If you’ve ever paused beneath the beautiful sunroom window at Wheatlands Cottage and noticed the majestic flagstone set into the wall, you may have wondered where it came from and why it’s there.
The flagstone is more than a decorative feature – it’s a rare surviving link between 18th‑century stonework, Newcastle’s industrial Quayside and the Younger family, who have lived on Burradon Farm since 1848.
For guests who love local history, this unassuming slab is an intriguing talking point.
A Family Story Rooted in Burradon Farm
The Younger family’s connection to Burradon Farm stretches back to 1848. Today, Will Younger – well known to many guests – keeps that heritage alive with his encyclopaedic memory and warm storytelling!
The flagstone carries the inscription E. W. Younger & Co Ltd and the date 1933, a direct reference to Edmund W. Younger, Will’s grandfather’s half‑brother.
This personal link makes the stone not just a historic artefact, but a genuine piece of family heritage embedded into the fabric of the farm.
From Newcastle Quayside to Burradon: A Stone on the Move
Edmund W. Younger was associated with E. W. Younger & Co Ltd, a coachbuilding and warehousing firm active in the early 20th century.
The flagstone originally formed part of one of the Tyne Transit Sheds on Newcastle’s Quayside, once a bustling centre of maritime trade.
These sheds – simple, metal‑clad structures – were famously known as the “tin sheds.” Located on the London Wharf area, they stored goods during the height of the Quayside’s industrial era.
By the 1980s, they had become home to car mechanics and tradesmen, before being cleared in 1987 during the major Quayside regeneration led by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation.
In a strange twist to the tale, Will’s daughter Lucy (who now manages the self-catering holiday cottages on the farm) worked for TWDC from 1987 until it disbanded in 1998 – another unexpected thread connecting the Younger family to the Quayside’s transformation.
Around this time, the intact flagstone was acquired by the Younger family and carefully stored until the perfect place could be found for it.
A Unique Piece of Heritage
Today, this imposing flagstone, carrying echoes of the 18th century, the industrial Quayside and the Younger family’s own story, sits proudly beneath the sunroom window at Wheatlands Cottage.
It stands as a tangible reminder of the past, preserved not in a museum but in the heart of a living, working family farm.
And thanks to Will’s extraordinary memory, its story continues to be shared with guests who love discovering the hidden history of Burradon Farm.
Featured picture: Newcastle Quayside, circa 1928, capturing the world in which the flagstone once stood