Described by one North East estate agent as Utopia, Riding Mill certainly lives up to its reputation as a desirable place to live. Aranda Garrard finds out more. UTOPIA is on our doorstep, according Dan Maddison, a partner in Foster Maddison estate agents, In his opinion, Riding Mill, with all it has to offer, is the ideal English village.
Located in south west Northumberland, on the south side of the Tyne, Riding Mill has a population of some 936, with many good facilities to satisfy their needs. As the name suggests, there is a former cornmill located centrally in the village, in addition to a pub serving good, home-cooked food. Mr Maddison said: “Riding Mill is a desirable location because of its proximity to Newcastle and its good transport links to the city, Hexham and Carlisle.” The railway came to Riding Mill in the 1830s with the building of the Newcastle to Carlisle railway. The station, which is still in use for passenger traffic, is one of the oldest in the world. Mr Maddison added: “There is a strong community spirit which can sometimes be lacking in other areas. “This spirit, which demonstrates all that is good about living in a traditional village setting, was clear to see at some recent events such as the garden walkabout and scarecrow competition – both of which were well-supported by local residents. “In addition to this, Riding Mill has friendly, thoughtful residents who make newcomers to the village feel welcome. “There is also a good range of leisure amenities for the more active in Riding Mill, with a tennis club, sports ground, fishing club and a local cricket team, as well as an art club, where villagers with a keen eye can paint to their heart’s content.” The parish church of St James is a fine example of gothic Victorian church architecture, and is at the heart of the village. One notable building in the village centre is the Wellington Hotel, famous for its connection with a famous trial for witchcraft in 1673. Just outside the village is a large pumping station, built to transport water from Kielder reservoir over the hills to the south and through a tunnel to the Wear and the Tees, a massive engineering work which has ensured the region has stayed free of water rationing. On the education front, pre- school children are well catered for by the community-based Riding Mill Pre-School, which has good links with Broomhaugh Church of England First School. Nearby places of interest include Corbridge, which is three miles east of Riding Mill, and also Stocksfield. Finally, there is a good selection of homes ranging from the affordable to the top end of the market which makes Riding Mill a desirable location for families. | 
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