Fatfield

Fatfield
Fatfield  Fatfield shown within Tyne and Wear
Metropolitan borough	City of Sunderland
Metropolitan county	Tyne and Wear
Region	North East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WASHINGTON
Postcode district	NE38
Dialling code	0191
Police	Northumbria
Fire	Tyne and Wear
Ambulance	North East
EU Parliament	North East England
UK Parliament	Houghton and Washington East
List of places UK England Tyne and Wear

Fatfield is a village in Tyne and Wear, located in the City of Sunderland metropolitan borough, England. It formed part of the Washington new town.

The housing style in Fatfield consists of centrally located attached council houses (known as white houses due to their colour) and privately owned detached houses located in quiet cul-de-sacs on the outskirts. Washington Arts Centre is also located in Fatfield.

The southern part of the village by the River Wear is popular for country walks and the three public houses and working men's club that are situated on the banks of the river. The site of the original village is just to the west of the North Biddick Club. A school was originally built on the site of the old village, but was replaced by private housing several years ago.

Education

Fatfield Primary School is located on Southcroft and educates around 235 pupils aged 4-11. The school has Investors in People status and Artsmark and Healthy School awards. At their inspection on 14 June 2007, Ofsted rated the school as Satisfactory, point three on a four point scale.

The older primary school (now demolished and replaced by modern housing) was located adjacent the Harraton Community Centre.

Scouts

The First Fatfield Scouts were also located in the grounds of the old school and still exist there today, long after the school has gone. The 1st Fatfield Scouts Website give more info.

Church

St George's church and churchyard in Harraton, Washington

The parish church of Fatfield is St George's Church in Washington, which was built in 1879 on land given by the Earl of Durham. The church building is in what is now called Harraton, one of the Washington villages, but continues with the historic name, St George's church, Fatfield. The church was massively reordered in the 1980's and inside is warm, light and contemporary, reflecting the informal and lively style of worship that takes place.

Publicity

Fatfield had national publicity in the 1990s when the village was challenged to lose weight on the Fatfield Diet as part of a BBC television programme. Apart from the TV show, Fatfield is well known for the legend of the Lambton Worm which is said to have terrorised the village.

Notable connections

• Bobby Thompson, comedian, was brought up here.
• Sir Harold Jeffreys, FRS was born here.
• Alan Price, keyboardist for the Animals, was born here.