The former garden of Bensham Grove (HER 8251). There are several quotations from the Watson family who lived there relating to the garden: "My life at this time was a very idle one. It was hot summer weather and the temptations to loiter in the garden and eat gooseberries with Emily were too great to resist". "Our large garden - two and a half acres I think - was a great joy. Here we played Hide and Seek, climber trees and learned to drop from a great height" {Mary}. "..we played tennis a good deal… a new acquisition for us…". "When I was five years old I planted laburnum seeds… hoping the tree would grow quickly so that I could climb it. I also grew a few (very few) wild strawberries… these when ripe were carefully collected on a saucer and with perhaps 1d I bought cream and gave them to mother" {Mary}{1}. In the early 20th century, the chronicle describes this ‘picturesque garden’ as being one of its [Bensham Grove’s] most valuable and beautiful assets’. These grounds were originally all part of the gardens to Bensham Grove, home to the Watson (later Spence Watson) family, but are now predominantly given over to a public park. The lie of the land slopes gently towards the west, so that when the landscaping was created, as well as providing a lush and picturesque setting for the house, it would have afforded remarkable views in this direction. This is acknowledged in 2 advertisements To Be Let in the early 19th century – “commands a fine view of the vales of Ravensworth and Tyne”. These advertisements also describe ‘an extensive garden, well stocked with fruit and other trees’ and ‘a vinery, heated by steam &c’. When established, therefore, it had obviously enjoyed considerable investment, and the fashion for growing tender plants in glasshouses followed.
This description, together with the evidence from the 1st edition Ordnance Survey mapping, gives an interesting overall picture of the gardens. There appears to have been a kitchen garden to the immediate north west of the house, with a glasshouse in the corner of this plot. The attractive, enclosing orange brick walling surviving in this area supports this interpretation, with its inviting archway providing access as well as framing views. Further to the north west of this, further formally laid out plots could be an extension of the kitchen garden and/or an orchard. To the south, the land is open, with a small group of trees (possibly with aspirations to a modest arboretum) off-set from the centre, and a strong south-western boundary of what appear to be substantial mature trees. It is likely that a wild garden may have been located in this area, however, as it is recorded that the family picked wild strawberries. To the front of the house at this time the arrangement is rather informal, with a few scattered trees.
During the later 19th century, it may well have been influenced by the naturalistic landscaping at Saltwell Towers, as Robert Spence Watson was doing work to house around the time Saltwell Park was opened, as well as unveiling a stature there.
Even at this time, whilst the Spence Watsons were in residence, the garden was enjoyed by many, as the family were known for entertaining people from all walks of life, and it was therefore a valuable green space in a densely built-up, industrialised area. A later letter to the editor of The Friend (a Quaker journal) describes how ‘with its large garden set in the midst of an overcrowded district, Bensham Grove can yet continue to make a valuable contribution to the social life of a town which is lacking in beauty’. When the Bensham Grove Settlement was established in 1919, the aim was ‘to provide a centre for educational, social and recreational activities’, and the garden played a significant part in this aim. The initial proposals for the Settlement suggest that ‘the garden would be invaluable for rest and recreation, and might be used for teaching the beast methods of working allotments’ and the first Warden’s Report asserts – ‘our garden offers great attractions to our neighbours of all ages.’ The ideals of the proposals were realised, as staff from Armstrong College gave lectures on gardening, and members of the men’s club were able to work plots in the garden, learning valuable skills. The garden was the setting for tennis (1 court was present at this time, although there were plans to introduce another as it was so popular), and it seems there were regular football matched every weekend. The gardens were used for summer fetes and many other gatherings, and, interestingly, open-air drama productions by the group of amateur players who were based at the Settlement. Photographs surviving from these events appear to show that the trees in front of the house had been cleared to make way for an open lawn, but that there were still some substantial trees, probably those to the south west boundary. In January 1937 guidelines were prepared for the allocation and care of the gardens, which argue that unemployed men only should be given the opportunity to apply for a plot. This clearly indicates the value of the resource in an area where unemployment was a problem. They mention greenhouses, shrubs, lawns and paths, and an earlier report also mentions seeds, plants, bulbs and garden chairs – indicating that aesthetic and leisure aspects as well as food production were considered important.
Species now present are mainly deciduous, including silver birch, beech and ash (?), but there is a fine holly tree near to the house itself. The current feel is of a modest, informal park, providing valuable open space to the local area and, importantly, an attractive setting to the Listed house. It would be positive if an opportunity arose to do detailed research on the historic garden design, and the disparate parts of the garden reunited as part of a restoration programme. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
When the Settlement was first establishes, an initial trial with local youths tending the kitchen garden, was found to be unsatisfactory in terms of productivity, and so the responsibility for tending the gardens was passed onto the Men’s Club. During WWII an air raid shelter was built in the grounds. MATERIALS / SPECIES Brick walls, holly, silver birch, beech, ash DATES Established c1819 LOCAL LIST

Municipal park. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE could have been villa garden for Ryton Towers (HER 11938) mostly laid out in 1960s. Dene is of interest. There were boat trips to visit the garden from Newcastle up to the 1950s. LOCAL LIST

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This landscape was formerly the grounds to South Close Villa, built in 1862 for Mr Edward Eccles. LANDSCAPE DESIGNER John Greene architect of house DATES 1862 (plans) LOCAL LIST

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Recent years have seen the artist play an increasing role in the design of landscapes. The greatest concentration of artworks in the area is found in the Gateshead Riverside Sculpture Park to the west of the Tyne Bridge. Perhaps the best piece is "Rolling Moon" by Colin Rose, with its silver ball emerging above the trees as seen from the Metro and Newcastle Quayside. The park also boasts works by Richard Deacon, Maggie Howarth, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard harris, Sally Matthews and a temporary piece by David Tremlett {2}. Gateshead Council cleared an area of derelict and unusable buildings in the mid 1960s and created a park. The first artwork in 1982-86 was 'Bottle Bank' by Richard Harris, a sculpture of stone piers made from stone from the Old Harbour Master's house at North Shields and mild steel arches. It looks like an upturned boat hull and the adjacent bridges. Other artwork include 'Gravel Artwork' by David Tremlett in 1991, 'Goats' by Sally Matthews, 1992, a life size herd of gaots made from steel, cement and natural materials, 'Cone' by Andy Goldsworthy, 1990, 'Once Upon A Time' by Richard Deacon, 1992 and 'Phoenix' by Maggie Howarth, 1993 {3}. LOCAL LIST

Previously known as King George’s Field, the site also encompassed the grounds of Whickham House, later known as Whickham Chase. During the Second World War 1 acre of the site was given over to allotments to produce food for the war effort. DATES 1930s LOCAL LIST

The Birtley Cenotaph was formerly on the Gateshead local list with the following description:
Some of Tyne and Wear's smallest and simplest gardens are also amongst its most charming. Small gardens around war memorials are an especially poignant group. The war memorial is flanked by two pavilions and the whole is laid out in a formal arrangement {1}. Erected 1923. By Messrs Davidson & Son of Gosforth. Birtley war memorial was unveiled by Lieut-Colonel Philip Kirkup on 9th anniversary of the declaration of the First World War. A draw for War Savings Certificates raised £1,900 for the building of the Cenotaph and shelters. It was built of Heworth stone and the names of the 189 fallen were inscribed on bronze tablets on three sides. The memorial was re-dedicated in 1950 when the names of those who had died in the Second World War were added. The names of those who died in Korea 1951-53 and the Gulf 1991 have subsequently been added. DESCRIPTION This long, shallow garden has at its centre a sandstone cenotaph memorial with bronze plaques to each face. The front face has a commemorative inscription with names engraved to the other faces. Each side has a carved cross with a wreath and festoon. The surrounding garden has low brick walls with stone copings with concavely curved sections to accommodate the rising ground. To the front these are topped with very simple railings. The substantial brick gate piers to the entrance have stone plinths above the base and decorative capstones with cornice detail. They have been largely renewed. The steps leading to the cenotaph have a section of wall to each side. The 2 shelters which flank the memorial have low brick plinths with extensive glazing consisting of very small, narrow panes above and semi-glazed central timber doors (pale blue). The corners have timber posts, and the clay tiled roof has decorative ridge tiles with plumes to the termini. Large curved timber brackets support the eaves. MATERIALS Heworth burnstone, bronze ARCHITECT Davidson & Son; Bolam, Simpson & Bolam (builders); H Walker & Sons (manufacturer) DATES 04/08/1923 (unveiled) 12/11/1950 (additions unveiled) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This land was previously a portion of Constable’s Garth, and was a gift of the Birtley Freeholders and Mr A R Fleet for the erection of a memorial to the war dead. The last name to be added was that of John Thompson who was cleared of desertion after a 17 year campaign by his sister. The money was raised through a prize draw and private donations. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A meeting was held on 28/01/1919 to discuss the erection of a memorial. It was decided to erect a cenotaph and 2 public shelters. LISTED GRADE II

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
This attractive chapel in snecked stonework is part of the suite of buildings at Gateshead East Cemetery, although it was built slightly later. Based on the design of the original non-conformist chapel (apparently designed by John Dobson), it features the same steeply pitched slated roof with fishscale banding, which elevates the design above the norm. Dressings are in ashlar, including water tabling (with rolled tops), kneelers and quoins, but unfortunately the small turret to the west end has been lost. A solid porch to the front boasts a deeply moulded pointed archway and timber doors on decorative iron hinges. The lancets are slender and trefoil headed, although the windows have unfortunately been reinstated as poor imitations in its recent conversion to residential accommodation. The dramatic light in the gable is deeply inset, with simple pointed lancets and carved roundel details under a hood moulding with small voussoirs to the pointed arch. This is mirrored in the smaller, 2 light version to the gabled section to the north. Rooflights have also been inserted which are not as sensitive as they might have been – however, the condition of the building has been improved since the conversion to residential use. MATERIALS Sandstone, slate, timber ARCHITECT Based on John Dobson design (?)
BUILDER Harrison & Lowe DATES 1868/9
Opened for use 17th March 1869 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This chapel was built later because originally the Cemetery Board had an agreement with the Churchwardens at St Edmund’s Chapel to use that building for Church of England services. However, with a staff changeover, there was a great deal of tension between the 2 parties and the agreement fell through.
The research assistance of Caroline Harrop is gratefully acknowledged. LOCAL LIST

This attractive and substantial 2 storey lodge building, constructed in snecked stonework as the Superintendent’s House with offices, is part of the suite of buildings at Gateshead East Cemetery. It is positioned right at the entrance of the cemetery, making it very prominent, and was clearly designed to make an impression as people entered the cemetery, not least through the large pointed arched gateway marking the pedestrian entrance. The principal façade, to the north, exhibits several gables, with a large one fronting a wing, perpendicular to the main range, with 2 smaller gables surmounting first floor windows. The pattern is repeated, though with less depth, to the opposite elevation. On the western gable, fronting the main entrance, there is an elaborate and well-carved datestone, featuring the Gateshead crest and a goat figure (sadly rather disfigured now) within a roundel, and a broad arched window below. Solid ashlar chimneys grace the slate roof (with triangulate detail at the base to the west), and the water tabling has a rolled apex detail common with the other cemetery buildings. The mainly square-headed windows (plus a pointed arched lancet) have unfortunately been replaced with plastic casements, but the moulded solid lintels and cills remain, with chamfered edges also included to the stones forming the jambs. Overall, it a large and good quality example of a cemetery lodge building that truly enhances its setting. MATERIALS Sandstone, slate, timber ARCHITECT John Dobson (?)
BUILDER John Harrison DATES 1862 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The house was part of the package of benefits of the job, along with coals, gas and water and an annual salary of £79.
It is not absolutely certain that John Dobson designed the building, however, there is a reference in the committee minutes of 25th February 1861 to Dobson demanding payment for plans, surveys and preliminary arrangements for laying out the ground he had prepared. As there is no reference to anyone else preparing plans, apart from Mr Lamb for the ‘porch’ to be built onto St Edmund’s Chapel as a coffin receptacle, it would make sense that the all the original buildings, as well as the layout, were designed by Dobson. Unfortunately no plans survive.
The contract for the building of the superintendent’s house and gardener’s house was let to Mr John Harrison for £100, and the work was reported complete on 6th March 1862.
The research assistance of Caroline Harrop is gratefully acknowledged. FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
It would be positive if the plastic windows could be replaced with more appropriate timber sliding sash windows. LOCAL LIST