Topics > Tyne and Wear > South Tyneside > Hebburn
Hebburn
Hebburn is a small town situated on the south bank of the River Tyne in North East England, sandwiched between the towns of Jarrow and Gateshead. The population of Hebburn was 18,808 in 2001, reducing to 16,492 at the 2011 Census for the 2 Hebburn Wards (North & South).
History
Historically part of County Durham, it is thought that the name Hebburn may be derived from the Old English terms, heah meaning "high", and byrgen meaning a "burial mound", though it could also mean the high place beside the water. The first record of Hebburn mentions a settlement of fishermen's huts in the 8th century, which were burned by the Vikings.
Local legend claims that, until recently, a preserved longship lay embedded on the south bank of the Tyne at Hebburn. The object, visible at low tide, was however the remains of an old wooden "coal lighter". A genuine longship would likely have been salvaged by a historical society, or have had a protection order placed upon it.
In the 14th century the landscape was dominated by a peel tower. A wall, a portion of which still remains at St. John's Church, could also be seen. The Lordship of the Manor of Hebburn passed through the hands of a number of families during the Middle Ages, including the Hodgsons of Hebburn (James 1974, Hodgson).
Coal was mined at Hebburn as early as the 17th century. Hebburn Colliery opened in 1792 and eventually operated three pits. It closed in 1932. 200 miners were killed during the life of the colliery. The youngest were 10 years old.
Hebburn also has a proud shipbuilding history with many Royal Navy battle ships being built at A. Leslie and Company. The most best known ship built at the ship yard was HMS Kelly, launched in 1938 and commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten. One hundred and thirty men were killed when it was sunk and they are remembered in memorials at Hebburn Cemetery, which were erected by surviving members of the crew and workers from Hawthorn Leslie.
The former British Short-Circuit Testing Station in Victoria Road West within the town, owned by A. Reyrolle & Company provided the backdrop for the Gary Numan video "Metal". The facility was demolished in 2011.
Hebburn Town F.C., formed in 1912, and Hebburn Reyrolle F.C. are the town's local non-league football teams. Hebburn Argyle, which existed in the early 1900s, reformed several years ago as a youth club.
Athletics is also catered for at Monkton Stadium, home of Jarrow and Hebburn Athletic Club, where Brendan Foster, Steve Cram and David Sharpe are notable past runners.
The Parachute Regiment 4th Para Reserves have a base in Hebburn.
The Air Cadets have a unit located at Hebburn TA Centre.
Hebburn has an ecology centre powered by wind turbines.
It is the location of a shipyard, operated by A&P Group.
In 2012, the BBC commissioned a television series Hebburn to be set in the town. It was created and co-written by Jason Cook, who was raised in Hebburn. The first episode was broadcast on 18 October 2012.
Hebburn has two secondary schools St Joseph's Catholic Academy (formerly St Joseph's Comprehensive School) and Hebburn Comprehensive school.
Transport
It has a station on the Tyne and Wear Metro called Hebburn Metro station.
Notable citizens
- George Armstrong: Football player with Arsenal F.C.[15][16]
- Chris Basham: Football player with Blackpool F.C. and Bolton Wanderers F.C
- Dominic Bruce OBE MC AFM KSG MA RAF: Known as the "Medium Sized Man", escaped from Colditz Castle
- Jason Cook: Comedian, writer of the BBC sitcom Hebburn
- Jack English: Football player
- Carl Finnigan: Football player with St Johnstone F.C, Falkirk F.C. and Newcastle United F.C
- Brendan Foster: Athlete and Sports commentator
- Arthur Holmes: Geologist
- Andrew Leslie: Shipbuilder[17]
- Wilfred Milne: Football player
- Sir Fergus Montgomery: Conservative MP and Margaret Thatcher's Parliamentary Private Secretary
- Ray Wood: Football player with Manchester United F.C.
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
044311:Hawthorn Leslie Hebburn Shipbuilding Yard unknown c.1946
Pinned by Co-Curate Team
from IllustratedChronicles (flickr)
Tucker, Sidney - Hebburn - 26 Sep 1914
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
024249:Carr Street Hebburn Tyne and Wear c.1900
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Geograph (geograph)
Aerial View of Hebburn Town Centre in South Tyneside
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from http://www.twsitelines.info/S…
Tyne and Wear HER(979): Hebburn, fortified manor house
- "The present Hebburn Hall dates to the 17th century with late 18th and 19th century alterations. Its predecessor, according to Surtees writing in 1820, was an "old mansion house...built with …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
Co-Curate Page
Arthur Holmes (1890 - 1965)
- Overview About Arthur Holmes Arthur Holmes was born in Hebburn on the 14h of January 1890. He spent much of his childhood in Low Fell, Gateshead. Holmes went on to …
from Flickr (flickr)
VINTAGE POSTCARD , ALBERT STREET , HEBBURN , TYNE & WEAR , NORTHUMBERLAND
Pinned by Peter Smith
from https://metalanddust.org/2016…
South Tyneside College
- "This is the Hebburn campus of South Tyneside College, which closed in 2011 owing to unsustainable upkeep costs. The full site was demolished in 2015...." Photos
Added by
Peter Smith
from Youtube (youtube)
Launch of H.M.S. Cruiser H.M.S. Sussex by lady Seconfield (1928)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
044311:Hawthorn Leslie Hebburn Shipbuilding Yard unknown c.1946
Pinned by Co-Curate Team
from IllustratedChronicles (flickr)
Tucker, Sidney - Hebburn - 26 Sep 1914
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Newcastle libraries (flickr)
024249:Carr Street Hebburn Tyne and Wear c.1900
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from Geograph (geograph)
Aerial View of Hebburn Town Centre in South Tyneside
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
from http://www.twsitelines.info/S…
Tyne and Wear HER(979): Hebburn, fortified manor house
- "The present Hebburn Hall dates to the 17th century with late 18th and 19th century alterations. Its predecessor, according to Surtees writing in 1820, was an "old mansion house...built with …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
Co-Curate Page
Arthur Holmes (1890 - 1965)
- Overview About Arthur Holmes Arthur Holmes was born in Hebburn on the 14h of January 1890. He spent much of his childhood in Low Fell, Gateshead. Holmes went on to …
from Flickr (flickr)
VINTAGE POSTCARD , ALBERT STREET , HEBBURN , TYNE & WEAR , NORTHUMBERLAND
Pinned by Peter Smith
from https://metalanddust.org/2016…
South Tyneside College
- "This is the Hebburn campus of South Tyneside College, which closed in 2011 owing to unsustainable upkeep costs. The full site was demolished in 2015...." Photos
Added by
Peter Smith
from Youtube (youtube)
Launch of H.M.S. Cruiser H.M.S. Sussex by lady Seconfield (1928)
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
