Newlands

The name "Newlands" means 'New land'. The originals of the hamlet possibly date back to the granting of 314 acres of land in 1200 by Hugh de Baliol in about 1200 "to be assarted (cleared of trees), cultivated, built upon and enclosed" on the Ebchester road. Another 200 acres were added later Newlands was formerly a township in the parish of Bywell St. Peter, from 1866 Newlands was a civil parish in its own right, on 1 April 1955 the parish was abolished and merged with Shotley Low Quarter.

Veering south west off Fine Lane and past Sisterson Farm, is a footpath running parallel to then crossing a stream known as Small Burn. Two waterfalls can be found on this stream, collectively referred to on Google Maps as Small Burn Falls (nicknamed Sisterson Falls by some, after the nearby farm. Not owned by Farm.). The first is hidden in the trees at the top of a gorge on the edge of Newlands (note this can be dangerous to access when the stream is in flood). The second can be found a further 150 m further on where the footpath crosses Small Burn over a stone bridge. The path crosses a further stream called Mere Burn with another small waterfall, Mere Burn Waterfall, before turning south…