View source for North East England

{{About|the statistical region of England|the combined authority|North East Mayoral Combined Authority}}

{{Short description|Region of England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = North East
| settlement_type    = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image |border=infobox |perrow=1/2 |total_width=250
 | image1 = Angel of the North 2-10-14.png
 | image2 = Saltburn Pier 1.jpg
 | image3 = Spanish City, Whitley Bay (geograph 7492725).jpg
 | image4 = Hexham Abbey - geograph.org.uk - 4017740.jpg
 | image5 = Durham cathedral (geograph 6974622).jpg
 | image6 = Newcastle-upon-Tyne-bridges-and-skyline cropped.jpg
 | image7 = Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge, stockton side.jpg
 }}
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = {{ubl|Left to right; top: ''[[Angel of the North]]''|Upper: [[Saltburn Pier]] and [[Spanish City]]|Lower: [[Hexham Abbey]] and [[Durham Cathedral]]|Bottom: [[Gateshead Millennium Bridge|Tyne Millennium]] and [[Tees Transporter Bridge|Tees Transporter]] bridges}}
| image_flag         = 
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_alt         = 
| shield_link        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_map          = North East England in England.svg
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = North East region shown within [[England]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|55.00|N|1.87|W|region:GB-ENG_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2  = 
| subdivision_name2  = 
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = [[Government Offices for the English regions|GO]] established
| established_date   = 1994
| established_title1 = [[Regional development agency|RDA]] established
| established_date1  = 1998
| established_title2 = GO abolished
| established_date2  = 2011
| established_title3 = RDA abolished
| established_date3  = 31 March 2012
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| parts_type         = Subdivisions
| parts              = {{Collapsible list |title=4 [[Ceremonial counties of England|counties]]
 | [[County Durham]]
 | [[Northumberland]]
 | [[North Yorkshire]] (part)
 | [[Tyne and Wear]]
 }}
{{Collapsible list |title=2 [[Combined authority|combined authorities]]
 | [[North East Combined Authority|North East]]
 | [[Tees Valley]]
 }}
{{Collapsible list |title=12 [[Districts of England|districts]]
 | 7 [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary]]
 | 5 [[Metropolitan borough|metropolitan]]
 }}
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| leader_title4      = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]s
| leader_name4       = [[Parliamentary constituencies in North East England|29 MPs]] (of 650)
[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]: 28
[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]: 1
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->| area_footnotes     = <ref name="ONS Standard Area Measurement">{{cite web |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/ons::standard-area-measurements-latest-for-administrative-areas-in-the-united-kingdom/about |title=Standard Area Measurements (Latest) for Administrative Areas in the United Kingdom |date=24 April 2024 |website=[[ONS Open Geography Portal|Open Geography Portal]] |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=6 May 2024 }}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 8676
| area_land_km2      = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=E12000001}}
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_rank          = [[Regions of England#List of regions|8th]] <!-- of English regions -->
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation}}</ref>
| population_as_of   = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total   = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=E12000001}}
| population_rank    = [[Regions of England#List of regions|9th]] <!-- of English regions -->
| population_density_km2 = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=E12000001}}
| population_demonym = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021 |id=E12000001 |title=North East Region |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 93.0% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 3.7% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1.3% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.0% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 1.0% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 50.8% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 40.0% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 2.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 0.4% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.3% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.3% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.2% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.4% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 5.0% not stated
 }}
| timezone1          = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1        = +0
| timezone1_DST      = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +1
<!-- Codes -->| postal_code_type   = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code        = 
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code          = 
| iso_code           = 
| blank1_name        = [[International Territorial Level|ITL code]]
| blank1_info        = TLC
| blank2_name        = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank2_info        = E12000001
| website            = 
}}

{{Politics of England}}

'''North East England''', often referred to as simply '''the North East''' within England, is one of nine official [[regions of England]]. It consists of [[County Durham]], [[Northumberland]], [[Tyne and Wear]] and part of [[North Yorkshire]]. With 2.6 million residents in 2022, it is the least populous region of England. Its largest settlements include [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], [[Sunderland]], [[Middlesbrough]], [[Gateshead]], [[Darlington]] and [[Hartlepool]]. The North East is covered by two mayoral combined authorities: [[North East Combined Authority]] and [[Tees Valley Combined Authority]]. It is one of three regions, the other two being [[North West England]] and [[Yorkshire and the Humber]], that make up [[Northern England]].

==History==
[[File:Durham St Cuthbert.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|12th-century wall-painting of St Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral]]

The region's historic importance is displayed by Northumberland's ancient castles, the two [[World Heritage Sites]] of [[Durham Cathedral]] and [[Durham Castle]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher= UNESCO|title= World Heretige List: Durham Cathedral and Castle|url= https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/370|access-date= 5 April 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090219003730/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/370|archive-date= 19 February 2009|url-status= live}}</ref> and [[Hadrian's Wall]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher= UNESCO|title= World Heretige List: Frontiers of the Roman Empire|url= https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/430|access-date= 5 April 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170506113424/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/430|archive-date= 6 May 2017|url-status= live}}</ref> one of the frontiers of the [[Roman Empire]]. In fact, Roman archaeology can be found widely across the region and a special exhibition based around the Roman Fort of Segedunum at Wallsend<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums|title=Segedunum, Where Roman Life Begins|url=http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum-roman-fort.html|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912090628/http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/segedunum-roman-fort.html|archive-date=12 September 2013}}</ref> and the other forts along Hadrian's Wall are complemented by the numerous artifacts that are displayed in the Great North Museum Hancock<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums|title=Great North Museum Hancock, Roman Empire|url=http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/great-north-museum/whats-on/displays/roman-empire.html|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513074317/http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/great-north-museum/whats-on/displays/roman-empire.html|archive-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> in Newcastle. [[St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth|St. Peter's Church]] in [[Monkwearmouth]], Sunderland and St. Pauls in [[Jarrow]] also hold significant historical value and have a joint bid to become a World Heritage Site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=The Twin Monastery of Wearmouth Jarrow |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5681/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref>

The area has a strong religious past, as can be seen in works such as the [[Lindisfarne Gospels]] and the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=BBC|title=Lindisfarne Gospels|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/gospels/gospels_tense_past.shtml|access-date=20 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811032451/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/gospels/gospels_tense_past.shtml|archive-date=11 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> The works of [[Cuthbert]] (634–687&nbsp;AD), [[Bede]] (673–735&nbsp;AD) and [[Hilda of Whitby]] (614–680&nbsp;AD) were hugely influential in the early church, and are still venerated by some today.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=history today|title=St Cuthbert Reburied in Durham Cathedral|url=http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/st-cuthbert-reburied-durham-cathedral|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513120319/http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/st-cuthbert-reburied-durham-cathedral|archive-date=13 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Peter|last=Green|publisher=Parish Church of St. Wilfrid, Bognor|title=In Search of St. Hilda|url=http://www.wilfrid.com/saints/search_of_hilda06.htm|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203101919/http://www.wilfrid.com/saints/search_of_hilda06.htm|archive-date=3 February 2014}}</ref> These saints are usually associated with the monasteries on the island of [[Lindisfarne]], [[Wearmouth-Jarrow]], and the Abbey at [[Whitby]], though they are also associated with many other religious sites in the region. Bede is regarded as the greatest Anglo-Saxon scholar. He worked at the monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow, translating some forty books on all areas of knowledge, including nature, history, astronomy, poetry and theological matters such as the lives of the saints. His best known work is "[[The Ecclesiastical History of the English People]]".<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Durham World Heritage Site|title=Venerable Bede|url=http://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/history/bede|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019072711/http://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/history/bede|archive-date=19 October 2013}}</ref> One of the most famous pieces of art and literature created in the region is the ''[[Lindisfarne Gospels]]'', thought to be the work of a monk named Eadfrith, who became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 698. This body of work is thought to have been created in honour of Cuthbert, around 710–720.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=British Broadcasting Corp.|title=The Lindisfarne Gospels|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/gospels/gospels_tense_past.shtml|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811032451/http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/features/gospels/gospels_tense_past.shtml|archive-date=11 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 793, the Vikings arrived on the shores of north-east England with a raiding party from Norway who attacked the monastic settlement on Lindisfarne.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kris|last=Hirst|publisher=About.com Guide|title=Viking Raids: The Early Medieval Practice of Viking Raids|url=http://archaeology.about.com/od/vikings/qt/viking_raid.htm|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523072439/http://archaeology.about.com/od/vikings/qt/viking_raid.htm|archive-date=23 May 2013}}</ref> The monks fled or were slaughtered, and Bishop Higbald sought refuge on the mainland. A chronicler recorded: "On the 8th June, the harrying of the heathen miserably destroyed God's church by rapine and slaughter."  There were three hundred years of Viking raids, battles and settlement until [[William the Conqueror]] defeated King Harold at Hastings in 1066.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Simpson|publisher=EnglandsNortheast|title=History of Northumbria:Viking era 866&nbsp;AD to 1066&nbsp;AD|url=http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/VikingNorthumbria.html|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730071112/http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/VikingNorthumbria.html|archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> The ''Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'' notes the change from raiding to settlement when it records that in 876 the Vikings "Shared out the land of the Northumbrians and they proceeded to plough and support themselves"<ref>{{cite book|first=Michael|last=Wood|publisher=Guild Publishing|title=Domesday:A Search for the Roots of England|year=1986|page=129}}</ref>

The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria extended from the Scottish borders (then [[Pictish]] borders) at the Firth of Forth to the north, and to the south of [[York]], its capital, down to the Humber. The last independent Northumbrian king from 947–8 was [[Eric Bloodaxe]], who died at the [[Battle of Stainmore]], Westmorland, in 954. After Eric Bloodaxe's death, all England was ruled by [[Eadred]], the grandson of [[Alfred the Great]]; and so began the machinery of national government.<ref>{{cite book|first=Neil|last=Oliver| author-link = Neil Oliver|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|title=Vikings A History|year=2012|isbn=978-0-297-86787-6|page=237}}</ref> Today, the Viking legacy can still be found in the language and place names of north-east England and in the [[DNA]] of its people.<ref>{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Richardson|publisher=Laing Art Gallery|title=Migration: Geordie Vikings|date=24 June 2013 |url=http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/engage/blog/migration-geordie-vikings/|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728050724/http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/engage/blog/migration-geordie-vikings/|archive-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> The name [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] comes from the castle built shortly after the conquest in 1080 by [[Robert Curthose]], William the Conqueror's eldest son.<ref>{{Cite web |title=When was Newcastle Castle built? |url=https://www.newcastlecastle.co.uk/castle-blog/when-was-newcastle-castle-built |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=Newcastle Castle |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Sub-divisions==
The region has the following sub-divisions:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Local authority|| Ceremonial county ||Historic county || [[Combined authority]] || [[Fire services of the United Kingdom|Fire and rescue services]] ||[[Police forces of the United Kingdom|Police forces]]
|-
| colspan="2" |[[Northumberland]]
| rowspan="3" |Northumberland
| rowspan="7" |[[North East Combined Authority|North East]]
 |[[Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service|Northumberland]]
 |rowspan="6"|[[Northumbria Police|Northumbria]]
|-
|[[Newcastle upon Tyne]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Tyne and Wear]]
 | rowspan="5"|[[Tyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service|Tyne & Wear]]
|-
|[[North Tyneside]]
|-
|[[South Tyneside]]
| rowspan="7" |County Durham
|-
|[[Gateshead]]
|-
|[[City of Sunderland|Sunderland]]
|-
| [[County Durham (district)|County Durham]]
| rowspan="4" | [[County Durham]]
| rowspan="2"|[[County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service|County Durham & Darlington]]
 | rowspan="2"|[[Durham Constabulary|Durham]]
|-
| [[Darlington (borough)|Darlington]]
| rowspan="6" | [[Tees Valley]]
|-
| [[Hartlepool (borough)|Hartlepool]]
| rowspan="5"|[[Cleveland Fire Brigade|Cleveland]]
| rowspan="5"|[[Cleveland Police|Cleveland]]
|-
|[[Stockton-on-Tees (borough)|Stockton-on-Tees]]<br /><small>(north Tees)</small> 
|-
|[[Stockton-on-Tees (borough)|Stockton-on-Tees]]<br /><small>(south Tees)</small>
|rowspan="3" | [[North Yorkshire]]<br /><small>(part only)</small>
| rowspan="3" |[[Yorkshire]]<br /><small>(part only)</small>
|-
|[[Redcar and Cleveland]]
|-
|[[Middlesbrough (borough)|Middlesbrough]]
|}
Created in 1994, the region was defined as [[Northumberland]], [[Tyne and Wear]], [[County Durham]] and [[Cleveland (county)|Cleveland]]. A 1996 local-government reform created ceremonial counties and unitary authorities, allowing districts to govern outside their designated counties. The reform also abolished Cleveland with it split between County Durham and [[North Yorkshire]], the latter county covers parts of two regions since.

The region is mostly parished with some remaining unparished areas following the 1974 creation of the Cleveland districts, [[Borough of Darlington|Darlington]], Tyne and Wear districts, [[Derwentside]] and [[Wear Valley]].

==Local government==
=== Elections ===
The North East has a strong tendency to vote [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]. In the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 election]], 47% of the electorate voted Labour, while 25% voted [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], 17% UKIP, 6% [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] and 4% Green. At the [[2009 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2009 European election]], Labour got 25% of the region's vote, the Conservatives 20%, the Liberal Democrats 18%, and [[UK Independence Party]] 15%.<ref>{{cite news |title=European elections 2009: North East region |newspaper=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/5291337/European-elections-2009-North-East-region.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031135712/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/5291337/European-elections-2009-North-East-region.html |archive-date=31 October 2010}}</ref> However, in recent years, the North East has seen a significant swing away from Labour. In the 2019 election, many constituencies were targeted by the Conservatives and their representation increased to 10 MPs. The region wide vote shares were 43% for Labour and 38% for the Conservatives, with the [[Brexit Party]] a distant third on 8%.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="10" |  Numbers of MPs returned per party
|- bgcolor="CCCCCC"
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" align="center" valign="top" | '''Affiliation'''
| valign="top" | '''[[List of MPs for constituencies in England (2010–2015)|2010–15]]'''
| valign="top" | '''[[List of MPs for constituencies in England (2015–2017)|2015–17]]'''
| valign="top" | '''[[List of MPs for constituencies in England (2017–2019)|2017–19]]'''
| valign="top" | '''[[List of MPs for constituencies in England (2019–2024)|2019–24]]'''
| valign="top" | '''[[List of MPs for constituencies in England (2024–present)|2024–present]]'''

|-
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]
| align="right" |2
| align="right" |3
| align="right" |3
| align="right" |10
| align="right" |1
|-
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
| align="right" |25
| align="right" |26
| align="right" |26
| align="right" |19
| align="right" |26
|-
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}" |
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| align="right" |2
| align="right" |0
| align="right" |0 
| align="right" |0
| align="right" |0
|-
| style="color:inherit;background:black" |
| '''TOTAL SEATS'''
| align="right" |29
| align="right" |29
| align="right" |29
| align="right" |29
| align="right" |27
|-
|}
{{Constituencies in North East England}}

===Bodies===
{| class="wikitable"
!Authority 1
!Authority 2
!Authority 3
|-
|colspan=3|[[North East Assembly]] (NEA), 1998–2009 
|-
|colspan=3|[[Association of North East Councils]] (ANEC), 2009–2016<br/>[[One NorthEast]] (1NE), 2009–2012
|-
|colspan=2|[[North East Combined Authority]] (NECA), 2014–2023
|rowspan=3|[[Tees Valley Combined Authority]] (TVCA), 2016–present
|-
|NECA
|[[North of Tyne Combined Authority]] (NTCA), 2018–2023
|-
|colspan=2|[[North East Mayoral Combined Authority]] (NEMCA), 2024–present
|}
In November 2004, a [[2004 Northern England devolution referendums|referendum]] on whether a directly elected regional assembly should be set up for North East England resulted in a decisive "no" vote. The number of people who voted against the plans was 696,519 (78%), while 197,310 (22%) voted in favour. [[John Prescott]], the Deputy Prime Minister at the time, admitted that his plans for regional devolution had suffered an "emphatic defeat" to the no campaign, spearheaded by [[Dominic Cummings]]. Bernard Jenkin, the Conservative spokesman for the regions, said the vote would mean the end of plans for a North East Assembly. He told the [[BBC]]: "The whole idea of regional government has been blown out of the water by this vote".<ref>{{cite news |date=5 November 2004 |title=North East votes "no" to assembly |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3984387.stm |url-status=live |access-date=20 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070121041029/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3984387.stm |archive-date=21 January 2007}}</ref>

The former [[Association of North East Councils]] was based in [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], and the preceding [[North East Assembly]] was based in [[Gateshead]] until its dissolution in 2009. [[Local enterprise partnership]]s were established, these later became combined authorities. The [[North East Combined Authority]] was established in 2014 and covered much of the region excluding [[Tees Valley]]. [[North of Tyne]] authorities later split off, leaving authorities south of the River Tyne.

The Tees Valley boroughs (Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar & Cleveland, and Middlesbrough) established the [[Tees Valley Combined Authority]] in 2016.

==Geography==
{{multiple image
| perrow            = 2
| total_width       = 250
| image1            = Now you see it - geograph.org.uk - 915963.jpg
| width1            = 640
| height1           = 480
| caption1          = [[Lindisfarne Castle]], [[Lindisfarne|Holy Island]]
| image2            = High Force - geograph.org.uk - 1295229.jpg
| caption2          = [[High Force]], [[Teesdale]]
| width2            = 640
| height2           = 480
| image3            = Summit of Windy Gyle - geograph.org.uk - 670034.jpg
| caption3          = [[Cheviot Hills]]
| width3            = 640
| height3           = 480
| image4            = Whitley Bay Beach - geograph.org.uk - 714360.jpg
| caption4          = [[Whitley Bay]]
| width4            = 640
| height4           = 480
| header            = Geographic features
| align             = right
| direction         = 
| alt1              = 
}}

The region is generally hilly and sparsely populated in the North and West, and urban and arable in the East and South. The highest point in the region is [[The Cheviot]], in the [[Cheviot Hills]], at {{convert|815|m|ft|0}}.

The region contains the urban centres of [[Tyneside]], [[Wearside]], and [[Teesside]] and is noted for the rich natural beauty of its coastline, [[Northumberland National Park]], and the section of the [[Pennines]] that includes [[Teesdale]] and [[Weardale]].

=== Climate ===
North East England has a [[Marine climate|Marine west coast climate]] (generally found along the west coast of middle latitude continents) with narrower temperature ranges than the south of England and sufficient precipitation in all months. Summers and winters are mild rather than extremely hot or cold, due to the strong maritime influence of the [[North Atlantic Current]] of the [[Gulf Stream]]. The [[Met Office]] operates several weather stations in the region<ref>{{cite web |title=UK climate normals station map |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517053458/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate |archive-date=17 May 2019 |access-date=8 July 2016 |publisher=Met Office}}</ref> and are able to show the regional variations in temperature and its relation to the distance from the [[North Sea]]. The warmest summers in the region are found in Stockton-on-Tees and the [[Middlesbrough]] area, with a 1981–2010 July average high of {{convert|20.4|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stockton-on-Tees climate normals 1981–2010 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcxn3ykru |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722055547/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcxn3ykru |archive-date=22 July 2016 |access-date=8 July 2016 |publisher=Met Office}}</ref>

Precipitation is often low by English standards, in spite of the low levels of sunshine, with Stockton-on-Tees averaging only {{convert|574.2|mm|in}} annually, and with the seaside town of Tynemouth (despite its slightly sunnier climate) recording {{convert|597.2|mm|in}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tynemouth Climate Normals 1981–2010 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcybzz9xh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428061242/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcybzz9xh |archive-date=28 April 2016 |access-date=8 July 2016 |publisher=Met Office}}</ref> The summers on the northern coastlines are significantly cooler than in the southern and central inland areas: Tynemouth is only just above {{convert|18|C|F}} in July. Further inland, frosts during winter are more common, due to the higher elevations and distance from the sea.

=== Biodiversity ===
The region has a diverse landscape that includes maritime cliffs and extensive [[moorland]] that contains a number of [[rare species]] of [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. Of particular importance are the saltmarshes of [[Lindisfarne]], the [[River Tees|Tees Estuary]], the [[Heath (habitat)|heaths]], [[bog]]s and traditional upland hay meadows of the North Pennines, and the Arctic-alpine flora of Upper Teesdale.

The beauty of the [[Northumberland Coast National Landscape|Northumbrian coastline]] has led to its designation as an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty|area of outstanding natural beauty]] (AONB)
stretching 100 miles from [[Berwick-Upon-Tweed]] to the [[River Coquet]] estuary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northumberland Coast ANOB |url=http://www.thisisnorthumberland.com/destinations/coast-aonb/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916024543/http://www.thisisnorthumberland.com/destinations/coast-aonb/ |archive-date=16 September 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=This is Northumberland Newcastle & the Borders}}</ref> Among the 290 bird species identified on the [[Farne Islands]], is the rare [[seabird]] the [[roseate tern]]. One of the foremost bird sanctuaries and observatory for migratory and wading birds in the UK is now operated at [[Saltholme]] which is part of a wider site of special scientific interest called [[Seal Sands]]. The Saltholme reserve is managed by the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]] (RSPB). This project was pronounced as one of the best places to view birds by [[Bill Oddie]], the former host of the BBC's ''Spring Watch'' Programme. In December 2012 he also presented the project with a prize as the UK's favorite [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] funded project.<ref>{{cite news |last=Woodcock |first=Laura |title=Bill Oddie presents Saltholme nature reserve volunteers with trophy |publisher=GazetteLive |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/bill-oddie-presents-saltholme-nature-3667847 |url-status=live |access-date=22 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123905/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/bill-oddie-presents-saltholme-nature-3667847 |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

The seal colony at Seal Sands on the mouth of the River Tees is thriving and in 2013 had more than 60 [[harbour seals]]. This is the only breeding colony of this species on the northeast coast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teesmouth NNR |url=http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006937.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713121116/http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006937.aspx |archive-date=13 July 2013 |access-date=22 August 2013 |publisher=Natural England}}</ref> "[[Rainton Meadows]]" is also a recently{{when|date=May 2023}} created bird-watching site.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rainton |url=http://www.durhamwildlifetrust.org.uk/visitor-centres/rainton/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202138/http://www.durhamwildlifetrust.org.uk/visitor-centres/rainton/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=Durham Wildlife Trust}}</ref> The region is also the English stronghold of black grouse<ref>{{cite web |title=Northumberland Biodiversity Action Plan:Black Grouse |url=http://www.nwt.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/Black_Grouse.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714185029/http://www.nwt.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/Black_Grouse.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=23 August 2013 |url-status=usurped |publisher=Northeast Wildlife}}</ref> and contains 80–90% of the UK population of yellow marsh [[saxifraga|saxifrage]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Biodiversity in the North East:In the uplands |url=http://www.nebiodiversity.org.uk/biodiversity/default.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807013301/http://nebiodiversity.org.uk/biodiversity/default.asp |archive-date=7 August 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=Northeast Biodiversity Forum}}</ref>

The [[Magnesian Limestone]] grasslands of East Durham are a unique habitat not found anywhere else in the world which is particularly important to many species of butterfly and moths.<ref>{{cite book |first1=David |last1=Miller |first2=Brian |last2=Young |first3=David |last3=Butler |first4=Julie |last4=Stobbs |first5=John |last5=Durkin |first6=Dave |last6=Mitchell |first7=Terry |last7=Coult |first8=Sam |last8=Ellis |first9=Dave |last9=Wainwright |first10=John |last10=Olley |title=Magical Meadows and the Durham Magnesian Limestone |publisher=Durham Wildlife Trust |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-9555467-0-9}}</ref>

The Northeast of England also features woodland such as [[Kielder Forest]], the largest man-made forest in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kielder Forest and Border Mires |url=http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape/living-landscape-schemes/scheme-directory/kielder-forest-and-border-mires |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427064826/http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-landscape/living-landscape-schemes/scheme-directory/kielder-forest-and-border-mires |archive-date=27 April 2014 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=Wildlife Trusts}}</ref> This is located within Northumberland National Park and contains an important habitat for the [[endangered]] [[red squirrel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Squirrels Northern England |url=http://www.rsne.org.uk/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815081919/http://www.rsne.org.uk/ |archive-date=15 August 2013 |access-date=23 August 2013 |publisher=RSNE}}</ref>

== Landmarks==
{{Gallery
|File:Bamburgh 2006 closeup.jpg|[[Bamburgh Castle]]
|File:Raby Castle (geograph 7268712).jpg|[[Raby Castle]]
|File:Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland - geograph.org.uk - 4826226.jpg|[[Auckland Castle]]
|File:Holy Island Sunrise (again) (15064111624).jpg|[[Lindisfarne|Holy Island]] and [[Lindisfarne Castle]]
|File:Alnwick - Barbican, Alnwick Castle - geograph.org.uk - 4286646.jpg|[[Alnwick Castle]] gatehouse

|File:Angel of the North, Gormley 5.jpg|The ''[[Angel of the North]]'' in [[Gateshead]]
|File:Penshaw Hill.jpg|[[Penshaw Monument]]
|File:Bowes Museum.jpg|The [[Bowes Museum]] in [[Barnard Castle]]
|File:Northumberland Hadrian's Wall Aerial 2.jpg|[[Hadrian's Wall]]

|File:St Mary's Island and lighthouse from Curry's Point, Whitley Bay - geograph.org.uk - 2847493.jpg|[[St Mary's Lighthouse|St Mary's lighthouse]]
|File:Tees Transporter Bridge.jpg|[[Tees Transporter Bridge]] connecting [[Stockton-on-Tees|Stockton]] and [[Middlesbrough]]
|File:The now completed Redcar Beacon seen from the east - geograph.org.uk - 3447281.jpg|Redcar Beacon
}}

==Demographics==
{{See also|Demographics of Tees Valley}}[[File:North East population pyramid 2020.svg|thumb|355x355px|Population pyramid in 2020]]
[[File:Regional Profile of the North East.png|thumb]]
The North East has the smallest population of all English regions.

The North East with [[Scotland]], the [[South West England|South West]] of England, [[Wales]] and [[Northern Ireland]] are the British regions to have seen the least immigration in over 50 years.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|title=Britain's immigration map revealed|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4218740.stm|access-date=7 September 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908100302/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4218740.stm|archive-date=8 September 2005|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=May 2023}}<!-- Whole paragraph-->
The Northeast of England as a region has the lowest rate of HIV infection in the UK,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hpa.org.uk/AboutTheHPA/WhatTheHealthProtectionAgencyDoes/LocalServices/NorthEast/NorthEastPressReleases/neast111129HIVannualreport/ |title=New North East HIV diagnoses hit highest level since 2005 |publisher=HPA |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603013326/http://www.hpa.org.uk/AboutTheHPA/WhatTheHealthProtectionAgencyDoes/LocalServices/NorthEast/NorthEastPressReleases/neast111129HIVannualreport/ |archive-date=3 June 2013 }}</ref> but has the highest rate of heart attacks among men and of lung cancer among women in England, along with the highest male lung cancer rate in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wcrf-uk.org/cancer_prevention/health_professionals/uk_cancer_statistics.php |title=UK cancer statistics |website=World Cancer Research Fund |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923155406/http://www.wcrf-uk.org/cancer_prevention/health_professionals/uk_cancer_statistics.php |archive-date=23 September 2012 }}</ref>

In 2010, the region had the second highest trade union membership among UK men.<ref>{{cite web |first=James|last=Archer|website=Department for Business Innovation and Skills|title=Trade Union membership 2010|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32191/11-p77-trade-union-membership-2010.pdf|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101205316/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/32191/11-p77-trade-union-membership-2010.pdf|archive-date=1 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=May 2023}}<!-- Whole paragraph-->

Higher education students from the North East are most likely to pick a university in their home region.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sean|last=Coughlan|title=North-south divide in university admissions|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13782315|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609043725/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13782315|archive-date=9 June 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The last immigration wave before the 21st century was in the late 1990s as a result of the government's dispersal policy scheme that relocated asylum seekers and new arrivals throughout the country. In 2017, most migrants were non-EU born, and about 60,000 EU-born.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=co-curate.ncl.ac.uk|title=Immigration and links with other countries|url=https://co-curate.ncl.ac.uk/immigration-and-links-with-other-countries/|access-date=12 February 2021}}</ref>

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Ethnic group
! colspan="2" |1971 estimations<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1t8915s |title=Explaining ethnic differences: Changing patterns of disadvantage in Britain |date=2003 |publisher=Bristol University Press |edition=1|doi=10.2307/j.ctt1t8915s |jstor=j.ctt1t8915s }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1981 estimations<ref>{{cite journal |date=1985 |title=Ethnic minorities in Britain: statistical information on the pattern of settlement |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.28327806 |journal=Commission for Racial Equality |pages=Table 2.1 |last1=Equality |first1=Commission for Racial }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991<ref name=":412">Data is taken from United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/index.htm Casweb Data services] of the United Kingdom [http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm 1991 Census on Ethnic Data for England, Scotland and Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405213012/http://casweb.ukdataservice.ac.uk/step1.cfm |date=5 April 2022 }} (Table 6)</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |access-date=24 June 2022 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |access-date=24 June 2022 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk |archive-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnic group – Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!–
!99.6%
!2,544,069
!99%
!2,507,133
!98.6%
!2,455,416
!97.61%
!2,475,567
!95.32%
!2,462,720
!93.1%
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,425,592
|96.42%
|2,431,423
|93.62%
|2,397,557
|90.6%
|-
|White: [[Irish Briton|Irish]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|8,682
|
|8,035
|
|8,384
|0.3%
|-
|White: [[Irish Traveller]]/[[Romani people|Gypsy]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
| –
| –
|1,684
|
|2,621
|0.1%
|-
|White: Roma
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,375
|0.1%
|-
|White: [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|21,142
|
|34,425
|
|51,783
|2.0%
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!27,626
!1.1%
!39,630
!1.57%
!74,599
!2.87%
!98,046
!3.6%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indian]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|7,470
|
|10,156
|
|15,817
|
|22,021
|0.8%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistani|Pakistani]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|9,257
|
|14,074
|
|19,831
|
|27,290
|1.0%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|3,416
|
|6,167
|
|10,972
|
|16,355
|0.6%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|4,519
|
|6,048
|
|14,284
|
|14,442
|0.5%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Asian|Asian Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,964
|
|3,185
|
|13,695
|
|17,938
|0.7%
|-
![[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!4,057
!0.2%
!3,953
!0.15%
!13,220
!0.5%
!26,635
!1%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[Black British|African]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,428
|
|2,597
|
|10,982
|
|22,066
|0.8%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,013
|
|927
|
|1,193
|
|1,704
|0.1%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[Other Black|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,616
|
|429
|
|1,045
|
|2,865
|0.1%
|-
![[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!12,228
!0.48%
!22,449
!0.86%
!33,271
!1.2%
|-
|Mixed: [[White people|White]] and [[British African-Caribbean community|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,783
|
|5,938
|
|5,650
|0.2%
|-
|Mixed: [[White people|White]] and [[Black British|African]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,741
|
|3,549
|
|6,527
|0.2%
|-
|Mixed: [[White people|White]] and [[British Asian|Asian]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|4,733
|
|8,022
|
|12,490
|0.5%
|-
|Mixed: [[Multiracial|Other Mixed]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|2,971
|
|4,940
|
|8,604
|0.3%
|-
!Other: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!4,753
!0.2%
!4,215
!0.16%
!11,051
!0.42%
!26,342
!1%
|-
|Other: [[Arab people|Arab]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
| –
| –
|5,850
|
|10,406
|0.4%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|–
|–
|–
|–
|4,753
|0.2%
|4,215
|0.16%
|5,201
|
|15,936
|0.6%
|-
!Non-White: Total
!–
!0.4%
!26,247
!1%
!36,436
!1.4%
!60,026
!2.4%
!121,319
!4.7%
!184,294
!6.9%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!–
!100%
!2,570,316
!100%
!2,543,569
!100%
!2,515,442
!100%
!2,596,886
!100%
!2,647,014
!100%
|}

===Population genetics===
North East England, together with Tweeddale, was the ancient British tribal kingdom of [[Bernicia]] (Bryneich) and is notable for providing the stable ancestry of its present indigenous population, which has been identified by DNA analysis to be an offshoot of the group  "Scotland, Cumbria and the North of Ireland", but not so closely related to the other peoples of the UK.<ref>{{cite journal|title = The fine-scale genetic structure of the British population|journal = Nature|date = 19 March 2015|volume = 519|issue = 7543|pages = 309–314|doi = 10.1038/nature14230|pmid = 25788095|pmc = 4632200|bibcode = 2015Natur.519..309.|last1 = Leslie|first1 = Stephen|last2 = Winney|first2 = Bruce|last3 = Hellenthal|first3 = Garrett|last4 = Davison|first4 = Dan|last5 = Boumertit|first5 = Abdelhamid|last6 = Day|first6 = Tammy|last7 = Hutnik|first7 = Katarzyna|last8 = Royrvik|first8 = Ellen&nbsp;C.|last9 = Cunliffe|first9 = Barry|last10 = Lawson|first10 = Daniel&nbsp;J.|last11 = Falush|first11 = Daniel|last12 = Freeman|first12 = Colin|last13 = Pirinen|first13 = Matti|last14 = Myers|first14 = Simon|last15 = Robinson|first15 = Mark|last16 = Donnelly|first16 = Peter|last17 = Bodmer|first17 = Walter|last18 = Donnelly|first18 = P.|last19 = Bodmer|first19 = W.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.peopleofthebritishisles.org/nl6.pdf |title=Newsletter Issue 6 - March 2015 |access-date=1 January 2017 |publisher=People of the British Isles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111723/http://www.peopleofthebritishisles.org/nl6.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>
In a 2022 study by Joscha Gretzinger et al., the population of North East England was found to be among the groups with the highest amount of Iron Age/Roman period [[Insular Celts|British Isles-related]] ancestry, being on par with [[Cornish people|Cornish]] people in that regard.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gretzinger |first1=J. |last2=Sayer |first2=D. |last3=Justeau |first3=P. |display-authors=etal|title=The Anglo-Saxon migration and the formation of the early English gene pool |journal=Nature |year=2022 |volume=610 |issue=7930 |pages=112–119 |doi=10.1038/s41586-022-05247-2 |pmid=36131019 |pmc=9534755 |bibcode=2022Natur.610..112G }}</ref>

===Teenage pregnancy===
{{Update|section|date=June 2023|reason=Much of the data here is now over ten years old}}
The Office for National Statistics in April 2013 report that the estimated number of conceptions to women aged under 18 in England and Wales in 2011 is the lowest since records began in 1969.<ref name="Office for National Statistics">{{cite web|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Teenage pregnancies at lowest level since records began|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/conception-statistics--england-and-wales/2011/sty-conception-estimates-2011.html|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915083732/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/conception-statistics--england-and-wales/2011/sty-conception-estimates-2011.html|archive-date=15 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>  Conception statistics include pregnancies that result in either one or more live births or stillbirths or a legal abortion.

A comparison of rates across regions in England shows that the North East had the highest of under 18 conception rates in 2011, with 38.4 per thousand women aged 15–17. The South East had the lowest rate for women aged under 18 in 2011 with 26.1 per thousand women aged 15–17.<ref name="Office for National Statistics" />

===Social deprivation===
A study into social deprivation was published in 2010 to help the local partners developing a Regional Strategy for the North East better understand the factors influencing deprivation in the region. The study had two main aspects: Firstly to establish if there are different types of deprived neighbourhoods in the Northeast, and if so, how deprived neighbourhoods can be better recognised. Secondly to present a summary of "what works" in tackling deprivation in each of these types of area.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sutherland |first1=V. |last2=McTier |first2=A. |last3=Macdougall |first3=L. |last4=McGregor |first4=A. |website=University of Glasgow |title=Factors Influencing Deprivation in North East England |url=http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/45807/1/45807.pdf|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427032241/http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/45807/1/45807.pdf|archive-date=27 April 2015}}</ref>

The report discusses the factors influencing deprivation and points out that it is a significant problem for the North East with 34% of the regions Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) are amongst England's 20% most deprived in the 2007 [[Indices of deprivation 2007|Indices of Deprivation]] (these indices have been [[Indices of deprivation 2010|updated in 2010]]). It takes many years for areas to become deprived, suggesting that the underlying causes of area-based deprivation are long-term such as:
* Major changes in the employment base, which has changed the nature and spatial distribution of jobs in the UK and within specific regions and localities.
* The "residential sorting" effects of the public and private housing markets.
Industrial restructuring has disproportionately affected some communities and groups. In particular:
* Job losses in manufacturing and coalmining were most severely felt in the north of England, Scotland and Wales – and particular communities within these areas.
* As a result of the types of jobs that were lost, some demographic groups – particularly older working age males in skilled manual work – were more likely to be affected than others.{{update inline|date=May 2023}}<!-- All these bullet points and the whole paragraph-->

The region's most deprived council districts, as measured by the LSOA data<ref>Communities and Local Government. ''[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120919132719/http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/576659.pdf The English Indices of deprivation 2007]''</ref> before County Durham and Northumberland became unitary authorities in 2007, are in descending order [[Easington (district)|Easington]] (7th in England), Middlesbrough (9th), Hartlepool (23rd), [[Wear Valley]] (33rd), Sunderland (35th), Newcastle upon Tyne (37th), South Tyneside (38th), Wansbeck (46th), Redcar and Cleveland (50th), Gateshead (52nd), [[Sedgefield (borough)|Sedgefield]] (54th), [[Derwentside]] (73rd), [[Blyth Valley]] (80th), and Stockton on Tees (98th). The least deprived council districts in 2007 were, in descending order, Tynedale, [[Castle Morpeth]], [[Teesdale (district)|Teesdale]], then [[Alnwick (district)|Alnwick]]. Since the April 2009 abolition of these four districts, Northumberland is the least deprived, followed by North Tyneside. Unemployment is a severe problem in the North East, where many children grow up in households where no adult works. in 2010 Easington had the highest rate in the country, as 40.3% of its households with children had no working adult, followed by Sedgefield with 34%.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}{{update inline|date=May 2023}}<!-- Whole paragraph-->

As of April 2013, youth unemployment in the North East was 24.8%, with 51,000 out of work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/youth-unemployment-set-to-top-1-million-again|title=Youth unemployment set to top 1 million again {{!}} IPPR|date=16 April 2013 |publisher=IPPR North|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113232300/https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/youth-unemployment-set-to-top-1-million-again|archive-date=13 January 2019}}</ref> In 2013, the Office for National Statistics report issued the statements highlighted in the table below:<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Regional Labour Market Statistics, June 2013|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-labour/regional-labour-market-statistics/june-2013/index.html|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131117063129/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-labour/regional-labour-market-statistics/june-2013/index.html|archive-date=17 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+The North East compared to other regions in 2013
!Rate!!Highest!!<!--Between (rank)||-->Lowest
|-
!Employed
|South East (74.8%)
<!--|''rank, North East ()''-->
|''North East (66.6%)''
|-
!Unemployed
|''North East (10.1%)''
<!--|''rank, North East ()''-->
|South West (6.2%)
|-
!Inactive
|''North East (25.8%)''
<!--||''rank, North East ()''-->
|South East (19.8%)
|-
!Claimant 
|''North East (7.2%)''
<!--||''rank, North East ()''-->
|South East (2.7%)
|}
In November 2017 the region's employment dropped to 5.5%, the joint highest unemployment rate in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/regionallabourmarket/november2017|title=Regional labour market statistics in the UK – Office for National Statistics|last=robers1|website=www.ons.gov.uk|access-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205194615/https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/regionallabourmarket/november2017|archive-date=5 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ONS ITL ===
In the [[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] [[International Territorial Levels]] (ITL), North East England is a level-1 ITL region, coded "UKC", which is subdivided as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:gold; text-align:left;"
! ITL 1
! Code
! ITL 2
! Code
! ITL 3
! Code
|-
| North East England
| UKC
| rowspan="4" | [[Tees Valley]] and [[County Durham (district)|Durham]]
| rowspan="4" | UKC1
| [[Hartlepool (borough)|Hartlepool]] and [[Stockton-on-Tees (borough)|Stockton-on-Tees]]
| UKC11
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="6" style="text-align:center;" | [[File:NUTS 3 regions of North East England map.svg|180px]]
| South [[Teesside]] ([[Middlesbrough (borough)|Middlesbrough]] and [[Redcar and Cleveland]])
| UKC12
|-
| [[Darlington (borough)|Darlington]]
| UKC13
|-
| [[County Durham (district)|Durham]]
| UKC14
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Northumberland]] and [[Tyne and Wear]]
| rowspan="3" | UKC2
| [[Northumberland]]
| UKC21
|-
| [[Tyneside]] ([[Newcastle upon Tyne]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead|Gateshead]], [[South Tyneside]], [[North Tyneside]])
| UKC22
|-
| [[City of Sunderland|Sunderland]]
| UKC23
|}

==Religion==
{{multiple images|perrow=2|total_width=300px
|image1=Durham-Cathedral.jpg|caption1=[[Durham Cathedral]]
|image2=St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne.jpg|caption2=[[Newcastle RC Cathedral]]
|image3=Gisborough Priory 2.jpg|caption3=[[Gisborough Priory]]
|image4=TynemouthPriory.jpg|caption4=[[Tynemouth Castle and Priory|Tynemouth Priory]]}}
In 2013, the region had the highest proportion of Christians in Great Britain.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=YouGov Cambridge|title=Survey Religion|url=http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/2l6avzlerp/Religion.pdf|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101213127/http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/2l6avzlerp/Religion.pdf|archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref> A number of the region's settlements expanded from around priories, abbeys and monasteries.
{| class="wikitable"
!!!See!!Seat
|-
![[Church of England]]
|{{ubl|[[Diocese of Durham|Durham]]|[[Anglican Diocese of Leeds|Leeds]] (south Tees source side)|[[Diocese of Newcastle|Newcastle]]|[[Diocese of York|York]] (south Tees mouth side)}}
|[[Newcastle Cathedral]]<br/>[[Durham Cathedral]]
|-
![[Roman Catholic]]
|{{ubl|[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle|Newcastle and Hexham]]|[[Diocese of Middlesbrough|Middlesbrough]] (south Tees in the region)}}
|[[Middlesbrough Cathedral]]<br/>[[Newcastle RC Cathedral]]
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religion in North East England
|-
! rowspan="2" |Religion
! colspan="2" |[[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=TS030 - Religion Edit query|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts030|access-date=2022-11-29|website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |[[2011 United Kingdom census|2011]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks209ew |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |[[2001 United Kingdom census|2001]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/ks007 |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!Number
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
!Number
!{{Abbr|%|percentage}}
|-
| style="background:#E0E0FF;" |[[History of Christianity in Britain|Christianity]]
| 1,343,948
| 50.8%
| 1,753,334
| 67.5%
| 2,014,608
| 80.1%
|-
| style="background:#E0FFD0;" |[[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam]]
| 72,102
| 2.7%
| 46,764
| 1.8%
| 26,925
| 1.1%
|-
| style="background:#FFE0C0;" |[[Hinduism in the United Kingdom|Hinduism]]
| 10,924
| 0.4%
| 7,772
| 0.3%
| 4,370
| 0.2%
|-
| style="background:#F0F0C0;" |[[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikhism]]
| 7,206
| 0.3%
| 5,964
| 0.2%
| 4,780
| 0.2%
|-
| style="background:#FFFFC0;" |[[Buddhism in the United Kingdom|Buddhism]]
| 7,026
| 0.3%
| 6,316
| 0.2%
| 3,097
| 0.1%
|-
| style="background:#E0F0FF;" |[[History of the Jews in the United Kingdom|Judaism]]
| 4,389
| 0.2%
| 4,503
| 0.2%
| 3,151
| 0.1%
|-
| style="background:#F0E0F0;" |Other religion
| 9,950
| 0.4%
| 6,668
| 0.3%
| 3,886
| 0.2%
|-
| style="background:#F5F5F5;" |[[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|No religion]]
| 1,058,122
| 40.0%
| 607,700
| 23.4%
| 276,196
| 11.0%
|-
| style="background:#DCDCDC;" |Religion not stated
| 133,345
| 5.0%
| 157,865
| 6.1%
| 178,429
| 7.1%
|-
!Total population
! '''2,647,012'''
! '''100%'''
! '''2,596,886'''
! '''100%'''
! '''2,515,442'''
! '''100%'''
|-
|}

==Economy==
{{Update|section|date=June 2023|reason=Much of the data here is now over ten years old}}

The latest statistical report from the [[Office for National Statistics]] comparing the North East of England to other regions of the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Office for National Statistics|title=Regional Profiles: Economy - North East, May 2012 |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/regional-trends/region-and-country-profiles/economy---may-2012/economy---north-east--may-2012.html|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916194319/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/regional-trends/region-and-country-profiles/economy---may-2012/economy---north-east--may-2012.html|archive-date=16 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> dated May 2012, states:

* The North East has the highest value of goods exports relative to the size of its economy, the highest percentage employed in the public sector and lowest gross household income per head of the English regions.
* The North East's exports of goods, expressed as a percentage of gross value added (GVA), were the highest of all the English regions at 29% in 2010, compared with the UK average of 20%. Over half the region's goods exports were to the EU (55%).<ref>{{cite news|first=Rebecca|last=Wearn|work=BBC News|title=North East leads the way on exports|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19294297 |date=17 August 2012 |access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027094052/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19294297|archive-date=27 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A quarter of employed people in the region worked in the public sector in Q4 2011 (24.6%), the highest proportion among the English regions, down from 26.9% in Q4 2009. In 2010, at local authority level the highest shares of public sector employee jobs were to be found in Newcastle upon Tyne and Middlesbrough (both over 33% of all employee jobs).
* Gross disposable household income (GDHI) of residents in the North East, at £13,300 per head in 2010, was 15% below the UK average and the lowest of the English regions. It ranged from £12,400 in Sunderland to £16,090 in Northumberland.
*The North East region contributed 3% of the UK's [[Gross value added|GVA]]. The region's headline GVA was £41.0 billion in 2010. The latest subregional data (2009) show that Tyneside generated 37% of the region's GVA at £14.6 billion.
*In 2009 manufacturing industries generated 14% of the region's total GVA, which is the largest industry contribution for the region.
* Productivity in 2010 (measured by GVA per hour worked) was 88% of the UK rate: one of the lowest of the English regions. Within the region, Northumberland's productivity was the third lowest in England at 75% of the UK rate in 2009.
* The region's employment rate was the lowest in England at 66.2% for Q4 2011. The latest subregional data for the year ending September 2011 show that North Tyneside had the highest employment rate at 72.6%.
* The North East had the highest rate of economic inactivity of the English regions, 25% of the population aged 16 to 64 in Q4 2011.

The North East is the most affordable region in the UK. Figures from 2017 indicate it is the UK region with lowest cost of living per household.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=ABC Finance Ltd. |title=The True Cost of Living in UK Cities |url=https://abcfinance.co.uk/blog/the-true-cost-of-living-in-uk-cities/|access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref> The 2023 data shows that for the first time since 2010 renting is now 11.3% cheaper than owning a mortgaged property in the North East.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is it cheaper to rent or own a mortgaged property? |url=https://www.bridgingmarket.org/stats/2023/is-it-cheaper-to-rent-or-own-in-the-uk |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.bridgingmarket.org |language=en-UK}}</ref>

===Manufacturing===
[[File:Nissan Juke Hybrid Auto Zuerich 2023 1X7A1295.jpg|thumb|[[Nissan Juke]]]]
• [[Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK]] operates a major car manufacturing plant in [[Sunderland]]; currently producing the [[Nissan Qashqai]] and [[Nissan Juke]]. 
[[File:An LNER Azuma train at Spittal - geograph.org.uk - 6573343.jpg|thumb|A [[British Rail Class 801|Class 801]], manufactured in Newton Aycliffe]]

• [[Hitachi]] manufactures railway [[rolling stock]] in [[County Durham]] at its [[Hitachi Newton Aycliffe|Newton Aycliffe site]]. 

• [[Cello electronics|Cello Electronics]] produces electronics, including televisions and microwaves, at its site in [[Bishop Auckland]], [[County Durham]]. Cello are currently the only manufacturer of [[LED]] televisions in the UK.

===Support organisations===
Businesses in Northeast England are supported by the North East Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite news |title=Double award win for NECC Network |publisher=NECC Contact |url=http://www.necontact.co.uk/double-award-win-for-necc-network/ |access-date=22 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041549/http://www.necontact.co.uk/double-award-win-for-necc-network/ |date=13 December 2012 |archive-date=24 September 2014}}</ref> The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) is based in Durham and has active sub committees working in all sub regions.

To further encourage [[Small & medium enterprises|SMEs]] in the North East of England to Export, the Northeast Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) has collaborated with the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and RTC North Limited to create a jointly owned subsidiary company Go Global Limited to manage the contract they have to deliver the [[UKTI|United Kingdom Trade & Investment]] (UKTI), Government funded, support products and programme for all business sectors in their region. The UKTI business support products, to help grow international trade, are focused on supporting individual SMEs to grow their exports and they also support Trade Missions to new markets.<ref>{{cite news |last=McLauchlan |first=Karen |date=14 March 2013 |title=NEPIC trade mission opens doors in India |publisher=Gazettelive |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/business/business-news/nepic-trade-mission-opens-doors-3665537 |url-status=live |access-date=22 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407103723/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/business/business-news/nepic-trade-mission-opens-doors-3665537 |archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>

The Northern Business Forum is an organisation created in the region to share knowledge and best practice between membership based business support organisations in the Northeast of England. The Forum creates a single voice for business when this is needed. This business led forum also links its member organisations to wider business issues, both locally and nationally, through the local and national business membership organisations that are also represented. Members of the forum include NECC, NEPIC, the [[Federation of Small Businesses]] (FSB), [[Confederation of British Industry]] (CBI) North East, the [[Make UK]] Northern, The [[Institute of Directors]] (IOD) and RTC North.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

RTC North provide business expertise in specific growth areas such as product innovation, market research, technology transfer, commercialisation, business growth. North East Access to Finance (NEA2F) operates a business growth fund to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMES).{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}


===Enterprise zones===

Businesses investing in the region are supported by the [[Local Enterprise Partnerships]] of Tees Valley (part of the [[Tees Valley Combined Authority|TVCA]])<ref>{{cite news |date=17 August 2011 |title=Teesside celebrates as enterprise zone approved |work=The Journal |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/teesside-celebrates-enterprise-zone-approved-4425624 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015525/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/business-news/teesside-celebrates-enterprise-zone-approved-4425624 |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> and the North East. Both these organisations manage [[enterprise zone]]s (Invest North East England and Tees Valley Business) to encourage new business investors. There are also several Industry and Business led Cluster bodies in the region to network and engage companies on a sector basis and give local business-to-business advice and supply chain intelligence: the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) (chemicals-polymers-pharmaceuticals-biotech), the Northern Offshore Federation (NOF) (energy and offshore engineering), Service Network  (accountants-finance-law firms-HR) and Make UK (defence related engineering), Design Network North (DNN) (design issues for all sectors.)

The Invest North East, was announced by the government in 2011.<ref name="Pearson">{{cite news |last=Pearson |first=Adrian |date=17 August 2011 |title=North East Enterprise Zone Approved |work=The Journal |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-enterprise-zone-approved-4425655 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402201528/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-enterprise-zone-approved-4425655 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> The zone focuses on technology for low carbon vehicle development, marine offshore and subsea engineering, petrochemicals and renewable energy.<ref name="echo">{{cite news |date=24 February 2015 |title=Sunderland green enterprise zone helps create 1,000 jobs |newspaper=[[Sunderland Echo]] |url=http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/sunderland-green-enterprise-zone-helps-create-1-000-jobs-1-7121591 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331184108/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/sunderland-green-enterprise-zone-helps-create-1-000-jobs-1-7121591 |archive-date=31 March 2015}}</ref> At the time of announcement the enterprise zone included two clusters of sites, an Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle zone in Sunderland and a zone on the River Tyne North Bank.<ref name="Pearson" /> The Sunderland cluster is close to the Nissan plant and includes Turbine Business Park. It hosts [[Gateshead College]]'s Future Technology Centre.<ref name="echo" /> The cluster on the Tyne includes the Port of Tyne North Estate, Swan Hunter in North Tyneside, and Neptune Yard in Newcastle.<ref name="Pearson" /> The zone was launched in April 2012.<ref name="echo" /> In that year another cluster of sites, composing the Blyth Estuary Renewable Energy Zone at [[Blyth, Northumberland#Port of Blyth|Port of Blyth]], was added to the zone.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ford |first=Coreena |date=9 August 2014 |title=Commercial Property Focus: South East Northumberland |work=The Journal |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/commercial-property/commercial-property-focus-south-east-7583427 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403020647/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/business/commercial-property/commercial-property-focus-south-east-7583427 |archive-date=3 April 2015}}</ref> The enterprise zone contains ten sites over the three clusters, covering {{convert|115|ha}} in total.<ref>{{cite news |last=Walker |first=Jonathan |date=16 May 2014 |title=The future is bright for the North East's economy, say voters |work=The Journal |url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/future-bright-norths-economy-say-7128639 |access-date=16 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402231228/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/future-bright-norths-economy-say-7128639 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

==Industrial heritage==
After more than 2,000 years of industrial activity as a result of abundant minerals such as salt and coal,<ref>{{cite web|first=Louise|last=Gwynne-Jones|publisher=NEPIC|title=SEAL SANDS 1000 years of Industry alongside Nature|url=http://www.nepic.co.uk/media_centre/news/details.asp?ntag=1443|access-date=15 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214072333/http://www.nepic.co.uk/media_centre/news/details.asp?ntag=1443|archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Current Archaeology|title=Exceeding Greatham Expectations |volume=24 |issue=6 |date=5 August 2013}}</ref> the [[chemical industry]] of the Northeast England is today spread across the whole of the region,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=NEPIC|title=Members Map|url=http://www.nepic.co.uk/members/themap.asp|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808194126/http://nepic.co.uk/members/themap.asp|archive-date=8 August 2013}}</ref> with [[pharmaceuticals]] being primarily produced in the north of the region, [[Speciality chemicals|speciality]] and [[fine chemicals]] spread across the middle of the region and [[commodity chemicals]] and [[petrochemicals]] on Teesside.

These companies are members of the [[Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster]] (NEPIC). The early chemical industry in this region, however, was primarily Tyneside based and associated with the manufacture of soap and glass. The most important chemical activity in the 18th and 19th centuries was the manufacture of alkali to make soap, which was when mixed with lime and sand and used to make glass.<ref name="Simpson">{{cite web|first=David|last=Simpson|publisher=David Simpson|title=Chemicals and Glass 1800AD – 1900AD|url=http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/ChemicalsandGlass.html|access-date=15 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313232948/http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/ChemicalsandGlass.html|archive-date=13 March 2013}}</ref>  The effects of the industrial revolution could be seen through an economy dominated by iron and steel, coal mining and shipbuilding. Rationalisation of chemical firms in 1891 left only four works on Tyneside.<ref name="Simpson" />

===Alkali manufacturing===
{{overly detailed|section|date=May 2023}}
[[File:Friars Goose Alkali Works Engraving.png|thumb|Friars Goose Alkali Works had the highest chimney in England to disperse hydrochloric acid fumes]]
Before the Industrial Revolution alkali was mostly used to aid the bleaching process of cloth. As the [[Industrial Revolution]] took hold, increasing demand for alkali came from higher production of dyestuffs, and bleach. In 1798 John Losh and the Earl of Dundonald took out a lease for a rich supply of brine pumped from a nearby coal mine, the Walker pit, becoming the supplier of raw material for The [[Losh, Wilson & Bell]] Alkali works. The works were established at Walker-on-Tyne in 1807 and bleaching powder manufacture began there in 1830, Losh Brothers soon manufactured half the soda in England. By 1814 the [[Leblanc process]] of making alkali from common salt was introduced to Britain. Alkali works using this process opened at [[Tyne Dock]] 1822, Felling shore [[Tyneside]] 1826, Friars Goose [[Gateshead]] 1828 and again on Felling Shore in 1834. Such works also produced soda, alum and Epsom salts.

The river frontage at South Shore of the [[River Tyne]] at Gateshead was one of the main locations for the chemical industry such that in the 19th century, which led to a cluster of iron, soap and alkali manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=ISee Gateshead|title=Chemical Works Friars Goose 1851|url=http://isee.gateshead.gov.uk/detail.php?type=related&kv=2522&t=objects|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130829140209/http://isee.gateshead.gov.uk/detail.php?type=related&kv=2522&t=objects|archive-date=29 August 2013|access-date=29 August 2013}}</ref>

By 1828 the alkali works had a large problem controlling emissions of [[hydrochloric acid]] fumes which devastated the neighbouring countryside. One solution was to build tall chimneys to drive the fumes further away and in 1833 the tallest chimney in England was built at the Friars Goose Alkali Works.<ref name="Simpson" /><ref>{{cite web |first=I.&nbsp;C.|last=Carlton|title=A Short history of gateshead – Chemical Works in Gateshead |website=Gateshead Local History Society |url=http://www.gatesheadlocalhistory.org.uk/resources/270920/chemicalworks.pdf|access-date=29 August 2013}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The passing of the [[Alkali Act 1863]] in the UK Parliament brought about a further reduced pollution from these processes and was the first industrial environmental legislation to come into practice globally.

===Salt making===
Salt-making in and around [[Greatham, County Durham|Greatham]] (between Hartlepool and Billingham) had been important in Roman and medieval times,<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris|last=Tolan-Smith |title=North East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment (NERCZA) |website=English Heritage |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/nercza-final-report/nerczafinalreportsmall.pdf|date=December 2008|access-date=17 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211064850/http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/nercza-final-report/nerczafinalreportsmall.pdf|archive-date=11 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=William|last=Page|title=History of County Durham Volume 3|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42628|year=1928|pages=242–247|access-date=17 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209030631/http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42628|archive-date=9 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and salt was also produced on Wearside from the 1580s, but by the 16th century the industry had been eclipsed by South Shields on the Tyne.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Victorian County Archive|title=Sunderland Economy and Society 1600–1719|date=23 November 2008 |url=http://www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/sites/default/files/work-in-progress/economy_and_society_1600.pdf|access-date=17 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214122636/http://www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/sites/default/files/work-in-progress/economy_and_society_1600.pdf|archive-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> In 1894 the industry returned to Greatham with the establishment of the Greatham Salt and Brine Company by George Weddell. The works was later purchased by the famous salt-making company [[Cerebos]] in 1903. By the mid-20th century, Cerebos was owned by the food conglomerate [[Rank Hovis McDougall]], and the factory closed in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=This is Hartlepool|title=Cerebos Salt Works|url=http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/cerebos-salt-works.asp|access-date=17 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904020224/http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/history/cerebos-salt-works.asp|archive-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

===Glass===
Glass manufacture has been an important industry in the Northeast of England since stained glass glaziers worked on the Wearmouth and Jarrow monasteries in 674&nbsp;AD.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=I-Net Support|title=Weardale Way|url=http://www.weardaleway.wanadoo.co.uk/history1.html|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131032803/http://www.weardaleway.wanadoo.co.uk/history1.html|archive-date=31 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=British Broadcasting Corp|title=Glassmaking on Wearside|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2008/02/04/glassmaking_wearside_04022008_feature.shtml|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220154147/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2008/02/04/glassmaking_wearside_04022008_feature.shtml|archive-date=20 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland]] and Tyneside were noted for glass-making between the 17th and 19th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Victorian County History|title=Sunderland Lime Glass and Pottery Paper|date=23 November 2008 |url=http://www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/sites/default/files/work-in-progress/lime_glass_pottery_paper.pdf|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103163339/http://www.victoriacountyhistory.ac.uk/sites/default/files/work-in-progress/lime_glass_pottery_paper.pdf|archive-date=3 November 2013}}</ref> In 1827 about two fifths of all English glass was made in the Tyneside area and in 1845 South Shields was making more plate glass than anywhere else in England. Sunderland was also rising to prominence as a glass-making centre, with James Hartley's [[Hartley Wood and Co|Wear Glass Works]] opening in 1836,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Tyne & Wear Archive Services|title=Hartley Wood and Co Ltd|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=183-dshw&cid=0#0|access-date=16 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102154921/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=183-dshw&cid=0|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> and by 1865 one third of the sheet glass in England was supplied by his Sunderland works.
The Candlish Glass Bottleworks was the largest in Europe, managed by [[John Candlish]]

[[William Beilby]] produced decorative glass items in Newcastle during the mid 1700s.

===Coal mining===
[[File:Wynyard Morris.jpg|thumb|Wynyard Park circa 1880 now a hotel, Wynyard Hall]] 
[[Coal mining]] was one of the first industrial activities in Northeast England because the region was fortunate to have shallow seams of coal near the coast, which meant that material could be transported in and out by sea.<ref name="Mining in Northeast England">{{cite web|publisher=Access to Mineral Heritage|title=Mining in Northeast England|url=http://mininghistory.thehumanjourney.net/edu/NEIntro.shtml|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822015314/http://mininghistory.thehumanjourney.net/edu/NEIntro.shtml|archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref> This led to the growth of ports in Sunderland, Newcastle, [[Teesport]] Middlesbrough, [[Seaham]], [[Hartlepool]] and [[Blyth, Northumberland|Blyth]]. The energy from coal underpinned the development of many of the industries around these ports. As discussed in the classic historical review of "Victorian Cities" by [[Asa Briggs]], Middlesbrough was developed as a port downstream of [[Yarm]] and Stockton to take bigger coal ships.<ref>{{cite book|first=Asa|last=Briggs|publisher=University of California Press|title=Victorian Cities|isbn=978-0-520-07922-9|date=24 March 1993}}</ref>

The Northumberland-Durham coalfield was one of the earliest coal mining areas to be worked in the country, with the Romans extracting coal here which caused the area to become an important source of coal in the 13th and 14th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Keys to the Past|title=Northeast England Overview:Industrial|url=http://www.keystothepast.info/Pages/pgOverview.aspx?OVERVIEW=Industrial|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130323022723/http://www.keystothepast.info/Pages/pgOverview.aspx?OVERVIEW=Industrial|archive-date=23 March 2013}}</ref> Many current towns and villages across the region were originally settlements set up for the coal miners. For example, Seaham is a port community that was developed to handle output of the coal mining interests of Charles William Vane-Tempest-Stewart the 3rd [[Marquis of Londonderry]], a military leader and business man who became one of the UK's richest men due to his coal mining developments.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jane|last=Hatcher|publisher=Durham in Time|title=Seaham Harbour its history and development Timeline|url=http://www.durhamintime.org.uk/Durham_Miner/Seaham_Harbour_Timeline.pdf|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721235620/http://www.durhamintime.org.uk/durham_miner/seaham_harbour_timeline.pdf|archive-date=21 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Neal, Leo & Neal|publisher=Wynyard Hall Publishing|title=Wynyard Hall|isbn=978-0-9570114-0-3|year=2011|pages=81–89}}</ref> The Marquis built his business interests using the inherited wealth of his wife Francis Anne. The Marquis also built [[Wynyard Hall]], one of the country's finest country houses in the region as a palace for his family and his royal connections.<ref>{{cite book|last=Neal, Leo & Neal|publisher=Wynyard Hall Publishing|title=Wynyard Hall|isbn=978-0-9570114-0-3|year=2011}}</ref>

London was one of the places which received coal from the area and there are references to shipments of coal being sent to the capital, for example 526 cauldrons of coal from Tyneside to London in 1376 for smiths involved in building Windsor Castle. Before the growth of mining companies, the coal from the North East was often sent to London using monks. The coal was often called sea coal because it often washed up from undersea outcrops on the Northumbrian coast. This could explain the name Se-coles Lane in London.<ref name="Mining in Northeast England" /> It also led to the colloquial phrase "[[taking coals to Newcastle]]", meaning why take something to a place that already has an excess of it.  The north east mine owners operated a [[cartel]] to keep up London prices; much studied by economic historians, it may have been the longest-lasting cartel that has ever existed.
{{further|Limitation of the Vend}}

Improvements in technology meant equipment could be built to go deeper than ever before. One example was the High Main seam at Walker Colliery on Tyneside, which became one of the deepest coal mines in the world, thanks to large engine cylinders which helped drain the mine.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Access to Mineral Heritage|title=Minerals and the Industrial Revolution:Coke to iron to mine pumps to railways|url=http://mininghistory.thehumanjourney.net/edu/IndustrialRevolution.shtml|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220170833/http://mininghistory.thehumanjourney.net/edu/IndustrialRevolution.shtml|archive-date=20 December 2013}}</ref> Other mining developments from this region include water level and ventilation techniques introduced by John Buddle who also helped to introduce the [[miner's safety lamp]] which was invented here by [[George Stephenson|Stephenson]] and [[Humphry Davy|Davy]].

[[File:Wearmouth Colliery, miners in cage.jpg|thumb|Miners in the cage ready for their descent, Monkwearmouth Colliery, 1993.]]
Sir Humphry Davy, after contemplating a communication he had received from Reverend Dr [[Robert Gray (bishop of Bristol)|Robert Gray]] Rector of [[Bishopwearmouth]] (later Bishop of Bristol) regarding the problem of gas in mines, took up the challenge of solving the problem of providing light in "[[Firedamp|fire-damp]]" ridden collieries. He started the work with several days of discussions with John Buddle, the overseer at Wallsend Colliery, other colliery owners and finally the Reverend John Hodgson, Vicar of Jarrow. Davy also collected samples of "fire-damp" before returning to his laboratory in London. Two designs of his lamps emerged and were tested at the most hazardous pits in the country, then at Newcastle-upon- Tyne and [[Whitehaven]] in [[Cumberland]], and were a resounding success. He later published his paper on "The safety lamp for coal mines and some researches on flame" in 1818, which made underground coal mines much more safe. George Stephenson a colliery engineer at Killingworth Main Colliery also invented a safety lamp which was successfully tested on 21 October 1815. This became known as the "Geordie" lamp. As a result, some in the Northeast then tried to challenge the delivery of some Ceremonial Plate to Davy but the Davy Lamper's won the day and on 25 September 1817 a dinner service as presented to Davy from the coal owners at the Queen's Head in Newcastle. Davy declined to take out a patent on his lamp design effectively giving it to the nation and the world's coal miners.<ref>{{cite book|first=Raymond|last=Lamont-Brow|publisher=Sutton|title=Humphry Davy Life Beyond the Lamp|isbn=0-7509-3231-7|pages=125–136|year=2004}}</ref>

The moment when the new safety lamp was first tested was recorded by John Buddle in a report from the Select Committee on Accidents in Mines on 4 September 1835 "I first tried the lamp in an explosive mixture on the surface; and then took it to the mine; it is impossible for me to express my feelings at the time when I first suspended the lamp in the mine and saw it red hot. I said to those around me: "We have at last subdued this monster [fire-damp]." With some describing it as one of the most significant moments in the industrialization of the world."<ref>{{cite book|first=Raymond|last=Lamont-Brow|publisher=Sutton|title=Humphry Davy Life Beyond the Lamp|isbn=0-7509-3231-7|page=131|year=2004}}</ref>

As an example of the many coal mines (colloquially known as pits) that were created in the Northeast's Monkwearmouth Colliery (or Wearmouth Colliery) was a large deep pit that went out under the [[North Sea]]. It was located on the north bank of the [[River Wear]] and was the largest pit in Sunderland and one of the most important in [[County Durham]]. The mine opened in 1835 and was the last to remain operating in the Durham Coalfield, with the last shift leaving the pit on 10 December 1993 and ending over 800 years of commercial underground coal mining in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/w001.htm|title=Wearmouth Colliery|publisher=Durham Mining Museum|access-date=7 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103140509/http://www.dmm.org.uk/colliery/w001.htm|archive-date=3 January 2009}}</ref> The Colliery site has been cleared to make way for the Sunderland A.F.C's [[Stadium of Light]] which opened in July 1997. The mine is commemorated by a large sculpture of a miners lamp at the entrance to the stadium.

The [[Durham Coalfield]] remains a national resource for the UK economy today and for the future. Most of the mines in the region were closed during the years of UK Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] (see [[UK miners' strike (1984–1985)]]) however several large open cast coal mines are still operational in the region.

Today{{when|date=May 2023}} companies like Five-Quarter are investigating the use of the latest technology for underground [[coal gasification]] to access the Durham Coalfield reserves. Professor Paul Younger of [[Newcastle University]] in 2011 reported<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Sunderland University|title='Coal Exploitation in the North East' Lecture|url=http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/newsevents/events/event/index.php?eid=473|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102074131/http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/newsevents/events/event/index.php?eid=473|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref> that "Around 75 per cent of the coal in the North East is still underground, even though we have been mining it on an industrial scale longer than anyone else in the world. Previously a lot of this coal was too deep for conventional mining, or too far off shore. Even today this resource could never be exploited by conventional means, but the technology to harness that resource has now become cost effective." Accessing these reserves is of particular importance to the local chemical industry.<ref>{{cite news|first=Steven|last=Hugill|newspaper=Northern Echo|title=Dr Stan Higgins, from Nepic, says fracking could cut energy bills|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/news/10512464.Chemical_body_leader_welcomes_Government_shale_gas_plans/|date=27 June 2013|access-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102083806/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/business/news/10512464.Chemical_body_leader_welcomes_Government_shale_gas_plans/|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref>

===Shipbuilding===

[[Shipbuilding]] was once one of this region's largest industrial sectors. Ships were built on the [[River Wear]] at Sunderland from at least 1346 and on the [[River Tees]] at Stockton from at least 1470,<ref name="Shipbuilding 1790 to 1899">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Shipbuilding.html|first=David|last=Simpson|publisher=NortheastEngland.co.uk|title=Shipbuilding 1790 to 1899|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830124025/http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Shipbuilding.html|archive-date=30 August 2012}}</ref>  with the Northeast of England more generally being the birthplace of some of the world's greatest vessels. This was recognised in 2013 with the regions shipbuilding heritage and global impact being recognized by [[UNESCO]] and placed on their [[Memory of the World Register]], ranking the regions shipbuilding heritage alongside iconic items such as the Domesday Book in terms of historical importance.<ref>{{cite news|first=Tony|last=Henderson|newspaper=Northern Echo|title=North East shipbuilding heritage wins international recognition|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-shipbuilding-heritage-wins-4888693|date=9 July 2013|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719221039/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-shipbuilding-heritage-wins-4888693|archive-date=19 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Wood to iron and steel====
The early ships were built of wood, but in the 19th century there was a move towards building ships of iron then steel.  Ships were built across the region, especially along [[Tyneside]] in Jarrow and [[Wearside]] in Sunderland and also in smaller ports like Blyth, [[Whitby]] and Hartlepool. Sunderland's early development was due to coal but it later transitioned to become the largest shipbuilding town in the world<ref>{{cite book|last=Brett & Clark|publisher=Black Cat Publications|title=Sunderland-the biggest shipbuilding town in the world|isbn=978-1-899560-97-4|date=3 November 2009}}</ref> giving the town its fame. The first recorded shipbuilder was Thomas Menville at [[Hendon, Tyne and Wear|Hendon]] in 1346.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=British Broadcasting Corp|title=Shipbuilding on Wearside|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/shipbuilding_on_wearside_gallery.shtml?8|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-date=19 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819151807/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/image_galleries/shipbuilding_on_wearside_gallery.shtml?8}}</ref>

By 1790 Sunderland was building around nineteen ships per year making it the most important shipbuilding centre in the United Kingdom. By 1840 there were 65 shipyards such that over 150 wooden vessels were built at Sunderland in 1850. At this time 2,025 shipwrights worked in the town and some 2,000 others were employed in related industries. Sunderland's first iron ships were built from 1852 and wooden shipbuilding ceased here in 1876. Sunderland shipbuilders included Austin and Son, William Pickersgill and William Doxford.<ref name="Shipbuilding 1790 to 1899" />

It was between 1790 and 1805 that Thomas Haw of Stockton began building ships for the [[Napoleonic wars]]. Shipbuilding did not begin in Middlesbrough until 1833 when a wooden sailing ship called ''The Middlesbro'' was built. Teesside's first iron ship was built in Thornaby in 1854, it was a screw steamer called ''The Advance'', and Teesside's first steel ship was ''Little Lucy'' built in 1858. One famous Teesside-built ship was the {{convert|377|ft|m|adj=on}} long ''Talpore'', built by Pearse and Co of Stockton in 1860. It was a [[troop ship]] for the River Indus, and was the world's largest river steamer at the time.<ref>{{cite book|first=Alan|last=Betteney|publisher=Tees Valley Heritage group|title=Shipbuilding in Stockton and Thornaby|isbn=978-0-9546319-0-1|date=1 December 2003}}</ref> An archive of the ships built on Teesside has been created,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Teesside Ship Society|title=Shipbuilding on the River Tees|url=http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823143943/http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/|archive-date=23 August 2013}}</ref>

In Hartlepool Thomas Richardson of Castle Eden and John Parkin of Sunderland established a shipyard at Old Hartlepool in 1835 and built The Castle Eden ship. The shipbuilding company of William Gray was established here in 1862 and Gray became one of the most influential men in the town. He was the first mayor of West Hartlepool in 1887. William Gray shipbuilders won the Blue Ribband prize for maximum output in 1878, 1882, 1888, 1895, 1898 and 1900. The yard closed in 1961.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Hartlepool Mail|title=History of Ship Building in Hartlepool|url=http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/ships|access-date=19 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917165614/http://www.thisishartlepool.co.uk/ships|archive-date=17 September 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Mauretania (ship) (between 1906 and 1914).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|RMS ''Mauretania'' on its Tyneside builder's ways before launch in 1906]]
On Tyneside, [[Charles Mark Palmer]], born in [[South Shields]], established a yard at Jarrow in 1851 and built its first iron collier, ''The John Bowes'', in the following year. It was the first ever seagoing screw collier and was built for John Bowes of Barnard Castle for shipping coal to London. Palmer was also famed for building the first rolled armour plates for [[warship]]s in 1854. William Smith and Co launched the 1,600-ton ''Blenheim'' in 1848.

W. G. Armstrong, the northern engineer, acquired an interest in the Tyneside shipbuilding firm of Mitchells in 1882, and the company of [[W.G. Armstrong|W. G. Armstrong]], Mitchell and Co was formed. The yard built [[battleship]]s as well as a ship called ''Gluckauf'', which was arguably the world's first oil tanker.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} It was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] by the yard in 1886. Scotsman Charles Mitchell started building ships at Walker-on-Tyne in 1852 and purchased a {{convert|6.5|acre|adj=on}} site at [[Wallsend]] in 1873 to soak up excess orders from his Walker shipyard. The new yard failed financially and was handed to his brother-in-law Charles Swan. Charles and his brother Henry were directors of the Wallsend Slipway Company, a repair yard established by Mitchell in 1871. In 1878 Charles arranged a partnership with Sunderland shipbuilder George Hunter, but in 1879 Charles died after falling overboard from a channel steamer whilst returning from the Continent with his wife. Hunter went into temporary partnership with Swan's wife before becoming managing director in 1880. [[Swan Hunter Shipyard|Swan Hunters]] built their first steel ship at Wallsend in 1884 and their first oil tanker in 1889.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Most early ships built at the Swan Hunter yard were smaller, like colliers and barges, but in 1898 it built its first [[ocean liner]], ''Ultonia,'' with a further 21 liners being built between 1898 and 1903. The most famous ship ever launched there was undoubtedly {{RMS|Mauretania|1906|2}}, a transatlantic ocean liner that launched on 20 September 1906. The ship was {{convert|790|ft|m|adj=on}} long, with a [[Beam (nautical)]] of 88&nbsp;ft (27 m) and a [[gross register tonnage]] of 31,938 tons. It carried 2,000 passengers on its maiden voyage on 16 November 1907 and won the [[Blue Riband]] for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, a record held for 22 years.<ref name="Shipbuilding 1790 to 1899" />

====Maritime innovation====
A major pioneering innovation in marine engineering was the steam turbine, invented by [[Charles Algernon Parsons]]. He patented the first steam turbine on Tyneside in 1884. Parsons, born in Ireland in 1854, was the youngest son of the [[Earl of Rosse]] and a keen inventor, who was a junior partner in the Tyneside engineering firm of Clarke Chapman. In 1894 Parsons' Marine Turbine Company launched {{ship||Turbinia}}, the first ship to be powered by electric turbines. She can be still be seen (and boarded) at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle upon Tyne.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums|title=Discovery Museum Collections Summary|url=http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery/collections.html|access-date=20 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728054722/http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery/collections.html|archive-date=28 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

====20th-century decline====
Shipyard closures in the 20th century took place during economic slumps and occurred in two phases, between 1909–1933 and 1960–1993. Early closures included Smiths Dock at [[North Shields]] in 1909, which became a ship repair yard, Armstrongs of Elswick in 1921, Richardson Duck of Stockton (1925), Priestman's of Sunderland (1933) and Palmers of Jarrow and [[Hebburn]] (1933). There were 28 North East closures in this period of which 14 were on the Tyne, 7 on the Wear, 6 on the Tees and 1 at Hartlepool. Six shipyards closed in the 1960s including W.Gray of Hartlepool (1961), Short Brothers of Sunderland (1964) and The Blyth Shipbuilding Company (1966). There were five closures in the region in the 1970s including the Furness yard at Haverton Hill, near Stockton, in 1979.<ref name="Shipbuilding 1790 to 1899" />

====Science and engineering====
[[File:Tyne Bridge (geograph 3522843).jpg|alt=|thumb|Tyne Bridge built by Middlesbrough Company Dorman Long]]
The coal and shipbuilding industry that once dominated the North East suffered a marked decline during the second half of the 20th century. [[Tyneside]] is now re-inventing itself as an international centre of art, culture and through [[Centre for Life|The Centre For Life]], [[science|scientific]] [[research]], especially in [[healthcare]] and [[biotechnology]]. [[Newcastle University]] is now a leading institution in the development of [[stem cell]] technology being the first in the United Kingdom and the second institution in Europe to obtain a licence to do such work.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Green light for stem cell clones|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/aug/12/sciencenews.genetics|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212062748/http://www.theguardian.com/science/2004/aug/12/sciencenews.genetics|archive-date=12 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> As with the rest of the region, Sunderland suffered economic decline during the last century, but is now becoming an important area for [[quaternary industry]], bioscience, computing and [[high technology|high]] tech industries. The economy of Sunderland is now dominated by the [[Nissan Sunderland|Nissan]]'s European car manufacturing facility and supply chain which is also leading that company's development of [[electric vehicles]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Adrian|last=Pearson|publisher=The Journal|title=Nissan plans its expansion of Sunderland plant|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nissan-plans-expansion-sunderland-plant-5759091|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823054242/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nissan-plans-expansion-sunderland-plant-5759091|archive-date=23 August 2013}}</ref>

The economy of Teesside continues to be largely based on the [[petrochemical]], [[commodity chemicals|commodity chemical]] and [[Steel industry|steel industries]] that form a significant part of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), but newer industries such as offshore engineering and [[digital computing]], particularly in the field of [[Game design]], have emerged from Teesside University.<ref>{{cite news|first=Martin|last=Walker|publisher=BDaily|title=Cash approved for £4.2m Teesside digital centre|url=https://bdaily.co.uk/creative/20-08-2013/cash-approved-for-42m-teesside-digital-centre/|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821075011/https://bdaily.co.uk/creative/20-08-2013/cash-approved-for-42m-teesside-digital-centre/|archive-date=21 August 2013}}</ref> [[Northumberland]], although largely rural and an important tourist location with its castles, beaches, and history has a nationally significant concentration of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies around Cramlington and Prudhoe.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Arch Corporate Holdings|title=Invest in Northumberland – Key sectors|newspaper=Perfect.uk |url=http://www.archnorthumberland.co.uk/invest-in-northumberland/key-sectors/|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214051736/http://www.archnorthumberland.co.uk/invest-in-northumberland/key-sectors/|archive-date=14 December 2012}}</ref> The county has also seen a huge investment into the creation of the UKs largest reservoir, [[Kielder Water]], enabling the Northeast to attract more industry. Kielder forest around the reservoir is known to have the darkest night sky in England,<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|title=Observatory boasts darkest skies|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/7366394.stm|access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref> making it an ideal location for both professional and amateur astronomers.

The [[Durham, England|City of Durham]] with its highly regarded [[Durham University|University]], Castle and Cathedral attracts many tourists and also a significant number of knowledge intensive businesses (KIBS) in architecture, engineering, technology and measurement science. At [[Sedgefield]] in County Durham, [[NETPark]] is home to the Centre for Process Innovation's [[Printable Electronics Technology Centre]], a nationally important centre for the development of [[printed electronics]] and a number of other emerging electronics companies such as Kromek.
[[File:Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|[[Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge]]]]
Today,{{when|date=May 2023}} the members of the [[Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster]] (NEPIC) represent about one third of the regional industrial economy. The NEPIC is constituted by commodity chemical, [[petrochemical]], [[speciality chemical]], [[pharmaceutical]], [[biotechnology]], [[polymer]], [[renewable material]] and [[renewable energy]] companies and the associated supply chains. The Teesside industry is located on three large chemical sites at [[Wilton, Redcar and Cleveland|Wilton]], [[Billingham]] and [[Seal Sands]] at the mouth of the River Tees and [[Teesport]], the third largest port in the UK and the tenth in Western Europe and is important logistical infrastructure supporting the commodity chemical and steel members of NEPIC. In the 21st century [[PD Ports]], owners of Teesport, have been developing it as a Port Centric Logistical Centre. This strategy has seen a number of significant importing and distribution facilities for the north of the UK being built here, including distribution centres for the distribution operations of Asda/Walmart and Tesco supermarket chains.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=PD Ports|title=PD Ports Aims to Make Logistics More Logical|url=http://www.pdportcentriclogistics.co.uk/pd-ports-aims-to-make-logistics-more-logical/|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714171140/http://www.pdportcentriclogistics.co.uk/pd-ports-aims-to-make-logistics-more-logical/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

NEPIC has two offices in the region: one in the north in Sunderland, serving the pharmaceutical and speciality chemical industries on Tyneside and in south Northumberland, and one in the south at [[Wilton International|Wilton]] near Redcar, serving the commodity chemical and steel industry of Teesside and operating amongst several process sector and supply chain companies that work out of the process industry research centre, The Wilton Centre, one of Europe's largest technical development laboratory facilities. The head office of the [[Centre for Process Innovation]], part of the UK's [[High Value Manufacturing Catapult]], is based in this multi-occupancy technical development centre along with their pioneering National Industrial Biotechnology Facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wiltoncentre.com/directory/c/ |title=Wilton Centre Tenant's Directory – C |publisher=Wilton Centre |access-date=21 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210190725/http://www.wiltoncentre.com/directory/c/ |archive-date=10 December 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wiltoncentre.com/news/2009/10/16/Investment-supports-pioneering-industrial-biotechnology-work.html |title=Investment Supports Pioneering Industrial Biotechnology Work |publisher=Wilton Centre |date=16 October 2013 |access-date=21 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210190426/http://www.wiltoncentre.com/news/2009/10/16/Investment-supports-pioneering-industrial-biotechnology-work.html |archive-date=10 December 2013 }}</ref>

===Innovations===
This region has a strong history in technological innovation:

The [[match|friction match]] was invented in Stockton-on-Tees in 1826 by [[John Walker (inventor)|John Walker]].

[[George Stephenson]] (9 June 1781 – 12 August 1848) was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public inter-city railway line in the world to use steam locomotives. Renowned as the father of railways,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stocktonteesside.co.uk/history.html|title=History of Stockton on Tees|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230902/http://www.stocktonteesside.co.uk/history.html|archive-date=2 December 2013}}</ref> George Stephenson was born in Wylam, Northumberland, 9.3 miles (15.0&nbsp;km) west of Newcastle upon Tyne.

[[Joseph Swan|Sir Joseph Wilson Swan]] (31 October 1828 – 27 May 1914) was a British physicist and chemist from Sunderland, County Durham now the (City of Sunderland). He is most famous for inventing an [[incandescent light bulb]] before its invention by the American [[Thomas Edison]]. Swan first demonstrated the light bulb at a lecture the [[Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne|Literary and Philosophical Society]] and Miners Institute on [[History of Newcastle upon Tyne|Mosley Street]], Newcastle upon Tyne on 18 December 1878. Mosley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne is reputed to be the first street in the world to be lit by [[electric light]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry|title=Sir Joseph Swan, The Literary & Philosophical Society of Newcastle|url=http://www.rsc.org/get-involved/chemical-landmarks/UK/JosephSwan.asp|date=3 February 2009|access-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429190301/http://www.rsc.org/get-involved/chemical-landmarks/UK/JosephSwan.asp|archive-date=29 April 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Turbinia At Speed.jpg|thumb|left|''Turbinia '']]

[[Charles Algernon Parsons]] invented the steam turbine in 1884, and having foreseen its potential to power ships he set up the Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company with five associates in 1893. To develop this he had the experimental vessel {{ship||Turbinia}} built in a light design of steel by the firm of Brown and Hood, based at [[Wallsend on Tyne]]. He also pioneered in the field of [[electricity generation]], establishing the [[Newcastle and District Electric Lighting Company]] in 1889. The company opened the first power station in the world to generate electricity using [[turbo generator]]s in 1890, at [[Forth Banks Power Station|Forth Banks]] in Newcastle.

[[William George Armstrong]], 1st Baron Armstrong, CB, FRS (26 November 1810 – 27 December 1900) was an effective Tyneside industrialist who founded the Armstrong Whitworth manufacturing empire. He was responsible for the development of the hydraulic crane and many military armaments. His house at [[Cragside]], Northumberland was the first in the world to be lit by [[hydro-electricity]], using [[incandescent lamps]] provided by the inventor [[Joseph Swan]].

In 1936 the first commercially viable production of acrylic safety glass, [[Perspex]], began by ICI Acrylics and the material is still manufactured in the region by [[Lucite|Lucite International]] now part of [[Mitsubishi Corporation]]. During the Second World War acrylic glass was used for submarine periscopes, windshields, canopies, and gun turrets for airplanes.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=eNotes|title=Acrylic Plastics|url=http://www.enotes.com/acrylic-plastic-reference/acrylic-plastic|access-date=26 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520121541/http://www.enotes.com/acrylic-plastic-reference/acrylic-plastic|archive-date=20 May 2013}}</ref> Shortages in raw materials and price pressures have led to innovation by Lucite who developed their patented Alpha Technology in this region. This technology is now the leading technology used in the manufacture of acrylics around the world. It uses new feedstock's and has a cost advantage of 40% over conventional processing methods.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Chemsystems|title=PERP Program – Methyl Methacrylate|url=http://www.chemsystems.com/about/cs/news/items/0004.cfm|access-date=26 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820180723/http://www.chemsystems.com/about/cs/news/items/0004.cfm|archive-date=20 August 2012}}</ref>

[[Newcastle University]] was the first in the UK and the second in Europe to receive a licence to perform research on stem cells and is a leading centre for such research today. Dr [[Karim Nayernia]] was the first to isolate spermatogonial stem cells at this University. Many new healthcare developments have arisen from this stem cell expertise in the region.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

Today, the region has five universities with a number of research departments:
[[Durham University]], Newcastle University, [[Northumbria University]], [[University of Sunderland]] and Teesside University, which have a portfolio of many innovative businesses that have spun out of their research and teaching departments.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=spinouts UK|title=University Listings|url=http://www.spinoutsuk.co.uk/listings/university-listings/|access-date=29 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504115124/http://www.spinoutsuk.co.uk/listings/university-listings/|archive-date=4 May 2011}}</ref>

== Sport ==

=== Football ===
[[File:Alf Common the World's first £1000 footballer.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Alf Common of England, the world's first £1,000 footballer]]
A precursor of modern football is still seen in the region at some annual [[Shrove Tuesday]] games at [[Alnwick]], [[Chester-le-Street]] and [[Sedgefield]] and many of such games have pre-Norman origins.<ref>{{cite book|first=Hugh|last=Hornby|publisher=English Heritage|title=Uppies and Downies: The Extraordinary Football Games of Britain|isbn=978-1-905624-64-5|year=2008}}</ref> In 1280 at [[Ulgham]] near [[Morpeth, Northumberland|Morpeth]] Northumberland, records show that Henry of Ellington was killed playing football when David Le Keu's knife went into Henry's belly and killed him.<ref>{{cite web|first=Janet|last=Brown|title=Ulgham Genealogy|url=http://ulgham.tripod.com/ulgen/ulgenL.htm|access-date=16 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427021603/http://ulgham.tripod.com/ulgen/ulgenL.htm|archive-date=27 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=Magoun>Francis Peabody Magoun, 1929, "Football in Medieval England and Middle-English literature" (''The American Historical Review'', v. 35, No. 1).</ref> Organised football teams as we know today did not appear until the 1870s. [[Middlesbrough Football Club]] was formed by local cricket players in 1876, [[Sunderland Association Football Club]] in 1879 and [[Newcastle United Football Club]] was formed in 1892 by uniting Newcastle West End FC with Newcastle East End.<ref name="Hutchinson 1997">{{cite book|first=Roger|last=Hutchinson|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|title=The Toon: A complete History of Newcastle United Football Club|isbn=1-85158-956-2|year=1997}}</ref>
 
Darlington formed in 1861 (re-formed 1883 and in 2012) and West Hartlepool of 1881 became [[Hartlepool United]] in 1908. In 1888 Sunderland and Middlesbrough were troubled by rival break-away teams called Sunderland Albion and Middlesbrough Ironopolis, both of which were lost before the 20th century began. Sunderland won the league championship three times in the 1890s and Newcastle United were first division champions three times in the early 1900s, reaching the FA Cup Final three times before winning it at the fourth attempt in 1910.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Simpson|title=Sport in the North East 1700 to 1999|url=http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Sport.html|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209010448/http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Sport.html|archive-date=9 February 2013}}</ref>

Today{{when|date=May 2023}} top quality professional football remains in the northeast of England. In the 2025-2026 season, Newcastle United and Sunderland are [[Premier League]] teams, whilst Middlesbrough are in the [[Football League Championship]], Hartlepool and [[Gateshead FC]] compete in the [[National League (division)|National League]]. [[St James' Park]] in Newcastle, the [[Stadium of Light]] in Sunderland and [[Riverside Stadium|The Riverside Stadium]] in Middlesbrough are all first class football venues often used for international games at all levels. The region is represented in the [[2023-24 Women's Championship]] by [[Durham W.F.C.]], who play home games on the campus of [[Durham University#Sport|Durham University]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women|Sunderland A.F.C.]], who call [[Hetton-le-Hole]] home; they currently have no representatives in the top-tier [[Women's Super League]].

====First "world cup" winners and influential amateurs====
Amateur and semi-professional football clubs like [[Bishop Auckland F.C.|Bishop Auckland]] and [[Blyth Spartans A.F.C.]] have had success and public attention through [[FA Cup|Football Association Cup]] runs, but the most famous achievement was by [[West Auckland Town FC]] in 1910: they were invited to take part in a competition in Italy to compete for what was then labelled the soccer World Cup. West Auckland won the competition against some of Europe's biggest sides; they defeated [[Juventus]] 2–0 in the final. They successfully defended the title the following year. The first World Cup trophy played for in these tournaments, [[Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy]], which was being held in West Auckland Working Men's Club, was stolen in 1994 and never recovered. An exact replica of the original trophy was commissioned and is now held by West Auckland FC. The story of West Auckland's success was made into a film called "A Captain's Tale", starring actor [[Dennis Waterman]] as club captain Jones.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
 
Players from some of the region's minor league teams have gone on to influence football on the world stage. [[Jack Greenwell]] (John Richard Greenwell), an ex-coal miner who played non-league football for [[Crook Town A.F.C.]] from 1901 to 1912, went to Spain and played 88 games for Barcelona before becoming their manager in 1917. Greenwell's achievements at Barcelona include winning five Catalan championships and two [[Copa del Rey|Copas del Rey]]. He also managed Espanyol, Mallorca and Valencia. On the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, he moved to South America to manage the Peruvian and Colombian national teams; he died in 1942 in [[Bogotá]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Duncan|last=Leatherdale|newspaper=Northern Echo|title=Barcelona Jack's granddaughter returns to her roots in Crook|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10719118.Barcelona_Jack_s_granddaughter_returns_to_her_roots_in_Crook/|date=5 October 2013|access-date=8 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114142502/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10719118.Barcelona_Jack_s_granddaughter_returns_to_her_roots_in_Crook/|archive-date=14 January 2015}}</ref>

====Notable associated footballers====
There are many notable footballers from the Northeast of England. Sunderland's [[Alf Common]] became the world's first £1,000 player when he was signed by Middlesbrough in 1905.<ref>{{cite news|first=Keith|last=Proud|newspaper=The Northern Echo|title=The Player with the Common Touch|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/memories/teesside/3603267.The_player_with_the_Common_touch_/|date=18 August 2013|access-date=7 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211095605/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/columnists/memories/teesside/3603267.The_player_with_the_Common_touch_/|archive-date=11 December 2013}}</ref> Other pre Second World War and immediate post war greats were [[Charlie Buchan|Charles Buchan]], who created and edited the iconic magazine "Football Monthly",<ref>{{cite book|first=Charles|last=Buchan|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|title= A lifetime in Football|isbn=978-1-84596-654-6|year=1956}}</ref> [[George Camsell]], [[Hughie Gallacher]], [[Wilf Mannion]], [[Raich Carter]], [[Bob Gurney]] all of whom are described in a famous book by the "Clown Prince of Football" [[Len Shackleton]]. Mr Shackleton's book shot to immediate fame and caused a storm when first published because chapter 9, named "The Average Director's Knowledge of Football", was produced as a blank page.<ref>{{cite book|first=Len|last=Shackleton|publisher=GHKN Publishing|title=Return of the Clown Prince|isbn=0-9538244-0-3|year=2000}}</ref> Local Heroes after the Second World War included [[Joe Harvey (footballer)|Joe Harvey]], [[Jackie Milburn]],<ref>{{cite book|first=Jack|last=Milburn|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|title=Jackie Milburn: A Man of Two Halves|isbn=1-84018-804-9|year=2003}}</ref> [[Brian Clough]]<ref>{{cite book|first=Brian|last=Clough|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|title=Cloughie: Walking on Water|year=2002|isbn=0-7472-6567-4}}</ref> and Newcastle's [[Bobby Moncur]] who led his team to win the Inter City Fairs Cup in 1969.<ref>{{cite book|first=Jim|last=Jeffry|publisher=Breedon Books|title=Newcastle United: The 1968–69 Fairs Cup Story|isbn=978-1-85983-737-5|year=2009}}</ref> 
[[File:Wilf Mannion Statue MFC.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Wilf Mannion's Statue at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium]]
Perhaps the two most significant English players to come from this region are [[Bobby Charlton]] and [[Jackie Charlton]] who learnt their early football after being born and raised in the coal mining town of [[Ashington]].<ref>{{cite book|first=Bobby|last=Charlton|publisher=Headline|title=The Autobiography, My Manchester United Years|isbn=978-0-7553-1619-9|year=2007|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sirbobbycharlton0000char}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Jack|last=Charlton|publisher=Partridge Press|title=Jack Charlton The Autobiography|isbn=1-85225-256-1|year=1996|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/autobiography0000char}}</ref> They were incidentally related to Jackie Milburn who was their uncle. Bobby joined [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and Jackie [[Leeds United]] both contributing much to the success and history of their respective clubs. They both became permanent fixtures in [[Alf Ramsey]]'s 1966 England World Cup winning team.<ref>{{cite book|first=Leo|last=Mckinstry|publisher=HarperSport|title=Sir Alf|url=https://archive.org/details/siralf00leom|url-access=registration|isbn=978-0-00-719379-0|year=2006}}</ref>

[[Malcolm Macdonald]] was a successful Newcastle player of the 1970s. Sunderland goalkeeper [[Jimmy Montgomery|Jim Montgomery]]'s double save, which helped Sunderland, which was then a Second Division club, beat Leeds United to win the 1973 FA Cup Final by an [[Ian Porterfield]] goal, is an incident that is frequently recalled. Great players of the 1980s and 1990s include local born internationals like [[Peter Beardsley]], [[Paul Gascoigne]], [[Chris Waddle]] and [[Alan Shearer]]. Shearer remains the highest scoring player in Premier League history with 260 goals in 441 appearances.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Premier League 2013|title=Player profile: Alan Shearer|url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/profile.career-history.html/alan-shearer|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108105549/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/profile.career-history.html/alan-shearer|archive-date=8 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In the early 2000s Middlesbrough also joined the top clubs in English Football and played for a number of years in the Premier League and winning the League Cup in 2004. The Brazilian [[Juninho Paulista]] was an influential player for Middlesbrough during their time in the top flight, a time when the [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] football academy became famous for producing a number of young top flight players such as [[Stewart Downing]], [[James Morrison (footballer)|James Morrison]], [[Lee Cattermole]], [[Adam Johnson (footballer)|Adam Johnson]]<ref>{{cite news|first= Philip|last= Tallentire|title= Agree with this top 5 graduates from Middlesbrough FC's Rockliffe Park Academy?|publisher= GazetteLive|date= 6 November 2016}}</ref> and, more recently, [[Ben Gibson]].<ref>{{cite news|first= Philip|last= Tallentire|title= 'Be like Ben Gibson': Middlesbrough Academy boss David Parnaby's advice for Dael Fry|publisher= GazetteLive|date= 25 March 2017}}</ref>

In recent times, the Northeast, especially Sunderland, has produced many notable female footballers. Of the 23 players in England's [[2019 Women's World Cup]] squad, five players were born in the North East and had played for [[Sunderland A.F.C. Women]] at some point in their careers: [[Lucy Bronze]] (who would go on to win four [[UEFA Women's Champions League|Champions League]] titles with [[Olympique Lyonnais Féminin|Lyon]] and [[FC Barcelona Femení|Barcelona]]), [[Carly Telford]], [[Demi Stokes]], [[Jill Scott (footballer)|Jill Scott]] and [[Steph Houghton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sunderland-england-women-world-cup-16512766|title=Sunderland and the North East's role in England's World Cup|first=Josh|last=Challies|date=1 July 2019|website=ChronicleLive|accessdate=4 September 2023}}</ref> Further, [[Lucy Staniforth]], also a member of the 2019 World Cup squad, moved to Bronze's hometown of [[Alnwick]] at the age of 10 and played for Sunderland, whilst [[Jordan Nobbs]], a regular [[England women's national football team|Lioness]] who missed 2019 through injury but was a silver medalist in [[2023 FIFA Women's World Cup|2023]] along with Bronze, hails from [[Stockton-on-Tees]] and came through the youth system in Sunderland, eventually graduating to the first team. [[Euro 2022]] golden boot winner and [[Arsenal W.F.C.|Arsenal]] star [[Beth Mead]] is a native of [[Whitby]], located just south of North East England, but plied her trade at [[Middlesbrough F.C. Women|Middlesbrough]] before moving to Sunderland A.F.C. in 2011, where she became the youngest WSL Golden Boot winner at the age of 20 in 2015.

===Horse racing===
Early races were mentioned in 1613 at [[Woodham, County Durham|Woodham]] near Aycliffe and were held at Newcastle's Killingworth Moor from 1632 before moving to the Town Moor. The 'Pitmen's Derby' or [[Northumberland Plate]] was held from 1833 and moved to [[Gosforth]] in 1882. Georgian races were held at places like [[Barnard Castle]], [[Bishop Auckland]], [[Blaydon]], [[Chester-le-Street]], [[Darlington]], Durham, Gateshead, [[Hebburn]], [[Heighington, County Durham|Heighington]], [[Lanchester, County Durham|Lanchester]], [[Ryton, Tyne and Wear|Ryton]], Sedgefield, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, [[Tanfield, Durham|Tanfield]], [[Whickham]] and [[Witton Gilbert]]. A 1740 Act banned smaller meetings but some meetings like Durham survived into the late 19th or early 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Simpson|title=Sport in the North East 1700 to 1999|url=http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Sport.html|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209010448/http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Sport.html|archive-date=9 February 2013}}</ref> 
Racing at Blaydon, which ended in 1916, was commemorated in an 1862 music hall song "[[Blaydon Races]]".
Modern day horse racing is still popular and regular events still take place at Redcar, Newcastle and Sedgefield Race Courses.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Northeast Racecourse Hospitality|title=Racing in the North East|url=http://www.racecoursehospitality.net/Racing_in_the_North_East.aspx|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021011357/http://racecoursehospitality.net/Racing_in_the_North_East.aspx|archive-date=21 October 2013}}</ref>

===Golf===
Golf is a Scottish import to many countries but it is said to have been played in this region by [[St Cuthbert]] on the dunes of the Northumberland coast. The oldest club in Northeast England was [[Alnmouth]] founded in 1869 – the fourth oldest in the country and is now Alnmouth Village Club and an interesting 9 hole links course.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Alnmouth Golf Club|title=History of Alnmouth GC|url=http://www.alnmouthgolfclub.com/pages.php/page/83cdb148-a240-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/view_section.html|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728145425/http://www.alnmouthgolfclub.com/pages.php/page/83cdb148-a240-102c-9079-001ec9b331b2/view_section.html|archive-date=28 July 2013}}</ref> There are three fine old [[links (golf)|links]] courses in this region at Seaton Carew, Goswick and Redcar.
 
[[File:"The Doctor" hole at Seaton Carew Colf Club.jpg|thumb|"The Doctor", a testing golf hole named after Dr McCuaig, founder of Seaton Carew Golf Club. (par 3 encircled by 8 bunkers)]]
 
The first golf course appeared in County Durham in 1874<ref name="Hornby 1974">{{cite book|first=Derek|last=Hornby|title=The History of Seaton Carew Golf Club|date=1974|publisher=Seaton Carew Golf Club}}</ref><ref name="Trotter 2001">{{cite book|first=Ron|last=Trotter|publisher=Seaton Carew Golf Club|title=125 Years of Golf at Seaton Carew 1874–1999|date =2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Hartlepool Mail| title= Recalling a Century of Golf at Seaton Carew|date=5 March 1974}}</ref> at [[Seaton Carew Golf Club]] near Hartlepool.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Seaton Carew Golf Club|title=Seaton Carew Golf Club|url=http://www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk/pages.php/index.html|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724085500/http://www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk/pages.php/index.html|archive-date=24 July 2013}}</ref> It was to become the only course in the whole of the counties of Durham and [[Yorkshire]] and was originally called the Durham and Yorkshire Golf Club and reference to this today remains in the Club's badge. Seaton Carew is the 10th oldest Golf Club in England.<ref>{{cite web|first=Rob|last=Smith|publisher=Golf Monthly|title=Top 100 Golf Courses|date=24 October 2008 |url=http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/courses/tophundred/278744/no-91-seaton-carew.html|access-date=8 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117131929/http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/courses/tophundred/278744/no-91-seaton-carew.html|archive-date=17 January 2010}}</ref> The Club was set up by a newly qualified surgeon from Edinburgh, who played at Musselburgh, when he realised there was nowhere for him to continue to practice his passion for the game. This was Dr. Duncan McCuaig, who had moved down to Teesside shortly after qualifying at [[University of Edinburgh]]. His memory can be recalled when one plays the third hole, a challenging par 3, named "The Doctor". Over the years some of the finest golfers in the country have played the links at Seaton Carew, including the legendary "[[Great Triumvirate (golf)|Great Triumvirate]]" of Golf [[Harry Vardon]], [[John Henry Taylor|John Henry "J H" Taylor]] and [[James Braid (golfer)|James Braid]] and several other Open Champions.<ref name="Hornby 1974"/><ref name="Trotter 2001"/>
 
[[Alister MacKenzie]], the designer of [[Augusta National Golf Club]] in [[Augusta, Georgia]], home of [[Masters Tournament|The Masters]], and the [[Cypress Point Club|Cypress Point]] golf course in [[California]], lengthened the Seaton Carew Course in 1925 to 6,500 yards and designed new holes eastwards including the planting of over 2,000 buckthorn bushes. In 1937, [[Walter Hagen]] played an exhibition match at Seaton Carew during a tour of Europe and commented "It is a splendid course, the links are well groomed. It is not an easy course and provides a good test of golf. It is one I would like to play quite often".<ref>{{cite book|first=Ron|last=Trotter|publisher=Seaton Carew Golf Club|title=125 Years of Golf at Seaton Carew 1847 -1999|year=2001}}</ref> This club by varying the playing sequence of the 22 holes can create 5 different course layouts. In 2014, "flyovers" of all 5 Seaton Carew Golf Course layouts were created with commentaries by TV commentator [[Peter Alliss]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Seaton Carew Golf Club|title=Course Flyover|url=http://www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk/pages.php/page/51febeef-c137-11e3-9d88-002590a5fe03/view_section.html|access-date=18 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716213035/http://www.seatoncarewgolfclub.co.uk/pages.php/page/51febeef-c137-11e3-9d88-002590a5fe03/view_section.html|archive-date=16 July 2014}}</ref> Alliss comments: "The tenth oldest in England and a true championship links to challenge all levels of players."<ref>{{cite news| publisher=Offstone|first=Paul|last=Robinson|title=Northern Golfer – Seaton Carew|page=14|date=July 2014}}</ref>
 
Seaton Carew Golf Club is regular host to top amateur golf competitions. Golf England's [[Brabazon Trophy]] was held at this Club in 1985 and the winner, [[Peter Baker (golfer)|Peter Baker]], went on to Ryder Cup and European Tour success after sharing this amateur title with the North East's Roger Roper (Roper turned professional at the age of 50 in 2007 to compete on the Seniors Professional Tour<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Sports Network|title=PGA Tour Roger Roper|url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=latimes&page=golf-m/stat/GL_playerBio.aspx?PlayerID=10781,|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503015214/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=latimes&page=golf-m%2Fstat%2FGL_playerBio.aspx%3FPlayerID%3D10781%2C|archive-date=3 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=Northern Golfer|title=Roger enjoys a senior moment|url=http://www.northerngolfer.co.uk/roger-enjoys-a-senior-moment/|date=July 2011|access-date=11 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203301/http://www.northerngolfer.co.uk/roger-enjoys-a-senior-moment/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>). In June 2014, the Brabazon Trophy tournament returned to Seaton Carew and in line with the illustrious outcomes for past winners on this course a bright future was predicted for the winner Ben Stow from Wiltshire. Stow equalled the course record on the final day with a "birdie" on the final hole to win the Barabzon Trophy by one shot.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Northern Echo|title=Brabazon Trophy: Big Ben creates a little bit of history for Seaton Carew|date=29 June 2014|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/11308286.Brabazon_Trophy__Big_Ben_creates_a_little_bit_of_history_for_Seaton_Carew/|access-date=10 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134742/http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/11308286.Brabazon_Trophy__Big_Ben_creates_a_little_bit_of_history_for_Seaton_Carew/|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> He subsequently competed internationally, winning the 2018 Prague Golf Challenge.<ref name="European Tour 2021">{{cite web |title=Player profile Ben Stow |url=https://www.europeantour.com/players/ben-stow-38254/?tour=european-tour |website=European Tour |access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref>
 
[[Goswick]] near Berwick on Tweed is a James Braid design masterpiece which is widely acknowledged as a classic Northumberland links course<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Goswick Links Golf Club|title=Goswick Links Golf Club|url=http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828043737/http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/|archive-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> so much so, that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) chose Goswick as a regional qualifier for the [[Open Championship]] for five years from 2008. At [[Redcar]] on Teesside, the [http://www.clevelandgolfclub.co.uk/ Cleveland Golf Course] of 1887 is the oldest in Yorkshire. The Tyneside Golf Club at [[Ryton, Tyne and Wear|Ryton]] dates from 1880 but there may have been earlier courses in the region. During the [[English Civil War]] of 1642–1651, [[King Charles I of England|King Charles]] played 'Goff' in the Shield Fields of the suburb of Pandon near Newcastle during his imprisonment in the town.<ref>{{cite web|first=Eneas|last=McKenzie|publisher=British History Online|title=The suburbs of Pandon|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43339|access-date=20 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907070154/http://british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43339|archive-date=7 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Today inland golf courses are abundant in the northeast of England,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Golf Today|title=Golf Courses in England|url=http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/england.html|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814061538/http://www.golftoday.co.uk/clubhouse/coursedir/england.html|archive-date=14 August 2013}}</ref> [http://www.middlesbroughgolfclub.co.uk/ Middlesbrough's Brass Castle Golf Club] and [[Brancepeth, County Durham|Brancepeth]] Golf Club being two excellent examples from many but those new courses created in the late 20th and early 21st centuries at [[Wynyard Golf Club|Wynyard]], Rockciffe Hall, Slalely Hall  and Close House, have rapidly gained an international reputation and regularly hold professional events such as the Seve Trophy<ref>{{cite news|publisher=GazetteLive|title=Legend Seve comes to Wynyard to unveil new golf trophy|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/legend-seve-comes-wynyard-unveil-3820033|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208150414/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/legend-seve-comes-wynyard-unveil-3820033|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Seniors Tour.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BDaily|title=Rockliffe Hall clinches major European golf tournament bringing thousands to the region|url=https://bdaily.co.uk/hospitality/21-08-2013/rockliffe-hall-clinches-major-european-golf-tournament-bringing-thousands-to-the-region/|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085228/https://bdaily.co.uk/hospitality/21-08-2013/rockliffe-hall-clinches-major-european-golf-tournament-bringing-thousands-to-the-region/|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
 
The region has two professional golfers who are currently prominent in many professional golf tour events: [[Kenneth Ferrie|Kenny Ferrie]] from [[Ashington]] and [[Graeme Storm]] from Hartlepool have both won events on the prestigious [[European Tour]].
 
The largest corporate golf day in the United Kingdom is held annually each September by the members of the Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) when 180 golfers play both the Slaley Hunting and Priestman courses simultaneously, after a shot gun start.<ref>{{cite news|first=Louise|last=Gwynne-Jones|publisher=NEPIC|title=The UK's biggest Golf Day goes off with a bang again!|url=http://www.nepic.co.uk/media_centre/news/details.asp?ntag=1523|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222250/http://www.nepic.co.uk/media_centre/news/details.asp?ntag=1523|archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref>

===Cricket===
[[File:Riverside-ground.jpg|thumb|right|The Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street]]
Cricket has long been a popular sport in the Northeast of England and is said to date back to Elizabethan times. [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club]] was formed in 1863 and Durham County Cricket Club in 1882. After many years of success in the [[Minor Counties Championship]], Durham joined Yorkshire in the senior counties championship in 1992. The Riverside cricket stadium, the home of [[Durham County Cricket Club]]<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Durham County Cricket Club|title=Durham County Cricket Club|url=http://www.durhamccc.co.uk/|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814105047/http://www.durhamccc.co.uk/|archive-date=14 August 2013}}</ref> in Chester-le-Street, in full view of Lumley Castle, is now one of the most picturesque cricket venues in the UK.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} This venue now regularly hosts international cricket; its first "Ashes" Test Match between England and Australia was in August 2013.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Glover|publisher=British Broadcasting Corp|title=Ashes 2013: Durham prepares to host fourth Test|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23534927|date=8 August 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812070743/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23534927|archive-date=12 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> With 320 runs and 15 wickets on the last day of the match, the venue provided "the most high-octane day of a thrilling Test match", and England took an unassailable 3–0 lead against the Australians in the five-match Ashes Test series.<ref>{{cite news|first=Stuart|last=Raynor|publisher=The Journal|title=Thrilling finale to Durham Ashes Test|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/stuart-broad-leads-england-victory-5713015|date=12 August 2013|access-date=21 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102081006/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/sport/cricket/stuart-broad-leads-england-victory-5713015|archive-date=2 November 2013}}</ref>

===Athletics===
[[Athletics (sport)|Athletics]] is a sport of rising popularity since the olympic and international success of Northeast athletes [[Brendan Foster]] in the 1970s and [[Steve Cram]] in the 1980s. Both won international medals and broke world records in middle and long-distance running. Brendan Foster established the annual [[Great North Run]], one of the best known half marathons in which thousands of participants run from Newcastle to South Shields. Brendan Foster, a former school teacher in this region, is also recognised as the driving force behind the creation of the [[Gateshead International Stadium|Gateshead International Athletics Stadium]] which now regularly hosts International Athletics meets and other sporting events.
 
In 2013 the 33rd [[Great North Run]] had 56,000 participants most of whom were raising money for charity. The elite races had Olympic gold medalists and world champion long-distance runners participating including in the men's race, [[Mo Farah]], [[Kenenisa Bekele]] and a regular supporter of the event [[Haile Gebrselassie]]. Ethiopian Bekele won the men's event just ahead of Farah. Kenya's [[Priscah Jeptoo]] came first the women's race and multi Olympic gold medalist [[David Weir (athlete)|David Weir]] won the wheelchair event.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=British Broadcasting Corp|title=Great North Run: Mo Farah narrowly beaten as thousands run|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-24081957|date=15 September 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918165600/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-24081957|archive-date=18 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The founder of the event, [[Brendan Foster]] was reported to be looking forward to 2014 when the Great North Run was scheduled to have its millionth finisher – becoming the first [[IAAF|International Athletics Association]] Event (IAAF) event in the world to reach such a milestone.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Kelly|publisher=The Journal|title=Great North Run: The event that continues to give|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/great-north-run-event-continues-6026465|date=16 September 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918061804/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/great-north-run-event-continues-6026465|archive-date=18 September 2013}}</ref>

The 2014 Great North Run made history with [[Mo Farah]] winning the men's race in a new personal best of just 1 hour. He was challenged all the way but he held off strong competition from Kenya's Mike Kigen.<ref>{{cite news|title=Great North Run 2014: Mo Farah claims first victory|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/29074934|access-date=11 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910230550/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/29074934|archive-date=10 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The millionth finisher of the race was 51-year-old Tracey Cramond of Darlington, who ran to raise funds for the local Teesside charity Butterwick Hospice.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dave|last=Robson|title=Millionth finisher Tracey relives her Great North Run triumph for Stockton hospice|publisher=GazetteLive|url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/millionth-finisher-tracey-relives-great-7738455|date=8 September 2014|access-date=11 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910040642/http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/millionth-finisher-tracey-relives-great-7738455|archive-date=10 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Media==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2023}}
[[File:BBC Newcastle.jpg|thumb|right|[[BBC North East and Cumbria|BBC Broadcasting Centre, Newcastle]]]]

Local media includes:

Regional television is provided by the [[BBC North East and Cumbria]], which broadcasts the regional evening ''[[BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria)|Look North]]'' programme from [[Spital Tongues]] in Newcastle. Its commercial rival, [[ITV Tyne Tees & Border]], broadcasts the evening programme ''[[ITV News Tyne Tees]]'' from Gateshead.

BBC Radios [[BBC Newcastle|Newcastle]] and [[BBC Tees|Tees]]. National radio comes from [[Bilsdale transmitting station|Bilsdale]] on the [[North York Moors]] for Teesside, [[Pontop Pike transmitting station|Pontop Pike]] in County Durham for Tyne and Wear, and [[Chatton transmitting station|Chatton]] near [[Wooler]] for Northumberland. These transmitters are also the main television transmitters. Commercial radio stations such as [[Hits Radio North East]], [[Hits Radio Teesside]], [[Heart North East]], [[Capital North East]], [[Smooth North East]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Teesside]], [[Greatest Hits Radio North East]] and [[Nation Radio North East]]. [[Digital radio in the United Kingdom|Digital radio]] comes from the [[Bauer Radio|Bauer Tyne & Wear]] and [[Bauer Radio|Bauer Teesside]] multiplexes. There are also [[Nova Radio North East]], [[Radio Hartlepool]] and [[Spark FM]] community radio stations.

Regional newspapers include the ''[[Evening Chronicle]], ''[[Sunderland Echo]]'', [[The Journal (Newcastle upon Tyne newspaper)|The Journal]],'' ''[[Evening Gazette (Teesside)|Evening Gazette]]'', ''[[Shields Gazette]]'', ''[[Hartlepool Mail]]'', ''[[The Northern Echo]]'' and the ''Darlington and Stockton Times''. There are also free publications such as ''[[The Ferryhill Chapter]]'', ''[[Bishop Press]]'', ''[[The Hartlepool Post]]'' and ''[[Shildon Town Crier]]''.

==Transport==
===Rail===
[[File:Tyne and Wear and Tees Rail Map.svg|thumb|Commuter rail services in the region]]
[[File:142064 bound for Saltburn departing Darlington (geograph 5655985).jpg|thumb|{{rws|Darlington}} Station]]
* [[East Coast Main Line]] (ECML) calls at [[Newcastle Central Railway Station|Newcastle]], [[Durham railway station|Durham]] and [[Darlington railway station|Darlington]], with fast connections to London and Edinburgh. In May 2018 the UK Government announced that the line was to be re-nationalized for the second time since privatisation in 1997.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44142258|title=State takeover for failed rail franchise|date=16 May 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521153215/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44142258|archive-date=21 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Durham Coast Line]] connects [[Tyne and Wear]] as well as [[Tees Valley]] with the main line. 
*  [[London North Eastern Railway]] serves the full length of the ECML and operates most of the stations on the route.
* [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] links the region with London since December 2007. It does not have electric trains, and uses the [[Northallerton–Eaglescliffe Line]] and Durham Coast Line. Local services along these and most other local routes in the North East are provided by [[Northern (train operating company)|Northern]], based in Manchester. [[TransPennine Express]], also based in Manchester, have long-distance services from the region, via Scarborough and [[West Yorkshire]], to Manchester.
*The [[Tyne and Wear Metro]] is a light rail network which serves the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear's centres as well as at [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle Airport]] and stadiums such as the [[St James' Park]], the [[Stadium of Light]], and [[Gateshead International Stadium|Gateshead International]].

=== Road ===
[[File:Angel of the North silhouette.jpg|thumb|left| ''[[Angel of the North]]'' seen while entering [[Tyneside]]]]
{{See also|Transport in Tyne and Wear|Tees Valley}}
The North East's main arterial carriageway is the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1 road]], which mirrors the East Coast Main Line's course.  In County Durham this road is of [[motorway]] standard and is known as the [[A1(M) motorway|A1(M)]], and in March 2018 a section of A1(M) was opened between [[Barton, North Yorkshire|Barton]] and [[Leeming Bar]] in [[North Yorkshire]] providing a continuous link to the motorway network in the rest of England. However, the A1 is still an all-purpose road in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, and is controversially still single carriageway north of [[Morpeth, Northumberland|Morpeth]], despite being the main trunk route connecting [[Edinburgh]] and Newcastle upon Tyne and having a terrible safety record.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}

A second north–south dual carriageway link is provided by the [[A19 road|A19]] which heads north from [[Thirsk]] (accessed via the A168 from the A1(M) at Dishforth), serving [[Teesside]], [[Peterlee]] and [[Sunderland]] before heading through the [[Tyne Tunnel]] to meet the A1 at [[Seaton Burn]]. The Tyne Tunnel was opened as a single-carriageway in 1967, with a second tunnel opening in February 2011 for dual-ing.

The [[A1 in Newcastle upon Tyne|course of the A1 through Tyne and Wear]] has changed twice during the late 20th century. Originally passing through the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne then, in 1977, it was re-routed to the east of the city through the Tyne Tunnel. In 1993 a second rerouting occurred, along Newcastle Western Bypass, west of the city. Each of these resulted in standing roads to be renumbered, the A1 [[Great Britain road numbering scheme|forms the boundary]] and roads between beginning with 1 and 6.

The [[A66 road|A66]] (Tees Valley) and [[A68 road|A68]] (often following the [[Roman road]] [[Dere Street]]) are cross-country roads over the [[North Pennines]].  The [[A69 road|A69]] heads west along the Tyne Valley to [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] in [[Cumbria]].

=== Sea ===
[[File:Queen of Scandinavia at Newcastle.jpg|thumb|right|[[MS Princess Maria|Queen of Scandinavia]] berthed at North Shields]]

The ferry terminal at [[North Shields]] is accessed via the A187 from the Tyne Tunnel. [[DFDS]] operate two ferries a day to [[Amsterdam]] and, formerly, one a day on the [[Stavanger]] – [[Haugesund]] – [[Bergen]] route.

===Air===
The two main airports are [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle Airport]], located north of the city near [[Ponteland]], and [[Teesside International Airport]], located east of Darlington.

[[File:Great North Air Ambulance G-GNAA.jpg|thumb|[[Great North Air Ambulance]] ]]

The region's population is served by a charitable service known as the [[Great North Air Ambulance]] for those who need rapid transfer to a hospital or medical assistance in difficult or remote locations.

===Transport policy===
{{update section|date=May 2020}}
Long term planning for transport in the region has involved the development of sub regional strategies. This planning also needs to take into account region wide transport schemes such as those carried out by the [[Highways Agency]] and [[Network Rail]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gos.gov.uk/gone/transport/rts/?a=42496|title=Regional Transport Strategy: the National Picture|publisher=Government Office for the North East|access-date=7 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809114435/http://www.gos.gov.uk/gone/transport/rts/?a=42496|archive-date=9 August 2009}}</ref> These activities in the United Kingdom now fall into the remit of the [[Local enterprise partnerships|Local Enterprise Partnerships]] (LEPs) which in the Northeast of England are [https://web.archive.org/web/20131002185100/https://www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk/ Tees valley Unlimited] and the [http://www.nelep.co.uk/ North East LEP].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=UK Government|title=Written Statement to Parliament on Local transport body funding allocations|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/local-transport-body-funding-allocations|date=16 July 2013|access-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901153108/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/local-transport-body-funding-allocations|archive-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Bodies such as the Northeast Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) are providers of significant practical insights to policy makers.<ref>{{cite document|publisher=North East Chamber of Commerce|title=Northeast Business Transport Priorities January 2013|date=January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |website=Institution of Civil Engineers|title=State of the Nation 2013, North East Transport|url=http://www.ice.org.uk/getattachment/9acd4612-5e4e-4a29-b95a-ea797d7a5191/State-of-the-Nation-Transport-ICE-North-East.aspx|access-date=23 August 2013}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Within the region the local transport authorities plan for the future by producing [[Local transport plan|Local Transport Plans (LTP)]] which outline their strategies, policies and implementation programmes.<ref>{{cite web|title=The LTP process|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/theltpprocess|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513051107/http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/theltpprocess|archive-date=13 May 2010|work=Department for Transport|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=15 June 2012}}</ref> The most recent LTP is that for the period 2006–11. In the North East region the following transport authorities have published their LTP online: the 5 [[Tees Valley]] authorities,<ref name=DaLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Transport/Transport+Policy.htm
|title=Darlington 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Darlington Borough Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417152649/http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Transport/Transport+Policy.htm
|archive-date=17 April 2009
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name=HaLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=105&pageNumber=2
|title=Hartlepool 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Hartlepool (borough)|Hartlepool Borough Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716084528/http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=105&pageNumber=2
|archive-date=16 July 2011
}}</ref><ref name=MdLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/transport-and-streets/transport-planning/
|title=Middlesbrough 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Middlesbrough (borough)|Middlesbrough Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615012507/http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/transport-and-streets/transport-planning/
|archive-date=15 June 2009
}}</ref><ref name=R&CLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/main.nsf/Web+Full+List/876E02D44951507C80256FFD002C0188?OpenDocument
|title=Redcar and Cleveland 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Redcar and Cleveland|Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091216005702/http://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/main.nsf/Web+Full+List/876E02D44951507C80256FFD002C0188?OpenDocument
|archive-date=16 December 2009
}}</ref><ref name=SoTLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.stockton.gov.uk/citizenservices/transport/ltp/
|title=Stockton-on-Tees 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Stockton-on-Tees (borough)|Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010152506/http://www.stockton.gov.uk/citizenservices/transport/ltp/
|archive-date=10 October 2008
}}</ref>  [[Durham, England|Durham]],<ref name=DuLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?ServiceId=5685
|title=Durham 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Durham County Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605190531/http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.aspx?ServiceId=5685
|archive-date=5 June 2011
}}</ref> [[Tyne and Wear]]<ref name=LTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tyneandwearltp.co.uk/
|title=Tyne and Wear 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|website=www.tyneandwearltp.co.uk
|publisher=Tyne and Wear LTP
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328033056/http://www.tyneandwearltp.co.uk/
|archive-date=28 March 2009
}}</ref> and [[Northumberland]].<ref name=NhLTP>{{cite web
|url=http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1425
|title=Northumberland 2006–11 Local Transport Plan
|publisher=[[Northumberland County Council]]
|access-date=8 May 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126173841/http://northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1425
|archive-date=26 November 2010
}}</ref>

==Education==
{{More citations needed|1=section|date=January 2023}}
{{Main|Lists of schools in England#North East of England}}

===Primary===
There are over 250 nursery/primary schools in the County Durham area of the north east, which range from schools with their own nursery, to schools that are either infant only or junior only.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ouston-jun.durham.sch.uk/ |title=Home Page |publisher=Ouston Junior School |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030062102/http://www.ouston-jun.durham.sch.uk/ |archive-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> Areas such as [[Gosforth]] have first schools which have neither years 5 nor 6, and therefore educate children up to the age of 8 and 9.

===Secondary===
[[File:Hummersknott School, Edinburgh Drive - geograph.org.uk - 137046.jpg|thumb|[[Hummersknott School]] near Darlington]]
The North East education system consists largely of [[comprehensive school]]s, but a number of private and independent schools are found in Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Darlington, Stockton and in particular, Northumberland.

in 2014 a number of the regions schools were in the top 20%  of schools as measured by SSAT — the UK organisation for school improvement and collaboration — and have been awarded an SSAT Educational Outcomes Award recognising their successes. These schools are Burnside Business & Enterprise College, in Newcastle, Castle View Enterprise Academy, in Sunderland, Emmanuel College, in Gateshead, Greenfield Community College, in Newton Aycliffe, Northumberland Church of England Academy, in Ashington and The North Durham Academy in Stanley.<ref>{{cite news|first=Ruth|last=Lognonne|title=Region's schools ranked among top 20% in the country by the SSAT|publisher=The Journal|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ssat-ranks-north-east-schools-7247154|date=11 June 2014|access-date=18 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614132628/http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ssat-ranks-north-east-schools-7247154|archive-date=14 June 2014}}</ref> The awards, recognised high attainment and outstanding continuous improvement.

The schools in the top 20% for high attainment in GCSE exams were Burnside Business and Enterprise College and Northumberland Church of England Academy

The region's secondary school attendance is the lowest in England at around 125,000, with the next lowest in the [[East Midlands]]. [[Truancy]] at its schools is a mixed picture. It has the second highest overall rate for urban areas, after [[Yorkshire and the Humber]], but the lowest rate in England in its rural areas. Middlesbrough has the region's highest rate with 7.2% persistent truants, which is the second highest rate in England after Manchester (7.3%). Next is Newcastle upon Tyne, with 6.4%, then the former district of [[Wansbeck District|Wansbeck]], with 6.3%

At [[General Certificate of Secondary Education]] (GCSE) level, the region's performance is similar to that of other largely urban areas, although its results are generally below the national average. Middlesbrough tends to perform the worst, and to produce results well below the national average. [[Local education authority|Local education authorities]] (LEAs) in the North East have improved at GCSE in recent years. North Tyneside performed the best in 2011, followed by Gateshead, Northumberland, and Darlington. No LEA in the North-East was above the 2011 national GCSE average. South Tyneside was the lowest for the [[English Baccalaureate]], followed by Middlesbrough and Hartlepool. Gateshead and North Tyneside were the highest, and Gateshead was the only LEA above the national average for this measure.

The region's [[parochial school]]s tend to perform better at GCSE: these include [[St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon]]; [[Emmanuel College, Gateshead]]; [[All Saints Academy, Ingleby Barwick]]; [[EMS Hartlepool|The English Martyrs School, Hartlepool]]; [[St Bede's Catholic School, Lanchester]] and the [[Carmel College, Darlington]]. Other regional schools that perform well include [[Whitley Bay High School]], [[Marden High School]] in Cullercoats, the [[Macmillan Academy]] in Middlesbrough, [[Park View School (Chester-le-Street)|Park View School]] in Chester-le Street and the [[Hurworth School]] near Darlington. Northumberland schools have a [[Three-tier education|three-tier system]], 12 year olds go into high school instead of 11 year olds going into a secondary school.

[[Dame Allan's Schools]], [[Royal Grammar School, Newcastle|Royal Grammar School]] (NRGS), [[Barnard Castle School]] and [[Durham School]] are all members of [[The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]]. The [[Central Newcastle High School]] and the Royal Grammar School were named as among the nation's top 100 independent schools in 2006. Durham School is considered to be one of the oldest schools in the UK, and its Old Boys were the founding members of the original [[Newcastle Falcons]] Rugby club. [[Mowden Hall School]], a selective day and boarding [[Preparatory school (UK)|prep school]] in Northumberland, is another independent school.

===College===
{{more citations needed|date=January 2023|reason=Uses reasonably well, improving and worst performing with no references}}
[[File:QESFC.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|left|[[Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College|QE Sixth Form College]] in Darlington]]
There are sixteen [[further education]] colleges in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skillsnortheast.co.uk |title=North East Skills – The Skills, Trades and Expertise from Leeds to Newcastle |publisher=Skillsnortheast.co.uk |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525210844/http://skillsnortheast.co.uk/ |archive-date=25 May 2013 }}</ref> The main such colleges are [[East Durham College]], [[Newcastle College]], [[New College Durham]], [[Darlington College]], [[Gateshead College]], [[Bishop Auckland College]], [[Stockton Riverside College]], [[Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College]], [[Hartlepool College of Further Education]], [[Middlesbrough College]], [[Northern School of Art and Design]] and [[Sunderland College]]. {{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

North East LEAs at A-level are improving,{{when|date=May 2023}} but produce results below those of other areas of England. Sunderland performed the best in 2011, with consistently good results, followed by Hartlepool and Darlington, which are above the national average, and unrepresentative of most areas in the North East. Darlington's [[Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College]] is one of the highest-rated colleges in England. The area's [[Catholic school]]s all do reasonably well at A level. Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland and Newcastle were also above England's average.

Many of region's colleges provide [[higher education]] validated by a university.

===University===
[[File:Newcastle University campus.jpg|thumb|Newcastle University]]
The North East has five universities; [[Durham University]], [[Newcastle University]] (both in the [[Russell Group]]), [[Northumbria University]] in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]], [[Teesside University]] ([[Middlesbrough]] and [[Darlington]]) and the [[University of Sunderland]].

==See also==
{{Portal|North East England}}
* [[Kingdom of Northumbria]]
* [[Bernicia]]
* [[Northumbrian music]]
* [[Northumbrian smallpipes]]
* [[English of Northumbria]]
* [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Demographics of Tees Valley]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Cunningham, Sean. "Henry VII and rebellion in north-eastern England, 1485–1492: bonds of allegiance and the establishment of Tudor authority." ''Northern History'' 32.1 (1996): 42–74.
* Ellis, Steven G. "Region and Frontier in the English State: the English Far North, 1296–1603" (2009) [http://www.cliohworld.net/onlread/4/05.pdf online].
* Green, Adrian Gareth, and Anthony James Pollard, eds. ''Regional identities in north-east England, 1300–2000'' (Boydell Press, 2007).
* Lancaster, Bill. "The North East, England's most distinctive region." in ''An agenda for regional history'' (2007): 27+.
* Lomas R. ''North-east England in the Middle Ages'' (Edinburgh, 1992).
* Namier, Lewis. "North-Eastern England in the Eighteenth Century." ''History Today'' (July 1953) 3#7 pp 484–489. 
* Palliser, David Michael. ''Medieval York: 600–1540'' (Oxford University Press, 2014).
* Pollard, A. J. ''North-eastern England During the Wars of Roses: Lay Society, War, and Politics, 1450–1500'' (Oxford University Press, 1990).
* Tomaney, John. "In search of English regionalism: the case of the North East." ''Scottish Affairs'' 28.1 (1999): 62–82.

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|North East England}}
{{commons category|North East England}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081228021047/http://www.go-ne.gov.uk/ Government Office for the North East official site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090228063123/http://www.northeastcouncils.gov.uk/ Association of Northeast Councils (ANEC)]
* [http://www.necc.co.uk/ Northeast Chamber of Commerce (NECC)]
* [http://www.nepic.co.uk/ Northeast of England Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC)]
* [http://nelep.co.uk/ North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP)]
* [http://nelep.co.uk/enterprise-zone/ North East Enterprise Zone] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133253/http://nelep.co.uk/enterprise-zone/ |date=2 April 2015 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131002185100/https://www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk/ Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129175106/https://www.teesvalleyunlimited.gov.uk/tees-valley/enterprise-zone.aspx Tees Valley Enterprise Zone]

{{United Kingdom topics}}
{{English regions}}
{{NE England}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:North East England| ]]
[[Category:Northern England|.]]
[[Category:Regions of England]]
[[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of England]]
[[Category:NUTS 1 statistical regions of the European Union]]