Hebburn

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 4-foot-6-inch-tall (137-centimetre) 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