The North Eastern Cottage Homes and Benefit Fund originated during the Great War, when the employees of the North-Eastern Railway Company contributed £87,568 through paybills to various war relief funds through the Provisional Committee appointed at the beginning of the war for this purpose. Of this, £33,308 was contributed and administered by the committee of the N.E.R. Employees War Relief Fund. Contributions to these funds ceased in June 1919.

At the same time, Mrs. Granger placed £10,000 to be used for the benefit of North-Eastern men in memory of her brother, Dr. Tempest Anderson, who was well known as the company's doctor for many years.

As a result of meetings with representative men on the system, it was decided to inaugurate a fund for cottage homes and other benefits. Contributors to the two funds were asked to continue their subscriptions and the Company doubled the contributions of the staff during the three years up to 31st Dec. 1922 with a maximum contribution by the Company of £20,000.

The high cost of building cottages provided difficulties, but with the aid of a Government grant, two cottages were built at Haddricks Mill, South Gosforth, (opened by Lord Joicey on 28th May 1921) two at Brinkburn Road, Darlington, (opened September 1921) and two at Acomb, near York. These would be occupied by men wounded during the war, or war widows.

Under the scheme, two more cottages had been erected in Newcastle and another two in York.

One of the cottages was to be occupied by Mrs. Whitlock and her two daughters and one son. Her husband was still missing after having served. The other would be occupied by Mr. Webster, still suffering from ill health following army service.

The company had 40 cottages nearly ready for occupation, but there is no mention of these being war memorial cottages; they were simply part of the scheme of building which was run by the company. They were also hoping to build a railway station and also give the site for a school.

These cottages were referenced as Plan No. 1920/164 of 24th August 1920.

Evening Despatch 07/09/1921 reports proposed opening; 12/09/1921 reports opening.
North Eastern ?Magazine Vol.13 No.148 carries an article about these houses.
Darlington & Teesside Herald 17/09/1921 reports on these cottages.

Evening Dispatch 1921 09 07 Wed

Evening Dispatch 1921 09 12 Mon