In 1845 Messrs Nicholas Scott and John Benson opened a Sunday School in temporary premises. The Benson Memorial Church was opened as a Sunday School in 1867 after the death of Mr Benson, who was a prominent citizen, grocer and tea dealer and founder of the Newcastle Stock Exchange. It is now an Apostolic Church {1}. Built as a United Free Methodist Church in 1867. John Benson was a grocer, tea dealer and founder of the Newcastle Stock Exchange. A small brick building with ashlar dressings, seated 140. A rare survival of a small chapel. Date table now sadly weathered.

Located at Whitley Links. Opened on 14th September 1869 by her Grace the Dowager-Duchess of Northumberland. A stone building arranged on a pavilion plan, consisting of a central block with a corridor at right angles with projecting day and night sleeping rooms. There were open spaces in-between the rooms to provide ventilation and light. The building is raised several feet above ground level, approached by an elevated terrace with steps and an inclined roadway. The home held 140 patients (100 males and 40 females). It stood in beautiful gardens

Four blocks of two houses each, shown on Ordnance Survey second edition. The first was opened on 11th May 1880 and the last in March 1884. Built to accommodate 125 children. "Homes in every sense of the word they are to the red-cloaked and red-cheeked little maidens who may be seen playing on the sands or walking demurely along the sea-banks" {1}. In 1877 it was felt that there was a need to establish an institution for the reception and training of little girls who were either orphans or destitute. In 1879 the Duke of Northumberland provided the site. Wealthy local benefactors made the costs possible. Work commenced in 1879 for 140 girls. Re-certified in 1924/5 for 120 girls and young boys. From 1933 it became an Approved School for 120 children. Ceased to operate as a home in 1984/5. Site consisted of cottage homes plus central premises. Converted to housing and now called "Village Court".

Gateshead's first permanent cinema. Opened in 1909. Generally known as "Horns".

Gateshead's most luxurious theatre. On the corner of Jackson Street and High Street. Opened 28 September 1896 by Weldon Watts, former owner of the Queen's (HER 7874). The Metropole had a marble staircase, brass handrails and an elaborate plasterwork ceiling. It became the Scala Cinema in 1919. Only the door and a mosaic tile floor remains (as part of the pub, HER 7509). Weldon Watts (also Hedderwick & Simpson) owned a number of cinemas in the region. Reputed to seat 2500, it cost £20K to build. Alts 1913/37 White & Stephenson.

The first permanent theatre in Gateshead. It was a chapel in 1815, then a music hall, boxing hall, Salvation Army hall (1882), Royal Theatre (1887, the Queen's (1894) and the New Hippodrome Cinema (1919). In 1891 seven children were crushed to death during a scramble to escape after a false fire alarm. The theatre was damaged by fire in 1922 and a Woolworth store was built on the site.

This was in a large public house in Bottle Bank. It seated 400 people. But it had a short life from 1874-80. The owner was George Handyside, who later built the Handyside Arcade in Newcastle. He tried to establish another music hall at Pleasant Row, but residents petitioned and a theatre licence was withheld.

This was the first music hall in Gateshead, opened 14 November 1870, on the corner of Oakwellchare and High Street. The acts on the first bill included a female impersonator and clog dancers. The theatre closed the following year after an "unseemly performance". The building was later used by the Salvation Army and the Baptists.

At the top of Melbourne Street (now junction of Ellison Street and West Street). Originally built by a congregation of Independents in 1836, the chapel was transferred to the Presbyterians. In 1895 it became Robert Kelly & Co. printing establishment. Demolished 1984. Described by Pevsner as 'almost square, with hipped roof. Brick with two-tiers of round-arched windows above the basement'

Belonged to the Methodist New Connexion. A movement founded in 1791 when Alexander Kilham led the first group to split from the Methodists. Opened in 1836. General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army was given his first permanent minister's post here. Later the printing works of Howe Brothers. Demolished in 1964 {1}. By Thomas Oliver. Plain brick box with central pediment and primitive porch projection: a gabled room supported over the entrance on cast-iron columns. Oval gallery {Pevsner}.