| 875 |
The
town was originally called South Wallerick. After the
Danish invasion in AD875 the town was renamed Neubegang
or Newbegining, with several different spellings until
we have the present Newbiggin. |
1240 |
The township of Newbiggin was held by John de Baliol in
fee simple from the King |
1294 |
Henry III grants a charter to allow a market to be held
at Newbiggin weekly on Mondays. Also for a Fair to be
held annually - 'on the eve, day and morrow of St Bartholomew's
Day. |
1333 |
Edward II directed the people of Newbiggin to lay an embargo
on all ships within the port, and to detain them for his
use, besides furnishing him with a list of vessels belonging
to the port. |
1336 |
All ships in Newbiggin belonging to the King's service
were told to join the Northern Fleet at Orwell in Suffolk. |
1337 |
A borough was established in Newbiggin with the Freeholders
constituting the corporation - with the discharge of public
duties and payment of monies for public benefit. |
1352 |
Bishop Hatfield of Durham 'granted an indulgence of 40
days' to anyone in his diocese willing to help repair
the Pier, which was situated along the rocks in the North
end of the bay. |
1662 |
The Parish Register of Newbiggin commenced. |
|
|
1796 |
Prince William of Gloucester attended a service at Woodhorn
Church while his troops camped on Newbiggin Moor |
1846 |
Thirteenth Century Church is rebuilt by Public Subscription.
From this time forward the village appears to have prospered.
Turn of the century churches and schools were built, a
gas company was formed and the National Lifeboat Institution
built a station. |
1855 |
Population: 717 |
1860 |
Telegraph cables Jutland to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea were
laid. The cables terminated in a 'Cable House' just above
the shoreline. |
1868 |
The Newbiggin Church of England Schol is built. The first
annual report praises the school, but notes that the annual
expenses exceed the receipts. |
1869 |
The Presbyterian Church is built. |
1876 |
Wesleyan Chapel opened on the 28th October. Reverend
T. Overton of Newcastle preached to a large congregation.
The church cost £1,400 and the architect was Mr.
F.R.N. Haswell of North Shields.
Cost
of maintaining roads and footpaths was £250 |
1891 |
Population: 1,388 |
1897 |
Cases of typhoid in the Gibson Street area, due to the
poor state of a backyard drain. There were 88 births and
26 deaths in that year. |
1906 |
Residents were dependant upon wells for water. It was
used for flushing drains and cleaning cow sheds and slaughterhouses
as well as drinking. |
1910 |
Vessels Fleetwing and Conquest are torn
from their moorings in Newbiggin bay and driven ashore. Conquest was wrecked and became a plaything for
local children. |
1911 |
Population: 3,466 |
1914 |
22nd February. Lifeboat Ada Lewis rescues the eighteen
men and the Captain and his wife from the schooner Artic
Stream, which encountered difficulties when being
tugged back home. |
1919 |
Peace Celebration after the First World War, 19th July.
A massive bonfire was constructed on the moor, built with
railway sleepers and flammable waste. A greasy pole was
placed behind he bonfire with a large ham on top, for
the first person to reach it. |
1920 |
Erection of Council Houses and 328 state aided homes.
Private houses were being built elswhere in the village. |
1921 |
Colliery War Memorial is unveiled. |
1931 |
Population: 8,640 |
1940 |
The Eminent requires aid from the lifeboat Augustus
and Laura. The lifeboat was unable to get around Church
Point so volunteers, mainly women, pulled the boat across
the moor and launched it frm the East Sands. After the
rescue, the lifeboat had to be pulled back to the lifeboathouse
through driving snow. George (Minty) Taylor recieved The
Silver Medal for Gallantry. |
1950s |
John Braine writes his best selling novel Room at the
Top between stamping tickets a Newbiggin Library.
It was later turned into a film starring Laurence Harvey
and Simone Signoret. |
1988 |
The highly acclaimed Song of the Coal was performed
at Newbiggin Community and Liesure Centre. It was written
by Mike Kirkup with music by Derek Hobbs. |
2002 |
Newbiggin Heritage Centre launched on the seafront near
Church Point. Features displays of Newbiggin local history. |
2003
|
Population 7,500 approx.
|
2007 |
Work begins on the coastal protection scheme involving the building of a new breakwater, the importation of new sand for the beach and the installation of the first offshore sculpture in the UK - "Couple" by internationally renowned sculptor, Sean Henry. |
