waggonway Maps [5]

Northern Archaeology Group [6]

Chester-le-Street Roman fort - Concangis [7]

Lanchester Roman fort - Longovicium [8]