There have been buildings on this site since at least Ordnance Survey first edition. By the third edition a large building on the site is named as Derwent Brass Works and this survives today [2006]. The existing building is built of yellow brick, but incorporates a west elevation of roughly hewn and roughly coursed stone, supported by yellow brick buttresses. First floor windows have a brick arch above and bricks laid on face below. The southern elevation is of modern red brick.

Beside the road bridge (SMR 3630) on the south side {1}.

Suspension bridge over River Derwent, built 1903 to replace an earlier wooden structure, and recently repaired extensively. The only suspension bridge in Tyne and Wear {1}. A steel suspension bridge, unique in the area, built in 1903 by D. Rowell of Willesden for access to allotments {2}. The Sands suspension bridge, known locally as the Hikey Bridge, was built in 1903 to link the allotments on either side of the River Derwent.

Brick chimney. Part of Crowley's ironworks. Restored. Now sits in the car park of Lidl supermarket. Dates to the end of the 19th century when the surviving parts of the ironworks were taken over by Ridley & Co.

Former Co-op. Red brick with stone detail. Original shop fronts; plastic windows.
DATES 1890

Collection of stone buildings possibly used to be a farm {1}.

For Derwent Haugh Railway. The Derwenthaugh Marina incorporates the remains of what was the eastern range of Derwenthaugh Staiths which are now part of a jetty. This had been an important coal handling and shipping point since the mid 18th century. These remains are part of the 19th century staiths used by the Consett Iron Company who opened the colliery at Chopwell and transported coal along the Garesfield and Chopwell Railway. The staiths were taken over by the National Coal Board in 1947 and went out of use in 1960 having served the collieries and coke ovens at Chopwell, Garesfield, Clockburn Drift (Marley Hill) and the Derwenthaugh Coke Works which closed in 1985 {2}.

Opened 1931, to the designs of Merz-McLellan for NESCO, and the first power station to have a simple structural frame and glass curtain wall construction. Extended in 1951 and still in use, but its future may be in doubt {1}. First power station of frame and glass curtain wall construction in England/Europe. Extended in 1951 to same design. The job engineer, A. Howell, had travelled in Paris. Built for Newcastle upon Tyne Electric Lighting Co., now used by CEGB but closure imminent [in 1981]. Original turbines and chain gate may still survive {2}.closed in the early 1980s and demolished in the 1990s.

This complex of buildings is very important, both as early examples of reinforced concrete construction and in relation to the development of the co-operative Wholesale Society historically. They were designed by the French based practice of L.G. Mouchel, while RC was still under patent and were constructed in the early years of this century. The architectural detailing is of a high quality. They are now under threat. The site also contains a slotted signal post {1}. The CWS works at Pelaw and Dunston were the first major manufacturing premises of the CWS outside Manchester area. The flour mills (SMR 1668) were the first development in 1891, then the Grain Cleaning House in 1901. The soap works (SMR 1016) were added in 1907, along with cylindrical storage bins for the granary. The soap works were extended in 1911-1914 and a new jetty was built. The architect for the granary and cleaning house was F. Harris, who also designed the CWS warehouse at Milkmarket/Quayside, Newcastle. L.G. Ekins designed the silos and jetty. Structurally the buildings are of interest as large early examples of reinforced concrete construction, built when this technique was still under its inventors patents. The granary buildings, at 94' and 104' are outstanding examples of Hennibique's patent Ferro-Concrete. Together with the Milkmarket warehouse and a number of other structures including the Spanish City Dome, Whitley Bay, they established Tyneside as a leader in this pioneering technology of the time. The buildings are linked by a concrete jetty and quay. They are striking examples of industrial architecture and combine elements of architectural refinement - in the pattern of fenestration, the fluting at the top of the silos, the cornices and balustrades, the hopper covers and relief lettering - with carefully engineered structures apparent in the structural frame which is visible throughout the granary and soap works. The granary (architect F. Harris, 1901) is a basically rectangular (155' x 110' x 94' high) building, with a tower on the south east corner and projecting concrete elevator running from the first to fourth floors on the east. The eastern bays are a storey taller, and the whole building is capped with a parapet in which is embossed 'Co-operative Wholesale Society Limited Flour Mills'. The six circular Silos (176' x 92' x 109' high) (architect L.G. Ekins, 1907-8) consist of a group of six (2 x 3) circular silos, built in ferro-concrete. 9" thick at the base, 6" at the top, with fluting at the top and base. Rectilinear towers at the east and west of the silos echo the style of the granary and are capped with ventilator funnels.