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Ashington (Northumberland)

Description: Northumberland / Wansbeck / England / Ashington was built up from being a small hamlet in the 1840s, as the Duke of ... more

Ashington (Northumberland) ... Portland constructed housing to encourage workers escaping the potato famine to come and work at the local collieries he was founding. As in many other parts of Britain, "deep pit" coal mining in the area declined during the 1980s and 1990s leaving just one colliery, Ellington, in production until January 2005. In 2006 limestone was found in the town and plans for an opencast mine on the outskirts of the town have been put forward, although many people have objected to it. During the peak time of coal-mining, it was considered to be the "world's largest coal-mining village". There is now a debate about whether Ashington should be referred to as a town or a village - if accepted as a village it would be the largest village in England.

Newest Review: ... so I haven't been to the leisure centre for a while. ~ Businesses and Shopping ~ The Main Street as you'd expect has most of the shops. It is pedestrianised but Taxi's can come up part of the street. There are quite a few banks, travel agents, shoe shops, card shops and building societies but we also have high street stores such as Ethel Austin, New Look, Select, Superdrug, Boots and ... more

... Woolworths. Further up the street we have a Wilkinson and an Argos and there are a few small businesses there as well. I like going shopping up the street though I think we sadly lack a bookshop and have too many card shops! I am quite lucky in that I li...more

Read Reviews for Ashington (Northumberland)

Ashington (Northumberland): "Ashington's me home 'nd ah like it!" (2130 words)
by - written on 20/11/07 (Very useful, 1031 readings)
Rating:

~ Where is it? ~ Ashington is located in Northumberland, North East England. It is about 15 miles north of Newcastle Upon Tyne. I was born in Ashington and have lived here all my life and although its not the most exciting place on the planet, I do quite like it. ~ History ~ Once upon a time there lived a sleepy hamlet, called Ashington, with only a few houses and farms. Not many people lived here so it wasn't very well known. That is until coal was discovered in the early 19th Century. Ashington then grew to a large coal-mining village and was once known as "The largest Mining Village in the World". Despite this historic claim, ... Read the complete review