Elwick, County Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elwick |
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| Village and civil parish | |
 The village green |
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 Elwick
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| Population | 1,001 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | NZ4619932279 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HARTLEPOOL |
| Postcode district | TS27 |
| Dialling code | 01429 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Elwick is a small village in County Durham, England. It's part of the Hartlepool area and is located near the A19 road, west of the town of Hartlepool. For a long time, Elwick was known as a 'township' until 1866, when it officially became a 'civil parish'.
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Elwick's Past and People
Elwick has a long history. In the 1870s, a writer named John Marius Wilson described Elwick as a small township with about 240 people living in 55 houses. He also mentioned that it had a post office and was a meeting place for the local foxhounds!
The number of people living in Elwick has changed over the years.
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1801 | 129 | — |
| 1811 | 129 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 176 | +36.4% |
| 1831 | 169 | −4.0% |
| 1841 | 165 | −2.4% |
| 1851 | 187 | +13.3% |
| 1881 | 166 | −11.2% |
| 1891 | 178 | +7.2% |
| 1901 | 258 | +44.9% |
| 1911 | 185 | −28.3% |
| 1921 | 197 | +6.5% |
| 1931 | 204 | +3.6% |
| 1951 | 208 | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 203 | −2.4% |
More recently, in 2015, the population of Elwick was recorded as 2,061 people.
How Elwick is Governed
Since 1974, Elwick has been an electoral ward within Hartlepool. It has its own parish council that helps manage local matters. In 2021, the Elwick Parish Council, along with councils from nearby villages, expressed a wish to rejoin County Durham.
Saint Peter's Church
Saint Peter's Church is the only church in Elwick and belongs to the Church of England. People describe it as a "small, friendly, family-orientated church."
The church is a very old building, first built in the late 1100s. It has been repaired and updated many times since then. It is a 'grade two listed building', which means it's a special historic building protected by English Heritage. The church has beautiful stained glass windows, including one installed in 2010 that shows a marriage scene.
Village Life and Facilities
Elwick has several places for people to gather and enjoy.
Local Businesses
The village has two pubs: The Spotted Cow and the McOrville Inn. There used to be a village shop and post office, which closed down. However, a local family has since reopened it as "Coopers of Elwick." It now sells groceries and also has a tea room where you can relax.
Community Spaces
There is a Women's Institute (WI) Hall in the village. This hall can be used for events and rented out by the community.
Elwick Village also has a popular play park and playing field called the James F. Grieves Memorial Playing Field. The Parish Council manages this area and has added lots of fun play equipment for children.
Village Green and Nature
At the heart of the village is a large village green. This green is used for community events like the annual Fete and a music event called "Gig on The Green."
There's also a peaceful wildlife garden in Elwick. It features wild flowers and a pond, offering a nice spot to relax and enjoy nature.
Learning in Elwick
Primary Education
The local school in Elwick is St Peter's Elwick Primary School.
Secondary and Higher Education
For older students, people usually travel outside the village to Hartlepool for secondary school and further education. The main secondary school linked to Elwick is High Tunstall College of Science. There are also other secondary schools in Hartlepool, such as Dyke House Sports and Technology College, The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Manor Community Academy, and St Hilda's Church of England School. For higher education, students can attend Hartlepool College of Further Education or Teesside University.
Getting Around Elwick
A main road, called Elwick Road, runs through the center of the village. To the east, it connects Elwick to Hartlepool. To the west, it links up with the A19 road. There is also another exit from North Lane onto the A19.
Some changes have been made to the A19 nearby. It's now harder for villagers to get onto the A19 if they want to go north, or to exit the A19 if they are coming from the south. This means people sometimes have to drive extra distances. There are also concerns about more traffic using Elwick Road as a shortcut to the A19.
Public Transport
Pauls Travel operates a bus service, number 65, that goes through the village. Most bus journeys from Elwick take people to Hartlepool. Since early 2020, there's also been a "Tees Flex" bus service. This is a special "on-demand" service, meaning you can book a bus when you need it, funded by the Tees Valley Authority.
Travel by Air and Train
The closest airport to Elwick is Teesside International Airport. During World War II, this airport was known as RAF Middleton St George. Elwick does not have its own railway station. The nearest train stations are either Billingham or Hartlepool.
Elwick's Economy
Historically, in 1801, most people in Britain worked in either farming or trade. Elwick was mainly a farming area. Today, many people in Elwick are still working. Out of 517 working-age people (aged 16–74) living in Elwick, 283 have jobs.
Elwick's Landscape
Renewable Energy
On the edge of Elwick, there are three large wind turbines. These were put in place by the energy company EON in 2003. The turbines create enough electricity to power 6,000 homes! When they were built, some people in the community supported them, while others were against them.
Local Climate
The average temperature in Elwick is between 8.5°C and 9.5°C. This is a bit colder than the average annual temperature for the whole of the UK, which is usually between 7°C and 11°C.
Buildings and Green Spaces
An old, six-story brick windmill in Elwick is a protected historic building. It was built in the mid-1800s and became a 'grade two listed building' in 1980. This means it's preserved as an important part of Elwick's history.
Apart from the historic windmill and the church, most of the buildings in Elwick are homes. The village has lots of green spaces and old farm buildings. It's not a very built-up area with lots of factories or big industrial buildings.
Local Geology
Elwick is located on low-lying land in a valley. The rocks found here are very old, dating back to the Triassic period (about 248 to 205 million years ago). The most common types of rock are red sandstone and mudstone. These rocks formed in dry, desert-like sea conditions, with even older rocks from the Permian period underneath them.
Natural Resources
Elwick's main natural resource is its fertile land, which is great for farming. There are many farms nearby. The village's windy climate is also a resource, as it helps the wind turbines produce electricity.
Famous People from Elwick
- Ferdinand Ashmall (1695–1798), an English Catholic priest who lived to be over 100 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Elwick (Durham) para niños
