Local mine owners (Bell and Brown) built a row of flats, in 1796, for their workmen at the extreme eastern boundary of the parish. They were built of stone and had an outer flight of steps, leading to a wooden gallery. These cottages were not occupied by the miners that they had been built for. They were originally known as "Heddon Square", but later, due to the facts relayed here, they became known as "Frenchman's Row".
As the cottages were being completed three transport ships arrived in the Tyne carrying French Loyalist clergy refugees, fleeing from the Revolution. The cottages were used to house 38 of these refugees. The French clergy kept the gardens in good order and also cultivated other land in Throckley. It is also likely that, as was the custom of the day, they brewed beer, possibly for sale to miners and passing travelers. The clergy also received an allowance of one shilling per day from the British government.
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The clergy were able to return to France in 1802, after the Treaty of Amiens, and as a sign of their gratitude they erected a sundial (shown right) on the front of the row of cottages. The cottages were used for a time as a Poor-House. They were renovated in 1883 and became known as "Frenchman's Row". The cottage at the eastern end was converted into a beer-house. The sundial was restored in 1907. The inscription beneath the sundial reads "Time flies. Memory remains" |
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The cottages were turned into a Poor-House for the Castle Ward Union until the inhabitants were moved to Ponteland in 1849. The original Royal French Arms was the eastern end cottage, before the current building was erected in 1897, partly on the site of the old beer house.
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The original row of cottages were demolished in March 1960 and a new
row (shown left) was built to rehouse the original tenants.
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