The Rectory, Church Chare

This site was added to the Gateshead local list in 2023. The local list description reads:
'Historic, Architectural interest large house, now with attached buildings in the west, but internal plans show that this was originally detached and had windows in the west side. Thick walls form an L-plan before later additions. A builder's note during 1930s alterations recorded walls nearly 3 ft thick. This was the parish rectory before 1713 and has been the rectory since 1922 (Whickham Cottage Medical Centre was the rectory 1713-1922). Probably a medieval or sixteenth-century rectory next to the parish church. Given symmetrical south facade of five bays, with sash windows, in 18th century when this was one of the houses of Dr Adam Askew (also of Redheugh Hall, Gateshead, and Pallinsburn House, Northumberland). Pebbledashed exterior hides original fenestration, but the east side has two arched Gothick windows on ground floor and small rectangular window on first floor below the gable end, with a door, columned porch and four windows in different styles and at different levels on east side of north return. The window south of porch is inscribed “R M 1680”. North side has 19th century addition with reset earlier windows. The garden on the north may represent the extent of medieval tofts that extended to a footpath running along the contour of the hill (also forming a path through the churchyard and continuing as Church Rise and Orchard Road).'