Sadberge Parish Council / Village Hall

Sadberge is situated on a high hill with commanding views of the surrounding countryside –Teesside and the Cleveland Hills lay to the east, with the Vale of York stretching to the south, the Durham plateau rises to the north and the Yorkshire Dales to the west. There have been settlements on the site since Roman and Saxon times. Evidence shows the remains of the Roman road, the Rykeneild Street, which connected the south and north of the land. The modern Sadberge developed from these historical beginnings.

In Anglo-Saxon times its geographical position being on a north/south and east/west crossroads,gave further rise to its significance.  Sadberge was a “Saxon Wapentake” -land was held by military service, by touching a weapon and swearing fealty which bound the holder and his attendants to defend the district which they represented. It also had judicial power, governing its own affairs, with its own “Assize Court and Gaol”, hence its name means “Hill of Pleas”.  The last Assizes were recorded in 1457.In his book ‘The History of Sadberge’ Rev Lancaster Taylor, of St Andrew’s Church, tells us the courthouse was believed to be sited in a group of properties now comprising Hillside Terrace, with the gaol believed to have been sited on the north end of these buildings.

St Andrew’s church is at the highest point of the village, built on the site of previous places of worship, in the 8th Century, a little Saxon Church was built there. This church was replaced by a larger Norman one in 1266, with the existing one replacing the Norman Church in 1831. The churchyard bears some of the names of former village families who have played their part in its community history. The village is now increasingly diverse, home to many commuters working in nearby Teesside and Darlington and in turn residents continue to contribute to the enjoyment of community life.

Horse-drawn carriages would have stopped at The Buck Inn., from which market gardens, fishmongers and butchers sold their fresh produce.  Later, the local grocery shops and post office which served the community also closed.  Two out of three public houses remain an active part of village life.

“The Beacon”is situated on the high ground opposite Beacon Hill near the old reservoir; it was last used to mark the millennium.

Sadberge is a rural community, although farming is no longer a main occupation. There were eight working farms in and around Sadberge at the turn of the last century with two remaining today. A tannery, then at the north side of the village green, provided much employment for the first part of the last century. A blacksmith’s shop served both these industries. Earlier occupations included shoe making, carpentry and horse-training. Builders and road-makers maintained the toll road.

Currently the “sheep” on the village greens don’t eat much grass!but remind us of a time when sheep were kept on the greens. Sometimes roundabouts and stalls provided great fun for all when fairs and feasts took place, and has seen the tradition of more modern festivals in recent times, attracting many families and visitors alike.

The “Queen Victoria Oak Tree” was planted in the centre of the village to commemorate her golden jubilee in 1888. The nearby boulder was found during the building of the reservoir; thought to be as a result of the ice age. Local residents moved the boulder to its current position on the green; it is now known as the “Jubilee Stone”.

Sadberge has always shown, and maintains, a keen sense of community. It was important,following the First World War to honour those villagers who had made the ultimate sacrifice. After the war the Parish Council began negotiations and made plans to obtain a place for the community to meet together, share social events and discuss the issues of the day at meetings. With help of some local donations,councillors agreed to purchase a former guard hut from Ripon. This wooden hut became the World War One Memorial Institute, erected on the site where Berry Court now stands. It was the forerunner of the now thriving active Sadberge Village Hall,opened in 1977, village traditions of pantomimes, Spring shows with favourite exhibitions of home – made produce; celebrations of the May queen and important national events,once again became a popular part of community life. Sadberge Village Hall Association continues to support community needs.

The very first school in Sadberge was built by the church in the southeast corner of the ancient Churchyard and Hampass in 1799, open until 1868, when it fell into disrepair, it was superseded by a new school, built on the current site at the village hall. This closed in the 1970s. Children went to the new school at St Andrew’s Close, but as numbers declined it too closed in 2004 and was sold for housing development, now St Andrew’s Close. Toddler and play groups, preceded what is now a very successful Pre-School which operates in the Village Hall.