Scattered around the walls are numerous memorials to early parishioners including Cuthbert Ogle and Richard Coates, whilst over the tower arch is a royal Coat of Arms dated 1815 - 1837. invite you to walk Exit the churchyard onto Coates Green.

10. Coates Green In 1872 the Coates Round the Village School was so overcrowd- Exit the Memorial Hall and turn right. ed that it became neces- sary to build a new school 1. Memorial Hall on what is now Coates A public meeting was held on 19th July 1918 when it Green. It had 175 pupils was decided to erect a memorial to commemorate the but was still very crowded men from the Ponteland district who had fallen in the with three or four classes to one room. The Coates Great War. The estimated cost was £4,000. Colonel Endowed School, which was opened in 1874 was final- Riddell unveiled the Obelisk at a Ceremony held on ly closed and demolished in 1968. The sculpture on 16th July 1920 and 14 foundation stones for the Hall the Green was commissioned by the Parish Council as were laid on 20th September. The opening ceremony, part of the Millennium celebration to mark the long- chaired by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Alderman standing association with "Education". W. Bramble, was performed by Mr. Angus Watson on Cross the River Pont Bridge rebuilt in 1925 the 20th December 1922. See Pont Island News 2005 (PIN 2005) 11. The Diamond Inn Established in the early 1700's as an old coaching inn the Diamond is a very popular public house. The local livestock mart was held on land behind the pub and parts of the building, which are now bed and breakfast accommo- dation, were used as the butcher's killing shop until the late 1950's. The Bistro Restaurant next door was the right until you reach the point of the level cross- of course an old Smithy built in 1822. ing for the old Ponteland railway. Walk along Darras Road to the road junction at the Carefully cross the main road at the first set of traf- 13. Ponteland railway National Westminster Bank, turn right and cross the fic lights to walk up Callerton Lane on the riverside Ponteland Railway was a 7-mile single track light rail- main road at the pedestrian crossing towards Merton of the road. way from South Gosforth to Ponteland, with interme- Way. diate stations at West Gosforth, Coxlodge, Kenton 12. Methodist Church 2. Merton Way Bank Foot and Callerton, which was opened in 1905. The first church was built Until the 1960's the The branch line to Darras Hall was added in 1913 and in 1841 but the new chapel, approach to Ponteland subsequently extended out to Mount Huly, near which exists today, was Railway Station occupied Kirkheaton in 1927. All passenger services were with- opened in 1908 with exten- this site, which was drawn in 1929 but goods services continued until 1954 sions in 1927,1956 and cleared for the construc- to Darras Hall and to Ponteland until 1967. 2005. tion of Merton Hall, The Turn right at the fingerpost and return to the Working Men's' Club and Continue up Callerton Lane with the River Pont on Memorial Hall along the route of the old railway. the Shopping Centre. After the crossing turn right and just before the bus However following 7. Blackbird shelter take the pedestrian access on the left local government reor- The remains of a towards the Parish Council Office and follow the ganisation in 1974 and medieval tower, footway to the front of the Pele Tower. the creation of Castle which stand as part 3. Pele tower Morpeth Borough of the Blackbird Inn The earliest mention of Council, the vicarage were formerly the the Pele associated with was sold and is cur- 14th Century home the Vicar of Ponteland rently the principal of the Earls of occurs in a list, said by office of Bellway Homes (North East Division) Ltd. Athol. The Scots raised it to the ground on their way Bates to have been Ponteland Parish Council occupies the old stable block to the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 but it was rebuilt drawn up in the first and the Pele Tower remains in the ownership of Castle in the 17th Century. It subsequently became a ruin seven months of 1415, Morpeth Borough Council. and was roofless until 1935 when it was restored as part of the Inn. On the east side of the basement which identifies the own- Walk down the drive to the main road and turn left ers and occupiers of the past Barclays Bank to the Estate Agent's Office on there is an impressive fireplace c1600 and the initials property viz: - "Turris de your left, which is the site of the original Coates M.E. carved in the stone above the porch are those of Ponteland - vicar eiusdem". From 1778, after the Endowed School. one time owner Mark Errington. death of James Snowdon, until the institution of See Pont Island News 2002 (PIN 2002) 5. Coates School Kenrick Prescott in 1864, there was no resident vicar Walk past Blackbird Inn and across North Road In 1719 Richard Coates bequeathed a sum of money to in Ponteland and the condition of the vicarage deteri- entering the churchyard by rear pedestrian gates. set up a school in Ponteland for 12 boys and 12 girls to orated. Most of it was demolished and a new vicarage provide them with an education. When it was first 8. Churchyard was built in 1865. The Tower was however retained built it was a single-storey building but as numbers There are a number as a Harness room and a photograph taken around grew it was necessary to add an upstairs room. of interesting grave- 1900 shows a south facing oriel window at first floor stones in the church- level with a stone parapet fronting a double pitched Turn left and continue into North Road yard including one roof. There is also evidence of a sundial above the 6. Old Rectory commemorating the tragic drowning of two boys in a entrance door. In 1996 the need to restore the There has never canoeing accident which is identified by Boy Scout tower was identified, money was raised and on 19th been a Rector of and Boys Brigade badges. The marble pinnacle memo- October 2002 a ceremony was held to celebrate com- Ponteland but rial is that of William Wellan's who was a director of pletion of the project. The Mayor of Castle Morpeth the building was the Tyneside company of Robert Stephenson and Co. Borough Council unveiled the interpretive panel, built on See Pont Island News 2007 (PIN 2007) Working Group Vice Chairman, Councillor Frank Rectorial Glebe See Pont Island News 2008 (PIN 2008) to be published in Harrington raised the flag and Viscount Ridley, September 2008 land opposite Patron to the Working Group, planted a Golden Birch, the Great Tithe Walk through the churchyard to the south entrance which he had donated to celebrate the Queen's to the Church. Barn, which Golden Jubilee. See Pont Island News 2005 (PIN 2005) stood on the 9. St Mary the Virgin area now known as Coates Green. Merton College, The Anglo-Saxon building has now disappeared but a Exit from the Pele Tower via the steps to the access Oxford were major landowners in Ponteland and gravestone from its cemetery is built into the south road to the Old Vicarage received the principal tithes either direct or by sub- wall of the existing tower. The earliest parts of the 4. Old Vicarage letting. It is said that an annual tithe dinner was held present church belong to the Norman period but much The "new" vicarage was built in 1865 to a design pre- at which money was given out to children on "Penny of the building is 13th century. The south aisle pared by architect F. R. Wilson of Alnwick. In 1954 Day". arcade and the great window in the east end were this "new" vicarage, the Pele Tower and the old sta- added in the 14th century and substantial work was ble block were conveyed to Castle Ward Rural Walk up North Road past the Rectory and carefully undertaken in the 19th century in building the barrel District Council for use as their headquarters. cross Thornhill Road to the Blackbird Inn roofs and renewing the chancel roof and floor.