subject: Living In The Popular West Pelton Area [print this page] The small village of West Pelton in County Durham lies to the north west of the town of Chester-le-Street. It grew up as a mining village originally and although the coal industry has declined massively in the last few decades, the village has been updated with new residential developments.
There are a number of local amenities in the village. It has two public houses and a range of shops such as general stores, a greengrocery, a Post Office and a pharmacy. There is a local doctors' surgery and a dentist, as well as some hairdressing salons. The village has good public transport links and regular bus services to Chester-le-Street, Stanley, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland.
The village has a small school, which was described in an Ofsted report as 'good and improving' as well as providing 'good value for money'. Parents find that the school has a family feel to it and say that they are included in decisions. Pupils are encouraged to take their learning beyond the confines of the classroom, for example by visiting the nearby Beamish Museum. After the age of 11 children can transfer to Roseberry Sports and Community College which also has a sixth form.
The Beamish Open Air Museum is a fantastic window into past life in the north east of England. Situated in 300 acres of attractive countryside, the museum is a collection of buildings which tell the story of how people lived and worked through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth. Some of the buildings were already on the site but others have been taken down from their original settings and painstakingly recreated, brick by brick. There is a station, fairground, farm, pit village and many more examples. Visitors can walk between the different buildings, or hop onto one of the vintage trams and buses.
Many local children have benefitted from the opportunity of learning a musical instrument and taking part in playing with others, thanks to the Ouston and Pelton Community Brass Band. It was started in 2008 at West Pelton Primary school, with the aim of providing expert brass and percussion lessons for pupils. The band now has nearly 100 members in seven local schools.
Waldridge Fell is to the south of West Pelton and this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is one of the biggest areas of lowland heath in the county. This type of area is a threatened habitat in the UK and is home to a variety of plants and insects that have been designated as rare or local in north east England. Amongst these is the Red Tipped Clearwing Moth and the small Pearl Bordered Fritillary Butterfly. Much of the SSSI is located within the Waldridge Fell Country Park, a popular destination for walkers and dog owners. There are several car parks around the Country Park and a network of footpaths.
One of the area's famous sons is Alan White, who was born in nearby Pelton in 1949 and became the drummer with the rock bank Yes. They enjoyed huge success in the 1970s.
