Editing Peterlee

{{Short description|Town in County Durham, England}}
{{distinguish|Peter Lee (disambiguation){{!}}Peter Lee}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox UK place
|official_name = Peterlee
|static_image_name={{multiple images|total_width=250px|perrow=2/1/2
|image1=Peterlee Town Centre, February 2022.jpg
|image2=Peterlee Memorial Methodist Church geograph-7532760-by-Kevin-Waterhouse.jpg
|image3=Victor Pasmore's 'Apollo Pavilion', Peterlee - geograph.org.uk - 1705684.jpg
|image4=Roundabout, Peterlee - geograph.org.uk - 1583980.jpg
|image5=Essington Way, Peterlee - geograph.org.uk - 2702306.jpg
}}
|static_image_caption=Town Centre, Memorial Methodist Church, Apollo Pavilion, Lee House and Essington Way
|population = 20,300
|population_ref = (2021)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/customprofiles/build/#E04010677 |title=Profile Peterlee |website=ons.gov.uk |access-date=2024-05-08}}</ref>
|civil_parish = Peterlee
|unitary_england = [[County Durham (district)|County Durham]]
|lieutenancy_england = [[County Durham]]
|region = North East England
|country = England
|constituency_westminster = [[Easington (UK Parliament constituency)|Easington]]
|post_town = PETERLEE
|postcode_district = SR8
|postcode_area = SR
|dial_code = 0191
|website = {{URL|http://www.peterlee.gov.uk/}}
|os_grid_reference = NZ430409
|coordinates = {{coord|54.76|-1.33|display=inline,title}}
| parts_type = Areas of the town
| p1 = [[Easington, County Durham|Easington]]
| p2 = [[Easington Colliery]] (Town)
| p3 = [[Horden]]
| p4 = [[Little Thorpe]]
| p5 = [[Shotton, Peterlee|Shotton]]
}}
'''Peterlee''' is a town in [[County Durham (district)|County Durham]], England. It is located south of [[Sunderland]], north of [[Hartlepool]], west of the [[Durham Coast]] and east of [[Durham, England|Durham]]. It gained town status in 1948 under the [[New Towns Act 1946]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]]. c. 68). The act also created the nearby settlement of [[Newton Aycliffe]] and later [[Washington, Tyne and Wear]].

==History==
The case for founding Peterlee was put forward in ''Farewell Squalor'' by [[Easington Rural District|Easington Rural District Council]] Surveyor C. W. Clarke, who also proposed that the town be named after celebrated Durham miners' leader [[Peter Lee (trade unionist)|Peter Lee]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Austerity Britain 1945–51 |author=David Kynaston |author-link=David Kynaston |isbn=978-0-7475-9923-4 |page=159 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]]}}</ref> It is one of the few places in the [[British Isles]] named after a recent individual, and unique among post-[[Second World War]] new towns in having its existence requested by local people through their [[Member of Parliament|MP]]. A deputation, consisting mostly of working [[miners]], met the Minister of Town and Country Planning to put the case for a new town in the district. The minister, [[Lewis Silkin]], responded by offering a half-size new town of 30,000 residents. The subsequent new residents came largely from surrounding villages in the District of Easington.

Peterlee Development Corporation was founded in 1948, first under Dr Monica Felton,<ref>Mark Clapson, ''The rise and fall of Dr. Monica Felton, British town planner & peace activist'',[http://www.fau.usp.br/iphs/abstractsAndPapersFiles/IPHS_miolo_20120711.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018045133/http://www.fau.usp.br/iphs/abstractsAndPapersFiles/IPHS_miolo_20120711.pdf|date=18 October 2015}}</ref> then under A.V. Williams. The original master plan for tower blocks of flats by [[Berthold Lubetkin]] was rejected as unsuitable for the area's geology, which had been weakened by mining works, and Lubetkin resigned in 1950. [[George Grenfell Baines]]' plan was accepted, and construction quickly began, but it was of poor quality. Williams invited artist [[Victor Pasmore]] to head the landscaping design team.

==Governance==
Peterlee is a [[civil parish]] and has a [[Town_council#England_and_Wales|Town Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Peterlee Town Council |url=https://peterlee.gov.uk/ |website=peterlee.gov.uk/ |access-date=27 May 2024}}</ref> Peterlee is under [[Durham County Council]], the [[unitary authority]] elected to govern [[County Durham (district)|County Durham]].

===Mayor===
Peterlee's first elected mayor was William Whitehouse, who previously served on its council. Earlier he was in the [[Royal Air Force]] and taught at a school in [[Horden]].

==Landmarks==
===Apollo Pavilion===
{{main|Apollo Pavilion}}
[[File:Victor Pasmore's 'Apollo Pavilion', Peterlee - geograph.org.uk - 1705684.jpg|thumb|The Apollo Pavilion]]
The Apollo Pavilion (1970) was designed by [[Victor Pasmore]]. It provided a focal point for the Sunny Blunts estate as well as a bridge across a water-course.<ref name="ListEntry"/><ref name="SE Pav"/><ref>{{Citation |title=Public artwork's plans go on show |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4634528.stm |work=BBC News |date=21 January 2006 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> It was named after the [[Apollo program|Apollo Moon missions]].

From the late 1970s the Pavilion suffered from vandals and antisocial behaviour. The murals on the building faded, and to discourage antisocial behaviour, staircases were removed in the 1980s.<ref name="ListEntry"/><ref>{{Citation |title=If they had an A-bomb... |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/nov/12/urbandesign.housingpolicy |first=Jonathan |last=Glancey |newspaper=The Guardian |date=12 November 2001 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Controversial sculpture to get £336,000 facelift |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2374730.controversial_sculpture_to_get_336_000_facelift/ |first=Marjorie |last=McIntyre |newspaper=The Northern Echo |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Revamp for moon mission pavilion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/8146687.stm |date=12 July 2009 |access-date=26 June 2012 |work=BBC News}}</ref> In 1996, there was a failed attempt to [[listed building|list]] the Pavilion. [[English Heritage]] described it as "an internationally important masterpiece"; however, some local residents and councillors considered it an eyesore and campaigned to have it demolished. The campaign seemed to have been successful when demolition was proposed in 2000.<ref>{{Citation |title=Sixties 'concrete bungle' sculpture to be scrapped |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1348803/Sixties-concrete-bungle-sculpture-to-be-scrapped.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first1=Nigel |last1=Burnham |first2=David |last2=Harrison |date=16 July 2000 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref> However, in July 2009, a six-month revamp programme was completed at a cost of £400,000, which includes reinstating the original murals and stairs.<ref name="SE Pav">{{Citation |url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Peterlee-pavilion39s-400000-revamp-is.5454127.jp |newspaper=Sunderland Echo |title=Peterlee pavilion's £400,000 revamp is one giant leap |date=13 July 2009 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/8146687.stm |title=Revamp for moon mission pavilion |work=BBC News |date=12 July 2009 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref>

In December 2011, English Heritage gave the pavilion a Grade-II* listing.<ref name="ListEntry">{{NHLE |date=14 December 2011 |desc=Apollo Pavilion |access-date=26 June 2012 |num=1400364 |mode=cs2}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-16183663 |work=BBC News |title=County Durham pavilion awarded Grade II-listed status |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Road===
Peterlee is served by the main [[A19 road]] running west of the town to Sunderland in the north and [[Hartlepool]] in the south, and the A1086 to its east leading to Easington in the north and Hartlepool to the south. The B1320 runs through the town centre linking the town to Horden and the A1086 in the east and Shotton Colliery and the A19 in the west. The B1432 to the north of the town centre leads to Easington Village, Hawthorn and Seaham on the route of the old A19. The A181 runs to the south-west of the town at the Castle Eden and Wingate junction on the A19 leading to Wheatley Hill, Thornley, and Durham. In 2008, the A688 was extended to the A181 at Running Waters from the A1(M) junction at Bowburn, creating a trunk road from Peterlee to the A1(M) via the A19, A181 and A688.

===Buses===
Peterlee is served by [[Arriva North East]] and [[Go North East]] in the local area, to Dalton Park, and to the towns and cities of [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], [[Gateshead]], [[City of Sunderland|Sunderland]], [[Houghton-le-Spring]], [[Durham, England|Durham]], [[Hartlepool]], [[Sedgefield]], [[Billingham]], [[Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton]] and [[Middlesbrough]].

===Rail===
Peterlee is served by {{rws|Horden}}, approximately {{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=off|round=0.5}} east, on the [[Durham Coast Line]]. This station, which opened on 29 June 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Fiona |date=29 June 2020 |title=First trains to make their stop at new £10.55 million train station in Horden |url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/transport/first-trains-make-their-stop-new-ps1055-million-train-station-horden-2897667 |access-date=29 June 2020 |website=Sunderland Echo |language=en}}</ref> replaced Horden's earlier station which closed in May 1964.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Waller |first=Paul |title=Rail Atlas: The Beeching Era |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing Ltd |year=2013 |isbn=9780711035492 |pages=67 and 104}}</ref> Until 1952, there had also been a station approximately {{convert|2|mi|km|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} west in [[Shotton Colliery]] called ''{{rws|Shotton Bridge}}''.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Railways of East Durham |last=Hoole |first=K. |publisher=The Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd |year=1985 |isbn=0852068352 |location=Clapham, Lancashire |pages=8–9 & 33}}</ref>

==Education==
{{further|List of schools in Durham}}

===Secondary===
*[[Dene Academy]]
*[[The Academy at Shotton Hall]]
*[[St Bede's Catholic School, Peterlee|St Bede's Catholic School]]

==Culture==
*[[Castle Eden Dene]], most of which is within the boundaries of Peterlee, is a national nature reserve.<ref>[http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006029.aspx Natural England site.]</ref>

==Town twinning==
Peterlee is [[sister city|twinned]] with [[Nordenham]], Germany since 1981.

==Notable residents==
{{For|a complete list|:Category:People from Peterlee}}
*[[Chris Brown (footballer, born 1984)|Chris Brown]], former [[Premier League]] footballer born in [[Doncaster]], who moved to Peterlee when young and attended [[The Academy at Shotton Hall]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Player's goal |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/players-goal-1567161 |website=ChronicleLive |language=en |date=24 February 2005}}</ref>
*[[Courtney Hadwin]] (born 2004), award-winning rock singer, studied here <ref name="chronicle2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/watch-courtney-hadwin-peterlee-school-10120014 |title=Watch: Courtney Hadwin, the Peterlee school girl with the huge voice |last=Duke |first=Simon |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=27 November 2018 |work=[[Evening Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name="hartlepoolmail">{{Cite web |url=https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/mum-of-america-s-got-talent-star-courtney-hadwin-speaks-of-pride-after-teenager-singer-lands-record-deal-1-9499390 |title=Mum of America's Got Talent star Courtney Hadwin speaks of pride after teenager singer lands record deal |website=www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk |date=18 December 2018 |access-date=9 April 2019}}</ref>
*[[Mark Hoban]] (born 1964), politician, former Conservative MP for [[Fareham (UK Parliament constituency)|Fareham]] {{citation needed|date=February 2022}}
*[[Gina McKee]] (born 1964), actress <ref name="Guard300108">Lane, Harriet; [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/drama/story/0,,2248908,00.html "'I had nothing to lose'"] ''Guardian.co.uk'', 30 November 2008 (Retrieved: 1 August 2009)</ref>
*[[Crissy Rock]] (born 1958), Liverpool-born actress and comedienne<ref>{{cite web | url=https://writewyattuk.com/2015/04/09/cleaning-up-with-crissy-rock-from-liverpool-to-peterlee-via-benidorm/ | title=Cleaning up with Crissy Rock – from Liverpool to Peterlee, via Benidorm | date=9 April 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Roy Walker (comedian)|Roy Walker]] (born 1940), comedian and television presenter {{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Peterlee}}
{{Portal|North East England}}{{Durham}}
{{Civil parishes in County Durham}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Peterlee| ]]
[[Category:Towns in County Durham]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1950s]]