1887. Includes a plaque showing a beehive which was the symbol of the co-operative store. Nos. 22-28: This is important as the first purpose-built premises for the Gateshead Industrial Co-operative Society in Gateshead, as for their first 20 years they had rented accommodation in Oakwellgate and Wellington Street. Alone it would be grand and imposing, but next to the larger, later premises looks more modest and full of the charm of its age. Built in warm, good quality local sandstone, it displays an abundance of classical detailing and fine carving which has aged well – including a substantial pediment supported on Corinthian columns with a crest at its centre, acanthus leaves, swags and tails, fluting and urns. These elements create an attractive rhythm and depth to the frontage, as well as offering a great deal of visual interest. The (apparently) slate roof is obscured by a parapet, and to the central portion large arched window openings offer a great deal of internal light. As was traditional, space was provided internally for a public hall to the front of the first floor, in addition to the commercial facilities, with the wing to the east side added later. Unfortunately, however, the windows have been replaced in plastic with a significant change in form. It would be positive for timber windows, to the original design, to be reinstated. Beneath these are a few areas where the facing stonework has been lost. The shopfronts to the ground floor have also been either completely obscured or obliterated by recent alterations, which it would be desirable to remove should the opportunity arise. Overall it makes a highly significant contribution to the centre of Gateshead, both by virtue of its detailed visual interest, and its historic importance. MATERIALS Sandstone, slate ARCHITECT E Jameson (Gateshead) DATES 1881 Nos. 30-34: Extension of 1925, Neo Baroque style. The white paint covers bronze plaques. As more space was needed to accommodate the increase in trade of the Co-operative Society, these new, 3-storey premises were built adjacent to the 1881 store. Faced in sandstone from the Windy Nook Quarries, they boast many carved classical details (including composite columns), responding well to the context of the original premises whilst making an impact of its own, with contemporary features such as stepping to the parapet (disguising the double-pitched slate roof). The chief drama of the architecture lies in the large, bronzed window frames, particularly the elliptically arched examples to each side (unfortunately now painted over in white), which are clearly evocative of their time and form an ensemble with those of the nearby buildings from the same period – 224-230 and 241 High Street. The building makes a strong statement with bold shapes and a great deal of depth (not least in the deep overhanging dentilled cornice). Although this impact has been reduced by the loss of the bronzed, deeply recessed display shopfronts, which have been replaced with poor quality modern infill, and the windows above with plastic frames, the essential character of the building remains intact. MATERIALS Sandstone (Windy Nook Quarry), bronzed metal, slate ARCHITECT W G Townsend Gray (CWS) Shopfronts & Interior fittings by Harris & Sheldon (Birmingham) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The new premises included a drapery, furnishing, gentlemen’s and ladies’ boot departments, plus showrooms and gallery. There were also 3 main staircases and ‘ample lavatory accommodation’! LOCAL LIST

The historic importance of this building lies in its connection with the Greenesfield Railway Works, as it was constructed for the North Eastern Railway Company as a Literary Institute for their workers (formed in 1854 and previously housed in the Old Rectory in Oakwellgate). The building included apartments for a caretaker, a library, a lecture room with a capacity of 600 people, class rooms, billiard rooms, and two large dining rooms. Whellan (1894) describes how the catering staff were all male, and: “...the meals are cooked in the gas ovens without charge, and each man’s dinner or breakfast, as the case may be, is numbered, and put in its place just before the electric bells in the various workshops announce the meal hours. In the two rooms combined dinners are provided for nearly 1,000 men daily.” Manders (1973) also notes that: “The Institute was throughout supported by the local management and was much more enterprising than was usual in such societies. Science and Art classes were held there from the 1880s, for example. The library held over 12,000 volumes.” Part of the ground floor was given over to the North Eastern Provident Society, which in 1894 had a membership of 1100. Later, the BR Staff Association took over the premises, and the current uses of a health club, gymnasium, and Railway Club are now set to change again. The Club forms part of the group of buildings in the area adjacent to the High Level Bridge which all grew up in association with the railways. The warm brick, the height and the large arched windows are striking and imposing, and the building forms an unusually-shaped block with those on Wellington Street. It is of 3 storeys in red brick, with stone dressings and black brick string courses. The slate roof is steeply pitched, with part a mansard. Large painted timber mullioned windows with brick arched heads animate the ground floor, with stone keystones and endstones. Simple inset panels offer some detailing, and the corners are smoothly curved, enabling carriages to pass by easily, towards the segmental carriage arch set into the north wall. MATERIALS Red brick, sandstone, slate, timber ARCHITECT William Bell DATES 1887 (Plans) 1889 (Opened). It was recorded by Peter Ryder and The Archaeological Practice Ltd. In 2006 ahead of its conversion into apartments. LOCAL LIST

Now ABC nursery. A single storey former labour exchange. Constructed in ashlar to the principal (south) elevation, the sides and rear are in sandstone rubble. The steeply pitched slate roof is laid in diminishing courses, with water tabling and simple kneelers to the gables. The longfront elevation is divided into 8 bays with doors in the 3rd and 6th and mulitpane metal(?) windows to the rest; all in simple, block surrounds. The central 2 bays have a gable over and the original cast iron rainwater goods remain. To the rear is a rendered, flat roofed extension. MATERIALS Sandstone, slate DATES c1920 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The building is a fine example of restrained architectural form coupled with exceptional quality in construction and materials. This is perhaps best exemplified by the carefully laid diminishing courses of the roof slating and the simple, solid surrounds to openings. Despite the visual paraphernalia necessarily associated with its current use as a nursery, its solidity and great presence shine through. Perhaps the only competing element is the red paint on the railings to the fore. LOCAL LIST

2 storey public house fitted into space between road and railways.
It is constructed of painted brick with stone lintels and cills. A shallow pitched felt(?) roof has a brick chimney. The later 19th century pub front has panelled stall risers, 2 large windows and a new fascia to the ground floor. Also 2 pairs of double doors and 1 older window opening are situated at the southern end. 4 Plastic windows with drip vents have replaced the 1st floor windows. 2 large lamps on brackets are fixed to the front of the building. Additions: floodlights, small covered vent. MATERIALS Brick, stone DATES c1850, frontage 1884 STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This public house was built around the time of the construction of the High Level Bridge (in 1848), when the whole of the area in which it lies was transformed and Hills Street was ‘christened’ (in 1849). It was originally called the Railway Station Hotel, and was constructed on an unusually shaped plot to make the most of the space, which adds to its interest. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The first owner appears to have been George Miller in 1851, who is recorded as owning commercial premises in Half Moon Lane a year earlier. Thomas Ridley was the next recorded landlord in 1858, but an advertisement in the Gateshead Observer in 1867 reads ‘If you want a glass of good ‘grog’ call at Michael Johnson’s Station Hotel, Hill St, Gateshead’! Prior to 1849 Hills Street was known as Slant Street. LOCAL LIST

This long and low school building was probably opened on 13 April 1926 as Birtley Elizabethville Council Girls School. On 23 August 1938 this school merged with the Boys School to form Birtley Elizabethville County Junior Mixed School. The building is influenced by the Arts and Crafts style, and so uses deep terracotta clay roof and ridge tiles, and multiple gables with simple timber bargeboards, but maximises light with a profusion of (apparently original) windows animating the ground-hugging elevations. The 2 long wings features simple rectangular timber sashes, whereas the central section makes a grand feature of large, round headed French windows for added interest. The rhythm of the frontage is assisted by narrow 2 storey, hipped elements flanking the central block, with tall chimneys, stepping down to gables housing tri-partite windows. The woodwork is painted a cheerful turquoise. Overall this is a vast and pleasing, relatively early school building, which demonstrates the use of attractive natural materials, in a design that is very much representative of its time. MATERIALS Brick, clay tile, timber DATES 1924 (? 1926?) LOCAL LIST

Belonged to quarry owner of High Heworth Burn – Highburn for himself and Hylton and Greystones for his families. MATERIALS Sandstone (from High Heworth Burn quarry) DATES 1797 (Highburn) 1804 (Hylton) LOCAL LIST

Former Wrekenton School, built 1899-1900. LOCAL LIST

18th century; altered. Rendered with pantiled roof. Two storeys, four and one bays, irregular. Later door and windows. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Last coach stopped here in 1844. Known as ‘Red Robin’s’ after landlord. LOCAL LIST

This simple, small, but stately early 20th century church is designed in the Early English style. Constructed in snecked ashlar, it is heavily buttressed, with an unusual, wide buttress incorporating the door frame to the front gable. The narrow lancets, filled with leaded, coloured glass, are cusped to the apex and create a regular rhythm between the buttresses to the returns. Drip moulds float above the windows to the front elevation, moving seamlessly into one another in an unusual form, reminiscent of a heart monitor output! This detail gives a distinctive twist to the overall style. The Welsh slate roof is very steeply pitched, and crowned at both front and rear gables with a decorative cross finial surmounting slender, pyramid-embellished water tables. MATERIALS Sandstone, Welsh Slate DATES 1903 (opened) LOCAL LIST

This early 19th century 2 storey terrace would have been one of the earliest in the area, likely to have been built soon after the enclosure of Gateshead Fell in 1822. In warm honey-coloured coursed, dressed stone to the front, with quoins and plinth, the rear is of rubble construction. A photograph of the early 20th century shows a smart row of well-made cottages with simple arched canopies over the doors, with number 87 already converted to commercial use as T W Simpson’s, with an inserted shopfront. With all now used as commercial premises, they have unfortunately been altered to a significant degree. New plastic/metal windows, new roofs in various materials (although no. 83 retains its slate) and a great deal of commercial paraphernalia including large plastic fascia signs, roller shutters and projecting signs all detract from the traditional character and local materials of the properties. To the rear, also, many of the openings are blocked or boarded, and there is an unsympathetic extension under a catslide with a large, ugly extractor. Any opportunity that may arise to remove these alterations would be most welcome. MATERIALS Sandstone, various DATES c1822 (by 1826) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The original owners were as follows: Roger Bourn (81); Forster Fairlamb (83); G Pickering (85) and Fenwick representatives (87). LOCAL LIST