George Stephenson's Birthplace was built around 1750 and is situated along the north bank of the River Tyne. It is a Grade II* listed building, owned and maintained by the National Trust and open to the public as a museum. The house features exhibits about his renowned locomotive, Stephenson's Rocket.

When George lived there, the little property was divided into four family dwellings. His family left the cottage when he was eight years old. Since that time, many poeple lived there, and it is believed that someone has remained behind. However, it is not George Stephenson that you might think, but a ghost that has been named Mabel.

Phenomena have included terrible smells, a custodians dog refusing to enter the spare room (which is regarded as a focal point of the unusual happenings), and the apparition of a woman in "black Victorian costume with a white apron".

Pictured left is George Stephenson's cottage courtesy of Ken Brown.