Merton Cottages, Built in 1871

These attractive houses were built in 1871 to replace some older cottages which were next to the church and were demolished to make way for the building of Coates School. The new cottages here were originally five in number and were designed by Fred R. Wilson, an Alnwick architect. They were arranged as three double-storey houses flanked by a single-storey cottage at each end. They are constructed from red brick inset with nine contrasting rows of a yellowish brick running the length of block giving a very decorative appearance.

Now part of West Road, these were originally known as Merton Cottages. Merton College, Oxford has a very long association with Ponteland. The College acquired land and property in the area which was forfeited by Peter de Montford, who is thought to have occupied Ponteland Castle on the site of the present Blackbird Inn. He fought against King Henry III in the Barons War which failed. His lands were confiscated by Walter de Merton who was the King’s Chancellor who passed them on to the college he founded.

They owned the land which is now the green in front of the church next to the roundabout on which was a row of old cottages and a tithe barn where the tithes (payments in kind) from their tenants were stored. When the old cottages were demolished, they were replaced by the new ones here. Since they were erected, the five cottages have been amalgamated into two separate residences.