During the First World War a thriving Belgian community lived at Elisabethville in North East England.
It was home to a few thousand Belgians, including disabled soldiers and their families.
The work here was manufacturing shells.
Security was tight, permits were needed to enter. Elisabethville was surrounded by railings,
a British policeman stood on guard at the gate. Living accommodation was of a reasonable
standard, in rows of wooden houses.
Besides the munitions factories the area had a British post office and a shop for groceries and
household supplies. Also a licensed premises, a restaurant, its own butchery, hairdresser and
a photographer. Thanks to his work photographs of the area still survive.
When hostilities ended many Belgians returned to Belgium. Little survives of Elisabethville as
it was, the Three Tuns public house overlooks the site. Elisabethville school survived until the 1970s.
Elisabethville is spelt with an S, not a Z, it was named in honour of the Queen of the Belgians,Elisabeth.
More information on the Birtley Belgians can be found in a a book 'Of Arms & The Heroes' written by John Bygate.
It is published by the History of Education Project, Miners Hall, Red HIll, Durham DH1 4BB.
