Longbenton is a district of North Tyneside, England. It is largely occupied by an extensive estate originally built as municipal housing by Newcastle City Council in the 1930s and extended in the 1950s. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro stations Longbenton Metro station and Four Lane Ends Metro Station. Nearby places are Killingworth, Forest Hall, Four Lane Ends, West Moor, Heaton and South Gosforth, in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Longbenton and Killingworth Urban Area had a population of 34,878 in 2001. This figure increased to 37,070 in 2011. History The name Longbenton probably means "long (i.e. large) bean town", to distinguish it from the smaller village of Little Benton to its south-east. Longbenton has a long history of coal mining. Meadow Pit, Dyke Pit and First and Second Engine Pits were in operation by 1749. In 1774 an "experimentally-determined" model of the Newcomen atmospheric engine, designed by John Smeaton, was installed there. It was rated at 40 horsepower and used for drainage. In the 1860s Long Benton or Benton Colliery stood at OS grid reference NZ 27093 67438, where Benton Road crossed the Coxlodge Waggonway, a site now occupied by housing on Ferndene Grove. Coal was exported via the wagonway to the Coxlodge Staithes on the Tyne at Wallsend. Later, between 1901 and 1930, much of the route was converted into a tram line operated by the Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads Company. Demography Longbenton had a population of 10,617 in 2011. The figure is given as a ward because the Longbenton Urban Subdivision also encompasses its larger neighbour, Killingworth as well as parts of neighbouring areas. Details are as follows: Education Two secondary schools are located in the township, Longbenton Community College and St Mary's Catholic Comprehensive School, along with four primary schools. The four primary schools are Benton Dene Primary School, Balliol Primary School, St Bartholomew's, and St. Stephen's Primary School. Nurseries offering childcare in Longbenton include Leigh's Nurseries. Longbenton Football Club is an FA-affiliated team and as of 2012/13 season play in the Northern Alliance Division 2. Churches Longbenton is served by St. Mary Magdalene (Church of England) on West Farm Ave, the Methodist church at one end of Chesters Ave and The King's Castle (independent) at the other end of Chesters Avenue. The parish church is St Bartholomew's Church, Long Benton. Business Longbenton is the site of BT's Newcastle call centre. Balliol Business Park