Dipton, County Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dipton, County Durham |
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|---|---|
| village | |
 The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STANLEY |
| Postcode district | DH9 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
Dipton is a friendly village found in County Durham, England. It's located near towns like Consett, Burnopfield, and Annfield Plain. The main road, A692, runs right through the village. Dipton used to be a collection of smaller places like Pontop and Collierley, but by 1820, the whole area became known as Dipton.
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Village History
Dipton has a long and interesting history, especially when it comes to its churches and old buildings.
Early Chapels
A very old chapel existed in Collierley, part of Dipton, way back in the 13th century. Around the year 1221, a place called Kepier Hospital agreed to build this chapel. It was mentioned again in records from 1534. By 1770, this ancient chapel was in ruins. Today, you can find the spot where it stood on a farm in Collierley, in a field still known as "Chapel field."
St John the Evangelist Church
The Church of England parish church in Dipton is called St John the Evangelist. It was built between 1885 and 1886. Sadly, a fire in 1963 caused some damage to parts of the church. It was eventually closed in 2013.
St Patrick's Church
Dipton also has a Roman Catholic church named St Patrick's. It was first built in 1907 using wood and iron. This first church burned down in 1964. A new St Patrick's Church was built in its place between 1967 and 1968.
Pontop Hall
Pontop Hall is an old house that dates back to the late 1500s or early 1600s. It has been added to over the years. This historic hall was once owned by many different families. From 1748 to 1802, the attic of Pontop Hall was used as a secret Roman Catholic chapel. It also offered a safe place for students from a seminary (a school for priests) in Douai, France, before they moved to another location.
Coal Mining Heritage
Coal mining has been an important part of Dipton's history for a very long time, with records showing mining activity as early as the 1300s.
Local Collieries
Several large coal mines, called collieries, operated in the Dipton area:
- South Medomsley Pit: This mine, also known as Pontop Hall colliery, opened in 1867 and closed in 1980. It used two shafts named Annie and Mary.
- Dipton Colliery: Also known as the Delight colliery, this mine was active from 1855 to 1940.
- Lily Colliery: This mine was no longer in use by the 1890s.
Modern Dipton
Dipton today is a growing community.
Local School
The local school for children in the village is called Collierley Primary School.
Village Growth
For a while in the 1980s, not many new houses were built in Dipton. However, over the last ten years, many new housing estates have been constructed. This has helped bring a younger generation of families to the village, keeping the community lively.
Pontop Pike
Dipton is also close to the Pontop Pike Television Transmitter. This tall structure helps send TV and radio signals across the area.
