Murton, County Durham

	█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
	█ Precipitation totals in mm
	Source:

Murton
Climate chart (explanation)
	█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
	█ Precipitation totals in mm
	Source:
Imperial conversion
	█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
	█ Precipitation totals in inches

Murton
Murton
	Murton Location within County Durham
Population	4,534 (2011 Census)
OS grid reference	NZ323702
Unitary authority	County Durham;
Ceremonial county	County Durham;
Region	North East;
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SEAHAM
Postcode district	SR7
Dialling code	0191
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
UK Parliament	Easington;
	List of places UK England County Durham 54°48′54″N 1°23′20″W / 54.815°N 1.389°W

Murton is a village in County Durham, England, eight miles (13 km) east of the city of Durham and six miles (9.7 km) south of Sunderland. It had a population of 4,534,^[1] which rose to 7,676 at the 2011 Census.^[2]

It was originally a rural agricultural hamlet called Morton,^[3] but the discovery of coal beneath its fields in the 19th century transformed it into an industrial community.^[4] 'Morton became known as Murton Colliery or Murton-in-the-Whins^[5] following the sinking of the pit in 1838 by South Hetton Coal Company,^[6] and the village was a productive coal mining community for more than a century. The pit employed more than 1000 men at its peak and featured in a Picture Post article showing the 'vesting' of the mine at nationalisation in 1947.^[7]

The village also had the South East Durham Cooperative Bakery and a Northern Bus Company garage as added sources of jobs. In 1955 a by-product works for coal was established for the production mainly of coke. The mine and other employment opportunities closed in the 1990s along with many other County Durham mines and now the old spoil heaps are covered by a retail outlet development Dalton Park, bringing much-needed new employment.

History

The discovery of coal beneath the fields of East Durham during the 19th century transformed the tiny hamlet of Morton into the thriving township of Murton.

Decades later, however, the decision to close Murton's successful colliery almost, but not quite, succeeded in turning the close-knit community into a ghost town. Millions of pounds in Government and private investment is now being pumped into Murton, changing the face of the former pit village almost daily.

Fewer than 100 people lived in the village of Murton before 1830 but following the sinking of the mine in 1838 the population had grown to 1,387 by 1851. Miners flocked to Murton from across County Durham and Northumberland in the early years, with people later uprooting from Devon, Cornwall and Ireland too. Many of the road and place names reflected the original roots of these pitmen, such as the Cornwall estate, and dozens of different accents could be heard in the streets.

Work on the colliery – one of the pioneering mines of the East Durham coalfield — began on 19 February 1838 but it was five years before the first coals were drawn. Problems with pockets of shifting sand and the depth of the magnesian limestone overlying the coal delayed the work, making the project hugely expensive. Late shifts were even introduced for the first time, so that excavation could be carried out around the clock to finish the three-shafted pit as quickly as possible.

Just five years after the colliery opened, however, there was an explosion on 15 August 1848, near the Polka East shaft, which killed 16 miners. The tragedy left villagers shaken, but the village itself continued to flourish. Indeed, by 1856 Murton was almost unrecognisable from the hamlet it had once been. Scores of terraced houses had been built to house the miners and the village now boasted three pubs and a new school, plus gas and coke works. As prospective miners continued to flood in so the number of tradesmen grew, with Murton Colliery Co-operative Society helping to serve the village by 1890.

As the village flourished, so too did the colliery. It was modernised after World War I and jn 1922 a Koepe friction winding engine was installed in the West Pit. New pithead baths followed in 1939, described as being "of especially pleasant design”, and Murton's swimming pool was opened in 1961.

But despite high productivity and a loyal workforce the decision was taken to close the pit in 1991. Campaigners fought against the plans but failed to stop them. The Koepe winding engine was transferred to the Bowes Railway following the controversial closure and in 1994 the colliery's winding tower was demolished. Murton's once-thriving pit community was now no more.

Timeline

1830: Population 69
1838: Work on pit starts
1843: First coals drawn
1851: Population 1,395
1889: Electricity first used in pit
1892: Murton toll gates removed
1902: Three putters killed in pit, two aged 14, one aged 18
1906: Colliery draws 4,131 tons of coal in one day
1910: Miners strike over Eight Hours Bill
1913: Foundation stone laid for first council house
1914: First public telephone for Murton, based in post office
1922: Cenotaph unveiled
1923: Coal drawn from West Pit for first time
1927: Bus service to Sunderland introduced by Northern buses
1930: First talking pictures at Murton Empire
1931: Flush toilets installed in colliery houses
1935: Miners started carrying electric lamps
1939: Pit-head baths opened
1950: X-ray van visited Murton for the first time
1953: The first paid annual holiday leave of two weeks was introduced
1957: A new library was opened in Barnes Road
1958: Murton Brickworks closed
1961: Murton's swimming pool was opened
1982: First memorial service held to commemorate fatalities at Murton pit
1990: Miners fought to keep the pit open
1991: Murton Colliery closed
1994: Pit winding tower demolished despite being listed
2003: Dalton Park opening date
2023: One of the filming locations for the film directed by Ken Loach The Old Oak about a previously thriving mining community^[8]

Old village streets and their nicknames

Owen Street: Sandgate Rar
Lancaster Street: Double Rar
Green Street: Smokey Rar
Railway Street: Red Tiled Rar
Villiers Street: Wood Rar
Durham Place: Sinkers Rar
Dalton Terrace: Pot Pie Rar
South Street: Plantation Rar
East Street: Cinder Burners Rar
Shipperdon Street: Ower the Field
Murton Street: Cross Rar
Old Pilgrim Street: Boiler Rar
New Pilgrim Street: Low Rar
Pilgrim Street: High Rar
Model Street: Wagon Rar

Governance

An electoral ward of the same name exists. It includes Dalton-le-Dale and surrounding areas and had a total population at the 2011 Census of 7,975.^[9]

Economy

This is a chart of the trend of regional gross value added of County Durham at current basic prices published (pp. 240–253) by the Office for National Statistics, with figures in millions of Pounds Sterling.

Year	Regional Gross Value Added^[10]	Agriculture^[11]	Industry^[12]	Services^[13]
1995	4,063	47	1,755	2,261
2000	4,783	40	1,840	2,904
2003	5,314	39	1,978	3,297

Climate

Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Murton has a temperate climate. At 643.3 millimetres (25 in)^[14] the average annual rainfall is lower than the national average of 1,125 millimetres (44 in).^[15] Equally there are only around 121.3 days^[14] where more than 1 millimetre (0.04 in) of rain falls compared with a national average of 154.4 days.^[15] The area sees on average 1374.6 hours of sunshine per year,^[14] compared with a national average of 1125.0 hours.^[15] There is frost on 52 days^[14] compared with a national average of 55.6 days.^[15] Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 12.5 and 5.2 °C (54.5 and 41.4 °F)^[14] compared with a national averages of 12.1 and 5.1 °C (53.8 and 41.2 °F) respectively.^[15]

The table below gives the average temperature and rainfall figures taken between 1971 and 2000 at the Met Office weather station in Durham:

v t e Climate data for Durham Coordinates 54°46′04″N 1°35′04″W / 54.76786°N 1.58455°W / 54.76786; -1.58455 (Durham University Observatory); elevation: 102 m (335 ft)^[16] 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1843–2023
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	16.3 (61.3)	17.4 (63.3)	21.8 (71.2)	24.1 (75.4)	29.0 (84.2)	30.4 (86.7)	36.9 (98.4)	32.5 (90.5)	30.0 (86.0)	25.3 (77.5)	19.3 (66.7)	15.9 (60.6)	36.9 (98.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	6.9 (44.4)	7.8 (46.0)	9.9 (49.8)	12.5 (54.5)	15.4 (59.7)	18.0 (64.4)	20.2 (68.4)	19.9 (67.8)	17.4 (63.3)	13.5 (56.3)	9.7 (49.5)	7.1 (44.8)	13.2 (55.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.1 (39.4)	4.6 (40.3)	6.2 (43.2)	8.3 (46.9)	10.9 (51.6)	13.6 (56.5)	15.8 (60.4)	15.6 (60.1)	13.3 (55.9)	10.0 (50.0)	6.6 (43.9)	4.2 (39.6)	9.5 (49.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	1.3 (34.3)	1.4 (34.5)	2.5 (36.5)	4.1 (39.4)	6.5 (43.7)	9.3 (48.7)	11.3 (52.3)	11.3 (52.3)	9.2 (48.6)	6.5 (43.7)	3.6 (38.5)	1.4 (34.5)	5.7 (42.3)
Record low °C (°F)	−16.9 (1.6)	−18.0 (−0.4)	−15.0 (5.0)	−11.1 (12.0)	−4.8 (23.4)	−0.8 (30.6)	1.4 (34.5)	0.0 (32.0)	−1.7 (28.9)	−5.3 (22.5)	−12.0 (10.4)	−16.4 (2.5)	−18.0 (−0.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	51.8 (2.04)	44.6 (1.76)	41.1 (1.62)	51.2 (2.02)	44.4 (1.75)	61.0 (2.40)	60.9 (2.40)	66.5 (2.62)	56.9 (2.24)	63.4 (2.50)	73.0 (2.87)	61.0 (2.40)	675.7 (26.60)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	11.8	9.9	8.6	9.1	8.6	9.9	10.7	10.3	9.4	11.8	12.0	12.0	124.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours	60.9	84.4	121.7	160.8	187.1	167.1	174.3	167.3	135.3	98.9	64.6	57.6	1,480
Source 1: Met Office^[17]
Source 2: Durham Weather^[18]^[19]^[20]

Notable residents

Mary Ann Cotton (1832–1873), convicted murderer executed for poisoning her stepson, grew up in Murton.

References

^ British Government. "Office for Statistics: Area: Murton East (Ward)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 13 July 2015.
^ Durham County Council. "Durham Records Inline Murton (East Murton)". Durham Records Office. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
^ PROF. A. C. Ramsay. "Deeper And More Difficult Winnings". Durham Mining Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
^ Paul R. Joiner. "GenukI Dalton-le-Dale". GENUKI. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
^ Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham. "Murton Colliery also known as Dalton Winning". Durham Mining Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2008. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Durham Mining Museum. "Durham Mining Museum Gallery". Durham Mining Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
^ Sagar, Sharuna (8 November 2022). "Ken Loach inspired by the North East for film The Old Oak". BBC Look North. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
^ UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Murton Ward (as of 2011) (1237326540)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
^ Components may not sum to totals due to rounding
^ includes hunting and forestry
^ includes energy and construction
^ includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Durham 1971-2000 averages Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Met Office. Retrieved on 20 August 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e UK 1971-2000 averages Archived 5 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Met Office. Retrieved on 20 August 2007.
^ "Durham". CEDA Archive. Natural Centre for Environmental Data Analysis. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^ "Durham (Durham) UK climate averages". Met Office. 1991–2020. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
^ Burt, Stephen; Burt, Tim (2022). Durham Weather and Climate since 1841. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^ Tim Burt. "The weather at Durham in 2022". Durham Weather. Durham University. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^ Tim Burt. "The weather at Durham in 2023". Durham Weather. Durham University. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

External links

Old photos of Murton Colliery, in a slide show form, YouTube (slideshow video featuring the pits of old County Durham - including Murton)
News stories about Murton, Sunderland Echo
A thousand old photos of Seaham and Murton, east-durham.co.uk

[NOS-1] British Government. "Office for Statistics: Area: Murton East (Ward)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 30 March 2008.

[2] "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 13 July 2015.

[3] Durham County Council. "Durham Records Inline Murton (East Murton)". Durham Records Office. Retrieved 30 March 2008.

[4] PROF. A. C. Ramsay. "Deeper And More Difficult Winnings". Durham Mining Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2008.

[whins-5] Paul R. Joiner. "GenukI Dalton-le-Dale". GENUKI. Archived from the original on 5 May 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2008.

[pitsink-6] Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham. "Murton Colliery also known as Dalton Winning". Durham Mining Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2008. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[picpost-7] Durham Mining Museum. "Durham Mining Museum Gallery". Durham Mining Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2008.

[8] Sagar, Sharuna (8 November 2022). "Ken Loach inspired by the North East for film The Old Oak". BBC Look North. Retrieved 24 April 2023.

[9] UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Murton Ward (as of 2011) (1237326540)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 3 October 2018.

[10] Components may not sum to totals due to rounding

[11] udes hunting and forestry

[12] udes energy and construction

[13] udes financial intermediation services indirectly measured

[DH_Climate-14] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Durham 1971-2000 averages Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Met Office. Retrieved on 20 August 2007.

[UK_Climate-15] UK 1971-2000 averages Archived 5 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine, Met Office. Retrieved on 20 August 2007.

[16] "Durham". CEDA Archive. Natural Centre for Environmental Data Analysis. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

[17] "Durham (Durham) UK climate averages". Met Office. 1991–2020. Retrieved 1 January 2022.

[18] Burt, Stephen; Burt, Tim (2022). Durham Weather and Climate since 1841. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

[19] Tim Burt. "The weather at Durham in 2022". Durham Weather. Durham University. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

[20] Tim Burt. "The weather at Durham in 2023". Durham Weather. Durham University. Retrieved 25 July 2024.

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v t e Ceremonial county of Durham
Unitary authorities	Borough of Darlington Borough of Hartlepool Borough of Stockton-on-Tees (part) County Durham
Major settlements (cities in italics)	Barnard Castle Billingham Bishop Auckland Chester-le-Street Chilton Consett Crook Darlington Durham Eaglescliffe Easington Colliery Ferryhill Hartlepool Middleton-in-Teesdale Newton Aycliffe Peterlee Seaham Sedgefield Shildon Spennymoor Stanhope Stanley Stockton-on-Tees Tow Law Wolsingham See also: Durham
Topics	Flag Parliamentary constituencies Places Population of major settlements SSSIs Schools Country houses Museums Grade I listed buildings Scheduled monuments Lord Lieutenant High Sheriff

v t e Civil parishes in County Durham
including Stockton-on-Tees (north of the river)
Darlington	Parishes Archdeacon Newton Barmpton Bishopton Brafferton Coatham Mundeville Denton East and West Newbiggin Great Burdon Great Stainton Heighington High Coniscliffe Houghton le Side Hurworth Killerby Little Stainton Low Coniscliffe and Merrybent Middleton St. George Morton Palms Neasham Piercebridge Sadberge Summerhouse Walworth Whessoe Unparished areas The former Darlington County Borough
County Durham	Towns Barnard Castle Bishop Auckland Chilton Ferryhill Great Aycliffe Greater Willington Peterlee Seaham Sedgefield Shildon Spennymoor Stanley Tow Law Parishes Barforth Barningham Bearpark Belmont Bishop Middleham Bolam Boldron Bournmoor Bowes Bradbury and the Isle Brancepeth Brandon and Byshottles Brignall Burnhope Cassop-cum-Quarrington Castle Eden City of Durham Cleatlam Cockfield Cornforth Cornsay Cotherstone Coxhoe Croxdale and Hett Dalton-le-Dale Dene Valley Easington Colliery Easington Village Edmondbyers Edmondsley Eggleston Egglestone Abbey Eldon Esh Etherley Evenwood and Barony Fishburn Forest and Frith Framwellgate Moor Gainford Gilmonby Great Lumley Greencroft Hamsterley Hamsterley Common Haswell Hawthorn Headlam Healeyfield Hedleyhope Hilton Holwick Hope Horden Hunderthwaite Hunstanworth Hutton Henry and Station Town Hutton Magna Ingleton Kelloe Kimblesworth and Plawsworth Lanchester Langleydale and Shotton Langton Lartington Little Lumley Lunedale Lynesack and Softley Marwood Mickleton Middleton in Teesdale Middridge Monk Hesleden Mordon Morton Tinmouth Muggleswick Murton Nesbitt Newbiggin North Lodge Ouston Ovington Pelton Pittington Raby with Keverstone Rokeby Romaldkirk Sacriston Satley Scargill Seaton with Slingley Shadforth Sheraton with Hulam Sherburn Village Shincliffe Shotton South Bedburn South Hetton Staindrop Stanhope Startforth Streatlam and Stainton Thornley Toft Hill Trimdon Trimdon Foundry Urpeth Waldridge Wackerfield Weather Hill Wood West Auckland West Rainton and Leamside Westwick Wheatley Hill Whorlton Windlestone Wingate Winston Witton Gilbert Witton-le-Wear Wolsingham Wolsingham Park Moor Woodland Wycliffe with Thorpe Unparished areas The former Chester le Street Urban District Consett Parts of the former Durham Municipal Borough Parts of the former Bishop Auckland Urban District Crook and Willington Urban District Stanley Urban District
Hartlepool	Towns Headland Parishes Brierton Claxton Dalton Piercy Elwick Greatham Hart Newton Bewley Wynyard Unparished areas Part of the former Hartlepool County Borough
Stockton-on-Tees	Towns Billingham Parishes Aislaby Carlton Egglescliffe Elton Grindon and Thorpe Thewles Longnewton Newsham Preston-on-Tees Redmarshall Stillington and Whitton Wolviston Wynyard Unparished areas Part of the former Teesside County Borough
For further information about the above parishes, see List of civil parishes in County Durham. For the part of Stockton-on-Tees (borough) south of the River Tees, see List of civil parishes in North Yorkshire.