Billingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Billingham |
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| Town | |
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From the top: the town centre; Kingsway; Billingham Manufacturing Plant
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 Billingham
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| Population | 33,915 (2021 census) |
| OS grid reference | NZ470240 |
| • London | 219 mi (352 km) |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BILLINGHAM |
| Postcode district | TS22, TS23 |
| Dialling code | 01642 |
| Police | Cleveland |
| Fire | Cleveland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Billingham is a town and civil parish located in County Durham, England. It sits on the north side of the River Tees. The town is managed by the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees local council. In 2011, about 35,165 people lived there.
Billingham has a long history, starting as an Anglo-Saxon village. After the Second World War, a new, modern town centre was built. This new centre was located north of the older village area. From 1923 to 1968, Billingham had its own local government. It later became part of the larger County Borough of Teesside and then the county of Cleveland.
Today, Billingham is well-known for the Billingham Manufacturing Plant. This large factory makes important chemicals, especially for farming.
Contents
Discovering Billingham's Past
Billingham was first settled by the Angles, an ancient Germanic people. Its name might mean "Billa's people's home" or "home of the bill-shaped hill people." The town was part of an important area in Northumbria. This region was later ruled by Vikings for a time.
St Cuthbert's Parish Church is very old. Some parts of the church, like its main hall, date back to the late 600s or early 700s. Its tower was built around the year 1000. A grave-marker from the church, from the 600s, is now in the British Museum.
The Rise of the Chemical Industry
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Billingham's chemical industry began in the early 1900s. In 1917, the town was chosen for a new factory to make ammonia for the war. The factory was finished in 1920, after the war ended. The Brunner Mond Company took over and started making fertilisers.
In 1926, Brunner Mond joined with three other companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). ICI then ran the plant. During the World Wars, there was a huge need for explosives. This caused Billingham to grow a lot. After the Second World War, a new town centre was built. ICI also started making plastics in Billingham in 1966.
The famous writer Aldous Huxley visited the ICI plant. He was so impressed by the advanced technology that it inspired him to write his famous novel Brave New World. One description of the area said:
This is one of the most extraordinary of experiences, a sight almost unique in England. On either side of the road are the works. Steaming, sizzling—tall steel towers, great cylinders, pipes everywhere... At night the whole industrial world along the banks of the Tees comes to life... brilliant with a thousand lights, the great girders of the Transporter Bridge dark in silhouette: a magic city.
From 1971 to 1988, ICI had a small General Atomics TRIGA Mark I nuclear reactor at its factory. It made special materials for factory tools. ICI also had a coal-fired power station to power its plants. This power station was taken down in 1987. Its site is now an industrial estate with a wharf.
ICI no longer runs operations in Billingham. It sold many of its businesses in the 1990s. Some of the old ICI factories are still working today, run by other chemical companies. These companies are part of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC). They include GrowHow, Johnson Matthey, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, and Fruitarom.
For example, Growhow makes fertilisers and chemicals. They also capture CO2 for the food and drink industry. Tomatoes are even grown in Billingham using energy from the chemical complex. This helps reduce the area's carbon footprint.
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies has a factory in Billingham that makes medicines. They plan to make millions of doses of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine there for the UK government starting in 2021.
The Anhydrite Mine Debate
In 1983, a group called NIREX suggested using a disused anhydrite mine in Billingham. They wanted to store medium-level nuclear waste there. Many people were against this idea. A group called Billingham Against Nuclear Dumping (BAND) led the opposition. Even though the mine's geology was suitable, it was too close to a large town.
Because of this opposition, the plans were stopped in 1985. In 2007, new plans came up to reopen the mines. This time, it was for storing "low hazard waste." Again, there was strong opposition. A petition with 3,200 signatures was given to the local council.
In March 2011, Stockton Council allowed a company to reopen the mine. The company planned to turn it into a huge waste storage facility. It would receive over 100,000 tonnes of waste each year.
How Billingham is Governed
Local Government History
From 1923 to 1968, Billingham had its own local council, called an urban district council. This council built many things, like the Billingham Forum, Kennedy Gardens, and the Billingham Golf Club. The golf club was the first one in the UK owned by a local council. Octavious Evitts was Billingham's last mayor in 1952.
In 1968, Billingham became part of the County Borough of Teesside. Then, in 1974, Teesside County Borough was replaced by the County of Cleveland. Billingham was then part of the Stockton-on-Tees district. In 1996, Cleveland county was abolished. Billingham stayed within the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, which became a unitary authority (meaning it manages all local services).
Billingham Town Council
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The civil parish of Billingham is the largest area in the Stockton Borough. Besides the town itself, it includes areas like Haverton Hill, Port Clarence, Cowpen Bewley, and Seal Sands.
In 2003, people in Billingham voted to have their own town council again. The government then approved the creation of a new Billingham parish and town council in 2007. The first elections for this new Town Council were held on May 3, 2007.
Exploring Billingham's Geography
Parks and Green Spaces
Billingham Beck Valley Country Park is a beautiful green area. It used to be an industrial waste tip but was cleaned up and turned into a park. It now covers about 120 acres and has wetlands. It was named a Local Nature Reserve in 1992 and won an award in 2005. The beck (small river) that runs through it flows into the River Tees.
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Billingham Bottoms
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John Whitehead Park
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Charlton's Pond
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Cowpen Bewley Country Park
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RSPB Saltholme
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Cowpen Marsh at Seal Sands
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The Transporter Bridge
The Town Layout
Billingham is split into two main parts. There's Old Billingham, which is the area around the old village green and St Cuthbert's church. Then there are the newer, planned housing areas built since the 1950s. These new areas have made the town much bigger.
Billingham Town Centre has many popular shops. You can find stores like Asda, Greggs, Iceland, Argos, Aldi, Costa, Poundland, and Boyes. There are also charity shops, estate agents, and banks. A market is held in the town centre every Monday and Friday.
In 1967, Asda opened its first store outside Yorkshire in Billingham. This Asda supermarket is now the oldest one still trading in the UK.
In August each year, the town centre hosts the Billingham International Folklore Festival. Dancers and musicians perform traditional and modern dances from around the world.
In November 2013, a time capsule was buried in the town centre. It's in front of 'The Family' statue. The capsule is meant to be opened in the year 2078.
Billingham's Population Story
In 1801, Billingham had 962 people. This number grew slowly until World War I. The need for chemicals used in explosives caused the town to grow very quickly. In 1917, Billingham was chosen to make synthetic ammonia. The town's population almost doubled in just a few years, from 4,500 to 8,000.
After the war, the factory started making fertiliser. This led to more growth, and by 1931, nearly 18,000 people lived in Billingham. World War II also kept the town growing because of the demand for explosives.
In the late 1900s, Billingham's population growth slowed down. This was because industries in the area started to decline. Also, not many immigrants moved to Billingham after its industries changed. In 2011, only 2.3% of people in Billingham were born outside the UK. This is much lower than the national average of 13%. The population was also recorded as 99% white.
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Education in Billingham
Billingham has two main secondary schools. They are Northfield School, which focuses on sports, and St Michael's Catholic Academy, which is a science-focused Catholic school.
There are plans for St. Michael's to move to the Billingham Campus site. The council also plans to invest £40 million in primary schools. Some schools will be rebuilt or improved.
Bede College has been serving the town for many years. It attracts students from nearby towns and often gets better results than other colleges. It used to be one of the smallest colleges in the UK. But it recently joined with Stockton Riverside College and moved to a new campus. This has greatly increased its number of students. The new campus also has its own sports facilities.
Religious Communities
Billingham has several religious groups. The largest are the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.
The Church of England has five churches in Billingham: St. Cuthbert's, St. Luke's, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Aidan's, and St. Peter's. These churches serve all of Billingham and nearby villages.
The Roman Catholic community has three churches: Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish Billingham, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Joseph's. These churches are part of the Hexham and Newcastle area. There is also St Michaels RC Secondary School in Billingham.
Other Christian groups include two Methodist churches, one Baptist church, and a Pentecostal Church called "New Life." There is also a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a Kingdom Hall for Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Spiritualist community has a church on Chapel Road. This church is the second oldest in Billingham. It started as a Methodist church and has been a Spiritualist church since 1932.
Getting Around Billingham
Road Travel
Billingham is connected by the A19 road. This road goes north to Sunderland and south to Thirsk.
The A689 also serves Billingham. It goes east to Hartlepool and west to Bishop Auckland.
Train Services
Billingham railway station is on the Durham Coast Line. Trains run hourly, taking passengers north to Newcastle and the MetroCentre. They also go south to Stockton and Middlesbrough.
The original Billingham railway station closed in the late 1960s. It was moved about a mile east.
Bus Services
Stagecoach provides several bus services in Billingham. These include routes to Stockton, Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool.
Other bus companies have also operated services in the past, connecting Billingham to various nearby towns and areas.
Sports and Leisure in Billingham
Billingham is home to several sports teams. Billingham Town F.C. is a football club that celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017.
Another football team is Billingham Synthonia. Its name comes from "synthetic ammonia," linking back to the town's chemical industry. Due to financial issues, the team now plays in Norton.
Billingham Synthonia Cricket Club has similar origins to the football club. They play in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League.
The town also has its own ice hockey team, the Billingham Stars. They play at the Billingham Forum Ice Arena. There's also a women's ice hockey team called the Billingham Wildcats.
Billingham has one Rugby Union club, Billingham RUFC. It has several senior teams and a junior section for younger players.
Billingham Forum: A Community Hub
The Billingham Forum was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1967. It's a large sports and leisure centre. It has a swimming pool, an ice rink, and many sports halls. The complex also includes the Forum Theatre. Many famous people have performed there over the years.
There were once plans to build a new sports centre to replace the Forum. However, these plans were stopped in 2004. This was partly because the Forum Theatre was given special protected status as a Grade II listed building.
After a survey showed strong support, Stockton Borough Council invested £15 million to refurbish the Forum Complex. The refurbishment started in 2009 and finished on June 2, 2011.
Today, the Billingham Forum has a theatre, modern meeting rooms, a swimming pool, a large Ice Arena, a gym with advanced equipment, a sauna and steam room, and indoor climbing. It also has facilities for dry sports and drama. The Forum is owned by Stockton Borough Council and managed by Tees Active Ltd.
Famous People from Billingham
People
- Jamie Bell, actor known for Billy Elliot
- Dunstan Bruce, singer from the band Chumbawamba
- Ann Ming, who helped change a UK law about double jeopardy
- Eddie Jobson, musician
- Paul Smith, singer from the band Maxïmo Park
- Diane Youdale, known as 'Jet' from the TV show Gladiators
- The Wilson Family, a singing group
Sportspeople
- Andrew Davies, former footballer
- Robert Dowd, professional ice hockey player
- Sean Gregan, footballer
- Tony Hall, footballer
- Evan Horwood, footballer
- Willie Maddren, former footballer and manager
- Craig Willis, Rugby union player
- Tommy Mooney, footballer
- Gary Pallister, famous footballer for Middlesbrough F.C., Manchester United, and England
- Jamie Pollock, former footballer for Manchester City
- Brad Walker, footballer
- Zooey Perry, handball player
Billingham's Climate
Billingham has an oceanic climate, which means it has mild temperatures. Summers are usually warm, and temperatures can sometimes go above 30 °C, but this is rare. In winter, temperatures can drop below 0 °C, but this is also uncommon.
The highest temperature ever recorded in July was 37 °C, on July 19, 2022.
| Climate data for Billingham, England (2003–2011) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.9 (78.6) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.6 (87.1) |
37.0 (98.6) |
31.4 (88.5) |
28.8 (83.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
17.9 (64.2) |
16.3 (61.3) |
32.2 (90.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.5 (58.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
20.6 (69.1) |
22.1 (71.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
19.4 (66.9) |
14.8 (58.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
14.4 (57.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
1.7 (35.1) |
2.8 (37.0) |
4.8 (40.6) |
7.3 (45.1) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12.3 (54.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
10.2 (50.4) |
7.4 (45.3) |
4.3 (39.7) |
1.1 (34.0) |
6.3 (43.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −6.7 (19.9) |
−6.4 (20.5) |
−6.6 (20.1) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
3.5 (38.3) |
6.4 (43.5) |
6.5 (43.7) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−2.6 (27.3) |
−7.9 (17.8) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
−11.6 (11.1) |
| Source: Weather statistics collected from Billingham Weather Station | |||||||||||||
See also
In Spanish: Billingham para niños
