History of Shildon
Shildon is a town steeped in history, the history of the railways began not in Darlington but in the town of Shildon.
Shildon was where George Stephenson set out on the 26th of September 1825, with Locomotion Number One, on the historic journey to Darlington. Where it would go on to complete the first journey on the Stockton to Darlington railway. Shildon was the Western terminus for locomotives on the Stockton and Darlington railway, so in effect was the true birth place of the railways. The railway link was soon extended further west linking the collieries of Etherley and Witton Park, though this part of the railway was operated by stationery engines.
The other railway pioneer Timothy Hackworth, who had been assistant to George Stephenson, is also linked closely to Shildon, having made it his home. Hackworth went on to build some of the most famous locomotives of his time, which included the Royal George, which ran between Stockton and Darlington, and the Sans Pareil, which competed against Stephenson's Rocket at the Rainhill Trials in 1830. Timothy Hackworths cottage at Shildon is now a museum dedicated to his work and Shildon's most famous son.
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The railway connection continued in Shildon, which became World famous for its waggon works building locomotives and rolling stock until the last days in 1985 when the waggon works closed for ever. The area has seen much regeneration work with many large medium and small businesses now making Shildon their home and taking over the areas which were once home to a very proud work force of men and women who never thought that they would see the end of their links to the railways.
The regeneration work can be seen throughout the town including the town centre. The establishing of a new 'Locomotion' Railway Museum in 2004 has been a positive step bringing back the ties to the history of the town. The museum has been a great success attracting record numbers of visitors since opening.
