Riding Mill
Riding Mill is a village in West Northumberland and is situated on the south bank of the River Tyne.
The mill referred to in the name is a water powered corn mill which has been in use since the 12th century. Originally centred around its mill and manor house, the village underwent a steady expansion during the 19th century when the Newcastle to Carlisle railway was built, the first coast-to-coast connection of its kind in the world. Riding Mill station opened in 1835 and the original building still stands today.
Just outside the village is a large pumping station, built to transport water from the Kielder reservoir over the hills to the south and through a tunnel to the River Wear, and thence the Tees. This was a massive feat of engineering work which has ensured that Riding Mill has stayed free of water rationing in even the driest of spells.v
The Wellington Hotel is the only public house in the picturesque village of Riding Mill. A notable building situated in the village centre, it was famous for its connection to a famous witchcraft trial in 1673.Today it is a homely and inviting venue with two open fires that are ablaze during the winter months, along with secluded areas with candle lit tables for private dining . There is a good range of in-house freshly prepared dishes on the menu along with tempting specials advertised around the pub. For the comfort of the clientele the majority of the pub is non-smoking, thus making it an ideal place to bring the whole family. There is 'al fresco' dining in the gardens during the summer months.
St. James' Anglican Church, located at the centre of Riding Mill, was built in 1858 as a Chapel of Ease to the parish of Bywell St Andrew. This meant that the parishioners in Riding Mill, which was some way from the parish church in Bywell, could more easily attend services. The building was heralded as a beautiful example of Victorian gothic village church architecture. It became the parish church of Riding Mill in 1975.
In 1801 the population of Riding Mill was 105, however, this has now increased to 936 today with 1.2 people per square kilometre. Job prospects in the area are good with low unemployment, and at 47.6% the area has one of the highest proportions of degree educated people in the country.
Today Riding Mill is a thriving community. Many inhabitants commute to Newcastle and there are a range of local facilities including a shop and a post office, a school and as well as St James' Church there is a Methodist chapel. There is also a cricket pitch and tennis courts, and dedicated walkers will appreciate the huge variety of wildlife and nature trails located around the village.
Riding Mill railway station serves the village and is located on the Tyne Valley Line which runs from Newcastle upon Tyne to Carlisle, and managed by Northern Rail who provide all passenger train services.
This site and domain are not affiliated with or owned by any government or municipal authority.
©2007 Ridingmill.com
Disclaimer: Domain owner maintains no relationship with third party advertisers. Reference to any specific service or trademark is not controlled by domain owner and does not constitute or imply its association, endorsement or recommendation.An England.net site