Know your Town

Newton Aycliffe

History of Newton Aycliffe

As we all know Newton Aycliffe is one the most romantic of all towns in the Northeast. It was established in 1947 by Sir Reginald Aycliffe, who founded another new town called, 'Milton Keynes' the theme Park 'Alton Towers' and the less well known town of Newton Aycliffe. (Aycliffe is now buried in the town's cemetery and his family fled to America after the town was reported to have a shortage of council properties in 1988). Newton Aycliffe originally consisted three sectors. The Industrial estate, the residential area which now surrounds the town centre, and the small outpost of Saint Pasture. Many now refer to the area as Simpasture but many of the older people in the town will still use the term Saint Pasture. The term 'Simpasture' was used to hide the terrible fate that took place in the original Saint Pasture. Saint pasture was the oldest part of Newton Aycliffe and existed many centuries before the town took shape. The Don Henley song ' Hotel California' originally contained a hidden and now missing verse. 'Send me back to Saint pasture.' An original wooden church and a community of small farmhouses lay in 'Saint Pasture's field' the area now known as Simpasture park. St. Pastures church was the parish church of the area. The village was later reported to have one corner shop and a workmen’s club known as 'Saint Pasture and Parish council Labour club', as well as housing around some nine hundred residents. Saint Pasture became a thriving community which supported the industrial estate in its early days and gained its own railway station in 1879 which was located on a track which is now a public footpath close to the current 'Simpasture shops'. (Affectionately known as 'Saint Pasture's Town Centre'). Tragically in 1897 a group of 'chavers' from the nearby village of Williamfield were reported to have burned the village now on a drunken riot. There were no survivors. In 1952 'Simpasture' was established. After the intermittent 'pre-fabs' constructed in the Clarence Chair area, the first fire-resistant brick houses were built in the new suburb of 'Simpasture.' You would also find the original police station in 'Simpasture' area which was located on Finchale road where you now find today's ambulance station. 'Simpasture' was the first area of Newton Aycliffe to be policed. Later many other areas followed its example. However there was a few which did not such as the area where you now find 'The Dandy Cart' and the area currently known as the 'Yellow estate.' However according to the Labour parties chair of the time, suppressing the town of bars and entertainment managed to curb some of the anti-social behaviour in the area. In 1971, due to the towns rapid growth Newton Aycliffe council became bankrupt and many houses were left without roofs. The effects were devastating. In 1997 Tony Blair visited the town and it was reported the Town Centre was involved in a major cleaning operation this was the turning point of the towns heritage. Since then the town has seen much investment. A Tesco has now been constructed thus doubling the size of the town centre. What is more, courses are now available which teach adults to read and write and many dated Kwick Save trolleys have been lifted out of the burn in a clean up operation. From a smouldering village, a flourishing and beautiful town has grown. That was the history of Newton Aycliffe.
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