South Hylton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Hylton |
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 South Hylton
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SUNDERLAND |
| Postcode district | SR4 |
| Dialling code | 0191 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Tyne and Wear |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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South Hylton is a part of Sunderland, a city in Tyne and Wear, England. It sits west of Sunderland city centre, right on the south bank of the River Wear. In 2001, about 10,317 people lived there.
South Hylton used to be a small industrial village. Now, it's mostly a place where people live and travel to work in other areas. It's also the final stop for the Tyne and Wear Metro train line.
This area was first known as Hylton Ferry or Low Ford. Its current name, South Hylton, became common in the late 1700s or early 1800s. It was once part of the land owned by the Barons Hylton, until their estates were sold in 1750. What started as a few farms grew into a busy industrial village during the Industrial Revolution.
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Exploring South Hylton's Past
Archaeologists have found signs that people lived in the South Hylton area a very long time ago, even as far back as the Stone Age. In the 1800s and early 1900s, parts of an old wooden boat and bronze swords were found in the nearby River Wear.
People have also found pieces of what might have been a Roman bridge or dam across the River Wear. A local historian wrote about finding a Roman milestone (a stone marker for roads) in the river. Roman coins were also discovered in the village in 1962 and 1994. An Anglo-Saxon brooch was found near Wood House Farm, showing even more history in the area.
Nature and Green Spaces
South Hylton Pasture: A Special Place
South Hylton Pasture is a very important natural area. It's called a Site of Special Scientific Interest because it's one of the few remaining examples of a special type of lowland hay meadow in Britain. It's actually the only one of its kind in Sunderland!
This pasture has gentle slopes facing north. Here, you can find natural grassland that hasn't been changed much by humans. There are also wet areas where water collects. For a long time, this land has been used for making hay and then for animals to graze in winter. This traditional way of managing the land helps many different kinds of plants grow. It's also a great home for butterflies like the common blue and meadow brown.
Important Buildings and Landmarks
There are six buildings in South Hylton that are listed as Grade II. This means they are historically or architecturally important and are protected.
St Mary's Church: A Village Landmark
The first Anglican church in South Hylton was built in 1817. It was given to the village by Captain Thomas James Maling because the main church in Bishopwearmouth was too far away. The church was officially opened in 1821.
Sadly, the original church burned down in 1878. It was rebuilt in 1880 by Charles Hodgson Fowler. Later, a tower was added in 1930, and a porch was added in 1970.
Historic Homes on High Street
Number 41 High Street is an old house from the late 1700s. Right next to it is 42 High Street, also known as Hylton House. This is the oldest house in the village, also built in the late 1700s. Both of these houses, along with the walls outside them, are protected as separate listed buildings.
The Golden Lion Pub
The Golden Lion is one of the local public houses in South Hylton, located near the river. This pub has been around since at least the mid-1800s, but the building you see today was built around 1910.
A special feature of the pub is a stone carving above its front door. This stone celebrates the marriage of John Hylton and Dorothy Musgrave. It was originally part of Hylton Castle and was moved to the pub. In 2019, The Golden Lion was badly damaged by a fire.
Village War Memorial
On August 16, 1924, the village war memorial was officially revealed. It was donated by Major John Rodham Wigham, who also gave the land for it. The memorial is made of granite with iron railings.
It remembers the villagers who died in the First World War on one side, and those who died in the Second World War on the other.
Getting Around South Hylton
Roads and Public Transport
You can get to South Hylton by road using only one main road, called Hylton Bank. This road starts in nearby Pennywell, becomes High Street in the middle of the village, and ends at the river.
A railway line used to run from Sunderland to Durham from the 1850s until 1964. After that, parts of the track were removed. However, the railway line was brought back to the village in 2002 when the South Hylton Metro station was built. Now, it's the final stop for the Tyne and Wear Metro train system.
South Hylton used to have its own bus company, W. H. Jolly. They ran frequent buses into Sunderland city centre. But with the growth of another company, Stagecoach, and the news of the Metro extension, W. H. Jolly closed in 1995. In 2008, Stagecoach stopped its direct bus route to the village in the evenings and on Sundays. However, the local transport authority (Nexus) helped restore part of the route with another company later that year.
Schools in South Hylton
South Hylton has its own school called South Hylton Primary Academy. St Anne's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School is also located at the top of the village. For older students, the closest secondary school is Academy 360, which is in nearby Pennywell.
