Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne facts for kids
Heaton is a lively area and suburb in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It's located about 2 miles (3 km) east of the city centre. Heaton is surrounded by other areas like Walkergate to the east, Jesmond to the north west, Byker to the south, and Sandyford to the west. The name Heaton means high town. This is because the area sits on hills above the Ouseburn, a small river that flows into the River Tyne. Heaton is generally split into two parts: South Heaton and High Heaton. For local council elections, the area is divided into three sections: Heaton, Manor Park, and Ouseburn. Before 1974, Heaton was part of Northumberland.
Quick facts for kids Heaton |
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 Chillingham Road, Heaton's main commercial street |
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 Heaton
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| OS grid reference | NZ273660 |
| • London | 242 mi (389 km) |
| Metropolitan borough | |
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| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |
| Postcode district | NE6-7 |
| Dialling code | 0191 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Tyne and Wear |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Councillors |
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Contents
History of Heaton
Heaton has a long and interesting past. In the 1100s, it became part of a large estate given by King Henry I. It is said that King John even stayed at Heaton Castle many times. You can still see parts of the castle in Heaton Park today.
In the 1600s, Henry Babington bought the Heaton estate. King James I made him a knight at Heaton Hall in 1617. By the 1700s, Heaton was an important coal mining area. Many coal mines were owned by families like the Whites and Ridleys.
The Heaton estate was divided up in 1835. The area then became part of Newcastle upon Tyne. Later, in 1841, much of the land was owned by Armorer Donkin. When he passed away, he left it to his business partner, Sir William Armstrong.
In 1879, the city bought part of the Heaton Hall estate. This land was turned into Heaton Park. Sir William Armstrong also gave Armstrong Park and Jesmond Dene to the city. These three parks connect, forming a lovely green space through east Newcastle.
Geography and Landmarks
People often talk about High Heaton as a separate area, but it's actually part of Heaton. The rest of Heaton is sometimes called South Heaton.
One famous building in Heaton is the Wills Building. It was built between 1946 and 1950 as a cigarette factory. In 1999, it was changed into fancy apartments.
Local Government
For local city council elections, Heaton is mostly in the Heaton ward. High Heaton is in the Manor Park ward. A small part of Heaton, near Shields Road, is in the Ouseburn ward. Each of these wards is represented by three local councillors. These councillors help make decisions for the community.
For national elections, Heaton is part of the Newcastle East area. This area elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to the UK Parliament.
Heaton used to be a separate township and then a civil parish. In 1914, it officially became part of Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1974, it became part of the larger Newcastle upon Tyne metropolitan district.
People of Heaton
Heaton is home to a mix of people from different backgrounds. In recent years, it has become a popular place for students. Many students from Newcastle University and Northumbria University live here. Rent and house prices in Heaton are usually lower than in nearby Jesmond and Sandyford. However, they are higher than in Byker.
Economy and Businesses
In the 1800s, railways were built through Heaton. Today, the East Coast Main Line still runs through the area. Heaton also has a big rail depot where trains are maintained. In 1889, Sir Charles Parsons started an engineering factory in Heaton. This factory made turbines, which are powerful engines.
The Ringtons Tea business, which sells tea, started on Third Avenue in Heaton.
The main shopping street in Heaton is Chillingham Road. Here you can find two small supermarkets, many small shops, newsagents, hairdressers, and places to eat like takeaways, cafes, and restaurants. There are also several pubs. Heaton Road is also becoming a busy street with more businesses.
Education in Heaton
Heaton has a large secondary school called Jesmond Park Academy. It was formerly known as Heaton Manor School. Many children from Heaton also attend Benfield School, which is located near the border of Heaton and Walkergate.
There are several primary schools in the area. These include Ravenswood Primary School, Chillingham Road Primary School, Hotspur Primary School, and St. Teresa's Primary School.
Heaton also has an autism-friendly library in High Heaton. It offers computers and a wide range of books for everyone.
In 1932, Henderson Hall opened in Heaton. These are halls of residence for students at Newcastle University.
Sport in Heaton
Heaton has a connection to the famous football club Newcastle United. Before they were called Newcastle United, they were known as Newcastle East End F.C. They played at the Heaton Junction Ground on Chillingham Road from 1886 to 1892. After that, they moved to St James' Park.
Two other football clubs play in areas close to Heaton. Heaton Stannington F.C. plays in High Heaton. Newcastle Benfield F.C. plays next to Benfield School.
Heaton is also home to an amateur rugby club called Medicals RFC. They are based in Cartington Terrace.
Places of Worship
Heaton has different places of worship for its community. There are Catholic and Church of England churches. There is also the Heaton Mosque and Islamic Centre.
Transport Links
Heaton used to have its own railway station. This station was on the main line connecting Newcastle Central to Edinburgh. The station closed in 1980 when the Tyne & Wear Metro system started.
Now, Heaton is served by the Metro. You can use Chillingham Road Metro station. For some people in South Heaton, Byker Metro station is closer. Heaton also has many bus routes. Routes 1, 62, and 63 connect Heaton to Newcastle City Centre and other areas in west Newcastle.
Healthcare Services
Heaton Road Surgery was given an 'outstanding' rating in 2015 by the Care Quality Commission. This shows it provides excellent care. The Freeman Hospital, which is Newcastle's second largest hospital, is located in High Heaton.
Famous People from Heaton
Many interesting people have connections to Heaton:
- Ove Arup (1895-1988) was born and grew up in Heaton. He was the chief engineer for the amazing Sydney Opera House.
- Jack Common (1903–68) was a writer and social scientist. He was born and raised at 44 Third Avenue, Heaton. He also went to Chillingham Road Primary School. His books give a good picture of what the area was like in the early 1900s.
- Chas Chandler (1938–96) was the bassist for the band The Animals. He also managed famous musicians like the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Slade. It's said that Jimi Hendrix himself played music on Chillingham Road when he lived with Chas in Heaton.
- Chris Donald and Simon Donald are the brothers who started Viz magazine. They lived and went to school in Heaton.
- Cheryl Cole, a singer who was part of the pop group Girls Aloud, was born in Heaton in 1983. She lived there until the mid-1990s before moving to nearby Walker.
