The Cycling Bungalow of Ponteland
Until its dismantling at the end of the First World War, this was the site of one of Ponteland's most distinctive buildings.
Cycling became enormously popular in the UK around from around 1880 up to the First World War. There were cycling clubs everywhere offering membership to both men and women. One of industrial Tyneside's favourite days out was a bike ride through the fields to Ponteland. The road was much better than could be found elsewhere in Northumberland and the village, spotting the commercial opportunity of having thousands of hungry and thirsty cyclists descending of the village during fine weekends, established many refreshments venues which the cyclists could enjoy. One of the most popular of these was the Ponteland Cycling Club — The Bungalow, just off the main Newcastle Road on entering the village.
The building was erected in 1899 by a group of Newcastle professional men including a newspaper proprietor, a solicitor, an architect and a school master. They formed a company called the Northern Bungalows Co. to acquire a lease in Ponteland and to erect bungalows and other buildings for the convenience of cyclists and others, and to carry on the business of restauranteurs, caterers, licensed victuallers, tobacconists etc.
Being a prefabricated wooden building, it did not take long to build. Erected and furnished at a cost of £1,800 the building was opened at 4pm on the 2nd September 1899. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle carried the following report on the opening:
"The pleasing little village of Ponteland has always been an attractive resort for cyclists from Newcastle, and the pleasure of the afternoon or evening ride will in future be enhanced, because of the accommodation provided in the "bungalow" which has been erected by a local firm, which was opened on Saturday. The surprising thing is that something of the kind had not been done before. The ladies, especially, relish a cup of tea before the return homewards, and their male companions enjoy the privilege of being able to provide it for them, and of sharing in the refreshment. The bungalow will be a place where visitors may drop in at any time, not only to enjoy the material refreshment but also to participate in the social bond that unites all cyclists. It is a substantial, handsome structure, built in a field on the left-hand side as one enters the village."
It was indeed substantial. Built out of wood and corrugated iron on brick foundations, it stood in an acre of ground. It contained a large billiard and club room fitted with a full-sized billiard table. There was a bar, two large dining rooms, four bed rooms, a kitchen, a scullery and a cellar, two lavatories and a beautiful verandah running around three sides of the building. This was before the widespread use of electricity for lighting, so the interior was lit throughout by gas lights.
The original company must have overextended themselves with the construction as the went into voluntary liquidation in 1902 and the premises were put up for sale. They were bought by Mrs Darling formerly of the Black Bird Inn in Ponteland. In the years leading up to the First World War it continued to be used by cyclists and was also a popular venue for work and club trips, laying on games and entertainments for the visitor.
The business was still in operation at the outbreak of the First World War but the conflict had a catastrophic effect on sports with all the young men who generally participated in them sent overseas. The club looks to have closed in November 1915 but the premises were taken by a voluntary group to run as a canteen and reading room for soldiers stationed in Ponteland during the War.
In July 1917, the local council issued a clearance order on the site and the building was dismantled and all the timber, iron, bricks and fittings sold-off in February 1918.