Heighington, County Durham
Encyclopedia
Heighington is a village in the borough of Darlington
and ceremonial county of County Durham
, England
. It is situated between Darlington
and Shildon
, near Newton Aycliffe
. One of its most significant features is St Michael's Church that sits in the middle of an exceptionally fine and large village green. The church is Norman
, except for the 13th century south aisle and the 19th century north aisle. A rare feature in this church is said to be the pre-Reformation
oak pulpit
with six traceried linen fold panels with an inscription bearing prayers for its donor: an Alexander Flettcher and his wife Agnes.
Heighington previously boasted a Methodist Chapel, but this has since been converted into housing. The more recent expansion of the village is in the area around Pinewood Crescent and the area around the Beech Crescent, Manor Court and Orchard Gardens, built 1997.
It is also known for its Spar shop and four pubs, The Cumby Arms, Bay Horse, George And Dragon and The Dog Inn, which lies just outside of the village.
The village - up until recent years - was home to a Post Office
(which included a shop) next to the village green. That shop closed down and the Post Office, along with the postbox, has been relocated to the village hall.
Since the turn of the millennium, a field on the outskirts of the village (on the way to Shildon
and Bishop Auckland
) has been converted into a football field. This site is currently undergoing development, including the construction of an adventure playground.
In 2006 Heighington was judged, by Ptolemy Dean
, from amongst 11 other villages around the UK to be the BBC's Perfect Village.
Heighington CE Primary School
is a voluntary controlled
Church of England
primary school located in Hopelands. It educates around 260 pupils
aged 4-11. It has been assessed by Ofsted
as providing an outstanding education.
Darlington (borough)
Darlington is a local government district and borough in North East England. In 2008 it had a resident population of 100,500 It borders County Durham to the north and west, North Yorkshire to the south along the line of the River Tees, and Stockton-on-Tees to the east.-Council:Traditionally part of...
and ceremonial county of County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is situated between Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
and Shildon
Shildon
Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
, near Newton Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe
Newton Aycliffe is a town in County Durham, England. Founded in 1947 under the New Towns Act of 1946, it is the oldest new town in the north of England.-Geography:...
. One of its most significant features is St Michael's Church that sits in the middle of an exceptionally fine and large village green. The church is Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
, except for the 13th century south aisle and the 19th century north aisle. A rare feature in this church is said to be the pre-Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
oak pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
with six traceried linen fold panels with an inscription bearing prayers for its donor: an Alexander Flettcher and his wife Agnes.
Heighington previously boasted a Methodist Chapel, but this has since been converted into housing. The more recent expansion of the village is in the area around Pinewood Crescent and the area around the Beech Crescent, Manor Court and Orchard Gardens, built 1997.
It is also known for its Spar shop and four pubs, The Cumby Arms, Bay Horse, George And Dragon and The Dog Inn, which lies just outside of the village.
The village - up until recent years - was home to a Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
(which included a shop) next to the village green. That shop closed down and the Post Office, along with the postbox, has been relocated to the village hall.
Since the turn of the millennium, a field on the outskirts of the village (on the way to Shildon
Shildon
Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne...
and Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
) has been converted into a football field. This site is currently undergoing development, including the construction of an adventure playground.
In 2006 Heighington was judged, by Ptolemy Dean
Ptolemy Dean
Ptolemy Dean, a British architect and television presenter. He specialises in historic preservation, as well as designing new buildings that are in keeping with their historic or natural settings...
, from amongst 11 other villages around the UK to be the BBC's Perfect Village.
Heighington CE Primary School
Heighington CE Primary School
Heighinton CE Primary School is a voluntary controlled Church of England primary school located in the village of Heighington, near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. It educates around 260 pupils aged 4–11. It has a rural locality and has been assessed by Ofsted as providing an outstanding education...
is a voluntary controlled
Voluntary controlled school
A voluntary controlled school is a state-funded school in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in which a foundation or trust has some formal influence in the running of the school...
Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
primary school located in Hopelands. It educates around 260 pupils
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
aged 4-11. It has been assessed by Ofsted
Office for Standards in Education
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
as providing an outstanding education.