Founded originally to the west of Newcastle upon Tyne (from which it takes its name), to provide housing for working families with sufficient land to grow vegetables. Westerhope expanded substantially in Victorian times with the discovery of workable coal reserves. The coal reserves have now largely been exhausted and the two pits - Coronation and North Walbottle - have long since closed. After the extraction of 21.5 million tons of coal, the North Walbottle pit was closed in 1968 as further coal extraction would have risked undermining the runway at Newcastle International Airport which lies about 5 miles to the north. The westward expansion of Newcastle upon Tyne saw Westerhope incorporated into the city as part of the 1973 local government reorganisation. This coincided with large owner occupied housing estates - Chapel Park, St Johns - being developed on the west of Westerhope. Westerhope lies in a favourable transport location, in the crook of the A1/A69 junction. This gives good communication to the west, north and south. In contrast, because of the hilly nature of the land, Westerhope has been excluded from the Tyne and Wear Metro system and public transport to the city rely on buses. Additionally, a dual carriageway links the north side of the village to the airport. Westerhope is now largely a ‘dormitory’ to Newcastle city, although some light industry exists around ‘Cobblers Corner’ which is the historic core of the village.