^{Welcome to}

^{Prudhoe Town Council}

^{A NEW WEBSITE IS ON THE WAY!}

Enjoy this birds-eye perspective of Prudhoe put together by Prudhoe Community High School students Bailey Maughan and Daniel Bell.

Prudhoe is a former mining community and castle town in the west of Northumberland. Pronounced Prud-duh in the local dialect (Pru-doe if you want to sound posh!), the town has a population of over 12,000 making it the largest town in west Northumberland.

There is some debate over the name and origins of the town. Popular among some people is the view that the name of the town means 'Proud Heights', derived from its prominent location on the south side of Tyne Valley, in particular, the prominent spur on which Prudhoe Castle now resides.

However, according to place name expert Allen Mawer, it is more likely that the name is derived from Anglian/Old Northern English Prudan Hoh, that is Pruda's Heel in modern English ('Pruda' being a personal name, probably of a local Anglian headman or chief, and 'heel' being the prominent spur of land on which the castle stands).

(photograph by Richard Hammond)

Little is known about early medieval Prudhoe. Now regarded as a jewel in the crown, Prudhoe Castle was built by the Normans to subjugate the English population. During the middle ages, the castle was a stronghold of the Percy family and it played a role during the border wars. The castle is now a major tourist attraction.

The 19th century saw significant expansion of the town in both economic and population terms, driven by industrial expansion, in particular, mining and brick manufacturing. Today Prudhoe still has a manufacturing core to its economy, such as SCA hygiene products manufacturer and Hammerite paint works. However, a large proportion of the town are now commuters who work on Tyneside.

The Town Council was formed in 1974 following the merger of Prudhoe Urban District Council with other councils to form Tynedale District Council (which was abolished in 2009). The Council has 15 members and employs a full-time Clerk and Administrator.