Bridge House: Butchers to Rialto's

Although it has been adapted into a restaurant and an estate agent's, this is still recognisable as Bridge House, the family home and business premises of the Berkley family, who were butchers here from at least the 1840's.

When Matthew Charlton Berkley died in 1923 at the age of 77, he was described as "Ponteland's oldest inhabitant". He was born in this house and lived here all his life. Like many butchers, the family also ran a small farm. His wife and his five children can be seen in the doorway of the old photograph.

The business premises can be seen on the left-hand side of the photograph with the black doorway. This is now the front window display of Rialto's window. The premises continued to be uses as a butcher's business right through to the 1970's, the last proprietor being a Mr. Gaskin.

The original pantiled roof has been replaced and in the 2000's the building has been extended to the west but the upper storey and main doorway is still visibly the old house.