Wylam Colliery

Wylam
Wylam War Memorial
Wylam Wylam shown within Northumberland
Population	1,924 (2011)
OS grid reference	NZ115645
Unitary authority	Northumberland
Ceremonial county	Northumberland
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WYLAM
Postcode district	NE41
Dialling code	01661
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Northumberland
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Hexham
List of places UK England Northumberland 54°58′26″N 1°49′16″W / 54.974°N 1.821°W / 54.974; -1.821Coordinates: 54°58′26″N 1°49′16″W / 54.974°N 1.821°W / 54.974; -1.821

Wylam /ˈwɪləm/ is a small village about 10 miles (16 km) west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is located in the county of Northumberland.

It is famous for the being the birthplace of George Stephenson, one of the early railway pioneers. George Stephenson's Birthplace is his cottage that can be found on the north bank of the Tyne ¾ of a mile (1.2 km) east of the village centre. It is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

Wylam has further connections with the early railway pioneers. The steam locomotive engineer Timothy Hackworth, who worked with Stephenson, was also born here. William Hedley who was born in the nearby village of Newburn attended the village school. He later went on to design and manufacture Puffing Billy in 1813, two years before George Stephenson produced his first locomotive Blücher. Christopher Blackett as lord of the manor in the first 30 years of the 19th century provided the entrepreneurial drive that encouraged these engineers.

Once an industrial workplace with collieries and an ironworks, it is now a commuting village for Newcastle upon Tyne and Hexham, served by the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway.