Editing Darlington (section)

==Culture and landmarks==
{{more citations needed|section|date=January 2015}}
{{multiple images
|total_width=300px
|perrow=2
|header=Buildings of Darlington
|image1= Mowden Hall Darlington - geograph.org.uk - 1327599.jpg
|image2=Sockburn Hall geograph-2364079-by-Mick-Garratt.jpg
|image3=Majestic Theatre, Harrison & Johnson's and Summerhouse (geograph 5176426).jpg
|image4= The Civic Theatre on Victoria Road, Darlington (geograph 4021047).jpg
|footer=
Landmarks from top left to bottom right:<br />Mowden Hall, Sockburn Hall, the Majestic Theatre (left of the photo) and the Hippodrome theatre
}}
===Theatre===
The former Civic Theatre, now ''The Hippodrome'', is a popular arts venue in the town, hosting a mix of musicals, dramas, plays and pantomimes. In 2016, Darlington Civic Theatre closed to mark the start of a £12.3&nbsp;million renovation project that included a £4.5&nbsp;million lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and revamped as ''The Hippodrome'' and connects to the children's theatre ''Hullabaloo''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darlington Hippodrome |url=https://pictosign.co.uk/project/darlington-hippodrome/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212234643/https://pictosign.co.uk/project/darlington-hippodrome/ |archive-date=12 December 2022 |access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref>

===Friends' Meeting House ===
The Friends' Meeting House in Skinnergate is a Grade II* listed building. The Friends (Quakers) have met on this site since 1678, having previously met in private homes. The present building dates mainly from 1846.<ref>{{cite web |title=Darlington Quakers and the Friends Meeting House - The Meeting House |url=https://www.darlingtonquakers.org/our-heritage/the-meeting-house/ |website=www.darlingtonquakers.org |access-date=27 November 2023 |language=en |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005032007/https://www.darlingtonquakers.org/our-heritage/the-meeting-house/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{NHLE | num=1121255 | desc=Friends Meeting House, Darlington | access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref> Upstairs of The Quaker meeting house is home to Artist Lucas Roy. Lucas is an international fine artist who gained credit for his early work dedicated to the [[National Health Service|NHS]] during the [[COVID-19]] pandemic.[https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18496426.kissing-rainbows-nhs-mural-pops-darlington-street-county-durham-artist-lucas-roy/] 

===Forum Music Centre===
The Forum Music Centre, opened in 2004, hosts regular live music events, from Ska and Punk to Indie and Classic Rock. It also runs a comedy club. As well as live music, the facility houses a state of the art recording studio and several rehearsal rooms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Forum Music Centre, Darlington Events & Tickets 2022 |url=https://www.ents24.com/darlington-events/the-forum-music-centre |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212234517/https://www.ents24.com/darlington-events/the-forum-music-centre |archive-date=12 December 2022 |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=Ents24}}</ref> The Carmel Rhythm Club, at Carmel College in the Hummersknott end of town, was another music venue. It opened the same year as the Forum.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2006 |title=Welcome to Otis |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/welcome-to-otis-3764268 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213210541/https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/welcome-to-otis-3764268 |archive-date=13 December 2022 |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>

===Dog show===
Darlington Dog Show was a championship event from 1969. It was usually held in September on the showground in [[South Park, Darlington|South Park]]; but it has now moved to Ripon.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2022 |title=40 adorable pictures from the Darlington Dog Show |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/22312993.40-adorable-pictures-2022-darlington-dog-show/ |access-date=25 March 2023 |archive-date=25 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325193724/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/22312993.40-adorable-pictures-2022-darlington-dog-show/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Churches===
Darlington has a wide array of churches scattered around the town including the iconic and notable parish church of [[St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington|St Cuthbert's]] in the centre of town, with a towering spire and a grade I [[listed building|listed]] status. Other churches include [[Methodist]], [[Baptist]], [[Roman Catholic]] and [[Jehovah Witness]] places of worship, as well as [[Holy Trinity Church, Darlington|Holy Trinity Church]] and the grade II listed [[St John's Church, Darlington|St John the Evangelist Church]] which closed for worship in 2023.<ref name="larman">{{Cite news |last=Larman |first=Connor |date=7 February 2023 |title='Incredibly sad' – Darlington church closes its doors after final service |language=en |work=The Northern Echo |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23304150.darlingtons-st-johns-church-closes-doors-last-service/ |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611140201/https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23304150.darlingtons-st-johns-church-closes-doors-last-service/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Mosque===
The Jamia Mosque and Islamic Society of Darlington is located in the North Lodge Terrace area of the town,<ref>'[https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/10037142.DARLINGTON_BOROUGH_COUNCIL/ Darlington Borough Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130935/https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/10037142.DARLINGTON_BOROUGH_COUNCIL/ |date=12 February 2019 }}', ''Darlington & Stockton Times'' (9 November 2012).</ref><ref>David Roberts, "'Flash demo' condemned by Muslims", ''The Northern Echo'' (19 May 2011).</ref> an area with a relatively high proportion of ethnic minority residents (39.2% of the population in that area, compared to a town average of 6.3%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northgate E00062324 |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/northgate-e00062324#sthash.NOEL9H0Y.dpbs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811133053/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/northgate-e00062324#sthash.NOEL9H0Y.dpbs |archive-date=11 August 2020 |access-date=3 January 2020 |website=UK Census Data}}</ref> Constituted as a charity under UK law in 1982,<ref>'[https://web.archive.org/web/20190301102739/http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=513731&subid=0 Islamic Society Of Darlington]', Registered charities in England and Wales.</ref> the mosque offers worship facilities, as well as Islamic education, and has its own [[telecommunications]] mast for calls to prayer.<ref>'[https://web.archive.org/web/20190301102739/https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/10037142.DARLINGTON_BOROUGH_COUNCIL/ Darlington Borough Council]', ''Darlington & Stockton Times'' (9 November 2012).</ref>