Centre left are Newburn Almshouses: Twelve almshouses built 1870 at the expense of Hugh Taylor for six inhabitants of Newburn, three of Earsdon and three of Shilbottle are also listed Grade II. See also NZ1665 : Almshouses, High Street, Newburn.
George Stephenson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stephenson ) married his first wife here on 28 Nov 1802. "George's signature as it stands in the books, is that of a person who seems to have just learned to write" [Murray's Handbook:1890].