thumb|The Manor House in Sedgefield, an example of Queen Anne architecture.

Sedgefield is a market town and civil parish in County Durham, England. It had a population of 4,986 in the 2021 census. It has the only operating racecourse in County Durham.

Etymology

The name Sedgefield is of Old English origin. It is derived from the given-name Cedd + feld (> "field").

History

Roman

In 2003, a Roman 'ladder settlement' was discovered in fields just to the west of Sedgefield, by Channel Four's Time Team programme. It consisted of rows of parallel crofts and workshops on either side of a north–south trackway, creating a ladder-like layout, which could be securely dated by the many finds of Roman coins.

Hunting

thumb|right|240px|Elm House is a fine example of a Georgian brick three-storey town house.

During the 1800s, it was a hunting centre, dubbed 'the Melton of the North'. Hunter Ralph Lambton had his headquarters at Sedgefield: the humorous writer, Robert Smith Surtees, who lived at Hamsterley Hall, was a friend of his. On 23 February 1815, Lord Darlington wrote: 'Mr Ralph Lambton was out with some gentlemen from Sedgefield, and a most immense field.'

Winterton

The town was known in the area because of Winterton Hospital. This was an isolation hospital and an asylum. The site was like a village itself with its own fire station, bank and cricket team. Today, little trace is left of the hospital, apart from the church, which is now surrounded by the Winterton housing estate and the NETPark Science park.

The population of the town at the time of the 1841 census was 1,345 inhabitants.

Politics

The 19th-century South African politician and industrialist Henry Barrington was born in Sedgefield, and actions by his offspring indirectly led to the South African town of Sedgefield, Western Cape, being named in honour of his birthplace.

Sedgefield constituency's Member of Parliament was Tony Blair; he was the area's MP from 1983 to 2007, Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007 and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007.

During November 2003, Sedgefield was visited by the American president George W. Bush during a state visit. He visited a local pub, as well as the local secondary school (Sedgefield Community College). This event was preceded by high-intensity security, which included fastening down manhole covers and drains, and closing the centre of the town to all traffic. An anti-war protest coincided with his visit.

Weather

On 17 July 1792 a hailstorm in Sedgefield damaged many houses and filled the streets with hail to a depth of 2 feet.

Landmarks

St Edmund's

thumb|[[Church of St Edmund, Sedgefield|St Edmund's Church and a Shrove Tuesday Ball Game sculpture]]

The parish of St Edmund was founded by Bishop Cutheard of Lindisfarne, around AD 900. The Normans replaced the original wooden church with the present stone building with rounded arches, and the present church was built between 1246 and 1256, to replace the original wooden church, with later additions. The tower was added in the 15th century by Robert Rodes. Elaborate 17th-century woodwork was installed by John Cosin, bishop of Durham. The church also contains monumental brasses.

Ceddesfeld Hall

Ceddesfeld Hall was originally the rectory to the church, built after the first rectory burnt down; it is now occupied by the Sedgefield Community Association. A Latin inscription above the door states, "By the generosity of Samuel and Shute Barrington, one an Admiral of the Fleet, the other Bishop of Durham, whose achievements are praised by everyone." The hall was rebuilt in 1793, by the Barringtons, for their nephew, the rector. The grounds, now a public area, were laid out in the mid-18th century to a design by Joseph Spence. and the hall, presently the Hardwick Arms Hotel, is Grade II Listed

Governance

In the general election of December 2019 the constituency was won by Conservative MP, [https://members.parliament.uk/member/4830/contact] Paul Howell, as well as having a local mayor. An electoral ward of the same name exists. This ward includes surrounding areas and at the 2011 census had a population of 6,879.

Parish Hall

The Parish Hall was founded in 1849 as the Institute of Literature and Science, but later rebuilt as a Mechanics Institute. The hall was extensively refurbished in 2008, and continues to host a wide range of social events and entertainment.

Local radio stations are BBC Radio Tees, Capital North East, Heart North East, Smooth North East, Greatest Hits Radio North East, Nation Radio North East, Hits Radio Teesside and 'Darlo Radio', a community based station.

The town is served by the local newspaper, The Northern Echo.

Sport

Horse racing

There are a number of sporting venues and organisations in Sedgefield, the most famous of which is probably Sedgefield Racecourse, a regional thoroughbred horse-racing venue. There have been horse races since as early as 1732, and in 1846 officially recognised meetings began.

Cricket

Sedgefield Cricket Club is situated on the outskirts of the town on Station Road. The ground was donated to the people of Sedgefield around the turn of the nineteenth century and is home to a number of senior and junior teams.

Rugby

Reformed in 2007, Sedgefield District RUFC are a small club, based at the cricket club, and with their own pitch on grounds overlooking Hardwick East. It is associated with Durham County Rugby Football Union, it was awarded the Whistler Trophy by the Durham County referee society for the most welcoming club for officials and opponents alike.

The first XV currently play in Durham/Northumberland 2 following several successful seasons in Durham/Northumberland Division 3.

Motocross

At the end of the 1970s a group of friends started gathering to ride their motocross bikes at a farm in Low Hardwick. Today Quad Sport Leisure is one of very few sites in the North East of England where people can legally ride their quad bikes off-road. Occasionally, motocross tracks are available to the public for recreational use, and quads are available for hire suitable for all age groups from infants upwards. A "Bring your own" quad track, designed by a professional quad racer to include two large jumps, is also available.

Squash

Sedgefield Squash Club has two courts behind Ceddesfield Hall in the village with one being a glass wall. The club has five men's and two ladies' teams in the Durham and Cleveland Leagues and a considerable amount of junior members with the club constantly growing. The club boasts around 12 internal leagues where players are constantly changing their rankings. It has had a refurbishment in 2020–2021.

Football

Sedgefield Youth Football Club (SYFC) run an Under-12 team in the Teesside junior football alliance. They are based at the local community college.

Tennis

Sedgefield Tennis Club play on three courts at the Community College. The club enters one Ladies team, one Mixed Team, and two Men's teams in the Cleveland Tennis League. Sedgefield ST Edmunds F.C play in the Swinburn Maddison Premier League.

Golf

Knotty Hill Golf Centre is a 45-hole golf course, opened in the mid-nineties. The Princes and the Bishops courses are both 18 holes and another nine holes is made up by the academy course.

Running

Sedgefield Harriers are a local running and athletics club based at Sedgefield Community College. They compete in road races, in fell races (mainly on the North York Moors), in cross country and on the track. There is a large junior section which competes in track and field competitions and cross country. The club hosts the Serpentine Trail Race each September, Summer and Winter open handicaps in January and July and the Neptune Relays in April.

In 2011, Sedgefield Harriers were recognised by England Athletics as National Development Club of the Year and by UK Athletics as Club of the Year. In 2012 the club was County Durham Sports Club of the Year. In December 2020 the club announced plans for an athletics track and associated facilities to the north of Sedgefield under the project name of EDCAT (East Durham Community Athletics Track).

Notable people

  • John Blakiston, Member of Parliament who was one of the regicides of King Charles I of England
  • Stan Cummins, footballer who played for Middlesbrough and Sunderland, as well as playing in America
  • Aidan Davison, footballer born in Sedgefield who represented the Northern Ireland national football team
  • Dave Hockaday, footballer and coach who managed Leeds United in 2014
  • Thomas H. McIntosh, former secretary manager of Darlington, Middlesbrough and Everton. Under McIntosh's guidance Everton won the FA Cup in 1933 and twice won the Football League First Division.
  • Vaughan Oliver, artist and graphic designer who is best known for his work with 4AD Records
  • Bradley Saunders, professional boxer. Born in Stockton-on-Tees but lives in Sedgefield.
  • Jack Smith, wheelchair rugby athlete and a gold medal-winning member of the Great Britain national wheelchair rugby team.
  • Peter Willey, former cricketer and umpire

References

  • Sedgefield Town Council