Wolviston

Wolviston Village

Wolviston is a village and civil parish within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England made up of 888 people, of which: -

127 people (14%) are children aged 0-15
537 people (60%) are of working age
224 people (25%) are retired

Located within the village there is a Church dedicated to St Peter, two public houses called the Wellington and the Ship, a post office and a beautiful village green.

Wolviston is home to several notable businesses including an, art gallery, florist, saddlery, international consultancy firm and riding school. Wolviston is a community with a cricket and football team, a guides association and allotment holders club.

Village Name

The village name has its origins in Saxon times. Although popularly, the village was named after the wolves that inhabited the area, Watts identifies the name as deriving from Wulfestun - or Wulf's estate - and as such named for an early landowner.

Other local historians note the existence of a local dignatory named Wolvis during Saxon times and hold that his occupancy of nearby land may be the root of the present village's name

Wolviston has been in existence since Saxon times under a variety of names, including Wolfstun and Ulvestun before the current spelling was adopted.

It has always essentially been a farming community close to the estates of Lord Londonderry although other employment was available in the salt wells and brick works.

In recent history Wolviston supported six inns providing food, drinks and stabling for visitors as well as general dealers, ironmongers, blacksmiths, butchers (and slaughterhouse) and a fish and chip shop.

Changing Nature of the Village of Wolviston

The arrival of the chemical industry in nearby Billingham in the 1920’s changed Wolviston. This is because the growth of industry around Wolviston necessitated the building of a bypass on the east side of the village (in the 1960’s) and later a second bypass in the 1970’s. This gives the village an island character, separated from urban Billingham by a green belt and bypasses. Consequently it has become a very desirably place to live.

Wolviston has therefore has changed from a largely rural community to a largely middle-class residential community with people from the legal and medical professions and local businesses.

Church in Wolviston

There has been a church in the village since the 12th century with the present building dating from 1876. Two nineteenth century chapels were built and he Wesleyan chapel is now used by community groups. It was used for example by the gardening society in the 1990’s.

Schooling in Wolviston

Schools were introduced in 1811 and 1836 with the present one being built in 1877. Aproximately 100 pupils attend the school at Wolviston today.

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