Ponteland
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Northumberland Punteland (1203). ‘Cultivated land by the river called Pont’. Celtic river-name (meaning ‘valley’) + OE ēa-land.
| Pontefract, Pontarddulais, Pontardawe | |
| Pontesbury, Pontllan-fraith, Pontycymer |
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Ponteland
Coordinates: 55°02′53″N 1°44′49″W / 55.048°N 1.747°W
| Ponteland | |
 View of Ponteland |
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 Ponteland
Ponteland shown within Northumberland |
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| Population | 10,871 (Parish) (2001)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | NZ161726 |
| Civil parish | Ponteland |
| Unitary authority | Northumberland |
| Shire county | Northumberland |
| Ceremonial county | Northumberland |
| Region | North East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |
| Postcode district | NE20 |
| Dialling code | 01661 |
| Police | Northumbria |
| Fire | Northumberland |
| Ambulance | North East |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament | Hexham |
| List of places: UK • England • Northumberland | |
Ponteland (pronounced /pɒnˈtiːlənd/) 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 residential area of Darras Hall.
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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 Otterburn. 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.[2]
Transport
Ponteland was once served by a branch line of the North Eastern Railway (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.
Sports
- Ponteland United — the local football club.
- [1] Ponteland CC)] - the local cricket club
- Ponteland RFC — the local Rugby Union club.
Darras Hall
The affluent housing estate of Darras Hall 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, 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.[citation needed] 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.[3]
Amenities
Ponteland has three public houses: the Blackbird, 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 Waitrose 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.
See also
References
- ^ Office for National Statistics: Neighbourhood Statistics
- ^ "Blackbird Inn". Pastscape. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=870381. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
- ^ "Rebellion House". Pastscape. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=23133. Retrieved 2011-03-08.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ponteland |
- GENUKI (Accessed: 7 November 2008)
- Northumberland Communities (Accessed: 7 November 2008)
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