Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
| Newbiggin-by-the-Sea | |
|---|---|
 Newbiggin Bay |
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 Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
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| Newbiggin-by-the-Sea shown within Northumberland | |
| Population | 6,308 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | NZ308877 |
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA |
| Postcode district | NE64 |
| Dialling code | 01670 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Northumberland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | |
Newbiggin-by-the-Sea is a small town in Northumberland, England, lying on the North Sea coast. Once an important port for shipping grain and a coal mining town, it is still a small fishing port making use of traditional coble boats.
It is widely although mistakenly noted that the town was originally called 'South Wallerick', and renamed Newbiggin after the Danish invasion. However the document on which this is based refers to 'Sanctum Walericium', or St. Waleric. This was the name of the church at Alnmouth, which was at one time called Newbiggin. There is no connection with Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Newbiggin derives from OE nīwe (new) + ME bigging (building, house), and this may refer to an extension of the early settlement and parish of Woodhorn.
The church was for centuries from its early construction a chapel only, with a tower surmounted by a spire which was originally used as a beacon. In the 14th century, Newbiggin was a very important maritime centre, called upon to support Edward III in his campaigns against the Scots. During part of the Middle Ages, Newbiggin was a major port for the shipping of grain – it is said that it was third such port only in importance after London and Hull. Therefore, the old town in the 43rd year of Henry III's reign was granted a charter for a weekly market on Monday and an annual fair. Mention occurs of its pier and shipping in various old documents; and in 1337, as a borough of note, it sent bailiffs to a council on matters of state, convened by the Bishop of Lincoln, the Earl of Warwick and other noblemen.
In 1805, two boats, with nineteen men, were lost in a storm off this place after which £1,700 was donated by fund-raising in the Newcastle region to relieve the bereaved families. As early as 1828, Newbiggin was a popular beach resort, with facilities to cater for visitors. By this time the small town had five public houses, one of which had a spa-like array of bathing facilities, several shops and lodging houses with a township of 503 acres. The village featured a shore, which, being a fine smooth beach about a mile in length, was well suited for bathing, for which purpose the place, by 1848, was much frequented during warmer seasons. By this time, several well-built guesthouses took hold. The bay gave good anchorage for small vessels, but even then was very little used, except for the numerous boats belonging to the fishery, in which most of the inhabitants were employed. The plentiful fish caught were herring, cod, ling, haddock, salmon, trout, turbot, halibut, soles, lobsters and crabs not only for the supply of the neighbouring markets but the region; and buildings for the curing of herrings.
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Wikipedia