Topics > County Durham > Tow Law
Tow Law
Tow Law is a town and civil parish in County Durham, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,952, increasing to 2,138 at the 2011 Census. It is situated a few miles to the south of Consett. Tow Law Town football team are based in the town. The town constituted an urban district from 1894 until 1974. The town is mentioned in the Mark Knopfler song "Hill Farmer's Blues" from his album The Ragpicker's Dream.
The name "Tow Law" is from the Old English tot hlaw meaning "lookout mound," the name of a house which stood there before the iron works and the village were built.
The main road through the town is the A68, which starts in Darlington and goes on north, ending near Dalkeith, just south-east of Edinburgh.
Since December 2001 the town has had a 2.3 MW wind farm consisting of three high wind power turbines. During the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, MAFF buried diseased animals at the former Inkerman Pit site. This was an emotive issue for local residents, who were disturbed by vehicle movements and smells from the pit. Many protesters attended the site every day for six months but had no effect and Defra continued to keep the site operational until the spring of 2002.
Notable people
- Albert Ernest Hillary, English chocolate manufacturer and Liberal politician
- Sean Hodgson, Britain’s longest serving prisoner found to be innocent
- Alan Milburn, a British Labour politician
- Chris Waddle, Premier League footballer who was discovered playing for Tow Law Town A.F.C.
![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3093/3247910871_df49b19d37_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Tow Law Town v Whitley Bay skilltrainingltd Northern League 31st January 2009 07
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/durham_in_time.png)
from http://www.durhamintime.org.u…
Tow Law 1840 ‐1900
- A "The area we now know of as Tow Law was originally common or fell‐land, on the fringe of the Bishop of Durham’s hunting park at Wolsingham.....However, the value of …
Added by
Pat Thomson
![](/static/img/External_Website.png)
from http://www.lordmackenzie.com/…
COMMUNITIES IN STRIFE - Lord Brian Mackenzie
- "... the country entered into one of the bitterest industrial
disputes for many years. The main pits in Durham were on the coast at Easington and Seaham, where mass picketing …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![Charles Attwood (1791-1875)](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14779188315_4288b86e70_z.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Charles Attwood (1791-1875)
- Ironmaster and glass maker. Founded the Weardale Iron and Coal Company in 1844. Extract from Men of mark 'twixt Tyne and Tweed by Richard Welford, 1895: THE RADICAL IRONMASTER. The career …
![](/uploads/thumbs2/tow_law_history_society.png)
from https://towlawhistory.webs.co…
The Founder of Tow Law
- Detailed article by By Ron Storey. "The name Charles Attwood may not come readily to mind when looking into the history of our town, but without him and his natural …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/tow_law_history_society.png)
from https://towlawhistory.webs.com
Tow Law & District History Society
- "....Tow Law History Group was formed in 1989 by members of an evening class organised by W.E.A. (Workers Education Association).
We meet regularly in the Church Hall of St. Phillip …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![Historic Buildings and Monuments in Tow Law](/uploads/thumbs2/buildings_icon_large.png)
  Co-Curate Page
Historic Buildings and Monuments in Tow Law
- About the Tow Law Listed buildings and Scheduled monuments... Structure List No. Grade Built~ Locality Note Attwood Place 1232517 II C19th Tow Law Terrace of houses Barrack Farmhouse 1232311 II …
![](/static/img/loading.gif)
![](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3093/3247910871_df49b19d37_z.jpg)
from Flickr (flickr)
Tow Law Town v Whitley Bay skilltrainingltd Northern League 31st January 2009 07
Pinned by Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/durham_in_time.png)
from http://www.durhamintime.org.u…
Tow Law 1840 ‐1900
- A "The area we now know of as Tow Law was originally common or fell‐land, on the fringe of the Bishop of Durham’s hunting park at Wolsingham.....However, the value of …
Added by
Pat Thomson
![](/static/img/External_Website.png)
from http://www.lordmackenzie.com/…
COMMUNITIES IN STRIFE - Lord Brian Mackenzie
- "... the country entered into one of the bitterest industrial
disputes for many years. The main pits in Durham were on the coast at Easington and Seaham, where mass picketing …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![Charles Attwood (1791-1875)](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14779188315_4288b86e70_z.jpg)
  Co-Curate Page
Charles Attwood (1791-1875)
- Ironmaster and glass maker. Founded the Weardale Iron and Coal Company in 1844. Extract from Men of mark 'twixt Tyne and Tweed by Richard Welford, 1895: THE RADICAL IRONMASTER. The career …
![](/uploads/thumbs2/tow_law_history_society.png)
from https://towlawhistory.webs.co…
The Founder of Tow Law
- Detailed article by By Ron Storey. "The name Charles Attwood may not come readily to mind when looking into the history of our town, but without him and his natural …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![](/uploads/thumbs2/tow_law_history_society.png)
from https://towlawhistory.webs.com
Tow Law & District History Society
- "....Tow Law History Group was formed in 1989 by members of an evening class organised by W.E.A. (Workers Education Association).
We meet regularly in the Church Hall of St. Phillip …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
![Historic Buildings and Monuments in Tow Law](/uploads/thumbs2/buildings_icon_large.png)