Ponteland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ponteland
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Ponteland
Population	10,921 (parish) (2011)
OS grid reference	NZ161726
Civil parish	Ponteland
Unitary authority	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 55°02′53″N 1°44′49″W / 55.048°N 1.747°W / 55.048; -1.747

Ponteland (pronounced pon-TEE-lənd) is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England. It is about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Ponteland was first built on marshy land near St Mary's Church and an old bridge. Most of this marshland has now been drained to make space for homes. During the time of factories and industries, the area grew a lot, especially with the development of Darras Hall. Some parts of Ponteland have very expensive houses. This is because it's close to Newcastle, near the airport, and right next to beautiful countryside.

The civil parish of Ponteland includes the original village, the Darras Hall area, and the smaller villages of Kirkley, Medburn, Milbourne and Prestwick.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Ponteland

The name Ponteland was first written down in 1256. It means "island in the Pont" or "farm land by the Pont." This name comes from the River Pont, which flows through the area. The River Pont itself gets its name from an old British word, pant, which means 'valley'.

The name Kirkley might come from an old British word meaning 'hill', combined with an Old English word that also means 'hill'.

A Look Back: Ponteland's History

People have been worshipping in Ponteland for almost a thousand years. This worship has mostly happened at St Mary’s the Virgin, a Church of England church near the village green. St Mary's was first built around the 1100s, during the Norman period, and it's still an active church today.

Over the centuries, other Christian groups also started churches in Ponteland. The Ponteland Methodist Church opened in 1841. By 1848, there were also places of worship for Scottish Presbyterians and a Wesleyan Chapel. Later, an Anglican church opened in Milbourne in 1867, and a Catholic church, St Matthews, was established in 1884. A United Reformed Church also opened in Darras Hall during the 1900s.

Battles and Peace: Ponteland's Scottish Connections

Because Ponteland is close to Scotland, it has been affected by conflicts between England and Scotland. In the 1200s, Ponteland almost saw a battle, but peace was made at the last minute. This happened with the Treaty of Newcastle (1244), which was actually signed in Ponteland, even though it's named after Newcastle.

Rebellion House, a historic building

However, in the 1300s, Ponteland was not so lucky. Scottish forces destroyed part of Ponteland Castle in 1388, just before the Battle of Otterburn. This battle, which was a big defeat for English forces, happened about 20 miles west of Ponteland. The Scots took advantage of England being busy with the Hundred Years' War against France.

One good thing came from this destruction: Ponteland Castle was never rebuilt as a military fort. Instead, it became a public house called "The Blackbird." This pub still serves the community today, nearly 700 years after the castle was destroyed!

Modern Times: Growth and Change

During the Second World War (1939-1945), parts of Darras Hall were used as a prisoner-of-war camp. It held Italian and German prisoners. After the war, Ponteland grew a lot. A state secondary school, Ponteland High School, opened in 1972. The wealthy housing area of Darras Hall is a popular place for many rich people from the North East to live. Many famous football players from Newcastle United Football Club, like Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley, have lived in the parish.

In the early 2000s, Ponteland and Darras Hall grew to have about 11,000 people. Because of this growth, Ponteland was officially given "town" status in Northumberland.

Ponteland is surrounded by a special protected area called a greenbelt. Northumberland Council has plans to develop some of this land. These plans might include moving the town's schools and library to make space for more homes. Ponteland itself might even be upgraded to a "main town" in Northumberland.

Cool Places to See: Notable Landmarks

Ponteland has several interesting landmarks. These include a ruined pele tower (a small fortified house), its old bridge, and its four churches: St Mary's (Church of England), St Matthew's (Roman Catholic), Ponteland Methodist Church, and Ponteland United Reformed Church.

The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland, across from St Mary’s Church

The Blackbird Inn, which used to be Ponteland Castle, is a very old building. People say there's an old tunnel connecting it to St Mary's Church across the road. This tunnel was supposedly blocked up behind a fireplace in a room called "The Tunnel Room." A sign outside The Blackbird says:

• Ponteland first appeared in national history in the 13th century, when the fights between the Kings of England and Scotland were happening a lot.
• A peace treaty between Henry III of England and Alexander of Scotland was signed on the small hill where The Blackbird stands today.
• The castle on this site was destroyed in 1388 when the Scottish army was leaving Newcastle.

North of Ponteland, there's another pub with a Scottish connection called The Highlander. It's named after an event during the Jacobite rising of 1745. During this time, Scottish armies marched into England. It's said that Charles Edward Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, bathed at this very pub!

One of the oldest houses in the Darras Hall area is Little Callerton House, which is about 450 years old. The Old Mill, where Alan Shearer used to live, and other homes in the area once belonged to Little Callerton House. At High Callerton, on the edge of the estate, there's Rebellion House. This is a 16th-century bastle (a type of fortified farmhouse) that was changed and made bigger in the 1600s.

Who Lives Here? Ponteland's Population

Ponteland parish is home to 10,921 people. This is about 3% of Northumberland's total population. Many more people in Ponteland live in detached houses (houses that stand alone) compared to the rest of Northumberland. About 65% of Ponteland residents live in detached homes, while only 25% of all Northumbrians do. Ponteland also has more people from different ethnic backgrounds than the average for Northumberland.

Most people in Ponteland are Christian, with 7,774 Christians (71.2%). The next largest group is people who say they have no religion, making up 17.6% of the population.

How People Make a Living: Ponteland's Economy

Many people in Ponteland work in business and finance across northern England, southern Scotland, and the wider European Union. The parish is close to Newcastle Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the UK. It has many flights to London, other European cities, and North America. People in Ponteland are more likely to be managers, directors, or work in professional jobs compared to other parts of Northumberland. About 58% of people in Ponteland have these kinds of jobs, compared to 38% in Northumberland overall.

Learning in Ponteland: Education

In September 2017, the way schools were organized in Ponteland changed. It went from a "three-tier" system (first, middle, and high schools) to a "two-tier" system (primary and secondary schools). The two existing First Schools became Primary Schools. Richard Coates Church of England Middle School also became a Primary School, keeping its older students until they finished Year 8. Ponteland Community Middle School became an academy and then a Primary school in September 2020.

Ponteland High School got permission to build a new school building to fit the extra students joining in Years 7 and 8. This was finished in September 2020.

Now, Ponteland has four Primary schools: Ponteland Primary School, Darras Hall Primary School, Richard Coates Church of England Primary School, and Ponteland Community Primary School. There is one Secondary school, Ponteland Community High School, which teaches students aged 11 to 18.

News and Entertainment: Media

Local news and TV shows for Ponteland are provided by BBC North East and Cumbria and ITV Tyne Tees. TV signals come from the Pontop Pike TV transmitter. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Newcastle, Capital North East, Heart North East, Smooth North East, Hits Radio North East, Greatest Hits Radio North East, and Koast Radio. The town is also served by local newspapers like the Hexham Courant and Northumberland Gazette.

Things to Do: Amenities

Ponteland's shops and businesses are mainly found on the village's main street, a nearby industrial area, and Broadway, a small shopping area in Darras Hall. The old headquarters for Northumbria Police is just north of Ponteland; it's now a training center.

Ponteland railway station used to be on a branch line from Newcastle. There was even a short line to Darras Hall. However, passenger services on the Darras Hall line stopped in 1929. A big part of Ponteland's old railway connections have been brought back as part of the Tyne & Wear Metro system, which now serves Newcastle Airport.

Ponteland has many country walks because it's surrounded by nature. These walks are around Ponteland Park and include paths from the Diamond Inn to Kirkley, and from Medburn to the Highlander Inn.

Ponteland has five public houses (pubs): The Seven Stars, The Blackbird, The Badger, The Diamond Inn, and The Pont Tap.

Get Active: Sports

• Ponteland United is the local football club.
• Ponteland Cricket Club plays cricket.
• Ponteland RFC is the rugby union club.

Famous Faces: Notable People from Ponteland

• David Gilford Armstrong (1926–2000) was an animal nutritionist.
• Gibson Kyle (1820–1903) was an architect born in Ponteland.
• Michael Gill (born 1998) is a professional cyclist for the UCI Continental Team Saint Piran.