Waldridge, County Durham
| Waldridge Fell | |
|---|---|
| Population | 215 (2001) [1] |
| OS grid reference | NZ251497 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| 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 | |
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.
The Fell.
Waldridge Fell is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), as it is one of the last remaining areas of lowland fell (heathland) in the county, with a raised valley floor peat bog. There is extensive evidence of coal mining with subsidence and other features related to the colliery and pits. Typical heathland vegetation and wildlife are present consisting of heather, bracken, gorse, rabbit, game birds, blackberry, bilberry and raspberry.
In the surrounding birch and oak woodland you may see Roe Deer, Sparrowhawk, and Tawny Owl. It is bordered to the west and south by the Daisy Hill local nature reserve.
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 having been linked, underground, to a nearby colliery (Chester Moor)the shaft and pithead gear remained until 1967 for ventilation and emergency access. The large slag heap was to the south of the colliery winding gear and buildings. There were other small drift mines on the fell. A waggonway which was in service until 1955 took Waldridge coal to the Tyne via Stella Gill sidings. The most recent mining ended in 1992 when Smithy Dene drift closed, Daisy hill to the southwest of the fell was extensively opencast mined at this time.
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. The main points of interest are the unique (for the county) flora and fauna of the Fell and surrounding area
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 attraction
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]
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