Ashington

Woodhorn Colliery - the remnants
of Ashington's mining heritage.

I thought I'd have a change of theme for this entry and talk about the South-East Northumberland town of Ashington. Ashington is different from previous entries in My Northumberland because it couldn't be described as particularly beautiful or historic.

Ashington has a population of approximately 28,000. Ashington was built up from being a small hamlet in the 1840s, as the Duke of Portland constructed housing to encourage workers escaping the potato famine to come and work at the local collieries he was founding. Mining used to be a big part of Ashington's heritage until the 1980's when the local colliery closed. The nearby pit at Ellington, which closed in early 2005, maintained the area's mining heritage.

The town boasts the Queen Elizabeth II country park, popular with walkers and watersport enthusiasts, and a miniaturised railway popular with tourists.

Famous footballers Jackie Milburn, Bobby Charlton, Jackie Charlton and England fast bowler Steve Harmison, and Sir John Hall (businessman) were all born in Ashington. The town is also home to Ashington A.F.C., who were previously members of The Football League.

Inhabitants of Ashington have a distinctive accent and dialect, known as Pitmatic. This varies slightly from Geordie.

Article adapted from the Wikipedia online encyclopedia.

How to get to Ashington:
By road: Take the A189 coast road north from Newcastle upon Tyne. After about 15 miles you'll pass over the wide Wansbeck estuary and come to a roundabout. Take the first exit at the roundabout. Alternatively take the A1 to Morpeth. At the Morpeth exit turn off and follow the A197 through the town. Ashington is sign posted.
By rail: The nearest station is Cramlington, however it is probably easier to travel to Newcastle by train and catch a connecting bus or take a taxi.
By bus: Arriva Northumbria service X18 goes from the Haymarket Bus Station in Newcastle to via Morpeth to Ashington.

Map of area: CLICK HERE