Wylam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wylam (IPA pronunciation: ['wɪlm̩]) is a small village approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is part of the district of Tynedale in the county of Northumberland. It is famous for the being the birthplace of George Stephenson, one of the early rail pioneers. His cottage can be found on the north bank of the Tyne three quarters of a mile east of the village centre. It is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

Points Bridge as seen from the south bank of the River Tyne

Once an industrial workplace with collieries and an ironworks, it is now a commuting village for Newcastle upon Tyne and Hexham, served by the Tyne Valley Line railway. Points Bridge (or Half-moon Bridge), an 80m wrought iron arch bridge with suspended decking once carried the Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam railway over the Tyne. It is now a footbridge. Opened in 1876 at a then cost of £16,000, it is said to be the model for the later Tyne Bridge in Newcastle.

Wylam now has approximately 800 households, with a poulation of 2100.[1] Wylam's parish church was built in 1886 and is dedicated to St. Oswin, a Northumberland saint.