Hartlepool

Hartlepool Durham Computer Services

Approximate Population: 90,290

Hartlepool is a port in North East England.

It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County palatine of Durham. A railway link to the South Durham coal fields in 1835 resulted in further expansion, with the establishing of the new town of West Hartlepool.

Industrialisation and the establishing of a shipbuilding industry during the later part of the 19th century caused Hartlepool to be a target for the German Navy at the beginning of the First World War. A bombardment of 1150 shells on 16 December 1914 resulted in the death of 117 people. A severe decline in heavy industries and shipbuilding following the Second World War caused periods of high unemployment until the 1990s when major investment projects and the redevelopment of the docks area into a marina have seen a rise in the towns prospects.

Hartlepool was founded as a village in the 7th century AD, springing up around Hartlepool Abbey, founded in 640 on a headland overlooking a natural harbour. The monastery became famous under St Hilda, who served as its abbess from 649-657, but it fell into decline and was likely destroyed by the Vikings in 800.

Hartlepool has been a major seaport virtually since it was founded, and has throughout its entire history maintained a proud fishing heritage. During the industrial revolution massive new docks were created on the southern side of the channel running below the Headland, which gave rise to the town of West Hartlepool. These docks are still in use today and still capable of handling vessels of virtually all shapes and sizes.

Hartlepool Durham Computer Services

Darlington

Darlington Durham Computer Services

Approximate Population: 106,000

Darlington is a town in the ceremonial county of County Durham, England, and the main population centre in the Borough of Darlington. Darlington has a resident population of 97,838 as of 1997. On 1 April 1997, the Borough of Darlington became a unitary authority area, which separated it from the non-metropolitan county of Durham, for administrative purposes and is now part of the Tees Valley. The town is home to the football team Darlington F.C., known as The Quakers because of the contributions made to the town by men such as Edward and Joseph Pease, members of the Religious Society of Friends.

Darlington is Located within the Tees Valley and is often slated as ‘The gateway to the Tees Valley’. Although the tees valley is often known for its industry very little in the way of industry exists in Darlington.

Darlington is close to The Pennines and Cleveland Hills, the North York Moors are also with in easy reach of the town. Both the River Tees and River Skerne pass through the town, the River Skerne later joining the River Tees which then flows into the North Sea.

Darlington railway station (Bank Top) lies on the East Coast Main Line. There are also services from the historic North Road railway station and associated Darlington Railway Centre and Museum.

In 1870, The Northern Echo newspaper was launched. It is based in Priestgate and is a long-standing part of life in the North East. Although a local paper, it is a full-bodied newspaper in its own right and includes national and international news in its scope. Independent local radio station Alpha 103.2 launched in 1995. William Thomas Stead was the first editor of the Northern Echo - opposite of the Northern Echo building is the ‘The William Stead’ public house, restaurant and beer garden.

The town has the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College (former grammar school), which gets the best A level results in North East England. There are many other schools including: Hummersknott School, Carmel RC Technology College, Hurworth School and Longfield School. Darlington College is the newly built FE College. The town has other schools that have become Academies, this includes Eastbourne Comprehensive School, which has now become Eastbourne Church Of England Academy, soon to be St.Aidans Church Of England Academy.

Darlington Durham Computer Services