Blagdon Estate has been in the White/Ridley family ownership since 1698.
The Estate is a business that includes farms, woodland,
residential and commercial properties; its tenants
provide around 240 full and part-time jobs. The
Milkhope Centre has become a popular destination for visitors
with a number of small privately owned retail businesses,
including the Blagdon Farm Shop, which sells local produce from
Blagdon and the surrounding area. A recent addition is a
bespoke new building for Gustharts.
Blagdon welcomes public access through maintained public and
permitted footpaths. In addition, the Estate acts as host to
charitable organisations which fund-raise through open days.
Typically Blagdon Estate has many events a year with up to
around 4,500 visitors. The Estate also offers regular
training facilities to the Police, Armed Services, Scouts and
the Guides, as well as hosting fishing clubs, a cricket
club and other organisations.
Surface coal mines have operated on Blagdon Estate almost
continuously since 1943. H.J. Banks Ltd is currently producing
coal from the Shotton and Brenkley sites. Coal from Blagdon is low
sulphur and high quality. The majority of production is used
locally, supporting businesses and jobs. Blagdon estate and
Banks are joint sponsors of Northumberlandia, an iconic land form
park adjacent to Cramlington
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