Demography
In the 21st century, a lot of building work has been done all over Darras Hall, rendering it largely unrecognisable from its former appearance. In times gone by, Darras Hall was replete with bungalows set in large sprawling and expansive grounds, many of which remain. The large plots are now being used to produce vast mansions, further adding to the exclusivity of Darras Hall.
Many of the gardens in Darras Hall still have evidence of being part of a grand house called Doris Hall. A cursory glance of most gardens will highlight the presence of various apple trees and plum trees, remnants of the old orchards that once sprawled the countryside. [3] Red squirrels, prevalent across the county (Northumberland), make use of and live in trees in gardens of the estate. [4]
The exclusivity of Darras Hall is, in part, regulated by the existence of the Darras Hall Committee. [5] The committee are responsible for disputes among residents and also ensure that all houses are kept in good order, particularly as regard to compliance with minimum plot size, by occupants and third parties. A trust deed and byelaws affect much of the land, the latter explaining that in 1910, a group of landowners and businessmen created the concept of a residential estate to allow people to live in a more rural surrounding rather than in long streets of terraced houses and flats and that it is important to ensure the overall maintenance of the rural ambience. They are a separate regime to planning, which has its own policies. [6]
The 2011 census reveals that the population has seen an increase since 2001 and generally more families. The density of the constituent output areas 33A, 33F, 34A and 34C mirrors urban and suburban areas, with plenty of green spaces and exceptionally in 33A (straying into a small part of the village), a three-year higher median age than in 2001 of 54 and a slightly high dependent dependency ratio of 1.2 and in old age 1.7. [n 1] [7] Most of the estate falls within 34C which has 1,464 people, a density of 580 per km2 and a median age of 48, one year less than 10 years ago.
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The Ponteland Railway was a 7-mile (11 km) single-track branch line, which linked Gosforth in Tyne and Wear with Ponteland in Northumberland. A 1+1⁄4-mile (2 km) sub-branch line also ran between Ponteland and Darras Hall.
East Denton is an area in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. Until 1974 it was in Northumberland.
Kenton Bank was a railway station on the Ponteland Railway, which ran between South Gosforth and Ponteland, with a sub-branch line to Darras Hall. The station served Kenton in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Callerton was a railway station on the Ponteland Railway, which ran between South Gosforth and Ponteland, with a sub-branch line to Darras Hall. The station served Woolsington in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Coxlodge was a railway station on the Ponteland Railway, which ran between South Gosforth and Ponteland, with a sub-branch line to Darras Hall. The station served Coxlodge and Fawdon in Newcastle upon Tyne.
West Gosforth was a railway station on the Ponteland Railway, which ran between South Gosforth and Ponteland, with a sub-branch line to Darras Hall. The station served Gosforth in Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Brenkley is a hamlet and former civil parish about 6 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne, now in the parish of Dinnington, in the Newcastle upon Tyne district, in the county of Tyne and Wear, England. In 1951 the parish had a population of 28.
