History of Peterlee
Peterlee holds a two day event called the Peterlee Show, which is held at the end of the summer holidays on Helford Road Cricket Ground, which is not far from the Pasmore Pavilion. The event contains a selection of attractions like rides, entertainment and also tributes and local music acts all of which have played in front of an audience of approximately 500 people. The Peterlee Show also has a parachutes display, usually held on the first day of the event as well as horticultural competitions, Arts & Crafts stands, dog shows, bird of prey flying, motorcycle stunts and a fireworks display can be seen on one or both nights. Peterlee also holds a fireworks display on Bonfire Night, which is also held at Helford Road Cricket Ground.
The Peterlee Development Corporation was established in 1948 under the direction of A V Williams. The original ambitious master-plan for towering blocks of flats by Berthold Lubetkin was rejected as unsuitable for the geology of the area which had been weakened by mining works and he resigned in 1950. George Grenfell Baines replaced Lubetkin and began to build quickly resulting in buildings of poor quality construction. In a bold move Williams invited an artist Victor Pasmore to be head of the design team for the landscaping.
The Apollo Pavilion was completed in 1970 at centre of the Sunny Blunts estate and was named after the Apollo Space Programme. As well as a visual focus the structure acted as a bridge across a small lake.