Consett, County Durham

From rural hamlet to steel giant, the name Consett was first recorded as Conekesheued in the Boldon Book survey of 1183, and by the 17th century it was a small rural settlement. The area’s transformation began in the 17th century, when German sword makers settled nearby in Shotley Bridge. The Derwent Valley, rich in iron ore and coking coal, became a cradle of the British steel industry. In 1840, the Derwent Iron Company was founded, later becoming the Consett Iron Company. By 1882, it shifted from iron to steel production and Consett rapidly grew into one of the world’s major steel producing towns. The Consett Steel Works dominated the town’s economy for over a century and in 1967, it was absorbed into British Steel. The closure of the steel works in 1980 was a devastating blow, leading to mass unemployment and economic hardship. Following the closure, the Project Genesis Trust was formed to regenerate the area. The former steelworks site was redeveloped for housing, retail and leisure, helping to reshape Consett’s identity. Consett now thrives as a commuter town for Newcastle and Durham, with a growing population and renewed community spirit. Though the steelworks are gone, the town’s industrial legacy is still deeply woven into its landscape and identity. https://www.instagram.com/brett.g.cooper/ Music: Sunspots by Jeremy Blake DJI Mini4k