With an increasing population Ashington soon merged with Hirst (then defined as two seperate area's either side of the railway line) as the need for extra housing, shops, schools, churches and means of leisure grew.

After much opposition liquor licenses were eventually granted - interestingly after Jonathon Preistman, the original Quaker coal owner died in 1889. The most impressive buildings of this kind erected were the Portland and Grand hotels which were followed by a number of workingmens social clubs. While the Portland is still standing, the Grand was demolished in 1983.

The Miners Hall was opened in 1896 and provided a building large enough for meetings, entertainment and cultural activities. Today it is sadly no longer standing and is probably more fondly remembered as the "Regal" cinema.

The Harmonica Hall where the Ashington Amateur Orchestral Society met was built at 111 Station Road in 1897 and in the 1960's became known as the "Three One's" nightclub after its address.

Art Deco in style, the Methodist Central Hall was built as an extension to Lesser Hall on Woodhorn Road in 1923/4 by Brocklehurst & Co of Manchester. During its hey-day it became the centre of the towns cultural activites hosting concerts and showing films. Demolished in 1989, an Old People's home now stands on the site.

Ashington Police Station on the far side of Station Road was built in 1897 with the Magistrates Court added later in 1926. It was closed in the early 1990's when a new Police Station was opened at the bottom of Lintonville Terrace. Today it has re-opened and is known as the Kings Church.

The Co-operative Society building on Woodhorn Road near the town centre was designed in 1924 by Harrison, Ash & Blyth of Newcastle with the opening ceremony taking place during early May of 1926 as a terracotta fronted shopping arcade with offices and a ballroom above.

Originally the ground floor was open-plan with an imperial grand staircase leading to its upper floor but as time passed the space was divided into smaller units which catered for various shopping needs. Today it has reverted back to its original wide design.

The Council Chambers on the far side of Station bridge was built and opened in 1912. The seal of the local Authority shows the Duke pit heapstead and the motto "Labor Omnia Vincit" - Labor conquers all.

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Wansbeck

The district of Wansbeck was formed in 1974 by the amalgamation of Ashington, Newbiggin and Bedlingtonshire.

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Woodhorn

Woodhorn is of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning wood corner or "Wudecestre" meaning Woodchester and was once an ecclesiastic parish consisting of a few farms, cottages and an old mill which still stands to this day minus its sails. The mill (built c1880) itself stands on a hill and was once used as a familiar landmark for sailors out in the north sea to navigate by.

Woodhorn is now much reduced in size but its most famous building is the Anglo Saxon church dedicated to St Mary. The first church on the site was probably built of wood when in 739 King Ceowulf granted land to the monks of Lindisfarne. Inside the church is an effigy of Dame Agnes de Valance, wife of High Balliol, brother of Edward Balliol who was made King of Scotland by Edward I.

Woodhorn used to belong to the Widdrington family but whose land was forfeited during the Jacobite rebellion. The Waddiloves acquired the land and became Lords of the Manor during the years that followed the uprising.

In 1855 the parish of Woodhorn included Cresswell, Ellington, Hirst, North Seaton and Newbiggin though with the creation of Wansbeck District much of this has changed today.