Billingham is said to be one of the oldest settlements in the Tees Valley, dating back at least a thousand years. Billingham has been transformed into a bustling and thriving community, and is closely associated with the petrochemical industry. Its modern image belies its ancient origins with the old village green and the nearby Church of St Cuthbert's Tower, testifying to its long history.
The town is also a great cultural centre, playing host to the Billingham International Folklore Festival since 1965. For the following 40 years the town has enjoyed the sights of thousands of performers from all around the world.
The Art Gallery is a popular venue for art and craft exhibitions.
Market day in the town centre is on a Monday!
On the outskirts of the town, the magnificently restored Wynyard Hall development has provided a business park, leisure facilities, including a challenging new golf course, luxury homes and a village in 5,000 acres of park land.
Billingham is also home to an amazing variety of wildlife. Wildlife reserves including the internationally important bird sanctuary at Seal Sands, is home to a resident colony of grey seals and rare marsh orchids.
The Billingham Partnership is a locally-based body which is working with Stockton Council and other organisations and individuals to regenerate the town and, in particular, the town centre. For more details, see The Billingham Partnership's website: http://www.billinghampartnership.org.uk/
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