Council buys pizza takeaway at centre of world railway history
DARLINGTON Borough Council has approved the purchase of a vacant pizza takeaway in the town because of its role in the birth of the world's first public steam railway.
The shop and upper storey rooms in Northgate were once part of the Quaker mill owner Edward Pease's home where, on April 19, 1821, he met Tyneside colliery engineer George Stephenson, maybe for the first time, when discussing the idea of a railway linking Stockton and Darlington.
Pease had originally considered horse traction for the proposed line, but Stephenson convinced him that a steam locomotive could do the job far better.
Not only did the talks change the fortunes of the town, but they led to the reshaping of the world through transport technology.
Experts from the local authority found that regardless of the property's very modern-day frontage, its first floor and upwards was in a good condition externally.
It will now form part of a railway heritage trail in the North Road area, being created in time for the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, taking place in 2025.
The council's resources portfolio holder, Coun Charles Johnson, said that Government funding had also been used to buy a terraced house near Morrisons supermarket in North Road, believed to be one of the world's first railway workers' cottages, and which will also feature on the trail.
As previously reported, the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway were awarded £35,000 from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund to help preserve the trackbed of the historic railway.
Meanwhile, Darlington residents and businesses were invited to take part in a consultation exercise to shape the future of the Head of Steam as a world-class visitor attraction.
It is planned to develop the North Road museum, as well as surrounding listed heritage structures, including the goods shed, carriage works and the 1861 building in time for the Stockton & Darlington Railway 200th anniversary in 2025.
The consultation ran until March 12. The plans will be considered by the project's designers as they draw up the final blueprint, which will be submitted to the borough council as the local planning authority for consideration in July.