Around 1860 Messrs. Joseph Cowen & Co. set up a water tank in Blaydon to hold 3000 gallons of water, which was piped to two fountains in the centre of Blaydon village. The Gateshead Observer of Saturday 28th April 1860 reported that the villagers had no proper water supply and that attempts by Mr Cowen jnr to get the Local Government Act applies, where ratepayers would pay for improvements to the water supply and drainage had failed. The two fountains are now located at Summer Hill and Shibdon Dene.
DESCRIPTION & SIGNIFICANCE This fountain was one of two (along with X20/LL/255) given to the people of Blaydon by Joseph Cowen MP. Prior to this there was no safe, reliable water supply to the area, and these were used for a long time until there was a full piped supply. It is a testament to the social concern of this important political reformer. The fountain is constructed in sandstone and is set within a short length of wall. It has a steep coped gable with an arched niche in which the fountain is set, feeding into a basin with a stone plinth to the base. Historic photographs from the Edwardian period show a large and extraordinary canopy over the fountain, constructed from latticed branches with a thatched roof, but unfortunately this no longer exists, and the fountain extensively vandalised. In order to safeguard the future of the fountain it is crucial for a solution to be found to this problem.
MATERIALS Black pasture (?) sandstone DESIGNER George Burn (?)
DATES 1860 (opened Whit Monday)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The type of sandstone and the designer are speculative, based on the use of these in the slightly later Garibaldi statue also commissioned by Cowen.

This large re-built pub was designed by one of the most locally noted and prolific public house architects of the time, and marks a key open junction as one ascends the road from the north. Grandiose in red brick, it boasts its original timber windows – large, multipane canted bays to the ground floor and pull-handle sashes in particularly attractive and unusual corniced timber frames to the first (mirrored on the Borough Arms, where Oswald undertook alterations). Cartouches proudly adorn the chamfered corners, bearing the date of erection and the initials of Newcastle Breweries, above doorways (one blocked) embellished with heavy cornices, flat brick arch detail and stone dados. The elevation to Sheriff’s Highway is symmetrical, with double mock-timber framed gables framing a tall, detailed central chimney, which allows a glimpse of the slate roof. These features recur on the remaining elevations. When built, it had provision for a bar, sitting room and ‘select’ room on the ground floor, with accommodation above. A yard wall continuous with the building has pleasing inset panel detailing and a curved coping. Whilst the principal signage is of timber, it is unfortunate that much bright banner signage is employed by the current owner, which, along with the stark setting, detracts from the overall appearance of the property. Nevertheless, the pub has a solid, reassuring feel, with a variety of materials and detailing representative of its age.
MATERIALS Red brick, timber, render, slate
ARCHITECT Joseph Oswald
DATES 1923

Formerly a New Connexion Methodist chapel constructed in 1836, with a school added to the rear in the later Victorian period, it was amongst those ministered to by William Booth. Modest but well detailed, it is an elegant example of local non-conformist architecture and an early survivor for the area. It is described by Whellan (1894) as ‘a small but handsome building, in the Italian style’, and he mentions that it seated 200 people. One of 2 Methodist chapels originally in the area, the chapels were distinguished locally by the names of their patrons. It features a characteristically Methodist gabled façade and unusually shallow pitched slated roof behind a parapet. The detailing to this façade is markedly greater than on the remainder of the building, and therefore it was clearly the principal focus of attention and finance. Making the most outstanding contribution to the character of the building, are the columns with delicately and differently carved capitals flanking the entrance porch, and the carved corbels of the slender central columns to the windows. These are double round-headed lancets with pointed arch heads and chamfered cills. They are particularly special as the detail is very unusual in the area, and they are executed with care and skill, showing off the craftsmanship available in the community at the time of building. It seems to show the influence of John Ruskin, and his book ‘The Stones of Venice’ (1849), in the very accurate replication of natural forms, and lack of repetition, but no firm evidence has been found to confirm this. The stonework of the walling here, too, is neatly dressed, and an unusual moulded chimney crowns the gable. In contrast, the stonework to the sides and rear is still coursed but rubble in quality and the windows are plain with solid square heads, echoing much of the local vernacular building style - simple but robust - and constructed in the sandstone easily available from the nearby quarries. The rainwater goods include parapet guttering, and unfortunately the east plane of the schoolroom roof is now felted over the slates. All walls are rubble filled, and the ground floor is predominantly in suspended timber (apart from some concrete ground bearing slab at the rear). There is a timber suspended mezzanine floor in the main body of the chapel. The roof structure is of a number of King post roof trusses, purlins and rafters. There are also 2 highly distinctive circular chimneys in dressed stone to the rear. The main street location gives the building great prominence, and therefore it makes a highly significant contribution to the local scene, and Sheriff Hill Conservation Area. The building is distinctive in its context, and yet, formed from local stone, and provided by local finance to support local worship needs, is quintessentially Sheriff Hill - of irreplaceable social historical value as well as being especially architecturally distinguished.
MATERIALS Sandstone, slate. Stonemason - Joseph Arnell, Joiner - George Cameron, Smith - Mr Jopling, Architect (Schoolroom) Thomas Reay
DATES 11/02/1836 (opened) 1883 (Schoolroom & vestry added)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The condition of this building is currently poor due to lack of maintenance and repair. Particular problems include the front porch detaching from the main wall, erosion to stonework and some decay to internal timbers. Some problems are being contributed to by the internal floor levels being lower than the road, and the use of cement mortar for repointing to the south elevation.
A refurbishment took place in 1875, but this does not appear to have included any stonework, however the following year repairs to the porch were undertaken which could conceivably have included new carving, however there was no record of any corresponding work to windows, and the style of carving in both is consistent. It is also possible the carving was done at the same time as the new school was built, however, again there is no indication of this in the accounts.
The original trustees of the chapel were: John Allan; Robert Foreman; George Cameron; Simpson Rutherford; Thomas Halliday; Thomas Patterson (from the Pottery?); Joseph Snaith; Thomas Pearson; William Jopling; Ralph Watt; John Colnsard (?); John Snaith, Benjamin Swallwell; John Ufson (?); William Rickaby.
The chapel only became licensed for marriages later on, as the relationship between the congregation and St John’s Church was good. Many went to services at both places, and before the chapel was built they used the church for their services outside the existing service times, so most couples were happy to marry in the church. The chapel was also apparently noted for its pantomimes during the war, providing much needed entertainment to the local population.
The land for the chapel was purchased from John Bowesfield for £64 12 shillings. Total spend 1835-6 on joinery was £94 10s 6d; masonry £49 15s 4d; slating £26 6s; windows £12 13s 11d and chandeliers £5 18s 6d! Interior metalwork seems to have been fairly minimal, as total on this was only £5 11s. In 1837 £1 5s was spent ‘colouring the chapel’! An historic building recording was undertaken in 2009 ahead of the redevelopment of the building. The importance of the chapel is enhanced by a likely connection with William Booth, who, between 1858 and 1861 was a New Connexion Minster in Gateshead before leaving the Methodist Church to found the Salvation Army. Later a gym, now a private house.

This 2-bay ashlar-fronted dwelling is decorated with quoins, a plinth and cill band to the 1st floor. The sides (and probably the rear) are of rubble construction. The roof had been slated until recently but is now covered in felt. A separate pedimented entrance bay and corridor hall was added in the later 19th century, which now also has an off-centre timber doorcase with fluted pilasters and a timber panelled door with light over. It features the same narrow lintels to the 1st floor, abutting the eaves, as other buildings nearby. Unfortunately the original windows, and a previous shopfront, have been replaced with plastic windows.
MATERIALS Sandstone
DATES 1822 - 1858
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The building, attached by a wall to no. 101 & 103, are part of the surviving vernacular stone backbone of Sheriff Hill, evoking the heyday of this lively 19th century village, and expressing its early development, which was significantly based around quarrying

This 2-bay dwelling is of coursed, tooled local sandstone with plinth and quoins. There is a cill band to the 1st floor and a neat pilaster doorcase with deeply moulded cornice to the right of the front elevation. The Welsh slate roof descends to a coved cornice at the eaves. The design is strongly based on nos. 97-99 nearby, which is earlier. A new stone wall has been erected to the front which, whilst poorly detailed, is an improvement on the previous brick wall. Unfortunately all the original windows have been replaced with plastic ones.
DATES c1860s
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The building is part of the surviving vernacular stone backbone of Sheriff Hill, evoking the heyday of this lively 19th century village, and expressing its early development, which was significantly based around quarrying

This double-fronted corner building is of roughly coursed, roughly dressed stone with large quoins. One side is of rubble construction whilst the other is rendered. The welsh slate? roof has water tabling to one side, and the characteristic narrow lintels (as well as stone cills) abutting the eaves which are visible on many buildings in the area. A shopfront has been inserted to the left of the front elevation. The original windows have been unfortunately replaced. MATERIALS Sandstone
DATES 1822 - 1858
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
The building is part of the surviving vernacular stone backbone of Sheriff Hill, evoking the heyday of this lively 19th century village, and expressing its early development, which was significantly based around quarrying.

Incorporating No. 3 Windy Nook Road. This large, double-fronted house is constructed in coursed, dressed stone with large quoins, but unusually narrow cills and lintels to the top floor. This is characteristic of the area, as there are narrow lintels at nearby Sandmill House. It was built on the site of an existing building, present since before 1826. The northern end of the property has projecting stones and no quoins, where a proposed attached house was intended but never built. To the north elevation the construction is rubble, and at the (dressed) south the openings are blocked up, including one that had been inserted. The blue slate roof adds another element of depth to the colours of the property, but has been unfortunately patched in places, and the cement fillet to the stone ridge and water tabling has been rather overdone. At least one of the original chimneys has been replaced. The beautiful Edwardian stained glass windows, timber panelled door with fanlight, and especially the timber shopfront, though a later addition, are a key part of the character of the building. They are richly coloured and harmonise well with the weathered tones of the stonework. A tiny courtyard to the front and a small garden space to the rear nurture a few trees and bushes which, whilst they have the potential to be make a contribution to the green space in the area, could be better managed.
No. 3 Windy Nook Road, adjacent and abutting, is a small but solid building of ashlar with heavier lintels. It is unfortunately currently empty.
Both buildings are suffering from erosion to the lower courses of stonework, presumably as a result of splashback from the immediately adjacent pavements, which would need to be addressed as soon as possible in order to prevent structural problems developing.
Both buildings, and their attached walls, are part of the surviving vernacular stone backbone of Sheriff Hill, evoking the heyday of this lively 19th century village, and expressing its early development, which was significantly based around quarrying.
MATERIALS Sandstone, slate, timber, stained glass
ARCHITECT Unknown (for Barron Robson)
DATES 1868 (101 & 103) 1870 (3)

Cross of Celtic design depicting a crucified Christ. On a square plinth on three steps. "UPON THE CRUCIFIED ONE LOOK AND THOU SHALT READ AS IN A BOOK WHAT WELL IS WORTH THY LEARNING. IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR GOD, FOR KING AND FOR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918. AND IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939-1945". 107 names are listed for WW1 and 49 for WW2 {www.newmp.org.uk}. Local list description - MATERIALS Black pasture sandstone (Chollerord) ARCHITECT W H Wood (designer) Maile & Sons (sculptors) DATES 1916 Public Meeting 1918 Faculty Applied For/Erected STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The Winlaton War Memorial is highly unusual (possibly unique) in having been erected and dedicated 6 months before the war was over. The costs (£338) were met by public subscription, and although the project was initiated by people in the church it was decided from the outset (by the vicar) that the memorial would be to all those who lost their lives regardless of creed. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The stone used is the same as that used for Hadrian’s Wall and the lantern tower on St. Nicholas’ Cathedral. The designer was chosen by competition. Gained Grade II listed building status in February 2017 for the following reasons;
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a richly ornamented wheel-head cross in the Celtic style;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed Church of St Paul.

This Edwardian building was, in common with the church hall at Lamesley, formerly a school. It is a very lively composition with an Arts and Crafts influence, making full use of the decorative potential of gables with the main roof slope squeezing below and between them. The roofing material is also unusual in that it is Rosemary clay tile, making the roof the most important and distinctive feature of the building. The style is cheerful and the scale diminutive, as the early schools were often designed with their little users in mind and were thereby easily readable and accessible. Some original sliding sash windows remain.
MATERIALS Sandstone, Rosemary clay tile, timber
ARCHITECT E Bowman, Newcastle
DATES 1902