Tow Law

Tow Law /taʊˈlɔː/ is a town and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated a few miles to the south of Consett and 5 miles to the north west of Crook.

Tow Law

High Street, Tow Law, A68
Tow Law
Location within County Durham
Population2,138 (2011)
OS grid referenceNZ119393
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBISHOP AUCKLAND
Postcode districtDL13
Dialling code01388
PoliceDurham
FireCounty Durham and Darlington
AmbulanceNorth East
UK Parliament

According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,952, increasing to 2,138 at the 2011 Census.[1]

The main road through the town is the A68, which starts in Darlington and goes on north, ending near Dalkeith, just south-east of Edinburgh. The River Deerness rises from a spring on the eastern edge of the town.[2]

Tow Law Town football club are based in the town. The town is mentioned in Mark Knopfler's song "Hill Farmer's Blues" from his album The Ragpicker's Dream.

History

The name "Tow Law" is from the Old English tot hlaw meaning "lookout mound," the name of a house which stood there before the iron works and the village were built.[3]

There was rapid growth in the mid 19th century after the Weardale Iron and Coal Company was established here in 1845. Blast furnaces were built and collieries were opened; the population was about 2000 in 1851, and 5000 in 1881.[4]

The town constituted an urban district from 1894 until 1974.

21st century

Since December 2001 the town has had a 2.3 Megawatt wind farm consisting of three 50 m (160 ft)-high wind-powered turbines. During the 2001 foot and mouth crisis, MAFF buried diseased animals at the former Inkerman Pit site. This was an emotive issue for local residents, who were disturbed by vehicle movements and smells from the pit.[5] Many protesters attended the site every day for six months but had no effect and Defra continued to keep the site operational until the spring of 2002.

Notable people

References
  1. "Town population 2011". Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  2. Ordnance Survey, 1:25,000 map
  3. Room's book ISBN 0-7475-0170-X
  4. "Tow Law" Tow Law Community Association. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  5. unknown (February 2002). "Wear Valley Community Research Tow Law Community Appraisal" (PDF). Wear Valley District Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
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