Meadowfield: The Industrial Estate

Somewhat surprisingly, the western side of modern Ponteland is dominated by a large industrial estate. This was a Castle Ward Rural District Council initiative, planned as the 1950’s was drawing to a close and opened at the beginning of 1962.

At this time Ponteland was transforming itself from a small rural market town which relied a lot on surrounding industries to provide jobs for its workforce. The traditional Tyneside industries of coal mining, shipping and heavy engineering were in long-term decline. Nearby coal mines were being closed down in what was to be the first of a long run of pit closures. The local council at the time was Castle Ward Rural District Council. They worked together with the County Council Planning Department to build a new light industrial estate to attract businesses to the district to provide jobs for those moving into the new council houses which were being built next to the estate.

The initiative seems to have been led by the council’s surveyor, Mr. E.G. Dimmack who had a big effect in creating modern Ponteland as well as transforming the surrounding area, such as creating the new village of Brunswick from what had been Dinnington Colliery.

The council acquired the area which had been fields behind the houses running along West Road. They carved out a new access road, Meadowfield, pegged out the building sites and laid on gas, electricity, water and sewerage systems. Even before the new road was completed, many of the sites had already been sold.

These were “light” industrial concerns. They included fuse-making, roof-lighting and plastic-shaping businesses. These were joined by a printing works, chicken packing station, agricultural implement repair depot and a new depot for Northumberland County Council’s Surveying Department. Mr. Dimmack promised that in contrast with the traditional industries, there would be “no noise, smoke, grit or smells”.

After Ponteland’s railway station was closed, the estate was expanded eastward to take over the extensive sidings. The businesses occupying the estate have changed and evolved over the years but today, more than sixty years after the estate was opened, it still plays a major role in the village’s economy making it one of durable and successful legacies of 1960’s planning.