Stanley, County Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stanley |
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|---|---|
| Town and civil parish | |
 St. Andrew's Church, Stanley |
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 Stanley
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| Population | 31,300 (2019) |
| OS grid reference | NZ197525 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STANLEY |
| Postcode district | DH9 |
| Dialling code | 01207 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | http://www.stanley-tc.gov.uk |
Stanley is a town in County Durham, England. It sits on a hilltop between Chester-le-Street and Consett. Stanley is located to the south-west of Gateshead.
Long ago, the town's economy relied on coal mining and other big industries. Stanley grew in the 1800s as mining villages like East Stanley and West Stanley joined together. The area called the civil parish of Stanley was created in 2007. It includes the town of Stanley and many nearby villages. Some of these are Annfield Plain, Catchgate, Craghead, Oxhill, and South Moor.
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History of Stanley
Stanley was first mentioned in records in the year 1211. However, much older items from the neolithic (New Stone Age) and Roman times have been found here. The name 'Stanley' comes from an old English phrase meaning 'Stoney Field'.
On an old map by John Speed, County Durham shows Stanley called "Standley".
A very sad event happened in Stanley on February 16, 1909. This was the West Stanley Pit Disaster. Over 160 people died in the Burns Pit at West Stanley Colliery. It was one of the worst coal mining accidents in British history.
In recent years, Stanley has faced tough economic times. The coal mines closed down. Other large employers, like the Ever Ready factory and the British Steel plant, also shut. Even a local hospital in nearby Consett closed. Big shopping centres, like the MetroCentre in Gateshead, also made it harder for local shops in Stanley.
In 2005, the government allowed Stanley to form its own Town Council. This happened after many local people asked for it. They hoped the new council would help the town grow and improve.
In 2008, an old building on Stanley Front Street was badly damaged by fire. A billiards club and several shops below it were also ruined. The burnt buildings were taken down in November 2008.
Stanley's Economy
Today, the main jobs for people in Stanley are in shops, factories, and health and social care. For businesses in the area, the biggest industries are construction, science and technical services, and retail.
Over the years, many local shops and pubs in 'Old Stanley' have closed. This is because traditional industries have declined. Also, large supermarkets and chain stores have opened.
Front Street is the main shopping area in town. It is a pedestrian street, meaning cars are not allowed. You can find both independent shops and big chains like Boots here. A market is held on Front Street on Thursdays and Saturdays. Supermarkets like Asda, Aldi, and Iceland are also in Stanley. A large Home Bargains store opened in July 2018, creating 60 new jobs.
Stanley has also seen new businesses open recently. A Domino's pizza place and a larger Greggs bakery opened in December 2022. A drive-thru Starbucks coffee shop opened in March 2023. These are in a new area off Agnes Street. However, some old buildings on Front Street, like the former school, have been empty for many years.
In the last 20 years, Stanley town centre has been improved. A new bus station was built. The Louisa Centre, a leisure facility, was made bigger. It now has a new swimming pool. A new health centre, Stanley Primary Care Centre, opened in 2010. A Sure Start children's centre also opened.
Getting Around Stanley
Stanley is about 4 miles from Junction 63 of the A1(M) motorway. Stanley Bus Station is a hub for many bus services. The closest train stations are Chester-le-Street, Durham, and Dunston. The town is also near Newcastle International Airport.
Education in Stanley
Stanley has several primary schools. It also has two secondary schools for older students:
- North Durham Academy (in South Stanley)
- Tanfield School (in Tanfield, close to Stanley)
Students in Stanley can also attend St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College. This school is in the nearby village of Lanchester.
Leisure Activities in Stanley
The C2C Cycle Route passes near Stanley to the north. This long route is 140 miles (230 km) long. It connects Whitehaven on England's north-west coast with Roker Beach in Sunderland on the north-east coast.
The Louisa Centre is a sports and leisure complex. It has a gym, a 25-metre swimming pool with seats for 300 people, and a smaller pool. There is also a sports hall, a shooting range, a soft play area for young children, and a nursery. The centre also has meeting rooms, a café, and Stanley Library.
The Stanley Indoor Bowls Centre has a large area for playing bowls and a grandstand for spectators. It opened in 1977 and has hosted big international events. The centre also offers meeting rooms for community groups and can be rented for parties.
Youth Clubs and Activities for Children
The Stanley Area Youth Consortium (SAYC) helps organize trips and activities for young people in the Stanley area. Many youth clubs and volunteer groups are part of SAYC.
These groups include:
- Stanley Young People’s Club, which focuses on the South Stanley and South Moor areas.
- Oxhill Youth Club, started in 1962, which runs the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
- The Activity Den, based in Tanfield Lea, which has been active for almost 20 years.
- Beamish Community Football Club.
- PACT House, a community hub.
- Various community halls, schools, and churches also offer activities.
Famous People from Stanley
Many notable people have connections to Stanley and the surrounding area:
- John Curr (around 1756–1823) was born in West Kyo. He was important in developing coal mining technology.
- John Buddle (1773–1843), also from West Kyo, was a famous mining engineer. He helped make coal mining safer, including using the Davy lamp.
- Jonathan Rodham (1843–1917) lived in Oxhill. He was the great-grandfather of Hillary Clinton.
- Thomas "Tommy" Armstrong (1848–1920) was a famous songwriter and performer. He lived in Tanfield Lea and was known as "The Pitman Poet".
- David Horsley (1873–1933), born in Stanley, helped start the US film industry in Hollywood.
- Frank Keegan (?–1916) from West Stanley was a hero in the 1909 West Stanley Pit disaster. He was Kevin Keegan's grandfather.
- Michael Heaviside (1880–1939) was a miner from Craghead. He won the Victoria Cross for bravery in World War I.
- Joseph Crawford (1910–1997) was a coal miner and trade union leader. He became president of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1973.
- Tom Lamb (1928–2016) was a miner and artist from Craghead Colliery. He painted scenes of miners' lives and County Durham landscapes.
- Alun Armstrong (born 1946) is an actor from Annfield Plain.
- Micky Horswill (born 1953) from Annfield Plain is a former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder for teams like Sunderland and Manchester City.
- Kim Darroch (born 1954) from South Stanley was Britain's ambassador to the United States from 2016 to 2019.
- Mak Wilson (born 1957) from Shield Row is a puppeteer. He worked on films like Labyrinth and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- Yvonne Ridley (born 1958) from Stanley is a journalist and author. She was held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001.
- Glenn McCrory (born 1964) from Annfield Plain was the IBF cruiserweight boxing champion from 1989 to 1990.
- Brian Tinnion (born 1968) is a former Newcastle United and Bristol City footballer from Burnopfield.
- Carly Telford (born 1987) from Tanfield is a former professional footballer. She played as a goalkeeper for teams like Chelsea and the England women's national football team.
- Lewis Miley (born 2006) from Stanley is a professional footballer. He plays for Newcastle United and the England under-20 national team.
Memorials and Commemorations in Stanley
Memorials
Pit Disasters
There are two memorials for the 1909 West Stanley Pit disaster. One was put up in 1913, and another in 1995. A special headstone was also placed in 2005 to mark the mass graves of those who died. A memorial for the 1947 Louisa Morrison Pit Disaster was unveiled in 1997. It was moved and rededicated in 2018.
Wars
South Moor Memorial Park opened in 1920. It honours employees of the South Moor Colliery Company who died in World War I. In 1950, it was rededicated to also remember those who died in World War II.
The Masonic Hall in Stanley has a plaque. It remembers members of the Coronation Lodge who served or were killed in World War I.
Commemorations
Armed Forces Day is a special UK event. It is held on the last Saturday in June.
Miners' Sunday is a celebration of Stanley's history. It takes place in late August.
