Westerton, County Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westerton |
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Jan2007.jpg) Wright's Observatory/Folly |
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 Westerton
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| Population | 44 (2001 census) |
| OS grid reference | NZ239311 |
| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DARLINGTON |
| Postcode district | DL14 |
| Police | Durham |
| Fire | County Durham and Darlington |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
Westerton is a tiny village located in County Durham, England. It's a quiet place, with only 44 people living there according to the 2001 census. You can find it between the towns of Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor.
Westerton sits high up on a hill, making it one of the highest spots in County Durham. This special location was chosen for an observatory built for a famous astronomer named Thomas Wright.
Thomas Wright's Observatory
Thomas Wright was a very clever person who studied the stars. He was the first to suggest that our home galaxy, the Milky Way, looks like a flat disk of stars. Imagine a giant pancake made of stars!
To help him study the sky, an observatory was built for him in Westerton. Today, this building is often called "Wright's Folly." It's a cool reminder of how people used to explore the universe long ago.
Westerton's Past: A Look at its History
For a long time, Westerton was part of a larger area called the parish of Auckland-St. Andrew. Think of a parish as a local area with its own church and community.
In 1866, Westerton became its own "civil parish." This meant it had its own local government, separate from the church. It was a small community, with 524 people living there in 1931.
However, in 1937, the civil parish of Westerton was changed. Parts of it joined with Bishop Auckland, and other parts became part of Spennymoor. This means Westerton is no longer a separate civil parish today, but it remains a charming village with an interesting history.
