is she a fuchsia?

My Lady Boothby fuchsia doesn't row more than 3' any year, but she's in the warmest area of my garden, a bit of wind tunnel, in amongst other plants, 1000' up a hill, and she's survived year in year out. Even the last winter, which made her perform better this year.

Lady Boothby is said to be hardy. It grows in my garden but in a sheltered spot.
I also have one in a tub which I move into a shed for winter. That's incase the soil in the pot freezes and damages the root too much.

Since you are in the NE of England it might be much colder there than in SW Wales where I live, so maybe you could give yours some protection.

I've neglected my Lady Boothby for the last twenty years - even botching the how and when of pruning it, and it just keeps going. I'm in central Scotland and the plant is against an east facing wall. Hope this helps. :)