Plenmeller

Plenmeller is in the parliamentary constituency of Hexham. The parish council is Plenmeller with Whitfield. Historically, Plenmeller was a township, also incorporating Unthank, within the ancient parish of Haltwhistle.[2]

Coal mining dominated the history of the area in recent times. Employment at Plenmeller colliery reached its peak in the early 1920s.[3] When the colliery closed in 1932 it caused widespread hardship in the area. More recently coal has been extracted by open cast methods on Plenmeller Common and land then returned to a more natural landscape. The open cast mine was opened by John Northand CBE, Deputy Chairman of the British Coal Corporation, on 19 September 1991. By the time the site was completed in May 2002 there had been 1.91 million tonnes of coal extracted.[4] RPC Containers Ltd., manufacturers of blow-moulded plastic containers, now operate from the site of the old colliery. There is a farm at the west side of the village.

Unthank Hall is a Grade II listed mansion house, now serving as commercial offices, situated on the southern bank of the River South Tyne. The house, which was built in the 16th century, incorporating an ancient Pele tower, was substantially remodelled and extended in 1815. The Hall was later rebuilt between 1862 and 1865. Much of the 1865 house has since between demolished and only the central gables and entrance porch survive.

It is generally agreed that the name "Plenmeller" is of Brythonic Celtic origin. The first element is most plausibly blajn meaning "summit" (c.f. Welsh blaen).[6] The second element is more obscure. Suffixes of -maɣl, "chief" and -mę:l, "bare" are both possible. The attestation Plenmeneure from 1256 would favor the suffix -maɣn, "a stone".

• Unthank Hall