City Road, Holy Jesus Hospital

The Holy Jesus Hospital was founded in 1681 by the Mayor and Burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne for the relief of Freemen and their widows and unmarried children, on the site of an Austin Friary. The building was built on a parcel of land called the Manors, a freehold which belonged to the town, and it housed a master and 39 poor freemen. The hospital at that time consisted of a master (the first master was Thomas Lewen, merchant), 6 Bretheren (freemen of Newcastle over 50 years of age without wives), and 31 Sisters (widows or daughters of Freemen, single or unmarried, over 50 years old).Up to 6 Sisters who were between the ages of 30 and 50 could also be appointed to take care of the sick and infirm. Inmates received an unfurnished room, free light, medical attendance and a ton of coal every quarter. The Holy Jesus Hospital Act of 1847 regulated the hospital. Under this Act the Corporation had to pay out of the Walker Estate £800 per annum for the support and maintenance of the hospital. By 1926 they were authorised to provide £500 per annum from the rates. By 1937 the institution had resited at Spital Tongues because the building was declared unfit. Thanks to a bequest from John George Joicey in 1968, the building became a local history museum. The museum closed in 1995. The hospital building is three storeys high with an open arcade of brick arches on square pillars at ground floor level. It is one of only two complete 17th century brick buildings to survive in Newcastle (the other is Alderman Fenwick's House). Inside is a oak staircase which originally had figures carved onto the handrail. There is an inscription on front of building which translated says: "Hospital erected at the expense of the Citizens and Burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne in the year of Salvation 1682. Timothy Robson, Mayor. John Squire, Sheriff. Now therefore abideth these three Faith, Hope and Charity, but the greatest of these is Charity." In front of the entrance is a large ornamented fountain. The left gable was partly renewed when a soup kitchen was added at the rear in 1880. LISTED GRADE 2*