Seaton Delaval

Seaton Delaval is a village in Northumberland, England, with a population of 4,371. It is the largest of the five villages in Seaton Valley and is the site of Seaton Delaval Hall, the masterpiece completed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1727.HistoryThe place-name 'Seaton Delaval' was first attested as 'Seton de la Val' in 1270. 'Seaton' simply means 'sea town', referring to the village's nearness to the North Sea. The land was held by the Delaval family, who took their name from Laval in Maine in France. Their descendants are still major landholders in the area today, and the current Lord Hastings has the first name Delaval: he is Delaval Astley, 23rd Baron Hastings.The folk song "Blackleg Miner" mentions the village: Oh, Delaval is a terrible placeThey rub wet clay in the blackleg's face.And around the heaps they run a foot race,To catch the blackleg miner! So divint gang near the Seghill mine.Across the way they stretch a line,To catch the throat and break the spineOf the dirty blackleg miner!GovernanceFrom 1974 the village was part of the Blyth Valley borough, but as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England responsibility was transferred to Northumberland County Council. The village is in the NE25 post code area and the postal town of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Unlike other parts of Northumberland, Seaton Delaval and the surrounding villages use the Tyne and Wear 0191 area code.