South Hetton

South Hetton is a former mining village in the County Durham district of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated 6.25 miles (10.06 km) to the east of Durham and 7.31 miles (11.76 km) to the south of Sunderland as the crow flies. It had a population of 2,618 according to the 2001 Census, rising to 3,032 at the 2011 Census, with the latest estimate being 3,036 in 2019

South Hetton
Mining monument
South Hetton Location within County Durham
Population	3,032 (2011)
OS grid reference	NZ375455
Civil parish	South Hetton
Unitary authority	County Durham
Ceremonial county	Durham
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	DURHAM
Postcode district	DH6
Dialling code	0191
Police	Durham
Fire	County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance	North East
UK Parliament	Easington

History

South Hetton Colliery

Mural at South Hetton Colliery

The history of South Hetton is closely related to South Hetton Colliery. The South Hetton Coal Company, owned by Colonel Thomas Bradyll, first sank shafts in 1831. Large scale production began two years later and corresponded with a large increase in population. Employment peaked in the 1930s when over 1400 people worked at the colliery. However, activity declined in the latter half of the twentieth century with the colliery ceasing operations in 1982. (This colliery is not to be confused with its namesake, the other South Hetton Colliery, at Coal Point on Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia.)

Holy Trinity Church (built 1838)

Angus Sibbet Murder

Main article: One-armed bandit murder

The village came to the attention of the nation in January 1967 when the body of fruit machine magnate employee Angus Sibbet was found murdered in his Jaguar car under Pesspool Bridge. Dennis Stafford and Michael Luvaglio were later convicted of the crime. There have been ongoing campaigns to clear both names, but all appeals (including to the House of Lords) have failed due to a proven but unexplained collision between the cars of Sibbet and Stafford & Luvaglio, although Stafford and Luvaglio at their trial denied seeing or meeting up with Sibbet during the vital hours surrounding the murder. The killing inspired the 1970s gangster film Get Carter starring Michael Caine.

Notable people

Steph Houghton, footballer (Sunderland, Leeds United, Arsenal, Manchester City and England)

Sports

South Hetton Cricket Club currently play in the Durham Senior League and have a strong link within the community with the goal of developing sport in the area.

External links

Media related to South Hetton at Wikimedia Commons