Newton-on-the-Moor brings together several historical themes within one village: Newton Hall, with building phases from the 18th and 19th centuries; the Grade II-listed Jubilee Hall; memorial sites; parts of a settlement dating from 1936; and the ruins of a medieval tower house. For travellers who like to combine a stay with architectural and local history, the village offers more than a single historical point of interest. These themes do not all represent the same kind of history: alongside family memorials are architectural changes and the development of the original settlement.
Newton Hall: Building Phases and Murals
Newton Hall was built in 1772 for Samuel Cook. An earlier farmhouse may have been incorporated into the north wing. In 1864, S. F. Widdrington extended and remodelled the house to his own designs. This reveals two distinct building phases: its construction in the 18th century and its extension and remodelling in the 19th century. The entrance hall features life-size murals of London Bridge and Venice, created by S. F. Widdrington. The history of the house thus also includes both subjects and their artist.
Anniversaries and Memorial Sites
Grade II-listed Jubilee Hall stands in the centre of Newton-on-the-Moor. The Widdrington family had it built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. The hall can be hired by the hour, combining its historical significance with a practical use.
The Pant stands on the east side of the road junction. Erected in 1914, the monument commemorates the golden wedding anniversary of S. Fitzherbert and Cecilia Widdrington on 20 April 1914, fifty years after their wedding in 1864. Together, Jubilee Hall and the Pant illustrate two different occasions for commemoration: Queen Victoria’s jubilee and a family anniversary.
Settlement History and Older Buildings
The settlement’s history is also tangible. The Square, houses number 5 and 7, and the Village Shop were built in 1936 by M. P. Reavell for the Fountains Abbey Settlers Society. They are of historical interest as part of the society’s original settlement. The focus here is not on a single commemorative event, but on a group of buildings associated with the creation of the settlement area.
Another period is represented by the walled garden, 450 metres south-east of Newton Hall. It dates from the late 18th century and was altered in the late 19th century. Its creation and later alteration can therefore be understood as two distinct phases in the garden’s history.
Overgrass Tower is the ruin of a tower house from the late 14th or 15th century. Another building beside it probably dates from the 18th century. The contrast between the medieval ruin and its probably later neighbour brings together two different building periods in one place.
Planning Your Stay
Newton-on-the-Moor has the Cook and Barker pub. The parish of Newton-on-the-Moor and Swarland is well connected with its surroundings via the A1 and Alnmouth railway station. If you are considering staying in Newton-on-the-Moor, you can therefore take into account both the village’s historical highlights and the parish’s links to the surrounding area when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Elsdon, Edlingham, Wylam, Shilbottle, Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, Eshott, Lesbury, Kirknewton.
For the overview of the wider region: Northumberland.
