From Police Station to Station House

There had been a police presence in Ponteland since the late 1850's and the establishment of Northumberland County Constabulary in 1857. The first house provided for the police was reputed to be what is now Ladywell Cottage on the other side of the village. Ponteland only had a population of around 400 at that time and a police station was not required. If offenders had to be locked up, they were transported to Gosforth.

By the end of the 19th century, Ponteland's population was expanding rapidly and the situation had changed. In 1912 the County Council budgeted £1,070 for a police station in the village with a lock-up where prisoners could be detained. In 1913, they acquired this site on the southern side of the Newcastle Road, just before entering the village and the following year, in 1914 the work to build the police station was put out for tender.

The new building was a substantial two-storied brick structure, containing a living room and three bedrooms, a weights and measure room, with office and charge room, together with two cells.

Ponteland continued to grow during the 20th century and in 1986 the building was expanded with a wrap-around extension on the ground floor to provide more office and cell space.

In this century, the focus has moved away from local policing due to budget constraints and improved communication and the economies of scale which can be achieved from a more centralised police service. Between 2010 and 2018, around 600 local police stations were closed in England and Wales and this was one of them.

In 2024, like many of the old public buildings which used to stand on our high streets, it has been repurposed as a café/bar and is now known as The Station House in reference to its former role.