Wednesday 13 December 2023 7.30pm, St George’s United Reformed Church
NB This replaces our originally advertised talk
Everybody in Heaton and High Heaton refers to it as the ‘tram track’ but the waggonway we know so well was a part of a network of hugely important railway lines in our area dating from almost three hundred years before part of it was used for trams and more than two hundred years before the Stockton to Darlington line opened.
Ten years on from important excavations on the Willington Waggonway, our December speaker will tell us much more about the pioneering role of figures such as John Buddle and William Chapman and consider why they and the lines through Heaton are less celebrated than George Stephenson and the Stockton to Darlington line.
Our Speaker
Les Turnbull, who is a member of Heaton History Group and an acknowledged expert on the history of north-east’s mines and railways, was born near the site of Heaton Colliery’s Middle Pit in 1941, educated at Tosson Terrace Primary, Chillingham Road Secondary and Heaton Grammar and now lives near what was the ‘C’ Pit.
Our Venue
This talk will take place at St George’s United Reformed Church on Newton Road, High Heaton NE7 7HP. It is on the corner with Boundary Gardens, the same block as Heaton Stannington’s football ground, Grounsell Park.
There are excellent public transport links including the numbers 18, 38, 52 and 553, which stop right by the church.
There is car parking on the surrounding streets.
Booking The talk is free to members and cost £2.50 for non-members. Open for bookings. Reserve your place by contacting Maria on maria-graham@live.co.uk or 07443 594154
