Westerton, County Durham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Westerton
Wright's Observatory/Folly
Westerton
Population	44 (2001 census)
OS grid reference	NZ239311
Unitary authority	County Durham
Ceremonial county	Durham
Region	North East
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
List of places UK England County Durham 54°40′30″N 1°37′44″W / 54.675°N 1.629°W / 54.675; -1.629

Westerton is a village and former civil parish in the County Durham district, in the ceremonial county of Durham, England. In the 2001 census Westerton had a population of 44. It is situated between Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor. It sits on top of a hill which is one of the highest points in County Durham, and is the location of an observatory built for Thomas Wright, who was the first person to suggest that the Milky Way consisted of a flattened disk of stars. The observatory is known today as "Wright's Folly".

Civil parish

Westerton was formerly a township in the parish of Auckland-St. Andrew, from 1866 Westerton was a civil parish in its own right, on 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished and merged with Bishop Auckland, part also went to form Spennymoor. In 1931 the parish had a population of 524.