Witherwack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Witherwack |
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Population | 3,200 |
Metropolitan borough | |
Metropolitan county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | SUNDERLAND |
Postcode district | SR5 |
Dialling code | 0191 |
Police | Northumbria |
Fire | Tyne and Wear |
Ambulance | North East |
EU Parliament | North East England |
UK Parliament |
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Witherwack is a neighborhood, also called a suburb, in the northern part of Sunderland, England. It's located in the area of Tyne and Wear. You can find it between Red House to the west, Carley Hill to the east, and Marley Pots to the south.
No one really knows where the name Witherwack came from. In old maps from 1862, and even up to 1945, it was spelled "Whitherwhack."
This area was built in the 1960s. It was created as a council estate, which means the homes were built by the local government. It helped provide housing for many families. Witherwack is often seen as part of a larger area called Greater Southwick. Just like many neighborhoods in Sunderland, all the street names in Witherwack start with the same letter: 'W'.
The entire neighborhood uses the SR5 postal code. Three local leaders, called councillors, represent Witherwack. They are part of the Labour political party and work on the Sunderland City Council to help manage the area.
Contents
Exploring Fulwell Quarry Nature Reserve
Fulwell Quarry is a special place known locally as Witherwack Quarry. It's a Local Nature Reserve, which means it's a protected area for nature. This reserve is found in old, unused quarries in Fulwell.
Where is the Reserve Located?
The reserve is next to Witherwack on its west side. Carley Hill is to the south, and Newcastle Road is to the east. The northern edge of the reserve touches the border of South Tyneside county. You can drive to the reserve using Newcastle Road. You can also walk there from the nearby neighborhoods of Witherwack and Carley Hill. Public buses, like Go North East services 9 and 20, can also get you close.
Special Nature of the Reserve
Fulwell Quarry is very important because of its unique Magnesian Limestone rock. This type of rock is rare. The reserve also has beautiful wildflower meadows and grasslands. These areas are perfect homes for many kinds of butterflies. You might see the large skipper, the small skipper, or the dingy skipper butterflies flying around.
Plants and Views
Many interesting plants grow here too. You can find Fragaria vesca, which is a wild strawberry plant. Another plant is Blackstonia perfoliata, also known as yellow-wort. If you look north and east from the reserve, you can enjoy great views. You'll see the Cleadon Hills and the wide North Sea coast.
Getting Around Witherwack
Witherwack doesn't have its own Tyne and Wear Metro train station. However, there are two Metro stations nearby that are easy to reach.
Metro and Parking Options
The Stadium of Light Metro station is on Newcastle Road. You can get there easily from Witherwack using bus service 16. The Seaburn Metro station is on Station Road. Bus services 135/36 (on Sundays and at night) connect Witherwack to this station.
Near the Stadium of Light Metro station, there's a park and ride area. This means you can park your car for free and then take the Metro. There are 182 free parking spots available.
Road Connections
Witherwack is less than a mile north of the Queen Alexandra Bridge. This bridge makes it easy to drive into Sunderland City Centre. The neighborhood is also close to the A1231 road. This road connects to Washington, Tyne and Wear, which then leads to the A1 highway.
Through the A1231, Witherwack is also near the A19 highway. If you go north on the A19, you can reach the Tyne Tunnel and North Tyneside. If you go south, you can get to Peterlee and Teesside.
Bus Services in Witherwack
Witherwack was built with a special bus terminus (a bus stop where routes start or end). This bus stop is located at the eastern end of Wiltshire Road. The Stagecoach Group operates bus service 16 from Witherwack. This bus travels through Carley Hill Road and Southwick to reach Sunderland City Centre.