Geograph - photograph every grid square

Cottingwood Common was in use from the early eighteenth century for horse racing and known as Morpeth racecourse. It was famous for a four day meeting held in September; the last was being in 1883.

At some time in the twentieth century St. George's Hospital, built originally in 1859 as the "County Pauper Lunatic asylum" extended into the grounds. A large part of this hospital complex now stands boarded up and unused, access to the public restricted.

Notices says the land is "private" and under the control of the Homes and Communities Agency, a government agency. So presumably destined for housing development.