Peterlee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peterlee |
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Town Centre, Memorial Methodist Church, Apollo Pavilion, Lee House and Essington Way |
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 Peterlee
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| Population | 20,300 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | NZ430409 |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PETERLEE |
| Postcode district | SR8 |
| Dialling code | 0191 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Peterlee is a town located in County Durham, England. It is found south of Sunderland and north of Hartlepool. To its west is Durham, and to its east is the Durham Coast. Peterlee officially became a town in 1948. This happened because of a special law called the New Towns Act. This law also helped create other nearby towns like Newton Aycliffe and Washington, Tyne and Wear.
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How Peterlee Began
The idea for Peterlee came from a report called Farewell Squalor. This report was written by C. W. Clarke, who worked for the local council. He also suggested naming the town after Peter Lee. Peter Lee was a famous leader for miners in Durham.
It is quite rare for a place in the British Isles to be named after someone who lived recently. Peterlee is also special because local people asked for it to be built. Many working miners met with the government minister in charge of planning. They explained why a new town was needed in their area. The minister, Lewis Silkin, agreed to build a town for about 30,000 people. Most of the new residents came from villages close by.
The Peterlee Development Corporation was set up in 1948. This group was in charge of planning and building the new town. The first plan for tall apartment buildings was not used. This was because the ground was weak from mining. So, a new plan was accepted, and building started quickly.
Later, an artist named Victor Pasmore was asked to help design the town's outdoor spaces.
How Peterlee is Governed
Peterlee is a civil parish, which means it has its own local government. It has a Town Council that makes decisions for the town. Peterlee is also part of Durham County Council. This larger council is responsible for governing all of County Durham.
Who is the Mayor?
Peterlee's first elected mayor was William Whitehouse. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the town council. He also used to be in the Royal Air Force and taught at a school in Horden.
Famous Places in Peterlee
The Apollo Pavilion
The Apollo Pavilion was built in 1970. It was designed by the artist Victor Pasmore. This building was meant to be a special place in the Sunny Blunts area. It also works as a bridge over a small stream. It was named after the Apollo Moon missions.
Over time, the Pavilion faced problems like vandalism. The paintings on the building started to fade. In the 1980s, the stairs were removed to stop bad behavior. In 1996, there was an attempt to make the Pavilion a listed building. This would protect it as an important historical site.
English Heritage, a group that protects historic places, called it "an internationally important masterpiece." However, some local people and council members thought it was ugly. They wanted it to be torn down. In 2000, it seemed like it would be demolished. But in 2009, the Pavilion was fixed up. The work cost £400,000 and included putting back the original paintings and stairs.
In 2011, English Heritage officially gave the Pavilion a Grade-II* listing. This means it is a very important historic building.
Getting Around Peterlee
Roads in Peterlee
Peterlee is close to the main A19 road. This road goes north to Sunderland and south to Hartlepool. The A1086 road is to the east, leading to Easington and Hartlepool. Other local roads like the B1320 help connect the town center to nearby places.
Bus Services
Buses in Peterlee are run by companies like Arriva North East and Go North East. These buses connect Peterlee to local areas and bigger towns and cities. You can travel to places like Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and Hartlepool.
Train Travel
Peterlee is served by a train station in Horden. This station is about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east. It opened in 2020 and is on the Durham Coast Line. Before this, Horden had an older station that closed in 1964. There was also a station called Shotton Bridge about 2 miles (3 km) west in Shotton Colliery, but it closed in 1952.
Learning in Peterlee
There are several secondary schools in Peterlee where students can learn.
- Dene Academy
- The Academy at Shotton Hall
- St Bede's Catholic School
Fun Facts About Peterlee
- Castle Eden Dene is a national nature reserve. Most of this special natural area is located within Peterlee.
Town Twinning
Peterlee has a special friendship with another town. Since 1981, Peterlee has been twinned with Nordenham in Germany.
Famous People from Peterlee
- Chris Brown is a former football player who played in the Premier League. He moved to Peterlee when he was young.
- Courtney Hadwin (born 2004) is a talented rock singer who has won awards. She studied in Peterlee.
- Mark Hoban (born 1964) is a politician who used to be a Member of Parliament.
- Gina McKee (born 1964) is a well-known actress.
- Crissy Rock (born 1958) is an actress and comedian.
- Roy Walker (born 1940) is a comedian and television presenter.
See also
In Spanish: Peterlee para niños
