Community leaders have rallied round to defend a North-East town after a national newspaper cast aspersions on it. Andy Walker reports

AS far as attacks on us Northern people by Southerners go, we’ve probably heard worse. But we couldn’t let the Daily Telegraph jotting Darlington down in a list of “misleading place names” pass by without mention.

The insult came from a story about a group of friends in the London district of South Norwood who were claiming their patch had a greater claim on the name Lake District than the famous national park.

Their email to tourism chiefs in Cumbria pointed out that South Norwood has two lakes, while the most of those in the actual Lake District are known by other names, such as mere and water.

All of which semantic jiggery-pokery led to journalists at Telegraph Towers deciding, in their wisdom, to compile the aforementioned list, which is when the perceived affront to Darlington was made.

Have a look through the list, it’s on the Telegraph’s website. Darlington is the only town mentioned, most of the other entries are street names or tourist attractions, such as Leeds Castle, in Kent. Fair enough.

Darlington’s entry, complete with a photograph of a popular chain of £1 stores, on High Row, asks, “Would you take a loved one here?”

Have the good people at the Telegraph seen the word “darling” in the name, put two and two together and come up with a contraction of Darling Town as an explanation of how the town got its name?

The origins of the name Darlington are a matter for debate among those with an interest in toponymy, but a quick leaf through the history books would have told Telegraph journalists that it actually derives from the Anglo- Saxon Dearthington, which seemingly meant “the settlement of Deornoth’s people”. There’s more to it than that, but space is limited.

It’s a reasonable bet, although we can’t be certain, that whoever wrote that dismissive line about Darlington has only ever passed through the town from the comfort of the firstclass carriage on an East Coast train.

You don’t need a list of Darlington’s charms – if you live here, chances are you know of some I’m not aware of. If you live elsewhere, visit some time and see for yourself.

Here’s a few, though, just to whet your appetite: the five-star Rockliffe Hall Hotel; a 150- year-old covered market and award-winning Sunday market; the Head of Steam museum near North Road Station and the much-talked about brick train sculpture, both celebrating the town’s railway heritage; the Victorian waterworks at Tees Cottage pumping station and the 25,000-seat Northern Echo Arena, former home to Darlington FC, now given new life as the home of Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Club.

DARLO-DWELLERS born and bred, as well as those who have adopted the place as their own, have been quick to stand up for the place.

Shaun Campbell, who founded the Arthur Wharton Foundation and helped save Darlington FC, says: “I came to Darlington for a week, 30 years ago and met my darling. Tons of love for her, married, three daughters.”

Council leader Bill Dixon describes Darlington as a great place, while the town’s recentlyretired police chief Andy Reddick says: “The article is probably written by some ill-informed Southerner, who has clearly never been to Darlington.

“I had the choice when I left the Army, more than 20 years ago, of living anywhere in the UK. I chose to come here and I still enjoy living here.”

Beryl Hankin, who has run clothes boutique Guru in the town for more than 40 years, adds: “What really makes a place is the warmth of the people.”

Later this month, Darlington will be laid out in a television advert for millions of people to see.

Paid for by the town’s business improvement district company, Distinct Darlington, the advert will be screened on ITV on April 18.

It aims to encourage more people to visit the town for their shopping, socialising, leisure and business activities and promises a snapshot of Darlington life.

Distinct Darlington manager Alex Swan said: “We wholeheartedly disagree with the Daily Telegraph’s portrayal of Darlington as a misleading place name and its questioning of bringing loved ones to visit.

“Darlington is a vibrant town full of history, with lots to offer any visitors.”

Alasdair MacConachie, managing director of car dealership Sherwoods, who has been described as Mr Darlington, is also full-voiced in his defence of the town.

He says: “There is no doubt that a lot has been done to improve High Row and the surrouding areas.

“A lot of people enjoy coming to Darlington, and it is easy to get to, particularly by train.

“It is a good town, I love it a lot, and from our business perspective, I cannot think of a better place to be.”

The Northern Echo contacted Telegraph Media Group’s head of travel, Charlie Starmer- Smith, to request an explanation. So far, none has been forthcoming.