Leadgate, County Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leadgate, County Durham |
|
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Leadgate, Front Street |
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| Population | 3,338 Census 2021 |
| OS grid reference | NZ117514 |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
Leadgate is a small village located in County Durham, England. It sits just north-east of the town of Consett. A very old Roman road, called Dere Street, actually runs right through the middle of Leadgate. Today, this old road is known as Durham Road and the B6309.
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What's in a Name?
Have you ever wondered where the name 'Leadgate' comes from? The name was first written down in 1590. It comes from an Old English word, 'hlidgeat'. This word means 'swing-gate'. Imagine a gate that swings open and closed!
A Look Back in Time
Leadgate has a rich history, especially with its churches and industries.
Churches of Leadgate
The village has two important churches:
- The Church of England parish church of St Ives was built between 1865 and 1868.
- The Roman Catholic church of Our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph is a little outside the village in a place called Brooms. It was built from 1866 to 1869. This church was very important for the Irish people who moved to the area. Brooms was also the birthplace of Thomas Smith, who became a Roman Catholic bishop.
Working in Leadgate
For many years, Leadgate was a busy place for workers.
- The Eden colliery, a coal mine, opened in 1844. Many people in Leadgate worked there until it closed on July 18, 1980.
- There was also a smaller coal mine called Bradley Colliery, which closed before 1875.
- Many villagers also worked for the Consett Iron Company, which was about two miles away. This large company also closed in the 1980s.
- The Bradley Iron Works operated between 1856 and 1866. It was later taken over by the Consett Iron Company.
Leadgate Today
Today, Leadgate is a quiet village with a friendly community. Local councils have been working on plans to improve the area, and you can see changes happening.
Shopping and Front Street
The main shopping area in Leadgate is called Front Street. Before a bypass road was built, Front Street was one of the main roads connecting Newcastle to Consett. You can find many local shops and a co-operative store there.
The Coast-to-Coast Cycle Route
An exciting feature of Leadgate is that the famous Coast-to-Coast cycle route passes right through it! This popular cycling path follows the old route of the Stanhope and Tyne railway line. The last train ran on this line on March 17, 1984.
End of an Era
On August 17, 2020, the Bradley open-cast mine closed. This was a significant event because it was the very last coal mine in England to close.
