Sedgefield

Sedgefield is a large village in the borough of Sedgefield in County Durham, England. It has a population of approximately 5,000. Sedgefield is in the parish of Upper Skerne.

Sedgefield has attracted particular attention as the Member of Parliament for the wider Sedgefield constituency was the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

During November 2003, Sedgefield was visited by the American president George W. Bush during a state visit. He visited a local pub, as well as the local secondary school (Sedgefield Community College). This event was preceded by high-intensity security, which included fastening down manhole covers and drains, and closing the centre of the village to all traffic. An anti-war protest coincided with his visit.

St Edmunds church in Sedgefield is noted for its ornate 17th century Cosin woodwork, unique to County Durham: this is especially precious now that the display in Brancepeth has perished through fire.

The 18th century saw the architect James Paine commissioned by John Burdon in 1754 to design and construct a Palladian estate at nearby Hardwick Hall. Unfortunately the building work was never completed as Burdon went bankrupt, but sufficient landscaping was done to form the basis of today's renovated Country Park. In the 19th century, Sedgefield was a great hunting centre, dubbed 'the Melton of the North'. Ralph Lambton, the celebrated hunting man, had his headquarters at Sedgefield: the humorous writer, Robert Smith Surtees, who lived at Hamsterley Hall, was a friend of his. On 23 February 1815, (while Lord Byron was moping at Seaham Hall, not far away) Lord Darlington writes: 'Mr Ralph Lambton was out with some gentlemen from Sedgefield, and a most immense field.'

Sedgefield is twinned with Hamminkeln, Germany.

Education

There are two primary schools in Sedgefield, Sedgefield Hardwick Primary, and Sedgefield County Primary, and a secondary school, Sedgefield Community College.

Culture & Customs

The Shrove Tuesday Ball Game still takes place in Sedgefield and is an example of Mob Football. Another popular annual event is the Mediaeval Fayre, which takes place in mid-May.

Sport

Sedgefield is home to the Sedgefield Racecourse, a regional thoroughbred horse-racing venue. Knotty Hill Golf Centre is a 45-hole golf course, comprising of Courses A, B,C,D, & E. Course E, recently opened in the summer of 2006, is still maturing. Sedgefield Cricket Club is situated on the outskirts of the town, and is home to a number of senior and junior teams.

Sedgefield Youth Football Club (SYFC) are currently the only youth football team to be ran from Sedgefield. The one age group are the under 12's who currently sit mid-table in division 5 of the Teesside junior football alliance. They are based at the local community college and play their home games on a Sunday morning from this venue. The team encourages grassroots sport and fairplay which takes into consideration all involved from players to coaches and spectators.

Sedgefield Crosshill F.C are one of three adult teams in Sedgefield who they play in the 4th Division of the Stephys Coaches Durham and District League. Steven Bagshaw currently has 2 assists.

Sedgefield Tennis Club play on three courts at the Community College. The club enters one Ladies team and three Men's teams in the Cleveland Tennis League.