Ouston, County Durham facts for kids
Ouston is a village located in County Durham, England. It's about 8 kilometers (5 miles) southwest of the big city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The main part of Ouston was once called Ulkerton a long time ago. Today, it includes a newer housing area built in the 1970s called Urpeth Grange. Even though they are separate, people living there often call both areas simply Ouston. In 2011, about 2,821 people lived in the parish.
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How Ouston is Governed
Ouston is part of a special area called an electoral ward. This ward is named Ouston and Urpeth. An electoral ward is like a local district that elects people to represent them in local government. In 2011, the total number of people living in this ward was 7,490.
Schools in Ouston
Ouston has a history of local schools. There used to be three schools: St. Benet's Roman Catholic Infant & Junior School, Ouston Infant School, and Ouston Junior School. Ouston Junior School first opened its doors in December 1964.
In 2014, the Infant and Junior schools joined together. They became one big school called Ouston Primary. This new school is located on the site of the old Junior School. Ouston Primary is not just for learning; it also hosts many community events. You might even see local cross country running races held there!
Places to Visit and Things to Do
Ouston has a few places where people can gather and shop.
- There are two pubs where adults can relax: the Red Lion in Ouston and The Cherry Tree in Urpeth Grange.
- A Working men's club called The Ranch is nearby in the village of Perkinsville.
- For shopping, there's a Post Office inside the petrol station. You can also find a hairdressers and a couple of general stores for daily needs.
- Local groups like the Ouston and Urpeth Conservation Volunteers and the Ouston Villagers Association help improve the community.
Getting Around Ouston
It's easy to travel through Ouston using public transport. The Go North East bus company provides regular bus services.
- Buses 34 and 34A travel from Ouston to Chester-le-Street.
- Buses 28 and 29 go from Chester-le-Street through Ouston. They then continue all the way into Newcastle upon Tyne, passing through Gateshead on the way.
How Ouston Grew
Most of Ouston village was built in 1961. The first show homes, which are houses built to show what others will look like, were in an area called Ardrossan. This was right across from the Junior School, which opened a few years later in 1964.
Over time, the village got bigger and bigger. More houses were added, especially from Penhill, Urpeth, starting in the early 1970s. In recent years, new housing developments have started again. These new homes are being built in areas like Turnberry, which used to be a farmer's field, and Woodlands, which is near the council estate called The Brooms and close to Walter's Wood.
