Ponteland
Encyclopedia
Ponteland is a village situated in Northumberland
near Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
. The name means island in the Pont (the river which flows through the village), as the area consisted of a small piece of solid ground around St. Mary's church and the old bridge, surrounded by marshland. This marshland is now drained, with housing built on top of it. The Pont river joins the Blyth river further downstream. The old village has been greatly enlarged by the development of the affluent residential area of Darras Hall
.
. The remains were incorporated into the building now occupied by the Blackbird Inn, which is rumoured to contain an old tunnel connecting it to St. Mary's church. The tunnel is supposedly bricked up behind the fireplace in The Tunnel Room.
(later part of the LNER) from Newcastle upon Tyne
, with a short spur to Darras Hall, but this line was an early casualty, losing its passenger services in 1929 after passenger numbers failed to meet expectations. There were initially plans to electrify the line, these being abandoned in 1907. However, a substantial part of the branch has since been resurrected as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro
system, to serve Newcastle Airport.
is a popular choice for many of the north-east's wealthy residents and many people associated with Newcastle United Football Club live on the estate including Alan Shearer
, Peter Beardsley
, Chris Morgan
, Steven Taylor
and Terry McDermott
.
In December 2005 the estate was the focus of considerable media attention when a convicted rapist moved to the estate after purchasing a house with his National Lottery
winnings. For months after purchasing his house, he was bombarded with threats and constant media exposure.
One of the oldest houses, or farms as it was at the time, situated in the Darras Hall area, is Little Callerton House. The Old Mill, the house where Alan Shearer used to live, and various other dwellings in the area belonged to Little Callerton House, which is approximately 450 years old.
On the edge of the estate at High Callerton, Rebellion House is a 16th century bastle
, altered and extended in the 17th century.
is a little further along the road on the site of an old Somerfield store. It is one of only a few Waitrose stores in the North East of England.
Ponteland is also the home of the Northumbria Police
force HQ.
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
near Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name means island in the Pont (the river which flows through the village), as the area consisted of a small piece of solid ground around St. Mary's church and the old bridge, surrounded by marshland. This marshland is now drained, with housing built on top of it. The Pont river joins the Blyth river further downstream. The old village has been greatly enlarged by the development of the affluent residential area of Darras Hall
Darras Hall
Darras Hall is a housing estate that resides on the suburbs of Ponteland approximately 8 miles to the north of Newcastle Upon Tyne. It is approximately 2 miles away from Newcastle International Airport and is one of the most affluent estates in the North East of England. Some famous current and...
.
Landmarks
Ponteland is notable for a ruined pele tower, its bridge, and two churches: St. Mary's and St. Matthew's. Ponteland previously boasted a small castle or tower house, which was largely destroyed by the Scottish army under the Earl of Douglas, the day before the Battle of OtterburnBattle of Otterburn
The Battle of Otterburn took place on the 5 August 1388, as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scottish and English.The best remaining record of the battle is from Jean Froissart's Chronicles in which he claims to have interviewed veterans from both sides of the battle...
. The remains were incorporated into the building now occupied by the Blackbird Inn, which is rumoured to contain an old tunnel connecting it to St. Mary's church. The tunnel is supposedly bricked up behind the fireplace in The Tunnel Room.
Transport
Ponteland was once served by a branch line of the North Eastern RailwayNorth Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
(later part of the LNER) from Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, with a short spur to Darras Hall, but this line was an early casualty, losing its passenger services in 1929 after passenger numbers failed to meet expectations. There were initially plans to electrify the line, these being abandoned in 1907. However, a substantial part of the branch has since been resurrected as part of the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
system, to serve Newcastle Airport.
Sports
- Ponteland UnitedPonteland United F.C.Ponteland United F.C. are a football club based in Ponteland, England. They currently play in the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division. They play at Ponteland Leisure Centre....
— the local football club. - http://www.ponteland-cricket.co.uk Ponteland CC)] - the local cricket club
- Ponteland RFC — the local Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club.
Darras Hall
The affluent housing estate of Darras HallDarras Hall
Darras Hall is a housing estate that resides on the suburbs of Ponteland approximately 8 miles to the north of Newcastle Upon Tyne. It is approximately 2 miles away from Newcastle International Airport and is one of the most affluent estates in the North East of England. Some famous current and...
is a popular choice for many of the north-east's wealthy residents and many people associated with Newcastle United Football Club live on the estate including Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer OBE, DL is a retired English footballer. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and for the England national team...
, Peter Beardsley
Peter Beardsley
Peter Andrew Beardsley MBE is an English former footballer who played between 1979 and 1999. He once set a record transfer fee in the game and represented his country 59 times between 1986 and 1996, once as captain...
, Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan
Chris Morgan may refer to:*Chris Morgan, alias of wrestler Chris Kanyon*Chris Morgan , English football player*Chris Morgan , American tobacco pipe artist...
, Steven Taylor
Steven Taylor
Steven or Steve Taylor may refer to:*Steve Taylor American singer; keyboardist for Rogue Wave*Steven Taylor , English footballer playing for Newcastle United*Steven W...
and Terry McDermott
Terry McDermott
Terence "Terry" McDermott is a former football midfielder and current coach. He is currently the assistant manager at League One side Huddersfield Town.He is the father of Newcastle United player Greg McDermott and Marsaxlokk player Neale McDermott-Early career:McDermott joined Bury as a youngster...
.
In December 2005 the estate was the focus of considerable media attention when a convicted rapist moved to the estate after purchasing a house with his National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
winnings. For months after purchasing his house, he was bombarded with threats and constant media exposure.
One of the oldest houses, or farms as it was at the time, situated in the Darras Hall area, is Little Callerton House. The Old Mill, the house where Alan Shearer used to live, and various other dwellings in the area belonged to Little Callerton House, which is approximately 450 years old.
On the edge of the estate at High Callerton, Rebellion House is a 16th century bastle
Bastle house
Bastle houses are a type of construction found along the Anglo-Scottish border, in the areas formerly plagued by border Reivers. They are farmhouses, characterised by elaborate security measures against raids...
, altered and extended in the 17th century.
Amenities
Ponteland has two public houses, the Seven Stars and the Diamond Inn, and two major supermarket chains have stores in the village. A Sainsburys sits on the site of an old petrol station (above it is an Italian Restaurant called Frattelli's), opposite the Diamond Inn, and WaitroseWaitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
is a little further along the road on the site of an old Somerfield store. It is one of only a few Waitrose stores in the North East of England.
Ponteland is also the home of the Northumbria Police
Northumbria Police
Northumbria Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in North East England. The service is the sixth largest police force in England and Wales. The current Chief Constable is Sue Sim who was appointed by Northumbria Police...
force HQ.
See also
External links
- GENUKI (Accessed: 7 November 2008)
- Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 7 November 2008)