Why is it that Consett was once the location chosen for a shopping trip, whether getting your fruit and veg, meat from the butchers, or going to a clothing store – it used to be a community and now, well, it is a shell of the much-loved canny place our elderly inhabitants remember.
Consett has been on a constant uphill battle since the closure of the steelworks in September 1980 led to around 4,500 people losing their livelihoods, and a successful town in County Durham losing its charm and the majority of its income. Although still a place where a communal feel can thrive, it is overall a disappointing example of how the North continues to be overlooked.
Whenever I tell someone I’m from Consett – if they recognise it at all by name – they associate it with “ooh, that gets a lot of snow” or “it has a big Barry’s Bargains, doesn’t it?”. Why not with the many walking routes, such as those that appeared following the official closure of the Consett rail line in 1984, or the key location where it offers quick travel route access to Durham, Newcastle and more? The high street itself is quaint and, if given money from the county, could offer a hubbub of little shops and cafés that would turn this sad town into a place to go. Why is it that I have to get a bus to get somewhere where I can have a nice café and walk around vintage shops? Bring more to Consett – let’s get it bustling once again.
After all, Consett is canny.
Story and image submitted by Sophie Campbell
