Hemlington was built on farmland during the 1960s and expanded thereafter. Coulby Newham lies on the outskirts and the villages of East Stainton and Stainton are to the south-west. Originally a farming community, it was built to provide affordable housing for the increasing population of Middlesbrough. A local hospital was set in the countryside until the late 1980s when it was closed and later demolished: it had been built in 1895 as an infectious control hospital but then during the wars was used for treatment of war injuries. Hemlington became the Regional and Miscellaneous Green Flag Award Winner for 2007/2008
Governance
Hemlington is currently in two electoral wards: Hemlington and Stainton & Thornton. It is in the Parliamentary Constituency of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.
Local facilities and amenities
The main shopping centre is Viewley Hill Shopping Centre. The Parkway Centre, with facilities including a leisure centre, fast food restaurants, and DIY stores, is in Coulby Newham. Hemlington local leisure amenities are mostly centred on a area of open parkland which has been split into two sites: Hemlington Recreation Centre and Hemlington Hall Farm. The recreation centre includes an activity hall, with classes for children and adults, a small gym, and outdoor leisure facilities. The farm outbuildings are used as a drop in facility for the 'Linx' detached youth work project, and provide changing facilities for football pitches, canoe and kayak storage areas, and a small classroom. 'The Unicorn Centre' is horse-riding centre for disabled people. The 'Initiative Centre' is an adult education and job resource training centre for skills training and getting people back to employment. Hemlington Lake's wildlife includes kingfishers, mute swans, tufted and ruddy ducks, seasonal visitors, and a population of watervoles. The Bluebell Beck Woodland Walk, around the lake, includes both metal and chainsaw sculptures. In 2010 Charles, Prince of Wales visited the lake. The four churches at Hemlington, St Timothy's Church of England, Providence Baptist Church, All Nations Church which is an Assemblies of God church, and St Mary's RC Cathedral, provide for services and local community groups. Hemlington has three primary schools: Viewley Hill Primary School, Hemlington Hall Primary School and St. Gerard's RC Primary School. The main transport from Hemlington is a public bus service operated byStagecoach. The nearest railway station is away in Nunthorpe.
