There was once a time when the words pit, picnics, pigeons and pride summed up Ashington – but today the town tells a more vibrant story. Aranda Garrard discovers more. WITH a keen sense of history, famous sporting names and plenty to see and do for families, there’s more to Ashington than meets the eye.
The town’s long rows of terraced streets can still be seen today, alongside Ashington’s more modern estates, such as Seaton Vale. The old colliery homes were built on a grid system, and their layout meant it was easy to deliver coal by day by means of a waggonway and to service the “facilities” (the outdoor toilets or netties) by night. Although many are just numbered rows or avenues, others are named after trees, and characters from Shakespeare – Ariel, Rosalind, Juliet and Portia. At nearby Woodhorn, some of the town’s former pit buildings survive and make for an interesting insight into the past. The newest building is called The Cutter, and was inspired by the coal- cutting machines used. The museum can be found in the Queen Elizabeth II Park, once part of the largest colliery spoil heap in Europe. It has been landscaped to include a lake and woodland walks. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in the town, the Black Diamond Inn for one offers up a good pint. For education, Ashington has first schools, a number of middle schools and two high schools, while Northumberland College, in College Road, also offers a range of courses , from engineering to childcare. There is a leisure centre with a swimming pool, and the town is also home to Wansbeck Hospital. Station Road is the main street and is pedestrian- ised, with shops, banks and building societies, while Milburn Road also has takeaways. The bus station is in the centre of the town and it’s easy to get into Newcastle from Ashington. Famous footballers Jackie Milburn, Sir Bobby Charlton, Jackie Charlton, England fast bowler Steve Harmison, and golfer Kenneth Ferrie were all born in Ashington. A statue of Jackie Milburn is on Station Road. The area has plenty to offer visitors. As well as a visit to Woodhorn, there are great beaches at Newbiggin and Creswell on Druridge Bay, there is also a caravan park. Claire Hogg, branch manager at Pattinson in Ashington, said: “Reminiscent of its coal-mining heritage, Ashington has a very close-knit community. “Most buyers have lived or worked in the town before and are either buying their first homes, or looking to upsize, so Ashington’s mix of new and old properties is ideal. “Part of the attraction is that house prices can also be much lower than in nearby towns. Add to that its excellent road links, and it’s easy to understand why home buyers are choosing to live or invest in its strong buy-to-let market.” DEBORAH Tate, is tourism and marketing officer for Woodhorn. She said: “I was born in Ashington and lived in the same house there for almost 30 years. “My father was a miner, as was his father, and his before that. In fact I’m the fourth generation to work at Woodhorn. It runs through my veins and I’m very proud of my heritage. “Ashington was built on coal, but the days of underground toil, danger, dust and smoke are gone – for good or bad. “What we have now is a town on the up in spite of current economic problems. The environment is so much better with new housing, street improvements and businesses. “And the old colliery site here at Woodhorn is doing its bit. Thousands of visitors are coming to the town, many for the first time, not just to learn about the proud industrial heritage of the area, but also to see the place in a new light – enjoying art exhibitions, great family events and the country park “Our current exhibition (Cars of the Stars) is bringing folks from right across the region, changing their views of a former coal mine and their out-of-date ideas of south east Northumberland.” | 
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