Fawdon is an electoral ward of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is also close to the A1 western bypass. The population of the ward is 10,890, reducing to 10,090 at the 2011 Census, 5.7% of the total population of Newcastle upon Tyne. Car ownership in the area is 53.6%, lower than the city average of 54.7%. It is situated about north-by-west from Newcastle City Centre and is at the site of three colliery villages which were known as High Fawdon, Fawdon Square and Low Fawdon. Fawdon Square was the birthplace of 19th-century poet and songwriter Marshall Cresswell. Transport and shopping The Fawdon Wagonway (1818–1826) was an early cable car built by Benjamin Thompson. Fawdon is now served by Fawdon Metro station. Fawdon Metro station stands on the site of the former Coxlodge station that was part of the Ponteland Railway. This is situated just behind the Fawdon Park Centre, a shopping centre that was built in 1967; it houses Fawdon Post Office and various shops. In March 2008 the City Council took the decision to demolish Fawdon Park House whilst retaining the shops on the ground level. Fawdon Park House was originally built in the 1960s as part of the Fawdon Park Centre development. Tenants left in September 2009 and demolition of the building finally commenced in late 2012 following asbestos removal. Business It is the site of a Nestlé Rowntree factory on Rowan Drive, which opened in 1958, employs 600 workers and produces 40,000 tonnes of chocolate a year. It is Nestlé's second largest UK factory after York. The site makes Blue Riband, Breakaway (since 1970), Caramac (since 1959), Fruit pastilles, Rolo, and Yorkie biscuits. The Munchies brand moved there in 2006, from York. The site used to extensively use the rail sidings and track now used by the Metro. In 2021 Nestlé announced plans to close the Fawdon Factory by 2023. The pharmaceutical company Accord Healthcare has a 22-acre manufacturing site in Fawdon. The Accord site was previously used by the fellow pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis before leaving the site in 2015. Education and recreation The Fawdon ward has two schools, Regent Farm First School and North Fawdon Primary School these are both for children under the ages of 11. Fawdon also has a combined library and community centre located on Fawdon Park Road. The local football team is based there, Fawdon FC. Fawdon FC play in the NABC leagues