Cinema. Opened as the News Theatre in 1937 to the designs of George Bell, of Dixon and Bell of Newcastle. Brick and steel frame construction, clad in white glazed tiles. Roof not seen. Concealed behind parade of shops, also by Bell, which incorporates original entrance. Now entered from side, into small entrance foyer, when staircase leads to double-height main auditorium with balcony, cinema cafe, offices and secondary screen.

The cinema is concealed down side elevation, and reached through glazed doors. The small entrance foyer has elaborate fibrous plaster Art Deco mouldings on ceiling, cornices and on pilasters surrounding stairwell. Staircase balustrades in similar style. Similar decoration up to second floor level with the same balustrades continuing to third floor. Triple-shouldered arches over entrances to stairs and stairwell apertures. Rectangular double-level auditorium arranged as stalls and balcony. Stalls in semi-basement entered by stairs from foyer, balcony approached from first floor. Straight balcony front, with acoustic fluted decoration. Balcony extends as `legs' to meet proscenium wall. Proscenium of superimposed mouldings with rounded profiles interrupted at sides by three relief bands decorated with rosettes. Side splays embellished with vertical Art Deco panels of pierced fibrous plaster standing on plinths with bands of scrolling Acanthus containing rosettes, below which are dwarf balconies (these may originally have been designed as giant jardinieres, i.e.. intended for plants) with metal balustrades designed in the form of interlaced circles. Horizontal banding on walls. Square lighting cove in main ceiling; fibrous plaster panels in subsidiary ceilings at sides. Two columns in rear balcony with dish uplighter sconces ultimately derived from the Grosses Schauspielhaus, Berlin, of 1919 by Hans Poelzig. Back wall of balcony inset with sound absorbent panels. Three fibrous plaster panels in rear of balcony soffit.

Cafe on second floor above auditorium with Art Deco pilasters and entrance corridor with sumptuous cornice and ceiling decoration. Second auditorium created in roof space above cafe of no decorative interest.

ANALYSIS: The news cinema was a type of cinema particularly popular in the late 1930s, where newsreels, topical interest films and cartoons were shown. They formed an invaluable function in disseminating information in the days before television, and these small halls became a feature of major city centres and principal railway stations. Few survive in any form. This is the finest surviving purpose-built newsreel cinema in Britain, incorporating a rare example of a fine cinema cafe. Newreel cinema. McCombie - late for a news theatre, but supposedly the last working newsreel cinema in Britain, later a specialist cinema. Restoration and polycarbonate-clad rooftop extension 2006-8 by Fletcher Priest, consultant conservation architect Cyril Winskell. Fine Art Deco/Persian interior; later mural by Newcastle architect Peter Yates.

Church, c.1865 with later additions. Architect unknown but possibly by William Butterfield or one of his pupils. Built in Early English gothic style of brick, faced in coursed ashlar buff sandstone with slate roofs. Truncated west tower, south porch, nave with aisles and clerestorey, north and south chapels, square-ended sanctuary. Open roof with king-post collar trusses. Plain pews and re-sited organ possibly original. Stained glass dating from between 1872 and 1875 by Morris and Co. The piece de resistance is the three light east window, principally designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, the central light depicts a half-profile crucifixion, with Christ ministered by nine red-winged angels. Interior - orange brick horizontally banded with black brick and buff ashlar giving a striking effect. The walls of the sanctuary have more elaborate bands of polychrome brick chevron and checked decoration and an arcade in black bricks. The church was built at the expense of a private individual (Thomas Eustace Smith, Liberal MP for Tynemouth 1868-1885 and owner of Gosforth House), remaining unconsecrated while serving part of an Anglican parish, and then being bought for the Roman Catholic church. Originally named St. Mary's. The church was re-roofed in 1913 and 1934. Major internal re-ordering of chancel and west end in 1986-7.

Architecturally undistinguished workers dwellings near to Sunniside Farm (HER 9099).

Goldsmith's shop, warehouse and office. c1910, clock added c1932, shopfront remodelled c1960.
Ashlar with ashlar dressings and slate roofs. Four storey plus attics. Baroque Revival style. Corner site.
Ground floor has shopfront c1960 with to left another shopfront c1980 and beyond original entrance doorway to offices above with double panel doors in fluted marble surround. First floor has blocked window on canted corner with projecting gilded square clock topped with a gilded female figure added c1932. Above single cross casement with attenuated keystone, another window above, both in round headed ashlar surround. Attic has small pair of windows. Hexagonal corner cupola has open facades with boldly rusticated Doric columns, each corner has square corbelled pilaster rising to square Ionic column. Cupola topped with copper dome.
North front has 3 window centre flanked by single windows. Centre has 3 casements in rusticated surrounds with attenuated keystones rising to cill band above. Both floors of upper windows recessed between Ionic half-columns, supporting ornate entablature. 3 small cross casements the lower ones with segment arched heads and elongated keystones. Attic has single central window with moulded ashlar surround topped with segmental hood. Single window end bay has first floor window with moulded ashlar surround, upper windows incorporated in single moulded ashlar surround with carved panel between. Attic has pair of windows with bold mullion between rising into curved ashlar hood supported on brackets.
South-east front has similar two window facade.

This building was listed Grade II in 2000 with the following description:
'Medical School, now Department for Agriculture and the Centre for Lifelong Learning. 1936-39 with internal alterations 1948, and attic storey added 1955-57. Designed by P Clive Newcombe and largely paid for by Sir Arthur Munro Sutherland. Steel-framed with flat concrete roofs, clad in red brick with ashlar dressings. 3 storey and 4 storey on basement. Three tall blocks linked by lower buildings with staircases and lecture theatres. West front to Queen Victoria Road has central 9 window 4 storey block with slightly projecting 3 window centre with short Doric pilasters in antis, and above giant Corinthian pilasters in antis, topped with ashlar parapet, and either side 3 windows in vertical strips with ashlar panels between. Attic floor added. Either end slightly lower 7 window blocks with projecting 3 window centres with ashlar panels between, to the sides 2 windows in similar vertical strips. Set back to right main entrance has projecting ashlar porch with single fluted Doric columns in antis and moulded ashlar door surround with main revolving door and overlight with glazing bars. St Thomas Street front 2 storey plus attic arranged 4.4.5.4.4. Central section has 3 windows in ashlar panel with 3 attic windows above, set back either side are 4 window sections set in vertical ashlar panels, with similar 4 window sections set back at either side. East King's Road facade similar to west facade but with plainer centre. INTERIOR entrance hall and Howden Room both have good quality imitation seventeenth century panelling and decorative plaster ceilings.' {1}.
The building is of interest because it combines classical elements from antiquity (Corinthian columns) with the clean bold designs of the art deco, influenced by the Ancient Egyptian art and design {2}. Medical School moved in summer 1984 to a new building between RVI and the Dental Hospital.

Gateway

This building was listed Grade II in 1987 with the following description:
'Former Department of Agriculture, now School of Architecture GV II University department. 1913 by W.H. Knowles F.S.A. (panel at right of entrance and foundation stone). Brown brick with ashlar dressings; roof of plain tiles. Symmetrical. Tudor style. 2 storeys and attics; 1:3:1 bays, the outer wide bays under gables. 4 steps up to central open porch with moulded Tudor arch under corbelled oriel; stone mullioned and transomed windows in irregular-block surrounds; buttressed end bays have central buttress to corbelled first-floor oriel; 7-light windows in gable peaks. 3 gabled dormers; roll-moulded continuous parapet. 2 tall stacks with ashlar plinth and cornice, with 3 chimneys each. Panel in porch: half of cost of building borne by Clement Stephenson, half by the Ministry of Agriculture.' {1}.
Before the college could occupy the building, it was requestioned by the Government, along with other college buildings, for use as the first Northern General Hospital on the outbreak of World War One. In 1914 there were 520 beds. By 4th August 1917 there were 1286. In 1917 264 Home Troops, Officers were admitted, 5128 other ranks, 233 Overseas Troops, Officers and 5287 other ranks. In the college grounds the following were erected: a ward for 110 beds, a receiving room, pack store and fumigator, 4 pavilions and 12 revolving shelters. The ward was presented to the hospital by M. Frank Priestman and opened in September 1917.

This wall was listed Grade II in 1999 with the following description:
'Alternatively known as: Gates and Railings at Royal Victoria Infirmary, RICHARDSON ROAD Lodge, gates and railings. 1900-05 with minor C20 alterations. Red brick with ashlar dressings slate roofs and iron railings and gates. Designed by W L Newcombe and Percy Adams. South lodge has square cross plan, single storey with ashlar plinth and moulded ashlar eaves band cornice and parapet. Hipped slate roof with central brick and ashlar stack. East and west fronts have central pilaster porticoes with 3 sash windows. Main north front has full 4 columned portico. Iron pedestrian gate links lodge to square gate pier. Linked to this lodge is iron gate and brick gate pier. Attached railings stretch along Queen Victoria Street with a further set of gates. The railings continue along Richardson Road and also along the passage to the north of the hospital site. These railings are plain spearhead iron railings set on low brick walling with chamfered ashlar coping, the regularly spaced piers are made up of 4 thick iron capped with ornate domed laterns.'

This chapel was listed Grade II in 1999 with the following description:
'Hospital chapel. 1900-05. Designed by Newcombe & Adams. Brick with stone dressings. Exterior now very largely hidden by later buildings. Single storey. Greek cross plan. INTERIOR has wooden floor and faience tile walls and mosaic vaults. Square central space has round arched opening to each face flanked by single lower segmental arches with spandrel in each corner leading to central shallow dome covered in gold mosaic tiles and with 8 dormer windows. Each wing has triple arched arcades either side and above barrel vault with pale blue mosaic tiles. Altar in north wing raised on marble step, decorated wooden altar and wooden reredos behind with five painted panels on gold ground showing the holy family and the evangelists. Fine pulpit to left and similarly elaborate lectern to right. Stained glass windows. Modern wooden pews.'

Row of 3 town houses, now shops. Late C18 with late C19 shopfronts. Red brick and render with slate roofs. Dentilated wooden eaves cornice with single rounded lead rainwater heads at either end.
Street front, 4 storey, 7 windows with curved end to right. Ground floor has 2 late C19 wooden shopfronts to left with moulded frames, plate glass windows and scroll bracket fascia boards. To right a passage entrance and beyond a further shop front altered late C20. First floor has continuous cill band. Above 7 sash windows, 4 to left with plain sashes and 3 to right with plain sashes below and glazing bars above. Second floor has 4 plain sashes to left and 3 glazing bar sashes to right. Third floor has 7 similar though slightly smaller sashes.
INTERIOR.
Nos 93-97 have stick baluster staircase with mahogany handrail to upper floors. Doorways have moulded surrounds and 6-panel doors, sash windows have moulded surrounds and pannelled shutters, most rooms retain moulded plaster cornice and some original fireplaces.
Nos 99 and 101 has full height stick baluster staircase with mahogany handrail, curved landings and circular roof-light. First floor has room with Greek key and metope cornice. Most doors have moulded surrounds and 6-panel doors. Most windows have panelled shutters and moulded window surrounds. Some original fireplaces with cast-iron basket grate. McCombie - three Late Georgian brick houses, each of four storeys and two or three bays, with shopfronts. House door with ogee arch. Transverse stair behind the shops; good plaster decoration survives in some rooms, Greek in No. 101 where the Stokoes lived (cf the Moot Hall). Did they design the group?